Wooded Winter Creek

Wooded Winter Creek
Oil over acrylic on masonite, 7x5

Happy New Year's Eve!! The freezing rain followed by snow the other day, left a winter wonderland in it’s wake!  Early mornings found me painting the early morning color with just a touch of cad red light in the sky.  It has been a very long time since I have painted a landscape in acrylics, but today they were calling my name, wanting me to try the new portrait methods with the landscape.  The underpainting is completely unsketched, and limited palette color blocked in quickly, but I found myself longing for the buttery strokes of the oils to finish, especially in the water and the sky.  I just could not get what I wanted with the acrylics alone.  So this painting is oil over acrylic on masonite!  Love the depth that can be achieved when applying oils over the matte acrylics!  Painting number 1094 in 1094 days :)

Leprechaun Nutcracker

Leprechaun Nutcracker
Acrylic on masonite, 5x7
purchase here

This wonderful little leprechaun nutcracker is loaded with goodies!  From the long pipe, lucky clover, and bag of gold to the sweet little red bird on the tree stump, this guy has character!  His face is full of expression, too!  These little figures are so fun to paint with their bold colors and charm - I’m so lucky to have been able to paint so many this Christmas season!  Painting number 1093 in 1093 days.

Nutcracker Farmer

Nutcracker Farmer
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
purchase here

On my journey of nutcracker painting this month, I have found so many really fabulous ones!  This one is a farmer, complete with overalls, plaid shirt and chickens on his arms!       The farmer has a short, hairy mustache and the birds have feathery tails!  So cool and so unique!  This nutcracker is another great one from Candy Kultgen’s collection.  So sweet of others to share their wonderful collections with me - it has made for a joyful season of painting!  Painting number 1092in 1092 days.  :)

Late December Snow

Late December Snow
Oil on masonite, 8x6
purchase here

Our warm, balmy December weather changed sharply today!  I was out to run errands early, and already the rain was icing on the roads - and sleet was pelting before I was able to get home!  As the first snow of the season - it is absolutely irresistible to the artist in me!  I pulled out my oils for this one, and the transition from acrylics to oils always feels slippery at first.  I realize that I REALLY need to clean my oil brushes!  In fact, I did so as soon as I was finished.  When I paint every day with them, I only clean out the oil once a month or so.  but when they are not used much for 2 months - they begin to stiffen up. Yikes!  Good as new now, who knows what I'll paint tomorrow!  Painting number 1091 in 1091 days :)

Skier & the Drummer

Skier & the Drummer
Acrylic on masonite, 4x6
purchase here

Today was our Frank side family Christmas, this year hosted by my cousin, Carla.  It is always so nice to get together with aunts, uncle, cousins and their families - which are growing!  In our busy times, I don't see these families nearly enough!  It is fun to have so many little ones running around - and next year we add one more!  I remember the days when I was one of those little ones running around!  As the oldest grandchild, I loved having my cousins under my care!  I wish they lived closer, and we could see more of them.  Once we were home from the gathering, I was at a loss for what to paint.  Pouring over some of the recent reference work, I decided on these two nutcrackers (thanks once again to Candy).  I am still using the limited palette, and blocking the whole painting in quickly with a 10 minute color study before adding dimension to those masses.  Sometimes, I feel I could use a little cad yellow light on my palette - but so far, I have done without - and don't ever think about it after the initial block-in.  This painting makes 1090 in 1090 days....and the days of painting nutcrackers are almost up until next December!

Santa & the Jester

Santa & the Jester
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6

I love the sound of rain hitting the roof!  It is especially good when I have finished most of my chores for the day, and I can pick up my brushes and paint!  This season finds me drawn to capturing Santa in nostalgic scenes, and doing so in black and white!  On this one, I have used mars black and titanium white, with the tiniest bit of red oxide to warm the tone.  This lovely nutcracker was another supplied to me by Candy - and this is only the second time I have painted one in black and white!  This jester had so many colors of equal value that it made the painting of him more difficult.  I needed to push lighter and darker to give him form.  He does have such wonderful colors....I think I will have to do him in color, too - before the season is gone and I move onto snowy landscapes!! Painting number 1089 in 1089 days - now back to family time!

