Artworks Daily

sun in a puddle

2012-02-01T07:54:00.000-08:00

weather in a puddle, sun and clouds with concrete. trying to see more abstractly and create an interesting photo. added warming filter in photoshop and cropped to 8x5", an atypical proportion.

A little breeze

2012-01-29T10:12:00.000-08:00

A chilly breeze and some overcast clouds from the backporch on a sat aft. been trying to photograph "weather" recently. used the soft focus adjustment in picasa 3.

jan 26 park and ride

2012-01-26T23:15:00.000-08:00

went for the b/w pattern against late aft clouds.

A lovely winter walk

2012-01-25T17:06:00.000-08:00

Took my camera for a walk this eve. then did some processing in picnik and picasa just for FUN!

Zucchini leaves

2011-07-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

From my garden, some impressive leaves! wow, really simple to add the picture from Picasa web albums. I am using google/picasa for my online storage of photos.

Drawn Inside 1, gradation of Value

2011-06-26T12:58:00.000-07:00

Attempted to post using IE9 but publish post button was not working, so I am trying Chrome.

After watching a Grant Fuller video on http://artistnetwork.tv I have re-realized that drawing can have lost and found edges, too, like painting. It was fun to do and I don't know why I don't do more!

Catching Up

2011-05-20T18:58:00.000-07:00

My 3 year old Toshiba laptop died a few weeks ago, and I ordered a desktop from Dell which arrived 2 weeks earlier than expected, Yay! This new computer has plenty of power and a large monitor; using Corel Painter has become enjoyable! No lagging and room to paint with all the palettes handy.
Also have found some better online storage options. The latest version of Picasa has a much improved uploader and Google sells 20 gb of storage for $5 a year. so its much more feasible to use the web albums for backup photo storage.
TTFN =)

More fun with the sun-set oil painting!

2010-11-27T10:43:00.000-08:00

I am working on improving my composition sense and simplifying brushstrokes to make stronger paintings. This is oil, 9x12" on masonite from a photo on WetCanvas! in the reference image library. Also showing a couple of possible compositions I drew in my sketchbook. One reason I chose this particular photo is that it is of Chincoteague Island; one of my fav books as a child was "Misty of Chincoteague" about the wild horses that live there. It was written and illustrated by Marguerite Henry and Wesley Dennis and I would love to have a copy of it!

Sunset Oil Painting

2010-11-21T17:38:00.000-08:00

My blog should be called "A painting occasionally"; but yay! today was occasionally. From a photo
9x12" oil on panel

Acrylic landscape edge of the yard

2010-09-02T10:08:00.001-07:00

Fun in the am. 9*12" on gessoed Masonite.

Pic test

2010-09-02T07:08:00.001-07:00

A photo taken yesterday, posted via my new Android smartphone.

Storm Clouds Above Lake Ca acrylic painting

2010-07-28T19:34:00.000-07:00

Took some photos with my new Nikon last spring; we get some great stormy weather out here. It's lovely to paint a cool scene like this when the weather is summer-hot outside!
Chroma acrylics on cradled birch panel, 18"x12".

$235.00 thru Pay Pal with free shipping in USA.

Art project

2010-06-29T06:40:00.000-07:00

A fun project is available to artists here. it's an arty calendar for 2011 and each page is decorated by a different artist; it's free to join in but the deadline is July 1st for images so be quick! I chose my daughter's birthday as my page to design, Jan 3rd. Artists can put a website or blog address on their submission so it's a bit of advertising as well. http://www.fantazya.ca/diary2011.html

"Clouds over Mountains" acrylic landscape

2010-06-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

A light and airy piece using acrylic like watercolor; painted en plein air near the community garden in Lake California. The interactive acrylics are versatile and fun! 11"x14" on artfully wrinkled mulberry paper mounted on masonite.

"Top of River View Drive" acrylic landscape painting

2010-06-13T08:06:00.000-07:00

My fav plein aire piece so far this year, I painted, appropriately, from the top of River View Drive in my community, Lake California. I used the interactive acrylics on a collaged paper surface on masonite. 11"x14"

acrylic landscape painting Lake California

2010-06-09T18:50:00.000-07:00

Another in my new series of acrylic landscapes using Chroma Interactive Acrylics. This was painted near the equestrian center in Lake California. The surface is collaged paper on masonite, 11"x14". An honest plein aire painting, no tweaking at home.

acrylic landscape study and studio painting

2010-06-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

I have been working with the interactive acrylics lately, am beginning to really like them. They are versatile, spontaneous yet changeable. I bought a stay-wet palette which helps to keep the paint at a workable consistency. Did this study at Discovery Park in Red Bluff, then did a larger studio piece
from that.
study 9x12" on w/c paper
painting 16x20" pintura painting panel

morning photos

2010-05-26T08:55:00.000-07:00

A lovely cloudy morning in Lake California; unusual for this time of year and perfect for taking photos. In this photo I like the tall onion stalks and flower bulbs against the diagonal box board, wood chips and my garden behind. I would have preferred to focus on the onions, but didn't set the focus correctly. Anyway, I had an hour of fun taking pictures this a.m. and for that I am grateful!

