Now that we have your attention... , 6x6, 8/5/09 SOLD

Thought I'd challenge myself and use a clear object so the light and shadows show through.   

I want to announce that I'm having an END OF SUMMER SALE    25% off everything in the studio (including these daily paintings).  I need to make room for more paintings!    The SALE starts August 12 - August 18.  Contact me during this time or stop by the studio, I will be having an open studio day Saturday August 15 from 10 - 3.   If you are out of town the cost of S & H is an extra $10  and residents of KY have to pay tax.  All sales need to be cash or check.

Empty nest, 6x6, 8/4/09 SOLD

A friend gave me these beautiful egg shells that are from Aracana chickens.   It was a real challenge to paint them because I was painting during a torrential down pour this morning.  I think 4" of rain came down in an hour.   There was more rain than that during the morning but it was very very dark in the studio which made it hard to see color.  At one time it looked like midnight.   There was flooding all over the city in places where it never floods.  I went into the kitchen for more coffee and the stove was flooded and water was coming out of the light/fan fixture.   I now have a temporary fix on the roof and I'm not turning on that fan/light for a week.   

Three stand alone, 7x5, 8/3/09 $100

Sold

This was a partial demo for class this morning.   I love the dramatic darkness of these cherries.

Pink Ballet shoe, 7x5, 8/2/09 SOLD

The key to getting something like this right is correct value.   I know I'm always talking about value to my students but I think it is important if you want to capture  the the essence of your subject.   The shoe is pink but in many places it has a lot of grey or blue.   In fact there are places where it is not pink at all.   The inside is luminous because of the light source coming through.   The inside of the shoe is actually a muslin color but when painting you have to forget what you "know it is" and paint what you "see".    The value even fools me sometimes.   I have these "value finders" that I made from gel sheets. (I sell them for $5 each)  There are 3 of them, red, green and cobalt blue.    The blue one shows you how much white is in what you are looking at and shows you instantly where the lightest lights are.   The red  and green are helpful in showing if you have the right amount of the opposite color in it to grey it out.   

Everybody out!, 6x6, 8/1/09 SOLD

Made some blueberry bran muffins and had lots of blueberries left over.   I had forgotten how delicious blueberries can be.   There was some daylight coming in from the north windows to the right which kept the shadows from being too dark and gave them a cooling green tone.   I like that.

Sara N., 6x6, 7/31/09 SOLD

Sara Noori was our model today and she spoiled us by bringing her homemade Lemon Poppyseed Muffins.   They were yummy!  I will have to ask all the future models what they are going to bring.   Finally, I painted a portrait in one session that is in good enough shape to post.   Some days they work out and some days they don't.   I do better when there is no pressure, when I have 2 sessions to work on it or if I don't care how it turns out.   I don't know why that is.   Can anyone explain it?

Coffee in Tahiti, 5x7, 7/30/09 SOLD

I wanted to do another one using reflective objects.    Threw in an umbrella for color.   My tendency is to put in more detail so I'm constantly reminding myself to pull back, squint, then paint the large shapes and values and hope for the best.  Was distracted briefly by lots of loud, shrill barking when Whirly Girl (my Shih Tzu) saw a cat out front that was hanging out and eating some bread that someone dropped.   Finally I shut the blinds.   Out of sight, out of mind.

What do we do now? 6x6, 7/29/09 SOLD

Oranges, how refreshing.   No classes today so I hope I can get a lot done in the studio.  Working on new dog portraits in preparation for the Bluegrass Dog Show in Lexington KY.

Naked Shadows, 7x5, 7/28/09 SOLD

I think these popped up over night!  I would swear they weren't there a couple of days ago.  Thought it was a good idea to take advantage of the opportunity to paint them while they were here.   Until later when I was tearing my hair out trying to get the color, value and composition painted.    Until I was reminded how I hate doing flowers.   Until I was weak from fatigue and hunger.   OK, maybe that is a bit much.   I would like to mention how I did not really enjoy doing this painting.   With the colors, it could go in a baby's room.  Not my usual style.   What can I learn from this?

June Taylor Cherries, 6x6, 7/27/09

SOLD

These are very talented cherries.  This was only one routine out of many they could perform.  This was the most relaxing for them, so they could hold it the longest.

Can you come out to play, 7x5, 7/25/09 SOLD

There is this glow from within the center of the mass of Q-tips that I liked.  This glass jar with it's plexiglass top came from the cosmetic counter at Stewart's Department Store.

Snaps hangin out, 7x5, 7/24/09 $100

I waited until the end of the day to do this painting and it shows.   I just wanted to be done with it so I hurried.  I do much better and care more about it in the morning.

Inner glow, 7x5, 7/23/09 $100

The glowing light effect inside the paper bag is what excited me.  I thought at first that the bag was going to be too big for the painting size but I think it worked out well.  There is something about the common paper bag that is intriguing. 