On Santa's Lap

On Santa's Lap
Acrylic on masonite, 6x8
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Merry Christmas!!  After starting the ham and getting the turkey in the oven, I found some time to get in this painting of little Alan (from 2010!) on Santa’s lap.  I love the expressions and gestures, the simple capture of a magical moment.  It made perfect subject matter for a painting!  I’m still using a limited palette, but I have added ivory black to the hues when getting into the shadows.  The transparent nature of this black makes it a better option than the opaque mars black.  I’m running out of panels again, so I had to prime over the rich pumpkin orange with white before beginning the acrylic block in.  I have grown quite used to that in the last couple months.  Crazy for a girl who has never liked starting with a white surface!   Painting number 1088 in 1088 days.  :)

Santa Nutcracker!

Santa Nutcracker
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
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Look who’s out with his big bag of gifts for good little boys and girls!  Santa Nutcracker!  This adorable little nutcracker was shared with me by Candy Kultgen - and it is a “must paint” for Christmas Eve!  With a little extra time between wrapping presents and having family out for a friendly game of pitch, I snuck in a painting!  These nutcrackers have been so fun to paint - I hate to see the end of the season!  Now - back to family time!  Painting number 1087 in 1087 days.  :)

Santa & the Nutcracker

Santa & the Nutcracker
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
purchase here

Tonight, I am merging my Santa theme with my Nutcracker theme - and voila! - Santa is putting the finishing touches on his nutcracker!  I really love the vintage feel of painting in black and white, and on this painting I have warmed that black with a little red oxide - which give the darks a lovely warm tint.  I found a wonderful old photo album that I had borrowed from my parents today, and the very first photos were of my favorite grandma!  It brought tears to my eyes!  I have been thinking of her so much lately, and I still miss her even though she has been gone some time now.  I will be taking that album to this weekend's Christmas dinner at my cousin's house.  That whole side of the family will be there, and most of them are in it, too!  What a wonderful gift to see her again on the pages of that album.  Painting number 1086 in 1086 days.

Nutcracker Artist

Nutcracker Artist
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
sold

Yes - this is actually an artist nutcracker!!  I wish this beauty was in my own collection!  This is another wonderful nutcracker shared with me by Candy Kultgen - and I knew I had to paint him as soon as I saw him!  The palette, paintbrush, and easel are fabulous - and that wild hair and mustache!! He has definitely been painting en plein air!  I love the way it flows with reckless abandon!  He is certainly a free spirit - and so fun to capture with acrylics!  As an artist, I must say that no self respecting artist would lay colors out in this order on their palette - it should run yellow, green, blue, violet, the red. Silly nutcracker!  This is painting number 1085 in 1085 days.

Thoughtful Santa

Thoughtful Santa
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
purchase here

Tonight, I am returning to impressionism using only my Mars Black and Titanium White. With a short 30 minute painting window (the time remaining before heading out to see the new Star Wars movie), I blocked in the values.  Working fast, I had this almost finished before I was rushed out the door by my family! Just now coming back to my easel for those finishing touches - I wonder why I don't do more of this?  I do so love portraiture!  It feels SO good to get into the paints in this way - like coming home for Christmas!  I really want to dig deep into portraits in the coming year - I feel them pulling at me even now!  Painting number 1084 in 1084 days.  What will I paint tomorrow?

Clara's Nutcracker Hero & the Mouse King

Clara's Nutcracker Hero & the Mouse King
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
sold

Thanks to Candy Kultgen, I have even more wonderful nutcrackers to paint from!  Settling on this wonderful pair from the Nutcracker Suite, I am laying paint just as the last of our guests have left.  We celebrated our first Christmas with Tiffany's family early, as they are leaving for Scotland on Wednesday.  The boys were super excited - and had a blast opening up all of their presents, spending the rest of the day trying them all out!  I bet they will sleep tonight, and probably be pretty tired in school tomorrow with their last two days!  It is so much fun to see all of the wonderful variations in these nutcrackers!  Painting them like I have the last couple of weeks has really opened my eyes to them - and all of their character and charm!  Painting number 1083 in 1083 days!

