Splatter

The Dixie Chick

2012-01-31T11:23:00.000-08:00

5 X 7

Oil on panel

My friend Mona is a bone fide southern belle from New Orleans. She is here in her element, sitting in the sunshine at the water's edge in Savannah. And thank you to her sis Carmen for letting me paint from her pile of photos from our trip last November!

The Jolly Sommelier

2012-01-28T16:36:00.000-08:00

8 X 10"

Oil on deep cradled hardboard

On our way to Hilton Head, my friends and I stayed over at a Bed & Breakfast in Tennessee. At our hostess's suggestion, we went to a nice restaurant where we were beautifully served by this gentleman, with a radiant smile and a nice table wine. He was a portly fella with delicate hands and I knew I had to paint him.

2012-01-26T06:28:00.000-08:00

The Sedona Arts Center is the organization that organizes workshops, classes, field expeditions, and more to educate and provide experiences in all mediums to artists and art students. They are the organization that sponsers Karin Jurick's Workshops. If you're new to my blog, first, thank you for visiting, and to bring you up to date, this series of mug shot paintings and many references to the "Hilton Head Gang" (HHG), is all born out of a workshop we took from artist Karin Jurick last November in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Hanging out with Karin, learning so much from her, and meeting and forming friendships with the other artists attending was just an amazing gift.

As if that wasn't enough! Recently, the director of the Sedona Arts Center, Vince Fazio, extended an invitation to any artist who had participated in one of their workshops, to submit a painting that exemplified the area where the workshop was held, for an exhibition called "A Sense of Place" which will be part of Sedona's "First Friday Artwalk". Ultimately, almost all 19 of the Hilton Head Gang responded with enthusiasm and if that wasn't cool enough, Karin let us know she would be sending a painting to hang with our group! What solidarity!

Gang member Regula Scheifele, made this poster to celebrate our excitement over, well, everything, but specifically that Karin is hanging with us once again, on the walls of this exhibition.   If you happen to be in Sedona, Arizona, please stop in and see our paintings. The show opened yesterday with the formal reception on Feb.3 and stays up through the 14th.   I sent my painting "Bamboozled" which was of a bamboo weaver we met in Savannah. This isn't the greatest photo but here it is, framed.   Good luck to all who are participating in "A Sense of Place"!

Betsy's Mug

2012-01-24T13:58:00.000-08:00

4 X 4

Oil on panel

I'm having a run of frustration with my little mugs. My last one didn't turn out as well as I hoped and will definitely be a do-over when I get a stretch of time. I didn't post that one.

I looked forward to painting artist Betsy Stevenson and did indeed enjoy painting this one. She is just so beautiful with wonderful color in her face, framed with her gorgeous grey and white hair. But again, I'm afraid this just does not do her justice and I'm going to have to try it again, maybe smiling next time. Betsy's website can be found here

Self Portrait

2012-01-16T07:21:00.000-08:00

16 X 20

Oil on panel backed canvas

I just finished this today, 4 days too late to make the deadline for a self portrait exhibit at Artlink, our local art center. Ah well. The devil was in the detail, but so was the fun.

Nancy's Mug

2012-01-13T14:12:00.000-08:00

4 X 4

Oil on panel

This one was definitely a challenge. Last night, I was getting so hung up on details and ultimately frustrated, I decided to call it a night and tackle it later. What happened next is probably something all artists can relate to. As I was putting things away, I kept looking at the painting to evaluate where I was going wrong, then grabbed one of my freshly cleaned brushes and took a swipe here and there, then more, then more, then pretty much repainted the whole thing loosely, almost carelessly, and found I liked it. So Nancy, I apologize for your blue chin and purple neck. You can view Nancy's blog here. And to see everyone's work on Maria's site, take a look here.

Roxanne's Mug

2012-01-01T11:58:00.000-08:00

4 X 4

oil on panel

Happy New Year everyone! Hilton Head Gang member, Roxanne Duke, has the distinction of being the first mug of 2012! I loved the challenge of her rimless glasses and chose to not stay true to the photo in which her eyes were quite shadowed. She has beautiful eyes that deserve to be accented. Roxanne's paintings can be viewed here.

