It snowed yesterday! Late April OMG

I'm choosing to ignore the snow on the ground which has no business being there in late April! So we'll think SUN!!!

Back to the studio to paint away the day.

Still in progress

This is one of those paintings that I love and hate at the same time. Some of whats happening in the rendering of the blossoms feels right but the overall composition is odd. I haven't given up but this may be one of those paintings where I learn a lot but don't feel satisfied with the end product.

3 Boats in a Box

I collect funny little toys that make me smile then arrange them for a still life. I like to think of them as having conversations and we're onlookers to the interaction. These guys are preparing for an adventure.

Bleeding Hearts and Forget-me-nots

I love all the color thats popping out in my garden. Now if the sun would only decide to shine it would be perfect!

Tulips Work in Progress

Now that the markets have fresh flowers I am painting them again. The challenge is to get as much information down as possible before the blooms wilt and drop their petals. Usually I try to work the painting up in layers but with this subject matter I head straight for the blossoms then go for the setting. As soon as the most recent layer is dry to touch I need to glaze over the little white pot so it's not so bright.

Spring Hooray!

The sun is shining this morning and I'm determined to spend as much time out in the garden as possible. Yesterday my two dogs, yorkie-poos Mop and Scooter, were in the corner of the yard sniffing and barking madly. I bent down to pick them up and bring them inside and just as they were safely tucked under my arms a little brown mouse poked his head out of a very tight place then made a run for it. Now I know what the dogs were so excited about!

Waiting for the sun...

I was actually able to spend time in the garden weeding today, so good to be out in the sun. This has been a particulary dreary spring, so sitting in the garden with the sun on my back was lovely.

This is a portrait of my daughter Ellie. She is one of my favorite subjects to paint.

April showers...

I LOVE fresh strawberries. This year I hope to grow some in the garden, nothing tastes like fresh fruit and vegies just picked!

The Rain Cleared Out!

I was finally able to get out and photograph some of my latest work. These two were finished last week. I had somewhat of a breakthrough and was able to make the foreground more interesting.

Japanese maple detail

It's raining again... Spring in the NW can be particularly trying. We are tired of the gray days and ready for warm weather. I have paintings ready to photograph but must wait for the rain to stop so I can set up outside. Which brings me to my greatest challenge as an artist, PATIENCE. I have had the habit of rushing through to finish paintings and it shows, particularly in my earlier work. Now I am trying very hard to slow down and consider each layer of paint, each pass with the brush.

Hood Canal Plein Air

This painting came from the weekend I spent with my critique group on Hood Canal. The day had an ethereal atmosphere. It's interesting how much more appealing the plein air studies can be in comparison to a well planned out studio landscape. They both have their merits but I often prefer the quick on site study. I'm anxious for the weather to warm up a bit so I can do more plein air and photography around my home in Western Washington.

Lake Tipso and Abandoned Barn

Two more works in progress.

This painting is about 80% finished. The foreground shapes need defined and I'll work at tying in the sky with the rest of the painting by adding some warm color to the horizon.

inspiration

March has been a very rewarding month. The time spent in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Frick was incredible, I still get chills when I think of all of those masterpieces. Such a privilege to get up close to see the actual brushstrokes of a Rembrandt or a Van Dyck.

Then there was the first ever spring POBL retreat at the Hood Canal. What can I say about spending four days surrounded by such creative compassionate intelligent artists. Inspiring!!!

Finally back

It's been a while since my last post. I've been working very hard. There are three areas that are getting most of my attention these days. Figure studies for Juliette Aristides Classical painters group, Landscape for Mitch Abala's Landscape Critique group and Still life for the gallery I show at. I'm working at getting rich transparent shadows in my paintings and this still life felt like a good step in that direction.

Fun news, I'll be traveling to New York City next week to spend a couple of days in the Met and hopefully the Frick. So exciting!!!

complimentary lemons

More practice with the warm cool balance. The other area I'm trying to improve in is luminous transparent darks. The idea is to use transparent thin layers of color in the shadows to create a dark yet glowing area.

I've noticed along with the skills I'm developing, patience with the process is also required. When I first started painting I tried to blast through my paintings with the idea that the faster I painted the more m0ney I made if it sold. Now it has become much more important to take the time to create work that I am proud of.

Warm and cool

Here's something that has finally begun to work in my paintings; bread areas of color that are activated by the addition of small areas of the opposite temperature color.

