Day 14 - Roller Skating Rainbow Rabbit

 Good day and a happy Saturday to you :)  

I've only roller skated a handful of times in my life, but I do remember liking it quite a bit when I did. Haven't done it in years.. and while I don't seek it out on social media, Roller Skating (with a capital R) comes up in my feed sometimes, reminding me that the sport is still alive and well in some areas of the country..  

Gliding around on wheels attached to your feet is just a little bit like flying.. and that is what I imagine this bunny is feeling as he glides around the roller rink, blissfully breezing through the moment...

Continuing on with the rainbow theme.. I dunno.. it keeps drawing me back in with it's happy vibes and infinite design possibilities. And I know, this one is a lot more illustrative in nature. If I'm brave enough, I may keep exploring this direction :)

Roller Skating Rainbow Rabbit, oil, 10"x10", purchasing details can be found here

Day 11 - Happiness

When I look at this frog serenely gazing at a ladybug, with the colors of the rainbow boldly in the background, well, this painting just exudes happiness to me and toadally makes me smile (I am so sorry... I had to..) :)  But, seriously, this got me thinking about happiness..

How can a picture just.. well.. make me happy?  Well, for one, I think smiles can be contagious and this frog has a big one.  And, if you read my rainbow musings post, you will remember that I think rainbows and even images of rainbows can make us happy due to the complete range of wavelengths we are seeing. Rainbows rev up the brain... :) So there's those two things. Plus there's the story happening between the ladybug and the frog.. what exactly is going on? Whatever it is, the story makes me smile too.

Another thought... why is Happiness sometimes elusive? One moment you are happy and in an instant, something "bad" happens and everything changes..  

After a lifetime of contemplating things like this, I've come to think happiness is not about what is going on outside of you, but rather what is going on inside of you... it is about inner balance and peace.. and letting go too..

*When that instant comes, as it inevitably will, your inner peace will be disrupted.  How you react to the disruption is everything. Will you fight to hang on to a desire to remain in your previous blissful state, or will you flow from one moment to the next without letting your expectations of the moment disturb your inner peace.

 Sometime I bend like a willow.. Sometimes I break like an oak.. always practicing, not always hitting the mark..

Anyway, nuff about that.. look at this happy frog! 
I hope that in this instant, you feel happy, for however fleeting of a moment it may be. :)

Whatever happiness is, may you have it right now..

"Happiness", oil, 8"x8", purchasing details can be found here

Day 21 - Buzzing Around Ms. Daisy Bell

Lately, one of my favorite animas to paint is the Scottish Highland coo.  I wish there were a farm near me that had a herd of these adorable, furry creatures, but even though I am surrounded by lots of rich farmland, so far, I have not located one. That won't stop me from painting them though.. Its funny to me that although you can rarely see their eyes, they somehow still always have such adorable expressions. Funny how that works.. This sweet gal is munching on daisies and chicory (two of my favorite flowers), hanging around with a few bumble bee friends.. I'm ready for warm days and while lots of folks don't care for the bugs that come with warm weather, I love seeing the bees and welcome them to my yard!

"Buzzing Around with Ms. Daisy Bell", oil, 10"x10", click here for purchasing information

Day 20 - Daisy Duck

 Two thirds of the way through this challenge and I'm happy to still have some ducklings to paint.. There are more than a few folks out there with whom ducks resonate, and its true that these guys don't stick around for long in my studio.. I try to put something new and fresh into each duck I paint.. This one was largely about his expression as he 'breaks the 4th wall' so to speak.  It makes me smile to think that this little guy is engaging with the viewer, inviting you to, I don't know, come on in, sit down and have a quack (or something) :) 

Getting a tad technical, I also went a little nutsy with texture as I enjoyed painting impasto (thick, juicy paint) throughout the composition.. 

I don't remember the artist who said this this, but his belief was that, while all the elements and principles of art are important to make a good painting, the 4 most important aspects of a painting are value, edges, shape and texture. Generally, I agree. You will notice that I consider these 4 things carefully in every one of my paintings.. So, while this may just look like an innocent little duckling waiting for a quacker, look closer to see how I handled each of these four devices.

Daisy Duck, oil, 8"x8", click here for purchasing details

Day 16 - Egg-spress Yourself

I feel lucky to live in a time when there is constant encouragement to Be Authentic. However, regardless of all the encouragement, it's not always the easiest way to be.  I say, keep on trying anyway, till you get the hang of it.

 I'll just leave this little duckling (a brand new one in my Ducks in Chucks series)  here as a reminder to express yourself today, in whatever way feels good :)

"Egg-spress Yourself", oil, 8"x8", click here for purchasing details

10 days into the 30 in 30 - Beauty in Broken Things

This time we are all living in can sometimes feels like it is trying to break us. But, I've seen such strength, resilience and creativity come from all of this insanity too.  So many people I know are becoming more courageous, fiercer and even more determined than ever to live a life worth living. I know that I am not singular, and in fact am luckier than many.  I feel fortunate every second of every day to have been gifted my art and and am thankful it is my healer, my outlet, my answer... When times are particularly hard and the veil is thick, it may be difficult to remember... until that moment when you do.  Beauty can always be found in moments of sadness, in times of despair and even if we feel we've hit rock bottom. Just look at a flower.  A bird.  A feather.  A fragment of broken glass.  Blessed be and know that this too shall pass.

