Another work in progress...

I love painting realistically, haven't had my fill of painting this way so will continue to delight in this experience while evolving and learning. I think my paintings have their own glow to them. Photography really can't capture the beauty we see. I have found that from looking at many gallery works and finding that they are oh so much more breath-taking in person than in photos. Anyway, I am finding that as a painter I am enjoying the process of layering paint in stages. I am so impatient that this process must be accompanied by me working on many things at once so don't get too bored. The end stages of painting are the most rewarding but also the beginning stages are thrilling too. The in-between....requires perseverance.

"Still Life With Scottish Pitcher" 14 x 18 inches, oil

Self Portrait...About Openess

Would like to enter my next painting into another competition but not sure about how to finish it. I at first wanted to include the side of a door and call it Open and Close. But not sure if I will totally change it to something more abstract.....still thinking it over. It is not a flattering painting but that is because I have been in a bit of a crossroads for the past 3-4 years. I'm learning a lot through it......

First stage of a self portrait in oil....about openness.

Thanksgiving

This is my last little fall painting. Thanksgiving  is just around the corner, so much to be thankful for, the gift of being able to create is a pleasurable endeavor our Creator blessed me with and I don't deserve the credit but I am so blessed to have the joy of doing it. The best part about this little painting was doing the twisted stem.




"Fall Fruits" 8 x 10 inches, oil

Puppy Love

Here's a cute little painting that I had fun with. Need to do one of my Boston Terrier, BlackJack with his funny eyes. Painted this one as a request from dear friend.

"Bradley" 9 x 12 inches, oil

My Mona Lisa

I call this painting, "Annie at the Met" but really she is kind of my Mona Lisa....same smile I think...same reverie in the eyes. The reason why I am posting it again is I wanted to compare how lighting can affect the accuracy of a photo when photographing your art work. This one was photographed in natural light, the one on previous post was taken with incandescent light and then altered via photo software....the previous one still needs more of the yellow cast edited out of the photo but I was running out of time and wanted to send the photo off to the American Portrait Society show...even this photo doesn't do the painting justice.


"Annie at the Met" 14 x 18 inches, oil on canvas

Anne's Painting and My Dad

Finished my painting of my daughter Anne for Portrait Society Membership show. My photo of the painting does not do it justice. Was out all day today visiting with my father who is in  hospital 3 hours away. He is in the last stages of Alzheimer's and may pass soon. Feeling incredibly sad. Had planned to photograph my painting in daylight after putting the final touches of her necklace. Needless to say, my dad took precedence and was not able to come home in time to photograph the painting in daylight for competition. Hopefully the photo is good enough to give them an idea of her beauty. Will post better photo here tomorrow. Praying for my dad tonight and for a long day at school tomorrow. :(


"Annie at the Met" 14 x 18 oil on canvas

Dress-UpTime!

Have not posted here for a while. Been busy but it's always a good kind of busy. I work in a school teaching and it's been a baptism of fire for me...but I love seeing the students create! It is fun to design projects for them and watching them come up with their results! Children are also fun to paint! Here's a painting of Laura I finished recently. It took me a while to complete it because I was new at portrait painting when I began the painting. I struggled with folds of shawl and the foreshortening of the arm. Then I left off with it for a while. I think I still need to work on shawl and arm....I like the face though! If you wish to purchase any paintings you may visit my gallery at dailypaintworks.com.

 

Detail, "In the Pink"

"In the Pink" 15 x 22 inches, oil on canvas

 



Happy Pumpkin!

"Happy Pumpkin" 10 x 14, oil on canvas

I call this little painting "Happy Pumpkin" because of the bright color contrast of orange and aqua---these days I am drawn to the turquoise, aqua colors...not sure why.

Third Stage of a Portrait From Previous Post

"Annie at the Met" oil on canvas 14 x 18

Well so glad to soften up this portrait. I love oil paint's ability to glow as you add layers. Of course it would be great to get it done alla prima but I suppose there would be a whole different look to it, if it were an alla prima painting.

The Beginning and Middle Stages of a Painting

"Annie at the Met" oil on canvas, 14 x 18 inches
 

Am painting a portrait of my eldest daughter from a photo that I took while we were touring the Met. I like the beginning better than the middle stage although I did make much progress overall. What happened after working on it yesterday was that it is a bit too tightly handled which means that I will have to find a way to loosen it up next go around. I really would like to enter into two portrait competitions that have deadlines in November but not sure if I will make it. I also work as an art teacher three days a week. I will try my best. Sometimes I am not able to work on my days off though I really try to set some time aside. Being a Mom needs to come first.  So many responsibilities we women artists must juggle!!! :)

Back After a While of No Painting

"Concerto" art on canvas, 8 x 10 inches

It is good to get back to working on paintings. Had to stop and prepare myself for the new school year as I am an art teacher. Since things are falling into place at my teaching job, I will try to paint as much as possible on my days off since I am trying to prepare work for three different juried shows. Above is progress I made on the painting "Concerto" that I worked on last time...added "Rub and Buff" in gold leaf to painting....really love gold leaf and want to try the real thing eventually.