Near Red Bluff Acrylic Landscape Painting

2010-05-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

Got a chance to go out to paint in a Red Bluff park; used the Chroma Interactive acrylics and really enjoyed the whole experience! Life has been really hectic this year, a high school graduation/college selection process, a wedding and moving house have sucked much of my free time away. This painting took about an hour, it's 8x10" on Ampersand Clayboard.

Oil Painting Chloe the Sheltie

2009-12-23T11:33:00.000-08:00

Just finished in time for Xmas, a commissioned oil painting, 16"x12" of a relative's adorable Sheltie. Chloe is beyond cute and full of life; she even enjoys posing for photos! What a good girl!

Orchard Paintings Accepted into Show

2009-11-30T11:21:00.000-08:00

My two olive orchard paintings done for the Extraordinary Ordinary Show at Avenue 9 Gallery were accepted by the owners, yay! The show runs from Dec. 11 thru Jan 16th. Avenue 9 Gallery is located on ninth ave, just off the Esplanade, in Chico, Ca.
Both oil paintings are 8"x10" done on masonite and will be for sale at the show.

2 oil paintings, after the workshop

2009-09-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

Created a new version of the lighted path in Cohasset painting and went out this a.m. to paint in my community, Lake California. Both 6"x8", oil on Yupo synthetic paper which I prepared with 2 coats of acrylic gesso. A smaller size than normal for me; and I like it!
I did drawings first to test ideas, maybe 10 min each. Both paintings were completed using a limited palette of Cad Yellow Lemon, Quin Red, Ultramarine Blue, Ivory Black and Quick Dry White. I tried to pay attention to shapes and intervals and values, oh my. This old dog seems to be learning a few new tricks, hurray!

"Lighted Path, Cohasset"
"Top of River View Dr, Lake California"

Lenn Goldmann Painting Workshop

2009-09-18T18:57:00.000-07:00

I attended an awesome painting workshop this week, sponsored by Avenue 9 Gallery in Chico as a part of this year's paint-out event. The workshop was held at a beautiful estate in Cohasset, a tiny community in the mountains about 20 minutes from Chico. The instructor, Lenn Goldmann is a highly qualified successful artist and teacher with 40 years painting experience; as if that were not impressive enough, he brought an artist friend, Waif Mullins, who is an accomplished pastelist and oil painter, to help out. The class was primarily about design; Lenn lectured for 30 or 40 min, gave us some great handouts explaining how to create pathways in our paintings, etc. Then we chose a spot on the grounds and painted or drew for a couple of hours. Lenn and Waif came around to each of us, offering suggestions. After a lunch break, some of us chose another location for a second painting; soon we gathered together for a critique session. There were about 8 people in the workshop and everyone chimed in with ideas, it was a pretty relaxed, friendly group. I feel this workshop has re-energized me in regard to my painting work, am planning to do a lot of painting this weekend. On Sunday I'm going to a paint-out on a ranch in Orland, yippee! The photos are the paintings I did, tho the lamp one I re-worked @ home.

Color permanancy test Hansa Yellow Light

2009-09-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago, I began using Hansa Yellow Light in my paintings. It is semi-transparent and I like the way it mixes with other colors. Soon after I started using it, I heard some reports that this pigment has a tendency to fade, but couldn't really tell from the pix on the web how much. So I decided to give it a test myself. I painted a swatch on a piece of gessoed Masonite; when dry I covered a section with opaque paper and hung it on the wall. The room it is in gets a few hours of sunlight per day, tho I have a translucent curtain over the window, and the sun does not directly shine in. About a year ago I checked the swatch and it looked ok to me; I just checked it again and I am sorry to say the fading is definitely noticeable. Although it just occurred to me that the paint under the paper may have darkened. I'll try painting a fresh swatch nearby to see if it matches either. I may be replacing this pigment on my palette.
The photos do not show the extent of the difference that is discernible by the eye.

UPDATE: I had to paint some gesso over the spot where the scotch tape holding the paper pulled it off, sheesh. Then painted some Hansa Yellow light over the new gesso, below the 2 year old HYL paint swatches. it's had a week or more to dry, and to the eye there is a definite difference. the new paint swatch is very saturated, while the older swatches seem duller and the paint under the paper has become an orangey yellow.
I am now using Cadmium Lemon Yellow on my palette; it is more expensive but has proven it's reliability over time.

Collage Landscape Postcards from Lake California

2009-09-05T18:10:00.000-07:00

Postcards from Lake California, small treats made from art, scrap and recycled paper. Each about 4"x6" with torn and deckle edges, glued to 140# watercolor paper. Available in my Etsy Shop, $15
each. Handmade, unique, fun!

