Sparkle in the Summer, 6x6 Oil

I think I mentioned that I was doing this Challenge... well this month's 'object' was sandals!  I thought this subject was going to be the death of me, but actually, I survived.  These are 'going out' sandals for me, and we're just going to say that's a French Pedicure.  I was focusing on color for this, and trying a 'triad' - with the gold from the sandals being the significant color, and the other 2 parts of the triad were the blue-y green (grayed down a bit) and the violet.  Interesting, to me, as I've never really tried this before.

And I don't know if I've ever shared my palette with you, but here we are - I have a rolling kitchen cart that I put waxed paper on about once a month, held in place with duct tape (or duck tape, whichever you prefer).  It takes 2 sheets, one for the top and one for the bottom, and I just tuck the edges in and tape more.  It's easy to clean up.  My colors are (and this is a little enhanced, I usually only have about 7 or 8 colors on it) from left to right: Burnt Umber, Pthalo Blue, Prussian Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Rose, Alizarin Crimson, Cad Red Light, Cad Orange, Cad Yellow light, Cad lemon and 3 squiggles of Titanium White.  And those are one of my pairs of Atlas Gloves - super to work with - 'so flexible you can pick up a dime'... really, and with mesh in the back, they are breathable, and don't make your hands sweat.

And this... well, a gift to all of you, tonight's sunset sky.

Double Tree, 6x8 oil, plein air

Another small painting from the farm.  Later in the day.  More interesting in person.  Thank God I finally have a good computer to upload & post with!  Here's to lessons learned... thanks for your patience, guys!  I'll be surfing around this weekend seeing what I've missed from all my favorite blogs!  

Three Chickens, 6x8, Oil, and an apology

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This one's been added today from my new computer, and is a better representation of the image! (above)

First off, let me say I'm sorry for going 'dark' on you, as they say in Vegas, this past week. Between my Open Studio Tour (which was FABULOUS! Thank you, everyone), and trying to juggle between my husband's two ancient computers.. it's been crazy. And in the computer department, thanks to my overwhelming weekend, I'm getting a brand new laptop tomorrow. Unfortunately ALL my files (photos) of my work, and even my family life (Paco's baby pictures, too) are gone forever. UNLESS I want to pay $800 for some super dude to try (no guarantees) to lift them from my old hard drive. Which, BTW, when plugged into the new computer, blew it up, so I am getting a new, new computer. THAT's the last you'll hear of my computer woes, I promise. And lesson learned about backing up files....

But I painted at Taylor Bray Farm on the Cape yesterday, and one of the paintings I did was this little chicken painting. I really like chickens, and these were so cool - black & white with red. Even though they've been raised in captivity, and never been in the 'wild', they knew, somehow, there was a Red Tailed Hawk in the tree above them. It was amazing, and they set up a sqwaking you wouldn't believe. Here they are trying to keep cool by digging a little impression in the dirt and getting as low to the ground as they could.

Hey - you're not going to believe this, but I got a painting in the Portsmouth Art Guild 'Abstration' show! How cool! Of course my image of this painting is on my fried hard drive. I'll take a photo at the Opening! Yeah, I know... ME! ;)

Red & Ready, Oil, 6x6

One of the last few red roses, this flower is much more beautiful than depicted here. I remember Qiang when he was 'struggling' with roses (THAT's how long I've been blogging!), and I see where he's gone with it. Maybe I'll get there, too. I felt like I should paint a flower... after all, it's Summer! Wish me luck on the Studio Tour tomorrow!

*+*+*+*+*+ If anyone is planning to come by, you can download the brochure Here , BUT there's a zillion artists spread out over a large area. To stop by my studio first (it's very convenient and right on the way to a ton of other really cool studios) just take rte 24 South INTO Rhode Island, Get off at Exit 2, Take a LEFT and I'm about a mile or so on the left, at #1888, right after the gas station (there's only one). I'll have lemonade & iced tea & munchies, too, so get refreshed!

Outsider, 6x6 Oil

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Taking inspiration from my friend Mary Sheehan Winn, I decided to paint some of these yellow cherry & mini plum tomatoes. But for good measure I had to add one of the red ones from my garden. It looks like the red mini plums are the only kind we're going to get, outside of a couple of Roma's. The Big Boys succumbed to the blight (that sounds tragic, doesn't it? But really, they are tomatoes....)

I'm getting excited about this Open Studio Tour on Saturday and Sunday... I've decided to really clear out my studio, and have TONS of paintings for $50 and $75 as well as the 'old' Daily Paintings for $35. I'm going to display my newer work, but I know that this year anyway, the sales will be from the 'Bargain Boxes'. That's fine - I really need space in my studio, so... Bye Bye paintings! Let's hope the weather's good!

Wishing Cairn,Oil 6x6

When you stack stones like this there is supposed to be an energy that appears. Whether that's true or not I always want to make a wish when I stack them. These stones are from Briggs Beach in Little Compton, RI, and if you've ever been there you know they're a little magic ;). I'm sending out my wishes for a couple of friends that really need them today. This turned out quite photo-realistic... not how I planned it!

