Some Recent Paintings and Happenings

Back to my blog! I just thought I'd share a few recent paintings. Also, I have had artwork in two shows, and have completed 2 commissions (which I'll show after the recipients get them). So I have been busy........mostly with life more than painting. I hope to do the 30 in 30 again, and this time, I'll try to actually finish it! I look forward to checking out everyone's art who enters it in January. I hope everyone has a great Christmas/Holiday!

Peanut and George

Meet Peanut and George. I was lucky enough to be asked to paint 2 beautiful bulldogs recently. Thanks, Mary Weeks! These are both on 16x16 canvasses with wide, painted gallery edges and were ready to hang. In fact, they are already hung in their home! Peanut has gone to the "Rainbow Bridge" (https://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm). It's a story/poem about what happens to our beloved pets when they die, and what happens when we join them. It's very comforting to me. So, here's sweet and comical Peanut. Her relative George is still with us, and is just as characterful! What a total treat it was to do this project. And painting dogs has become one of my favorites!
I haven't been on my blog in a long time. Hopefully I'll be painting more and more again. But I've still been keeping tabs on what my friends are up to!

Puparazzi

#11 of the challenge. Ok...now you might think I'm having too much fun. Is there such a thing? Not in my little world! This was supposed to just be a puppy. A simple puppy minding his own business. But then the word "puparazzi" popped into my mind. There was no turning back. But he needed a camera. So that's all I have to say about that.

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Dock of the Bay

#10 of the challenge. I took this photo last summer at Interlochen, when I was there for the Mark Mehaffey workshop. But, as usual, this looks nothing like the photo. I strayed again. There's more to the story.....that is that I'm trying to be more loose and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't!

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Town Without Pity

#9 of the challenge. This is one of my "one mark at a time" paintings (from some kind of memory). Not that all paintings aren't one mark at a time, but when I paint like this, I'm all over the painting, back and forth, back and forth.

It's very fun, and I can keep pretty loose. And the title? I guess you'd have to be old enough to remember the song. I always loved Gene Pitney!

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Let's Bend the Rules

#8 of the challenge. This started out as acrylic, but ended up oil. Just a random flower sitting in a random vase, and minding their own business. But I do love the random colors!

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Fountain of Youth

 

#7 of the challenge. I snapped this photo a while back and finally decided to try it. I'm always a little nervouse about painting kids and water, but I'm happy with the outcome.

  NFS

I'm All About Preparation

#6 of the challenge. I am told that this pup LOVES getting dressed up and just has an attitude of anything goes. I painted this from a photo, but I think he would have actually sat and posed for it!

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"Special Guest"

#5 of the challenge. I have done these scenes several times (from memory?) Yet I don't remember ever being in a scene like this, so I'm not sure of the origin. But I enjoy the mysterious and spiritual thoughts I have as I paint these people. I just know they're about to experience something very enlightening!

Free shipping for the challenge month! 

oil  12x9

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Your Time to Shine

#4 of the challenge. Simple sunflowers just doing their thing. There are lots of layers of oil on this, and lots of colors that were hard to capture with my camera. The title came to me after the fact this time. I think we all need our time to shine! 

 Only 26 days to go.......I need to pedal faster! 

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You Look Pretty

# 3 of the challenge. As I've said, I love observing people and wondering what their lives are like. When I saw this couple, she just seemed really down and discouraged. He turned to her at one point and said something. I didn't see her reaction, but I imagined and hoped that he said something really nice, really uplifting, and just sweet. Maybe it made her day. We all need that sometimes! It doesn't take much to encourage and uplift most of us. Just a moment of compassion can make a huge difference!
Oh, and I loved her little feet and how they didn't touch the ground! 

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#2 of the 30 in 30 challenge. Maybe this girl just ate lunch. So she's checking her lipstick and making sure there's no spinach in her teeth.  I love trying to imagine someone's life when I go back and look at my photos. I know she's in love with her skirt. So was I!

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Through Thick and Thin

This is #1 of the 30 in 30 challenge. I thought I'd start with an image from my memory. A sweet couple who have been through everything, and made it out on the other side. And of course, a few little bodily changes came along the way! I am offering free shipping for paintings created during the challenge month! 

