Stacked Colored Cups II

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I'm pretty happy with this painting. But this post is not about the painting but how the year has stacked up. Here's what was new this year: website, newsletter, pet portrait brochure, mailing list, my painting "The Greyhound" was accepted into the book Retired from Racing, not from Life, several  commissions for pet portraits, notecards, half a dozen art shows including one juried, completed 5 large paintings, many daily paintings and acquired several beautiful art works.

Here is Stacked Colored Cups from my May 24, 2011 post. It is fun to look back.

Stumps

I wanted to paint Stumps for myself and just for the fun of it. I really like this little creature. Stumps has no toes, they were bitten off by other tortoises before my nephew's wife rescued him. He barrels across the floor in a determined way, checking out those things important to him, and he's surprisingly fast.  Stumps is my 100th post for the year and to make it fun, I painted him on a cigar box lid.

Snooper

Commission

Snooper is an apricot miniature poodle and this painting is a surprise Christmas present to his owner.  He was all fluffed up and looking as cute as a button in his photo. It was a pleasure painting Snooper and meeting his extended family.

Red Apple on Teal Square

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I'm finding I have a "go to" object I can paint with success most all of the time and that's an apple. And it's a wonderful feeling. Now when I'm struggling with my painting skill, I can go back to the apple and regain my confidence. Does this sound familiar? Or is this just my end of the year musing?

Izzy by Trudi Smith

I'm fortunate to be the proud owner of the charcoal drawing Izzy by Trudi Smith. It measures 13 x 8 inches. I've loved it for years and by some lucky chance she agreed to trade paintings. Trudi was my first painting teacher back in 2003.

Most Viewed of 2014

These are some of my most viewed images from 2014. 

Thanks to everyone for a great year.

Emma Standing

I wanted to paint Emma in a different pose, one where the light is catching her dark thick fur and body. She's a very handsome dog.
 

Emma

Commission

I met Emma, her owner, and niece in the park and in this setting she was alert and serious in her guard dog mode. I was lucky to be able to take many photographs of her and together we picked the above pose. Emma is a rescue, a sweet dog, and has a wonderful new home.

Jarlsberg on a Plate

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Another painting inspired by my visit to the Acquavella Gallery in NYC to see the Wayne Thiebaud show. There I saw a painting of two blocks of cheese. What could be more mundane but challenging at the same time?

Red Apple on Green Plate

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This weekend I went to the Acquavella Gallery in NYC to see the Wayne Thiebaud show. Who better to get inspiration from for painting everyday objects? Not only do I love his compositions but also his color choices.  I painted this apple with his work in mind.

Clear Glass Pitcher

Yikes. I never realized how hard it was to paint clear glass. This was my second attempt. Some parts are good and some not so much, but I think I will have to leave it alone. I'll come back to it in the future and like a good book, I'll see it again and relate to it on a deeper level.

White Cup and Cherry Tomatoes

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I've been busy and away from painting for a few days. But once it gets colder outside, what could be better than to stay home and paint. Isn't that what we all want to do? After painting, I'll be looking forward to reading my new book that just arrived, Daily Painting by Carol Marine.

Bye Bye Baby

This painting was a commission. This filly has been sold and what a nice way for the horse's owner to remember her by.  Never having painted a horse before, and not being that familiar with horses, it took me longer than usual to complete. I hope she finds her new home a winner.

My New Acquistion

My new acquisition is a print of George Dirolf's' wood engraving "Equinox". I have admired this work for a while and am excited and pleased to now own it. It's magical and so well done.

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Apples in Glass Bowl

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I'm getting a lot of paintings out of my trip to the apple orchard. There's something to be said about working on a theme, that being apples. I know how to paint them quickly now and that comes from familiarity. I'm not done painting apples, but I'll take a break from them for a while. Hmmm, what to paint next?

Two Apples on White Cloth

It's funny how I can get so caught up in unimportant stuff. But somehow painting brings me back to center, it is a solace for whatever is bothering me. It's my way of making things right. I'm fortunate to be able to paint. When he has time, my husband is a fiction writer and it's the same for him. Here's a passage from a new short story he's written and I think it sums up why we do it..
"the unmitigated, dispassionate pursuit of truth, unhindered by incursions from reality, having to deal with the constant fear that it will all lead nowhere, with peril and mistakes lurking at every turn,  the work laborious, a slow accumulation of minor advances with surprising tangents, each new result suggesting a hitherto unseen direction, with moments of elation followed by harsh setbacks, confidence in one’s ideas reduced to despair, but yet there remains the imperative siren song, calling him to continue".

The Greyhound

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This greyhound dog was so wired it had its mouth open in a yawn every time I looked at it.  Well isn't that what dogs do when they're stressed? I'm not sure, but it was a beautiful dog.  It had booties on all four feet. I decided not to paint them but on second thought, it would have made the painting more contemporary.

Golden Delicious on Yellow Plate

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I find yellow one of my most challenging colors. To darken it, I have to find a way to keep it in the yellow family.  To make it appear lighter, other yellows have to be a smidgen darker. It's also relative to the adjacent colors. I'm sure someone else could explain it better. That being said, it took me several tries on scrap paper before I painted it on this panel. There aren't many times I can say I've gotten my revenge, but today I'm eating this apple (ha ha) as I type this post.

After Apple Picking

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We went apple picking and hiking this weekend and it was so nice. With the Granny Smith apples we made an apple galette. So delicious. Perfect weather and everybody was relaxed. This is what fall weekends are all about.

"The Black in Sunlight is Lighter than the White in Shadow" Challenge

I'll be hosting this week's painting challenge on Daily Paint Works. It will run for a week starting this Sunday.

Below is what I submitted for my challenge. 