These mini portraits have been so much fun, and they're going so fast now, I'm thinking I may start doing family and friend's minis to be displayed together. I'll add this to my "think about it" list. I can't believe there was a time I suffered from painter's block - straining to come up with a subject. There are so many ideas I want to get to, let alone the two projects on various easels right now. I'm looking forward to posting more paintings besides the little mugs this year. I better add resolutions to my list as well.

Sherrie's Mug

2011-12-29T11:39:00.000-08:00

4 X 4

oil on panel

The last mug shot of the year is artist Sherrie Hilliard. I must again point out that my Hilton Head workshop-mates were great sports about having their pictures taken with their best "perp" expressions so we could paint each other's "mug shots", and that Sherrie is really quite pretty. And thanks again to Maria Hock who faithfully sends out these photos and posts them on her blog site. To view everyone's interpretations, visit her blog here or her Picasa gallery here.

Kelley's Mug

2011-12-19T18:18:00.000-08:00

4 x 4
oil on panel

I didn't think I'd get any painting in this week, but everyone was out of the house for awhile tonight, so instead of tackling the many little Christmas related things that need to get done, like wrapping and looking over the list for the gazillionth time, I finished another Hilton Head Gang member's mug shot. This week is artist Kelley MacDonald, and borrowing Kelley's mantra, sometimes "girls just wanna paint". Visit Kelley's blog here.

Thanks to all who visited my blog and for the kind comments offered in response to the postings this year. I appreciate all your support. May you all have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year and everyone be safe out there!

Golden Friendship

2011-12-09T05:32:00.000-08:00

12 x 12

Oil on panel backed canvas

Sam's parents set out to find a therapy dog for him, but when they found Shadow, they knew he was going to be part of their family. Shadow was just a puppy at the time but was already disfigured from untreated mange. Still his incredible serene and angelic personality was apparent and to know him is to love him. I just finished this last night, just in time for it to dry and be wrapped for my sister ( Sam and Shadow's mother ), for Christmas. Hopefully this isn't the one time she looks at my blog!

I Left My Brain in Hilton Head

2011-12-07T07:56:00.000-08:00

Maybe that's overstating it a bit, but to say I left part of my subconscious is a little too obscure, and my heart is firmly planted between Indiana with my husband and cat, and in Texas with my boy Nick. However, since receiving a disc of photos in the mail from one of my dear travel buddies, I've definitely been letting my daydreams carry me back to that lovely vacation in South Carolina. And although it's been a month since we were there, I thought I'd share some moments. And so here I am, supplies packed precariously in shopping bags, on my way in to the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina for my first day of the Karin Jurick Workshop. I was crazy excited.

And this is inside, actually into the second day there. We had all abandoned our workstations to cluster around Karin and watch her paint, always a highlight of each day. That's my spot in the foreground. Later that day I bought one of Brett's Tabletop Easels and have been happily using it ever since.

This was a typical moment in which we were held in rapt attention during one of Karin's demos which is clearly not only informative but highly entertaining. The girl is hilarious.

The Three Graces

My posse, my travel companions, my friends - Carmen, Susie, and Mona. Here we are on the beach in front of our condo. It was a little chilly but gorgeous, which called for a toast.

In the Presence of Artistic Greatness

A statement that could apply to both, my friend, artist Susie Suraci and to Karin Jurick who's paintings we're enjoying here at the Morris & Whiteside Gallery. The week was incredible, filled with art, ocean, good food, good wine,with side trips to Savannah and Bluffton and wonderful time spent with wonderful people. It exceeded whatever I had imagined to experience when I signed up for the workshop.

Jennifer's Mug

2011-12-04T11:01:00.000-08:00

4 X 4

Oil on Panel

This week the Hilton Head Gang Mug Shots spotlight falls on Jennifer Koach who was dubbed "JLo" by her classmates. Everybody was a good sport to ham it up for the camera for the sake of this project and give their most distressed, "just been caught" expressions. Again, everyone's interpretation of JLo can been seen on the right hand side of Maria Hock's blog.

I have this whole week off and am embracing the chance to do Christmas-y things, get ready for my son's visit, and enjoy time with my husband, family, and friends. I'm also luxuriating in the time to paint ad lib, without having to squeeze it into life. Maybe I will get a painting or two done for gifts after all!