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White Noise

I found these guys separately, in my sketchbook pages, and decided to bring them together. I didn't know if they would get along or not. But Lo and behold, they started kickin out the jams! So I gave them each a brand new white suit, a few people to watch them, a hint of some city life, and off they went to see what kind of trouble they could get into! 

12x9 oil

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Let's Dance!

This is a mixed media painting, 10x8. I say mixed media because it is oil over acrylic, but not totally covered. I left the parts of the acrylic that I liked, but enhanced parts with my oh so creamy oils! Anyways, they look like they want me to get up and dance. So I will.

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Dinner Can Wait

"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free",  Michelangelo.

I discovered this quote last night and I love a lot of things about it: the vision he had before the creation, the confidence and faith of what would be before it happens, and others things. It also reminded me of negative painting. He was getting rid of all that marble that didn't look like an angel!

This is a photo I snapped at our local farmer's market. The calf was eating until the little girl reached down and touched him. My imagination told me that this moment of her touch was more important to him than his food. But I could be wrong. The beauty is, it doesn't matter!

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Stay With Me

I saw this horse in a field and stopped to take a picture. He walked right up to me, and didn't seem to want me to go. He was really beautiful, and I tried hard to capture him, but I don't think I did him justice. Maybe I'll go back and talk to him about it!

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They Invited me for Thanksgiving!

Another photo from my day on Claude's farm. This turkey, she told me, was going to be eaten for Thanksgiving. Wow, I thought. Glad he doesn't know it. He thinks he was invited for Thanksgiving!

See why communication gone awry is sometimes a good thing? Ha! Very fun to paint this:)

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"I'll Have the Mussels"

This is one of those "one mark at a time" paintings. I was enjoying creating this imaginary little scene where I would love to be. People having fun, laughing, and well......eating mussels! With this kind of painting, it's fun to just go back and forth.....a lighter spot here, a darker spot there. Tweak, tweak, tweak, until it looks right to me, and not worrying about what the rest of the world might think. Just mindin' my own business and getting lost in thought. Good for the soul!

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I will start the next session at the Birmingham Community House this fall. Class starts October 17th. It's the foundations and fundamentals of painting. We always have fun! If you live in the area and would like to paint and meet new friends, try it out!

I'll Wait Here"

I love painting flowers! This is oil, 12x9. 

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"Trust"

I snapped this photo last summer at a park. This dog was way bigger than this little girl. She was scared and very tentative, but curious. She finally reached out with such trust and love in her face! I just found it so endearing!

I am enjoying my oils so much again! Maybe my new little makeshift studio will become permanent.....

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I See Your Point

I love painting these random little scenes (from memory). Maybe because I want to be here. As far as the title, the boats all point to the focal point (not on purpose!). But also, it's a good thing to remember to think about. "I see your point" might be something we don't say enough these days!   

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I See Your Point

I love painting these random little scenes (from memory). Maybe because I want to be here. As far as the title, the boats all point to the focal point (not on purpose!). But also, it's a good thing to remember to think about. "I see your point" might be something we don't say enough these days!   

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Made Ya Look

I was invited to a friend's house one day this week, who lives in a big, cool, old farmhouse. Chickens, hens, roosters, turkeys, bee houses, garden, and probably more animals on the way. Like miniature animals. Like a miniature donkey! I'll be going back. We had lunch overlooking part of Lake St. Clair, and there were lots of these guys. It was a sunny day, the water was alive and shimmering, and the sky was blue. A fish reuben sandwich and a fun conversation made it a great day. Thanks, Claudia!  

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Hold Me

I found this little guy at our local farmer's market. There was a whole group of baby ducks. I don't know what a group of ducks is called. Not a gaggle, not a flock, I can google it, but might just wait to see if it comes to me first. What a concept! Anyways, I cropped it really close, and the big challenge immediately became apparent: AHHHH...hands! No! Say it ain't so! But nothing beats practice. So I practiced. And it was fun! Little Luddie is starting to let mom paint more often. Photos coming soon of a beautiful Golden Retriever growing up.

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I Know My Mother Loves Me

Silly faced little guy. But not silly enough that his Mom would think he's anything but perfect!

