Day 4 and 5

6x6 oil on panel $50 click HERE to buy

8x10 oil on canvas board $75 click HERE to buy

I forgot to post my painting yesterday, so it's two for one day!  I really want to get better at using the knife, but I have to say I really struggled with this.  I don't know if it's because I'm tryng to fit a lot in to a small canvas or what, but I'm going to keep at it.  The cupcake was done with brushes and is 6x6, the tulips were done with knives that Leslie Saeta recommends on her website.  (Dick Blick about $8 each and there are 3 sizes.  I'll try to get a picture for the next blog post.)

Candy Apple

6x6 oil on panel click HERE to bid

 I've wanted to paint a candy apple since I saw one painted by fellow artist Kelley MacDonald some time ago.  We have a number of fruit trees on our property and this is the first year we took great pains to spray for bugs and blight and we were rewarded with a great crop of apples.  When I saw the candy apple making kit in the store I had to buy it.  Here's my photo reference, feel free to use it if you've always wanted to paint one too.

View from my yard looking west

8x8 oil on panel click HERE to bid

8x8 oil on panel. It was a stormy day so I painted from a photo from last summer. This is a view I see every day and when the hay is near harvest as it is about now it creates an incredible golden contrast to the fresh green of the growing corn and soybeans of neighboring fields. I hope to capture this scene again from a different perspective.

Plein Air Crash

Little Red Schoolhouse 12x16 oil on canvas 

To bid click HERE

"Bobcat" Oil on Panel 8x10

"Plein Air Crash" 6x8 oil on linen 

Summers are always so busy and crazy and this one is no exception so I've decided not to put too much pressure on myself to blog as often as I'd like and maybe during the summer months, share updates weekly.  I've been working on my new skills I learned at Kyle Martin's workshop and I'm really learning how to see value and color temperature.  On of Kyle's bits of advice were to stop looking around for pretty pictures and look for good design and contrast.  So you will see that some of my subjects are a bit ordinary but It allows me to focus entirely on learning about value while painting plein air....the one of a farm scene had a bit of an "accident" after my easel tipped over under very suspicious circumstances since there was not even a hint of a breeze...hmmm one wonders one wonders....Anyway, I kind of like the effect of the accident.

Sunny Days and Blooms

6x6 oil on Panel 

Bidding Starts at $40 click HERE to bid

It's 88 and sunny here in Ohio, just 5 days after 40 degree temps but I'm not complaining!  The irises are blooming so I have a feeling you will see several Iris paintings in the near future, and I just planted some Dahlias, sunflowers, and poppies! Anenomes tomorrow!...I'm on a flower roll I think......This is the last of the photo refs from the workshop, I think I can safely take my own now....

3 In One Blow!

6x6 oil on panel $50

To buy click here

6x6 oil on panel $50

To Buy click here

6x6 oil on panel Bidding starts at $40

To Bid click HERE 

It seems like forever since I've painted when it's actually only been two weeks, but my head hasn't been in it since my boy left for boot camp, and now that it's over I'm BACK!  I have lots of catching up to do as I have several outdoor shows this summer and fall.  I decided to pick up where I left of after Dreama's workshop.  Our final exercise was musical easels and I decided that when I got home from the workshop I would try it out on my own using some of the photos she provided for the exercise.  I did each painting about 5 or so minutes at a time and then moved on to the next one rotating until they were all complete!  It was fun, and it helped to keep me from overworking each one.   I took a break between each pass of the three and was able to see where I needed corrections.....Now I have 3 little lovelies waiting for a new home.  Perfect Mother's Day gift!   Here's my son and I after his Pass in Review, he is now on his way to Pensacola, FL for more training.

These Boots are Made for Marching.....

8x10 oil on panel

I painted this before I left for my workshop last week but didn't have time to post it, so here it is now.....If you've been following my Boot Camp series, you know my son in in Great Lakes IL becoming a sailor in finest Navy in the world :)  He has less than a week left and I will be traveling to Waukegan to see him graduate...I am soooo proud, there are no words.....


