Debra Bryant Studio

The Moon Project

2011-12-19T05:48:00.000-08:00

"WANING GIBBOUS" 48X48

Between preparing for Beaux Arts Gallery's 1st Annual Small Works Show, daily painting, holidays and other prior commitments, I have been excitedly working on what I call "the Moon project". This is a public art project in collaboration with metal sculpture artist Robert Woods.

The piece pictured here is the first of 6 moon phase tables which Rob created and I am painting. These 6 pieces will be installed around a 30ft. high helix sculpture, also created by Rob, becoming the main focus of a new courtyard entrance at Hillsbourough Community College in Brandon.

This is my first public art experience, and I met with the gentleman in charge of this project this week. He assures me that he is delighted with the first two finished pieces, which have already been delivered. He projects the ribbon cutting for sometime in March.

Meanwhile, there is Beaux Arts Gallery and dailypaintworks!

"THE YOUNG 'UN"

2011-11-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

"The Young 'Un" Oil 6X6 $110.00
I just want to take a moment to thank all of YOU who share in my art journey. I love painting so much and having friends who often enjoy the art piece nearly as much as I enjoy the process makes me truly grateful. God has surely blessed me through you. Thank you.

"LOOKS LIKE CLEAR SKIES"

2011-11-17T04:25:00.000-08:00

"Looks Like Clear Skies" Oil 6X6 $110.00

There are many reasons that I love painting. But what I love MOST is the sense of discovery! Every painting begins with a blank surface and I get to DISCOVER the means of creating the person, place or thing that belongs there.
In the case of "Looks Like Clear Skies", I wanted to paint a small portrait, loosely with lots of color. I chose a turquoise ground to complement the reddish orange flesh tones and allowed some of the ground color to remain. Voila! This fisherman exploded onto the panel. Bold beginnings beget bold paintings.

"Butchering Paint Tubes"

2011-11-09T14:46:00.000-08:00

Today I finally broke down and butchered my four "empty" paint tubes. Over the past few months, I had wrung them all the way to the shoulder, and squeezed all the paint I could get from them. Looking at the tubes here, you can see I had even squeezed up the shoulder of the tubes before beginning this process. Today I decided to dissect them and scoop out the remaining paint from the shoulders. David Darrow taught me this little trick, using an exacto knife to slice at the shoulder and small palette knife to scoop the paint out. You can see the Cadmium Yellow Light is still in the tube, and the others are all scooped out.

This is the amount of paint I salvaged from my "empty" tubes! I purchase the 150ml tubes from Utrecht, and you can see it's quite a substantial amount of paint saved. Don't worry, I ordered replacement tubes over a month ago. I NEVER run out of paint!

"SPARE CHANGE"

2011-10-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

"Spare Change" Oil 6X6 $110.00
It's finally becoming much more comfortable outdoors, but I have been stuck inside working on commission works......grrrrr! Just as the weather was starting to break, a project I had been waiting on for 2 months, finally was set in front of me...with a deadline. So I have been painting small, just to fit in what I want to paint.
This is the change jar which sits on the shelf over the clothes dryer. All the change that falls out in the laundry goes into this little Ball jar. Fun stuff, but I'll never get rich this way!

"TEA FOR ONE"

2011-09-30T05:08:00.000-07:00

"Tea for One" Oil 8 x 10 $280.00

It isn't easy keeping up these days! This is the morning after Thursday Nights LIVE! at Beaux Arts Gallery, and my first opportunity to post this new painting. I set up this simple still life and painted it on Ustream last Sunday. I recorded the broadcast, so you can view it HERE, if you missed it. There are other recordings available to watch as well.
Some of my artist friends joined me in the chat room which is available when I am painting live, so, as always, there is some disjointed conversation going on from my end......ya had to be there! If you would like to receive notices for future broadcasts, please subscribe in the upper right corner on this page. There are also options for my newsletter and blog updates. Just check your preferences.
Going into Fall, I am looking forward to trying some plein aire painting at Winthrop. This will be an adventure, as I have not tried this before. Right outside the gallery are endless possibilities... I will let you know how I progress!

Moving Right Along...

2011-09-25T16:44:00.000-07:00

There is a core group of artists and art lovers, Mike and myself included, working on preparations for the 4th Annual Winthrop Arts Festival, scheduled for March 24th & 25th. They are all amazing in their professionalism and networking skills. I am so happy they have varied talents and expertise on the business side of art and event planning. I keep saying it.....I just paint!

Imagine my delight when I opened my email on Friday and discovered Sandra Grenier had completed her incorporation of "Beaux" in our new Festival logo! How cool is that?! Thanks Bryant for selecting my artwork for this event promotion. I am thrilled! Thanks Sandra for working quickly to get it done!

"SHADOW BALLET"

2011-09-23T18:51:00.000-07:00

"Shadow Ballet" Oil 7X12 $340.00

I am having the MOST fun working with the wonderful people at Winthrop and enjoying Beaux Arts Gallery. After having been here for over three months, I have to say the "newness" has not worn off and I truly don't expect it ever will! There is so much going on that I could probably clone myself ten times and still not be able to accomplish all I would like with the "Dynamic Duo" who are visionaries.
Seriously, I am beginning to think artistically inclined people have an incurable sickness which is VERY CONTAGEOUS! The thing is...we feed off each other's energy, focus, and ideals, so it is an amazingly complex relationship, and yet simple, in that we only want to create beauty for beauty's sake. Simple, right?
If you want to follow along, as I try to keep up with this ever evolving community, subscribe to my newsletter. You can also "LIKE" Beaux Arts Gallery on Facebook and be automatically registered to win an original painting valued at over $500.00
There are wonders to be unleashed at Winthrop, and, although they have been at it for over 5 years,for me, this is only the beginning!

Putting August to Bed...

2011-08-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

"Beaux Set Free" Oil 23.5 X 27.5 $850.00
As many of you know, I have nearly been consumed for the past two months with renovating and tweaking Beaux Arts Gallery with the help of my family and friends. We just breezed by our second Thursday Nights LIVE! with a great turn-out, two fabulous guest artists, and so much fun, it spilled out into the street! I wish all my online friends could be there with us for these events.

The carousel which we will assist the children in renovating, has been on our minds a lot. We pulled "Beaux" out of the mix first, featuring him last Thursday, along with a Carnival theme. He will be on display in the gallery for the month of September. His photo is posted on my Facebook page HERE.

Since we are not restoring him, I decided I would paint him in his glory days for this exhibit. So...here is "Beaux Set Free", no carousel, no pole, just the wind and sky and dreams from now on for this hard-working beauty!

Already?!

2011-08-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

Know what we are thinking about at EHAG? You got it.....STRAWBERRIES! Our new committee is in the process of making much needed changes to the prospectus for entry into the Florida Strawberry Festival Fine Art Show, sponsored by..........us!
We are excited to announce the changes soon to the public and begin the process of publicizing so YOU can get excited too. We have modified rules, defined classifications AND increased the monetary awards for the show! Yep, thought that would excite you. For complete information watch for an update here.

Meanwhile.......think ART and STRAWBERRIES!