I had a Mom like that. Boy, how lucky was I! I am back to oils more often than not, because that's what is set up in my makeshift studio. I love them. Especially that yellow green. Gearing up mentally for the challenge!

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Grandpa

I saw this man walking in Leland, Michigan. He seemed very sweet and gentle, and made me wonder if he was a Grandpa. So when I started to paint him, I decided to give him a grandchild. Oh, how I love the artist license! This is 8x10, oil on canvas.

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Brewster

Wow, it's been a while! As they say, life gets in the way sometimes, and I haven't been on my computer much. I am looking forward to getting back in the groove and checking out what all my friends are doing, too. This commissioned piece came at the right time. It made me very happy to do this dog painting. A friend lost her beloved dog some time ago, and wanted a memory. It is 20x20, and I framed it for her in a floater frame from Frankenframes.com. Great service and prices! It allows for the whole image to be visible. It was important here, because of that paw down there. Every fraction of an inch had to show. Anyways, with all the horrible things going in in this world, I was grateful to paint this cute face. I will be participating in the 30 in 30 challenge coming up. How? I don't know! I had to move my studio into our dining room, as we wanted the puppy to have a quiet space downstairs. Yes, the puppy trumps my space right now! He's worth it, too. I hope many of you will join me in the challenge. I love the support and friendships that we share for that month. 
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The Little Boat and a Tree

There once was a boat and a tree.

Who became good friends, one could see.

But the tree always feared that one day,

the boat would just plain sail away. 

But he learned there's one thing that's a must,

To believe in his faith and his trust.

that although sometimes life brings dismay, 

All things will work out the right way.

This little poem just came out of nowhere, just like the painting did. I believe it, though, with all my heart. "Keep the Faith" is more than just a little saying. It's an anchor. It will get us all through the toughest times in life. And that's what I have to say about that...

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Alright. That Does It!

A friend moved to a farm a few years ago. She was nice enough to send me some pictures of her chickens. This started out (as the photo was), with two chickens. One was on the other side of  this one and behind a bit. No matter what I did, the second chicken was just getting in the way. So finally I made it vamoose. Now I was left with an image that clearly has a broken rule: the chicken is headed right off the page! Compositionally, that's not supposed to be good. BUT, here's where rules are made to be broken.....I liked it this way! Lots of glazes and layers here. And she is hopping mad about something! 

Brown Eyed Girl

I loved playing with glazes again here. So fun to use Indian Yellow especially. But also Burnt Sienna and Magenta. This nice girl is just chilling out in a nice cool field and reflecting on her life, and where she wants to be in five years......should she go back to school? Get a different job? Take up art? It all seems so cow-plicated right now.

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Class Creations!

Here are the birch trees (some didn't bring) from last week (mine included). Awesome job! And today we played musical chairs. We started out at with a drawing using Jessica Miller's portraits as our inspiration. They got the shape of the head and shadow shapes done. Then they blocked in the darks. Then the bossy teacher had them move to the next seat for 4 minutes.....and on and on for 4 minute intervals until a whole rotation was complete and they ended back at their original seat. BUT, they had to do it upside down! The picture each was given, had to be placed upside down, and the painting thusly was upside down. The bossy teacher didn't even let them turn it right side up even once. This is a VERY good exercise to do in that the brain can't get in the way by saying things like "hey this doesn't look like a face, hey this doesn't look right, etc"). They were only to concentrate on SHAPES and VALUES and colors. And lo and behold, they turned out great! A very fun class at the Birmingham Community House, as always.

The Little Pink Church That Could, and Luddie (the little dog that could)

This was from a photo my daughter took of a church out west. I totally went off track with how it looked in the photo, but kept the pink color of it. I love it that it's pink! I added the people, too. That's what they mean when they say photo "reference".  I can't seem to avoid going off  track. 

 

Also, Colonel Ludlow Mueller wanted me to update you on his cuteness status. 

