Finally, Joan! 6x8 oil

Well, I struggled and struggled (I may have spent more time on this 6x8 than any other) but I finally threw in the towel, and said 'enough'.  My husband kept looking at it and saying 'the eyes are too big' and I would make them smaller, but then they would - on their own, I swear, drift to the left, to the right, closer together... uuugggh!  Funny how when you look at it online you can see things you wouldn't notice in person - the eyes, the forehead, still not right.  She's much, much prettier and more vivacious than this ... but just for comparison I'll repost the one I did in acryilic....

So maybe if you combine these two paintings you'll get a more accurate image of the 'real' Joan?

Mushrooms II, Oil, 6x6

My Challenge Group this month, I think I mentioned, was about 'mushrooms'. So I have spent HOURS this week constructing elaborate set ups and piles of this veggie. Wipe off after wipe off. Finally, this one came together, and even though it's a bit 'dotty', I like the mushrooms. The soft skin of the 'shrooms was very reflective. Trying to keep it loose.

Also yesterday I hung the my show at the Tishman Speyers building. I will send out a 'shout out' about this, but for you bloggers, a sneak peek... (this was me, after TWO paintings fell right off the wall and completely wrecked the frames - note to self - the smooshy walls there need LONG nails, and also a Lucy-and-Ethel scene of Tim & I taking two dollies loaded with paintings and getting stuck in an elevator, getting out, getting back to the guard upstairs, getting back down, having to go though a maze which led to one street length OUTSIDE the building in order to reach the atrium where we hung the paintings. Other than that it was a snap. :)

Because I need 8 paintings for an upcoming submission, I really only had a few from this summer to hang :(

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.

Tweedles, 6x8 oil

SOLD

I don't exactly remember where I'm supposed to send this, but I'll do a little research and find out. It was a 'Challenge' for July, which is a month of Dogs, and upcoming is Cats in August. This darling girl is named Tweedles, and she is sweet and lovely, according to Paco, and had to be painted. I'll tell you it's a challenge, indeed, to paint the little rounded chin, and the soft, wrinkly forehead! I didn't really do her justice. I'm trying to focus on one type of painting for this blog - like so many 'successful' bloggers - but I'm having a hard time because to me, painting is a language ... and I guess I have a LOT to say about everything ;0. So, it being Sunday, and a non-work day, kind of, here's little Tweedles. LOVE her! And she's on James Parker's Blog, "Windows To The Words" Blog HERE.

And my favorite part is the black part UNDER her chin!

Thanks to all those who clicked on 'follow this blog', and became 'Followers'! I love that and I love to hear all your comments, too. I'm sorry if my last post seemed like an 'invitation' to the painting Challenge I'm a part of - it's a group of Boston-Area artists who meet on a regular basis who are putting up the Challenge and the Blog. The Invitation was to become a 'Follower' of my blog. Thank you all, you are dear to me!

An Invitation

SOLDHi, everyone! I'm going to stop being shy and ask any of you who are so inclined to click on the ''Followers" button on the right to become 'officially' a follower of this blog. I don't know why I get such a kick out of that, but there you go! As far as I know it doesn't commit you to anything, and you still need to put your email address in the 'Google Subscribers' Box' to get this post in your email as they happen, but... whatever. I'll still appreciate you all even if you don't!

So on to today's painting... I'm involved in a 'Challenge' (a la Karin Jurick) with some pretty fine artists, in that we get 'assigned' an object every month and all paint the object in our own way in a 6x6 format and post them on a blog. This is our first month, and the 'object' is the starfish. It made an appearance in the oh-so-forgettable post with the red bead and white ribbon, as well. I like this one better. When we publish our 1st challenge, I'll give you the blog address and you can take a peek. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!