Beauty in Broken Things, 8"x8", oil, available to purchase here

Relatively Essential Oil Painting Supplies

Here's my list of the top 12 or so things I currently wouldn't want to do without in my studio.  Most of the things are pretty standard fare, but for the uninitiated and beginning oil painter, all of the supplies out there can seem daunting.  I have tried to keep my supplies at a minimum and the following list gives what I consider the essentials for painting successful paintings in comfort and ease.

 

"The Sentry", Oil, click here to purchase

Paint:  I prefer Gamblin artist grade oil color (but have other brands in my box too) and typically use a limited palette of 5 colors:  Alizarin Crimson, Cad. Red Med., Cad. Yellow lt and Ultra Marine Blue.  In addition, I use Titanium White.  With these 5 colors and white, you can mix almost any color you can think of, including chromatic Black,

Medium:  I make my own medium from 2 parts Linseed oil, 1 part Gamsol (an odorless solvent) and 1 part stand oil

Substrate:  I paint mostly on wooden panels that I purchase ‘raw’.  They require sealing, which I do with several coats of a sealant called GAC 100 (put out by Golden) and several more coats of white gesso. Sometimes I stain my panels a color before I sketch on them.

Brushes:  My favorite brush is the Blick Masterstroke Interlocking Bristle Brush. I prefer flats, sizes 3, 4, 6, and 8, but also use filberts from time to time.  I also really like Silver Bristlon Flats & filberts and find a small fan brush to be indespensible.

Assorted palette knives for mixing and painting, scrapers, a kemper clay shaping tool that I sign most of my paintings with plus ample paper towels or rags.

Easle:  I have acquired quite a few easels in my time as an artist. They all serve different purposes and needs and I can’t say I have a favorite. 

Palette:  I prefer a glass palette that has been painted a neutral gray on the back. I have made all of my glass palettes inexpensively from spare glass I had.

Poster Putty:  also known as museum putty or picture mounting putty.  I can’t tell you how many uses I have found for this stuff but I use it daily for something in my studio!

Tablet:  Sounds funny, but I use my Ipad and my Samsun S10 all the time for designing compositions and to display my reference photo as I am painting.

Apps: Any photo editing app that has basic editing capabilities such as cropping, color adjustments, brightness/contrast are very important to quickly adjust your reference photos. Some of my favorites are PicShop Pro, Photopad, and pic collage. I also use Photoshop on my laptop for more complex compositions.

Good lighting:  I have an overhead light, and two clip lights that illuminate my panels from behind me.  They all have LED bulbs that have a CCT of 5500 K. I am also fortunate to have a studio space with a large North facing picture window.

Apron:  This is also going to sound funny, but maybe some of you can relate.  I must put on my artist apron before I begin to paint.  It somehow puts me in the right frame of mind, perhaps because then I don’t have to spend any time thinking or worrying about getting paint on my clothes.  I remind myself of Mr. Rogers and how he had to change his shoes and sweater at the beginning of every episode!

Day 18 - Mary Cassatt

Today's painting is a little portrait of Mary Cassatt. If you don't know of her, she is one of the few women who rose to fame during the infancy stages of the Impressionistic movement. Her work is beautiful, often capturing the tender moments between a mother and her child.  Google her if you get the chance, or click here to go to the Wiki page about her...  I painted her because she is one of my favorite artists. I feel fortunate that I have been able to see a few of her paintings up close and personal, which gives a much deeper appreciation of her talent. I so enjoyed painting the artist Yayui on Day 8 that I decided to try my hand at painting Mary Cassatt as well. There are few photos of her, but this is one of the ones that I loved... that hat...

Mary Cassatt (from 1914 photo of her), oil on panel, 6"x6"
to purchase, please click here

Original photo of Mary Cassatt, circa 1914, photographer unknown.

Day 10 - The Shark

1/3 of the way through this challenge and for me, its been the best one yet.  This is the fifth one I've participated in and I learn so much from each one.  In this one, I feel like I am taking a workshop every day with all I am discovering.
Some paintings are easier than others to complete.  The whys are varied and include things like humidity, my frame of mind, my connection with the subject and how well I have planned.  This painting was a bear to finish, and the odd thing was that I thought it was going to be a snap!  After fighting with it for a few hours, I determined that the issue was mainly the dryness of the air in my studio.  When the air is too dry, I find the paint to be very uncooperative and it doesn't move around as well as I'd like.  So, all in all, I like the composition and I enjoyed abstracting the background. If I were to do it again, I'd paint it bigger, and make sure there was enough medium on the board to help keep the paint flowing as I like.  This is from a picture I took years ago at the fire house bar I used to cook at.  There was almost always a pool game going on and this guy didn't mind me snapping a few of him playing.