Plein Air Oil Painting "Deer Trail, Fall"

2009-08-30T09:50:00.000-07:00

A Sunday morning treat, painting in the backyard! One of the benefits of living in Lake California. 12"x6" oil on stretched linen canvas, 3/4" gallery wrap. No frame needed. $85 thru paypal, includes US shipping.

2 colors, one oak tree oil painting study

2009-08-26T07:36:00.000-07:00

A painting experiment using only ultramarine blue and raw sienna plus white. The canvas is
12"x6" stretched linen; the subject is a dead oak tree.

oil landscape painting, "Manzanita in the Yard"

2009-08-24T11:07:00.000-07:00

Oil painting in the morning, ahh, it smells like art! 8x10" oil on a raymar panel. The morning sun lights up the rugged golden fields here in Lake California; I'm really feeling the beauty today!
$95.00 thru paypal. Includes US shipping.

Wood chips organic art

2009-06-21T08:49:00.000-07:00

Feeling a little nutty, I made some temporary art on the back steps. Using material at hand is economical and low impact on the environment, clean up is a cinch, too! Then I fooled around with pix in photoshop and came up with a composition I like, very textural and warm.

I was influenced by a movie I saw about artist Andy Goldsworthy who makes a lot of neat nature art.

Turtle Bay Exploration Park Photos

2009-06-18T19:34:00.000-07:00

Went to Turtle Bay Exploration park yesterday. Enjoyed seeing "Sue" the T rex and The Art of The Brick exhibit by artist Nathan Sawaya. Walked across the beautiful Sundial bridge to McConnell Garden, snapped a lotta pix and had some photoshop fun tonight. =)

acrylic landscape "Farm Buildings, Red Bluff"

2009-05-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I went to a park in Red Bluff to paint en plein air; used the interactive acrylics and had a great time! Also used some really big brushes and I think it helped the painting be less fiddly. The park is on the edge of the Sacramento River and definitely a place I will return to. 9x12" acrylic on masonite

Acrylic landscape paintings

2009-04-18T12:20:00.000-07:00

I recently invested in a full color palette of Chroma Interactive Acrylics, and have been testing them for outdoor use. I like being able to layer paint quickly, yet these paints will also wash off or blend after drying with a little water or the unlocking formula (smells like alcohol). It's wonderful to use these paints as a watercolor type wash, then go over with brush and knife like acrylic or oil. My fav surface so far is gessoed masonite, I like to apply the gesso in a random fashion to create some texture; also used Ampersand Claybord and Gessobord, and some canvas panels.
To keep the piles of paint from drying too quickly, I covered them with a squeeze of Thick Slow Medium, a gel that does what it's name says. Overall, I am really pleased with these paints, and will continue to use them.
Artist Jan Blencowe encouraged me to give these paints a try for outdoor work. She is an artist and teacher I met on wetcanvas.com

Spring Morning, Lake California oil painting

2009-03-28T15:48:00.000-07:00

A gorgeous spring day, and time to paint, heavenly!
10x12" oil on a high quality Raymar canvas panel.
This is a pond near the front gate of Lake California, a small community in Northern California.

Entry in American Cancer Society collage fundraiser

2009-03-23T07:14:00.000-07:00

A collage I made for an ACS fundraiser, more info on this later. 8"x10" bookcloth, paper, matboard, beads.

Landscape oil painting "End of the Road"

2009-03-18T18:45:00.000-07:00

The first plein air of spring 09, what a treat to paint this afternoon. Oil on sanded paper mounted on masonite, 9x12" painted from a dead end road in Lake California.
$150.00 thru paypal's secure site. I will foot the shipping bill :)

Leaf/Katie Project Mixed Media artwork

2009-03-14T11:02:00.000-07:00

Mixed media is interesting to do, so open ended and tho you may have a plan, it builds itself spontaneously as well. The media interact in ways the artist may not control, but she/he ultimately decides when the work is finished. The layers of "stuff" feel like something beyond the mere visual, something about the bits peeking out from under I find very appealing. I also like using words and my handmade paper and incorporating a drawing or painting into the work--makes it seem like more than one moment, a culmination of my art work, a little "herstory". Katie is my daughter who died of leukemia in 1999 when she was 15. She was a wonderful artist, we did a lot of art and craft projects together.
I don't know how well the dried leaves will hold up, most were dried in the microwave, and both applied and covered with acrylic medium. I attempted to paint with thread and gold paint on top, it did not work well, probably should've used string or maybe wire curled into a shape.
Materials include: modeling paste, acrylic paint, packaging, gold leaf, dried leaves, rose petals, paper, handmade paper, a poem, a drawing, a flower catalog page. All on a wrapped linen canvas, 11x14". This is now hanging on the wall, and I really love the personal statement it makes. So much more than a photo or even a painted portrait, it's something like a scapbook memory page that is hanging up for visual enjoyment, rather than stuck in a book on a shelf. I am calling this "Art Flotsam" making art from trash, recycled materials, keepsakes, and what-have-you. An economical way to create art.

