The ugly duckling, 6x6, 8/17/09 $100

SOLD

While the blueberries are not particularly hard to do, there are just so many of them. Or rather that you need many of them to make a statement. This needed something with or amongst the mass of berries so I happened to have a cherry. Which is good because you can't go wrong by having a spot of red in the picture.

Ready or not... 6x6, 8/16/09 SOLD

These blueberries were found and eaten as soon as the painting was done. They can't hide from me.

The standoff 6x6, 8/15/09 $100

The sale today was a big success.   Thanks to all of you for coming by my studio and making my event successful.    I sold a number of other pieces from my collection of works and I know they will be enjoyed by all.   There is nothing like having original art on your walls.

Whirly girl is exhausted from greeting everyone all day she is napping and will probably only get up to eat dinner.

Sara N, gold/silverpoint 6"x6", 8/14/09 $100

I decided to do something different today.  I felt like drawing so I used my same 6"x6" gesso panel by Ampersand and drew with gold & silverpoint which is very nice to use but also very unforgiving because you really can't erase.    I realized that the surface was a little too textured, for my liking, for this medium.   I've used silverpoint before but it was on a very very smooth paper with a clay surface where your line quality can really show up.   I don't know what brand the paper was because I bought it when studying at the Florence Academy, Italy and didn't know I couldn't get it here in the states.   I only have one sheet left and it is a yellow ochre color which I don't care for (why did I buy it?).    So...I have gotten a silverpoint drawing ground that I can apply and make my own surface.   Of course I didn't plan out what I was going to do today and just winged it and this is what I got.   This photo does not show the detail but what the heck this is what I did today.

Where did everyone go? 5x7,8/13/09

SOLD

I painted this on 8/13 put it in the computer and forgot to post it. I only have a few more cherries left. Have to paint them before I eat them all first. One of my favorite color combinations is blue/white.

Good Morning! 5x7, 8/12/09 NFS

I did this painting for my sister gave me the background paper thinking it would make a good backdrop for a painting.   Today is her birthday.   Happy Birthday Gail. I gave it to her as a present and she loved it.   Now she wants me to do another one to hang with it.

OK, I wanted to talk about the SALE.  Originally I was going to have the sale for just the Daily Paintings, but then I thought "Why not open up the studio and have my other works for sale also."    I have it a week long for all those across the country that can't make it to my studio but want to buy some original art.   The OPEN STUDIO this Saturday is for for everyone in this region.   You can view a few other works on my web site.   Pieces available for sale are scattered through out the site.   Most are sold.   If you are interested in anything on the site and it is not marked just email  and ask.  I'm sure there some I've over looked.

Run Away! 6x6, 8/11/09 SOLD

These cherries were huge.  The ones that come off my tree are very different.    I see that I skipped yesterday, where did the day go?   I'm in a furry of dog portraits so in the next few days I will be posting them.   Need to get them done.

Translucent, transparent, 6x6, 8/9/09 SOLD

Showing the light coming through the grapes was exciting to see but not so easy to portray.   The shadow side of the grapes were luminous  and yet needed to be dark.   I'm not sure I was successful.    I ate the grapes so I will have to try another day.

7 DAY SALE is starting this Wednesday, August 12 - Aug 18.    25% OFF all these DAILY PAINTINGS and everything else in my studio.   I need to make room for more paintings.    I'm also going to have an OPEN HOUSE Saturday August 15 from 10 - 3 at my studio, 908 E Jefferson St.   First come first serve basis.  Now is the time to get those works that you've been lusting over.   Tax will be added if you reside in Kentucky, S&H is $10.   You can contact me through my email, iclaudiahammer@insightbb.com or phone 502-625-3008.

Want to come along? 6x6, 8/8/09 $100

Sold

Again the reds on the plums did not come out true to life.   The painting looks better in person.  

Redhead, 10x8, 8/7/09 $150

Our model today was a redhead named John.  I tried to paint with blockish strokes of value and color.  The jury is still out on this one.   Afterwards I went out to the National Hot Rod show which has about 13,000 cars from 1948 or before.    I try to go every year.   I love them.  Ahh...maybe in another life.

Sunrise, 6x6, 8/6/09 $100

SOLD

OOPS!   I painted this yesterday, photographed it, downloaded it to my computer, named it, got distracted and never posted it.   So here it is.   The whole set up was simple, not very many colors but some subtle color and value changes.   They look like they're mesmerized, like zombies.   Sorta like some people are before coffee in the morning.

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.