"New Beginnings"

2011-07-31T18:44:00.000-07:00

I began this sketch at Beaux Arts Gallery on Friday morning, our first "official" open day. We have plans to use the gallery as a studio/gallery, so, being me, I jumped right in using Bryant's easel, surrounded by Rob's wonderful sculptures, Mike's amazing photos and Bryant's fascinating oil paintings, and flanked by soulful works by Fr. Carlos Rojas. I ask you...WHAT could be more inspiring than being surrounded by artwork you love?!
I took this photo at one of the migrant worker camps; a child awaiting Baptism by Fr. Carlos. This, as a first painting at the gallery, is appropriate for a number of reasons: Fr. Carlos was a "Guest Artist" at our premier Thursday Nights LIVE! event, and will be through the month of August...baptism is this child's new beginning...we are experiencing our own "new beginning" at Beaux Arts Gallery; new friendships, new adventures, exciting new frontiers!
So, it seems, what goes around, comes around, and here we are sharing our love of art with Fr. Carlos once more. We three have enjoyed many experiences together in the last 5 years, and have fostered many new relationships, spawned from those experiences. I can't express how happy we are with his new assignment, nearer to us once more...truly a "new beginning"!

"JULY ROSES"

2011-07-24T15:12:00.000-07:00

"July Roses" 5X7 Oil $110.00

July is almost over, and I have barely had time to enjoy my family and our garden. Mike brought me these lovely little roses today from the garden, knowing how much I enjoy them. Since I struggle with painting flowers, I decided this was a good challenge for me for my "day off". So...I set them up in this crystal vase and picked up the palette knife to begin the attack! I am rarely disappointed in palette knife paintings. They are juicy with bold slashes of color and texture which I find appealing in nearly any subject.
Re-opening of Beaux Arts Gallery is this Thursday with our kick-off event "Thursday Nights LIVE!" beginning at 7PM. We clean up the balance of the odds and ends tomorrow, and begin hanging art on Tuesday. The renovations have taken up the majority of our time this month, but we are excited now that our first event is approaching.
Mike, thanks for making me stop and smell the roses today...

"MOVING FORWARD"

2011-07-18T15:14:00.000-07:00

"Nude Rear View" (after Unknown artist) Oil 16X20

We are moving ahead full steam, with renovations at Beaux Arts Gallery in Winthrop Town Centre. We have a telephone number now! Our opening is on July 28th, kicking off with Thursday Nights LIVE! at 7pm. We have planned this as a monthly event for a public "Meet and Greet"....sort of a neighborhood block party. This is the first piece hung in the newly renovated gallery. I have always thought this was an elegant piece for a bathroom, so that is where I hung her! The photo is a little pixilated, so I will have to take another, I see.
She is an oil reproduction of a late 1800's or early 1900 piece whose original artist I do not know. She is strikingly lovely and was the subject of a class project I demo'd for my adult portrait class awhile back. They learned a lot from the verdaccio underpainting, and realized how much work it actually cut out by painting her twice, instead of alla prima.
I coveted her for myself for some time, and now her time has come to shine....in the bathroom.....LOL
I will post other work once I actually get time to paint......should be in a couple of weeks, but meanwhile I will share teasers.....ummmm photos of our progress. Ha!

FREE PAINTING ANYONE?

2011-07-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

"Cast Away" 6X8 Oil

With all my usual hectic schedule, I have managed to squeeze in some painting time. I played with a palette knife again for a couple of days, and "Cast Away" is one of the paintings from that little diversion from my normal routine...not that I even have a normal routine anymore!
I am having a busy time of it, trying to get my first newsletter published, and learning the ins and outs of other marketing strategies. This certainly isn't for wimps!
I expect to get my FIRST newsletter out this week, and this little painting will be a give-away to be randomly drawn from those who sign up to receive my newsletter by Tuesday at midnight. Since I already have a dedicated email list, I am offering another small painting to one person from that list well. I don't want to deprive any of those wonderful friends and supporters, whose loyalty I value greatly. So......here is the painting for that random drawing!

"New Day" 5X7 Oil

SIGN UP AND GOOD LUCK! Winners will be published in my first newsletter!

"TRIBUTE TO RENOIR"

2011-06-20T01:26:00.001-07:00

"Tribute to Renoir" Oil 8x10 $280.00

The studio is in chaos! Well.....sort of... In the process of moving out of the gallery and painting daily in a working studio, it can seem to be a cyclonic mess. On the other hand, I am able to view some of my artwork with a fresh eye, in the light of my studio once more.

I am posting "Tribute to Renoir" after some minor changes. This lovely black hat, with its gorgeous dark feathers, seemed to be just the right prop for a little dress-up photo session and an old-world look.

"BALANCING ART & TIME"

2011-06-13T07:34:00.001-07:00

"Balancing Art & Time" Oil 8X10 $280.00

This week's challenge at Dailypaintworks (http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Challenges) really resonated with me in terms of my art. We all have to make choices to achieve a balance in our lives, juggling, family, career, friendships, etc. Sometimes something tips a little out of kilter and we have to work it back into its proper place in our lives. I don't know about you, but that happens to me more often than I care to admit!

It happened again while painting this set-up. Just as I was putting final tweaks on the shadows, my paint tube fell off the top! Isn't that the way it happens sometimes....smooth sailing and then PLOP! I figured that was my signal to sign the painting and take a coffee break... :)

"BLOWING BUBBLES"

2011-06-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

"BLOWING BUBBLES" Oil 8X10 *SOLD*
It's been a great week of busy-ness for me! So, what's new, right? Well, actually, with the year nearly half over, I am revisiting my New Year's resolution, and realizing I have not done enough to pursue the vision I had for this year's artistic growth. I am about to rectify that situation, by working out a new plan of action...I'll keep you posted on that.
Meanwhile, I have this little painting commission of Eric's niece to share with you. She was a delight to paint, I must say, using a favorite photo of Eric's. I painted her last week and I will hang her in the The ART Lounge Gallery for this weekend's big event celebrating Robert Woods' sculpture donation to the city of Plant City. See my sidebar for this "SPECIAL" ART After Dark. If you are in the area, you won't want to miss this premier event!

"SUMMER HEAT"

2011-06-02T12:52:00.000-07:00

"SUNFLOWER HEAT" Oil 11x11 $220.00 (framed)
Summer is definitely here.....early June and the heat is here to stay! I have been working on the business side of art lately, so painting time has been limited. I takes some time to absorb and get it all done, but.....slow and steady..., as they say.
I am posting a painting from last year, one which is descriptive of Summertime for me. I have been seeing these sunflowers popping up in home gardens and fence lines for a few weeks now, and just wanted to share them with you again.

MEMORIAL DAY

2011-05-30T08:12:00.001-07:00

"Memorial Day" Oil 5x7 $110.00 unframed

Although this view greets me every morning, bringing me much joy throughout the day, I have to say I have neglected its potential as a painting subject. This magnolia and its accompanying bronzes gives me a tremendous amount of pleasure, especially during full bloom.

Recently, I have made an effort to catch up on friends' blogs and websites, and, in the process, I have re-acquainted myself with Carol Marine and her Daily Paintworks website. On the site, she, or other featured artist, posts a painting "challenge". If you are unfamiliar with it, I strongly suggest you check it out: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/.