Mixed Media Collage, project Rauchenberg

2009-03-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

What a kick to create in mixed media, I was excited the whole time working on this piece. Taking chances, trying things, mixing metaphors and supplies, it's like an art party for one! I love all the parts and I love the finished piece also, it's for Gary Reef's Project Rauchenberg on Youtube. Check it out; Gary has a lot of videos on youtube re: mixed media techniques. He's innovative and personable; well worth watching.
My collage includes, paint skin, packaging materials, a magazine page sculpture, a brochure photo, an acrylic painting on sabretooth paper, a catalog page, a postage stamp, a drawing from
my Novel Art Journal, a pic from my business card, my name in bar code, acrylic paint and mica pigment. All mounted on a 14"x11" birch painting panel.
I tried to create a rich and interesting surface and I am very pleased with the outcome. The challenge was to create a self-portrait out of recycled materials a la Robert Rauchenberg. These projects will be hung in a gallery in So Cal, and sold for charity next fall.

"Silvery Morning" acrylic landscape painting

2009-02-15T11:39:00.000-08:00

Freestyle acrylic landscape from a photo taken in my front yard. The trees are painted with an iridescent silver paint that shimmers in the light. 10"x20" acrylic on stretched, wrapped sides, linen canvas.

Ready to hang sans frame. 185.00 usd. free shipping USA!

Non Representational acrylic

2009-02-13T06:43:00.000-08:00

An idea seed bloomed into an unusual painting for me. 16x20" acrylic on stretched linen.

"Spring Hillside" Acrylic painting

2009-02-08T17:08:00.000-08:00

Took my acrylics out for a stroll today. The weather turned cloudy and windy and I came back with paint all over me! but I did get a painting done, so it was worth it. "Spring Hillside" 8x10" acrylic on gessobord.

acrylic painting "Eiffel Tower"

2009-02-01T18:03:00.000-08:00

For this painting I first painted three linen canvases with a light to dark variation and added some splatter. When that was dry, I added a section of the Eiffel Tower from a photo reference found at stockxchange.com. Not my usual tea; I think it has verve, if not accuracy. The three canvases should be hung a 1/2" apart for breathing room, and it gives your brain the joy of finishing the lines itself. :P. (shown on a brown board) each canvas is 6"x12" so overall it it 12"x 19" allowing for the 1/2" spaces.

it's Twitter, it's Fun, squawk!

2009-01-31T05:36:00.000-08:00

a mosaic of my twitter followers today.
thanks to walter higgins for creating the mosaic maker.

Twitter Follower Mosaic : A Sxoop Technologies Creation. Imaging Software for the Web.

Matt portrait update

2009-01-28T15:08:00.000-08:00

More or less finished, this was the most difficult one of my recent portraits, think I was overly invested in making it look "right". But I enjoyed doing it nonetheless, and feel it has a renaissance connection, the beard and robe adding to that I'm sure.

update on matthew portrait in oil

2009-01-27T07:58:00.000-08:00

I made some progress on the portrait, not finished, tho. It takes real concentration to paint a likeness, more focus required. A challenging and rewarding exercise in painting!

Matthew portrait in oil, unfinished

2009-01-25T16:07:00.000-08:00

I started this yesterday, but the proportions were off so I scraped it off and began again today. Think this one work out. One of the nice things about oil paint is that is malleable, you can smooth, mix and push paint around to get it to be where you like it , more or less.
Went to BestBuy with my niece this a.m. so got a late start.

"Painted Lady" portrait of my sister in oil

2009-01-20T12:05:00.000-08:00

Believe I have finished this one, but for the sig. Really love the way this turned out, and plan to do more portraits as a result. Allowing the raw sienna underpainting to show thru adds some interest, as does the pose I chose.

Title: "Painted Lady"
Size: 14"x11" oil on wrapped, stretched linen.
NFS

Painted Lady, a Portrait of my Sister in oil

2009-01-19T05:50:00.000-08:00

Suddenly, faces are fascinating to me. So I took a few photos of my sis the other day and decided to try painting her, since I am pleased with the one I painted of myself. Needs some touch-up, but overall I am satisfied. She will see it later today, hope she likes! 14"x11" oil on stretched linen.

Self Portrait 2009 oil on linen painting

2009-01-17T15:47:00.000-08:00

Had a good time photoshopping, then painting 3 of me for a new self-portrait. 10"x20" oil on stretched linen. Still tape on the canvas, will remove when the painting dries. I like the variation amongst the 3, didn't work too hard on "likeness". I think my recent color explorations from the book "How to See Color and Paint It" by Arthur Stern had an influence on this painting.

self-portrait

2009-01-10T14:55:00.000-08:00

I feel it's time to work on a self-portrait--I am my most accomodating model! Took some photos and played in photoshop, fun for a change. Am thinking about painting this, maybe with acrylic.

