6x6

This week's DPW Challenge: paint these hands on a 6x6 panel. I plan to do it at least one more time. I really admire well painted hands and i hope to be able to do it effortlessly someday!

6x6 Bid on this painting

This is probably my favorite of my recent daily paintings. I love the colors, and I think this knife is pretty cool.

Standup Guy

6x6

I decided that as long as I had the limes out, I'd do another painting....

6x6

For months now, I have been working on larger paintings and doing no little daily paintings other than the weekly DPW Challenges. All of a sudden, I had the urge to paint a little still life. I wanted it to be colorful and light, so this is what I came up with. I was attracted to the light blue on the white cloth as seen through the blue glass bowl. I also love the shadows that start at the red glass and work their way up on the left side of the stacked cups. The expanse of pale yellow background gives the eye a place to rest from the otherwise busy composition.

6x6

This painting is based on an image from Google Street View. I love Google Street View; you can cruise through cities all over the world, up one street and down the other. looking for things to paint. I was captivated by these 3 pedestrians and all the shadows playing on the adjacent wall.

"You Are Here"

                                                               

36x48

     

A new painting on display at Alki Arts. I have taken many photos of the market, but never from this perspective. This painting was based on a Google Street View image. I had a hard time coming up with a title, but and "You Are Here" is perhaps a bit obscure. The colorful rectangle under the umbrella is actually a map, and I think everybody recognizes the "You Are Here" logo that tourists and others use to find their way.

Cockycock

6x6

How's this for color? The DPW Challenge this week is entitled "Pop the Cock"  and I figured the best way to pop the blue would be with orange. However, I started the painting with no ideas beyond that. I think it's kind of a fun little piece. In any case, I had fun painting it.

     

Pecan Season

30x40

This is painting #2 of my larger Southwest mountain series. I really like working larger, as I can get some arm movement into the brushstrokes and really get loose. The shapes in the mountain shadows are starting to reming me of jigsaw pieces. You will see that even more on painting #3.
                   

How Green is my Valley

30x40

Having produced 5 smallish paintings of the Santa Rita mountains, I believe I'm getting enough of a feeling for them to paint larger and with more impressionistic freedom. This is my first large painting. It's a pretty much mythical depiction of Green Valley and the Santa Ritas on a late spring afternoon.

Produce Market

Produce Market 24x30

Two of my paintings have been accepted into the juried show at the Edmonds Art Festival, which occurs on fathers day weekend. "Produce Market" is one of them. I like the Edmonds Festival. They usually have a pretty interesting selection of art in the juried show, and the booths outdoors offer a variety of arts and crafts not seen everywhere else.

"Snuggle" and "Gesture"

These are my two entries for this week's "Different Ways" Challenge. I started with the top composition (which still is my favorite) and then rearranged the objects and painted them from a different perspective. Perhaps I should have experimented with a different color ground as well. Maybe I still will....

6x6

                                                   

"A Moment in Time"

8x24

This is a view of Seattle that was taken from the new ferris wheel on the waterfront. Since the viaduct is soon to be replaced by a tunnel, this view (which has only been possible to see since the ferris wheel was installed a year or so ago) will disappear. That's why this view is truly "a moment in time".

Not Too Cool

                                6x6 Bid on this painting

This week's DPW Challenge: Create a painting where either the cool colors or warm colors dominate. One of the "rules" of painting-well, not just painting- is that variety is more interesting than sameness. In general, cool colors "pop" against a background of warm and warm colors "pop" against cool.

Tubac Santa Ritas 15.5x24  oil on canvas unframed $700

I've been working on some paintings of the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson, Arizona. I find landscapes difficult, as I like them best when they are not too removed from reality, yet i'm not at all inclined to produce photorealist paintings. I'm trying to land on a style that suits me and conveys my impression of the landscape. So far, the best inspiration I've found for the Southwest landscape is Maynard Dixon- and Georgia O'Keefe has some interesting takes on it as well. 