This week's challenge, posted by artist Ann Feldman, challenges the artist to look outside for inspiration, and then to go out and enjoy it! This view from my studio doors is one I enjoy daily, with today being no exception! Thanks for the inspiration Ann. :)

WORK, WORK, WORK...

2011-05-09T11:32:00.001-07:00

"Pewter, Pear & Apple" Oil 11x14 $620.00 unframed
I have not been idle these last few months, just very, very busy! I have had projects in the works, too numerous to bore you in the telling. I have not even had time to photograph most of my recent works, but am submitting this painting, just to keep myself visible. This is a painting I created from Susan Carlin's reference and online workshop in March. I was quite inattentive during the workshop, but managed to pull it through in the following week, when I could concentrate, and this is the end result. Thanks Susan, for a great reference and fun workshop experience.

If you ever have the opportunity to subscribe to one of Susan's online workshops, I highly recommend it. Visit her website to inquire about opportunities for future classes. http://www.susancarlin.com/

Bouguereau Eye, An Analysis

2011-01-09T08:42:00.000-08:00

This morning I am offering an analysis and painting demonstration on the eye of Gabrielle Cot as painted by Wm. Adolphe Bouguereau. Bouguereau has long been my favorite old master, and I have reproduced 6 of his paintings throughout my continuing learning process, one of which I duplicated three times. His draftsmanship, flesh tones, and subject matter are all worth analysis and study. You can see the demonstration here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/11911959 I expect he may become a favorite of yours also, if he isn't already.

60 Minutes

2011-01-07T16:54:00.000-08:00

"To Follow a Dream" Oil 8X10 $240.00 unframed

I have always enjoyed quick studies, and today I thought it might be fun to set the timer and use that 60 minutes for exercise.....painting exercise, that is. So this is my 60 minutes worth today, a jewel to me at 4x6. I have been selling these studies, unframed at $50 each including shipping within the U S. Contact me via email ( bryantstudio@gmail.com ) or Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000190088415 ) if you are interested. It is my plan to create a Facebook album for these and other studies, so you can see what else I have to offer and know what is sold as it sells.

Christmas Greetings

2010-12-23T15:33:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted on this blog. The last group of paintings seem ancient to me! In the last several weeks, I painted 12 new miniature Old Master Reproductions in preparation for Christmas giving to premier at The ART Lounge Gallery's FIRST anniversary blast. We are very fortunate to have a group of artists who celebrate each others' passions in art and who support each and every member of the co-op. Thanks for a wonderful YEAR ONE!

After that, I dove right into a church project for the Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration, of which I am a committee member. I created a huge staging area for the weekend celebration with the assistance of my husband, daughter, son and nephew. The project was 12'x30'x40' and was central to the celebration as the setting of Mt. Tepeyac, at which the miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe took place.
Finally, I am getting ready for Christmas. Need I say more? I hate shopping as a rule, but love buying for others, so Christmas shopping is always a joy to me. There is something magical about finding just the right present to show love and appreciation for those who share in my life. That being said, I want to wish each and every one of you the Merriest Christmas ever and a prosperous New Year!

DOG DAYS, BUSY DAYS

2010-09-22T05:31:00.001-07:00

"The Family of Dogs" Oil 22X28
Wow, Fall already! It seems the Dog Days of Summer have taken their toll and I am behind on painting. I will have to step it up in the next two months! Meanwhile, all was not lost. I have actually been working, just not so strenuously. I am posting a few of them here.

"Cat-itudes" Oil 22x28
Speaking of Dog Days, for the sake of bi-partisanship, we will include cats here also... I recently painted two large pieces to exhibit at the Walden Lake Hospital and Pet Resort, making a total of six for the exhibit hanging through the end of October.

"Precious & Durango" Oil 14X18
I had lots of fun with LouAnn Watson's photo reference, which she generously allowed me to use in painting "Precious and Durango."

"Nash" Oil 14X18
Each third Saturday of the month Plant City has an antique car show. The ART Lounge Gallery has a booth set up at the show and we take artwork from the gallery to display there. I painted the Nash grill for our display next month. All of our artwork is not car related....there are spouses of car buffs to consider, but we like a few pieces to reflect the event of the day. October is scheduled to have a "Swap Meet" in conjunction with the classic cars, and is expected to be a record-breaking event!

We are having our quarterly Downtown ART Walk this Saturday, September 25th. We always enjoy these events, creating our art on the sidewalks and meeting people, answering questions, selling! It's a great way to reach out to the community and spark their interest in ART. We will be demonstrating/painting from 9am-5pm, so if you are in the area, come and see what is going on!

New Additions...

2010-08-13T16:11:00.001-07:00

"Evening Comes..." 12X20

"Miah" 16X20

I don't know about you, but sometimes I just seem to blink and an entire week has gone by! In this case......TWO weeks have gone with the wind... I didn't get much painting done on Ustream, but I did get something accomplished at The ART Lounge Gallery in that time. I worked on 5 quick studies there, and painted two online, one quick study and one more in depth, but still impressionistic. To view those, follow the link: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/debra-bryant/v3

I am determined to gain some small measure of mastery over florals, for which I really don't care. But I am, after all, an artist, and an artist should be able to paint anything....or so I feel. So, some of my recent quick studies have been florals. To my surprise, I quite enjoyed working on them!

You may remember Wilson's daughter, Sophia from about 6 weeks ago. A couple of weeks ago, I painted another of his beauties, Miah. Both were his reference photos and I thank him for allowing me to paint from them. It is always my pleasure to render the face and his girls are lovely!

July 11-17 in Paint

2010-07-18T04:58:00.000-07:00

Maya at the Park Oil 11X14 NFS
Last week my family took the opportunity to visit a well loved county park in the area and we all enjoyed the dappled shade and sand hills at the outskirts of the park. This is Maya from one of the photos I took while there. It captures her joy of nature. From the time she was small, our large backyard was her domain and we are happy to see that has not changed.

Old Timer Oil 8X10 $280
I have always enjoyed finding the "cast aside" items and making something beautiful of them. Old trucks and cars are great for this and I just loved how the rust played against the brighter blues of this old truck, and how the flat tires just made it feel restful.

Puebla Oil 8X10 *SOLD*
I can't remember where I got this photo.....I only have thousands thanks to the digital age! It could be a wet canvas reference, and it could be one Mike took when he went on a trip to Texas, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado a few years ago. I thought the intense blues and oranges played so well off each other and I pumped up the intensity even more.

Ribbons and Lace Oil 8X10 $240
Mike snapped this photo at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival held December 12th here at the Plant City Stadium each year. She was preparing for her turn with a group of children performing folkloric dance for the crowd. These children work for months perfecting their steps and timing and do a fantastic job. It was nice to catch her in a quiet moment.

Fields of Gold Oil 8X10 *SOLD*
Sunday afternoon several of the co-op artists met at the gallery for some fellowship and painting. Working within a group on various subjects and media is something we find inspiring and pleasant. Since we all work different schedules, it is nice to get together and enjoy each other's companionship, techniques and inspirations.

It's all in the Attitude! Oil 11x23 $480
I started this painting on Ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/debra-bryant/v3 but finished it up at The ART Lounge Gallery on Friday while I was there....gotta paint when I can, and the gallery day affords me the opportunity to paint in full view of the public, right in our front window. I worked on this one because it has eye-catching color and it is a little larger than some of the pieces I paint there.