My truck is in the shop again, what a hassle and expense. I cannot recommend the '02 Ranger! Luckily I have family nearby to rescue me.

"5 Green Apples" oil painting study

2009-01-08T08:01:00.000-08:00

It is cheering to paint these colorful studies of fruit in the middle of our gray winter days. This one is about 10"x12" oil on unstretched linen.

Copper Bowl study oil painting

2009-01-04T15:08:00.000-08:00

Concentrating on the warm reflective surface in this painting study. It really helps to focus on painting these seemingly simple studio set-ups. All the recent studies have been painted with a knife to avoid fiddling unnecessarily. This one is 12"x10" on a reused raymar canvas panel.
Not thrilled with the light on the photo, will try to get one with more accurate color another time.

tangerines color study painting

2009-01-01T06:34:00.000-08:00

Still working on color and value studies. I had forgotten that it's enjoyable to focus on painting a still life. Comparing the shapes and shadows and adding the accents and highlights is what painters have done for maybe thousands of years. Definitely feels like something larger than myself...
about 9x12, oil paint on unstretched linen.

color exercise pink grapefruit oil painting

2008-12-25T15:18:00.000-08:00

It surprises me how much color influence I see when I look closely. oil paint on canvas board. The book called for an orange as model, but I used a pink grapefruit cuz I ate the orange. One of the hazards of using food as a painting subject.

Color exercises

2008-12-20T15:43:00.000-08:00

Had fun today doing some color exercises from a book entitled "How to See Color and Paint it" by Arthur Stern. Some surprising colors appear thru reflection and lighting changes. Good practice to look closely and really focus on what you see. Collage of images created in Picasa, the free image catalog and editor available online. All done with oil paint and a knife on loose linen or yupo synthetic paper.

Tree study with yellow ochre on linen

2008-12-06T10:26:00.000-08:00

Studying structure, value and pigments. Pleased with the yellow ochre used here, in addition to raw sienna, burnt sienna, pthalo blue, chromatic black and flake white. A limited palette helps to establish a baseline for the values, and I feel I have made some progress in my description of trees with a brush. About 10"x8" oil on loose linen taped to a board. bargain priced at $80.00 for the holidays.

"Fall Color" plein air oil landscape painting

2008-12-05T19:04:00.000-08:00

These trees only keep their color for a couple of days, I belatedly noticed last fall. This year I caught them in time with the paintbox. Fall is beautiful around here, wish I could paint everyday.
9x12" oil on cradled masonite, back is wired, sides are painted a deep orange and no frame is needed.
$165.00 thru paypal's secure site,
I will ship for free within the USA.

plein air oil painting "Grandmother's House"

2008-11-30T08:27:00.000-08:00

Another painting from my backyard; I love the dark house and the warm fall colors surrounding it. This house belongs to my niece's neighbors grandmother. I employed a vignette style more commonly seen in watercolor, where the paint is not applied all the way to the edges. It feels softer and more harmonious to me, particularly suited to this type of canvas which needs no frame. Oil paint on gallery wrapped stretched linen, 11x14".
$210.00 thru paypal, free usa shipping!

Oak limbs oil painting

2008-11-29T13:49:00.000-08:00

I enjoy painting the many oak trees we have out here in the country. The board was toned orange and I let that peek thru to represent the fall color in the leaves. 9x12" oil on masonite.

skyscape oil painting "Clouds"

2008-11-22T07:58:00.000-08:00

Had a few hours one afternoon this week so I painted in the backyard but looking up. ;) 9x12" panel in the guerilla painter box, limited palette of ultramarine blue, chromatic black, pthalo blue and flake white.
finished painting at top.

2 oil paintings "Backyard, Sunday" and "Backyard, Morning"

2008-11-21T05:53:00.000-08:00

These 2 paintings were painted in my backyard on a beautiful weekend. Each is 20x10x3/4", oil on gallery stretched linen. Backs are wired, sides painted as part of the design, and they are especially nice hung together.
$250.00 each, email me for availability.

Photos from the Wildside Art Show

2008-11-15T16:42:00.000-08:00

After much ado, I managed to get a few pix from my camera phone to the web. Top two are some of my paintings shown at the art on the wildside benefit art show. Bottom photo is "swan lake" at the Gaia Hotel looking thru the window from inside the convention center. It was raining.