Golden Knight & Drummer

Golden Knight & Drummer
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
sold

I sure wish I was ahead on my paintings as Christmas begins!  As I am not, I find the only time I can get to my easel is at the end of the day when the rest of the household is tucked tight into their beds.  Perhaps, I should set up my easel in their rooms for a little nocturne painting........!  Instead, I return once again to my quiet friends, the nutcrackers, for my daily art therapy.  For the second time this month, I have completely finished and photographed a painting, only to realize that I forgot to paint in the sword!  Why do I do this?  I had to open back up my palette, retrieve my brush from the sink - and put that baby in, then get another image from the finished painting.  I am probably just too tired for my own good.  Maybe I’ll stay late in bed tomorrow and let somebody else do the cooking!  Painting number 1082 in 1082 days.  :)

Mouse King and the Boys

Mouse King and the Boys
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
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This Mouse King is special - he has wonderful, silky gray fur around his face and ears!  His fancy gilded cape and bejeweled crown are spectacular!  On either side, are the boys - one a baseball player and the other a football player.  A couple of all American nutcrackers here, complete with baseball, bat, football and face mask!  As Christmas nears, the house is slowly getting back to order.  Living room is painted,  the historic woodwork is up on three of the four windows, and furniture is returning to their places. Anyone who knows me, knows how hard it is for me to have things out of order.  It is hard to focus on anything, as every little thing out of place "screams" at me as I see it.  So, I am looking towards the light at the end of the tunnel.....and I see peace on the horizon!  Painting number 1081 in 1081 days :)

Soccer and Elf Nutcrackers

Soccer and Elf Nutcrackers
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
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I just don't know how I seem to get busier and busier with each new day!  I always bite off more than I can chew, knowing that it will all work out......and it does......making me crazy in the meantime! Both of these nutcrackers are more unusual, with the elf having ears that protrude, and the other posing with his soccer ball!  So cool!  Thank goodness my friend has kept me supplied with these little guys, because I have had zero time to go in search for them myself!  Painting number 1080 in 1080 days..........and Christmas is almost here!

Fab Four

Fab Four
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
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Julie Imhoff has kept me supplied with wonderful nutcrackers to feed my newest addiction!  I have run out of 4x7 panels, and when I originally picked these guys out, I planned on only two in a long, thin format. Well, it was square or nothing, so I changed it up a bit, varying their sizes.  Another fun little trial for these, I painted them at my daughter's house in very low light (once the sun went down).  With the shortening of the days, if I need to be there with the boys - I will be bringing a good light with me!  As my only chance to paint today - I had to make it work. This painting makes 1079 in 1079 days :)

Knight and Drummer Nutcrackers

Knight and Drummer Nutcrackers
Acrylic on masonite, 6x4
sold

Tonight's nutcracker pair in a fancy pants knight and an equally fancy drummer!  Complete with sword, drum and drumsticks - these two put those common nutcrackers to shame!  I have layered these guys up with acrylics in short, impressionistic strokes, until their forms emerge.  It is so cool to capture all of the different styles of mustaches, eyebrows, and clothing!  I had no idea how varied these all were until my friend started sharing her collection with me!  I will never look at Nutcrackers the same!  In fact, I feel a new interest coming on! Painting number 1078 in 1078 days!

Nutcrackers Royal

Nutcrackers Royal
Acrylic on masonite, 4x6
sold

With a small painting class today, I was able to paint during class for the first time!  Getting a jump on my daily painting was SO refreshing, as it seems that I never get to my easel before 10:30pm these busy days.  Working again from the fabulous photos my school friend sent me, today I have chosen a royal theme (and no, not as in our Kansas City Royals baseball team, but in actual royalty).  These kings both had velvet capes and golden crowns - and wonderful accent pieces!   And, the best part is that I am finished painting and posting before 8:00pm!  So, now it is time to get back to work!  Painting number 1077 in 1077 days.

Pirate Nutcrackers!

