Still Life completed

Here is the completed oil painting that I was working on in my last post. You may note that I did not have the the light and shadows on the rock as well defined before. It was that strip of light at the bottom of the rock that caught my eye and made the composition. I also darkened the background, I wanted the leaves to pop a little more.

I was very sorry to learn this week ( and I may have been the last person to find out) that Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion is no longer being published. This month would have been the artist studio edition which I totally enjoyed. This was one of those treats you allow yourself, curl up with a cup of tea and get lost in all the creativity. I still go thru old copies and find something new. I guess there were a few more magazines that fell victim to the economy. Unfortunately, I liked many of the ones that did not make it. Look on the bright side, I will be saving some money.

Still Life with Nasturtium

This is the oil painting I worked on this week. Some more glass and another Nasturtium. This piece was setup outside last summer, I found the shadows cast on the rock by the flower and leaves interesting. I hope you all had a nice Valentines day. My family is getting together tonight for a family Valentines dinner, just a nice home cooked meal and some conversation.

Once again when I am finished I'll scan it and post the finished piece.

Tis The Season

When it comes to pumpkins I think I border on obsessive. Grocery stores or farm stands, one comes home every time. By Halloween we have amassed quite a collection.

The weather is getting cooler and there is just a hint of color in a few trees, just a tease of things to come. I have really noticed how quickly it gets dark now. Cats are starting to think about staying in at night. Wow, where does the time go.

I'm not finished yet with my card and I have worked on it a little every night. But, I am at the point where I am just wrapping up loose ends which feels good.

The above painting - oil on board - 5" x 7".

Salt & Pepper Shaker Still Life

This is 4th of July weekend, three days off and no plans! It looks like the weather is not going to cooperate - but it does not matter - I may take a ride up to the Berkshires or Vermont - whatever my heart desires.

The above painting is a small 5" x 7" oil on board. Using this small format is helping me actually finish some pieces. I seem to get bogged down at some point in a painting and it stops and sits for quite a while. I would hate to say that I lose interest but that could be the case. Anyway this is working and I am quite happy with the results. Its nice to look back and see a body of work instead of a pile of half completed paintings.

Who Loves Ya

This is an oil painting done on board that I have made into a card for Etsy. The next piece I have ready to post is a still life. I work back and forth, I love to do this type of work, illustration or folk art, what ever you want to call it. I find it relaxing, allowing your mind to wander and come up with what ever scenario it can.

Pewter - Kitten on Back - Sketch for Oil Painting

This is a sketch of Pewter sleeping on the couch as a kitten. I will post updates on this piece as I work. This is going to be an oil painting on board

I am going to take some artist license with the couch and background. What I do is use tracing paper on top of the original sketch to layout a new drawing. This way I can keep moving elements around until I find something that works. I do work from photos, and now with the digital camera it is so easy to collect reference material. When the final sketch is complete I'll post it.

Guido's - Scallions & Radishes

I live fairly close to the Bershires in MA., it is a great getaway drive for a day and one I take as often as I can. One of my favorite stores is Guido's Marketplace in Great Barrington which has the most beautiful displays of produce around, you can just drink in the color. I am not a gourmet cook by any means but we always manage to come home with a shopping bag full and the inspiration to try and eat a little better.

Scallions and Radishes on White Plate is an oil painting on 5" x 7" hardboard.

Nodding Off

Nodding Off as a print as been added to my Etsy store. The original oil painting measures 8" x 10" on hardboard, I have been working on this piece off and on all winter. I am a slow painter, its seems that I need time to evaluate each piece as I work on it. Or it could be that my comfort zone is just pokey. In any case, it is something I am working on, trying to speed things up a bit.

The painting is of Ember, our older male cat, who is the alpha of our herd. He has done well with each new addition, just letting them know his limits.

Sunflower in Blue Vase

This is the second small painting that I have done using this blue glass vase. And, with each new painting there are a different set of issures to be worked out.

I have already started to buy my flower seeds for this year. I probably should order them in one shot from Burpee, but it is more fun to pick up a few at a time from the grocery store, big box store or where ever I happen to be. Each week my little collection starts to grow. Today I brought home Cosmos in orange and white. It will be a while yet before we can plant, snow, sleet and freezing rain for Friday.

This painting is oil on a 5" x 7" board.

Slumber Party

Two years ago at Easter we came home to find a stray cat on our back porch. She hung around the house for a few weeks allowing us to talk to her and feed her but you could not touch her. Of course she was pregnant and finally moved in with us to have her three tiny kittens in our bathroom.

We were very fortunate that one of the girls who works with my friend found a home for Mama and one of the kittens leaving us with two, "Pewter" and "Fred" (formerly known as Fredrika). Even though we really didn’t have the room those kittens just stole our hearts and it was hard to finally let go.

However, Mama did not like our dog - perhaps she was even abused by one and we did not have the room in our house to make it work. And yes, we were just as bad as new parents with the photographs and videos of the adorable kittens.

The above painting is of "Pewter" and the 3rd kitten my husband named "Cookie" (because he was black & white like an Oreo). While I really do not need any more cats, it was really a great experience even as we were wondering what we were going to do with them and how we were going to feed them all. And as a side note - Mama and her boys have all been to the vet so this won’t happen again.

The above painting is a 5" x 7" oil on board.

Nasturtium in Blue Vase

Nasturtiums are one of my favorite flowers. They are easy to grow with bright colorful blooms and great foliage. I have a small yard where space is at a premium so I grow these guys in pots and flower boxes as well as in my front garden. This painting is 5" x 7" oil on hardboard. I have been working on small paintings lately, and it really has been helping with a size that allows you to finish a painting in about a week. ( for me that is ). Here's how we use Nasturtium in Blue Vase as a greeting card.

My eBay store has prints & greeting cards of this image & others.
My Cafepress store has more samples on my 2nd new website.
My Etsy Store has more samples on my 3rd new website.

Day Dreamer

Day dreamer is an 8" x 10" oil painting on board of my Cogi Lily taking a mid-afternoon nap maybe dreaming of squirrels (yes squirrels!). I painted the blanket in a much looser style, trying to find a balance that works for me. I tend to paint tightly which can sometimes translate into a stiff painting. When I try to loosen up it feels like I am being too lazy to finish a section or too sloppy, but I like the way this turned out. I hope you enjoy this piece. Here's how we use Day Dreamer as a greeting card.

My eBay store has prints & greeting cards of this image & others.
My Cafepress store has more samples on my 2nd new website.

My Etsy Store has more samples on my 3rd new website.