Shows Over

2008-11-07T08:23:00.000-08:00

There, now, time to relax a bit. Art on the Wildside bravely opened on Nov 1st despite the economy and politics and stormy weather. Unfortunately, it was not well attended. Maybe 100 people came-an estimate provided by one of my peer exhibitors. There were a few sales, small prints and such; I did not sell any paintings. Good refreshments and wine, and the Gaia Hotel is nice. They have a lake with swans in the center of the property, very pretty. I enjoyed meeting some fellow artists and looking at their work. I forgot to take my camera, and apparently did something wrong when I borrowed my sister's cam so don't have any pix to post. :(
It was valuable experience however, and I'm glad I did it. Thanks go to my niece, Barbara, for helping me all day and Linda at Shasta Wildlife Rescue for inviting me to participate.

hello, hello, hello, hello

2008-10-26T19:13:00.000-07:00

This week I am preparing for the Art on the Wildside show held at the Gaia Hotel in Anderson next Saturday. I don't know what to expect, as this is the first art fair venue I have done. The show is a benefit for Shasta Wildlife Rescue and I am hoping folks will come thru for them. It will be valuable experience at any rate. There is quite a lot to do to prepare for a show and tho I am thrifty, there are inevitable costs as well. My paintings and I will be ready! I have painted a few new pieces, and pulled out some nice landscape studies done in the past, so I feel my booth is a good reflection of my art vision. Being my first foray into the art show arena, I did not have a budget for the $1,000 set-up, so I've repurposed some shelving units and whatnot and am coming in under $200. Yay!

One Show and Another

2008-09-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

I am having a YART SALE, in conjunction with the Lake California community yard sale coming up on Oct. 4th. I am doing a little promotion with flyers, Lake California does create a list of people participating and I am inviting my cleaning clients. My sis gave a flyer to a friend of hers, who told her about a benefit art show for Shasta Wildlife Rescue being held at the new Gaia Hotel in Anderson in November, and I am signing up for that, too! I am really excited to be putting my work in front of buyers, but there is a lot of preparation and I'm kinda frazzled! framing, touch-up, invitations, new bus cards, flyers, talking to people, figuring out display options on a shoestring budget, yikes! I'm sure I'll learn a lot from this--

oil painting, "Backyard Morning"

2008-09-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

oil on stretched linen canvas, 20x10" i used picasa to upload and adjust the photo.
It is so enjoyable to paint in my backyard, I did it two days in a row!

$250.00 usd free shipping in USA! available thru paypal

Oil Painting, "View from the Arena at Lake California"

2008-09-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

bit of a rework on this piece, and using picasa 3 to make adjustments, crop, rotate, fill light, and also to upload and post to blogger which i have not done before. since my camera software does not work with vista, i have to use picasa anyway to import the pix from my camera card, so usually then i open photoshop to do the crop, resize, etc, then go to blogger and upload. this is a few steps quicker , i like that!

"View From the Arena" landscape oil painting

2008-09-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

Wandered down around the equestrian center this a.m. and decided to paint this view of Lake California.. I did a color underpainting which is atypical but seemed to work well.

9x12" oil on masonite

available thru paypal

$135.00 with free shipping in the USA.

"Black Walnut" plein air landscape oil painting

2008-08-31T08:25:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful morning for outdoor painting in Lake California. 9x12" oil on masonite.

Then, in the evening, my son and I were invited to join my sis and niece at a "Star Party" in Shingletown. We looked at stars and planets thru big telescopes shared by their generous owners, it was interesting, and FREE! The sky looked fantastic, just filled with stars. I see inspiration for Van Gogh's "Starry Night"!

"Green Basin" landscape oil painting

2008-08-25T14:55:00.000-07:00

The Sunday painting this week, from the hill overlooking "Indian Lake" out here in Lake California. 9x12" oil on masonite.

Had a heap of vehicle problems on Saturday, only partially resolved, so was not able to paint more over the weekend.

135.00 thru paypal's secure site, free USA shipping!

"Dark Water" landscape oil painting

2008-08-21T19:09:00.001-07:00

The second from wednesday's creek visit. Will definitely paint at Cottonwood Creek again! It's energizing to have paintings turn out to my satisfaction. another 9x12" oil on gessoed masonite.

Available thru paypal, $135.00 with free shipping in the USA.

"Creek Tree-o" landscape oil painting

2008-08-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

Had a work free day, so took my new pochade box down to Cottonwood Creek and painted. I actually painted two pictures, and I like them both! It's easier to function with the Guerilla Paintbox, and I can walk farther.

"Creek Tree-o" is 12x9", oil on gessoed masonite. Painted "en plein air" (in the fresh air).

$135.00 thru paypal.

"River View" oil painting

2008-08-19T08:30:00.000-07:00

A sweet afternoon with a view of the Sacramento River. CLEAR skies, nice breeze, time to paint, yay! Oil on a Raymar linen panel, 9x12". The only thing I do not like about these panels is that the photo always needs a little blur because of the linen texture picked up by the camera.

