Saturday, March 2, 2024

Walking Duck


 Walking Duck was a drawing in progress, one of erasures. I drew and erased the head several times. I figured that was ok. Sometimes the drawing comes out fine the first time. Actually, this duck made me walk behind it for a while in order to take its picture. Can you tell by the way it's looking at me?

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Gray Cloudscape






Gray Cloudscape 10 x 8 in. oil on Ampersand gessobord. It's a challenge to capture the right configuration of clouds to make an interesting composition. Clouds are never the same from moment to moment and from day to day. They are fun to study nevertheless.

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Windy Day Landscape


I've always been fascinated by landscapes, especially skies. I like those artists who simplify their compositions and create gradations of blues in the skies from dark blue higher up and lighter blue near the horizon, and also many values of grays in the clouds. I hope to find a sense of spontaneity in my landscape and a feeling of wanting to take a deep breath when viewing at my painting.

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Blue Orchids, Green Vase and Silver Tray

 I went to a flower arranging class and here's a peek of part the arrangement.  I was overwhelmed by all the flowers and colors, and I needed to simplify the still life if I was to paint it.


What I kept was and what remained were the Dendrobium Blue Orchids. I paired them with a new green vase I got from the thrift and a silver tray I purchased at Michaels. 



I wasn't sure I'd post it since it seemed a little busy to me, but I said what the heck, I'll do it and move on.


Friday, January 5, 2024

Violet Vase on Blue Plate and Silver Bowl


 I recently purchased this cut glass violet flower vase at the thrift and wondered why someone would get rid of it. It was so pretty in the light. It was fun to paint and lovely to look at. I'm happy with the outcome.
My New Year's resolution is to begin to draw regularly in addition to painting.

Monday, January 1, 2024

Most Viewed 2023


  These are some of my most viewed images from 2023.

Thank you for a wonderful year and best wishes for a Happy New Year.

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Working on Wet-into-Wet Painting Techniques



  When using wet-into-wet painting techniques or alla prima, the edges are softer and the colors blend nicely. It's great if you are short on time or don't want to overwork your painting. It's great if you are short on time or don't want to overwork your painting. I wanted to thank Karen O'Neil from the Woodstock School of Art for her online painting demos of glass that inspired me to create these and other works.

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Green Glass, Silver Bowl and Plum



I was invited to a friend's garage sale last weekend. She had items like this fun little silver plated bowl. I can always count on garage sales to get my creative juices flowing.


 

Monday, October 16, 2023

Getting back into the swing - Study in Pink

 On the heels of a success like winning the 1st place award at the Stockade Art Show, a period of good productivity and a busy life, I almost fell into a painting funk! At times like these, I like to try something new like warm-up exercises. The goal isn't to produce a great painting or to change my style, but it's to help get back into the swing of things.

This time I reread Sarah Sedwick's book Dynamic Still Life for Artists. I really enjoyed it and many of her explanations applied true. So after putting together a still life, I did a drawing, a value study in black and white oils with 5 values plus white, and then did her alla prima technique in three steps, an underpainting, pre-mixing my colors and lastly applying the paint. I changed a couple of things, I'm not one for creating an underpainting but I liked to premix my colors.

My goal was to create momentum, to get started painting, relax and have fun.









Gallery 5 Pop-Up Art Show in downtown Schenectady



 

I'm excited to announce I'll be participating in the 2nd Gallery 5 Show, Fall For Art, in downtown Schenectady from Oct. 27 through 29th. I hope you can come and check it out.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

A Great Day at the 72nd Annual Stockade Villagers' Outdoor Art Show 2023





The weather turned out sunny and warm for the 72nd Stockade Villagers' Outdoor Art Show. My full display and the 1st Place Award for my painting Focal Point. It couldn't have been a nicer day! Thank you to my husband for all his help, Gary for co-judging the Oakroom Artist award and my friend Gail for stopping by to support me.

Sunday, September 3, 2023

72nd Annual Stockade Villagers' Outdoor Art Show 2023

 

A great outdoor art show and sale in Schenectady’s Historic Stockade neighborhood.

Saturday September 9th 2023 10am-4pm  (rain date Sunday Sept 10th noon-4pm)


It will soon be that time of year again for the Stockade Villagers' Outdoor Art Show. 
My favorite art show of the year.
There'll be lots of wonderful art and friendly people.
If you get the chance,  stop by and say hello. I'll be exhibiting my oil paintings.
I'm also excited to be judging the Gilliland - Weinheimer Oakroom Artists' Award.
Good luck to everybody.

Monday, August 14, 2023

Mountain Gallery Oakroom Artist Show

I'm pleased to have two paintings in this gallery show.
Hope to see you there.





Reception:
This Friday August 18th from 6pm to 8pm for the opening of SHOW VI: Oakroom Artists at LARAC's Mountain Gallery. The show runs through September 20.
 
This event is free and open to the public. All purchases made by LARAC members on opening night will receive a 15% discount (5% for non-members).

Address:
LARAC Mountain Gallery, 21, Bay street Glens Galls, NY 12801


Saturday, August 12, 2023

I Discovered A New Online Framing Company

 I've discovered a new online frame company called WebPictureFrames.com It's a frame outlet and gallery located in Eugene, Oregon. I've learned from their website they've been around a while. I purchased this floating frame for my new painting and it came today. Perfectly packed and beautifully made. I recommend them and the price was really reasonable, so I feel compelled to highlight them. Here are some images.





My painting was placed but not attached to the frame yet.