Also, something for me to look forward to when I get back is an art form I've wanted to try for a long time...I used to do a lot of glass fusing before I started painting, and have somehow wanted to try to meld the two together....Kelly Alge has mastered it and is going to give a workshop on the ins and outs of Sgraffito drawing in glass.....Please visit her BLOG , her work is incredible.... Here is what I will be learning

Final Day of Dreama's workshop

6x6 oil on panel click to bid

12 x 12 oil on panel click to bid

12 x 12 oil on panel click to bid

Trying to catch up and recover from the workshop with Dreama this past weekend....as always I come home to a lot of household chores that I neglected in the days preceding and while I was gone, so mowing and laundry are tops on my list today.  This cupcake was from the last day and I can't take full credit for it because it was painted by at least ten other artists during "musical easels" which I have to admit was the highlight of the workshop for me!  Everyone got 3 minutes per station until Dreama determined we were finished and when I got back to my easel this was there!!  I'm posting the other two paintings because I think I have better pics of them now.....

Also, for my faithful followers, thank you for your kind comments that I am still trying to catch up and reply to!!  They didn't go unnoticed and I appreciate all of your thoughts!!

Dreama Tolle Perry Workshop in Nashville Day one

First day of the workshop in beautiful Tennessee and I've never heard more southern drawls in one place y'all. Great group of ladies and the two token men at the Nossi school of art and design.

FIRE (Work in Progress Boot Camp Series)

9x12 oil on panel 

As many of you know, my son enlisted in the Navy last month....He will be in boot camp until the end of April.  Having gone through boot camp myself and surviving it with no lasting wounds, I thought this would be a piece of cake....I never anticipated the worry and concern I would feel being on the "other side".  When I was at boot camp 20 something years ago, I was kept so busy there was very little time to think about home.  As a mom, with my son there, the inability to contact or comfort him is very profound....I have a whole new respect for military families now, but especially boot camp Moms.  I have found lots of comfort and support on the Navy For Moms website, but also on the US Navy Recruit Training Command Facebook page, where they post photos of random divisions and recruits regularly...I keep hoping to see my son, but as of yet I haven't....


However, I asked if I might use the photos as reference for paintings and was overjoyed when the answer came back as yes!  I will credit the photogropher when my work is complete, but I'm not quite finished with this one yet, (you can see the peach colored areas that still need work) but I was anxious to get back to blogging, so here is my second in the Navy Boot Camp Series....


Firefighting training....I remember this well, the hose is extremely heavy and strong and requires all the man/woman power shown to manage it.  I remember being quite exhausted and scared after putting out this very real fire.  I really like the composition of this, it has many meanings for me.. First, the guy in red is an experienced Sailor, evidenced by his title on his helmet,  EMC2, he is leading the recruits into danger, yet at the same time, showing them the way....The way they all stand so uniformly represents the trust they have for their teacher/commander.   He knows he must lead them in to the danger while at the same time showing confidence so that they will succeed in the mission....I really like how the position of the subject/focal point's body suggests no fear, while at the same time, the recruits seem frozen....they will go in and fight the fire, there is no doubt, but experience and trust are the running themes here.


I have found myself quite distracted and uninspired with regards to painting since my son left, I imagine it is the worry...the only thing that seems to help is painting what he is going through...It seems to help other moms as well, to see my work....so for now, and until my son is safely out of boot camp, I have  a feeling you will be seeing many similar scenes! Enjoy a glimpse into what goes into training the greatest Navy in the world!

Anchors Aweigh

5x7 oil on panel Click HERE to bid on original.  bid starts at $1 shipping is free.

well, I did paint a flower today, and it was a major flop, and after hearing all the happy moms on the Navy For Moms website that are headed to Great Lakes this weekend for their kid's Pass in Review (boot camp graduation) I was inspired to paint something different, and it will likely become at least a weekly challenge for me in honor of the graduating recruits and their moms that have helped support me through this.  "Anchors Aweigh" is the Navy theme song and it plays at their pass in review.  The recruits know it well, they sing it often during boot camp.  I loved painting these young soldiers, esp from  behind because I'm not so good with figures! Any mom of a sailor is welcome to use/copy/print this for their personal use. I signed this one a little different today, in honor of all the moms that miss their sailors.

added note: one of the Navy moms asked me how I could part with this.  My answer to that is easy, if I sell this, the proceeds  goes towards the expenses of seeing my own son's pass-in-review where I get to see his face!

Art in the Round

Oil on 78 vinyl record Click HERE to bid

8x10 oil on panel Click HERE to bid

Last night at our challenge group we decided on 2 challenges for next month, one of them is just using the theme "Green", to be interpreted any way you want.  The other was simply because I have 3 boxes of old 78 vinyl records sitting in the barn taking up space, so you guessed it, painting on the record.   Today I primed several with spray acrylic primer.  When dry I'll sand them and then paint, but I also wanted to see if I could paint straight on the record since it has grooves for a bit of tooth.  It is a very nice surface to paint on, the oils don't get sucked into the board like canvas or gessoboard.  I'm not quite sure how to deal with the hole in the middle yet, in this case, perhaps a worm in the apple?  or clock workings?  Either way, it's pretty darn cool, and for sale.  Bidding starts at $1

I also finished my painting from yesterday.