Chuck Close on youtube

2008-08-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

One of my most admired contemporary artists (living) is Chuck Close. His career and fabulous work are awe-inspiring! Recently I came across a video on youtube released by the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) which is an interview with Chuck. The film is cut into two parts of 10 or 12 minutes each and well worth viewing. Mr Close is well-spoken, articulate and pleasant. I am excited to gain some insight into his philosophy of making art, and am mulling over some of his ideas now.
The title is the link.
Enjoy!

"Farm and Hills" oil painting

2008-08-10T19:53:00.000-07:00

My favorite Sunday activity, painting in the fresh air. I drove a little way down the street to a favorite spot overlooking a farm. When I finished this painting, I went to our community farmer's market for some fresh produce. And my neice invited me over for homemade soup tonight! A great day.

9x12" oil on a Raymar linen panel.

Available thru paypal, $135.00. free shipping in usa!

"River Oak" plein air landscape oil painting

2008-08-09T16:44:00.000-07:00

9x12" oil on Raymar Linen panel. It was a beautiful morning overlooking the Sacramento River in the shade of a lovely old oak tree. This is what I call fun! I had to blur the photo a bit to compensate for the linen pattern my camera over- emphasizes.
Available for $135.00 thru paypal. I will ship for free!

"Shady Oak" landscape oil painting

2008-08-06T18:59:00.000-07:00

A summery picture today from the community equestrian area in Lake California. The goal is to to capture the feeling of a hot summer day under a magnificent old oak tree-really got it "made in the shade"! 9x12" oil paint on cradled birch panel. needs no frame. $135.00 includes shipping.

Morning in Lake California oil painting

2008-08-05T07:58:00.000-07:00

Hee, hee. Looky what I did this morning :)

I love this Guerilla Painter box. I love this sunrise in the trees painting.

Heaven has come back to Lake California!

oil paint on toned raymar linen panel, 9x12"

"Trees with Blue Sky" oil painting

2008-08-03T11:20:00.000-07:00

I got to take my new Guerilla paint box out for a test run, it was wonderful, the sky was clear, and I am happy and this painting is the result. A plein air landscape delight! 9x12" oil on cradled birch panel.

135.00 thru paypal, free shipping in USA!

Landscape Oil Painting "Bidwell Color"

2008-08-01T18:24:00.000-07:00

"Bidwell Color" came home from Avenue 9 Gallery last week, it is cute and colorful and painted for a quick draw competition at Bidwell Mansion in June. 9x12" oil on panel, signed on the reverse

This painting may be purchased unframed for $130.00 with free shipping.

"Dark Days" acrylic abstract landscape

2008-07-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

The sky has been choked with smoke all week; I tried to capture the feeling with this painting.

Acrylic on sabretooth multimedia paper, 22"x15".

acrylic landscape painting "Miami Colors"

2008-07-17T16:46:00.000-07:00

an acrylic landscape done "in studio" from a plein air done a month or so ago. this is about 15x22", a half sheet of buff colored sabretooth multimedia paper. what fun acrylics are! used washy at first like w/c and then a little more opaquely. really a versatile medium. I like the variety of brushstrokes I teased out of the 3/4" sable mix flat I used.

"Smoke Coming Closer" acrylic landscape

2008-07-13T16:10:00.000-07:00

My interpretation of the current California sky. Acrylic paint on sabertooth multimedia paper (blue), 1/2 sheet 22"x15" approx. A large piece for me.

21 Days Later Acrylic Painting on Paper

2008-07-11T18:36:00.000-07:00

Our fires have been burning for 3 weeks now, the sky is strange, the landscape looks pale and feverish. I am finding acrylic to be expressive and spontaneous, and quickly painted this one tonite, looking out the back door. About 8x12" on bristol drawing paper.

Incidentally, I used a limited palette of hansa yellow med, quin red, bone black and titanium white. yellow+black=green!

acrylic landscape painting "Little Manzanita"

2008-07-05T18:54:00.001-07:00

Thankfully the smoke cleared up for a while and I got outside to paint. Trying out my new acrylics in the backyard today. The support is an acrylic primed raymar canvas panel at 10"x12", a favorite size.

ATCs inspired by artist Emily Carr

2008-06-29T06:35:00.000-07:00

Recently read a book titled "The Forest Lover" by Susan Vreeland. It's a biographical novel about the Canadian artist Emily Carr who lived from the 1870's to 1945. She traveled to villages and painted scenes of village life and totem poles; eventually, she studied painting in Paris.

I do prefer to paint outdoors, but the air is unhealthy from all the fires in the area (Northern California) so I decided to do some indoor art. Assembled these ATCs (artist trading cards) from matboard, image transfers, gilders paste, hemp cord, a "gold coin", acrylic medium, words cut-out from the book (exciting for a catholic school educated girl!) and a leaf drawn on paper. A fun project!

Artist trading cards are 2.5x3.5", and can be painted, drawn, collaged or whatever the artist chooses.