Sunday, August 6, 2023

Large Still Life on Yellow Tablecloth in the Sun

 


My new painting and its set-up. Worked on this still life for a couple of weeks. It's 28" x 20" and large for me. I feel it's finished and I ordered a frame. Planning on putting it in the Stockade Villagers' Outdoor Art Show September.

Monday, July 31, 2023

A Busy July


 


July has been a hectic month. I'm working on a larger still life painting 28" x 20". It's almost done, but I'm not ready to reveal it. Above is the parrot cigar box I painted in May and decided to paint and stencil the sides. It's fun, and I like it.  I may play around with stencils for a while.

The biggest issue this past month keeping me from painting was that my husband fell and broke his elbow. He had a plate and screws put in. I'm amazed how fast he's healing. I'm also happy for him!

Friday, June 30, 2023

Repeating Apples Giclee


My friends chose this large giclee print of my painting Repeating Apples as a gift for their new home in Buffalo. They had it framed and it looks great in their dining room. I wish them well and will miss them. 

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Still Life with Lemons, Teapot, Green Glass Bowl and Rubber Plant

 This painting sold at the Beekman Street Art Fair. It was a fun day and I thank the woman who bought my painting and emailed me to say it looks great in her place.

Here's the quote I originally posted with the painting. Not much has changed.

There is a quote by Henry Miller that a writer takes a path in order to become the path. It is the same with painters. To paint often and freely is to open oneself to all that we are and hope to become and in so doing fearlessly share ourselves with others.


Friday, June 2, 2023

10th Annual Beekman Street Art Fair

SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 2023 AT 10 AM – 5 PM

10th Annual Beekman Street Art Fair

Beekman Street Arts District

 I'm excited to be participating in this year's art fair. I'll be showing ~ 20 paintings ranging in sizes 6 x 6 in. to 24 x 24 in. Most have not been shown before. There will be 60 artists showing their works. My booth will be located in section block 1 from Grand to Oak Streets. Maps will be available.

Hope to see you there.

Saturday, May 20, 2023

Troy Fence Show 2023

 

It's been several years since I participated in this show. The art is always interesting. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to show two paintings.

Below are all the important dates

FENCE SALON | JUNE 8 – JULY 3

Artists’ Reception & Award Ceremony: Friday, June 30, 6-8pm

The awards ceremony will take place on June 30, 2023 at 7pm. We will be awarding cash prizes for Best in Show and Runner Up. The awards are made possible through the generous support of our community.

FENCE SELECT | JULY 20 – AUGUST 3

Troy Night Out, Friday July 28

GALLERY HOURS

Monday & Friday | 10 AM – 4 PM
Tuesday – Thursday | 10 AM – 7 PM
Saturday | 10 AM – 2 PM

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Painting on Cigar Boxes




 

Oh what fun! My newest painting is of a parrot followed by two older paintings of a turtle "Stumps" and my neighbor's Corgi "Dipper". The last image is six cigar boxes that I just purchased. They were three for $5. I've found cigar stores have them on display and for sale. I buy the wooden ones without labels. I sand the tops, then gesso and paint them. I have several painted ones around the house to hold pens and colored pencils, and my former dog's collar and memorabilia. I've also given them as nice surprise gifts. 

Friday, April 28, 2023

Narcissus in Teal Bulb Vase



A pretty flower with a yellow trumpet-shaped cup surrounded by six white petals. It was the vase that caught my attention and inspired this flower painting.

Saturday, April 15, 2023

New Shoes, New Golf Season

New shoes, new golf season. A fun quick painting of my husband's new golf shoes. Luckily, he had a second pair in order to play.




Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Green Glass and Lime on Yellow Plate


Never having painted this glass before and wanting it to be on the lighter side, I tested my colors several times and painted over my strokes until I was satisfied (or came to accept them) until the values were right. This may account for the heavier brushstrokes than usual.  I haven't painted in a few weeks and it's time get back into the swing of things and have some fun.

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Oakroom Artists Group Show


I'm pleased to be a part of the Oakroom Artists and their upcoming show at the Blooming Artist Gallery in Clifton Park. 

This is the Oakroom Artists first group show at the gallery, which will include a diverse collection of member's works.  

Mark your calendars for our reception on Friday April 14th 6-8pm (all are welcome)!

Below is one of my pieces in the show


Eggplants, Limes and a Red Pepper

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Red Vase, Blue Glass and White Dish





This red vase was from the same thrift store I purchased the blue glass and teal goblet. I fell in love with it and how the natural sunlight shows through it. The light was perfect for an hour almost every day between 9:30 and 10:30.  I just wanted to paint what I saw and didn't think in terms of theory. Enjoy.

Friday, February 3, 2023

Green Pepper with Orange Cloth


Every once in a while I discover something new that changes an idea I have about painting.  I recently purchased Sarah Sedwick's new book Dynamic Still Life for Artists.  In it she discusses how she mixes her paints, that is, she premixes them forming "color clouds" on her palette.  For the objects in her set-up she'll premix two or three values for each color.  This frees her to spend more time actually painting. I did have to fix some mixtures every now and then, but I liked the premixing and it freed me up to enjoy the painting process more.


Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Blue Glass, Teal Glass Goblet and Orange


 More delicious finds from the thrift store. This still life was set up in natural light by my east window. I worked on the drawing for a couple of days to get the composition the way that I liked it. Painting everything except the teal goblet went quickly. I tend to simplify my objects so it took me several tries to figure out the inside of the goblet to make it more interesting and push forward.