Beach Paintings: My Perpetual, Virtual Vacation

And Then He Said...

11x14, oil on panel

sold

Another image from Playa del Carmen. The light in that part of the world is captivating - like a subject all its own - and I had such fun trying to capture it. I drew the girls in my sketchbook a half dozen times before I picked up a brush and, no surprise, I think it really helped. I became aware of nuances - like the negative shapes - and worked to keep them interesting. Also, I tried to do more drawing than painting with the paint... does that make sense? I'm loving the cadmium orange ground; it warms the skin tones and really pops when it peeks through the sand and water.

Jinxed

Crabbin'

8x8, oil on panel

$115, email for info

After my last post, though I really didn't mean to brag or gloat, I seem to have jinxed myself and forgotten everything I thought I ever knew about painting. Actually, drawing to be more specific. I've attempted to paint almost every day this week but couldn't draw a stick figure. Much less anything I'd dare show you. Jinxed.

I read somewhere that the great artist/teacher Quang Ho says, throughout all the classes and workshops he has taught, the number one problem plaguing art students is drawing. And the number two problem? Also drawing. So, it's back to the sketchbook I go, happily I must say. It's comforting.

Have I Mentioned That I Love to Paint?

The Groundskeeper

11x14, oil on panel

sold

Hmm... how do I say this without sounding too... too? From the minute I saw this gentleman, high up in his palm tree, several weeks ago until this very moment, today, this painting has been pure pleasure for me. Mr. Right, the kiddos, and I made a quick trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico recently for the aforementioned family wedding. [Well, naturally, I just must add here that our niece was the most enchanting bride ever to marry on that beautiful stretch of beach and we had such fun at her wedding.]

Between festivities, I spied this gardener and was instantly inspired. That feeling -- you know the one I mean -- stayed with me across borders and through time and the colors simply flowed onto the canvas and the whole time I knew, this is exactly how I want to paint. He absolutely glows - no photo could do it justice - and I love his story now as much as I did when I first saw him. I promise I am not bragging - it may not look like much to you. But celebrate with me. Bliss following, indeed.

We're Cookin' on the Front Burner Today, Kids

Trail Boss

8x8, oil on panel

$115, email for info

This is one of my favorite cowgirl images - but, instead of pokin' cattle, this liddel lady herded kindergarteners. She was such fun to be around - very creative, long on costumes, and not afraid to wear them. And, in Texas-speak, she sure'nuff was purdee as a speckled pup. I'm so honored to have been invited to join some very talented artists in a new painting group, Some Texas Artists Like to Paint. There will be a different theme each month.... sounds like fun!!

Not Every Bus Has Burnt Orange Seats

A Pleasant Circumbendibus

8x8, oil on panel

$115, email for info

This is a beautiful, young friend/twisted sister and I don't pretend to have done her justice in this painting. But the colors are just terrific -- I love the turqoise ground underneath it all. She is so lovely and kind to allow me to paint her. Fun, fun, fun. And the title? Well, the photo was taken recently on a (party) bus trip that was quite enjoyable and I knew I'd heard that word somewhere. Read about circumbendibus here.

Kid Pix

Body Language

31 x 10.5, oil on masonite

SOLD

I took this photo years ago - one of about a go-zillion snaps taken over the years I worked at a school - and have always wanted to paint it. I love their little bodies, friends all squeezed together on a bench, and what their body language tells us about each one. I love that we don't need faces or a certain place or even for them to be dressed differently to tell the story. Individuals but definitely part of a group.

Hoping for Hip

Rouge and Noir

6x6, oil on panel

email for info

This is Cadmium Red over Black by Adolph Gottlieb, also at the Blanton. There's a lovely bench across from this painting and it is a favorite spot for me. The art patron's grey trench coat didn't turn out as stylish as I wanted it to.

I'd Recognize You Anywhere

Playing With Genetic Markers

12x12, oil on masonite

email for info

I recently spent the better part of a day roaming the UT campus and the Blanton Museum of Art. What a luxury and a feast for the eyes, people-watching wise. This is Inigo Manglano-Ovalle's trio of photographic prints titled Jin, Calvin and Lisa and is based on the DNA sequencing of those three individuals. Facinating portraits and the thought process behind Manglano-Ovalle's work was intriguing. I enjoyed a brief chat with this lovely little lady in the pale yellow cardigan.