Pirate Nutcrackers
Acrylic on masonite, 4x6
sold

Thanks to an old school friend - I have some fabulous new nutcrackers to paint!!  Her son Leo collects them - and he has some really great ones!  The pirates jumped right out at me with their peg legs and hook hands!  My son’s school team is the “Pirates” - so I naturally must paint their mascot!  These pirates are sharp dressers, and their clothing was super fun to paint - and the one holding the treasure chest actually has blacked out teeth!  And those wonderful eye patches - they are just so creative!  How fun is that?  I am still working with the limited palette - and small to accommodate my *tiny* painting window.  Painting is my reward after exhaustingly busy days - and I’m already making my mental to do list for tomorrow!  Painting number 1076 in 1076 days.

Alan and Guitar

Alan and Guitar
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
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I’ve spent several days on nutcrackers - and have really enjoyed them, but I’m feeling a desire to get back to my roots for a little quiet time with my paints.  No music, no noise, no distractions.  Just the easel, brushes, panel and a little time to myself.  Switching gears from the holiday theme, tonight finds me working on a portrait of little Alan.  Michaela was showing him a few things on the guitar, and he was seriously soaking in every word.  He has a natural musical ability - it is surely in the genes!  I am working towards the impressionist, with loose strokes to capture the mood of the moment.  This is art therapy at it’s best, when I can pour my soul out in paint with brush.  My days grow more and more hectic until company arrives, so this time with my easel is a gift.  Painting number 1075 in 1075 days.  :)

Nutcracker Ornaments

Nutcracker Ornaments
Acrylic on masonite, 4x6
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Tonight, I am getting impressionistic with these little ornaments - and letting the loose strokes fly!  I have been working rather tight this last week, maybe because they have such defined parts.  So, here I am making the conscious effort to stay loose!  These little danglers are 9 inches tall, and are a real stand out on the tree with their bold colors and forms!  This night's work has been my art therapy at the end of another exhausting day. Thank goodness for my tiny painting window!  What would I do without it?  Surely, I'd be crazy by now!  Painting number 1074 in 1074 days :)

Nutcrackers Four

Nutcrackers Four
Acrylic on masonite, 6x4
purchase here

Another outrageously packed day, filled with pilates, sanding, cleaning painting the roughest of the woodwork and porch rocking chairs, unloading a giant shelf of paintings and greenware to ready for a wardrobe, meeting an artist to rent panels............and finally coming to my easel.  Thank goodness I had already planned out my painting.  So, almost without thought, I lay down those colors and masses until the four little nutcrackers emerge magically from a blank white panel.  Now I am so tired I am ready to drop.....and I still have a few chores left.  I am looking forward to my company coming to town, and I plan to do a little relaxing and visiting......probably with wine!  Painting number 1073 in 1073 days.

Nutcrackers Three

Nutcrackers Three
Acrylic on masonite, 4x6
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Yesterday's subject literally jumped out at me as I was unpacking nutcrackers to put in my youngest son's room.  After having so much fun painting them yesterday, they are my "go to" subject for tonight!  I started this composition out by painting the dark background negatively around the figures, cutting in each dark spot until their forms emerged.  I have not sketched out a single painting since I took that portrait class - and I like the easy flow of it!  It is as if I can switch things around freely, because I have not already committed by putting down the lines.  So, I guess you could say I am living outside the lines now, and the possibilities are endless!  Can you believe I am still using that limited palette?  All of these bold colors came from just yellow oxide, cad red light and medium, red oxide, alizarin crimson, indanthrene blue, and white and mars black.  I find the palette very natural, and the color harmony is easy when so few colors are used.  I did think I would want to reach for a cad yellow on this one, but I found I could make the yellow oxide work with a little white for that pop in highlights.  I am going to have to find more nutcrackers, I hear them calling my name!  Painting number 1072 in 1072 days, and Christmas draws closer every day!  Yikes!

