Fluffy

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 I was doing great painting and posting everyday, but with all that painting it eventually comes down to framing. I just dread framing, especially cutting mats. Measure twice, cut once is not my motto as I go for get it done and out the door. I often pay for that with having to cut a second mat, upping my expenses and time. I get grumpy and my husband does not want to be around me. He does make wonderful gallery style frames for me so I am consider enough to wait until he goes to work to cut mats. I have an exhibit coming up and am forced to start framing. Most of the framing is complete so I am back to the fun part.

  I am always looking for cheap props so when my friend had a garage sale I went and found this cute little stuffed dog.

6 x 6 oil on Raymar panel.

One Red Rose

Roses are difficult for me and this one was reworked to get what I wanted.

6 x 6 Oil on Raymar panel. $50 Click here to buy using paypal

Maraschino Cherries

TRADED

This was my entry to the Daily Paintworks challenge; paint small scale artist trading card. I had read about this format but did not know anything more. I traded this painting with Nora McPhail for a great little gazelle painting.

I have an upcoming exhibit at the Fort Madison Art Center in August. I have been posting regularly with lots of new works for the show. If I miss some days now it is because I am now busy framing. I hate cutting mats, so I will also be cussing.

Lake Martin in Shimek Forest 2

My second try at this landscape. I brushed off the first image, applied a coat of Golden Acrylic ground for pastel and started over. I added the Queen Anne's lace in the front. There was scum on the pond but I could not get it to look like that so this is it.

Lake Martin in Shimek Forest

My husband made several frames for a client to choose from. He chose one and we were left with the other two. That is why I made this pastel painting to fit the frame.

16 x 24

Horse Pasture

This is a painting in progress. The 16 x 16 size is a little intimidating to me. Working on a larger scale takes the ability to view the painting as a whole when it is right in my face and I am seeing a small section, so it will sit on the easel until I decide what to do next. I also made this harder for myself by photoshopping the elements together in this painting. I can only imagine the skill the fantasy artist have.

Swan no 5

I was trying to paint loosely with this one. At some point I had to decide to walk away. Don't be surprized if I post an update with my changes. Actually I started out trying to paint like Dreama but that went by the wayside quickly.

6 x 6 oil on Raymar panel.

Hydrangea no 10

I did a little more work on this painting from a previous post. I think it is complete now.

Hannah Dives In

This is a little fun piece, 2.5 x 3.5 for the Daily Paintworks Challenge. My grandaughter jumping into the pool. In this one I used maskoid on the water drops.

Starr's Cave Creek

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This is one of the few spots on the creek where you can find running water.  Usually I will try to paint alla prima but on this one I painted the water beneath the waves first. When it was dry I painted the waves and tweaked some of the rocks. This was loosely based on the photo below using a lot of creative license.

I find these reference photos inspiring but too complicated for me to follow. I just enjoy the fun of creating my own waves and details.  I just have to trust my ability to capture the feel of water and rocks. I will probably use this reference again and create a totally different painting. Around here the water is mirky. We once took a trip to the Smoky Mountains and I remember the clear water. It would be fun to paint that, maybe next time I will take more pictures.

Starr's Cave Creek after a rain.

6 x 12 oil on masonite panel

Geode Fishing Hole

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I was walking the trails at Lake Geode when I tried to get a shot of a fishing boat. This was what I ended up with since the boat got away.

6 x 12 Oil on panel.

Hydrangea no 10

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The hydrangeas are still blooming with a little help from me watering them. I used one of my Ball jars for this painting. Growing up we had a garden and I learned canning from my aunt Adelaide. She also liked flowers so she would still like this use.

I have been trying to find a mdf or masonite board that is formadehyde free and moisture resistant. Currently I use Ampersand hardboard panel and cut to size on a table saw. I will then coat with Golden GCA100 then 2 coats of gessoe. Sometimes a final coat of Liquitex transparent gessoe with colored acrylic added which gives a nice grainy finish that works well for my style of painting.  During my internet search I found a product called Medite II  which is formadahyde free. Does anyone use this and where can you find it.?

6 x 8 Oil on Raymar panel.

Hydrangea no 10

I don't think this is complete as it lacks something. Right now I have it sitting on an easel until I decide what it needs.

11 x 14 Oil on Ampersand panel.

Hydrangea no 8

See Hannah Jump

This is just a quick painting for fun. Hannah obliged me with some action shots.

Starr's Cave Creek

I went to Starr's Cave to find flowing water and finding it is a matter of listening.  The water is low due to the drought this year and it took some walking to find this spot. Painting water is tricky for me. I posted this earlier and then made changes. What attracted me to this scene was the spot of sunlight on the foreground water. I just hope that shows as such on the final painting. The rock on the left foreground also had moss on it, which makes for extra color, but a challenge to paint it to read as such.

6 x 8 Oil on Raymar panel

Blue Skies and White Clouds

I always keep a camera in my car. This is a scene that I had to photograph. The sky was so blue and the clouds so white.

6 x 6

Rose Garden

12 x 12 Oil on Ampersand Panel

Starr's Cave

Hydrangea no 6

This little vase has an opening on the side. After buying it I was not sure it would look nice with anything, but it works very well with this small bouquet and it is fun to paint the shadow.

Hydrangeas no7

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My Hydrangeas are starting to die out early due to the extreme heat. I have some traditional white ones I may not have a chance to paint.

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Queen Anne's Lace

Queen Anne's Lace is a wild flower that grows in meadows. This was growing on the forest edge. 

6 x 6 Oil on gessoed panel.

Scratching the Itch

In in the original photo this filly had a blue halter on probably trying to take it off.  I am now rethinking the halter it would have been a cool accent in the composition.

7.5 x 7.5 Watercolor on paper.

Birthday Cupcake

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This is from a photo. I guess I am not very good at painting scenes like this from life. Too tempting.

7.5 x 7.5

Running through the wildflowers

I took pictures of these wildflowers and the horse separately. With animal pictures I have had to take what I get. One of the best things about painting is you create the scene.

Heading to the Feedlot

This is a rough in, I used turpeniod and wiped off the subject. I then took a brush with just turpeniod to further clean off the image.

I try different methods to achieve the final results. The background is madeup. My original plan was a simple green grass background.

8 x 6 Oil on Raymar panel.