 The Challenge

There's a saying, “Black in sunlight is lighter than white in shadow” and that's the principle I used in painting this Dalmatian.

My DPW challenge is to paint your light colors in shadow darker than your dark colors in the light. Yes, this hurts my brain too.
To keep it straight in my painting, I made a simple four color chart.
It helps to squint to get your values right and don't worry if it takes a few tries, it did me. 

To view this challenge go to Daily Paint Works Challenges.  

If you haven't tried this idea in a painting , then this may be a fun exercise.

Oscar & Cobra

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These funny two upside down birds were fun to paint.  I met their owner at the Fireplug 500 Walk for Animals.  She left her email address with me that day and when I contacted her I told her I'd be happy to paint her birds, no obligation,  just paint them for practice and fun. And it was. What a goofy pretty pair.

Big Reflected Cherries

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I've finished this larger painting, continuing with my New Year's resolution of one larger painting a month. At least I'm trying. I thought this painting was going nowhere when I first started but I'm pleased with the outcome. It's big, bold and colorful and I feel like I'm visually bathing in it. Is this how painters of big paintings feel? I like it. :)

Big Reflected Cherries - In Progress

I haven't posted a painting since Sept. 14th and that's way too long. Too long not to post and especially to paint. I have great excuses and for those that follow me on facebook you know why. I'm ready to start painting again. I started this painting a while ago and I thought I'd jump back in. Unfortunately painting isn't like that for me, I have to paint regularly.  

Bow Wow Bazaar

        

            Time: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.                

Join me at the Fireplug 500 Walk for Animals this Saturday. If you commission a pet portrait or purchase a painting, 20% of all sales will be donated to the Animal Protective Foundation.

Tartan Dogs

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I found a tartan fabric pattern online for my box's sides whose colors were harmonious with my dogs' coloring. Many patterns were either too busy or too bold. I'm starting to accumulate a nice collection of boxes. My goal is to display them at the Fireplug 500 Walk for Animals which I've been asked to participate in on Sept. 27th. I'm hoping they catch someone's eye.

Tartan Dogs in Progress

I started off by sanding down the embossed emblem on the cigar box, taped the edges, four coats of gesso, sanded the gesso and then drew and painted the dogs.  Tomorrow, I'll paint the background. I really don't know why I'm calling this "Tartan Dogs" except the side panels will either be checkers or a plaid. I'll try for plaid but no promises.

Arts Attitudes!

I'm participating in this year's 5th Annual ARTS ATTITUDES exhibit. Tonight is the  Opening Champagne Reception from 6 - 8:30 pm at the Historic Round Lake Auditorium. There is a $20 admission charge. It is a fundraiser for the Malta League of Arts.

There is no charge to view the exhibit over the weekend...
Friday, Sept. 12 .....3:00 - 7:00pm
Saturday, Sept. 13.....11am - 4:00 pm
Sunday, Sept. 14 - 3:00 - 7:00 pm

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Everybody Loves Raymond

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I met Raymond on the beach at Hilton Head last week while vacationing. He was a rescue who endured abuse by his first owner. Lucky for Raymond a lovely gentleman adopted him. I was so taken by his story that I gave him (the dog) a big kiss and the title Everybody Loves Raymond happened.

Decorators Know How To Do It.

My Bok Choy painting at Experience and Creative Design, Ltd.

This show runs through October.

Amber Glass and Lemon

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When my husband saw this painting he said "Oh, just two colors blue and gold." Not planning on this color scheme, my intention was just to pare it down. When I'm setting up a still life, I keep switching it up until it becomes something that I can see as a finished painting. If I don't see it, I don't paint it.

Cantaloupe and Brown Bottle

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I worked hard on this little painting. The brown bottle with its reflections was challenging. I had to find just the right color for the bottle which turned out lighter than the actual object and the reflections are pretty much what I saw. I had this bottle for many years and I feel good that I finally felt confident enough to paint it.

Three Green Apples

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I'm always inspired by someone whose work I admire. There are a few people whose work speaks to me and Carol Marine's paintings do that. I watched her ArtByte on painting apples and then this painting followed. I worked to make this my own by using the colors on my palette.

My New Acquisition

Kim Rempel

I'm excited to show off my new acquisition, a painting by Kimberly Rempel

called Back in the Day.

It looks great in my kitchen and adds lots of interest to my wall.

Lucky me. 

Roman Apples

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Although I haven't been to Rome this painting has that Romanesque quality. The fluted vase reminds me of a massive column and the blue plate of the Mediterranean Sea. Just some rainy day daydreaming.

White Rose of Sharon

I want to acknowledge Karen O'Neil for inspiring the color combinations in this flower. I am truly amazed by her color sense and always inspired by her paintings. A neighbor has this white Rose of Sharon bush and I wanted to see how far I could push the color contrasts. This was my second attempt at simplifying the flower and abstracting the background.

Dipping into Dipper

A couple of weeks ago I dog sat for my neighbor's dog Dipper. I had the opportunity to take several images of him and I thought this would make a pretty painting on top of a cigar box. The title Dipping into Dipper comes from the fact that Dipper (and my other neighbor's dog Athena) are my regular portrait sitters. However, The Animal Protective Foundation's Fireplug 500 Walk for Animals is next month and they've invited me to set up a pet portrait booth for the event. I'm excited and pleased to participate. And um-hum, it's a great opportunity to take lots of dog photos too.

Rose of Sharon 2014

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I thought it would be fun to show a few of my yearly paintings of a Rose of Sharon flower.  Here's the 2014, 2013 and 2012 ones.  I planted this bush just to paint its flower and every year I paint them while it's in bloom.  It's one of those things that I don't get a lot of practice doing but nevertheless I'm hoping each year there's some improvement.