On the Lookout

I started this painting at my friend's house, artist Sandy Ragon yesterday. It looked nothing like this when I left there, but it kind of came together at home. So fun to sit and paint with a friend! It is pretty textured and has lots of layers.

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Bless Rehearsal

It's almost Christmas and these angels are in a tizzy to get ready!

I started out with the intention of making them look a little more realistic, but quickly got caught up in abstraction....

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And a One...And a Two.....

Making weird looking people playing instruments is one of the most fun things I do! I know these people are really concentrating. So was I. I've been reading about how creating art is so good for our synapses of the brain. I would tell you exactly what it said, but I can't remember!..guess I'm not painting enough.....! Anyways, I'm going to be doing some more oils again, and will do more of these "band/orchestra members" for the challenge. 10x8 oil 

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We're In This Together

Already a diversion from the dogs.....There was a shiny object situation...Spring flowers. I think we have a long way to go before we see the likes of these!........

10x10 Acrylic

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Lucy

Another little pup! I am mentally preparing for the January 30 and 30. Buying supplies, cleaning my studio, etc, are all the obvious things to do but it's the subject matter that always gets me. I run out of ideas! I have a hard time sticking to one theme for 30 days, too, so I'm just trying to come up with something. How lucky can a girl be than to have the "problem" of what to paint!

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Peppy

I love dogs! And I have so much fun painting them that I am starting a series (with a few other subjects in between I'm sure!). For this "adopt me" series,  I am offering free shipping in the USA.This little guy or girl looked impish to me. I love the different personalities in dogs. My own dog, Wade, is something like I've never seen before. He sleeps in, (long after we get up sometimes), he sometimes has to be persuaded to take a treat, and eats dinner very slowly and deliberately while chewing each bite for a long time (hmmmmmm, maybe I should try that.....). He is all those things all wrapped up in love! Plus it's that gentleness of his soul that makes him a wonderful therapy dog. All dogs, just like people, have their own personalities, and I just love that!  

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Marmalade

I painted this little corgi from a photo and it will be given by her owner as a gift. I enjoyed doing it. It's always a challenge to capture the unique character that every dog has, but I think she likes it (thanks Barbara!). Her actual name is Orange Marmalade. So sweet! 

Cozy

I was trying to concentrate on a mostly warm painting with a dash here and there of cool (an exercise we did at the Mark Mehaffey workshop). It's a great exercise and I'll be trying out lots of different things for the challenge. I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Hug your family and pets an extra time or two.  

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"Safe and Sound" and Getting Ready for the January challenge!!

This guy just came in for a safe landing! It is 12x9 and Acrylic.

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I am planning on doing the January 30 in 30 challenge again. Whew, time is flying by. It is so rewarding and fun to do, and I ALWAYS learn something. I also meet so many other artists on line as we support each other. I hope there are lots of you out there that will join me!  

You're Not Alone

Negative painting again for shadows. The title came after the painting, as it often does. It's a gorgeous day here in Michigan. Beautiful snow outside, it's sunny, and I have been in my big "toy box" "play room" for several hours. How lucky am I? It is such a wonderful and joyous feeling, and yet, as all of us I'm sure feel, my heart hurts for what is going on in this world.   This is my back yard view.

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Benny

Well, Benny's name doesn't have a story. He just looks like a Benny. Funny about painting...you get an itch to paint something specific, and you do it (or try it). Sometimes you don't know why. In this case, upon seeing Benny, my husband casually said "What's up with the wild animals lately?". Hmmm... I didn't have an answer to that, but maybe tomorrow I'll paint a car or a plum. That's the beauty of it! And the fun of it. I never take for granted the gift of being able to lose myself in something I love so much. I am blessed. 

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Negative Paintings

I was going through some older camera cards and found these pictures I took from several years ago of paintings of mine. I did alot of negative paintings as a way of using up scraps of paper from other paintings. ( I don't throw out anything with my paint on it! You can always use those pieces for collages, negative paintings, small paintings of their own, etc). With these, many were matted and framed, lots were printed and made bookmarks and placemats (laminated), and I had a lot of fun with them. So I may just do a few more!  

Sammy

When I was a young girl, we got a little boy dachshund dog, and my Mother asked my little brother, who was 5 years old, if he wanted to name him.  Without blinking an eye, he said "Sammy Doug".

I never knew where he came up with that. So that was that. He was Sammy Doug. His "formal" name (all dachshunds have to have a "formal" name!) was Samual Douglas. Anyways, Sammy became a beloved part of our family. He had a funny personality in that he behaved as if he was a huge and scary animal if another dog was around. I think he may have thought he was a bear. There. I've said it. I think there may an extra bear in Heaven. Hmmmmm...now that I think of it, isn't there a bear constellation? Maybe that's going too far. This is 10x10 Acrylic on deep painted gallery sided canvas, so needs no frame. 
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Devout

This is one of the 2 angels that visited me yesterday in my art studio. I usually paint pretty thickly, and for these, I wanted to practice more of a watercolor technique (acrylic). The image is 5x7, and it will arrive matted (white) and ready for an 8x10 frame.

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Faithful

​I decided to paint another angel, and it led to two (another one tomorrow)!

I just got back from a great trip to Asheville, North Carolina to visit my beloved friend Cheryl (aka Dado), and basked in the beautiful surroundings, ate good food, had great conversations, oh, and shopped! Maybe I'm feeling thankful and hence the angels. We are surrounded by them I believe. And last weekend was no exception! This image size is 5x7 and will come matted (white) with backing board, so ready to frame in an 8x10 frame. available on dailypaintworks 

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What's Your Secret?

