Sunflower Quartet 12x12 oil SOLD

Last week I painted a painting of a sunflower in a vase from a photo and well I have to tell you it was not good. I post almost everything and this did not make it. In all of that, I thought about how much info is lost in a photo. After much evaluation and effort to save it I realized I was working with an awful photo and I was trying to work big. Just not enough info to pull off anything.

So I went to the store and bought sunflowers to put in vases around the house with hopes of painting. I must tell you I do this often with complete optimism and watch the flowers die and the water turn smelly and murky and no painting to be seen. This time I just made myself do it and I loved it. I can pull off a sunflower and 4 to boot.

It is all shapes. How many times have I said that and suppressed it like an evil thought. I didn't try to paint every petal and well it hangs together and like I said it is shapes, shapes of color butting up to one another. Anyway I am happy. Nothing like working from life.

Eliot 8x11 pastel on wallis

I have been digging through old work lately getting ready for my exhibit in October. It is just good to look at the past with a fresh eye. This is a pastel of my son which I think I did about 6 years ago. I did a series of him to practice portraiture. Even though I can see so many structural and color issues I still love this.

Last week was his birthday and I had lots of fun posting baby photos of him on facebook. He was a good sport. Now 24 and working in Germany I think about him often and was happy to come across this image of him. I do think it captures his soul.

Your Invited

Yes! Finally! For all to see! Oh dear...

For a long time my husband and friends have suggested that I have a home art exhibit with work for sale. I have hemmed and hawed and postponed and and and... There are hundreds of excuses and I am all out. So on Sunday, October 18, from 1:00 to 5:00, my work will be hung throughout my home for exhibit and sale. It will include work seen on this blog of local plein air locations and more. If you live in the area and want to come on by, please do. Stop in and enjoy some refreshments and appetizers as you look at art. Looking forward to visiting with you.

If you have advise on doing such a thing, that would be welcome too.

From the Bluff at Back Bay 24x12 oil

Finally got to do a painting. I decided to work from a photo on my computer. I can't tell you how many photos I have taken and sit there on my hard drive. I am sure many of you can relate. I wanted to work bigger than usual and start using up canvas' that I have collected. They take up lots of space when just sitting there blank. Best to commit to there fate and move them along.

This came from a photo of a much larger view. The thing with the Back Bay is that it is a subject that gets a lot of attention. I wanted a different view and format then typical. My friend Cindy lives close and we went out painting on her bluff. I painted the other side of this with a house structure and tree with a path, "Breezy View Point". I was quite taken with the bougainvillea and wanted to work it into a shot of the bluff. It is tricky when having such a predominate and recognizable subject in the background of a busy color area like bougainvillea. I am still studying it to see what else needs to be done or not. Any in put would be appreciated.

Sketch 24x18 charcoal and pastel

Well, my school year has started, along with a number of home repair projects and sending kids off and moving kids in, I have had little time to paint. I am though, taking a life drawing class with Cynthia Grilli at Saddleback College which has been wonderful. I just love the trance of life drawing, getting in the zone. And I am learning more about anatomy.

This was a sketch I did with a model outside class. I wish I had not added the color. It is harsh and very unfinished. I seem to be experimenting.