Shiny Ornaments

 

It's fun to squeeze in a painting during all the fun holiday festivities with family!  I LOVE this time of year! This day started with a goat emergency, one was being chased by the others and was limping.  After calling for reinforcements. I was off to Casper's Christmas party at preschool.  I arrived home in time to prepare for Aunt Diana and Uncle Ed to come visit. Danny and boys, Mom, Tiffany and family all joined the fun, too, which we watched Kirby and Casper.  The campfire was also fun, though we didn't stay out long in this cold night!  Painting number 5044 in 5044 days. 

Ornaments on Pink

 

I love getting wild and free with the bold colors of the season, and it seems I can't settle on just one style this year!  I guess that's what my Artistic License is for!

I truly am all over the place artistically this month.  I often narrow in on a theme for my cards as the time draws near, but not this year.  I feel like ink and watercolor birds are for sure the theme, then I switch completely to acrylic Santas.  No, wait!  I'll do Union Station in grand style, but then I have these amazing herefords - and now goats - that are begging to find their way into my paintings!  So, here I am, switching back and forth, letting the wind blow me wherever it pleases, and just allowing myself to roll with it until I land on solid ground. Painting number 5040 in 5040 days. 

Baubles!

I really love getting expressive with the paint on these shiny, reflective Christmas ornaments!  There is something so liberating about grabbing full strength paint from the tube and dropping it right onto the canvas - to work in additional colors at will!  There's no right or wrong, only the marks as they land, sometimes with wild abandon!  After a very full day, it is just the art therapy I need to unwind a bit at day's end.  Love these stolen moments away from my duties!  Painting number 2912 in 2912 days. 

Christmas Balls ATC

This was a fun experiment in very small scale - ATC at 2.5x3.5!  Super fun!  I started as I begin a sketch with an ink drawing. Next, I went in with acrylic on this linen textured paper, liking the feel of the brush over this surface.  As with any uniform texture, I do wish I could do my own as I always prefer my own texture.  But, for an ATC, this worked very well, and I will buy this pack again - which I picked up at Creative Coldsnow, my favorite local art supply store!  I will be sending some of these to Mexico to trade with other artists there.  How fun it will be to receive their artwork! Painting number 1794 in 1794 days, as I burn the midnight oil yet again!

Shine of Christmas

How can I possibly cram so many things in one day?  Burning the midnight oil, this is my first chance to post today's painting done as a demo for painting class.  After arranging a few Christmas balls in the center of the table, everyone could then draw and paint from their own spot. It truly is so much better to see the ornaments before you vs looking at a photo.  Saving the highlights is paramount in watercolor, so that is the key while laying down the colors.  Once lost, it does not return like it was never painted.  One could use a masking fluid, but I almost never do.  It simply isn't spontaneous enough for me, too controlled, almost contrived.  Watercolors lighten as they dry, so I add more paint as needed while the masses are still wet. I love the mingling that occurs wet on wet, and try not to lose that.  I wonder what medium I'll choose tomorrow....... painting number 1787 in 1787 days.

Holiday Brights

I LOVE painting these shiny, bright Christmas balls!!  Though I LOVE to paint them, I don't have a single one of these on any of our Christmas trees!  I prefer fancy ornaments of all kinds, especially blown glass.  I once was given a large glass globe shaped vase with a tall candle in the center, surrounded by all of these glass balls!  After all these years, it is these balls I am pulling out of my Christmas box for the sole purpose of painting them!  In fact, I think I'll keep a few out in a bowl just for that impromptu holiday painting!   To the person who have me that gift - it is the gift that keeps on giving!  Painting number 1786 in 1786 days :)

currently available at the Belton Art Gallery

Uncle Sam Nutcracker!

The real nutcracker was a gift in the secret Santa exchange last night, so it is now in the home of a friend.  I'm working on 6x6 gallery wrapped canvas, and using my acrylics.  I am so very specific about my substrates.  This particular one is just fine for the rather abstract technique I use on the Christmas balls, but a bit of a struggle for this nutcracker!  What I thought would just drop off the brush had to be coaxed along persistently.  I found myself longing for my gessoed masonite, with my cross hatched surface.  I do like wrapping the paint around the edges, though, it looks so dimensional.  This painting makes 1792 in 1792 days.......maybe...!

currently available at Belton Art Gallery

Glass Ball Reflections

Oh my, what a busy day!  With three Christmas parties in the last 24 hours, my world has been a whirlwind of activity!  Nothing clears the chaos in my mind like a quick and loose painting, feeling my way through the colors rather than thinking it.  Going into "auto pilot" allows me to mentally unwind and recharge at the same time.  New ideas surface as the reflected colors find their spots on my canvas.  I love the dynamic play of the brushstrokes.  The process is just so stinking fun!  I'm thinking of painting a really large canvas of these Christmas balls.....do I dare?  Painting number 1791 in 1791.