Nutcracker Duo

Nutcracker Dou
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
sold

Oh, what a day!  I went down to the barn in search of the old woodwork after the gym today.  Climbing up onto old furniture to reach into the rafters, the cats jumped up to offer their help!  Gently moving Wesson to the side, I pulled them down one by one.  Wishing I had the truck at home, I carried as much as I could hold and trekked back to the house. I have spent the entire day scraping, sanding, cleaning and painting as much as I could complete, and I’ll start again after the gym tomorrow.....that is, if I can make it back to the gym after today’s grueling work.  That gorgeous old woodwork is totally worth it - they just don’t make woodwork now as they did in 1845.  The carpenter even signed the back of it - Jas. D Hope of Belton, Missouri.  How cool is that?  And now, I come to my easel late again, and as I pulled these nutcrackers down from the attic, I decided they would be my painting du jour.  My youngest son has always loved nutcrackers, and these are his to keep in his room.   Painting number 1071 in 1071 days.  :)

Santa and His Pack

Santa and His Pack
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
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Another late night to the easel - but oh, what a productive day!  Feeling more vintage today than yesterday, I am painting Santa in nostalgia.  The days are dwindling before my company arrives, and I am pouring far too much into every minute! Dad is still healthy, and each holiday is a gift to rejoice in.  With so many things to take care of, I am checking my list, and checking it twice, too!  I am back to acrylics today, but who knows where I'll be tomorrow.  I just hope I get to the easel earlier!  This time of year is SO CRAZY BUSY!  It is late, and my image is not very good on this post - but I will try to get a better one tomorrow.  Painting number 1070 in 1070 days :)

Zumba Santa!

Zumba Santa
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
purchase here

I am having a little fun with Santa tonight - and I've caught him dancing up a storm in Zumba!  One of my favorite classes at the gym - there is nothing like Zumba to get a great workout that feels more like a night out on the town!  This has been another crazy, busy day with our house project - and I have only now been able to get to my easel! The windows are in, most of the mess is cleaned up, and hopefully we can start trimming out the interior tomorrow.  I am trying to talk Mike into using the beautiful old original woodwork, even though it will need quite a bit of work.  So, tomorrow will find me down in the barn, pulling out lengths of trim from the rafters! This painting makes 1069 in 1069 days.  I wonder how on earth I am going to find time to paint tomorrow!

Watercolor Bluebird

Watercolor Bluebird
Watercolor on paper, 9x12
sold

This is the first in the series of bluebird paintings I did for my youngest daughter.  While waiting for the youngest son to return home, so we could all go out to lunch together - I was able to paint three before leaving the house!  It felt a little unnatural to get back into the watercolors after so much time in the oils!  I picked the 100% cotton rag paper for this first painting - totally forgetting how much a dislike painting on it!  It has a lovely texture that is pretty in the finished piece, but the paints seem to sit on top of it forever before settling in - and the colors mingle very slowly and with hesitance.  I had to leave it completely flat while working, or so much of the paint would have run completely off the paper!  In hindsight, maybe that is the best advantage of this paper.......I will have to try it for the very purpose of creating very drippy paintings! Michaela wanted all three paintings, so I framed them all up for her to take to her college suite.  I wonder how many of her friends are hanging original work in their rooms?  Painting number 1068 in 1068 days :)

Horses by the River

Horses by the River
Oil on wood panel, 24x18
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Today finds us tearing into a new project on the house!  We are putting in a double window on the west wall of the living room, and are ready to cut the hole in the outside wall.  With that comes all of the moving of furniture, clearing that wall - and cleaning up the little surprises found behind that stuff (and all of you with kids and grandkids know what that means!  This is a large painting, and I had most of it finished yesterday, with only the horses to complete.  With just a few adjustments, and a quick check of my colors in the light of day, since all colors change at night.  Painting number 1067 in 1067 days.  :)

Yoga Santa

Yoga Santa
Acrylic on masonite, 4x6
purchase here

I am having a little fun today with Santa!  As I headed to pilates, I imagined Santa in class, trying to maintain the many difficult moves!  So, in honor of a healthier, mindful Santa, I am portraying him in a classic pose.  He is balancing in tree pose, to ready himself for the long month ahead!  What will I catch Santa doing next?  This painting makes 1066 in 1066 days.