The Shark, oil, 6"x10",
to purchase, please click here

Day 7 - Once in a While

Here is another painting from that group of pics I took one hot summer day a few weeks back.  This time starring my son and daughter!  They are both too good to me. The title just popped into my head, but I like it so I'm sticking with it.  I think I'd like to try this basic subject in a larger, looser painting with perhaps a more horizontal composition.  And, I must say, it was hard to paint such a small painting today, after days of painting larger ones!  I recommend going big to any artist out there.  Anyway, this one is 9"x9", a cute size at least.

Once in Awhile, oil, 9'x9"
To purchase, please click here

Day 5 - Morning Dove

Today's painting is of my daughter.  As I said in an earlier post, she obliged me a few weeks back and posed in different locales wearing various dresses and costumes. I was trying to capture the beauty of this moment while pushing a little further into impressionism. Although the dove wasn't there in the original photograph, this composition was just calling out for one.. who knows why?  This was definitely one of those paintings that was telling me what needed to be done as I was painting it! Because I love this one so much right now, I fear it is not for sale at this time!  But I will definitely be revisiting the techniques I was experimenting with in future paintings. I am thoroughly enjoying this 30 in 30!

Morning Dove, Oil, 12"x24"

Day 7 - The West Side

I started this painting using a picture I snapped as a passenger driving West on 422 around sunset one day.  The colors the sky was offering were appealing and I decided to try to translate that into a Stripey.  I have been discovering that painting these things large is very different than painting them on a smaller scale.  There are a few aspects of this painting that I want to work on, but the paint is so thick and obviously quite wet that I can't work on it anymore tonight.  I am thinking I need to try these in acrylic.  It just so happens, my wonderful hubby bought me an entire set of professional acrylics for Christmas... Convenient....

West Side,  oil on canvas, 12" x 24",

Here is the painting with top lighting to show the texture

West Side, same painting, slightly different lighting

Daily Paintworks

I have recently joined an online group called Daily Paintworks.  Through this site I am able to sell my artwork and keep an online gallery of my art.  Yes I still have my personal website, but this is just another outlet to hopefully sell art through.  Many artists have had success through DPW and I hope to as well!  I have posted 5 or 6 paintings so far and it is awesome that I have gotten comments on some of them from respected artists!  The 21st century is truly a great time to be an artist.  To see this painting and purchase it if you like, click on the link below the picture.

Who will help me plant the grain?, 6" x 6", oil on panel, framed
 

To purchase this painting, or see it in DPW, click HERE.   Thanks!!

Bringin' the Heat!

I am so thrilled and honored to announce that I have won an award that is offered through Art Plus Gallery.  The Axcess Mechanical award... I entered this painting this show and it WON!  Many thanks to the judges and the gallery!!!

Bringin' the Heat, 18" x 24", oil on canvas  SOLD

Lone Tree

One more landscape study for ya...  Again, I am enjoying playing with slightly thicker paint and trying to keep my colors pure. I love the shapes and color that landscapes afford!

Lone Tree, 6"x6", oil on panela

5 trees

If you are interested, read my previous post for my recent thoughts on Landscapes.  These little studies I am doing are helping me to see shapes and colors and design my compositions.  This is a line of trees that caught my fancy for their mis-matched shapes and their silhouette against the bright blue sky.

5 trees, 6"x6", oil on panel

Down a country road

Lately I have been fascinated by the landscape.  More accurately, I have been admitting to myself just how much I like looking at our beautiful planet.  There are endless scenes to paint and amazing compositions and color combinations everywhere I look.  I can't drive 1/4 mile without wishing I could take pictures of what I am seeing to review later for future paintings!  Anyway.

This little one is a landscape of some country road near my house.  I liked the abstractness of the composition, the colors and I particularly enjoyed applying the paint as thickly as I did.  Hope you like!

Down a Country Road, 6"x6", oil on panel

Very thankful Brother Longhorn...

Upon the encouragement of my friend and fellow artist, Crystal Domino, I recently entered a local art show entitled "The Farm" at Studio B in Boyertown.  I submitted Brother Longhorn, and Man & Wife.  Tonight was the opening of the show and I am so honored to say that Brother Longhorn won 2nd place for best in show.  Thanks Crystal!  And thanks to Studio B!  I am excited to get to know the Gallery and its esteemed artist members.

Brother Longhorn, oil on canvas, 18" x 24", $425

Man & Wife, oil on canvas, 12" x 12", $185

Having a snack - sold!

I love the feeling when I get a phone call from the gallery and they tell me someone has purchased one of my paintings!  I never thought it would feel so good to know that someone likes my artwork and wants it hanging in their home! I got the message yesterday that I sold my painting Having a Snack which was hanging in the West Reading Tavern.  Thank you for the blessing!

Blue Moo

Today is my hubby's birthday, so, firstly, Happy Birthday, Kevin!

O.k., next.  This little guy has been done for awhile, and I honestly thought I posted it but apparently not.  He was a cow at the long horn cattle ranch, however, he doesn't have the horns, so I don't know what's going on with that.  But the way he was looking right at the camera, and the challenge of painting black fur is what drew me to painting him.  This is one of my little 6"x6" paintings and is already framed and ready to hang!

  

Blue Moo, 6"x6", oil on panel, $75