Wet Paint

Hi. Here is a slightly shiney update of the latest painting! I think it's close to finished. I still have to paint my sides where the garden remains and sign it (after important tweeks and all!). Otherwise, it's on to the next!

Until next time...

Another Shadow

Hello!

Today is a big painting day for me. Here is the final shadow for the second large piece I have going. The clouds are finished and we are just waiting to put color on. I have started adding green to the large evergreen piece and it is looking fabulous. I shall have some lunch and then it's flower time on that piece. I tried to photograph the trees so far but they are freshly wet and all you see are bad reflections in the camera. We're going to need to be patient I guess!

Have a great week!

Until next time...

Shadows

Hi!

A quick note before I head off for a 12 mile walk - my studio is in shadows! I have gotten all skies prepped for color. They all know what they want to be when they grow up and they are ready or drying for the next step. The next couple of days should be extremely colorful! Here is the shadow for the Large Evergreen we have been following. Very cool!

Until next time...

Another big sky

I think sometimes that I have way too many ideas in my head and I feel I can never get them all on canvas as quickly as I want to. I'm having one of those weeks! So, I am pushing the envelope quite a bit for these next couple of days. I am seeing just how much I can get finished before I have to leave next Wednesday. I started another "ugly" painting this morning and will be working on the clouds for this piece today. This canvas is 24 inches tall and 36 inches wide. I've been inspired by this cloud in the past and it recieved rave reviews - so I can't go wrong doing another scene using this cloud shape. I have many thoughts as to what will happen under the clouds but we shall see how it all plays out in the end! Stay tuned!

Until next time...

Big Sky

Howdy!

Here it is, a sky I can be happy with! This sky kept me up late last night but it was worth it. Of course, I was interupted by a new episode of Project Runway but that only distracted me for about an hour... Anyway, the photo washes the colors out a bit. They are much bolder in real life. It is sitting in the corner until it dries - hopefully tomorrow - then I can put my tree shadows on. We shall see. Meanwhile, I have some smaller paintings ready for shadows so I will work on those!

Until next time...

Ugly Painting

Hello!

And we're off! When I am a little strapped for time and I really, really want to get a piece finished by a deadline, I can cheat on the first layer if I need to. I can paint an underpainting in acrylic paint. Typically, acrylic drives me bananas because it dries way too fast for the amount of blending I like to do in my landscapes. However, I can get basic shapes, highlights, and shadows laid into my sky with the quick drying acrylic and then I only have to wait 15 minutes as opposed to 2 days for the under layer for the sky to dry. I call my acrylic underpaintings "ugly paintings." They look awful but they fulfill a great purpose. I want to have this painting finished by early next week and the ugly painting will really help.

Until next time...

More skies

Hi!

I've taken a small absence from the blog. However, I will be able to catch you up fairly quickly. Friday through Sunday, I was downtown at the Riverfront Art Festival. Those were some long days but the weather was nice. Since then I have been cleaning and catching up with those errands that I have a tendency to ignore when I'm in studio mode! Now I'm back in the studio with brushes in hand. I am back to skies again. Today I think I will start a new big piece. Chris wants to know what one of my evergreen designs would look on a 24 x 48. I think I'll give it a try and see what I come up with! We will definately follow that one. Photos soon!

Until next time...

Sneak Peak

Good Afternoon!

Here is a quick look at the latest piece we have been following. I finished it rather late last night but I am pleased with the results!! This morning I framed for a while and now I am packing and preparing for this weekend's show. I'll try to keep you updated throughout the weekend. Have a good one!

Until next time...

Quick Note

HI!

I had mentioned earlier that I should take a picture of my pallet. Well, here it is. Also my Paparazzi was in the studio again today taking action shots so here is the 12x30 in progress as well. It should be finished some time tonight. I'll post the final shot sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Until next time...

We've got color!

Good Morning!

The layer that tells the complete landscape story is the most fun of all! Here I mix all sorts of interesting and bright colors in hopes that they all can find a way into one of my paintings. I should take a picture of my pallet now. It is pretty fantastic. Well, at least to me! I finished these four and one other last night. These paintings range in size from 4 x 12 to 8 x 10. They are smaller but this size is quite popular at shows. I will get to work on the larger 12 x 30 we have been following today and maybe a couple other smaller pieces. These are all to help me have plenty of stock for the upcoming show this weekend - The Riverfront Festival in downtown Columbus.

