Shell on Paper

 

7.5" x 5.5"

Oil on paper

VIEW AUCTION

I made it to FL - it's so peaceful here. the temp is perfect, breezy and birds singing. Today, I set up my computer and painting studio. 

(see pic)

This painting was done on watercolor paper because I don't have any boards primed - the paper is very absorbent and dries somewhat quickly, which I liked. If I used the paint heavier in places - I could still blend it out and not have to wait for it to dry a little. Although, the ease of just cutting a sheet of watercolor paper and taping it to a hard surface is nice, I think I like the wood surface the best - can't really tell you why, it just feels better.

My temporary studio by the lake

Slice of Life

5.5" x 5.5"x .75"
Oil on wood block

I did this painting in 30 mins. - now, it's time to pack for my trip to FL!

Three Plums

18" x 6" x .75"

Oil on wood

Red Robe Progress

17" x 24"
Oil on canvas

I still need to do a lot of work on this and am going to put it on hold until I get to FL. 

Still deciding if the hands are too big, nose placement, head height, etc. Need more time to think about it. 

Good Plum

5.5" x 5.5"x .75"

Oil on wood block

Remember the movie "Close Encounters"? In it a woman keeps painting the Devils Tower and she doesn't know why, but the aliens know why.... Anyway, I guess plums are my Devils Tower.
 

These plum paintings make me feel good and are really fun to paint - one of my favorite painters, Barbara Kacicek painted 31 paintings of three plums: http://meditationsonthreeplums.blogspot.com/

She's really great, take some time and look at her work, also her drawings are pretty amazing: http://barbarakacicekdrawings.blogspot.com/
 

Anyway, trying to work on the Red Robe portrait today.

Side pic of the painting. 

Photo of my studio

Undone Plum

5.5" x 5.5"x .75"
Oil on wood block

Still working on this. I had it done yesterday, but tried to add some color to the top and the paint pulled away because it wasn't completely dry and the surface I used. I'll have to wait till it's completely dry to fix the top.

Next time, If I'm working with this surface I will finish it in one sitting.

Red Robe Progress

17" x 24"
Oil on canvas

Here is a video of the progress:


This is a commission for the gallery director at the Woods Gallery. The painting is of her daughter.

So far, I've got all the important stuff in and now I'm working on making it look like her and all the other details.

Portraits are very scary for me and extremely labor intensive. The slightest detail, like too thin of a nose, shadow under the eye, etc. can throw everything off. The daily paintings have helped greatly in see these slight details.

It still can be frustrating, but it is something I need to explore, my goal is painting without fear and I feel I am slowly getting there.

Flea

10" x 8"

Oil on board

Bid on this

Well, plans have changed. I'm going to Florida next Monday. One more week of painting in my studio - Got lots to do!

Can I go too??

8" x 10"

Oil on board

Click to bid

Every time I'm getting ready to go somewhere Chumley can tell and he sits by the door and waits, wide-eyed and shaking like the world is coming to an end. I really can't stand to see him like this and end up taking him to the bank, grocery, where ever. He's perfectly fine to sit in the car and wait, sleeping most of the time. When it gets too hot, I guess I'll just have to endure this heartbreaking scene every time I go somewhere or maybe just stay home. I'm thinking about getting one of those big purses to hide him in, but I'm not sure he would cooperate with that idea.

I'm going to Florida tomorrow (with Chumley) for a few weeks to be with a friend who is having a baby, so my paintings may not be so "daily". I'll try to get one in everyday, even if it's just a watercolor. I probably won't be able to post everyday so I will multi-post when I get internet access with everything I've done.

Big Plum

5.5" x 5.5"x .75"
Oil on wood block

Click to bid

Plums are very therapeutic!

Plum on White

5.5" x 5.5"x .75"
Oil on wood block
Bid on this

I ran out of masonite, canvas boards, & gesso and the only thing I had left was gessoed wood cut from strips into squares from an old project. I really like this medium and will do more like this.

