Kamora

6 x 6

oil on Ampersand panel

This radiant redheaded girl was born with a bone deformity in one of her hind legs rendering it useless. In this bad news, good news scenario however, she was adopted by my dear friends Beth and Roger Wilson, making her one of the luckiest pups in the world. Kamora is dearly loved and pays it forward with her sweet disposition.  She still gets around OK on her three legs and has the huge muscular chest of an Olympic swimmer. 

I've been trying to paint (a painting!) every day this month as part of the 30 in 30 challenge hosted by Leslie Saeta. To see today's entries click here. I didn't make it this weekend but last night I thought I would lay this one in and get a head start on today. At two this morning, with 90% of it done, I finally went to bed! Maybe I'll catch up on if there's enough coffee in the house! 

A Different Kind of Painting

My goal was to try to paint every day and I guess this qualifies even though I didn't paint a picture with my usual medium.  This is one of the pottery pieces my husband made out of redware and my job is to do the decorative painting. This is a combination of slip, glaze painting, and sgrafitto for a Klimt inspired pattern on what will be a mirror.  Sgrafitto is a technique in which you first paint the pottery with a slip, then scratch a design into it, letting the terra cotta colored clay show through.  We do a lot of traditional, reproductions of early American designs but he also lets me be as creative as I want as with this piece.  I should add, this is all I do with the pottery - Scott everything, throwing, glazing, and firing.

Here are some finished examples of redware and stoneware and also our booth at The Johnny Appleseed Festival here in Ft.Wayne, Indiana.

and us...

Firefly Flowers

9 x 12

oil on 1"cradled gesso board

I met my sister at a coffee shop this morning to see a painting exhibit by my friend, artist, singer, and songwriter, Susan Taylor Suraci.  Her paintings are gorgeous and inspiring and I was all fired up to paint but didn't have a subject in mind. As we were leaving I looked over and saw this scene of the cafe's patio and deck area.  It was alive with color, the sun was shining, and the crazy sunflowers were at attention.  It was like a gift!

$125

Yankee Doodle Sweetheart

6 x 12

oil on canvas board

WaHoo!  I didn't think I was going to make the goal today to paint and post every day this month - but take that Day 4!!  This little study will serve as a problem solver for a larger painting later, maybe.  Those leaf shadows look a little like feathers in the background in this small format - something to practice more!

Reflections

5 x 7

oil on panel

Stage lights casting stark reflections on a young man's face and drink as he listens to a band.

What a Doll!

6 x 6

oil on canvas panel

It was suggested that participants in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days project, pick a theme.  I had kicked around the notion of doing a series on my toys and other familiar items from my childhood in the 1950s and 60s. I spent a day digging in our storage for the big container that stored my toys and then upon finding it, had a wonderful reunion with them all.  I was amazed to find the girls in remarkably good shape considering how enthusiastically I played with them and how many multiple moves they've made over the years.  Among my treasures are Tiny Tears, Betsy McCall, Beth of Little Women, three Terri Lee Dolls (no relation), my Trolls, Skipper, and of course Barbie.  Barbie was my most loved doll and went with me everywhere. I still marvel at the details in her clothes and little accessories.

BUT she was surprisingly difficult to paint!  This ended up as tedious and worrisome as anyone else's portrait, especially since everyone knows what Barbie looks like!  I decided after this to do some paintings along this theme, but not exclusively.  The Barbie Game made a nice background for her although her pose looks like a cruel Yoga position.  Poor girl is going to be 54 next month after all.

Spread the Joy

6 x 6

oil on Ampersand panel

Today I am beginning the challenge to post a painting every day throughout September.  The host of Artists Helping Artists, Leslie Saeta, is hosting this challenge and so far 340 artists have signed on.  September is probably the busiest month for us since my husband and I are very involved in a big weekend festival, doing a show with his pottery and doing a set every day with our string band.  And additionally our band plays two other events the next week.  The pottery alone is pretty all consuming around here right now.  But I'm going to try my best to paint every day and produce something worth posting because there's no better way to improve and to build commitment to this skill than to exercise it.  

This portrait is of a friend who radiates joy with her warmth, humor, and spirit. She is also extremely skilled in her job and her comforting presence always leaves me feeling blessed. 

Perfect

16 x 20

oil on canvas

Sold!

This is a painting of blue ball jars and vases and our back yard as viewed through all that beautiful turquoise glass.  I sat them on a mirror in front of a window and loved the effect.  Then had to recreate the whole thing later with the Gerber Daisies which were added for the color pop.

Pick Me

8 x 8

oil on Ampersand Gessoboard

This is a "do again", not so much a do-over, of a painting I did at my workshop with Dreama Tolle Perry last February.  I used the photo she had given us in class and added a squashed version of a beautiful ball jar a friend had given me.  (Love that jar Susie!)  I recently gave away the original painting I had done in class and thought I'd just do it again as a pick-me-up.  That was such a fun class and Dreama's style is so liberating and energetic, it was a fun treat to revisit it for something to do on this humid Sunday afternoon.

The Good Life

8 x 11

oil on canvas

This was an impulse painting from an old photo taken of one of my dearest friends several years ago while hiking.  She had written "The Good Life" on the back, so that's what I called the painting.  I didn't try to capture her likeness, I was really chasing the challenge of conveying the energy and colors of this beautiful stream.

Book Store

11 x 14

oil on panel

Waiting out an afternoon rainstorm in a wonderful Austin Bookstore.

Shadowy Figure

12 x 12

oil on Ampersand panel

This painting was fun because of the great interplay of shadows, especially from the straw hat.  The sun was intense but her face was glowing from the gold reflections from the hat.

Boston Boy

8 x 8

oil on panel

I met this little guy in the park the other day. What a cutie. He's five months old and was just thrilled to let a stranger rub his little puppy belly.

Radiant

10 x 20

oil on canvas

This lovely young woman is one of my co-workers who graciously agreed to model for me.  We chose a day she was available that just happened to be a perfectly beautiful day.  I'm so happy with the cooperative sunlight and shadows - just what I was hoping for.   And I'm equally grateful that, as much as I tried and nearly succeeded, I didn't fall into this fountain while I was setting up her pose.  The title of this painting refers to the subject more than the wonderful sunlight. Emily thank you.  You are beautiful inside and out.

Double Talk

9 x 12

oil on gessoed board

sold

I am so happy we're back in the sunny months!  As a Hoosier, we have to wait for warmth and good sunshine to find it's way back to Indiana after long, cold winters, but this little scene is from the southeastern coastal area where such gifts are more plentiful.  This couple was deep in conversation while taking a late afternoon walk on the beach.