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Up! - for Baby :)

Up! - for Baby :)
Oil on panel, 8x10

My oldest son Tyler, and his wife, Hannah, are expecting their first baby, and this painting is a shower gift for them!  They are decorating in the theme of “Up”, and I hope this gift will be perfect!  Nothing is as special as bringing a new little life into the world.  Those early years roll by so quickly, and one day you blink, and that little bundle of joy is now having their own little darling!  With not even a month to go, we are all anxiously awaiting this new little addition to the family!  This painting makes 1201 in 1201 days!

Streetside Umbrellas

Streetside Umbrellas
Oil on masonite, 10x8
Parkville in Art Paint Out - purchase here

As I stepped out of my car, I saw these gorgeous umbrellas from two blocks away.  Walking past the little shops dotting Main Street, my focus was already on the composition, the first strokes being laid in my mind.  I had not left enough time for this complex painting (hmmmmm - seems to be a pattern here....), so I would need to work fast.  Setting up in a small square of shade, tucked unto the side of “Finders, Keepers”, I sketched out the cafe scene.  The bright, late afternoon light and the bold color of umbrellas, cafe and foliage is what drew me instantly to the spot - so I had to capture that glory before it faded into shadow!  Once all of the block in and some of the finish work were done, the light had changed - and my time was up.  Time to get to the award presentation for the English Landing, so this painting required one more visit to finish up, which is something I almost never do.  Painting number 1018 in 1018 days :)

Palette Knife Sunflowers

Palette Knife Sunflowers
Oil on canvas panel, 7x5
purchase here

In my very small painting window today, I started this little painting. With my fabulous cut sunflowers before me, I knew I would be racing the clock to finish this before I had to pick up the grandsons from school.  As happens so frequently, when I disengage my brain and paint fast and furious - I end up with work that I really like!  There is something so fresh about laying down masses and strokes, relying on that information to go straight from my eyes to my brush. Perhaps I should do a few super fast paintings each week........ painting number 963 in 963 days :)

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink
Oil on unstretched canvas, 4x4
purchase here

My pink tulips are now blooming - and although they are on the small side, they add a wonderful cool hue to the garden.  I have used both brush and knife to paint this small 4x4 inch painting.  First, I sketch out the composition as I want it, and then start laying in those colors until the canvas if full.  Then, I work with the knife, skimming over the first layer with new color - either darker or lighter then the first layer.  I pulled an ultramarine blue over the deep green, and white over the pinks to define the edges of the petals.  To add interest, I have popped in a few little touches of color - radiant turquoise, naples yellow pale and radiant magenta.  The key is to only lightly drop these in, too much negates the energy of having just a little.  Painting number 855 in 855 days.

Birthday Bliss

Birthday Bliss
Oil on canvas, 6x6
purchase here

Today is my birthday!  I love birthdays, all of the good wishes, family fun, good food - what's not to love?  Now with facebook, there are a zillion birthday greetings to brighten my special day!  To add to the celebration this year, I am painting brightly colored gifts with brush and palette knife!  I am using some of my favorite bold colors for extra pop!  In fact, I had the whole painting so vibrant, I found I had to tone down a few areas just to give the eye a place to rest!  We had our family celebration yesterday, and we just returned home from going out to dinner.  Tomorrow is my oldest son's birthday, and Friday is our middle son's birthday.  This week in April - all we do is celebrate! This is painting number 828 in 828 days :)

Bold Geraniums

Bold Geraniums
Watercolor on paper, 7x5

Working completely off the top of my head today, I just started painting without first composing.  I let the brush wander where it would, dropping in extra color as needed.  It is freeing to paint in such a way, like "seizing the day" with my brush!  As always, I painted three different watercolor paintings at once, allowing of dry time between the first layer and the second.  I like the way these colors mingle and pop - I should use that permanent blue more often!  Today's paper of choice - a 140lb cold-pressed.  This makes painting number 603 in 603 days :)

Fancy Pants

Fancy Pants
Watercolor on paper, 9x6
Purchase Information

Another bright and colorful rooster for today!  There is something so freeing about painting with reckless abandon!  Playing with the watercolors again, I am working wet into wet, letting the colors mingle.  Fighting the urge to get too detailed, I choose loose strokes to form the rooster and grasses.  The sheer experimentation going on with the bold colors is exhilarating!  I was never one to color outside the lines - or even to use these vivid colors, always choosing to stay in those "realistic guidelines".  Well, I have certainly taken a walk on the wild side with this lively painting!  Number 589 in as many days :)

Walking on the Wild Side

Walking on the Wild Side
Watercolor on paper, 7x5

Well, its official - I have lost all restraint with my watercolors!  Today, I let the color have it's way with me and am simply following the whim of my brush!  With reckless abandon, I stroke on juicy bits of paint - dropping more pigment into those strokes, allowing the colors to mingle.  I do not mix my colors on the palette before putting them to paper, as I do with all other mediums.  With the water as my vehicle, I drop in the pigments I wish to mix - and let them do their own thing.  Fun, exhilarating, and yes, a little crazy! Loving the freedom of the medium on this, my 580th painting in a row.