perils and paintings

The Perils of Painting a Truck

Man, I had a heck of a time with this truck painting.

This is a photo of an old truck from Corrales.

I hate lines. And perspective. And composition!

I don't like to grid anything.

I hardly like to sketch anything.

But when I'm faced with a building or a vehicle,

I freak out.

And I don't want to figure out all of those little

details that make a painting spectacular.

I just want to record my feelings and memories about 

my subject immediately using the biggest brushes I can.

I will probably paint this old truck a few more times

this week. 

I know I can do better.

It does look kind of chunky and whimsical...

Here is the original image:

So now you see what I mean!

After I finished painting the truck, I was determined to create 
something using the last of my paints before squeezing
out a new batch.

Since it's almost spring, here is "FONTINA", 10x8" oil:

To view these paintings and all of my 150 CHALLENGE

paintings, CLICK HERE.

#117 "THE FLOWER TRUCK"

#117

"THE FLOWER TRUCK"

8x10"

oil

$150

I loved painting this old vintage truck.

It actually lives in this yard and has

tiny twinkle lights attached to it,

which I chose not to paint.

I sometimes get myself into trouble 

because I hate to render an accurate sketch.

Perspective is so linear!

For me, a touch of whimsy is always in order.

I hope you like it.

For purchase information, 

CLICK HERE.

Time in - Time Out

 

"UNTITLED"

This painting is untitled because I couldn't find a lot to be pleased with.

Too busy, too sloppy, not enough good composition on the truck 

(which would have been better had I spent more time drawing), 

not enough definition on the back tire, the list goes on.

Sometimes that just happens. 

But, the more I look at it, I think it's not SO bad, just not

one of my better efforts. 

Maybe it will even get a title!

"PRIVATE GARDEN"

10x8"

oil on panel

Now, this one I like. 

I want to be in this spot, having tea with my daughters.

 "ORCHARD GARDEN"

8x10"

oil on panel

Now, this one I love.

Sometimes - it may seem like magic - I end up with a wonderful painting.

This one I barely sketched and the colors just flew.

This is a New Mexico orchard spring.

I probably couldn't duplicate it again if I tried.

 "MOUNTAIN GARDEN"

30x40"

oil on panel

I have NEVER done a panel painting this large.

Canvas yes, panel no.

I had to order these large panels from Raymar, their products are so great.
  Panels this large have to be special ordered.

I got mine from Raymar - and I love them.

I was NOT however, happy with the initial outcome of this piece.

It looked too boring - something wasn't right.

I went to bed and thought about it all night.

When I got up, I realized what was wrong.

It needed "fracturing."

This is a painting technique taught by my artist friend Julie Ford Oliver.

So I got to work early in the morning with a nifty little tool

 I made as per Julie's instructions.

It involves a window squeegie and a box cutter holder.

Let's just say that I "fractured" that painting GOOD.

Now, it is full of life and movement and is actually much warmer in person.

************************************************

On another note - today I exercised, went to a meeting, 

and my daughter and granddaughter came over.

My granddaughter took a two and a half hour nap on my chest 
and let me tell you - nothing is better!

She is so fun! 

A toddler but still very much a baby.

So, after they left, I went out and played with the dogs,

who have been needing my attention.

We took a walk around the yard and I noticed some things:

 This chair is just waiting for me to sit and relax in it

 This walkway is just waiting for a studio tour so it can have lots of foot traffic

 This rose is about ready to burst into bloom

 This birdhouse needs a pole to get it up off the bench.

What bird wants to live in a house on a bench?

 This bee is really enjoying these flowers.

Can someone tell me the name of this bush?

It is red at the top (where the sun reaches it) and seems like a shrub.

It has these pretty white flowers every spring.

 Believe it or not, this is a nectarine.

They may not look pretty, but I had my first harvest last year,

and they are incredibly sweet.

 My doggies are happy that I'm way out by the end of the yard.

They love to eat the grass out here and dig in the dirt.

And bark at passing dogs.

And people walking.

And horses. And four wheelers.

 This is a budding cherry.

I hope we have a lot this year, the tree is covered in spent blooms.

 Here's Bella.

She loves her shadow.

 I think this is beautiful.

It's a spent dandelion flower.

I know a lot of people think of dandelions as weeds.

I don't agree.

We need them for bees.

They make great tea.

Let's keep the dandelions!

 These little seed heads are toys.

Blow on them and they fly all over the world.

Well, maybe we don't need THAT many dandelions.

So, like my "Grandma Gardener" says,

"Spend time in the studio and then get your butt outside and enjoy life."

Granny's got attitude - sorry.

Oh, and I also have a new post on my health blog:
Click HERE to visit that site.

STARRY NIGHT

The gala in Corrales was so fun last night.

There was a beautiful huge clear tent to the stars with twinkly lights everywhere.

There was a guy playing guitar and singing exactly like James Taylor.

I saw a few old friends and met some new plein air painters.

It was nice because we all had something in common.

Even though most of us were painting alone, we

came together for the same reason - to paint beautiful Corrales.

My truck painting sold right away, I was so happy!

I missed the Quick Draw competition yesterday.

It was at the old church and I didn't really want to paint it,

mainly because the first one I did, I ended up scraping off.

But I later found out that you could paint anywhere near the church,

as long as you could hear the starting and stopping bell.

Darn, if I had known that, I would've gone.

Oh well, I will be there again next year....

 "OUT TO PASTURE"

SOLD

Below you will see my newest 145 Challenge painting, #80.

Only 79 more to go in 22 days.