Out of the Blue

This was a demo I did in class yesterday, where they painted right along with me. I like to have a list of objectives to cover when we do this, rather than just painting. I give them the list so they can remember what we talked about (I don't STOP talking) as they painted theirs. On this list are: (in no order) perspective, warm vs cool colors, values, composition, negative painting, tools to experiment with, glazing, scumbling, adjusting, light, etc. I had a box of things I use to create texture. For example, dragging in an arc direction, the darks on the shaded side of the tree with my old business cards, index cards, cardboard.Also talked about using q tips, brayer, sponges, etc. We cover a lot with one painting! When I got home, I finished mine, and I'll try to remember to take pictures of all of the class  paintings on Monday. I also talk alot about "breaking the rules".  For example, you probably wouldn't normally see turquoise "spots" in a scene like this, but the minute I added them I knew it was finished! It was suggested again after the class that I create a video of a demo (a great compliment). It is on my to do list! The class is phenomenal. I still can't believe that some of these people have never picked up a paintbrush, and are creating beautiful paintings! They are awesome, and I appreciate their open-ness and willingness to just dig right in and banish the fear.  Not to mention the friends I meet along the way by teaching. Oh...and the laughter. It's pretty cool when you spend a few hours totally forgetting about everything except right here, right now, and having fun.

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Lobby Lust

Well, this started out as a simple woman, in a provocative pose waiting in a lobby. She had no idea she would attract a business man in a crisp dark suit. He seemed to show up out of nowhere. But she was intrigued, and they soon found themselves ogling each other shamelessly. And I may be getting tired. The puppy has kept us up at night, and these are the kind of people who show up on my canvas when I'm bleary-eyed.

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"What's Up With Him?"

This is a mixed media painting, done with inks, watercolor, acrylics, and alcohol inks. It's hard in the photo to see all the layers,as there are lots and lots of colors. It is painted on a 10x8 canvas with 1 1/2 inch deep gallery wrapped sides that will be painted a rich dark color. There is no need for a frame. It will be varnished, which brings out the depth of the layers. I have painted pears for years but not enough lately, because I realize every time that I love painting them!
Oh, and the title? It came after the fact, as usual. When I look at a finished painting, it's usually easy to come up with a title, depending on the "personality" of whatever it is. In this case, there was no doubt: they were having a discussion.....

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"Gone Fishin"

This is one of those paintings that started out as something totally different! Lots and lots of layers of color and just fun to paint. 

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That's Not What You Said Yesterday

Birds! What a surprise. I started this as a demo for the class yesterday, and finished it at home. Just fun to do. That's all I can say! 

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"On the Move" and a new little soul!

I haven't painted much because of our new addition......except for a commission piece which I'll post once the recipients have it. I always hold my breath when I do a commission (especially one that has to capture an essence of an animal) until I show a picture of the painting and they love it. It happened, so ......good! No tweaking. 

Anyways, this is a "one mark at a time" exercise, 

just to get my hand moving on the canvas, and I like it.  

Click to Bid 

And below is the newest member of our family, "Luddie". Short for Colonel Ludlow. He's a trip, and keeps us on our toes every minute. Like children, the early foundation is critical, so we're giving it our all. Wade is skeptical. That part will take a while, I'm afraid.

A Noble Soul

I painted this from a photo I snapped of a beautiful police horse at our town's Christmas parade. I hope I did this majestic creature justice! It was such a perfect day. Sunny, cold, crisp, and we had our dogs with us. Christmas music was playing. It was one of those times where you feel lucky to be able to see and hear and laugh. A "memory lock" day, as we've always called that feeling.

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Still Feelin It and a quilt!

This used to look different. I liked it, but something was bugging me and I finally figured out what it was. It was too busy. So.....I reworked it by about 85%. I changed almost everything. Calmed it down, added lots of glazes for depth and now I'm happy! And you know what they say....when Mama's happy, everyone's happy! (p.s., another blog entry went out today of mine. It was from when my blog wasn't working I guess. It's an oldie!) but thanks for the comments!

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And speaking of Mama, this is a quilt I made recently for my daughter. I used to sew a lot, and have made lots and lots, but not lately. I wanted to show what I did with some of the patches. Spoonflower.com will print your artwork on fabric, wrapping paper, (which I've done- it was great!) and lots of other stuff. I know my art friend, Sheila Delgado has used them, too. Anyways, I usually use fabric that's a combination of new, and from old clothes, too. You can see the patches where my paintings are. It looks very nice!