"Paintings have a life of their own that derives from the painter's soul." Vincent Van Gogh

Thursday, August 30, 2012

125 GeV with Luminosity


Having fun with color and subject matter today. Oil on linen 16x 20.

And then I painted this - still having fun with color but cannot explain why I chose this subject - perhaps it was the appearance of warthogs amongst the bunnies last week.

16x12 oil on canvas

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The Primacy of Doubt - New Camera, New Photos






For my birthday, my family surprised me with a new camera - a fabulous, complex computer of a camera that I am just now learning to use. I decided to re-photograph this painting using my brand new Nikon digital SLR D5100. I read the manual, and then read the manual again and read it for a third time! There is so much to absorb and try to put into use but the camera is now set to what I think are the ideal settings for me - only time and experimentation will tell. In comparing these photos with the previous set (my very old Sony Cybershot) I find I am much more pleased with the capturing of a color more true to the original and the crisp way that the paint shows up. It's time to retire my old paint covered Sony for this new technology for sure. Please let me know what you think as well.

I also received a shipment of new business cards from Vistaprint. Both sides of my card have the same info so there really is no front or back. The card was fun to design - I love the ability to use my own images and design the card via the internet. Hooray for Vistaprint!


Monday, August 27, 2012

The Primacy of Doubt


 Oil on linen 20x24 - the subject of the steeplechase continues to fascinate me as a means of exploring my artistic goals. Each brush stroke is another step along the way - but I have such a long way to go.


 And 2 close up views.
Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. I look forward to and am always interested in hearing your thoughts about my work.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Riding in Tahoe National Forest

Here I am on my birthday this weekend with Ace, the new love of my life! My family and I went trail riding at Alpine Meadow Stables in the Tahoe National Forest. The ride up the mountainside was primeval, beautiful and mysterious - a real treat for my soul. The ride down was nothing less than terrifying! I did survive to paint another day though!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

A New Home for my Great Dane


Sold! And on his way to a new home in South Carolina today. He is 12x16 oil on canvas panel. I will miss him terribly and am already having separation anxiety.

Monday, August 13, 2012

A Sounder of Warthogs



Using up my final two pieces of white cardboard, I found out why the bunnies were in such a hurry - here come the Warthogs!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

A Bevy of Bunnies




Having some fun with quick studies of bunnies in motion today. I bought some lovely new linen curtain panels from Pottery Barn and they came packaged with sturdy white cardboard inserts. Those pristine pieces of white cardboard just called to me and there was no way I could NOT paint on them! Each bunny is 9 x 11 and gave me about 10 minutes of furiously painted fun! Oh - and the curtains look wonderful!

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Gustav Klimt - Portrait Practise



Oil on canvas 14x11. Done from a black and white photo reference. I recently bought a tube of Winsor and Newton Permanent Green and needed to try it out!

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Ballerina #21 - A Mulligan

After spending an unhappy week or so living with Ballerina #21 in my studio, I decided on a do-over. After covering the original painting with a coat of burnt umber thinned with mineral spirits, I repainted the entire piece. Although I am still uneasy about it,  I am happier this time around as I do believe it approaches my original conception more closely. Here it was before the mulligan:

I am done with it for now although I think that in the future I may retry this concept again - one never knows!