Plumb crazy 5"x7" 11/1/09

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These are part of my small collection of plumb bobs. They were included in my "Tool Portraits" show a few years ago. It is a little tricky to get all the angles and perspective right especially if I'm not laboring over it as I do in more serious paintings. All my latest paintings are available on my eBay store. Pass the word and make comments on my blog if you can. Thanks!

My blog: http://claudiahammer.blogspot.com
My website: http://claudiahammer.com
My ebay store: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/claudiahammer
My email: claudiahammer@insightbb.com

Can't cut this 6"x6"

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I love my scissors, at first I had three pair but somehow it was not working> Looked around for something else to put in and I thought the marble might work. I like the glow it has. Happy Halloween!

My blog: http://claudiahammer.blogspot.com
My website: http://claudiahammer.com
My ebay store: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/claudiahammer
My email: claudiahammer@insightbb.com

"Reflecting on" 6"x8" $100

This was our model today. I thought she looked like she could be on a broadway musical. She had a warm light on her right and a large window with the overcast light coming in on her left. I thought I had done a rather good job until I photographed it. I should have painted it with more color so it would be more dramatic.

My blog: http://claudiahammer.blogspot.com
My website: http://claudiahammer.com
My ebay store: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/claudiahammer
My email: claudiahammer@insightbb.com

Awl, cut it out!

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Time to do something different. Something that doesn't rot. The awl belonged to my dad and the cutter is my latest new tool. I had been using an old one that Dad had and it's very dull. This one is like having a brand new shiny car. Well, not quite like that, it doesn't honk or burn rubber.

My blog: http://claudiahammer.blogspot.com
My website: http://claudiahammer.com
My ebay store: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/claudiahammer
My email: claudiahammer@insightbb.com

Jack O'Lantern

6"x8" oil on panel

This gourd is Irish and he is scaring the heck out of the little pumpkin. This gourd was given to me by some dear friends in Southern Indiana, Pat and Bonnie. Pat cut out the face. They have been growing these gourds for quite a few years now and sell them along with pears that come from their orchard. I have this one set up in my studio and I light him up every day.

My blog: http://claudiahammer.blogspot.com
My website: http://claudiahammer.com
My ebay store: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/claudiahammer
My email: claudiahammer@insightbb.com

Eileen & buddies

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I decided to use a purple background on this one. I don't think this picture shows the right shade. I took it in natural light but the day is extremely overcast. I will try to reshoot and replace it tomorrow. Since these peppers are so luminous it is tricky to get the shadow side of the pepper dark enough. It takes using a bit of the opposite color in the shadow to grey and darken it down.

My blog: http://claudiahammer.blogspot.com
My website: http://claudiahammer.com
My ebay store: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/claudiahammer
My email: claudiahammer@insightbb.com

Laying down on the job

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Back in the saddle again, so to speak. I'm getting down to business as usual after a weekend in a cabin in eastern Kentucky. Spectacular views and the fall colors were beautiful. I love the subtle colors of these peppers. The light comes through the pepper somewhat and gives it a luminous affect.

My blog: http://claudiahammer.blogspot.com
My website: http://claudiahammer.com
My ebay store: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/claudiahammer
My email: claudiahammer@insightbb.com

Taking a nap

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Looks like it is just resting it's little stem on the floor. I did a figurative portrait this morning but I don't think it was good enough to show. So here is another. I'm going to a cabin in the hills of Kentucky tomorrow and try my hand at landscape. Wish me luck.

My blog: http://claudiahammer.blogspot.com
My website: http://claudiahammer.com
My ebay store: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/claudiahammer
My email: claudiahammer@insightbb.com

Beautiful mystery foliage 8"x6" oil

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I think this is wonderful foliage but I don't know what it is. Does anyone out there know what it is called.

"I've got you babe"

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I have started listing my daily paintings on eBay so anyone interested in buying can click on to bid. The bid is 7 days long and is payable through PayPal. I can't wait for someone to purchase something so I can find out if I have the process down correctly. I am delivering about 35 daily paintings to the "White Oak" restaurant here in Louisville on Monday. So those will not be available. I will try to have all my painting from now on available for purchase on ebay from now on except for those paintings that are requests.

"United we stand"

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I started on this yesterday but due to certain circumstances I had to paint it in the dark. Needless to say it didn't turn out too well so I finished it today. I'm not too happy with it but it was my effort of the day and I guess I still need to include it. This combo of colors did not photograph too well either. Arrrr!!!

"Who's next?"

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I thought this was going to be easy. Right there was my first mistake. It was more difficult because the items were so thin and I couldn't use a large brush. But despite the struggle I think it turned out well.

Cheyenne, gold & silverpoint, 10"x14", 9/11/09 $150

We had Cheyenne again this week and since I had already done an oil painting last week, I thought I would try out my new gesso for gold and silverpoint.   I prepared the paper by soaking it in water then taping it down to a board.   After it had dried I applied two layers of silverpoint drawing ground.   I lightly sanded with a 400 sand paper.  The paper must have been too thin because it developed some buckling which I didn't care for.   Next time I will use an illustration board or much heavier paper.   They recommend 2 or 4 ply strathmore.  I think I used 2 ply.    The ground is absorbed in to the paper rather quickly making it difficult to get an absolutely smooth surface.  I worked very fast but maybe did not use enough of a pool in the middle to spread.   The head study came out ok, I like the hands the best.     Ya'll know how I love to do hands.  Also a draw back of this gesso is that you absolutely cannot erase and it is very hard to get an even grey tone.

You're next! 6x6, 9/10/09 SOLD

I've done this painting twice. First time it was so bad I wiped it all off and then started the second one. Sometimes you just have to do that and start fresh. The second time I rearranged the napkin.