"Heritage Trails" gallery show

2008-06-16T16:42:00.000-07:00

Avenue 9 Gallery in Chico, Ca is sponsoring a group show entitled "Heritage Trails" in which I am showing 2 paintings. The show opens this Friday, Jun 20, with a reception, and runs thru July 26. Lots of great work from area artists, do check it out if you are in the vicinity.

"Sunday Morning at the M & T" oil/masonite, 14x11"

This painting is available thru Avenue 9 Gallery, Chico, Ca.

This painting has SOLD!

Landscape Oil Painting

2008-06-15T12:44:00.000-07:00

a p/a from last weekend, entitled "top of River View Drive" 9x12" oil on oil primed Raymar panel.

sketches and acrylic paintings

2008-06-14T23:28:00.000-07:00

(variety is the spice of art)

a forum post on WetCanvas! inspired me to do something different tonite.

made 3 quick thumbnail sketches, then painted 3 aceo's (artist trading cards).

i chose 3 acrylic colors , permanent rose, mars violet and pthalo blue and painted on yupo synthetic paper.

digital landscape painting

2008-06-04T18:55:00.000-07:00

A creation from imagination using Corel "painter essentials 4" software. i like to use my fingers on the touchpad, rather than my digital tablet, like fingerpainting.

Bidwell Mansion grounds oil painting

2008-05-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

The painting I did during the quick draw competition at Bidwell Mansion last week, framed and hanging in the visitor center. It is for sale thru
Avenue 9 Gallery.

"View from the Garden" plein air oil painting

2008-05-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

9x12" oil on linen panel. I love this surface, it is an oil primed raymar linen panel and they are beautifully made. I am happy with the way this painting turned out.

This painting was created a couple of weeks ago, from the Lake California Garden Club garden.

I have a raised plot about 4' by 8' along with a dozen or so others in a nice fenced area to keep out the deer. It is a peaceful place to hang out. I have some cool lettuce type stuff called mesclun growing well and some herbs and tomatoes.

Available for 125.00 usd, plus shipping thru paypal.

Paint out at Bidwell Mansion

2008-05-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

There will be a fun painting competition in Chico on May 17 sponsored by Avenue 9 Gallery in collaboration with the Parks Dept. Bidwell Mansion is an historic building in Chico, the Bidwells were a prominent family in the history of the city. Their home and the grounds are open to the public, and lovely to see. The paint-out is designed to call attention to the many old specimen trees the Bidwells planted.
The event is from 10-12 on Saturday. Artists of all kinds are invited to participate. I will be there!

yard sketch oil painting

2008-04-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

what a treat to do a quick sketch of the backyard after work now that the sun stays up later. :)

oil paint on primed linen taped to a board. about 8x12".

"Edge of the Yard in Spring" oil painting

2008-04-20T12:17:00.000-07:00

An oil on a raymar panel, 10"x12" . Sky, grass and our little oaks make a country scene painted by my front door. Heavenly!

Yellow Ranch House

2008-04-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

Fun on a country road today, and I am choosing to leave this in it's sketchy state. 11x14" oil on cradled birch panel.

for sale, $175.00 and free shipping in USA!

Special sale post

2008-04-04T19:59:00.000-07:00

two paintings for sale to a special customer.

"River Bend" 8x10" oil on yupo synthetic paper 95.00

"View of Lassen in October" 9x12" oil on board 125.00

free shipping total $220.00

SOLD

thanks a bunch!

Spring Wash landscape oil painting

2008-03-10T16:21:00.000-07:00

A beautiful weekend for painting outside, this one is 14x11x3/4" oil on a cradled birch panel. Needs no frame. This wash had enough water in it to cause the wildflowers to bloom, and I was thrilled to be able to capture it!

For sale thru paypal $165.00

Lake California diptych landscape oil painting

2008-03-08T11:49:00.000-08:00

Saturday has become a good day for painting outdoors, luckily for me. The 9x12" format had become a little boring, but I have quite a few of those panels and combining 2 into a 12"x18" has made it fun again. I feel my work has become more of a statement lately; a distillation of the facts into a story, not a photograph. yay! I think working larger helps with that.

These panels are made of birch plywood and have a 3/4" cradle, sides will be painted and needs no frame.

for sale, $225.00 usd free shipping in usa

Spring morning oil painting

2008-03-01T11:13:00.000-08:00

Morning treat for my art self, needs a bit of finishing, but am quite pleased with the overall effect. A dyptich measuring 12x18" total, done on 2 blick studio cradled artboards.

recycle bin artfun

2008-02-23T16:11:00.000-08:00

Artwork from my recycle basket, in colors I have always liked together--black, white, red, yellow. Mixed media, packaging, marker, junk mail, fluted matboard, paste. It is my method to watch a movie or listen to an audiobook and just let the piece develop, snipping and pasting as called for. Free design, free materials, free fun. About 6"x9" plus the black mat.