Tres Peppers

Wow, life is getting busy!  This Friday, April 3, Las Cruces has its monthly art ramble.  Our gallery, in coordination with The Big Picture, is having paintings of roosters and chickens.  Since I love painting them, I have 14 to display.  That meant I have to varnish, frame, name and get ready to display all 14.  I have also tried to paint everyday.  Even though I did, I haven't liked anything I've painted in two weeks.  So frustrating!  On top of all this, on Wednesday my husband and I are going to Sicily for two weeks with my uncle Tony.  We just picked up our Global Entry Card on Sunday so hope it saves some time in lines.  Because this isn't a tour, but a drive around the island on our own, the logistics of hotels and  rental cars has been time-consuming.

This painting is one I have painted in the fall when I was in my black canvas phase.  While I loved painting it, I don't think this the style I am after.

Tres Peppers

9 x 12"

Oil on canvas

$225

purchase through Daily Paint Works

Tuscan Rooftops

So I paint everyday for at least an hour and as of today, I haven't completed one in two weeks.  I have 6 paintings in various stages, some waiting for the paint to dry a little, others where I don't know the best way to complete them.  I'm am so happy this is an advocation and not a vocation.  If I don't have anything finished and for sale, but it isn't a problem.  It's a luxury I enjoy; to explore the process of painting.

This painting is from a trip to Tuscany.  I love the rooftops with all the various colors.  I'm getting ready for a trip to Sicily in a few weeks and can't wait to see the contrast between Tuscany and Sicily.

Tuscan Rooftops

12 x 16 

Oil on Canvas Board

$400

Go to Daily Paint Works to Purchase

Rio at Big Bend

Big Bend is a beautiful wilderness.  It is part of the Chihuahuan desert, the desert I live in in El Paso. The colors of the desert change with the seasons and the light.  I never see the bland sand colors but bright vibrant colors the sun paints the mountains and landscape.  I'm trying another style, simple shapes and vibrant colors.  Still looking for a style I like best.

 Rio at Big Bend

Oil on Canvas board

11" x 14"

$300

Purchase through Daily Paint Works

Late Summer In Durango

This painting was from a photograph of Durango in winter, with snow and all.  I didn't like it as a winter scene and it took 18 months of "playing" with it to get it to something I was finally happy with.  I always have a pile of paintings I plan to get back to.  I also work on 3 - 4 paintings at a time.  What a luxury to have the time to learn and play.

Late Summer in Durango

20 x 16"

oil on Canvas

$525  Purchase through Daily Paint Works

Wild Blue Yonder

Every Sunday, Daily Paint Works posts a challenge.  Last Sunday, they challenged us to paint a bird in flight.  Well, I'm a week late and not at all apologetic as I spent the week trying to repaint some old paintings (1 to go from my pile).  I only used four colors: white, Ultramarine Blue, orange and turquoise.

Wild Blue Yonder

8 x 6"

Oil on canvas board

$80 

Rocky Mountain Sunset

I first want to thank George Coll, a Colorado painter, for this reference.  I took a class with him several years ago and am now on his email list of references he shares.  He is a sweetheart!

I haven't painted landscapes for about a year now.  It used to be all I painted.  I've decided I have to get back into painting them, and also feel comfortable about it.  It's like of forgetting how to ride a bike.  Painting is such a difficult art to master!!!

Rocky Mountain Sunset

10 x 8 "

Oil on canvas board 

$200

Purchase by going to Daily Paint Works Link on right

Colorful Cezanne

Because I paint everyday, finding something to paint is always a challenge.  Last fall, I took a corner from a painting by Cezanne and tried to copy it.  I like the way it turned out.  So, I thought I would set up my own still-life using another portion of his work, using oranges, my own scarf and china.  When finished, it really lacked anything exciting.  When I took it to the Guild on Friday, Julie suggested I try something different by outlining it in navy lines and popping warm and cool colors.  It was a fun exercise which I may try again.

Colorful Cezanne

8 x 10 "

Oil on Canvas

$200  

Go to DPW for purchasing information

I Only Have Eyes for You

A week ago, I tried to finish a painting for DPW challenge; to paint a pair that stays together for life.  I found this reference on Morguefiles.com which allows you to use photos for reproduction.  I don't know if these two mate for life, but I like to think they do.  I missed the deadline anyway.  I used the limited palette  of Cad Yellow Lt, Cad orange, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine blue, black, white, and of course, turquoise.