Knock, Knock, Who's There?

Digging Lemons

16x20, oil on canvas

Streeeeeeetch.
Yaaaaawn.
Whew, it’s good to be here. Thank you, Faithful Followers, for your patience with my recent sabbatical. I really appreciate your emails and inquiries, notes and concerns. It feels great to be missed. If we’re to be perfectly candid with one another, I took these last weeks off to….well….to party. I’ve celebrated the success of some grand organizations plus 2 happy and healthy schools, an engagement, a bachelorette, Easter Eve, many birthday parties for friends and family plus one of the milestone varieties for yours truly, the end of two athletic seasons and the beginning of two more, and such successful committee work… honestly, you just can’t imagine. I was briefly pulled back into the vortex of a former communication’s design career and I was part of the mother of all garage sales. Lots of time with Mr. Right and the kiddos. Lots of time with my Twisted Sisters. It’s been a good month!

I’ve gotten to do a bit a painting and will share those as soon as I reconstruct my outdoor photo station. In the meantime, this was one I forgot to post from Laurel’s still life class this spring.

Just For Fun and Practice

Teaching Moment

12x12, oil on canvas

This from two weeks ago. Our plein air painting class was spread all over Zilker Park. I'm supposed to be focused on learning the 4 planes of a well-painted landscape (for any artist/readers, Laurel generously posted a perfect explanation, with demo, here) yet I can't take my eyes off the sunlight hitting the shoulders of my white-shirted classmate in the distance. Especially once Laurel was standing beside her - I knew the black shirt-white apron / white shirt-black apron was my inspiration of the day.

One Painting, Two Palettes

Pauline Chapel II

11x14, oil on canvas

SOLD

I painted this Colorado Springs chapel twice and it was a great exercise. These are from an amazing photograph-turned-paint-challenge taken by artist/photographer Lee Brown and posted on his site A Day Not Wasted. In the painting to the left I really pushed the warm light/cool shadow interplay. The version above is more traditional and seems to garner the most votes from my panel of in-house art critics. Don't forget: click on paintings for larger view. Fun, fun, fun!

Pauline Chapel I, 12x12 oil on canvas, $165, email for info

Just Grab a Kid and Go

On the Tarmac, Cozumel

8x8 oil on canvas

NFS

When our kids were younger, our family plus three others (college girlfriends a.k.a. some of my beloved twisted sisters) vacationed on a beach together for a week every summer, for 11 straight years. We were a small band of travelers in the beginning - 8 adults plus a couple of toddlers, give or take the odd visiting grandma or friend - and one of us moms was often sporting the maternity bathing-suit look. Eeeesch! We ventured no further than big, rambling houses on Texas beaches in the early years.

Our Lavagirl was the last baby born and once she turned 2, we all turned our eyes South of the Border - to the land of white sands, turquoise waters, and the all-inclusive resort with its endless buffets, spirits, activities, and housekeeping. By that time we numbered 15, plus or minus. And during those weeks, all the kids had 8 parents and the livin' was easy. My little traveling companion in this painting isn't mine but she sure felt like it. I'll never forget her fashionable turquoise straw cowboy hat that summer.

Just Time for a Sketch: Figures

Figure Study

oil on canvas paper

I've been anxious to apply Laurel's blocking-in techniques to some figure work. For these little sketches I used the line and mass method - first using one dark neutral to establish values and rudimentary planes, then adding color. It was fun and worked well. No time for faces. Speaking of... I apologize to my faithful followers - suddenly time is at a premium. My family [and their activities] is requiring a bit extra; we can chalk it up to spring, kids, schools, sports, volunteer work, a family wedding, etc... It's definitely part of the Bliss I Follow but, at the same time, I constantly yearn to create. Thanks for your patience.

"You May Take 3 Giant Steps Backwards"

Mother May I?

8x10, oil on panel

I've been in painting purgatory. But you'd be surprised how fun it is! This week I went to my first plein air class with Laurel. That means we're painting outside - oh my. Perhaps you remember when I last whined on this topic. Not much has changed. I'm still flumoxed by the gear and the light and creating a composition on the fly. Laurel wanted us to use one of the blocking-in methods we studied in our recent still life class. Hah! I felt lucky to find my brushes. Everything I thought I knew flew right out of my head. I painted this today from the "study" I started in class. Yuck. The upside? The people, of course. It was a spectacular day on the beautiful grounds of Laguna Gloria and the conversation was lively. I can't wait to go through it again!