Gossip Girls Oil 11X11
This amusing swan group is a study for a larger painting that I plan to do soon. I wanted to work out the placement, values and color choices before beginning the 38X38 piece. Gossip Girls stands alone as a finished painting, but the smaller scale allowed me more freedom to play with light and shadows as well.

It has been a crazy week! With the Student Scholarship Workshop on Monday, class on Tuesday, Private lesson on Wednesday and Friday, Gallery Hosting on Friday, Classic Car Show on Saturday......I think I need a nap! Still, I managed to record demonstrations for four new paintings, and completed three more......all this week!
Whew! Another week down! Then it begins again..........ain't life GRAND!

July 4-10 in Paint

2010-07-10T11:28:00.000-07:00

Summer Series "Shell" Oil 4X4
This is a fun time for being alive... family,Summer sun, good friends and paint! I couldn't even try to get away from painting if I tried... I have one more little shell painting for the Summer Series for The ART Lounge Gallery, and I have completed four others.

"Jennifer" Oil 16X20 POR
Jennifer is my niece who lives in Georgia, and I begged her to let me paint her Facebook profile picture. She is such a beautiful young woman and the pose was striking. I painted this online as a demonstration on ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/debra-bryant/v3 If you go to the site and scroll through the archived video's there, you can view the sessions. Painting on Ustream is pretty new to me and I am still trying to work out the kinks of the camera functions and placement, and I am enjoying it. The difficult part is to speak as if someone was watching the demonstration, whether they are or not!

"Prayerful" Oil 11X14 *SOLD*
I wanted to try a different technique with my painting of the Dalai Lama, called "Prayerful". In it, I used a mottled foil leafing to enhance this painting. Gold leaf, although beautiful, would not have had the same effect which I wanted to achieve, which was of an indistinct patina on the disc behind the monk. The little wisp of smoke from an incense burner was an afterthought, and was devised to break up the empty space to the left. I was happy with the loose painting technique and the atmosphere, combined with the gilding.

"Meditating" Oil 12X16 $420
I have worked on a few pieces lately with the spa, yoga, zen thing in mind. One of the pieces is a yoga pose, borrowed from a friend. It had an interesting negative space, and I really played up the light and color factors, so, although it has a serenity to it, it is still very vibrant and energetic.

"Family Reunion" Oil 8X10 $280

"ART After Dark" at The ART Lounge Gallery is tonight and every second Saturday. If you are in the area, join us for wine and light refreshments and view the newest artwork on the walls of the gallery. We are located at 119 E. Reynolds Street in Plant City, Fl. and the open house reception is held from 6-10pm. I have hung 20 new paintings this month! Come by and have a look!

"Artichoke" Oil 8X10 $280

Next week I will begin the Student Scholarship Workshop at the gallery, instructing 4 area high school students in a four week class on oil painting. I am very excited to be teaching this class, and look forward to meeting these young artists and offering them instruction and encouragement on their future careers... Exciting!

Summer Series

2010-07-02T16:22:00.000-07:00

Pre-gallery release of new artwork; see them here first! The new Summer Series begins with these three small paintings. There will be more to come in this series, and I will post them as I get them completed. Each is 4"x4" oil on gessoed panels.....perfect little gems to bring a piece of that summer beach vacation home to enjoy for years to come. They are nicely framed in 1 1/4" profile coppertoned frames and sell for $50.00 each plus shipping. I will have these on exhibit for the months of July and August at The ART Lounge Gallery, if they are not sold first. Email me for further information or to purchase or commission a painting.

Beach Series

2010-07-01T05:36:00.001-07:00

Summertime is in full swing here in central Florida. The air is turning humid, but there is a nice gentle breeze always seemingly stirring around our patio, so the afternoons are really pleasant.

Thoughts of summer, the beach, and simple treasures have become the focus of my Beach Series. With the eminent danger to which our beautiful beaches are being exposed, it seems almost necessary to preserve in paint, some of the bounty of beautiful related subjects. These four paintings are oil on masonite panels, 5"X5" priced at $60.00 each. Abalone and Blue Shell are framed in black, Conch and Starfish are framed in brown, all with 2" profile. They will be on exhibit at The ART Lounge Gallery for the months of July and August, with more to follow...

"Sophia"

2010-06-13T08:03:00.001-07:00

This is Sophia, 11X14 oil on panel. She is a lovely little angel cherished by her Daddy, Wilson. Last week I painted her with the intention of putting her photo and painting, sort of a "before and after," for an advertisement on my portrait commissions. She will be the first in a series of print ads in the local Monthly Savings Magazine, whose circulation reaches all of Brandon, Valrico, Lithia and Bloomingdale areas, approximately 150,000 homes. Now is the time to put ideas of Christmas commissions out there! I am excited to have this marketing opportunity and look forward to a long and strong relationship with the magazine's publisher. Thanks Wilson!

2010-06-06T18:40:00.001-07:00

"A Father's Love" 11X14 Oil on panel.

Portraits are usually my preferred subject for paintings, and paintings as gifts are no exception. When considering a gift for a friend of my family, naturally, a portrait seemed the ideal. But this is a special friend, my Priest, Father Carlos Rojas. It was obvious that a painting for him had to touch his soul, as he strives to do the same for his congregation. In the past year my family created for him a special chapel in the rectory, and since we have known him and worked with him for the past 6 years as friends, photographers, artists, and Sacristans, we felt we knew him pretty well. His family means so much to him, so there were choices to consider....his mother...his grandmother...one of his four sisters...all possibilities.

I chose for my subject a photograph his mother has allowed me to use of his father and his sister. The photo captured a very personal, joyful moment which I found exquisitely beautiful and profoundly moving; I thought it might do the same for him as a painting. Thus, my choice was made.

Upon completion, I hung the painting at The ART Lounge Gallery, where he is a co-op artist member, and where we were having a farewell party for him last Friday night. He has been reassigned to another Parish, and will be leaving us at the end of June. I have to say....it was the first time I have found him speechless, but for a few long seconds, upon "discovering" the painting hanging on the wall, he could only point at it. I believe I hit the mark! Thank you Father Carlos, for the pleasure of working with you in the past and into the future...

2010-05-28T03:33:00.001-07:00

Summertime is here! We have been picking beans from the garden, blackberries for cobbler, planting more flowers in the garden and preparing new planting beds...oh, and taking photos in the garden for possible reference. Deluged by all the craziness of Spring, I have cleared some clutter in the studio, prepared umpteen panels for painting, planted, nurtured, and generally created a more serene space in my life.

I finished the self-portrait I began on my visit to Susan Carlin http://www.susancarlin.com/ in San Antonio. The reference photo was taken by her charming friend Ugur, who skillfully captured a great reference in one shot, and was delightful company as we painted. Ugur is a highly skilled Graphic Designer and Photographer. Thank you Ugur! The photo is priceless to me.

Yesterday, I put finishing touches on 4 paintings that have been sitting around the studio, and totally reworked another. I framed, tagged, inventoried and prepared them for exhibiting at The ART Lounge Gallery for the month of June. It was a very productive day.

I think I need more frames! Ha!

2010-05-26T18:11:00.001-07:00

Finished today........maybe. You know how it is...........

