September 23, 2012

Continuing on to get myself...and whoever happens to be reading this.....up to current time.....the next painting was

this Bird of Paradise....which hangs in our living room....is oil on board...and started me wanting to get some help.  So the following summer I began taking classes through the Island's Art League in Friday Harbor, WA with and excellent instructor in Marsha McAllister.  Some of the best things she gave me were how to work with a limited palette...and mixing the tiniest speck of yellow into a glob of white so that when you used it with other colors they didn't go chalky.....and many more things that were liberating.  Her 100 drawings/30 paintings timed exercise is excellent as well.  During this time these paintings followed.....

Two To Love, Honey Crisp

Oil on Board

11 x 14

Which won third prize at the San Juan County Fair

Honey Crisp

Oil on Canvas

9 x 12

This painting was purchased by the woman who bought our cabin....and now owns the tree this grew on as well.  Honey Crisp apples are delicious...and I miss this tree. This painting was followed by a personal favorite.....

Annie's Table

Oil on Canvas

20 x 16

I sometimes wish I had kept this painting but happy that the person who purchased it loves it as well....and I get to visit it sometimes!

 But moving on this one came next......

The Warning

Oil on Canvas

9 x 12

which was auctioned at the San Juan County Fair for The Island Art's League....my friend and fellow artist Mary Ann Rock was the winner here....This one was a big hit and I had a lot of fun doing it.

After living in Washington for 14 years I moved back to California...my native state...and wasn't able to get to painting for a couple of years....finding time and space was difficult...as transitions can be sometimes....but finally got back to it by taking a workshop with Tim Horn...another wonderful instructor and great plein air painter.  Tim turned me on to Carol Marine's blog and the Daily Paintworks site which has been encouraging and invaluable.  The challenges especially so.  But first

The Garden Chair

Oil on Canvas

9 x 12

A couple of years ago I was fortunate enough, with my partner, to take another workshop with Tim....this time in Beaune, France, which was so much fun and a great help...I had never painted buildings before and there was a lot of that on this trip.  We did get out in the country but spent time in several villages as well.  Beaune is in the Burgundy region and we shared many bottles of delicious wine....the people were friendly, everything charming....a great trip.

A Country Lane, France

Oil on Board

9 x 12

and

Courtyard, France

Oil on Board

9 x 12

Both painted at Chateau de Neuf....I hope to return there someday....so beautiful!  Meanwhile my daughter started a business selling heritage and exotic chickens and that got me started on roosters.

Amy's Rooster

Oil on Board

9 x 12

and

Tom's Rooster

Oil on Board

9 x 12

These fellows inspired me to paint a bunting that I had photographed on one of my morning walks....

The Bunting

Oil on Board

9 x 12

followed by 

I've Got My Eye on You

Oil on Board

9 x 12

and finally...in animal world

Freedom

Oil on Canvas

16 x 12

This is a walk that I take with a friend of mine who has goats that live in a field across from her house....I decided to liberate this little fellow.....for the painting...at least.  They are quite the characters and it was fun watching them slam their heads into each other....like it was their idea of a good time. That's probably more than enough for today.......next time....landscapes.......