I Only Have Eyes for You

12 x 9"

Oil on Canvas Board

$225

Go to DPW link to right to purchase

Golden Fruit

What a week of procrastination!

I have a studio of unfinished paintings, put aside for something more interesting.  So, I have decided not to start anything  new until I finish the pile of nearly done paintings.  I always work on several paintings at a time.  When I hit a problem, I stop, put the painting aside and let it "marinate".  I walk by it, make notes on what I like and don't like and then put it back on the easel.  I usually can finish it in one session.  But not lately.  This is going to change as I now tackle my pile. As a result, I'm posting an older painting.  This was one that never worked.  It was a much larger painting where I cut it down to what I liked,  three pears.  Hope I soon get out of this slump!

Golden Fruit

9 x 12"

Oil on Canvas Board

$225

Go to DPW to purchase

White Cranes

This is the second painting using a limited palette of:

Cad Yellow light

Cad orange

Alizarin Crimson Perm

Thalo Blue

Black

Turquoise

The white cranes were really the problem to solve.  Remembering white is a middle value in shadow helped.  I didn't get the vibrant colors to show in the photo. This is the centerpiece in my dining room.

White Cranes

8" x 6" 

Oil on Canvas Board

$40 Auction

Blue Prickly Pear

For the past two months, the Guild has used a limited palette.  This one is influenced by Ned Jacobs.  As a colorist, I had to add an accent color, turquoise.  The limited palette is as follows: 

Cad Yellow Light

Orange

Permanent Pink

Thalo Blue

Black

Titanium White 

Turquoise

It's been a challenge limiting the "convenience" colors.  It is amazing what one can mix when limited to 6 colors.

Blue Prickly Pear

9" x 12"

Oil on Canvas Board

$250

A Slice of Apple

My husband came into my studio and saw this painting.  "How do you paint like that", he asked.  I tried to explain fracturing to him, but he was lost.  If I was thinking, I would have had him watch "the expert" explain it on her video.  To understand fracturing, you can buy a wonderful video that explains it so well.  On Daily Paint Works, find the artist, Julie Ford Oliver.  On her page you will see the video she produced on fracturing.  Its the best $15 you will spend on an art technique.

A Slice of Apple

8 x 6"

Oil on Canvas 

$40 Auction

Go to Daily Paint Works to bid

Fractured Pomegranate

Here is a study of a pomegranate I did in a workshop on fracturing.  Fracturing is a wonderful technique developed by Julie Ford Oliver where you paint a painting and then "destroy" it by "fracturing" it with lines you then repaint.  It is not at all easy, but sometimes I can actually produce something I like.  As you can see, it is not like the other two I posted  before in style.  I had a conversation with a dear friend and wonderful artist yesterday and we both are really struggling on what style we like and want to adopt as our own.  I guess if it was easy, it wouldn't be challenging.

Fractured Pomegranate

6 x 8 "

Oil on Paper

Study NFS

Abundant Harvest

Since I started showing a painting of a  pomegranates on my last post, I thought I would continue with them.  I'm sure you can see how I am struggling to find "my" style.  (just wait until you see the next post).  By comparing the two paintings, you wouldn't know they were painted by the same artist.

I love painting on a black canvas and this was the start of this one.  I don't think the colors were as vibrant as the last post, but I think the palette is harmonious.  I am amazed how cerebral painting is when you try to incorporate and all the principles into a painting.  Today, I actually forgot to think about warm and cool  (I'll post that one later, hopefully corrected).

Abundant Harvest

9 x 12"

Oil on Canvas

$275

Blue Bowl with Pomegranates

I love pomegranates and love painting them.  The painting of them changed dramatically when I changed from an instructor to a real teacher of art.  My previous instructor did not let us use Alizarin Crimson on our palette.   My reds really lacked in richness.  Once Julie Ford Oliver encouraged me to make my reds with Alizarin, my paintings changed dramatically.  This is a painting I did a few years ago.  Julie encouraged me to "repaint" it and I am enjoying the dramatic difference.

Blue Bowl with Pomegranates

11" x 14"

Oil on Canvas

$350

Go to My Daily Paint Works to Purchase