2010-05-24T05:29:00.001-07:00

Although the studio clean up is not TOTALLY what I want, I can't stand not painting any longer. I have ideas churning around in my head, and have got to start working with them. My intention is to begin a new piece, and work on some unfinished business..... Paintings which have been sitting around in the ugly stage need to be worked on and finished or tossed and begun again. That is always a tough decision for me. That is why I needed the time to clean up and develop a plan of action.

We had a yard sale recently and some of my studio clean-up included old painting props I no longer intend to use. You know how that goes.....get rid of it, then you plan a painting and that's the ONE element you need! Well, I will just have to live with that. I could no longer live with the clutter. Oh, I still have clutter, it's just more easily contained now.

Mike and I will probably head out one day this week for a photo op. You just can't have too many reference photos! One day soon I would like to do some still life set-ups outside on the patio. I think it will be a challenge to get the set-ups done in natural light. Previously, I have always set up my still lifes in a box arrangement with a spotlight on them. I want something fresher this time. I will just have to see how that works out and let you know.

2010-05-16T18:46:00.001-07:00

I have kept a closely guarded secret for months, and now, am able to reveal it...

This is my painting to be used as the cover art for a new historical novel, which released this month to book stores and online sales venues. Ambassador International Publishing's best-selling inspirational fiction series by award-winning author, Ruth Carmichael Ellinger is releasing its third novel in the Wildrose series. "Sword of the Wild Rose" will be distributed to international markets, as well as in the United States.

Our collaboration began when Ruth, a local author, attended a function at Center Place Arts and Civic Assn. in Brandon, Fl. in December. I had a display of my artwork, titled "The Masters as Teachers" on exhibit in Mook Gallery there. Impressed by the subject matter and painting style of the oil paintings, and discouraged by the prevalent use of graphic art designers and their inability to visually capture her ideas, Ruth contacted me with the suggestion of creating the book cover she envisioned.

Delighted with the project, I used the text of the manuscript as my primary inspiration for the painting. I also drew upon my research into vintage period clothing, as well as the Davidson family history and colonial historical references in compiling the piece.

I painted two oil sketch drafts, depicting elements designed to capture the heart of the story. From among these, we chose the strongest visuals and worked out their placement. These decisions made, I then worked at capturing the essence of the story in pictorial form.

I am pretty sure I don't have to say...........I was ecstatically happy to work on this project! I am even happier still, that I was able to keep the secret from Mike until I could put the book in his hand! Ha! :)

2010-05-09T14:06:00.001-07:00

"ART After Dark" at The ART Lounge Gallery, held monthly on the second Saturday, although always an enjoyable event spent with colleagues, friends and art-lovers in general, held a bonus for me.

Cheryl Kuck, correspondent for the Tampa Tribune, and a wonderful artist herself, and her husband Walter attended the event. Cheryl's success as a gallery owner and art columnist are well known in the area. Although I hadn't had an opportunity to speak to her for some time, Saturday we had a delightful conversation about art and artists in general, and, as always, I found her well informed, educated, perceptive, and enlightening. She really struck me with a comment she made concerning artistic growth. To paraphrase, she said, "Sometimes an artist has a great idea......and has the same idea for twenty years..."

That immediately brought to mind, visions of several contemporary artists, whom I greatly admire, whose bodies of work, for the last few years, all looks the same.....same figure, same model, same color palette, same textures........same, same, same... Some of these artists' work is extremely lovely, and I hadn't previously thought about "sameness" so much as "style" when viewing their work, until now. It was in the midst of that conversation, that I realized that although their artwork was beautifully and well executed, the artists themselves had ceased to grow.

Maybe they had found a safety zone from which they were not willing to venture forth. Perhaps, the monetary gain or the recognition of style was too flattering to resist. So, now, my thoughts revolve around this question: have they sacrificed a large portion of originality, creativity and artistic growth for the sake of the coveted "style" with which most artists seem to be so concerned? I don't know the answer. I am still very much in an evolution myself, when it comes to my own direction, learning and "style". I can guarantee this about myself; I will never view that often elusive and frustratingly difficult to achieve "artistic style" with the same awe and yearning as I had previously.

Anyway, wherever this process leads me, I hope to always keep Cheryl's seed planted firmly in my conscious mind as I make my artistic choices, and I hope never to cease to grow in technique, "style", and especially ideas. Thanks Cheryl!

2010-05-03T14:04:00.000-07:00

2010-03-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

*SOLD*
New artworks at The ART Lounge Gallery are going up this weekend. Featured this month will be the top winners of the Strawberry Festival Fine Art Show, sponsored by the East Hillsborough Art Guild. We are excited to have these works of art exhibited in our gallery! If you are in the area, drop in for a look at the local talent. :)

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2010-03-19T16:59:00.000-07:00

I love Gallery days! I painted this little 8X10 painting, "Day Labor" today at the gallery, and started another. Friends stopped by and we enjoyed their company until time to close. It was a good day... :)

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2010-03-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

*SOLD*
Today I painted at The ART Lounge Gallery, this little portrait, which is a study in cool fleshtones and backlight. The Fl. Strawberry Festival is over and I am eager to get back to painting MORE! I did get to demonstrate 4 days, which was very nice. Anytime I can paint is a good day. I am working on 8X10 portrait studies, faces. My goal is to sharpen my drawing (with paint) skills as well as to master a variety of fleshtones. I believe quick studies are the best way to achieve this.

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2010-03-09T14:04:00.001-08:00

Today I demonstrated at the Florida Strawberry Festival using a WetCanvas photo reference. More people who came by were amazed with my use of the laptop to pull up the reference and paint from it. I know there are many of you who do the same. It saves my eyes and I can enlarge, reverse image, reduce saturation for value studies....on and on. This is an 8X10 in oil on masonite panel. I may do a little more work on the blanket across his shoulder, but my aim was to get the pose and the COLORFUL face and water jar.

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2010-03-08T17:44:00.001-08:00

Each year the Florida Strawberry Festival hosts a Fine Art Show, sponsored and staffed by a group of volunteer East Hillsborough Art Guild members and their friends. It is a nice show, raising funds each year to benefit our student scholarship program. There were some fine entries this year, as in the past, and I try to take the opportunity to demo at least a couple of the 11 days of the Festival. I am posting the demonstration painting from this morning. I used my photo reference of a young girl for the pose and fleshtones in this 8X10 oil painting on masonite panel. I am happy with her as a 3 ½ hr. study, so I think I am going to frame her. Honesty is her name.

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2010-03-07T18:10:00.001-08:00

After working at the Strawberry Festival most of the day, I came home to a surprise...my fun online art buddies had taken a 2-hour online painting workshop with Jonathan Hardesty on Saturday morning. He recorded the session, so I was able to go online this evening and "catch up" by using his photo reference of his lovely wife Marie (DROP DEAD GORGEOUS EYES!), and painted a nice little study.

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2010-03-02T12:53:00.001-08:00

Quick studies can be so much fun! If they don't turn out, no problem; you don't have a lot of time invested in them. I personally enjoy the freedom that one thought gives me. It allows me to just enjoy the process and I usually learn a thing or two along the way. It's also a great stress reliever! This is the process I used for "Her First Rodeo" painted from one of my photos, in under two hours. It is obviously a quick sketch, and not a finished portrait.