Until next time...

Skies and Shadows

Good Evening!

I thought I'd post a progress shot. I've been working on this set of tree scenes today. This is what the top shelf looked like this morning. I am working on the last of the four now. It will look much brighter and alive tomorrow! Can't wait to show you!

Until next time...

Skies the Limit

Good Morning!

Welcome back if you are one of those Ohioans just returning from power outages from the Hurricane Ike aftermath. How crazy was that? Anyway, my little spot of the world has had power and I have been able to keep painting. I'm in sky mode at the moment. Yesterday I worked on the detail layer of a 12 x 30 piece. Chris caught me in action and here is a look at the final of that layer. Fun cloud! I should have more skies finished today. If I don't get too stuck in the clouds, you may hear from me again later!

Until next time...

Yertle

Good Morning! I was looking through some archived photos and found a very fun one of my turtle. I had mentioned her yesterday and thought you might like to see a photo of her. I called this picture "Art Lover" at the time! It looked like she was enjoying my Antelope Canyon painting but really I think she was trying to figure out how to get around it so she could escape!! Anyway, she keeps me smiling!

Today is a cleaning day and then my sister and I are walking 11 miles as part of our training for our half marathon in October. Not sure if I'll get back into the studio today but will keep you updated if I do! Have a great Saturday!

Until next time...

Dry Time

Good Morning!

I was able to get a few skies and sky under paintings finished yesterday. They are now on the drying table waiting for their next layer. My blue skies have been most popular lately so I decided to paint a new series of those. As you remember, I got some fabulous new meadow photos last week, so I should be able to incorporate some of those scenes in these new paintings! Today I am working on some commisions and getting a little paper work finished here in the studio.

I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned my studio buddy in the past... her name is Yertle and she is my turtle friend. She has been staying with my mother while I have been traveling. I get to go pick her up today and bring her back! Yippee!

Until next time...

Ready, Set, Paint!

Hello! I have fantastic news! I have just mixed sky colors and I'm ready to paint! It smells wonderfully like paint in here again. I've missed that for sure. So, here is the beginning of some small pieces to accent some of my larger pieces. I have a couple of big shows coming up and I need to be ready! And we're off!

Until next time..

Follow a Basket

Good Evening!

I finally got a nice photo of the basket we were following earlier. This is the finished piece. It is about 8" in diameter and 7" high. As I mentioned before, it has the two walls so it is VERY strong. I have woven in some seagrass for a little color and texture. It has been a nice change of pace to work on some 3-d pieces but I'm itching to paint again. I'm hoping I get to dabble in some paint tomorrow. If I do, I will show what I'm up to!

Until next time...

Wooded Research

Good Evening! I did finish the basket we have been following but I need to wait till morning for better photo lighting. But I can show you a couple pictures I took today. There were some fantastic post-frontal clouds today after a bit of a dreary morning. We were in the area of one of my most favorite places to get wooded meadow inspiration so we stopped to get some photos. With todays clouds and the vibrant yellow flowers in the meadows, it was a great day to get some good ideas for future paintings. Take a look at a couple of my best shots. I am really itching to get back into the painting studio! Soon!

Until next time...

Basket Making

Hello!

I thought I'd send a short note to say hello and to show you a progress shot on one of the baskets I am working on. The style of basket that I make is called Cherokee Double Wall. There are actually two walls woven in every basket. They are extremely durable and versatile for many design choices. This one is made with natural reed and sea grass is added to provide texture, color and interest. It will be a beautiful basket! I am working on the second wall now. Can you see where I have paused weaving? (The basket is on it's side right now.)

Until next time...

Traveling Tale

Good Evening!

What a weekend! It was a good weekend but it was very full! We left for Oak Brook, IL Friday afternoon and set up Friday evening. I met some very nice people Saturday and Sunday and welcomed back some guests I met at previous shows. Sunday evening, we packed up the van but we were not finished yet! We got straight on the road and headed back to Ohio. We pulled in about 3 AM, took a small nap and then headed to Upper Arlington to set up for the Labor Day Show. It was a nice show too. After the second tear down in two days though, I am happy to have the next weekend off! Today was my normal business "Monday." I've also put on my basket making hat. I have a couple basket orders to fill. Keep checking in though. I will be painting again soon!

Until next time...