Friday, February 28, 2014

Napping on the sofa 11"x14" oil

I painted this a few weeks ago and was not happy with the color combinations surrounding the figure.   The composition was pleasing to me and I wanted to keep it so I unified the colors by first putting on a glaze using Winsor Newton burnt sienna and ultramarine blue making a dark brown.  Then I made the sofa and pillow the same color.    Now I think it works and saved a painting that I might have wiped off or discarded.

Please click here to view pricing information. 

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Two steppin ballet 8"x8" oil

The background color today is so close to the ribbon color that the ribbon disappears in spots.   I could have used a darker color but I liked the subtle shift in color and it was a challenge to capture.  

Please click here for pricing information.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Twin ballet soles 8"x8" oil

For some reason these shoes decided to face the wall and bare their soles.   I think they are telling secrets.

Sold

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Ballet couple 8"x8" oil

Looking through my view finder for a long time I decided that cropping the left shoe was more exciting than showing the whole shoe, which made it look more conventional and also the ribbons became more important.

Please click here to view pricing information.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Ballet ribbons 8"x8" oil

The ribbons steal the show in this painting.  I was happily painting along and all of a sudden I realized that I should stop... it was done!

Sold


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Ballet shoes cropped 6"x6" oil

I like cropping close.    It felt like I was painting an abstract.   Painting the ribbons is my favorite part.

Please click here to view pricing information.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Ballet shoe sole 8"x8" oil

It is amazing to me that they don't wear these shoes very many times and they have to put so much work into them before they wear them like roughing up the leather sole and sewing on all the ribbons and elastic.    I cannot imagine wearing them.   You can give someone a concussion with the toe of the shoe.

Sold

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

One Hung Shoe 8"x8" oil

After saying it out loud the title sounds like a dish from chinese takeout or maybe I just sneezed.   Anyway...  every time I start one of these ballet shoe paintings I feel uncomfortable and think that this time I have really more than I can handle.   But before you know it two hours have passed and it is done.   Sometimes getting into that uncomfortable zone is a good thing!

Please click here to view pricing information.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Two ballet shoes 8"x8" oil


I love all these paintings of ballet shoes... my favorite part on this one is the shoe in the back, the glow on the inside and the shadow it makes on the wall.    The shadows are an important part of my 
compositions... on all my paintings.   


Sold

Thursday, February 6, 2014

One and a half ballet shoes 8" x 8" oil


When I decided to paint more than one shoe the 8" square seemed to work best.   Painting looser is something I have been trying to do.   Losing edges is a goal also.   After taking this long break from painting my perspective seems different also.   

Sold


Ballet shoe ll 6"x6" oil


I cannot imagine wearing these shoes, not even for a minute.  A couple of ballerinas in Louisville donated these shoes to me a number of years ago for some paintings I was working on.   I love the image of the shoes not the pain of wearing them... not that I wore them.   I did take tap lessons... actually roller skating was more my thing.   Flying down the asphalt street with the clip on skates making sparks as I flew.  But I digress.   For these shoe paintings I have added a few other tube colors. John Howard Sanden's Pro Mix color system for portrait and figure painting.   I do not use them in my portraits, they don't really work for me, but they are the perfect colors for these ballet shoes.   

Sold


Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Ballet shoe, 6 in x 6 in oil


I discovered my pile of ballet toe shoes and thought they might make good paintings.   I am working on keeping the painting loose.   The shoes are pink but they have a lot of grey in the color.   The ribbons may have been pink at one time but are faded a bit so they are more yellowish.  It is cosy to be painting inside while it is snowy, icy and freezing outside!   Today there is a covering if ice on everything!

Please click here for pricing information. 

My blog: http://claudiahammer.blogspot.com
My website: http://claudiahammer.com
My email: iclaudiahammer@twc.com
My DPW gallery: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/chammer-209