Linda's Mug

2011-12-01T18:47:00.000-08:00

4 X 4

Oil on panel

And here's another "mug shot" of one of my classmates from the Hilton Head gang. Finding time to paint is always tricky but this week has been a killer, between my regular schedule plus mandatory extra shifts at my job, and Christmas decorating. Tonight after work, I started in on this little mug of artist Linda Popple and determined to get it done no matter what. I could have tweaked it a little more but here it is. For all the mugs by all the Hilton Head gang, go to Maria Hock's blog site. Maria's challenge has been to do a mug a week and I'm hoping to keep up with it although it's going to be a hectic and joyful month. I'm looking forward to making up for lost time with my son who is several states away in grad school but will be home for Christmas. And of course, nothing is more important than that!

Regula's Mug

2011-11-20T17:09:00.000-08:00

6 X 6

oil on panel

Regula, my highly informative and talented Hilton Head workshop-mate, is this week's chosen one to be gang painted. She tried to look rough for her photo but I'm sorry girl, you just don't pull off mean. And I tried, but I just can't make you look mean - not with those beautiful eyes of yours! To see all the entries from our group for Regula's as well as Karin's mugs, as they come in, go to Maria Hock's blog site where she has set up a slide show. Also, check out the object of our workshop and our affection, Karin Jurick and her blog. She's joining in on this little project for us to do all our mugs, one mug per week.

Sea Leveled

2011-11-20T10:03:00.000-08:00

6 X 11.5"

Oil on panel

From one of the bazillion photos we took while at Hilton Head. It might have been chilly but the ocean was so alluring, it would have to been iced over to keep us away. This is of my lovely friend Mona, taking in the beauty.

2011-11-16T20:35:00.000-08:00

Mug Shot of Karin Jurick

4 x 4

Oil

This kills me to start right of with a hero. But my classmates thought it would be fun to do and compare all our styles by painting all of our mugshots. The "shots' aren't ment to flatter - just to have jun with. And it was, it was fun to do a small paintings with a bit of gusto - But I'll just see how much fun it is when it's my turn to have MY mug up there. I can't stand to have a photo taken when I look good! And Karin, I apologize - you really are a lovely girl.

Mug Shot

2011-11-08T14:10:00.000-08:00

4 x 4

oil on panel

And again, out of the workshop came this exercise of painting from mug shots. This was especially fun to do because it was small and I really started to loosen up, using lots of greens, blues, purples, and grays to express his sallow complexion and mood.

People in the class really got into this one - and have decided to keep it up by doing a series of all our mugs. A great way to keep connected and keep painting. I'm looking forward to "seeing" everyone again.

Bamboozled

2011-11-08T08:21:00.000-08:00

8 x 8

Oil on panel

After class on Wednesday, we were set loose to get photos in the area. My friends and I took the opportunity to visit Savannah where we met this gentleman weaving flower bouquets and crosses from bamboo. Employing the economic strategies of every good capitalist, he offered his goods for a hefty price but eventually bartered down to a reasonable sum plus photo rights. He was charming and I came away with a workable photo plus a lovely bamboo flower.

Day Two

2011-11-08T08:07:00.000-08:00

On the first day of the workshop, Karin walked us through examples of her work from the original photo to fully realized paintings and what a enlightenment that was. It's so easy to be constrained by what we see literally instead of allowing our creative imagination to bring life and one's own personality to our work. Of course there was so much more shared that day, including her first demonstration.

The second day, we set to work painting the same image from her demonstration and this is my exercise. How to paint water remains a daunting mystery to me but I'll get there.

Karin's groupies

2011-11-07T12:42:00.000-08:00

Being in Karin Jurick's workshop brought with it the extra bonus of meeting this wonderful group of artists. I only wish I had the time to get to know each one better.

Living the dream

2011-11-07T07:45:00.000-08:00

This past week, I had the amazing experience of being in Karin Jurick's workshop in Hilton Head. Just watching her paint would have been enough to satisfy me, but along with her wonderful demonstrations came great advice and tips about everything from how to take pictures to marketing your work. I can't say enough about how awesome and inspiring this week was.

2011-07-09T15:08:00.000-07:00

Last night I received the Elizabeth Yerks Memorial Award at the Ventures in Creativity Show here in Ft.Wayne for my painting "Movie Night'. I'm excited to receive the recognition and totally motivated to improve my skills. I pulled a couple of good friends into my picture as my husband took this shot because I'm terrible about cooperating for photos.