The Fitting

The Fitting 6x6

This is a little painting I did based on a photo I took of Jed when we were in Hoi An, Vietnam a few years ago. Hoi An is known for its many tailors and dressmakers and we had to avail ourselves of the experience. We visited the shop in the late morning, had a fitting in the afternoon and the items were complete by the same evening. Amazing!

Cowboy Bar

                                                                    6x6


I saw a picture of the girl, and i just loved her posture. Most of the rest was made up around the theme of cowboy hats.

Opting For Purple

                                                             6x6

This week's DPW Challenge is to paint a market scene, and this one is based on a photo submitted by Carol Marine. There was a figure in the photo but she was quite different than this one. I love the way the canopy of the umbrellas and the shape of the flowers work to encircle the figure.

Table for Two at Eight

30x40

I just completed the third of 3 paintings that I will be sending to Edward Montgomery Fine Art in Carmel. As mentioned before, I have been trying to paint more colorfully and with more interest in the paint itself (a consequence of my recent work with ceramic glazes). My next project is a commission for a painting of the Santa Rita mountains south of Tucson, Arizona. What a switch! It's all about shapes, color and paint interest, right? I can do this!

Cherry Blossom Avenue

                                         6x6 Bid on this painting

I had some time to kill between appointments on Capitol Hill, and it was a gorgeous day, so I went for a walk. The cherry trees on 12th and Denny were just gorgeous, so I decided to paint them as my entry to the DPW Challenge.

Daydreamer

"Daydreamer" 24x24

I've been working on some larger paintings and haven't managed to do little ones as well. This one is based on a 6x6 I did over a year ago. I have been using much thicker paint lately and trying to concentrate on making the paint itself interesting. It's been quite enjoyable painting this way, and I'm liking the results.

Late Night Snack

"Late Night Snack" oil on 3/16" plywood; bid on this painting

This week's Daily Paintworks Challenge was to paint the contents of a refrigerator. Since I enjoy painting figures, and I'm working on abstracting backgrounds, I thought this was a perfect opportunity to do both. I tried to create interest in the paint color and texture, and provide just enough "information' for the viewer to know what's going on.

Ryan gets a baby sister!

Ryan at age 1.5

Today Ryan got a baby sister. Lauren Alexis was born this morning and weighs a healthy 7 pounds 14 ounces.  She has long, delicate fingers and toes. You would think that means  she could be tall and thin. Not a chance. Unless something freaky happens she's destined to be short like the rest of us. I say "us" and I'm only the step grandma- yet the theory holds.

I LOVE the photo of Ryan that inspired this painting. It's sweet yet not cloying and I love his stuffed animals joining him for the bedtime story. I was most challenged by the hand in the foreground, but I found that once I got the values right and "cut in" the background , the hand magically appeared. And the dimples helped. It's all abut including just enough "information". Sometimes I "get it"; sometimes I don't...two steps forward, one step back.... Painting wouldn't be so compelling if it were easy.                              

Lady in Red

Lady in Red 29x22.5

          I have been making a real effort to add interest to my paint texture and color. Part of what this entails is applying LOTS of paint. I used nearly a whole tube of red on this one. I have to say, though, it was fun pushing all that paint around. This is going to Alki Arts Harbor Steps gallery, along with a couple other paintings that I will post soon.                                        

"Contemplation" 12x9

I have been very busy painting, both creating new ones and reworking others. I really like this painting, but decided it needed more color punch. The biggest change is the color added to the background and to the edge of the woman's clothing. I like the way the white line zig-zags through the composition.                        

Embrace

"Embrace" 5x7 oil on gesso board

This week's DPW Challenge was to paint a statue. It's a great exercise in concentrating on values and subtle color variations. I chose to paint a portion of one of the many wonderful statues in Vigeland Park in Oslo, Norway.

Foot Bath

"Foot Bath" 8x6 oil on Gessoboard

I'm back from Arizona, and happy to be painting again. This is my entry for this week's DPW Challenge. I have been eager to see whether all my work with ceramic glazes in the past 4 months will affect my painting. I really think it will! I'm trying to get depth of color and avoid muddy neutrals. I'm also (always!) trying to paint loosely and with expression.