Tree Climbing at Sunset

Tree Climbing at Sunset
Oil on masonite, 12x9

Another in as series of happy memories at Lake Minnie Belle, this young man in climbing trees as the sun sets over the lake.  I have switched back to oils for this painting, desiring the rich creaminess of the paint for texture and weight.  I really only intended to lay down the colors for a color study - just to make sure this painting would match the other two.  Well, one stroke led to another, and before I knew it I had painted this landscape completely!  It was after dark when I finished, so I left it on the easel to look again with fresh eyes in the daylight.  With a little more work, this baby is finished - and already on it’s way to California it’s mates!  This has been a day well spent - and now I must head out to my first Christmas party of the season!  Painting number 1065 in 1065 days.  :)

Winter Magic

Winter Magic
Oil on masonite, 22x28
purchase here

Today, I have been working on commissions, and nearly have two of them completed.  Once I lost the natural light, I switched to finishing a large winter landscape - 22x28 inches.  Bringing this one nearly to completion a week ago, I then hung it on the wall to see if anything called out to me.  Indeed it did!  I had finished at night, and the full light of day showed that I needed more working time!  My colors were too cool throughout, needing the balance of warm middle and foreground hues.  So, I have made those adjustments tonight, and we’ll just see what the painting tells me tomorrow!  I will probably need to take a daylight photo of this painting as well - the colors are not reading true.  It feels a little awkward to switch from acrylics to oils - especially after a month of using acrylics!  The trick is to be sure I pull out the right brushes for the right medium every time! This painting makes number 1064 in 1064 days.

Santa Painter

Santa Painter
Acrylic on masonite, 6x4
purchase here

Some days, I come to my easel with absolutely no idea of what to paint.  After such a busy day filled right up to the brim - I had no plan in mind for subject matter.  As I got my paints and brushes out, the idea came to me - why not Santa at his easel?  I’ve been working on several Santa paintings for my Christmas cards - so this fit right into that theme!  I am working a little darker tonight - and as it is already way past dark, I may have to check this again in the daylight.  For now, I let it rest, as Santa remains at his easel.  Painting number 1063 in 1063 days :)

Reindeer Kiss

Reindeer Kiss
Acrylic on masonite, 7x5
purchase here

This has been such a fun weekend with Michaela home, with all of the family gatherings  keeping me busy!  Finding a bit of time while everyone else was busy, I was able to come to my easel and paint another painting for my Christmas cards.  I’m really into the Santa portraits this week, so today I have added a reindeer to the mix!  I really like the way the image just emerges as I add acrylic strokes, one on top of the other.  I started with just an idea of what I want, and as I work, the painting finds it’s form!  So much fun - and SO different than planning everything out!  Who knows where this newfound freedom in painting will take me?  This painting makes number 1062 in 1062 days :)

Old Saint Nick

Old Saint Nick
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
purchase here

After a day of family time and shopping, I am squeezing in a painting while the kids finish a game.  They are now calling for me to join the second one - so this is a super short post!  Back to family time and this painting makes number 1061 in 1061 days :)

Father Christmas 2015

Father Christmas
Acrylic on masonite, 7x5
purchase here

Today finds me painting, while Mike is out shopping with Michaela on Black Friday!  As my closest friends know, I do not like shopping - and Mike is the King of Christmas Shopping in our family.  So, after a full day of cooking, cleaning and family fun on Thanksgiving, I now have the gift of a quiet house with all chores finished.  It is the absolute best time to paint!  I love all things vintage and antique, and that love is permeating my painting this morning.  This year, I want to paint several different Santas to use in my Christmas cards, so this another for my series.  The layers of paint build up to a wonderfully nostalgic rendering on this icy day.  I am reveling in this new acrylic technique I’ve learned!  Painting number 1060 in 1060 days :)

Santa

Santa
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
purchase here

I have so enjoyed this month of portraiture, that I am going to paint a few Santa portraits for the upcoming season!  I have some wonderful photos of the Union Station Santa (who I think is one of the best!) - to use for reference.  I am pushing the darks on this painting, to completely take the background out of the composition.  The focus then moves right to is face, where it belongs.  I like the way the acrylics layer in quick, short strokes to develop the planes.  I am always pushing a little here, pulling in there - and the form shows up almost on it’s own.  This is such a fun way to paint!  No sketching and no distractions between the paint and me.  Very organic, indeed!  Painting number 1059 in 1059 days.  Happy Thanksgiving one and all!!  :)