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2010-03-02T04:35:00.001-08:00

The entire country has had strange weather this winter, including central Florida. On several occasions the growers resorted to spraying the fields with water to protect the strawberry crop. I slogged through nearly knee deep icy water in the fields to get photos, and put together a couple of those shots for a painting. This is my entry for the Strawberry Theme art competition at the Florida Strawberry Festival, "Protecting the Future". While you are enjoying the festival, don't forget to drop by the Art Show, located at Gate 5, and St. Clement's "Make Your Own" Strawberry Shortcake booth, located at Gate 9!

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2010-02-28T16:58:00.001-08:00

I finished my entry for the Strawberry Festival Art Show today, so to celebrate I painted this little two hour study. I love jumping right in to quick studies (thank you Craig Nelson) immediately after a complicated piece! It revives me right away! "Her First Rodeo" is 8X10 oil on masonite. Fun stuff!

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2010-02-03T15:48:00.001-08:00

The mission and flight patches from the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space flights on my painting of Moon and starfield.....just for you Mike! ;)

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2010-01-31T19:04:00.001-08:00

I thought December was busy, but it seems "catch-up" has caught up with ME! This painting I managed to get done this week, and I am working on ideas for others, but research is time consuming. This painting is a backdrop for the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo mission patches which are a part of Mike's collection of NASA memorabilia. It is a tribute to hope, courage and ambition. I will post a picture of it with patches mounted soon.

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2010-01-12T16:37:00.001-08:00

Hope.........finished. This little girl took a little time, using three photo references, and a lot of decision making, but worth the effort. I softened the redness in her cheek and punched up the light a little more on the wave of hair since this photo. I am entering her in a juried competition this month. I just need to get a better photo. We'll see how that works out. One never knows........

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2010-01-07T14:04:00.001-08:00

Now that all the deadlines have been met, and all the grunt work of taking down exhibits is done, I can concentrate again on making art.

I have recently done a few value studies on 8X18 gessoed masonite, quickly done, 30 min or less, and lots of fun! As a lesson, it was not only values that I reinforced, but the value of utilizing just a little bit of painting time. It always seemed to me that just an hour or two was hardly worth the effort of setting up and cleaning up the palette. Not so, which I learned with this exercise. Thanks Dave for offering this lesson! (cropped till I fill out with other studies)

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2009-12-07T14:46:00.001-08:00

Four more little master painting reproductions for Christmas....one already SOLD and one from Saturday SOLD, and I still have someone waiting to see them...

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2009-12-05T19:12:00.001-08:00

Painted today! Four....count them......4 miniature masterpieces for The ART of Christmas Tree at The ART Lounge Gallery.....unless they are sold before I hang them. These have been selling as fast as we can paint them. I have one prospective buyer, but email if you are interested. I am so excited with the way these turned out. Each is oil on 2"X3" canvas paper and they have just been jewels to paint. So, so, so much fun! I love painting...does it show???

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2009-11-30T19:25:00.001-08:00

The Masters as Teachers is hung in Mook Gallery at Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Assn. for the month of December. The reception is on Thursday night and I am ......tired? LOL I am off and running again, continuing the 2"X3" masterpiece reproductions for The ART of Christmas tree decorations at The ART Lounge Gallery. These little gems, lovingly painted by all our artists will be for sale at the gallery. This is Monet's "Haystack, Snow Effect" 1891.

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2009-11-23T02:49:00.001-08:00

I am posting 2 miniatures for The ART Lounge Gallery's "The ART of Christmas" tree, which will be competing with 19 other local businesses in the Plant City Chamber of Commerce contest. I decided to paint some masterpieces and some originals as my contribution. Today I have Bierstadt and Degas. Most of our artists are painting 2"X3" paintings to hang on the tree. I am very excited to see what everyone comes up with. Hopefully, with all the great art out there, there won't be any duplicates! We have a pretty diverse group of fantastic artists!

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2009-11-22T16:30:00.001-08:00

George Inness reproduction 2"X3" for "The ART of Christmas" tree at The ART Lounge Gallery!

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2009-11-21T18:44:00.001-08:00

This little 2X3 painting will be one of the Christmas Tree ornaments for the local business Christmas Tree Contest. The ART Lounge Gallery will have a tree featuring miniature masterpieces, old and new, with our theme of "The ART of Christmas". All our artists are painting small reproductions or original works for this competition. There will be Degas, Dali, Bierstadt, Innes, Monet, and others. One of our extremely talented artists, Bohdonna Blay, will be decorating with her Ukranian hand embellished eggs to round it out...a lot of tradition for the Holiday. There is always something exciting going on with our artists and I am proud to be counted among them!

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2009-11-20T17:50:00.001-08:00

WIP Still working on my Dad..... It will take a bit of work yet, but I can see some progress. It always seems more difficult when you paint familiar people, and this pose is so HIM!

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2009-11-19T14:27:00.001-08:00

WIP Yesterday and today I have been working on a portrait of my Dad. I have wanted to paint this for a long time, just was never sure how I wanted to handle it...still not quite sure. I have seen him in this familiar pose my entire life, chin in hand, holding a book, thinking, reminiscing, listening. I am including items personal to him.....his prayer books, the aircraft he flew on, his recliner, a cherry table, since his hobby was woodworking, and the great outdoors. I am still thinking about this one.....

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2009-11-18T18:01:00.001-08:00

Portrait de Gabrielle Cot, after Wm. Adolphe Bouguereau. This is all the time I can spend on her, and I am not sure I could do any better anyway. So I will move along. There is a little glare in the darks, but it is still very wet.

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2009-11-17T15:43:00.001-08:00

WIP still of Bouguereau's "Portrait de Gabrielle Cot" that I worked on this afternoon. The morning was taken with The ART Lounge Gallery updates, news, correspondence, phone calls and a class, so not much progress was made. That's ok. I like to start fresh in the early morning anyway, and hopefully I will finish Miss Gabrielle tomorrow! There is hair and lace and final touches to the ear and face. I do love Bouguereau, and reproducing his work is like a ballet or a symphony (be aware that I can neither dance, nor sing!). There is a certain rhythm to his use of cool/warm in the flesh that I find so appealing, and it is becoming more familiar to me. I deliberately left this larger than I normally do, so the colors will hopefully show to better advantage.

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2009-11-16T19:24:00.001-08:00

This WIP is a reproduction of Wm. Adolphe Bouguereau's "Portrait de Gabrielle Cot", which will be exhibited at Center Place for the Arts for the month of December. This has been my favorite "Master" artist since "discovering" portraiture in my second year of oil painting. His fleshtones are luscious, irridescent, delights for the eye! I never tire of studying them....

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2009-11-12T13:24:00.001-08:00

My verdaccio underpainting for daVinci's Lady with Ermine, soon to be exhibited in a show titled, "The Masters as Teachers". Time seems to be ticking away this week, and I should be painting up storms here getting ready for my show at Center Place for the Arts, in Brandon, Fl., but my family has taken a blow from the passing of a dear friend, Jack, more of a brother, in so many ways, and so I am just going in circles. I did manage some adrenalin work, cleaned out my frame stock, and trying to get the studio back to working condition, but I have lots of cooking to do for the luncheon tomorrow and I just am not motivated to organize. So, I will kick into high gear again this coming week. I want to get at least 7 new paintings done for that exhibition. I am excited about it particularly because it will be seen by so many people throughout the bookings for the month of December. Center Place hosts a lot of civic functions and private parties in the main ballroom where the paintings will be seen, with exhibits changing monthly.