Time to leave Arizona

This is my latest yard art: a totem surrounded by a flock of birds. My concept is that the totem will sit amidst a field of bear grass surrounded by a flock of about a dozen birds that will poke up at varying heights. I'm having a lot of fun making and glazing the birds. We will leave Arizona in 2 days, and I will truly miss the clay studio. This year I have made such strong connections, largely through my work with the glazes- and simply by being there a lot and getting to know people better. I have been asked to teach a class on glazing next year, and I plan to do lots of reading and studying this summer so that I will have more than just the knowledge I gained through my experiments and tests. I absolutely love the glazing aspect of the clay work, and I'm one of the few who does. Most people are intimidated by it and disappointed in their results. It is so rewarding to me to have a hand in making people happier with the end product.

So....I have been thinking about painting again. I'm interested to see whether all my work with glazes will have an impact on the way I paint. I plan to get back to doing the Daily Paintworks challenges, but probably not actual daily painting. I have a commission to paint a fairly large Southwest landscape, and I need to supply some new work to my galleries, so I will be busy with that. In addition, we have a large remodel and a new granddaughter coming up this spring. Busy times ahead. All good stuff.

Primitive Pot

Here's another of my clay creations. I get as absorbed in clay as I do in painting! I went on a wonderful 8 mile hike today (that's right; no clay studio today!) I will be there bright an early in the morning. Lots of ideas brewing in my head....

Tall Ceramic Box

I'm still having a blast in the clay studio. Lately I have been making boxes of all varieties. Last Wednesday I did my first raku firing. It was pretty exciting! The flames, the smell, and the sometimes surprising results. I was quite happy with the way my pieces turned out. I will post a couple of them later. The box shown above is glazed with high fire glazes. It looks in the photo like there is a white line going daiagonally near the bottom. That's a reflection; the line is actuaIly the same clay as the other lines..  have joined the glaze committee, and have been having a lot of fun trying different combinations. I think it's the painter in me that is drawn to this part of the process. Many of the clay studio HATE glazing because they can ruin a piece they spent lots of time getting to that point. I aim to remove some of the mystery and help people get more satisfactory results.

Hello from Arizona

I know this is primarily a painting website, but I hope you will be open to seeing some of my clay art. That's what I do while in Arizona. This "horizontal totem" or "clay prayer flag" installation is my latest project. It certainly adds some color and interest to our front entry. I find myself getting very involved in the glazing aspect of the clay studio. Most of the members hate glazing, as they are overwhelmed by the options and the unknowns of the process. Probably because of my painterly leanings, I love the glaze process, and I'm trying to understand it so that I can help others to feel some control and some joy in glazing their pieces. I'll share some of my "vertical totems" with you in future posts.

I miss painting, but I can look forward to returning to it in a few months. In the meantime, I love clay. I'm so fickle!

Last Painting Until February!

                               "Above and Beyond" 30x48

It's time to put away the paint brushes and start thinking "clay". We leave tomorrow for Arizona, where I spend a lot of time in the fantastic clay studio 5 minutes drive from our house. It's kind of refreshing to switch art forms for a portion of each year. I always feel a tinge of regret at leaving the one and excitement in anticipating the other.

Awhile ago, I painted a restaurant scene from a high perspective- not quite as high as this one. There's something that thrills me about the unusual viewpoint; it's challenging to paint and it takes the scene out of the realm of the ordinary.

I plan to check in to Daily Paintworks and my fellow Bloggers to see what's happening during my hiatus.

Contemplation

                                                     12x9  

This is the style I wish I could attain in all my paintings. I like the way the light shapes move through the darkness and I'm happy with the loose rendering. The paint itself is thick and thin- lots of variety. Why can't I do it every time?????

Deep in Thought

                                                      7x5; SOLD

The Daily Paintworks Challenge this week is to paint an "emotion" . This is a bit of a cop-out, since the emotion suggested is pretty much up to the viewer. If a boy is alone and quiet, is he deep in thought? Sad? Bored? Angry? The viewer must decide.