Doorway in Batik

Doorway in Batik
watercolor batik on wasabi rice paper, 6x8.5

This crazy textured watercolor paper is an experiment for today's "batik effect".  Brought to me by a friend, I'm not sure of the name of it - but it is full of little strings that wind upon it's surface.  It accepts the paint relatively well, and also accepts the hot wax.  The wadding and cracking phase are a little more difficult, as the paper feels more like cloth than paper, but it does work.  The second layer of dark paint floats well over the surface, but the "cracks" are not as linear.  I did go in with a TomBow pen for a little definition to certain parts, and the results are pretty cool.   These pens are water-based, and can be manipulated with a wet brush.  One end is a fine point and the other is a brush tip, making them wonderful to use in many different applications.  I use them here by only lightly brushing the surface of the paper with the side of the brush tip, barely skimming on color where needed.  This results in a very natural look, not a sharp, marker "coloring page" look.  It is a great way to get my painting where I want it to be, when the results vary from the desired effect.  In fact, this painting was one of my least favorites, until I started "tweaking" it!  This painting makes 1058 in 1058 days.

Little Dreamer

Little Dreamer
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
sold

Oh - today has been SO full!  So many chores to be done, so little time - and all the while, I am "painting in my mind"!  After getting preparations under way for the Thanksgiving feast to come, I arrive late to my easel - once again!  Working from a friend's photo, I start brushing in the colors with short, quick, overlapping strokes.  Beginning with the darks, I mark them all before putting in the flesh.  I like the negatively paint around the head first, I don't really know why but it allows me so much freedom.  Freedom to move the edges, adjust parts up down or sideways, and always working towards a likeness.  It is amazing to watch the painting develop from it's humble beginnings, seemingly with a life of it's own.  This painting makes 1057 in 1057 days :)

The White Bow

The White Bow
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
sold

This little darling was my demo for this afternoon's painting class!  The granddaughter of one of my friends (and a student - though she was not in class today), her photo was on my desktop.   I used her to demonstrate how to lay in the values in black and white while using a color photo.  The emphasis is on using short, impressionistic strokes to define all the planes of the face, all the time getting those values correct.  As I work loosely, a likeness naturally develops. Once I feel her likeness captured - I step away from the brushes!  I want her to be fresh and lively, with plenty of those lush, impressionistic strokes visible. The more I paint these portraits - the more I love doing them! Painting number 1056 in 1056 days :)

A Visit with Santa

A Visit with Santa
Acrylic on masonite, 7x5
sold

Two years ago, once my parents had arrived in town, the family started the festivities by going down to Union Station to visit Santa and see the trains.  This was the beginning of a six week decline for my dad, one I didn’t think he would pull through.  When I look back at the photos from this time, all of the feelings come flooding back.  How very fragile are the bonds of life, and how very special are those fleeting moments with family and friends.  My dad is still with us - and healthy as ever, which is another miracle in itself.  I am truly looking forward to another Christmas season and the memories we’ll make together.  I love this photo of little Alan with Santa, and I have loved painting it today, my 1055th painting in as many days.

Sweet Dreams

Sweet Dreams
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
purchase here

Another late hour at the easel - and it even looked like I might not get it in at all! Painting the grand-daughter of a friend, she is all peace and tranquility as she rests.  These sweet, dreaming faces are a joy to paint!  I have enjoyed concentrating on portraiture this month.  There is nothing like focusing on one subject to get me to hone in on all the specifics.  So fleeting can be the subtle color changes of the planes, sometimes seeing is the most difficult part.  But once that special sight has been achieved, it makes me wonder how I ever missed it.  It is so like the difference between warm and cool colors, and temperature changes make all the difference in a portrait.  Those subtle qualities give life to an otherwise two dimensional painting.   This painting makes 1054 in 1054 days.

