Uggs and Kisses

Uggs & Kisses

10x20” oil on canvas (sold)

So adorable in her Uggs and Tutu.

This is another new painting for the ValeArts show.  Its hard to believe that the show opens this week.  Lots a admin things to do for the next week.Two BIG boxes of frames have arrived from Florida Frames, one of my favorite places to get frames.  So I will be framing, writing inventories and making labels.  

HH4 challenge # 9

I had to go out of town unexpectedly before I started this challenge, so I'm the guilty party that held the up the Hilton Head 4 postings for challenge #9.  Maria provided the reference photo this time.  I love this this young lady with her wonderful red purse, heavy sweater and boots admiring Renoir's "A Girl with a Watering Can" (1876).  

Some days a title comes to me before I even start a painting and sometimes I'm blank.  I was in the blank mode when I finished this one, but decided since it has felt like Mother Nature skipped spring almost everywhere this year.  I am still hoping spring will still visit us so I decided I'd name this painting "Looking Forward to Spring."

"Looking Forward to Spring"

9x12” oil on canvas

 

Maria Bennett Hock

"I am Blue", oil on RayMar

Lulu and Chris had super busy schedules this challenge and decided to give iPad painting a try.  I think they turned out great.  Isn't technology wonderful?  We can now paint anywhere with no fuss or muss in a pinch.  I have to get one of these aps. 

Christine Werst

iPad painting

"Just a Glance", iPad painting

Regula Scheifele

Hilton Head 4 Challenge #8 - A Monet in Time

A Monet in Time, 8x10" oil on RayMar panel

This HH4 semi-monthly challenge was Chris' pick.  She shared some of her photographs of an afternoon in Paris at Musee de l'Orangerie .  I have still not had the pleasure of visiting France so I am living vicariously through the photos of Chris and Lulu's travel.  

I'm getting braver in my attempts to paint faces thanks to my Hilton Head Caper mug shot challenge.  

Chris Werst

Maria Bennett Hock

We're in the Monet, 8x10" oil 

Regula Scheifele 

Like It? 8x8" oil 

Artistic License

This was one of my first museum paintings & people in museums have become one of my favorite subjects to paint. 

I saw this young lady at the Smithsonian Portrait gallery.  I liked the color of the wall and how the young lady was so casual in that formal setting.  But as I painted it I realized the museum painting was a dark portrait and didn't work at all with this gal.  Plus, I just didn't like it.  So I walked around the Smithsonian National Gallery until I found a painting I thought matched her personality.

Finished Painting (sold)

The roughed in painting, first layer

I enjoy starting with an under-painting to get a feel for what works and what doesn't.  

• After this quick under-painting, I decided the green was too bright, I wanted more color in her shirt, and I wanted to change the painting from the wall.   
• The beautiful Renoir replaced the roughed in18th Century portrait
• Changed the color of her shirt to blue once I decided on the painting I would use
• The wall was toned down
• Highlights & shadows were added throughout the painting
• A touch of light blue was added to the right to indicate a hallway and add more light to the painting and to balance the blue in the museum painting & her shirt
• Changed the color of her flip flops to red

Daughters

Daughters, 8x10" oil on gessobord ($275)

It was wonderful to catch this mother and daughter enjoying the art. 

Spreading Their Wings

Spreading Their Wings, 8x10" oil on gessobord ($250)

It is fun to go "hunting" in an art museum for someone who is not only expressive in their body language but fits the painting they are studying.  I didn't realize until I got home and looked at my photographs that this gentleman's hands in his pockets made them look like wings... and he was looking at birds in flight.  Perfect.  

I will caution artists that once you start doing this you have to remind yourself to also enjoy the art on the walls!  I also have to be careful of what my husband says looks like stalking.   Sometimes when I see someone wearing interesting clothes, I walk around waiting for them to stop in front of a painting that compliments their look.  

Speed Bump

Speed Bump created by Dave Coverly

Self Portrait

The National Portrait Gallery in WDC has lots of activities for children.  On one of our visits, everyone was invited to sit at tables piled high with all kinds of materials to make hats.  Upstairs, near portraits of US Presidents a mirror was hung and next to it a sign saying, "Self Portrait" dated xxxx.  It was fun to watch kids come and admire their works of art like this young lady.  She was keeping impressive company with portraits of President Reagan at her back and President Carter on her side.  I don't think she noticed.

Self Portrait 8x10" oil on gessobord, (sold)

Strange Brew | by John Deering

Comics & Art:  I'm sure you've been to art exhibits and heard similar comments.

Framed

Normally, I like the viewer to see a mini version of whatever famous or not so famous painting a museum patron is enjoying.  Going through my photographs, I ran across this one.  It just worked for me.  The painting he was gazing at was very dark and probably wouldn't have been all that interesting, but I liked how it made the patron stand out.  

The funny thing about these paintings is how many people will look at one and say it looks like someone they know.  

"Framed", 8x10 oil on gessobord, $275 (framed)

Speaking of photographs.  I love that I never have to miss an opportunity when I see something I might want to paint because I always have my backup camera...my cellphone.  Of course, I have my fair share of photographs of my finger.  I saw this Speed Bump comic strip and had to laugh... that's me for sure..    

Speed Bump comics, created by Dave Coverly

Tahiti

I have to be careful when I’m in museums and have a camera.  I sometimes have to remind myself to enjoy the artwork because I'm busy watching the museum patrons.  It is rare that I can’t find someone who seems to compliment to the painting they are studying.

Tahiti, 8x10" oil on gessobord (sold)

  

Speed Bump

Sometimes this is how I feel when a painting isn’t going the way I want it to… 

by Dave Coverly

If you are just starting to draw or a bit rusty I recommend going though the exercises in “Drawing on the Right Side of your Brain” by Betty Edwards