"Eyeing Rubins" 6"x6" oil on Ampersand gessobord

To purchase, please contact me. $100

These glasses are my favorite, I think they're from 1920 or before.   The book is about Peter Paul Rubins.   The book pages are white but in the lamplight made it have a yellow cast.

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

"Fine print" 6"x6" oil on Ampersand gessobord

To purchase, please contact me. $100

OK, I know there are no eye glasses in this painting but I thought the use of the magnifying glass was enough.  I got this favorite magnifying glass of mine in an antique store about 14 years ago.  I thought it was perfect for this painting of my dictionary.  The chipped metal base is a magnet. 

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

"Andelusia" 8"x10" oil on gessobord

To purchase, please contact me. $125

At the end of the session today I asked the model what her name was in the outfit she was wearing.  She replied "Andelusia"   Great name.   I decided to work larger today, usually I do half the figure on this size panel.    It was fun doing a larger head for a change.

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

"Lentil soup" 6"x8" oil on canvas

To purchase, please contact me. $100

My mother gave me this cook book in 1973 a year before I got a divorce, maybe if I had had it earlier I might still be married... naaa!   She never wanted us in the kitchen except to clean up so I did not learn to cook.   This was her way of teaching me, I guess.   This book has everything  and I have worn it out and especially the page on lentil soup.  The illustrations are sooo 70"s.

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

"Sewing book" 8"x6" oil on canvas

Sold

This Singer Sewing Book was published in 1949 and covers everything from hand sewing to upholstery including clothing, drapes, decorating your home and even making a car bassinet!  Here is one of the first sentences in the book and it will show you how people thought at that time, "The purpose of this book is to put into your hands in one complete package the means of attaining one of the happiest experiences of a woman's everyday life. Sewing, when it is done with skill and confidence, can be exactly that, for it can mean the satisfaction of family needs and wishes through the work of your own hands."

I have been sewing since I was 10 and it has brought much joy and misery to my life.  I have to tell you though that this book of 240 pages is my bible when I want to do a corded buttonhole or pocket or have any other questions about sewing.   

Never did make a bassinet.

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

"Lost in thought" 6"x8" oil on Ampersand gessobord

Sold

Well  Duh!   I could use an art book as a prop!  It just occurred to me today!    Then the decision was... which one?!   This book, Gondola Days, is about Isabella Stewart Gardner and the Plazzo Barbaro Circle in Venice.  This magnificent palace on the Grand Canal has been occupied by the Curtis family, expatriates from Boston since 1881 and over the decades has had a stream of notable visitors, including Henry James, Robert Browning, John Singer Sargent, Claude Monet.  I listen to audio books while I paint and last year I listened to "The City of Fallen Angels" by John Berendt, which is a nonfiction thriller set in venice.  It centered around the opera house which burned under mysterious circumstances three days before Berendt's arrival in early 1996.   When I saw there was a book about some of the people he wrote about I just had to have it.    Have I read it?  No, but I have looked at the pictures!  

(This is probably more information than you ever wanted to know.) 

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

"A good summer read" 6"x6" oil on Ampersand gessobord

To purchase, please contact me. $100

Little paperback books always remind me of summer reading on vacation.  Taking them with you on the trip or buying one at the airport so it made sense to me to have sunglasses with the book and having bright yellow because of the sunlight.   The hook for me was to show the glow on the opposite page and the glow on the in between pages.

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

"Mary's Gold" 6"x6" oil on Ampersand gessobord

Sold

This was an interesting painting to do.  Someone commissioned me to do this painting of their vase which has a special meaning in their life along with the Marigolds.   I loved the way the reflected light plays on the shadow side of the vase.

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

"Carlton" 8"x10" oil on Ampersand gessobord

To purchase, please contact me. $125

Our model this past two fridays has been Carlton Ridge who is also an artist and jewelry designer known through out the US.  She patiently sat still and was a great model.   Don't you just love her color combinations!

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

"Leonard Cohen Poems" 6"x6" oil on Ampersand gessoboard

Sold

This is a book of Leonard Cohen's poems and yes some of them are are his songs.   I love his writing.   My favorite part about this painting is where the earpiece touches the book and the light shining through leaves an amber glow.

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

"By the book" 6"x6" oil on gessobord

To purchase, please contact me. $100

When I first finished this one I thought I had wasted my time.   But after leaving it for a 4 or 5 hours I think it looks  better than I thought.   I want to thank everyone who leaves comments on my blog.  Your comments are great because they often give me a different perspective.   Thank You!! 

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

"Taking note" 6"x6" oil on gessobord

Sold

At first I had just the book and glasses but I felt that something else was needed and preferably something of color.    This red pencil spoke to me and wanted to be in the picture.   I like the shadow that it cast on the book and green surface.

Side note: I want to thank all the people  (you know who you are!) that have made comments on my blog. I do read all of them and often smile smile smile.  Thank you again!

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

"Good reading!" 6"x6"

To purchase, please contact me. $100

Today I'm starting a new series.  I love the way eye glasses cast shadows on surfaces.   This series will include eye glasses and books.  I'm excited!

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

"Singled out" 6"x6" oil on gessobord

Sold

I couldn't resist just one more orchid painting.  

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

"One orchid" 6"x6" oil on gessobord

Sold

There were two orchids this morning but while I was setting up the one that was more puny looking fell off and then there was only one.  