Let's see, that's somewhere between three and four paintings per day.

Will I make it???

Oh, and only two weeks left to register for the End of Challenge
New Mexican dinner at my home. 
Email me at dshadowtail@aol.com
$49 per person, half of proceeds go to NMDOG.

 "POPPY MEDLEY"

6x6"

#80

To see all 145 Challenge paintings, click HERE.

Purchases may be made until September 30, 2013.

On another note, fall is in the air and so are balloons!

This guy flew right over my head this morning at about 8am..

I'm ready - the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta starts Saturday, October 4, 2013.

For more information about the fiesta, click HERE.

and the winner is....

The winner of the voting for the best painting

to exhibit in the "CORRALES PLEIN AIR 2013" exhibition is

"OUT TO PASTURE"

8x8"

oil on hardboard framed

$250

Thanks to everyone who voted!!

Sometimes, as an artist, I am so close to the work that 

it's really hard to make a choice, especially when choosing 

which painting to put in an exhibition.

On one painting I might like the final product, 

on another I may really like the way I laid down

a particular color - or just the way two colors look next to each other. 

Painting is Corrales for almost a week was a lot of fun.

There are a lot of painters that like to paint in groups.

Talking, chatting, sharing ideas and critiques.

I am not one of those. 

Dee definitely needs her space (I like to speak of myself in the third person).

I tend to be a loner and need focus and concentration.

This week, I wanted to pare down my gear to the bare essentials.

This is what I took with me:

a carry all that hold everything

my small pochade box (Judson Outfitters)

a box of Kleenix

a container of Wipees

a plastic trash bag

two brushes

a small jar of turp

grey palette paper cut to fit the box

paint laid out on the palette (no extra paint)

I took a chair but never used it, because...

I painted in my car!

Painting in your car is almost as hard as NOT painting in your car.

I had to drive around, pick out a scene that I could see really well - 

nothing too far away or too linear.

I moved the seat back, propped the box in front of me,

loosely sketched and blocked in the subject,

and painted as quickly as possible.

Sometimes I would look up and two hours had passed without me realizing the time.

That is the beauty of plein air.

Mixing colors is also much different on location than in the studio.

And I had to deal with bugs and flies, 

people walking up and asking if me if I needed help,

having cars go around me and drivers giving me strange looks.

But I got to explore a lot of Corrales I hadn't seen.

As a artist, I drive around and look for scenes or experiences

that I can turn into paintings.

Like the man clearing weeds by the church - 

I took a quick photo of him and will make him the subject 

in a future painting of people harvesting fields of green chile.

Or I may just turn this scene into a painting.

It's kind of a drag to go anywhere with me - I am always

using my mental "viewfinder" - what would make a good painting?

How can I change this scene around to make a better composition?

I tend not to enjoy outings so much, because I am always looking....

Artist's eyes get tired.

Trust me, it's hard living with an artist.

Heck, it's hard BEING an artist.

But I am one.

And I'm never going to change.

Oh, and there are perks.

Tonight I am going to a gala event in Corrales and I am just going to relax

and enjoy the experience, the people, and the food.

Oh wait, where's my camera?

See, here I go again.....

hollyhock scouting trip

 I got up early this morning to drive around my neighborhood to look for beautiful hollyhocks to get me inspired for the work I need to do for Balloon Fiesta. 

 These hollyhocks are out in front of a shop in Old Town.

I love the ladder out of focus on the right.

 Pink beauties

 I love these - they look almost white but are really a light shade of pink. 

They contrast really nicely with the blue of the window.

 This is a nice photo and a beautiful shade of deep pink against an adobe wall.. 

I will probably crop it in half and paint both of these clusters of flowers

 These wall murals were in a small section of town near Old Town. 

They are all along one wall and have religious significance. 

I don't know if this is Mary and Joseph with God and maybe the parting of the Red Sea?

 This is most likely a Saint with Jesus and lots of cherubs.

 This is Christ on the Cross, not sure where the rooster comes

 in on the left and what is he standing on?

 This is another Saint, maybe Saint Francis, because he has a dove on his shoulder? 

Lots of puffy clouds in this one too.

Okay, the next one is the best of all....

Wait for it....

Wait for it...

 THE BEATLES!!

Not sure which religious deity they belong too, but someone must have thought they were pretty special.

Look at those smiles!

 This is an pretty old truck in someone's yard that has been decorated

 with Christmas lights and potted plants.

 This is a nice little meadow of yellow coreopsis next to a carved out mailbox.

 I don't know about anyone else but we always called this bush 

Bird of Paradise when I was growing up. 

It has the worst smell in the world.

Takes me right back to my Grandma's house on Hardy Street.

 I drove past this old house and had to turn back around because it was so interesting.

It's abandoned and I love the old sage green weathered trim, 

but the coolest thing is how the screen door is still attached to the porch by a thread.

I would love to see this refurbished.

 More pink hollyhocks against adobe with a cool tin light fixture.

 The traditional red hollyhocks against an adobe house with territorial trimmed windows.

 Pink hollyhocks against red hot poker.

 These are a couple of my favorite photos.

I wish everyone would plant flowers like this. This yard had hardly any grass and was just full of flowers. These are bachelor buttons with hollyhocks. 

I can see this as a really textured palette knife painting.

 Another hollyhock in the same yard.

 I think the sagey-green/blue on the right might be lavender or California poppies.

 My last photo - this is across the road from Los Poblanos and is a small vineyard with a really hazy view of the Sandia mountains.

You can't tell but it was being irrigated and the ground is full of water.