Just Time for a Sketch: Happy Hour

Happy Hour sketch

8x8, oil on canvas

I did this quickly from a photo I found on the website WetCanvas. What a great resource for us artist-types. This girl looks like she could be one of my twisted sisters. Have a great weekend!

Bliss Following Indeed

Self Portrait with Freesia

12x16, oil on canvas

$190, email for info

Well, I wiped this one so many times that, by the end, "Self Portrait with [Full-Blown] Freesia" might have been a more accurate title. The longer those poor flowers sat under the light, the bigger they got. But what a beautiful morning of painting: in my newly spiffed-up studio space, The Penthouse Radio, surrounded by windows, and the snow falling outside for hours with flakes the size of salad plates, piling up on the palm trees around the pool. And later, watching school-got-out-early teenagers Sharkboy and Lavagirl catching snowflakes on their tongues just beyond my windows. How great is life?

Settling in to My New Old Space

Still Life in New Studio

9x12, oil on canvas

$125, email for info

Let's get back to the 'how lucky am I?' catagory. I casually mentioned to Mr. Right that I'd like to reconfigure the "art room" and create a more functional painting studio space. Just pillow-talk really. We chatted about this idea and that... more storage here, a place to put paintings there. Then one day last week he twinkled his nose and Shazam! I'm in new digs! I won't spend a bunch of time explaining his studio solutions but, suffice to say, Mr. Right can make a project happen!! Naturally, this led to much cleaning, sorting, tossing, etc... It feels great!!

The Sunshine Award, alla prima

Is There a Title That Doesn't Include a Tequila Reference?

16x20, oil on canvas

email for info

This was my set-up in Laurel’s alla prima still life class last week. We’ve been learning different blocking-in techniques – this one is used by artist Kevin McPherson and it’s my favorite. Our classmate Stephen Parker explained this method quite eloquently on his blog - click on his name for further reading. I’m sad that class is coming to an end.

The For the Love of Art show at Austin Art Space kicked off to great crowds at the reception Friday night and will continue through February 27. There are wonderful artists represented in the show - visit AAS website for days and times. Also… hee, hee, hee… I got a small mention in a Daily Texan article yesterday.

Finally, my thanks to my artist/classmate/inspiration Trish Siegel who has given me the Sunshine Blog Award for creativity and positivity in blogging. Funny, I thought that blogging helped me stay positive and creative – not the other way around. Plus, as I travel through the blogosphere, “meeting” other creatives and being influenced and informed by them, I find you get so much more than you give… no matter how much that is. In that spirit, I will pass along the Sunshine Award, with my gratitude, to 12 other artists who contribute mightily to my creative life – go check them out!

1. Ann Gorbett
2. Ann Rogers
3. Carol Nelson
4. Claire Carnel
5. Dana Cooper
6. Dreama Perry
7. Leslie Saeta
8. Liz Holm
9. Liza Hurst
10. Mary Sheehan Winn
11. Susan Carlin
12. Vicki Shuck

The rules for accepting the award are: put the logo on your blog or within your post; pass the award onto 12 bloggers; link the nominees within your post; let the nominees know they have received this award; link to the person from whom you received this award.

Karin Jurick Thank You Project

Thanks Karin

8x8, oil on panel

Karin Jurick is an amazingly gifted artist. Simply put, she renders the human figure to perfection: accurate yet sympathetic, simple yet complex. In a way like Norman Rockwell, Karin rarely paints a person the viewer doesn't immediately connect with and feel a kinship to. Part of this is just plain talent and, I think, part of this is Karin's work ethic. Both attributes should be recognized and honored.

That said, one of the great projects Karin has done as an artist has been her Different Strokes for Different Folks blog. I've talked about DSFDF many times (click here, here, here, and here for starters) but basically, she posts one photo with an open invitation to artists around the world to interpret that photo in their own way. She offered a new image at 2-4 week intervals for several years and in the process, Karin created a vibrant and close-knit community. And once a year, at Christmastime, members of the community painted each other's portraits. Remember? This was mine.