Plant Manager

2011-06-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

Oil on Canvas

15" X 30"

My husband Scott is a teacher so in between the school year and his summer school schedule, he throws himself into creating beautiful flower beds and gardens for our yard. He loves to snatch up bargain flowers that have been poorly tended to at the store and bring them back to life and color with his TLC. So this is for him.

Facing It

2011-05-06T14:34:00.000-07:00

Oil on Ampersand

8 x10

The latest Carol Marine painting challenge was to do a self portrait which was great fun but takes a big of courage to spend that much time critically looking at yourself whether it's in a mirror or a photo. The last time I did one was nearly 30 years ago and whoa - thus the title of this piece. The fun part comes in using a little discretion and poetic license in deciding to include each wrinkle, sag, bag, or whatever. And I employed the classic "chin in hand" stance used almost automatically by women (once we've accumulated enough life experience), in order to do that little instant face life maneuver. But again, the main thing was it was fun.

Movie Night

2011-04-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

Oil on Canvas

20 x 16

A friend took this picture of her husband and daughters, caught in a moment of watching television. I was so impressed with the balance and composition, I asked to paint it. All I changed was the cropping and some of the background detail. Once again, I learned some management techniques to deal with the challenges of reflective light and shadows. And her kids are just perfect little models.

Nick

2011-04-19T09:28:00.000-07:00

Oil on Canvas

18 x 24

This portrait of my son Nick is finally finished, or at least as finished as it's going to be. It's been sitting in my workspace for awhile and I've modified it several times. That's what I love about oils - they're perfect for someone who's never quite satisfied with her own work.

Guilt Free

2011-02-09T15:56:00.000-08:00

Oil

6 x 12 inches

On two gessoed panels, each 6x6

I'm so happy that wonderful artist Carol Maine has started a new challenge site on her blog, Daily Paintworks. This week the challenge was to do several small studies of the same subject and allow only 10 minutes for each one. This was one of those great exercises that I need to do often, to limit time to grasp the image, light, and color and transfer that information to the surface without overthinking and over working the painting. I was lucky to get an extra day off this week and get a chance to get my painting ya-ya's satisfied, at least today!

study of Nick

2010-12-21T15:16:00.000-08:00

Pastel on Pastelmat

Another attempt at using PanPastels, highlighted with stick pastels. Loved the surface and tooth of Pastelmat. I could work it further but thought I'd leave well enough alone for this study.

I've spent too much time away from painting and other artwork which is made apparent by the great gaps in postings on this blog. So I'm going out on the limb with an early resolution to be more artfully productive, grow and practice more in this discipline, and to make regular postings in 2011. One thing I'm tremendously excited about is a workshop scheduled for early November but more on that later!

Christmas Present 1

2010-12-19T08:27:00.000-08:00

Stained Glass

12 x 16

Forgive the poor centering but how do you take a photo of a mirror without being part of the picture? This is a gift for my husband, a stained glass, mosaic framed mirror. There are bits of dichroic glass that add a remarkably pretty highlight.

Just Waiting

2010-12-19T08:08:00.000-08:00

Pastel on Strathmore paper

12" x 18"

After reading about Pan Pastels in Kari Tirrell's blog, I got curious and bought some to try. I'm pretty under experienced with this medium although I love a well rendered pastel painting. So this is the first crack at trying Pan Pastels along with traditional soft sticks. This is Priscilla,who was featured in my very first posting in oil. It's from a perhaps awkward perspective, looking down on her while she was waiting for a flight. She is remarkably petite, but it does appear that her hips are a vanishing point. Actually, at size 0, they sort of are.

Waiting Room

2010-06-23T13:55:00.000-07:00

Oil on Panel

15.75" X 7.5"

Taking our cat to the vet and seeing all those anxious pets with their hovering owners was the impetus for this painting. I thought it would be fun and kind of easy to paint animals but it certainly wasn't for me, easy that is. But it was indeed fun and I'm going to try it again. This was done on a scrap of panel I found in the garage, thus the weird size.

Nick (detail)

2010-05-13T18:48:00.000-07:00

I'm trying on this detail of a portrait I'm doing of my son. It's actually a large painting with a head/torso shot and a lot going on in the background, but he has very strong features and I like how his face has kind of a Statue of Liberty look going on. That's the huge advantage of painting on panel, you can actually crop a painting if you choose. This, however, is on canvas. It's not finished so I'll just see where it goes...

