GOING LARGE

LAZY RIVER

This painting is my first attempt at painting in a larger format.  For years, I have painted pretty small, usually nothing over 18" x 24".  For this piece, I challenged myself to go a little larger, so I went up to 30" x 30".  I liked painting larger, and had to discipline myself to use the largest brush I had.  Much of the sky and most of the water was painted using a palette knife, which really speeded up the process.

This painting is from another one of the trips we made this summer when my husband was competing in aerobatic competitions. It is another view of the Saginaw River just south of Bay City, MI. It was a beautiful evening and a beautiful river. I have several other photos of this river, so you might see more of it in my future works.

Enjoy!!

FAMILIAR

CRUNCH FOR LUNCH

6" x 6" oil on gessoboard

I painted this today thinking of all those kids who are going back to school.  I'ts finally getting a little cooler here and this kind of weather always makes me think of fall and getting those delicious apple from the market.  Is there anything better than biting into a crunchy tart apple? I've packed lots of kids lunches over the years, and apples have always been a favorite in their bag.

Enjoy!! 

REFLECTIONS

Three into Six

For this painting, I set up the still life, placing the apples on a piece of glass and lighting it from the left.  The board has been stained with cadmium red, allowed to sit for awhile while I sketched some ideas, and then wiped off to leave the undertone you see in the final painting. I'm very happy with the results, and plan to do some more reflective paintings.

ENJOY!!

Study, Study, Study

 Storm Brewing, pencil sketch

Storm Brewing, color Study

Here are two photos showing my thought process behind the development of a painting.  I love stormy skies, and the photo I used for my reference was very dark.  I began with a rough sketch, making notes about values.  The little painting is a quickie, getting the color and values of the various elements.  I like most of the painting, but might add more buildings as shown in the sketch.  I might also make this a vertical piece since I'd like to add more of that stormy sky. This may or may not become a finished painting, but the ideas and values are there if and when I decide to paint it.

SUMMER SHOW

LATE SUMMER, HARDIN COUNTY 

JUST DOWN THE ROAD

These two paintings will be in the McConnell Art Center student show in Worthington, OH starting today and running through Oct. 25.  They are both paintings that I did while in an oil painting class given by my most favorite instructor, Steven Walker. Both of these paintings are from photos that I took on another one of my scouting trips into the Amish areas of Ohio.  These are from Hardin County.

ENJOY!!

A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO PAINT

DAPPLED SUNSHINE #2

Today couldn't have been a better day to go outdoors to paint.  It has rained the last two days and this morning didn't look too promising, but I put my gear in the car and headed out anyway.  By the time I got to my painting spot, the sun was starting peek through the clouds and it was clearing quickly.  This is a view of one of my favorite spots in Columbus.  It is in Clintonville near the Park of Roses.  It is a favorite dog walking spot and has become a favorite painting spot too.  It is full of challenges with the creek, rippling water, and numerous trees and rocks. On this painting, I did a value sketch first, then began by laying in my darks. I also tried being looser and used a bigger brush than normal.

There was so much happening here that I had to edit some of the trees and simplify the water in the creek.  I am happy with the results, hope you are too!

ENJOY!!

THINKING OF THE END OF SUMMER

AUTUMN BARN

This painting recently sold from the gallery where I have some of my work, Studios on High Gallery in downtown Columbus.  I titled it Autumn Barn and it got me to thinking of where I was when I took the photo it is based on.  Ohio still has plenty of rural areas and this barn was shining like a jewel among the gold and rust colored grasses.  I was being driven around an amish area of Ohio in Harden County.  I was being driven because I had just broken my arm in a really stupid bike wreck, and couldn't drive yet.  That was almost a year ago, and now I tool around in my car like nothing happened.  This painting and this barn make me thankful that I live in such a beautiful country that still has wonderful rural places to explore.  This painting also makes me thankful for my health, because a year ago, I was struggling.

Enjoy!!