I did this while at class with my Thursday afternoon pals......Linda Whitehead, a phenomenal artist (especially portraits!), is the most knowledgeable person I know as far as art and art history. So, Thursdays are fun days.......always something to learn! This painting is from a photo I took recently at lunch outside (before it got cold here). It is 10x10 with deep painted gallery sides and is available at dailypaintworks.

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Good Things Coming

I discovered an artist recently that just blew me away......not just what and how he paints, but how just plain nice he seems. His name is Mel McCuddin and he doesn't have any idea or plan before he begins a painting. He just covers the canvas, and sits and looks at it for a while until an image emerges. I painted this with him in mind..I covered the board with just lots of colors, etc, and then started negative painting. I didn't achieve his looseness and spontaneous look, but then again, we all have our own "voice". Here is a great video of a very interesting man sharing his technique: 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3wz9wg0Dos
( Mel McCuddin - Figurative Expressionist)

This is 16x12 Acrylic on Gessobord and available on dailypaintworks.

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I'll Follow the Sun

I was concentrating on negative painting and shapes, with this. In fact I discovered a new favorite artist and am in the process of creating something that is inspired by him. Stay tuned! The title of this is a Beatle's song. The Beatles have always been my favorite. I had Paul McCartney posters all over my room. I always knew that he meant to call, but I guess he was busy. I waited a few years then decided I needed to move on.
I hope he was able to also.
This is 8x10 acrylic and available on dailypaintworks.

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Worth the Wait

I had some of the things that we concentrated on in the Mark Mehaffey workshop on my mind...mainly that I was going to do a mostly neutral painting so the colors would pop. I also love negative painting, so the people are mostly all negatively painted (I carved around the objects). We talked about that in a class I teach and how good it is to train your eye to see the shapes around objects. We've also been talking about starting a painting with the big shapes and values, worrying about the details later. So much to learn......so little time......!
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Bells and Whistles

I was in my comfort zone again. I love painting flowers and this is already going to a new home!
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Meet Me in My Office

I have used this photo reference in the past and I love these chairs.
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Costume Day at the Hospital

Yesterday, the hospital where Wade and I visit, hosted an appreciation day for all of us! It was an optional costume situation, and of course, Wade wanted to dress up (not). Talk about a perpetual smile on our faces, the staff's faces, and the patient's faces! Unfortunately,  the dogs didn't seem to be smiling so much. The little kid in me came out yesterday as I was downright gleeful over these beautiful and generous animals! Wade is at the far right in the group photos, and of course that's him in the middle photo. He was a shark (compliments of my daughter). He clearly is VERY ferocious....

"Inseparable"

This is the first time I've picked up a paintbrush since the challenge. Strange thing that happened-just a huge slump in terms of not knowing what to paint. Millions of things around us in life, and nothing seemed exciting enough to get into the studio. What the heck is up with that? Does that happen to everyone? Anyways, I decided to just go and have fun, and here's what I came up with. One of my comfort areas; just free hand fun flowers. Hopefully, this exercise will get me going again.
SOLD
 

Also, good news! Last night was the opening night at the Birmingham Community House's "Our Town" art show. I was tickled to win an award for my painting "Happy Hour"! and tickled again to learn that it sold, as well as one of my other juried pieces, "Tried and True" which sold also! The show goes for 3 days now....if you're in the area, check out the sale/show- there are beautiful works of art there, including sculptures and jewelry. It was a good night for me and I am grateful! I believe we all need a little success here and there to keep the motors running! 

"Happy Hour"

 "Tried and True"

30 in 30 Challenge September 2015, Collage!

Completed! Thank you all again for the great inspiration, comments, and friendships. I just got home from an awesome getaway to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Wow....just amazing up there! I'll be looking forward to looking at all of the collages. Congratulations everyone!

We Have Power

​#30 !!!   I am so happy I did the challenge. It is so valuable to paint every day. I don't know why I ended it with another rickety house, but I was having fun doing it! Thank you all for your wonderful compliments and thank you all for the eye candy every day!This is acrylic 8x10, as is the neighbor in yesterday's painting. 

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Finally Home

#29 of the challenge. Inspired by a photo I took at the Becky Joy workshop. But a shiny object distracted me, and therefore, it looks nothing like the photo. But the meaning is simple: sometimes all we want to do is to just be home. Funny, it's a simple word. But for those of us who are so so lucky, it's a place of refuge, of comfort, of acceptance. A word to be cherished for sure! 

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Feeling Grounded

#28 of the challenge.  I set out with a few goals here: loose strokes, some palette knife, and most importantly, do it in 2 hours or less. I achieved all three! (no time for fiddling, faddling, mussing and fussing when you're timing yourself). I have to admit, though, it's easier for me in lots of cases to not have a reference. That's what allowed me to be faster and looser and just fly and enjoy. With a reference, you're required to really look, study, and be more precise. Both practices are great, but I did like not spending the whole day on it!

Wade, as always, sat at my feet the whole time. He really liked the greens in this one..

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Max and his Sax

#27 of the challenge.......I just don't know what to say at this point... Long, wonderful day. But not much painting time. Max has been on my mind, though. I just don't know how a person can possibly play that instrument! 3 more days!
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Saved By the Bell

# 26 of the challenge. This was inspired by a photo I took in Churchtown, Ireland, several years ago. There weren't any people in the photo. So I added them. It was a beautiful church, and I know I didn't capture it's true essence, as it was pretty magnificent, but I sure tried!

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Between Us

 #25 of the challenge. Thank God for good and trusted friends! 

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Is That a Shiny Object?

#24 of the challenge. Yep, I get the shiny object thing!

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Seven Strong

#23 of the challenge. I started this a while ago, and thought I would finish it for the challenge. Plus, it got me getting the oils out again, which I love! 

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