Tomorrow I go to AC Moore to take advantage of their 50% off coupon to get a gallon of gesso.

Wrightsville Beach Sunrise

5" x 8"
Oil on board
Bid on this

Marbles

4" x 9"
Oil on canvas board
Bid on this

I needed to do something simple - love the marbles!

Red Feathers

11" x 14"
Oil on canvas board
Bid on this

Got a little funky on this one - not sure if I'll keep the background colors.
I had a painting under this that had a texture of a circle in the left bottom and I thought I could hide it with the background pattern.

Clothes Pin

4" x 8"
Oil on canvas board

Bid on this

Boy, the farmer's market wore me out!! But, I got to meet a lot of really great people and had a lot of fun. The next market day for me will be May 23rd because I'll be going to Florida April 19th to be with my friend who is having a baby. I'll be gone for a few weeks and I hope that I can paint during that time... we'll see.

Tea Ball

7" x 8"
Oil on canvas board

I'll be at the Wilmington Farmer's Market this Saturday from 8am to 12pm - Hope to see you there!

Green Dreams

10" x 8"
Oil on canvas board
Donation to the Bryan Farabegoli Benefit

I had some dreams

8" x 7 "
Oil on board

Someone on facebook requested something warm since it's been so cold and I ended up with this. My mind must have been wandering.

Red Turban

8" x 10"
Oil on canvas board

Sold

I started this yesterday, but it was not a quick painting. I really struggled with this and I think I still am.

Cat Nap

8" x 5.5"
Oil on board

This painting was surprisingly easy - it took maybe an hour and a half. Most of them take 2 - 4 hours.

I usually start the first part of the painting in the morning, laying down the color and shapes and then finish it up in the evening adding detail and changing any colors.

I find this schedule works for me because it gives me something to look forward to all day.

#%@

"#%@"
8" x 10"
Oil on canvas board
Sold

I had most of this done yesterday, but the paint was too wet to finish.

These rolls have so much personality to me - they all run out differently. Some just fall off the roll and some tear off in streamers - those are the best.

Stovepipe Top Hat

8" x 10"
Oil on canvas board

I smiled the whole time I worked on this!

Spring

7" x 5"
Oil on board

Don't you just love spring time?!

Clouds

7" x 5"
Oil on board

I kept wanting to put something in the clouds - kind of like a René Magritte, but I resisted. Maybe next time.

Beach Shack

7" x 5"
Oil on board

This is the second time I have painted this. I like to paint a painting more than once to see if my style has changed, but on this one it's pretty close to the first one, which is good - I think my style is becoming consistent.

I also thought it would look good in the new gallery since it's a house on Bald Head Island.

Taking a Break

18" x 24"
Oil on board

I painted this image of the black dog a few years ago in a different format and I loved it so much that I decided to put him in a new setting. So, when I was thinking about what dogs to paint for The Woods Gallery (dogs are very popular on Bald Head Island) I decided to revisit this one.

I love how peaceful he looks.

Blackberries in Blue

7" x 5"
Oil on board

I have been lost in glass beads!!

Also, I've been getting 28 paintings ready to go to The Woods Gallery, which I dropped them off today. So far, I've sold three in three days and it's not even tourist season yet.

Speaking of tourist season, I will be at the Farmers Market downtown Wilmington all summer. My first day is April 11th so, come by and see me!

Now, where did I put those?

30" x 30"
Oil on canvas

They are officially done!
Now it's time to decide what I'm going to paint next...

Well, I already sold two small paintings out of the Woods Gallery! I think that's a record in speed selling. Hopefully it will keep up.

Beads

Well, it's not a painting, but it is what I did today.

The marble painting, which is now titled - "Now, where did I put those?" wasn't dry enough to paint, so I decided to make some beads. Boy, it's a lot harder than it looks. Once, I figured out the flame thing and got over my anxiety, I was able to get the glass hot enough to do something with it. not bad for a first timer. Click on the photo to get a larger view.