Little Man

2010-03-08T08:45:00.000-08:00

oil on panel
8X10

This little guy was fun to paint and as always, I learned a lot more about managing the medium while doing it. For instance, his fuzzy, downy baby hair was accomplished with a mix of washes followed by dry brushing and I was happily surprised with the outcome. I can almost smell the baby shampoo. And the little toys around him were a nice exercise in still life painting.

Portrait of Karin

2010-02-12T14:44:00.000-08:00

oil on masonite
8x10

This was a part of a collective project by followers of Karin Jurick's blog, Different Strokes From Different Folks, as a way to thank her for the time and effort she invests to allow exposure and development of artists. We are surprising her with her portrait, make that 118 portraits. Thanks again Karin! Hope you know how much you've been appreciated.
And thanks to Jill Polsby who put the project together. If you visit Karin's or Jill's websites, you can see all the different renditions of this remarkable person and wonderful artist.

Beth

2010-02-03T07:27:00.000-08:00

16x20
Oil on canvas

Beth (detail)

2010-02-03T07:09:00.000-08:00

This will really torture my friend to be posted three times now, but I thought a detail was in order here. In the many years, thirty-six or so but who's counting, we've been bestest pals, she's only consented to pose one other time, so I've got to make the best of it.

Different Strokes Portrait Challenge

2009-12-18T09:31:00.001-08:00

9 X 12
oil on masonite

This truly was a challenge. Not knowing the subject and only having one picture for reference, I found myself worrying about capturing her image as well as pleasing this person. As with every challenge presented on Karin Jurick's wonderful site, Different Strokes from Different Folks, I learned a lot during this exercise and realize I set the bar of expectation for myself higher with each painting. Subsequently, I had to do a couple of tries and several reworkings of this portrait before I held my breath and sent one in. Thanks again Karin, for lending what has to be an enormous chunk of her time to host and execute this blog. I know I speak for all involved, that it is a wonderful way to learn, to stretch and grow, to be inspired and support one another in our shared passion for art. And Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukka to everyone reading this.

in progress....

2009-12-13T13:59:00.000-08:00

oil on canvas

I'm still working out the background on this painting of my very good and camera shy pal.

Cupcake I

2009-12-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

8 x 10

oil on masonite
SOLD!

We're having a show at our local gallery called "Just Desserts" so I'm trying out some ideas and this is the first one (using the good china). It may still get tweaked a bit.

Spring Pickin's

2009-11-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

6 x 6
oil on masonite

This is a little painting I did for a local show of "Little Art" but never quite got around to entering on time. I might have mentioned my tendency to procrastinate. This is my husband Scott, shopping for spring flowers.

Commuters

2009-11-03T15:31:00.000-08:00

11 x 16
Oil on masonite

This was another contribution to Karin Jurick's Different Strokes blog where she offered a photo full of challenging perspectives and lighting. I really enjoyed this one.

...and babies don't keep.

2009-08-11T12:34:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas

There's an old poem that expresses every loving parent's heart and still chokes us up long after our babies are grown. The last line is "so settle down cobwebs and dust go to sleep, I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep". I thought of it while I worked on this portrait of my friend Erin's husband and son, and it seemed like an appropriate sentiment.

Painting Exercise - N.C.Wyeth

2009-07-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

oil on canvas

I love N.C.Wyeth. Because of his amazing paintings, I notice the intensity of the sky and clouds differently and probably a bit of everything else about nature as well. Years ago, long before personal computers and the internet, I bought a book about him that included his painting, Herons in Summer. Even though it was in black and white, I fell in love with that work and longed to see it in color. Enter the Information Highway and there it was! So this summer, when I started to try to reorient myself with painting, I copied it as an exercise. It's rough and certainly doesn't do his wonderous painting any justice, but I decided to include it in this blog as part of a "How I Spent My Summer" series. You really should give yourself a treat and Google his painting.

Idle Time

2009-07-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

8 x 12
Oil on masonite

This is in response to Karin Jurick's blog Different Strokes for Different Folks. I love this vehicle because it's lighting the spark under my can to get back to painting. This is the second challenge I've taken and it's had an inspiring affect on my pathological procrastination.

June and Priscilla

2009-07-20T20:22:00.000-07:00

11 x 14
oil on masonite

Priscilla lounging under Flaming June by Frederic Lord Leighton