This year, after the portrait-swap project was posted, artist and DSFDF participant Jill Polsby secretly asked all of us to paint a portrait of Karin. This was a huge undertaking on Jill's part as I believe well over 100 artists participated. Jill has compiled these portraits into a coffee table-type book and sent it to Karin today, with our thanks. Click here to see the portraits. Jill has a link on her blog to see the actual book via Snapfish.

This comes at a good time because DSFDF has grown to become more of a project (read "work") than I imagine Karin ever guessed it would and so she has announced that she is - at a minimum - taking a break from the blog with no return date specified. She wants and needs to, you know, paint and work. Completely understandable. So, thanks Jill. And thanks Karin. It has been a pleasure!

T.G.I.F.

The Dog Ate My Primroses

8x8, oil on canvas panel

sold

This would be when my [wonderful] teachers' words, repeating like a refrain in my head, "paint what you see - not what you think you see" might have gotten away from me. Everybody sees the dog, right? Well, I didn't until I took the photo. And now I like it. Could be the lively music I've been listening to this morning going to my head. How embarassing when Mr. Right came home unexpectedly and [almost] caught me twirling around the house, dancing and painting.... Happy Weekend!

Three Shows Not to be Missed

Hot Property

8x8, oil on canvas panel

Rain again today thrwarts another good intention to photograph recent work. Luckily, I've got exciting news to share - Hot Property has been juried into the annual Austin Art Space For the Love of Art exhibit. Wahoo! The show will run from February 8-27. Click here for gallery address, hours, etc. Just in time for Valentines... if you live in Austin, do try to stop in and see the show.

Another great tip for these grey, drizzle-y days: a fabulous BBC miniseries called The Impressionists. The story is told as a flashback by an 80-year-old Claude Monet and chronicles the lives, friendships, and struggles of Renoir, Degas, Manet, Cezanne, etc. The miniseries is beautifully produced and has just made my week... I've watched it twice! Three episodes plus a bonus bio feature on Monet, it comes on two seperate discs. You can buy from Amazon but I rented it at Netflix. Highly recommended!

Finally, I got to see Carmen at the New York Metropolitan Opera last night. And never left Austin. Am I the last to know this? The Met does a program called Live in HD where shows on stage in NYC are simulcast to movie theatres all over the world. Now, I am a complete opera-newbie and confess to being a bit intimidated. Ha - I was hooked in 30 minutes. Not only do you see the stage performance from the best seats in the house, but you go (the magic of Hollywood!) backstage, into the orchestra pit, and see interviews with the cast members. It was incredible! Click here for information and tickets.

Class is in Session

Thanks for the Compliment

12x12, oil on canvas

$165, email for info

This is from last week's alla prima still life class. We are learning different methods available to start an alla prima painting --- last week was value blocking, starting with a very dark-valued neutral. I completed this very quickly and really like the resulting freshness. I learned a lot - squint, simplify, paint shapes not things, squint again. Check out my classmates great take on the same set-up - for Stephen Parker, click here and for Trish Siegel, click here.

I Gotta Go Run Carpool

You've Got Mail

7x5, oil on panel

$85 - email for info

Continuing on with Lavagirl's admonition to take a break from painting produce. This was fun. My goal was to capture sunlight... really push the values and stay loose.

What Will They Think of Next? Virtual Paintout!

At Home, in Corsica

18x18, oil on masonite panel

email for info

"Maybe you're just tired of painting fruit," quipped 13-year-old Lavagirl this week, as I whined about my current painter's block. Okay. Make a change. I can do that.

I've been wanting to take a stab at a "challenge blog" created by Kentucky artist Bill Guffey. The blog is called Virtual Paintout. First, in artSpeak, the term "paintout" means artists gathering together to, well..... paint out (side). Bill's challenge is for artists from all over the world to use Google Earth maps, specifically --- now, stay with me here --- Google Street View, to "meet" in a specified country or city to paint together. For instance, this month is Corsica. The month before was Mexico City. Using Google's interactive map system, you cruise around the destination until you find an inspiring view and then paint away. Click here to visit Virtual Paintout; scroll all the way to the bottom to find Bill's link to the Corsica map.

I'll resist the urge to wax on poetically about how delicious it is to roam the streets of Paris or Rome, looking for the perfect painting spot around every sidewalk-cafed corner, while waiting for 3:40 carpool or the rinse-and-spin cycle. Do we live in a great time or what?

