Norwegian Fjord Draft horses, Red Barn

detail

" Melinda's Victoria "

Oil

12"x16"

This is the very special Christmas commission I was busy working on for a good friend, hence very few daily paintings. Now that Melinda has opened her gift I can post an image of the painting here! While the 3 week old filly, Victoria, is the center of interest I wanted the entire painting to tell a story of their amazing farm with the beautiful red barn. The property has Idaho snow covered mountains to the north, so of course my telephoto image brought them closer. Then there are the sage covered south facing hills and finally the flat farm land. I am learning about Norwegian Fjord draft horses. They are about 14 hands so some people call them ponies. The manes are typically "roached" or cut so that you see the dark running down the center of the blond mane. Victoria's mane and tail was very curly, she was so cute. Melinda will now remember back when I was taking pictures in August and now know what my intensions were really all about!

The difficulty with this painting was getting the eyes right, not easy on such a tiny painting. I would put the strokes down and like it, then think it needed something else, end up wiping it all off..I did this many, many times. That is when I had to leave the painting alone for a few days and come back with a fresh eye and more patience. I'm really happy with how it turned out...and so is Melinda. That's the big pay-off!

Private Collection

Merry Christmas, Glass Ornament

" Shiny Brite "

Oil

6"x6"

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and Peace & Love in the coming New Year.

A note on this painting that I did last December. It wasn't until I was finished that I noticed I'd painted a reflection of myself. My first self-portrait...it was painless.

" Green Pears in Dough Bowl "

Oil

9"x12"

Private Collection

Filling in for today's post is this little oil I painted a few years ago. The linen napkin gave me fits and now as I look back over this past year I realize how much the daily paintings have helped me with drapery. I am working on a commission this week that is taking some time, so no daily's til it's finished. Check out Neil Hollingsworth's latest commissioned work...talk about patience! These are much larger paintings then I have seen him do and I can imagine the amazing amount of work entailed. Notice his palette off to the right with all his premixed colors. Now that is palette discipline! I teach using a premixed palette when working from a photo. For plein air I will mix 4-5 values to get going. For large work I plan the entire painting's colors and premix them. All decisions are made and it makes painting more relaxing and I'm not tempted to just throw a bit of this or that color because I haven't used it yet. Whistler premixed and I love his work. So many ways to work, we each find what works for us. I usually premix most colors for my little daily paintings, too.

Satsumas, Mandarins, Orange Fruit

" Satsumas III "

Oil

6"x6"

$425 custom framed

Click here for purchase information

A young man working in produce was peeling these into a large bowl for sampling. He offered the bowl to me and said he couldn't quit eating them. They were delicious. I especially love how easy it is to peel Satsumas and Mandarins. The skin feels as if it isn't even attached. Here are these three, marching forward on a vintage blue William Sonoma dishtowel. I wasn't quite in the mood to paint today. Good thing I had my studio open to to public and so that made me paint. After awhile I was in the zone and I am pleased with the results.

Apple, Lemon, Satsuma, Salt Shaker

" Still Life with Salt Shaker "

Oil

6"x8"

As promised, something bright! I usually only paint one type of fruit at a time but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Guess I covered most colors on the color wheel with this one, too.

Click here to purchase

Lemons & Apple on Olive Cloth

" Lemons & Apple on Olive Cloth "

Oil

6"x6"

Painting # 119

I've wanted to use this olive patterned cloth for some time and decided yellow on yellow would make for a sunny and cheery painting. Cheery is what we need these days! I'm going to watch a Dana Carvey dvd after dinner which should be good medicine, too. Sending love and positive thoughts your way!

Tomorrow I will look for other bright things to paint.

SOLD

Bakelite fork, bacon fork, can opener

" Still Life with Cutlery & Can Opener"

Oil

6"x6"

Available

I enjoyed painting this arrangement of inorganic objects for a change. They were arranged on glass and the reflections appeared subtle. I want to focus the next 2 weeks on posting as many little daily paintings as I can before my son comes home from college for Christmas break. Will see..as life has a way of changing any plans I make.

Evening bag, clutch, leather

Linen Bunny Tote

Rosey Red Clutch

How's this for getting off track of my daily paintings? In the near past I had a passion for making handbags and decided to open an Etsy Store to sell the remaining ones. Entirely handcrafted, leather handles, leather flowers and all. I have been sewing since I was 5, accidentaliy poked the kid sitting next to me in the face with a needle as I was embroidering! Anyway, I thought you'd get a kick out of seeing "another side" of me. I find crafting more "fun" than painting as its more about doing "busy hands, mind can wander" and not all the mental gymnastics that painting takes.
Please visit My Etsy Store