Ballet shoe with bow, 6x6, 7/22/09 SOLD

A few years ago I did a series of ballet shoe paintings. Thought I'd try one as a daily. The shoes are light pink but there is a lot of grey in there too. John Howard Sanden has a Pro Mix Color System that he developed for painting portraits and figures. I bought the little box of ten colors a few years ago and did not like using them for skin tones. But when I was doing the ballet shoes the colors were perfect. At least I can use them for something.

Gossip, 7x5, 7/21/09 $100

Sold

The two strawberries in the middle look like they have their heads together in conference.  I'm leaving Oklahoma today and heading back to Louisville KY.   I painted this one in advance because I knew there would not be time to paint one today.  

Purpurea shadows, 5x7, 7/20/09 $100

This is an Echinacea plant, who knew that you have to shove this up your nose to get relief from a cold.   There is an awful lot of nature around here, I feel like I'm at camp.    Need more bug spray.

Something fishy in Oklahoma, 7x5, 7/19/09 $100

These beautiful salmon heads were in the deli when we selected dinner.    I never see this in Louisville KY.   Guess I don't go to the right places.   Now it is in an Asian stew.

Tiger from the garden, 7x5, 7/18/09 SOLD

These tigers have been lurking in the garden begging me to paint them.   As I was painting, a dark shape caught my attention through the window.  I was just about to let Whirly Girl out to investigate when I saw it fully and discovered that it was an adult skunk walking through the garden.  Don't think I will let her out for a few hours.

Black-eyed Palm Trees, 6x6, 7/17/09

Sold

The garden here is a great source for painting objects.   These Black-eyed Susans are something I don't have at my ready at home.   The shadows look like Tahiti.   Went to the Phillbrook Museum yesterday and saw a fabulous drawing show.   We are headed off to Oklahoma City today.

Sticky Violetto, 6x6, 7/16/09

SOLD

Here I am in Oklahoma and in the garden are these artichokes that are fabulous.   Whirly Girl (my Shih Tzu) has been investigating the area under every place she could after the rain last night.     Came in the house with black mud all over her face and feet.   Had to clean her up before she got all over the white carpet. 

Six beans, 6x6, 7/15/2009 SOLD

The shadows that are cast by the beans is more interesting than the beans themselves. I'm leaving today for a small vacation but I plan to post a painting every day. But you know how the best laid plans go. Lets hope for the best.

Anchovy olives, 6x6, 7/14/09 SOLD

When Ruth and I were painting in southern France a couple of years ago, we stayed at Jacqueline's house in Entrevenne.    She would cook up wonderful meals and sometimes serve hors d'oeuvres.  One of Jacqueline's favorites was olives stuffed with anchovy.   I must say that it did not appeal to Ruth or me but we tried them to be polite.   Let me tell you, these little treats became one of our favorites.   Yum!  (There is not as many in the jar now.)

Birthday balls, 6x6, 7/13/09 SOLD

The birthdays keep rolling along no matter what you do.  So I went to get a pedicure, now my feet feel great.

Witch Hazel, 6x6, 7/12/09 $100

We found this old bottle of Witch Hazel in a house we moved to in 1968.  It was in an old cedar closet on the second floor.   The little bottle I found in a yard.   I love the reflection and shadow they cast.

I want to thank all 27 of you that subscribe to my blog and get it every day via email.  It gives me a boost and incentive to keep going.    Thank you!

Salt & curry, 6x6, 7/11/09 SOLD

I don't have a pepper shaker to match the salt shaker so I paired it up with my curry shaker which is really a powdered sugar shaker but I use it for curry.    I tried using soft brushes and ran into trouble so switched back to bristle and that worked better.

Hiding out, 6x6, 7/10/09

Sold

I liked the reflections so much I thought I'd do it again but more simply. We had a model today but the painting needs more work or to be burned. I'm not sure which at this point. So this is today's painting instead. I like it. It's simple, clean.

Two for tea, 7x5, 7/8/09 SOLD

This was scary to paint but after I started it was fun.  It took longer than others I've done, maybe there are too many elements.   I need to either use less objects or simplify the detail. Can you see me in the painting?    Whew!  I'm glad it's over.  Now on to the rest of the day.

Are we related? 6x6, 7/7/09 $100

Seems like a perfectly normal question.   They are exactly the same color but the tomato, because of it's translucent quality, seems to glow from within.  Where as the pool ball reflects the color that surrounds.  So even tho they look alike they actually have different DNA.  In case you were wondering.

Staring into the light, 6x6, 7/6/09 $100

Sold

The glow from the inside center of the small strawberry is what excited me.  Also like the reflection that they cast on the cup.   I think the glare from wet brush strokes interfere with the image.

Escaped slavery, 6x6, 7/5/09 SOLD

These tomatoes remind me of the slaves chained together, moving in unison rowing the slave boat across the ocean .