Saturday, May 24, 2014

RAIN, FLOWERS, AND LOVE

RAIN

We have rain guys!
It has rained on and off all last night and today and
all I can say is, it is HEAVENLY.

We get excited about raindrops here -
mostly because we're in a drought and it is dry.

But this is beautiful.
It means I don't have to hand water the tomatoes.
It means my car got washed off.
And everything outside is a lovely shade of spring green.

And it is cool.....

stream right outside Santuario de Chimayo

I was going to paint today but I think that's out.
This is reading and sleeping weather.

hollyhocks from last year

Next week I am planning an in-town day trip.
To take photos of flowers and especially hollyhocks.
Old Town has some beautiful varieties and so do different neighborhoods.

Memorial Day means a backyard barbeque, of course!
I am going to attempt steaks, corn on the cob, and baked potatoes.
Normally I don't grill anything but burgers and  hot dogs, so this will be a stretch.

I don't really care about the food, I just want to hang out with my kids,
my new granddaughter, and enjoy life.

What will you be doing?
Have a safe and happy Memorial Day!!

Friday, May 23, 2014

New Retro Challenge paintings


Hi all - 
I have just finished three new Retro Challenge paintings and
I will soon be out of the 100s and into the 90s. Yay!

It has been fun so far and i hope that you all plan
on coming to see the show in person on Friday, September 26, at Weems Gallery Uptown.

To see all of the Retro Challenge paintings, so far, click HERE.


"HUMMER"
10x8"
#107

Sunday, May 18, 2014

"SPLENDID V"

"SPLENDID V"
6x6"
oil on hardboard framed
$185

 This is one of my favorite floral scenes.
The yellow/orange flowers against the contrast of the purple - 
and all of the little notes of color thoroughout,
just makes me happy.

I am thinking about putting some of my oils up on auction
 while I am working on acrylics, so stay tuned!

Saturday, May 17, 2014

"IN THE POPPIES"

"IN THE POPPIES"
6x6"
oil on panel, framed
$185

While I'm working in acrylics these days, 
I am posting some of my available oils.
This is a thick and textured painting of a field or meadow of spring poppies.
It looks much richer in person.

To purchase, click HERE.

Friday, May 16, 2014

"SOFT FUSCHIA"

"SOFT FUSCHIA"
6x6"
oil on panel framed
$185

Since I'm in the acrylic "zone" these days, I haven't had time to paint any oils.
And I do miss them.

There's just something about that juice texture that I love.

It is almost hollyhock season here!
This is a stand of hollyhocks against a grey adobe wall.

What makes this painting work for me is the overall soft effect and the juiciness of the negative space between the flowers.

This painting is available for purchase by clicking HERE.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

"AROUND THE TREE"
8x8"
acrylic
framed

Saturday, May 10, 2014


Two new Retro Challenge paintings!
To read about them, click HERE.

Lots of things going on this weekend:
birthday parties, first communions, Mother's Day -

I will write more later.

Happy Mother's Day!!


Thursday, May 08, 2014

The Retro Process

HOW I WORK

These are the next three wanna-be paintings in the Retro Challenge:
a group of dancers
Canyon Women and a harvest
Chimayo in the fall

 dancers

Canyon Women

Chimayo

Most of you already know that I use a toned red ground.
I will usually tone about 16-20 canvases or panels at a time and
believe me, they are spread out all over the studio.

While the canvases are drying, I will think about what I want to paint that day.
Since they're not plein air paintings, I choose from a huge
rolling trolley of alphabetized reference photos.

Once I have my photos, I loosely sketch the scene in acrylic paint.
Even when I work in oils, I use acrylic paint for the sketching.

The color is a medium brown - purple tone.
I mix it with a lot of water, sketch the scene, 
and then blot it all over with a paper towel.

There are reasons for this:
- the paper towel removes any thick splotches of color 
that might show through in the final painting
- it also removes the harder outlines of the sketching and makes it blurry,
sort of like my own unique version of squinting.
Now, I am ready to paint!



Wednesday, May 07, 2014

About the Retro Challenge

"THE DREAMERS"

I am getting close to the #100 mark on my Retro Challenge.
That means I will have completed fifty paintings
 and only have 100 more to go before September 26th.

I will admit, this has been my hardest challenge so far.

My good friend and collector passed away in January,
less than two months before the challenge started.
and I didn't realize how much he affected me and my painting life.

I lost my motivation for a while.
I didn't want to come into the studio.
I didn't want to think about art or go to work.
I still have paintings in here that I've painted for him.
I miss his daily feedback on all of my paintings.
Tom was my most passionate supporter and I am completing this challenge for him.

So I am slowly getting back into it again.
I am loving the acrylics and I have missed the lines!
I hope you're enjoying them too.

I am starting on ornaments this weekend.
I hope to have fifty done by the show in September.
I'll post the progression of one so you can see how I paint them.

Anyway, thanks for sticking with me when I didn't feel like doing it.
Thanks to those of you who sent me nice words about Tom.
When the going gets tough...
the touch get going.

TO VIEW ALL COMPLETED RETRO CHALLENGE PAINTINGS:
CLICK HERE