ETA: No 'black' paint was used in the preparation of this painting!

Come On Down!

You Are Invited!

To my second Open Studio
As part of the South Coast Open Studio Tour

This Weekend, August 22nd and 23rd
11-5 p.m.
Held at 1888 Main Road
Tiverton, RI

To get directly to my house, where I've got my work, just get to Rte 24 South in RI, take Exit 2. Take a left, and we are a little over a mile on the left, at #1888. There's a lovely coffee shop just before our house called Coastal Roasters, with great coffees, for a comfort stop. We have the same view. Come on by!

Forgive me if you've already received my email blast (half the addresses failed!), or seen this on Facebook!

Also, I have updated my Studio Blog with the above image in a larger size, with close-up photos!

The Stash, 5x7 Oil

I decided to post the various stages that evolve, from initial sketch to massing in of values, color, and at last, the highlights. Once again, Milk Bones, in a small jar. ;) This is the initial sketch:

Getting the dark values established:

Adding some color and light values:

Giving the background another layer of transparent color and adding more strokes of color to the bones:

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Voila:

I also wanted to mention that my Blog has been honored by being featured in a very cool new blog about... well, cool stuff! Blogger Eileen Sheldon included my blog on the August 14 post of So Suburban Chic, a blog about all kinds of things that make for a fun and interesting life! You should check it out (I love the Espadrilles from - if you can believe it - Talbots!)!

One Tomato, Two Tomatoes, 6x6 Oil

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Thanks so much guys, for your support of yesterday's post - I had responses immediately (and a sale!). I will continue to play and learn with more of that texture and transparency painting. Today, though, a set of little tomatoes from our garden. I loved the light shining through the tomatoes, and their long, curling ... what are those things near the stem? First I painted the background too warm - it didn't let the tomatoes have the 'spotlight' so much.

The next post will have a step-by-step series of images... maybe you'll enjoy that - I enjoyed thinking about it and doing it!

Restless Night, 6x6 Acrylic

Well for the life of me I couldn't get this image cropped correctly. I am reduced to using my husband's work laptop, my son's laptop and our big old S-L-O-W mac. None of which does everything I need, so am hopping from computer to computer trying to upload, crop and post. I have a few paintings done this week for the next few days. But if there IS a computer/technology angel, I hope he/she takes pity on me, and helps me quickly find the funds to restore my own laptop so I'm back in business!
This is a really unusual piece for me... layers and layers of translucent paint, thick textures from modeling paste in the water, wiping off top layers to reveal what's underneath.... I had a lot of fun, and it's a real departure. Should've done something like this for the Out Of The Box, but I really just let myself discover it last week. Thanking Manon Doyle for inspiration and courage to do it! Have a great weekend, everyone!

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Good Boy! 6x6 Oil

I picked a flower to paint at the studio, and forgot it at home. I got there and couldn't find anything I wanted to paint - but Paco does not - NOT - like Milk Bones and now I have this huge box just sitting around. It was a hot-hot-hot day in the studio, so after a little work on a bigger painting, and this one, I high-tailed it home, where there is at least a breeze.

Cosmos, 6x6 Acrylic

I don't usually post my acrylics - as Daily Paintings - because I'm not so so confident with them. But today I was inspired by my blog buddy Karen Mathison Schmidt who has a couple of blogs, and paints with acrylics so beautifully, they look like mosaics of paint sometimes - I could look at them for a long, long time. So here I am, with the puppy eating ice cubes off my toes (if you've never experienced this, you should try it, especially on a hot day) trying. But, as usual, I smooth things out too much. Anyway I ended up happy because of the layering especially of the petals, which has three or four colors of deep pink. For a girl who grew up in a tenement, and had no use for flowers when I got married, I have 'seen the light', and can never have enough of them. Cosmos oblige by re-seeding by themselves (thank you) and are so cheerful in the garden.

No Daily Painting, But Cows

I spent the greater part of the day dropping off 2 paintings (a small Clamscape and my Lobsta!) at the Duxbury Art Association Mid Summer Show. They also feature at this time a 'clean-out' studio sale - so 20 of my Daily Paintings will be there at a GREATLY reduced price ;).

When Paco and I got to the studio I only had time to work on this painting of the cows down the road that I started ONE YEAR ago, on location. Yes. On location. I simply stood with a bull horn and asked all the cows to please FREEZE for 2 hours. "No problem." they said. At least that's what I think they said. You could ask Paula Villanova, as she and Jody Regan were with me that day. I really got most of it done there, seriously. I was quick-sketching those bovines as they waded. I put my mind on autopilot and just entered the zone. Nice hostess.. I am... I hardly was gracious or chatty that afternoon. We had a swell time anyway. Just tidying up a bit and fixing one cow's frightening eye today... for the Sakonnet Arts Network Farm show in the Tiverton Town Hall this month. LOTS going on these days! ETA: This is a 20x20 painting in oil.