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2009-11-10T03:16:00.001-08:00

This is my reproduction of a detail area of The Pieta by Wm. Adolphe Bouguereau, 20X24 oil. This week I am trying to clean up the studio from all the chaos of the past weeks; organizing and putting away frames I had scattered throughout the entire workspace. I packed 3 little paintings for shipment and have been preparing for a show in December, called "The Masters as Teachers" It is lots of fun for me to be painting anything, but the Masters have a special place in my heart. I will be showing work by da Vinci, Sargeant, Bouguereau, Landseer, Cassat, Vermeer, and others in this month-long exhibit. I have been looking forward to it all year with much excitement!

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2009-11-07T16:04:00.001-08:00

The Grand Opening for The ART Lounge Gallery was a smashing success, with about 420 attendees, and 26 pieces of artwork sold.....19 of which were mine! I sold one large piece and the others were in the 50 Under $50, which was a one night special. All our artists stepped up and exhibited some phenomenal work, which will remain on exhibit for the entire month. If you are in the area, come by and see what's new. We are proud of our growing membership, adding two new members this week. I have another new piece, also in the exhibit, "Sunglory" which is 8X10, oil, and a personal favorite of mine.

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2009-11-05T18:51:00.001-08:00

One more finished for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery TOMORROW NIGHT!!! Finally it is here! ...an believe it or not, I have one more to finish. Any bets on that??? This is 14X18 oil.

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2009-11-05T11:59:00.001-08:00

The Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery is tomorrow night!!! The hanging went well; there are still a few pieces undone but promised to be ready tomorrow for hanging before the show. I have two to complete, myself. A few of the 50 Under $50 as they are seen in the gallery........we kinda liked the staggered placement.

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2009-11-04T04:43:00.001-08:00

This one done.........moving on........

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2009-11-03T20:53:00.001-08:00

You'd think 50 paintings for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery this Friday would be enough, but......... noooooo....... It seems I am a glutton for punishment. This is a work in progress (20"X20"), that will also be in the exhibit. I still hope to get the two portraits finished and this one plus 2 more. You won't know if you don't try, right? I will keep you posted!

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2009-11-02T18:39:00.001-08:00

DONE!!! The Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6 has 50 Paintings Under $50.....all from my easel. What a draw!!! I still have 3 larger paintings to finish, two more I want to get painted and postcards and notecards still to print. I just might slide in under the wire with this... I have got to say, setting myself a challenge to get 50 paintings done in such a short time (Oct. 2 - Nov. 2) has been an awesome experience. We had the hanging tonight, and the little ones look so good grouped together on the wall......kinda think I need a blue light for the special! Coasting from here on in, at any rate. If the others don't get done, I will not be too upset...only a little bit.

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2009-11-01T14:15:00.001-08:00

Work, work, work......cross off one thing, add two more! This painting is NOT one of 50 Under $50, but will actually be my DOOR PRIZE at the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6th. I just had to have something for Fall in this exhibit. Well, I guess I could count the apples as a Fall painting, but this one prepares me for the coming holiday...

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2009-10-31T13:54:00.001-07:00

One of 50 Paintings Under $50 for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6th. I am off to celebrate Trunk or Treat with family and friends, so I am posting this now. Have fun and keep safe all you little goblins and witches!

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2009-10-30T18:11:00.001-07:00

After going out and buying a new camera card, and taking my photos, I find that the computer won't read the card! I have tried it until I am ready to scream!!! So.........this is a painting that I am putting in the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6th. It is NOT one of the 50 Paintings Under $50, but since I can't seem to make the computer bend to my will (and I am strong-willed!), it looks like I will have to send you this one instead. Nearly all my framing and labeling is done...I still have those two portraits to finish, one of which I worked on today. Except for the camera card, I am happy.....

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2009-10-29T17:13:00.001-07:00

This is NOT a 50 Under $50 painting for The ART Lounge Gallery Grand Opening, but, since my camera card says "unreadable" and I can't get another picture to post......what you see is what you get! This is already hanging in the Gallery and is 14X18 in oil. I will replace that card tomorrow for another post.

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2009-10-28T17:27:00.001-07:00

50 Paintings Under $50 for The ART Lounge Gallery Grand Opening on Nov. 6th are mostly stacked and ready for framing. This is a companion piece for the one posted last night. It is a joy to paint every day, and a blessing to have an understanding family....thanks guys. You make my life easier. There is still lots to do, but it is manageable now.

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2009-10-27T19:52:00.001-07:00

The ART Lounge Gallery Grand Opening planning meeting was tonight. I checked off everything on my list and added new items to the agenda. The plan is coming together.........we are the A-team!!! Love it! Time to relax now and coast...

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2009-10-26T18:38:00.001-07:00

One of the paintings for the 50 Under $50 going to the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6. I guess I will go with it........ I am still working on the little portrait commission, but mostly I have been working on literature today for the exhibit, so I have not made much progress on that one. Maybe I can make more headway on it tomorrow.

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2009-10-24T16:07:00.001-07:00

I think I am about to wrap this thing up. 50 Paintings Under $50 Promotion for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6 is becoming a reality. I am so confident of completion, that I took the day to compose and print a catalog and price list. Yesterday I began a portrait on speculation and today I began a commission portrait as well. I just know the details will trip me up, so I have a mountain of notes....to do list....and all sorts of art related STUFF scattered everywhere! Bought more frames today and will be busy next week taking care of that job, no small task. Challenges keep me creative!

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2009-10-23T18:27:00.001-07:00

The ART Lounge Gallery Grand Opening on Nov. 6 from 6PM-10PM features artwork by 9 local artists, who founded the first co-op art gallery in Plant City, Fl. Mark your calendars and join us for an evening of fine art, music, door prizes, and a painting offered for silent auction painted by Anna Alepin. Light refreshments will be available. Among the original new artwork exhibited will be 50 Paintings Under $50, including the 8X10 oil painting posted here. Don't miss this event!

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2009-10-22T19:10:00.001-07:00

Sorry, I posted the wrong thumbnail photo earlier. THIS is the other that is going in the 50 Under $50 exhibit at The ART Lounge Gallery Grand Opening on Nov. 6th. I know.......blah, blah, blah.....LOL

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2009-10-22T18:42:00.001-07:00

I am posting one little 4X4 oil painting and an 8X10 for the 50 Under $50 to be exhibited at the Grand Opening of The Art Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6th. Most of today was taken up with email notifications for the Opening, creating a flyer and posters for distribution around town, creating a thumbnail listing of my 50 paintings, with price guide and, of course, a little bit of painting squeezed in. I tweaked one that has been sitting here, nearly finished and the other was started last week and finished also today. After counting, I realize that since Oct. 3rd (ONLY 20 days ago),when I realized this concept of 50 Under $50, I have painted 38 small paintings! That is some achievement for me! I feel safe to say, this CAN BE DONE on time.....possibly with time to spare! I know this is pushing it, but there are two commissions I would like to finish for the Grand Opening as well. Wish me luck! Of course, I may have to sleep for a week afterward!