In a recent workshop I attended taught by Geoffry Laurence, he was able to explain how the old masters created such depth in the shadows. My goal is to take what I learned and practice creating these atmospheric shadows.

Beautiful snow!

We had our first big snow yesterday. I took a walk with my daughter, we laughed and had a wonderful time. There's something about fresh snow fall that makes me feel like a kid.

The days are fairly dark and cold here so I spend a lot of time in the studio painting. Sometime in mid February I'll get spring fever and start day dreaming about my garden. That's when I hit the flower stands at the market so I can paint tulips and daffodils.

Drawing practice

For Juliette Aristides classical painters group we are brushing up our drawing skills. This is an area that I need some work in. Often I am in too much of a rush and get things wrong. So the order of the day is to slow down and correct mistakes befor they can come back and bite me in the a*&!

Catching up

I spent all of last week in a workshop with Geoffrey Laurence. He is an wonderful artist and teacher. Now that my teaching is done this week I am able to hole up in the studio and start practicing some of what I learned. The oranges to pictured will serve as a "before" shot. The after shot will be a painting done in the Renaissance tradition, so it will take some time to complete. In the meantime I hope to keep you updated with the works in progress.

Good News

Three of the paintings I had in the Kaewyn Miniature and Small Works show and two at Beehive Day Spa sold in December, cool!

and...

The landscape of the Skagit Valley I entered was accepted in the CVG 2008 juried show, way cool!

It's really nice to have confirmation that all of the study and hard work I've done this year is beginning recognized.

Last night reading in bed, a feeling of pure happiness hit me. I was reading about the middle ages and planning for a lesson for my little guys art classes when I realized how satisfying and inspiring it is to learn and grow. The idea of the years ahead of working and studying is so exciting.

2008 will be a good year.

one last holiday image

This is the last little holiday painting to share. It's been a lovely Christmas and New Year. Now, though, I'm looking forward to building new skills and reaching new goals, very exciting!!!

Morning Ride

This painting is for my sister-in-law Teresa. She has a couple of horses and lives in Alaska. It still needs work on the horse but it's getting close to finished.

Sometimes it's a challenge to keep narrative paintings like this one from seeming overly sentimental. I'm hoping the treatment of brushstroke and color will pull it over into a successful piece of art.

Let it snow...

No, it's not snowing here in Seattle, lots of rain though. I can remember my grandpa saying "without the rain it wouldn't be so green in the Northwest." So welcome rain.

Painting is going well. Every time I sit down to paint a still life the form is more and more comprehensible and the subtle color and light changes are easier to see. Translating what I see has become less difficult.

Landscape, on the other hand is mind boggling. I am working on a couple of pieces in the studio and while some aspects are successful others are a disappointing. I belong to a critique group led by Mitch Albala which is incredibly helpful. Listening to the comments helps tremendously. One thing is have learned so far is not to just jump into a painting. Paying careful attention to composition, values and color in the planning process helps eliminate lost time on a mediocre idea.

Happy Holidays

Wishing everyone Happy Holidays and New Year!!!

2007 has been a very good year for me, a little crazy making but that's all part of the ride.

My goal for the new year is to work hard on the content of my paintings. Especially making deliberate choices of subject matter and their meaning.

New apple painting

I'm working on a series of fruits and nuts. I love the richness of color and wonderful shapes.

Breakfast in Class

This was a painting done at the Juliette Aristides workshop this summer. I set up my breafast on the table next to the easel and went to work. In reality I bought two of everything because it took a couple of mornings to finish. It wouldn't have been the same if I didn't get to nibble on the raspberry scone as I worked.

Paintings for Kaewyn Galleries small works show

I'm working on a series of still life's for a gallery show of small works. They will take up to six of my pieces so I'm getting as many done as possible by mid November so I can choose the best of the group.

Some interesting personal growth, I'm a member of two critique groups and in both there has been quite a bit of discussion about choice of subject matter and developing a personal style and voice. I find this very thought provoking. How does one articulate artistic inspiration? I'll let you know if I fiqure it out.

SOSF package

Here are some of the fun treats I received in a lovely package from Australia sent by my SOSF friend.

Thank you! It was such fun to open all of the beautifully wrapped presents!

work still in progress

This painting has been a real pain in the you know what! I think it is finally heading in the right direction. Quite the challenge to get a believable sense of space.

series of still lifes

here's a shot of my work table in the studio. I'm working on a series of small still life paintings for a gallery show in November. Sure is fun!