I am finishing the marble painting today and will send that later.

Marbles (update)

Well, the painting is coming along pretty good - I still need to do the highlight on the bottom marble when it dries more and a few other things. I figure one more session and I'll be done.
I'm really loving this painting.

This is the first painting in a series I'm starting called "Larger than Life" for the Caffe' Phoenix Show in October with Michelle Connolly & Amelia Hutchins.

The meeting with Bald Head Gallery went really well. Shawn picked out a lot of paintings, we signed the contract and off she went back to the island.

If you ever get a chance to go out there it's really spectacular.

Marbles

30" x 30"
Oil on Canvas

I'm working on a big marble painting. Here it is so far. I'm having a little trouble with the bottom one, but will fix it tomorrow. I want it to be like the others, but in a different color.

Sunrise Over Marsh (renamed)

36" x 18"
Oil on Canvas

I'm finally done!
I decided to rename this.. I like "sunrise" better...
meaning new day, new start, potential... etc.

Spring Marsh

7" x 5"
Oil on board

Autumn Marsh

7" x 5"
Oil on board

I guess I'm having my own little Marsh Madness.

Didn't work on the sunset today, but will try to finish it tomorrow...
I have such a tough time finishing things!

The director from The Wood's Gallery on Baldhead Island is coming Wednesday to see the studio and paintings!!

Marsh Sunset

36" x 18"
Oil on canvas

This painting is in progress.
I was recently very moved by Martin Johnson Heade's
"The St. Johns River" painting and wanted to try at a sunset. I'm really excited about this.

I'm also planning some paintings for The Woods Gallery on Bald Head Island.

Cucumber Slice

5" x 4"
Oil on board

Plum with Leaf

7" x 5"
Oil on masonite board
Click to bid

It is finally warm & sunny today!! Summer is coming!

Cut Plum

7" x 5"
Oil on board

I was really itchin' to do another painting today.

My Old Beads

5" x 7"
Oil on board
Click to buy
I am really happy with this painting.
It's strange, some paintings just come to life on their own and you know when it's happening from the first paint stroke. Some struggle so hard.

Some have asked what oil on board is. I use masonite from home depot that has been sanded and gessoed (primed). It's really inexpensive and I love the smooth surface.

Windowsill Blackberries

7" x 5"
Oil on board
Sold
I'm still working on this and should have it done either tonight or tomorrow. I'm having problems with the shadow under the berries - they look like they are floating to me.
Maybe they are magic berries!

Home Grown

9" x 8"
Oil on board
Click to Buy
Glad to be back!! Thought about painting the whole time!

There is an good discussion about making art and money - thought you would be interested in peoples opinions about art and artists:
Artists in Survival Mode as Market Crumble

Plums

8" x 6"
Oil on board
Sold

Really enjoying painting the plums - can't wait to do some cut up - oh, the inside color contrasting with the outer purple - can life get any better??!!

Just letting you all know, I will be taking a break until next Sunday.
I’ll be in the Arlie Garden’s Green Day show Saturday. Hope whoever is close can come!!

Two Plums

7" x 5"
Oil on Board
Feeling a little better - so I thought I do another.
I really enjoyed doing this painting.
Sold

Green Pepper

7" x 5"
Bid on this item
I have been battling a cold - they are calling it the "Carolina crud". I've been sleeping a lot - hopefully it will pass quickly.
I wasn’t completely thrilled with this, but I spent quite a bit of time on it in between sneezing and coughing, so I figured it deserved some recognition, since it went through so much.

Oil Carafe

8" x 10"

I was looking for a poem for olive oil and came across this, which I thought was funny and decided to use it instead...

There once was a gal named Olive Oil,
Who makes me blood rise to a boil,
She sets me heart poundin,
With her shrill voice soundin,
Nee'r was there a more sexy goil!

Beach Access

6" x 4"
Oil on board
Sold
I know, I know, this is such a typical beach painting, but I'm really missing hot, beach days.