WORKS IN PROGRESS

WHEN I PAINT I FEEL GOD'S PLEASURE

AMELIA IN PROGRESS

WYATT IN PROGRESS

I am finding that I love, LOVE oil painting more than I ever imagined.  I'm also realizing that I love painting portraits, especially when I know they look like who they are supposed to, ya know?  Last week our art instructor said we would be working on the figure or portraits so I rummaged around for two photos of the grandkids and got so excited with the subject matter that by the time I came into class I already started both.  We don't learn HOW to paint in this class, it's more like a group of us painting together and getting the instructor's advise if needed.  When I joined this group they had all been painting together and knew each other.  I was the new kid and made the mistake of saying I had never painted in oils.  Now they all flip out and tease me with things like, "Yeah sure, you've never painted a day in your life".  I kept correcting them, but at this point, I just go with it and say I'm a fast learner.  The fact is, I am as amazed as they are.  It's killing me to see these sweet faces sitting at my house and no time to work on them since last Thursday.  It's okay though, because it gives me time to see what I need to do, like Wyatt's ears are two different sizes and pondering what Amelia will wear.  Hopefully I will remember to post these when complete, but just wanted to share the works in progress.   

JUDGE THESE BOOKS

We have been constructing 10'x10' built-in bookcases in the living room for a month or so now.  By we, I mean Tim.  I just drew up what I wanted them to look like and walked past with encouraging words like "Great job, hon" and " Lookin good".  It seems to have worked because they look amazing.  No reveal yet, as I now have to fill the many shelves.  I tend to like the clean, uncluttered look, which is a small challenge as Tim is a book lover and  the older the better.  I like the pretty books, the ones with more pictures than words;  art, interior design, fashion, and oh so pretty covers.  These are just a few books from the boxes and boxes of Tim's well-worn collections.  So once we got the worktable in my studio finally cleared off I sheepishly broke the news to Tim that I might like to make book sleeves for some of his books...you know, to protect them and all.  God knows we wouldn't want them to get damaged or anything.  To my surprise he not only liked the idea...he wanted to do it himself.  We already had a roll of white craft paper which was my choice, but if you are thinking of doing this the butcher block craft paper would work nicely, as well.  

This barely puts a dent in the amount of books he still has to do, but I can't wait now to display these crisp titles.  As you might guess it is very easy.  I would have preferred old looking font stamps, but this is what I had in the size that worked and you wouldn't have thought about it if I hadn't mentioned it, right?  Now isn't this a happy ending?

GREENBOX ART

With the 100 degree temperatures and $5.00 a gallon gas prices going down slightly, the remodeling and oil paintings around here have ramped up.  This weekend we finally tackled my studio AGAIN.  We have probably rearranged that room four times. Tim would totally say that is the one time I have under-estimated anything.  Trying to figure out how to cram all I do and need in there is no easy task.  But every time we start another house project the studio tends to be the one place to stash, pile-up and close the door.   So, we got in there and made some progress.  Of course, now I can't find my car because we moved the piles to the garage.  But I can see the whole worktable surface and to celebrate I hung my Ball Jar paintings above the worktable and put the landscape painting over the living room fireplace.  Hurrah for progress.

Speaking of my artwork, you have asked and I can finally say that these four pieces are available through GREENBOX ART + CULTURE.  The canvas art is superior quality with deep gallery wrapped sides.  The Ball Jar canvases come in two sizes, 10" square and 21" square.  The landscape is 30" square.  Click on the link and get 10% off.  By the way, I have other pieces in their OOPSY DAISY division if you are looking for children's art.  

REFLECTING

San Dieguito Park

This was my first assignment from my first oil painting class.  Other firsts: painting trees without compulsively painting each and every leaf and first try at water reflections.  I added my signature hoping that would be a definite  finishing point, then proceeded to tweek something else.  I need instruction on how to sign a painting with a paintbrush.  Whew.  Oh, and I clearly wasn't thinking when I chose a 1.5" gallery wrapped canvas.  I am more familiar with acrylic paints which dry so quickly.  I kept forgetting the four sides and had to go back to fill in which stayed wet for days.  Every time I moved, set down or touched the artwork it caused issues.  Let's just say, there is evidence around the house.  Oh well, it's been a huge learning curve, but a huge accomplishment, as well.