Wild Girl

6x6 oil on panel Click HERE to bid. Bidding starts at $30

I wanted to try to paint a wine bottle today, lord knows I have enough of them around from my glass fusing/slumping days, and of course drinking it now and again, so I thought Wild Girl would be fun....well.....I probably shouldn't have thrown in the lipstick and red wine glass to complicate things........I'll definately try the wine bottle again, perhaps with something simpler.  I had a difficult time with the cast shadows too, perhaps a clear wine glass would help. ;)  This one reminds me of my good buddy Laurie Mueller from the Aurora workshop....Cheers!

Leapin Lizards it's a Leap Year Painting Giveaway

6x6 oil on panel Click here to bid

I keep meaning to post about my February giveaway....so since I remembered today, here it is!  I am so grateful for all my faithful followers and fans.  Your comments and support are what keep me going every day.  When I'm lucky enough to have a sale, I am so delighted when I learn it was one of my new good friends!  So at the end of February I will be giving away ANY one of my available daily paintings (anything I have that doesn't have a bid or has sold) (that is 6x6 in size) by Noon February 29-leap day!) to one lucky follower or fan.

All you have to do is go to my Daily Paintworks Gallery (click the lovely scrolling slideshow to the right) and tell me which of ALL of my paintings, sold or unsold, is your favorite and comment below, and I will add you to the drawing!   You can earn an additional chance just by "liking" my facebook page-see the link to the right for A Time For Art.....If you are already a fan of my Facebook Page, you are automatically entered.   Thanks again so much for your comments and support....sometimes I forget to reply back or respond but I truly appreciate all of your kind words and the time you take to read mine.  

Comedy of Errors and Acts of Desperation

After

6x6 oil on panel click HERE to bid

 Before

Some days just refuse to go as planned no matter how you slice it.  The other day my eye glasses were inadvertantly stepped on and smashed by those that shall remain unnamed since he is very sorry and apologetic about it, and well, the logical question would be why are they on the floor in the first place, but that's neither here nor there.   This morning, I went to replace the glasses only to find out that my prescription had expired.  Frustrated beyond words, I questioned why after decades of prescriptions that last 2 years each, why this last one would only be good for a year.  The kind lady gently reminded me that I am now over 40, and so it goes......With no appointments available until Monday, I took my ridiculously glued, melted, and taped glasses and stomped away.  (yes, melted, because at one point during the repair process I thought if I just melted the plastic frame they could meld back together.  Word of warning: Plastic is highly flammable!) 

Having had a late and frustrating start in the studio, I put it out of my head, excited at the prospect of starting my painting for the White on White challenge for this weeks DPW challenge.  I've admired the paintings of other artists that can paint values and shades of white like it's their full time job.  Today was my day, and I was ready.  I had already sketched out my panel the day before, having spent hours on various set ups, and it was just waiting for me to start putting paint to panel.  Then I noticed I had misplaced my wallet, last used at Meijers the day before.  I scoured every possible nook and cranny in the house, the car, called the store, retraced my steps, still no wallet.   Realizing my continued search was futile, I vowed to make something good out of the day and headed out to the studio.  yeah, i'm sure you all know how the rest of the story goes.

Needless to say, it's hard enough to paint without prescription eyeglasses, let alone with the despair of your lost wallet.  Why I tried is beyond me, but still I forged ahead.   After about an hour of laying paint atop of muddy paint, only making it muddier, I stomped off in disgust.   Looked around for the wallet again, sighed, went back to the studio, and in an act of sheer desperation, decided to give the paining just a few more swipes of the brush.   Rarely does this ever work, but this one of those one times that I saw just a glimmer of hope and decided to just leave it for now.  It likely will all be wiped off in the morning to just start fresh, but it was one of those times that you just wanted to end the rotten day off on a good note, and this was one of them.  Although I don't have a complete painting, I realized where I went wrong, so when I start over tomorrow, I get to start off in the right place.  TGIF.

(Top painting, added the next day, is the corrected version of my painting, hooray, what a difference a day makes!)