Thai Anyone

Thai Anyone? 16x20 oil on canvas ($350)

I was in Portland, Oregon for 3 weeks.  I walked by this Thai restaurant everyday on my way to the office.  What a great color.   Luckily, when I went back on the weekend the sun was shining and made these wonderful shadows on the building.  Sun shine was not a common occurrence when I was there. 

Speed Bump

Spreed Bump by artist Dave Coverly

I swear this could be me!

I love Dave Coverly's comic Strip Speed Bump, especially when his topic is art.  I wish I had half his imagination.

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

Sunflowers

Isn't it amazing how you can find painting inspirations everywhere?  These sunflowers were sitting in bucket at a farmers market with the sun just lighting them up.  

Sunflowers, oil on canvas, 16x16", $300

floating frame

 

 Speed Bump

by cartoonist Dave Coverly

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... it is about learning to dance (paint) in the rain." Author unknown. 

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