Come here, now! 7x5, 9/9/09 $100

I tried to paint this one totally with a 3/4" brush.  The result is more painterly.   Looks more like Cezanne's work.  I was trying to paint each stroke mixed for the exact spot I was painting.  I think I like it.   It was certainly a different exercise for me because I have a tendency to blend and get rid of rough spots.   

Remember, we have an alibi... 6x6, 9/8/09 SOLD

The leeks had to silence the eggplant because it knew too much. This is a cliff hanger because I'm over the leeks for now. I used a different light source and I tried to rush the green. I got so I did not care if I got the color right or not. I have to move on. If I know anything about myself it is that I don't like doing anything more than once. Somehow I lose interest. It is fresher if it is a new challenge.

And then I said to the Grocer.... 6x6, 9/7/09 $100

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I love the herringbone pattern on the leek greens and the smallness of the eggplant.  The eggplant is in charge and knows all and imparting knowledge to the leeks who are more passive and can't stand up.   Who knows what goes on inside the refrigerator when you shut the door?  I need to get a life and stop living through my vegetables.

Hangin out, 8x6, 9/6/09 $100

Using a flat, 3/4" bright brush I try to achieve roundness.   I look for the angles and where the line changes direction.   Using straight lines and making these observations make it possible.   Your eyes connect the dots so to speak and it appears more round than it is.  Am I making any sense?

Cheyenne, 8x6, 9/4/09 SOLD

This was the first time that Cheyenne had ever modeled and we all thought she did wonderfully. She did not move a muscle or even blink. We thought she has an old world look, maybe Italian. She had a grey tank top on so to give her some color we put two scarves together and pinned them like a shawl. I chose not to paint the grey tank.

Onion heads, 8x6, 9/3/09 $100

I was criticized for painting so close to the edges.   I have to laugh because when I was an art director in advertising I would get irritated at the photographers that would crop the shot close which didn't give any options for re-cropping.   I kept telling them to give me more around the edges for bleed and more options.  Marge, if you read this you know what I'm talking about.     So now what have I done...the same thing and when they go to be framed it would be nice for the image to be seen.  One of my favorite places on this painting is the small light green center of the leek.   Unfortunately it might be mostly cropped out with regular framing.  Of course you can always float the board in a frame.  How's that for options.

Salt spill, 8x6, 9/1/09 SOLD

The color did not reproduce well and I tried all kinds of different settings. The yellow is too bright and the background surface it too purple. Oh well! I liked the painting I did a while back called Curry & Salt. It sold during the sale and want to have another on hand. I tried adding a third element but it looked too busy. I'll keep trying other objects. What draws me to these objects is the light through the glass and the shiny steel tops and their reflections. I'm the moth and they are the flame.

Basset Griffon Vendeen, 8"x8", 8/31/09, SOLD

He sure was a cutie. Had class this morning and been working in the studio all afternoon straightening. Moving forward.

Morning coffee, 6x6, 8/29/09 $100

I've been out to the dog show for four days now and have made a whopping $6.00.   Seems hardly worth getting up at the crack of dawn for that amount.   Tomorrow is the last day and I have to break everything down and pack it up.   It has been a lot of fun seeing all those dogs and puppies.

Ears, French Bulldog, 6x6, 8/28/09 SOLD

This is another dog portrait I've done for the dog show. He is a cutie! It rained last night but the storm did not damage anything in my tent. Others were not as fortunate. Saturday is the big day so we are hoping for the best. Whirly Girl has been great as the greeter for the booth.

Spectator, Boston Terrier, 6x6, 8/27/09 $125

This is one of the dog paintings that I've done for the do show.   I love the french bulldogs they are so cute.   I put this one on a small format because it works for the small breeds.  All the dogs at the show are so beautiful and I hope to get more photos to work from while I'm there.

Blueberries & Coffee, 6x6, 8/26/09 SOLD

I love looking down on objects and especially things that make circles. The shadows make it more dramatic. As you see I'm not directly above because the circles are off center and the coffee is off center. In this one even the blueberries and the bowl are circles.

Today I start the first of five days at the Bluegrass Classic Dog Show held in Lexington KY. I have a booth there selling dog portraits, paintings and prints. I'm taking Whirly Girl with me (my Shih Tzu) and Kate is helping with PR, she is so good at it. It's held outdoors and we hope the weather holds up. I will be coming back home every night but will probably be exhausted. I have prepared for this by painting some paintings ahead of time. Now I just have to remember to do so everyday. Wish us luck!

An apple a day... , 7x5, 8/25/09 SOLD

A lot of people liked the heart paper that my sister gave me to use, so here is another one. The cup and saucer are from a set of porcelain that my grandmother owned. They are so delicate and light, I'm afraid I'll break them. This is almost a family affair isn't it.

The Tour Guide, 6x6, 8/22/09 SOLD

I've been on a roll with these blueberries, need to use them before they rot or get devoured. Someone mentioned that I could talk about painting round objects without curves. When I draw I try to view the subject as a series of straight lines, and at some point the straight line veers off to another angle. Instead of painting/drawing it as a curve I will put it down as two lines or two planes. It tends to make the drawing/painting more exciting to me. Use the cherry as an example, there is approximately 9 angles making up the whole outline. Your eye will connect the lines and see it as real. To me it looks more real than one that has been rounded off. All the blueberries are painted that way as well. Notice all the straight edges.

How did you get there? 6x6, 8/20/09 $100

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I'm blank.  Can't think of anything to say about this piece.   It's self explanatory.  Maybe it has nothing to say either.

The Rock Star with the Bugettes, 6x6, 8/19/09 $100

I found another dead bug and just had to use it.   They really harmonize well, if you could only hear them.   Their audience was mesmerized.