Making Progress

8.75" x 8"

I'm literally running out the door . . . but wanted to get something posted today.  I'm going to try to really push myself and post even more than I do.  So this one's almost done . . . obviously one area isn't even touched yet -- that glaring white spot on the sole.  Yeeeow!  More tomorrow.

New Page Tabs

"A Mild Winter"
matted and framed and ready to hang

I'm in the midst of cleaning up my gallery over at Daily Paintworks.  I have some work that has been matted and framed for various shows and therefore I'm adjusting their prices and figuring out how to give the most information I can about each piece.  So I created a page that can be accessed from the navigation bar / tabs located below my blog heading, that will contain more information and close-up images of framed pieces that are for sale.  In addition, I had apparently created a page a while ago with "Rules To A Good Composition" -- just some "rules" that I think about when composing the space in my paintings.  I used to teach this to my students and I think it forces you to think more about creating a dynamic arrangement . . . art that will catch the eye.  

So that's the scoop here.  Bear with me . . . I have some things to do so I'll be back and forth with these pages and information but they should be all set in a couple of days.  Have a great day!

New Stuff

Here are a couple of new paintings I started for my demonstration the other day.  Just a little more work and they'll be done.  I'll post them when they're finished.  Happy Friday!

Thank You!

A BIG "Thank You" to the Concord Art Association -- Lili, Michele and Nan --  and all those who attended my demonstration today. I had a really great time and met so many nice people!  Even a fellow-blogger!!  How cool is that? Another great day. I'm very appreciative -- thanks so much. (And thank you Cheryl for the photos and support and thank you to Mary for your support as well) -- a couple of friends who accompanied me today and helped schlep all my stuff!

I've started a couple paintings that I'll be posting tomorrow.  It's about time, eh?!  :)  In the meantime -- Happy Painting!

Same Painting . . . New Show

"American Summer"

I received notice yesterday that my painting, "American Summer" has been accepted into the Academic Artists Association Show in Springfield at AIC (American International College) which takes place April 29th - May 11th from noon - 4pm.  If you are local, I hope you can stop by and see the show -- it's very impressive - some really AMAZING work (very humbling).  :)

And just to update you on what I've been doing . . . we've had some terrific weather here in the Northeast so I've been cleaning out the studio and working on some furniture projects.  I love antiques, consignment finds, Craig's List treasures and as my friend June would say, "cheap thrills" like free stuff on the side of the road.  :)  So my poor husband has been holding my stuff up in the barn for like FOREVER . . .  however my obsession has started to pour out into the house and the studio in particular.  And everything is in need of cleaning and stripping and sanding and/or painting, etc.  So to make a long story short I've been trying to clean up some of that collection, putting things into their proper places.  One such find was a lovely rolltop desk that is now in my studio.  However that took about two days of re-organizing around a pull-out sleeper couch that needs to go (I just need to post it on Craig's List) and an old wooden booth that I'm in the middle of restoring that will go in the kitchen but until then is still in my studio.  I'm also hoping to get the free cupboard-turned entertainment center finished (my husband built a wonderful cabinet top to go on a streetside found cupboard bottom) by the weekend.  And I'm happy to report that I finished working on the mantle that will go in the bedroom.  (just a faux mantle, but it works with the decor).

Gaaahh . . . so not much painting this week.  I'm also trying to exercise.  Huh!?  What is THAT!?  Which to a normal person wouldn't seem like that big of a deal, but for me is all-consuming.  My brother and I are going to try and run a little 5k in the town where we grew up at the end of the month.  So for the past few weeks I've been working my way up to that, although I'm sure I'll still have to walk some.  (If any of you watch "The Middle" I AM Sue Heck.  Every sentence I utter is peppered with "well I've been training for a 5k" or "after my 5k training . . . "  yadda-yadda-yadda. So lame. You'd think I was running a marathon.)  And I took a crazy kick-boxing class last night with two of my former art students and I think I liked it!  I was a hideous site to see and was too embarrassed to even look at myself in the mirror, but what an insane work-out!

So that's the scoop.  Sorry for such a long post and no real new artwork.  I'll try to post something tomorrow.  Have a good day!

Blue Bowl with Apples

"Blue Bowl with Apples"
6.5" x 7.5"

(what this painting could look like framed)

Click here to bid

I'm going to have to re-shoot this one . . . as it has some glare on it, but until I do, this gives you an idea of what this painting looks like.  Have a good weekend.

 . . . Gaahhh . . . Update . . . I re-shot this one, but I didn't end up changing this image, nor adding the new image to a new post.  I think that when you click on these above images to make them larger, the contrast may be too severe.  But at the regular "post" level, they look more true to life (if that makes sense).  Anyway -- I did change the photos in Daily Paintworks -- (when I upload there, they seem to desaturate the image overall) and the glare was distracting.  So hopefully those images better reflect what this painting really looks like.  All in all, I do my best to create the most accurate depiction of my original painting on my monitor and use as little editing as possible.  This time, I had to use the burn tool in Photoshop to create a more accurate value contrast between the cloth, background and cupboard.  I must say however, I usually try to leave the image at a state where the original still looks best.  That can be difficult when you want it to look good but not too good and sometimes when they're enlarged, they look different than the smaller image on the computer screen.

Ok . . . that's all . . . enough . . . I'm going to go watch some t.v. before bed.  :)

Dark and Different

"Bowl with Apples"
6.25" x 7.5"

I'm still working on this one . . . trying to get the shadows and highlights right and make the cloth and bowl look more believable.  It helps me to take a photo of it and view it on the computer.  I see things I don't see in "real life."  Then I'm able to look at the original and know what more I need to do.  But since I took the photo, I thought I'd post it so you could see what I'm up to.  

This afternoon I'm delivering my "Bittersweet Door" to the New England Watercolor Society Show.  Oh . . . and before I forget . . . I'm giving a watercolor demonstration at the Concord Art Association on April 25th. So if you're in this area I hope you come by. You can click here for more information.  Ok . . . that's all . . . have a good day.

Grandmother's Tea

"Grandmother's Tea"
9.75" x 10"
$85

(what this painting could look like framed)

Click here to bid

I started this one a while ago, but just finished it today. `Tryin' to plug along.

Tulip II

Tulip II
(approximately) 6" x 9"
$60

Click here to bid

Tweaked and finished this as part of the Paint And Draw Together Challenge.  Hope you like it.