Side note:  I shipped a commission about 3 weeks ago and found out this morning that it had not arrived because I put the wrong address on it and sent it to a bad-industrial neighborhood in Detroit.   Long story short, the lady at the post office had the carrier go over to the address and retrieve the box.   I am so relieved and thankful that these two people went the extra mile to get my box.    I will find out more tomorrow.

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

"Two orchids" 6"x6" oil on gessobord

Sold

Now I'm down to two orchids but one of the stems is still green!  Go figure

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

"Three orchids, three twigs" 6"x6" oil on gessobord

Sold

While at the art store the other day I bought some new canson art paper to use as backgrounds and I have been trying them out the last couple of days.   I think this red and green combo is great especially with the three little black buds.   Notice the triangle that the twigs make?

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

"Four orchids" 6"x6" oil on gessobord

Sold

This background is grey but it is on the redish purpleish side with light yellow making the highlights where the light is the strongest.   I like this stark grey with the red jumping out.   I also like the twigs crossing and the shadows they make.

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

"French Amanda #2 8"x8" oil on gessobord

To purchase, please contact me. $125

The hand was my favorite thing about this pose and last week I did not paint it in.   This week I was determined so I worked in this square format and lightly sketched in the pose and painted the hand first!

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

"Three orchid buds" 5"x7" oil on gessobord

Sold

Thought I would try it today with a little small clear glass beaker.  I really like the way the branches change direction at every joint making it zig zag.

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

"Zig zag twig" 6"x6" oil on gessobord

Sold

These orchids are slowly shriveling up and dropping off the twigs.   I loved the way the bare twig zig zagged and the shadow it made.

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

"Red, white & blue" 6"x8" oil on canvas

Sold

I think the background color makes this painting seem very peaceful.

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

"Feeling Japanese" 6"x6" oil on gessobord

Sold

A friend gave me these branches of small orchids and later that night I ate sushi so I'm feeling Japanese at the moment!   Now while these orchids are probably not Japanese they have the look of Japanese art to me.   This was fun!   It is sort of like abstract painting.   Or maybe large fat red spiders.

I would like to thank everyone who came to my studio this weekend and make my sale a huge success.   At times I had a crowd here.   I hope you are as happy with your purchases as I was in painting them.
Thank you all!

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

"French Amanda" 8"x10" oil on gessobord

To purchase, please contact me. $100

Amanda was a trooper today.  She had a hard time finding the place and when she showed up her allergies were acting up.   Don't you know that she sat perfectly still and did such a wonderful job even though her eyes were watering and she felt miserable I'm sure.

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

"Here a fig, there a fig" 6"x6" oil on gessobord

I swear this is the last of the figs.   Unless I go to the store and see more.  

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

"The have and the havenots" 6"x6" oil on gessobord

Sold

The having and not having here is about the stems, just in case it wasn't obvious.    The haves are free and loose to do what they want and the havenots... well you know.  It could be that the haves just don't know what to do with themselves and the havenots are more focused.  I guess it depends on how you look at it.   Side note: I have a friend that makes these incredible hats!  Mary LaRue, check out her blog.

Announcement:

I'm having an open studio this weekend so if you are in the area of Louisville Kentucky please stop by.

908 E. Jefferson St,  Friday Sept 17, 2-5 and Saturday, 10 -3.  Would love to meet you!

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

"On the outside" 6"x6" oil on gessobord

Sold

I only have the green figs left.   Will just have to make do.   Thought I would experiment with using two colors.   I think it is very simplistic and I kind of like it!  I had a third element but I thought it too busy and took it away.    Of course there are hundreds of ways to arrange items.

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

"Outnumbered" 6"x6" oil on gessobord

Sold

These figs will only last one more day and then I will just have to eat them.  Well actually I have been eating them one by one and the group is dwindling.   Oh who gives a fig!
I want to thank the person who pointed out my mistake about the complementary color.   I misspoke,  the color was not the complementary which is  the opposite color in the color wheel.   If you make a triangle, say the top point is on green then another point is on orange and the third is on purple.   It is called on my color wheel, a Triad.   I use this triangle often when deciding my color choices. 

In the case I chose blue because of the blue color on the figs and the brown for the same reason. 

Below:

It took me all week to finish but here is the final results for the other two walls in the studio.

This is my West wall, on the left is my self portrait corner.  (A painting of Whirly Girl is there)  The paintings on the far right are my  figurative paintings from my friday sessions.

This is my North wall, do you see Whirly Girl looking out the window?   This is one of her jobs along with watching for the UPS man, the mailman and lets me know if anyone comes to the front door.   These two front windows are part of the reason I bought this house.   The glass area is 8.5 feet tall and lets in lots of light.  Well as long as it is not a dark overcast day.

I love my new color on the walls.

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

"The IN Crowd" 6"x6" oil on gessobord

You get a different perspective from the outside.   Here again I used the complementary colors green and orange.  

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

"There goes the neighborhood!" 6"x6" oil on gessobord

Sold

This must be Fig season.   I was at the market getting some things and there were little boxes of green and purple pointy things.   I recognized them as the fruit I had at a party last week, they were delicious.  Can't say that I've ever had one before.    Now that I think about it, did anyone see the show on public TV about what it takes to get a fig to ripen?   Well let me tell you I remembering swearing that I would never eat a fig no matter what after seeing that one hour show!!   I didn't think about this at the party.

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