Last Post for 2014

Poinsettia - 5" x 7", oil on gesso panel

This has been a busy year in many ways and I'm looking forward to 2015.

Here's to a more productive New Year and peace, love and happiness to all!

Day 13 - Painting #4

Beyoncé - 6" x 6", oil on gesso panel

Four paintings in 13 days?  I have no shame, life happens and I float adrift.

Beyonce is a beautiful subject and the desire to get her perfect is huge.

My next subject will be easier... please.

Day 4 - Painting #3

Justin Timberlake - 6" x 6", oil on gesso panel

Painting Justin was difficult (maybe because I skipped a day of painting).  He started out well, but really didn't look like him, so I wiped away most of the paint and started again.  The painting was still difficult and to make matters worse, while I was working on it, I realized that the theme I chose of "famous musicians/vocalists" was going to be super tough, because the paintings all REALLY-have-to-look-like-them (because everyone knows what they look like).  It's a good challenge!

Day 2 (or 3) - Painting #2

Joni Mitchell - 6" x 6", oil on gesso board

I've loved Joni since Hejira.  I had the Court and Spark album and was familiar with her earlier stuff, but there was something about Hejira that made me listen (to it) over and over.  I still listen to it.

Day 1 - Painting #1

Jimi Hendrix - 6" x 6", oil on gesso board

Today is the first day of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  Thank goodness there are no rules (and no guilt) if we're not able to step up to the challenge each day.  It is a way to get one to paint more often, improve our skills and painting frequency.  My theme will be music personalities.  I'll try to keep up, but I'll have a good excuse if I can't.

Friday Painting

Anne - 16" x 12", oil on linen panel

Warehouse 521 hosts open studios on Fridays (when there aren't workshops scheduled).

It's four and a half hours (breaks and lunch in that too) of putting our skills to work

in the company of other artists.  We always have fun!

Thanks to Jeanie Smith for providing us with this space.

So Ready For Winter To Be Over

Pineapple Expression - 10" x 8", oil on board

Two plus months of below average temperatures have made me stir-crazy.

I looked at this pineapple in my still-life space for a couple of days, hoping that the color would improve as it ripened.  It did in the lower part of the fruit, but the upper leaves started to wilt and dry.  After looking for a better one at the grocery, I decided mine was the best so it was time to paint.  I spent two afternoons on this and while I was thinking of a name for it, I heard the news about Seth Rogen dutifully testifying before a mostly absent Congress about Alzheimer's research.  That's when this title hit me.  The frowning side of the tiki glass (smile on other side) reflects my disdain for the cold weather as well as how Seth must have felt with the no-show senators.

A Trip in the Way-back Machine

John, 12" x 10.5", pen & ink on illustration board

In moving things around to make room for painting, I found this pen & ink sketch from my art school days, circa 1981.  I thought it was timely, since yesterday was the 50 year anniversary of the Beatles making their Ed Sullivan Show appearance.  This was drawn shortly after John was killed that previous December of '80.  I have a pastel version of it too, much larger, behind glass in a frame that I need to photograph and digitize.