Lady in Red

                                              30x24

This painting was done in a workshop I attended last month. The assignment was to work with a complementary palette (red and green) but I also was playing with the juxtaposition of thinly painted and more thickly painted areas. I've always liked paintings that were part drawing, part painting (Toulouse Lautrec comes to mind) and this has some of that flavor.

Bulbous

                                   6x6

This weeks challenge on DPW: Paint a light bulb. I decided to pair the bulb with a favorite little black vase that not only is "bulbous" itself but helps to create some more interesting shapes.

Morning Outlook

                                                             18x36

This is a rework of a painting from my workshop earlier this month. There were 2 figures (from models) and I was happy with the guy but not the girl- so I nixed the girl and replaced her with a scene from a Diebenkorn painting. I really like this piece; I think I'll keep it.

Too Soon for the Spoon

                                    6x6  SOLD

Entry #2 in this week's egg painting challenge. This is such a great exercise in seeing all the subtle gradations in color that define the delicate eggshells and the gelatinous egg whites. I threw in the spoon for contrast.

Awaiting Company

                                       9x12


I got a hankering to try something new (for me). Normally I would want to place a figure n the scene, but this one seemed complete as it is.

Egg For One

                                    6x6  SOLD

This is my entry for this week's challenge. This is probably the third time I've painted and egg and shells, and I know this is better than the last ones. The power of practice....

A Plum Among Them

                                    6x6

This may be the most items I've ever included in a  composition. I remember awhile ago Carol Marine did a number of them from much more distant perspective. The simplification required grows enormously the further away you get. Now that's a challenge! This was hard enough....well, maybe I'll try backing off further.......

In a Mason Jar

                                     6x6

The lid on this jar was hard to paint! It rather looks like the whole thing, plate and all, are flying across the picture. Does that make it dynamic?

Shine Your Light on Me

                                   6x6

Red Onions are some of my favorites, to paint and to eat. I also love this color combination!

You Glow, Girl

                                          6x6

The DPW Challenge this week is the "Complement Me" Challenge, courtesy of yours truly. We did something similar in the workshop I took a couple weeks ago, and I found it pretty useful The idea is that you take complementary colors and you can use one in it's full range (in this case the red runs from red-orange to ted-purple and the other (green in this case) you can only mix with white and with the reds. The result will be a cohesive complementary color scheme.

Three Lemons on Blue

                                        6x6

One of my favorite compositional tools is combining shapes of similar color to make new shapes. There are essentially only 2 colors in this, but I think it works pretty well. I love this little green bottle.It may just be my new favorite prop.

Life on the Streets

                                        5x7  SOLD

I haven't really been away from painting. I took a 5 day workshop at the Gage Academy and aside from a short lecture period, painted all day every day. I can't way that I learned a lot of new things, but sometimes the knowledge creeps in unexpectedly. I can say that I loved it!

This little painting is for the DPW challenge and is derived from the photo posted by Carol Marine.

Red Truck

                                     6x6 SOLD


This has been a really busy day, but I managed to whip out a little 6x6 entry for the DPW Challenge. Tomorrow is the first day of my 5 day painting workshop at the Gage Academy. We also have out of town visitors- 4 people- staying with us for a couple days and 12 people coming to dinner on Tuesday evening. Fortunately, my husband is an excellent cook, so he is in charge of planning and (partially) executing the meal. I am REALLY looking forward to this workshop and hope that all the distractions won't , well, be a distraction.

A Bouquet for Today

                                     24x30

Another market painting....I was drawn to, yet intimidated by, all the flowers. I wasn't sure how to use them in the composition to enhance yet not overwhelm the picture. I also wanted to have the focus on the man's activity rather than his face. I think the glove helps to do that.

Lunch Break

                                     20x24

Another of my Pike Place Market paintings. I was attracted to the warm dark colors of they interior as they contrasted to the brightness outside.