Thoughtful

Thoughtful
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
purchase here

Now that the season is becoming so busy, I am going to try to finish my painting early in the morning, before going to the gym.  So, getting up earlier than usual for just this reason, I found a few chores leaching into that time!  I still was able to lay paint - but I couldn’t finish before heading to Zumba.  It is VERY, VERY hard to stop painting when I am “in the zone”!  I did toy with the thought of missing the class........but decided against it.  The gym is also a habit I never break - unless I’m out of town painting.  I will just have to get up earlier, to ensure plenty of time to paint.  I have been painting so much in acrylics that I am actually going to have to get a new tube of titanium white!  These portraits are so rewarding to do, and I like pushing them towards impressionism or realism - whatever my mood of the day dictates.  I really do like using the Mars Black, it gives a vintage black and white feel to these paintings.  Thank you, Barb, for letting me paint your grand-daughter!!  Painting number 1053 in 1053 days.

Summer Dreaming

Summer Dreaming
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
purchase here

Oh, how I love the warm days of summer!  Give me the heat any day of the week - but you can keep that cold weather up north, where it belongs!  Today, I am painting little Michael, as he drifted in the pool in one of his favorite tubes.  I considered changing the color of that tube, to enhance the painting - but decided against it.  I wanted the challenge of using the blues of water and tube together, and the cool blue is so soothing.  I am enjoying this month of painting portraits SO much!  It has allowed me to really focus on the colors of the planes, and on the reflective light that gives the face form.  Probably the most valuable habit I have adopted this month is the 10 minute color study at the very beginning of painting.  It has replaced the line drawing completely, and I think it has really strengthened my accuracy.  Painting number 1052 in 1052 days.

photo reference

color study

Michael - value study

Michael
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
sold

Tonight finds me painting the baby of the family - Michael!  This child has been a joy for his entire life. He is such a peacemaker, so loving and there is not a cross bone in his body.  It has been my pleasure to parent him these last 16 years.  I've been truly blessed when it comes to children, every one is a shiny star and as good as they come!  I am working him up in black and white, value study style.  One reason for this is that the light in my photo is not very good, so the true colors are hard to read and very diluted. So, rather than struggle for colors I could not see - I painted in black and white, where I could strengthen those values for powerful portrait. I am loving this portrait month and wondering why I didn't do it sooner!  Painting number 1051 in 1051 days :)

Serious

Serious
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
purchase here

I totally forgot to take a photo of my color study on this one, which is done in the first 10 minutes of painting.  So, the very first layer is nothing more than a block in of shapes and planes, with no real definition of features like eyes, nose or mouth.  After my block in, I had to get to Michael's guitar lesson, so I didn't get back to this for quite a while.  Once I started laying down strokes, I worked on the planes of the face and hair - getting the shapes right before I narrowed down to mouth, nose and eyes.  I found I was getting very tight with the brushwork, and once again, I had to actively think of getting loose with that brush!  It is so natural for me to push right into realism, but this month is all about impressionism in the portrait - so I will persevere!  Painting number 1050 in 1050 days :)

Counting Sheep

Counting Sheep
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5 - sold

I simply love the sweet innocence of a sleeping child!  This is fast becoming one of my favorite painting subjects!  Using only titanium white and Mars black, I have painted this subject in true value study style.  Working from the photo below, I cropped in tight on the face working the large planes.  I normally use one large, scrubby filbert right up to the end, where I switch to a smaller cat's tongue for final definition.  I am beginning to like the whole dry brush technique - what was completely foreign two weeks ago is now very natural.  As for not using any medium - I don't miss it.  I don't use any with my oils, so the transition in the acrylics went smoothly - and the intensity of the hues is so much better!  Two more weeks of "portrait month" - where will tomorrow take me?  Painting number 1049 in 1049 days :)

Impressions of Kayla

Impressions of Kayla
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
purchase here

It is funny how some days my strokes are very loose, and others - very tight!  I had to really make an effort to relax with my brush today.  This little darling is my cousin's daughter, and I am working from a photo I took a couple of years ago during a Christmas dinner.  I have started with the same 10 minute color study, and then just progressed from there.  I worked longer on getting the face planes right before starting much on the features - and it made it easier to get accurate placement of shapes.  Another thing different about working in this particular method - there is no use of mediums, not even water. Just straight heavy body acrylic paint and dry brushes, right up until I'm ready to wash the brush - then I can stick it in the water.  It truly does make for better results.  Painting number 1048 in 1048 days.