#34 - For the Boys

For the Boys
8" x 8"
Oil on Canvas
SOLD

This piece was requested for a silent auction that will be a fundraiser for my son's football team. Maroon and Gold are the school's colors. It's still wet, so the pic is a little shiny.

Go Rebels!

#33 - A Shroom with a View

"A Shroom with a View"

14" x 14"
Oil on Canvas (with black painted sides)
Available

Do you like my title? I'm a jokester! Here til Tuesday folks. Tip your waitresses.

So this was painted from a photo taken by my Dad and Stepmom in their yard. These little babies were popping up all over the place. I have changed the colors of the mushrooms from real life to something a little more jazzy. Otherwise, well, it just looked like a bunch of hmmm...let me just say, they were all very flesh toned. I thought it was just me as my mind does a little gutter traipsing from time to time, but I emailed the photo to several friends and got 100% feedback on whether or not I should change up the color. I hope you like it Dad!*

In the end, I really like the grass in this painting. It's the part I fought the most. Aside from the color changes.

#32 - Nozzle Toff!

"Nozzle Toff!"

10" x 8"
Oil on Hardboard
NFS

This is a portrait of my sister and my soon-to-be bro-in-law. They are getting married in 13 days and this is a shower gift for them. As our 2-year-old nephew shouted last night, "Nozzle Toff!"

It's hard to paint people you know and even harder to paint people you know and love and don't want to disappoint! I can't tell you how many revisions I did on this one. I'm still not totally satisfied with it, but I feel like I'm on the edge of overwork so, I'm stopping...for now. Well, maybe just a little more...

Special thanks to Wini and Amie for their opinions on this one. At times I stared at it so hard I could no longer see when I was going off course. Again, the perils of painting those you love. Everyone needs someone that when you ask what they think they do not hesitate to come right out and say, "This line makes her cheek look fat". They are worth their weight in Ultramarine.

#31 - Three Pears

#31 - Three Pears

14" x 11"
Oil on Canvas Board
Available
(Needs drying time. Will be ready to ship on Oct. 26th)

So this one began as a contest entry. I had forgotten the painting that I was currently working on when I went to my studio class that week. However, a contest was announced during class. Paint fruit or vegetables. It had to be 14" x 11" and it was due the next day. I worked as fast as I could, but couldn't meet the deadline. So this board sat with one complete pear, one about 30% complete and one still blank.

I've got a small list of paintings that I need to do stacking up and this one kept looking at me. So I took about an hour and a half last night and finished this one. And I really like it. Mainly the dark/light contrast.

#30 - The Premier of the Pups

8" x 8"

Oil on Canvas Board
SOLD

A friend recently asked me if I painted pets. I said I never had, but I'd certainly give it a go. Here's the first result. This is 1 of 3 paintings of my friend's very-much-loved family pet. I consider this a preliminary sketch to see how I want to handle the final product. I used impasto medium to thicken the paint so that I could get the brushstrokes that I wanted. I will be sketching out one more version in a different pose, then rendering a finished painting on stretched canvas or hardboard.

Let me know what you think!

#29 - Beach Study

Beach Study 1

8" x 8"
Oil on Canvas
Available

It has been a while since I've been to the beach. Seems like a lifetime ago, actually. Probably because since the last time I was at a beach I have become a totally different person. But that's a long, not always happy story so we'll put it away for another time. The point is, is that I had forgotten the peace of sitting on the beach, breeze skimming across my skin, sun soaking in with nothing to do but read, enjoy the company and every few moments just marvel in the bright color and beauty that is blue water and pure white powder sand. Sigh.

This painting is intended to be a study for a larger work. I purposefully edited out everything but sky, water and sand, just trying to catch the light and color that was in front of me.

I like it.

It can still be done!

There are 102 days left in 2011. I have 3 paintings in the works and that leaves 69 remaining to finish this year. I have 3 additional paintings that I have deposits on and need to begin sketching. So we're heading in to crunch time! I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...