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2009-10-21T18:53:00.001-07:00

Three little paintings done today for the 50 Under $50 for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6th. Bet you wish I was finished with all 50! Sorry, not yet folks! I wish it too. I have commissions to get done! One is 3X5 and the other two are 4X5; all are oils.

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2009-10-20T18:59:00.001-07:00

Just got back from a planning meeting for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery. Things are cranking up to be an all-out bash on Nov 6th. All our artists are working, working! I have one new 4X6 oil painting tonight for the 50 under $50 promotion. I have not had time to enjoy these little ones.....such a shame, but they are a great learning tool. Craig Nelson knows what he is talking about, although I don't have it down to 60 minutes yet!(See his book "60 Minutes to Better Painting"-Northlight) Learning, learning...

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2009-10-19T18:50:00.001-07:00

Two new paintings finished today heading for the 50 Under $50 for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6. Both of these are oils, 8X8, and could work as a set of 4 with two paintings posted on Friday. All I can say is.....thank God and Florida for fresh fruit! And, of course, it makes a good snack afterward if you paint fast!

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2009-10-18T16:24:00.001-07:00

Two paintings for the 50 Under $50 which will be on exhibit at The ART Lounge Gallery's Grand Opening on Nov. 6th completed today. There is lots still to do to prepare for this show.....printed postcards go in the mail tomorrow, framing still needs to be done, notecards and postcards need to be packaged....the list gets longer instead of shorter. What is going on here? Art, of course!

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2009-10-17T17:36:00.001-07:00

I am posting two paintings I finished today for the 50 Under $50 I am painting for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6. You are getting sick of reading that, I know? I think I could type it in my sleep.....which I probably am, come to think of it! God's Country is 5X7 and Irish Lace is 8X14. I completed another, but forgot to photograph it, so I will upload it tomorrow. I began 3 more today, so I think I might have a chance at reaching my goal after all! I still need time to paint two portraits for the same exhibit. Hope that works out. There is nothing like seeing a portrait of your loved one on public exhibit at a gallery. Crossing my fingers.....oh....no, I need them every second for painting! Hope you enjoy these as much as I have.

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2009-10-16T19:43:00.001-07:00

Tonight I am sharing the two paintings I did today for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery, being held on November 6th. (See Micki, I told you I was going to get them both done!) They are both 8X8 and are part of the 50 Paintings Under $50, that will be on exhibit for that show. That date will be here soon!

Painting every day is getting to be a habit I really enjoy! There have been times when, for months on end it was difficult to work in the time. It had always been, for me, all day or nothing. I am finding it easier and easier to go right back to focus when some other task calls me away from the easel. It is a thrilling discovery, since I had never understood how one could paint for 10 minutes or even 3 hours ONLY at a time. What a sense of freedom it has given me.

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2009-10-15T19:29:00.001-07:00

Having fun and getting lots done today! There is no end to the subjects I want to paint and this has been a blast, doing so many in so short a time. I painted one 4X6 in oils for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery 50 Under $50 promotion, and one other that will also be for sale at the opening........5X14. I also worked on two others and slapped in preliminary backgrounds 4 more! This is getting repititious! Love it!

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2009-10-14T19:30:00.001-07:00

One more squeezed in for tonight.... This is an 8X10 in oils. I am fond of lily pads, what can I say?

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2009-10-14T17:15:00.001-07:00

These are today's paintings for the 50 Under $50, going to the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6th. I needed the intense colors today to keep me awake! Think I might have to go back to a whole 6 hrs. sleep!

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2009-10-13T17:29:00.001-07:00

Another oil painting for the 50 Under $50 I am working on for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery, to be held on Nov. 6th. All of these paintings are original oils in smaller formats, 8 X 10 and smaller. So far, it has been really fun working quickly and smaller, and there is quite a bit of interest from the locals about this project. As a learning tool, this has given me a chance to explore subjects for painting as larger pieces later.

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2009-10-12T17:38:00.001-07:00

These two are going into the 50 Under $50 at The ART Lounge Gallery Grand Opening. They are 5X7, and I really enjoyed taking the photos for these near my hometown of Bardstown, Ky.

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2009-10-11T18:56:00.001-07:00

One more for tonight and then I need that 5 hours!

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2009-10-11T16:50:00.001-07:00

NOW it's finished. The light needed brightening.

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2009-10-11T15:49:00.001-07:00

Sunday.......who said it is a day of rest? After Mass and a little socializing, I spent most of the day coordinating frames with paintings. Choosing is sometimes difficult, but thankfully I have lots from which to choose! Then I completed one of yesterday's paintings for the 50 Under $50 challenge. Notice I am saying "challenge", since it is not yet clear that I will accomplish that goal. I have 26 to go and just 3 weeks to get them painted, framed, tagged, cataloged, and delivered for the Nov. 2nd hanging. I'm thinking 6 hrs. of sleep is probably too much after all...I may cut that to 5 (sorry Dr. Oz, but it is only temporary!).

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2009-10-10T17:49:00.001-07:00

The 50 Under $50 idea for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery is rolling along!. I began 4 paintings today, and completed 2 others from yesterday. At this rate, I may never catch up! Simple subjects, but I love them all. Nonetheless, I am excited about the whole thing...it is something very new for me.

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2009-10-09T17:55:00.001-07:00

Today was a busy Friday...painted at The ART Lounge Gallery, was photographed for a news article about the Grand Opening piece that should come out a week before the event, re-worked my postcard mail-out and re-vamped the OLOG Festival vendors brochure for church! I wanted to update the email list, but the sand is slowly running down the hourglass... I do have another painting to post for the 50 Under $50. I am really enjoying this challenge!

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2009-10-08T16:41:00.001-07:00

Another day, another painting...or two! These two 8 X 10 paintings are part of the 50 Under $50 at The ART Lounge Gallery's Grand Opening. I have lots more yet to do....maybe I will start counting down the last 10, just for the fun of it. Gotta have fun! It can't all be slaving at the easel...well, maybe it can, but I so much enjoy this work!

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2009-10-07T14:21:00.001-07:00

I am not sure where to begin, except...to just jump in! I may not post daily, but will try to update regularly. It seems to me that blogging is like keeping a diary, and how difficult can that be; children everywhere can do that! So I will give it a try, and I am sure it will sound mundane to some, but I think it will be enjoyable to some as well.

One fact was driven home to me (again) today...artists need to be photographers as well as painters. With much-needed help and a "mini" manual settings lesson from David Darrow, (davethepaintingguy.com), I was finally able to come up with some pretty good photos of paintings. Thanks Dave!

With more help from hubby Mike, and on Susan Carlin's advice (www.susancarlin.com), I was able to resize the photos for uploading here. So here are the first few of the 50 Under $50 series I am painting. Hope you enjoy viewing as much as I enjoyed painting!

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2009-10-07T03:50:00.000-07:00

Like most things in life, this is yet another work in progress. Please be patient with me as I get my bearings on blogging. There are so many other things....painting!.....in my life.

Special thanks to Susan Carlin, Lois, Shelley, Marilyn, Gwen, and Barbara for their assistance and encouragement! Wow! We got a lot done in a short time...thanks friends!

Anyway, now...we shall see what we shall see...