A Concerto

This is a portrait of a young girl in progress....I call this "Concerto"

"Concerto" oil on canvas, 8 x 10....work in progress

Progress on the Venetian Painting

If you look back a couple of posts you will see the start to this painting which I am continuing to work on today. It's "Porto Della Carta " attached to San Marco and the Doge's Palace.

"Porto Della Carta in Morning Light" (oil on canvas panel, 9 x 12 inches)

My Little Niece

My little niece was walking the beach of outerbanks exploring when I snapped the picture. The lighting was so ominous and glowing....hard to capture it in a painting as God's creation is the perfect masterpiece from which all of us artists draw inspiration. This painting still needs a little tweaking but you can see the difference from the last post, how much it has progressed. Will post my venetian painting soon.

"Young Explorer" 9x12 inches, oil on canvas

Bright Colors!!!!

Ok so our computer room acts as a studio for me but for whatever reason lacks the light essential to really view color saturation properly. Took this little painting out of the room after I completed it and BAM! The color was so saturated and bright, I had to tone it down. It's still a bit bright but will leave it.... working on two other paintings that I will post tomorrow.


"Morning Innocence" 8 x 10, oil on canvas

Young Explorer

Worked today on my venetian painting that I posted earlier this month and also this 9x 12 painting of my niece at the beach. Love the bright blue of her swim suit. Face needs to be handled carefully....will not be able to work on it tomorrow but hopefully on Sat. will keep you posted.

"Young Explorer" 9 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

Outer Banks

We are going to the Outer Banks in another couple of weeks. This was done from a photo I took two years ago....I will do another one from life later and compare.

"Avon Morning" 9 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

I am in the process of putting my smaller paintings on a website, www.dailypaintworks.com so I am trying to do one small painting every other day (or there about). If you are interested in purchasing one, you may find them on the website. Currently there are 6 of my paintings in auction on Daily Paintworks. This little painting below is one of them. I have been trying to stick to a veggie/fruit regime these past few days and have had some delicious cherries around the house. Thought I'd give them a try in one of my paintings.

"Two and Two" 6 x 6 inches, oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

A Little Venetian Painting

Started a little painting 9" x 12" of a photo I took some years ago in Venice, an addition that connects San Marco and the Doge's Palace. The lion above the door is the symbol of Venice and you will see lions as architectural elements in other locations around the city. I love lions and not too sure of the meaning behind the venetian lion but I suppose it has spiritual significance. There are lots a details to paint here so trying very hard to keep lines perpendicular. I will not attempt to do a photo realistic painting...not my style and I already have the photo. But I do want to try to capture the luminosity of that morning by starting my palette with dull colors, adding hints of lighter and brighter as I go.


"Porto Della Carta in Morning Light" (oil on canvas panel, 9 x 12 inches)

Practice, Practice, Practice

Did this study of a Franz Hals painting called "Laughing Cavalier". Not sure if I will get around to finishing it yet. I loved trying to capture the laughing eyes and I do think I will enjoy doing the collar and colorful costume....we shall see.


My unfinished study of painting on the right by Franz Hals.

Flee Market Find

"Aqua Bow" 6 x 6 inches, oil on canvas

Found the white jar at a flee market (though it is new and not an antique). I love to go "antiquing". I mostly reminisce about all the nostalgia of days gone by with my sister or a friend who loves to antique. I don't usually buy a whole lot but I loved the shape of this jar and the handles. I couldn't wait to get it home so I could paint it. Added the bow for fun!

Little Portrait

Was looking through photos to see if I could do a quick portrait sketch and saw one of my son David after I shaved his hair....he likes to get a buzz cut. Decided I would do a little sketch of him. It seems that much of my portraits have the same look in the eyes. But then again I tend to use photos of family before all others.


"Portrait Sketch of a Young Boy" 8 x 8 inches, graphite on board

Mum's the Word!

Mum's the word on this little painting. Did it at spur of the moment. On a slightly other note (speaking about keeping mum). Was out today talking with sister-in-law about life and feeling very blessed to be able to share myself with someone. Sometimes I am quiet about my life, and other times, when I feel safe and not judged, I can encourage and be encouraged.


"Mum in Tiny Jar" 6 x 6 inches, oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

Latest Art

"In the Pink" Oil on Canvas, 21 x 33 inches (framed)

Just recently completed this painting. "In the Pink" recently hung at the Art League Gallery, Torpedo Factory, Alexandria for the May exhibit.