Anyway, I'm a big fan of renowned artist Ted Goerschner who has long since painted still lifes set up in his studio with vacation photos as backdrops. And so, voila, At Home, in Corsica. Specifically, the Avenue de la Republique, Calvi, Northern Corsica, France. A tous mes amis.

Hills and Valleys

Standing on Tradition

8x8, oil on panel

email for info

This was painted several weeks ago, when crab apples were still in the stores. It is being posted now because, judging by the number of paintings wiped away this week, I've entered [cue dramatic music] a painter's block. Just finishing Carol's workshop on Friday and starting back into Laurel's class yesterday, this is frustrating! Jeepers - what terrible timing!! Okay, step away from the paintbrush. I know this is a natural part of the process. We have seen it before; it will pass. Repeat.

Oh yeah, the 'tradition' in the title? The 1940 edition of the Episcopal Hymnal. I'd probably do better practicing the piano this week than I am painting. Argggg.

Carol Marine Workshop

unfinished study, 6x6, oil on panel

I spent most of last week at a workshop taught by Austin artist Carol Marine. Carol is first and foremost an incredibly talented painter and colorist - she has a special way of seeing a subject, simplifying shapes and values, and then translating that vision into an economical number of perfectly toned and placed brushstrokes. And she makes it look easy.... gee whiz. Moreover, she is a wonderful teacher: direct, honest, very accessible, and just a whole lot of fun. Be sure to check out her blog - click here.

Carol did inspirational demonstrations each morning and then set us on a course of exercises - like the 10-minute/15-stroke apples to the left - that weren't easy but very informative. It was great fun to be with our artist/host Dena Wenmohs and spend time at The Bunkhouse - Dena's artists' retreat and bed & breakfast in Cypress Mill, Texas. Plus, in addition to Carol and Dena, I made wonderful new friends - some from far away and some just around the corner. What a marvelous week.... I'm exhausted!!

Vacation Colors

Pantone 15-5519

6x6 oil on panel

email for info

Pantone - the color gurus of the world - have recently published their latest color forcast for home + fashion and named (drumroll, please) Turquoise as the 2010 Color of the Year. Specifically, Pantone 15-5519. Click here to see a copy of the full report. I always find Pantone to be good inspiration.

Fashion designer Peter Som (see dress at left) says the turquoise choice reflects, "the need for happy, mood-lifting colors that offer a bit of escapism." Sounds good. With Texas being so close to the beautiful waters of Mexico and the Caribbean, turquoise represents vacation to me. And generally all complexions - fair to dark - look great in turquoise. A few other colors highlighted in the report that sound promising: Tuscany, Aurora, Pink Champagne. Click here for my take on Mimosa, Pantone's 2009 Color of the Year.

Moving Things Around a Bit

Oh My Darlin' (times 3)

8x6 oil on canvas panel

$85 - email for info

Better paint those clementines quick around my house - before they disappear! I moved my still life set-up to a different room/different light today: directly in an east-facing window though this morning our skies were fairly gray. I didn't use any artificial light which created the backlighting challenge I've explored recently. And, because I was looking towards the window, my palette and panel were in semi-shadow. Tricky but fun. There was a glow of reflected light on the downward plane of each clementine that was just so lovely.

Chocolate is One of the Basic Food Groups, Right?

Whatever, Cocoa

12x12, oil on canvas

$165 - SOLD

(doubleclick for larger view)

This was super fun... even if my marshmallows look [a bit] like sugar cubes. It's good to take a break from produce painting. Plus, I had an aha moment this week and took the beautiful powder blue pashmina from around my neck and draped it into the lightbox. Such a relief from the tried-and-true khaki. The blue scarf was a gift from one of my twisted sisters... hope she won't mind. And the title? Well, I have another friend who is uber-spunky and - when perturbed - holds up her outstretched arm and hand, dismissing her offender by saying, "what-ev-er, Coco." She's 3.

Black-eyed Peas & Cabbage

Tournament of Roses

6x6, oil on panel

email for info

Another in the Little Women series - trying to get the hang of backlighting. I have been thinking about a long face and neck with a very thin nose and tall, upswept hair. I painted while watching the parade and, subconsciously, I think I chose colors that are a bit flowery.