"Libby" #14 of 50 faces (sold)

image: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

I treated myself to a Starbucks coffee today and Libby served me through the drive-up window. I never thought I'd do a drawing or a painting of somebody with such a grin--I always thought it would look too posed or something. But when I looked at my photos, she was just so adorable (and I don't use that word much!) that I had to do it! The full picture of her handing me my cup of coffee looks like it might have to be a painting one of these days!

My frustration with posting these drawings is that I never seem to be able to get them to show up dark enough in value here without making the paper look very dark--and this is whether I scan them on my computer or take a photo of them. If anyone has any ideas about how I can do a better job with this, I'd be happy to hear them!

"Man at the Library" #13 of 50 faces

image: 6"x6"
graphite on bristol board
$75 plus $10 domestic s/h
click here to ask about purchasing this drawing

I was at the library today and glanced up towards the window and saw this man sitting there--one arm out-stretched and resting on the windowsill, the sun coming from behind him and from the side. In his other hand was a book resting on his knee. I'm pretty sure he was dozing in that warm winter sun as he never moved as I plucked out my camera and quickly took a couple of shots. It was a beautiful composition that I look forward to painting.

"Lazy-day Laura"

image: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

NFS

This was a day to sleep in and take it slow after lots of Christmas activity! I did this drawing of Laura as we visited. It was great to work from life, but challenging as she has a very expressive face which is very animated as she talks! I love, though, how drawing someone makes you aware of those things in a person.

"Barbara--Face #11"

6"x6"

Oil on Gessoboard

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this painting

Barbara is a hero of mine. We get these long hand-written letters from her at least every two weeks in which she just writes about day to day stuff--mentions her cat, Blue, and his latest antics, what she and Wayne may be watching on TV, how they are feeling, trips to the doctors, what they might have for dinner. She helps me keep my life in perspective and to be grateful for all the "small" things that make up our lives.

"Betty--Face #10"

image: 6"x6"

linoleum block print proof

see below for info on the final edition of prints

I saw this woman having an outdoor lunch with a friend last July at Sisters (Oregon) Quilt Show. It brings me back to many years ago when I was mostly drawn to painting older women--I loved it! Of course, I wasn't almost an "older woman" myself then, so it felt very different!

Here is a photo of the actual block I carved. As I do it, I fill in the uncut portion with black marker to make it easier to see what's happening. I haven't done a linocut in a couple of years and have really been itching to. This was a fun challenge. I wasn't sure how I was going to manage the mid-tones of her face, but I think it works pretty well. I'm just glad you can't hear my remarks when the knife slipped so many times!!!

Specs and Cost: final prints hand-pulled and printed on 100% cotton, acid free Rives Lightweight paper with oil-based ink

edition of 8 original prints including the Artists Proof

$40 plus $10 s/h

click here to ask about purchasing one of these linoleum block prints

"Study of Nancy"

image: 6"x6"

graphite on bristol board

NFS

A study of a friend of mine. . .what a great smile she has!

"Pat"

Image: 6"x6"

Graphite on Bristol Board

NFS

Pat Clark is the owner of a printmaking studio here in Bend, A6. I am going to have to fill in this info tomorrow, because I'm realizing that I'm not going to be able to give her the credit she deserves until I do my homework! So, for now, here's the post!

"Bernardin"

6"x6"

Graphite on Bristol Board

$60 plus $10 s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing through Paypal

Number 7 of the series of 50 faces I'm working on, this man is the subject of an illustration I am working on. This line drawing was a good way for me to become more familiar with his character and the way it shows in his face.

"Self-Portrait"

6"x6"

Graphite on Bristol Board

NFS

I haven't done one of these in a while!! I was much younger! Doing this drawing really made me see the lines my face will be taking on as I age. . .interesting. It reminds me of doing a drawing of my mother about 20 years ago when she was a year or two younger than I am now. She was a beautiful woman and I'd say a little vain. When I came to the slight double chin and sagging cheeks, I found myself not drawing them that way! I just was vague in that area and that part of her aging didn't show!. She liked the drawing!

"Laura"

6"x6"

Oil on Gessoboard

$100 plus $10 s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this painting through Paypal

I couldn't stand it!! I had to do a painting today--forget the work, I'll get caught up!! I was really inspired this morning by Deb Schmit's work. She'd left a note on my blog and I went to her's and love her paintings. Her link is listed on the right with the other daily painter's links.

Well, this doesn't look as much like Laura as yesterday's study, but I'm pleased with the life the painting has.

"Study of Laura"

6"x6"

Graphite on Bristol Board

NFS

I can't believe how doing just these four drawings has got me studying the faces of the people I see! It's like I try to memorize them in "sight bites"! It also shows me something about how I perceive people--even looking directly at someone as we're talking, I still don't really "see" the features of that person's face unless I really concentrate on it. So I ask myself--what am I seeing as I listen? And can't I really observe totally if I am also trying to listen carefully?

"Gentle Man"

Image: 6"x6"

Graphite on Bristol Board

$60 plus $10 s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing through Paypal

#3 in the series of 50 faces--I think this is going to be an interesting process! I'm seeing that it's going to go from "doing this feels like a good idea" and "a solution to a problem" to being an endeavor in itself that is going to take me someplace--and I really don't know where! I was thinking that if time allows, I'd like to pick my favorite one each week and do a painting from it. We'll see!

This drawing is of my husband, Gary. I've never known anybody to enjoy wearing a hat as much as he does! I used a photo for reference--which didn't seem quite right seeing as how the real thing was sitting downstairs! But I'm glad I did--it was like a meditation on him and I was so taken by the gentleness I saw in the photo that it was a really special experience.

"At the BBQ""

6"x6" image

Graphite on Bristol Board

$60 plus $10 s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing through Paypal

This young woman was also in a painting a posted a few days ago, but this time I focused on her and her expression. Not sure I got exactly what I was aiming for. . .but in doing this one I noticed how much more I was seeing (in the photograph) the longer I spent with the drawing. It always amazes me how it is the subtleties--and there are SO many of them--that make up a person's expression! What drew me to her face was the eyes that were encircled with heavy black liner and the contrast of that with the rest of her face and the way she looked out from under her lashes as if she was very wary of something she was seeing. And, darn! I don't think I captured that! Maybe I'll have to try it again!

"Prophet"--the first of series of faces

Image: 6"x6" on Bristol Board

Graphite

$60 plus $10 s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing through Paypal

I've been doing alot of thinking about finding a way to honor my desire to keep up with creating and posting a painting or drawing on my blog five days a week while having to work full time on this illustration project I'm doing. I have decided to focus on creating a drawing of a face each day--or a painting if I have the time. The point of this is to be stress-free, though, so it will probably be drawings. I am going to set a goal of doing 50 of these. I hope to be finished with the job by then!

I've been wanting to do something like this for awhile--I saw a series of portraits by Mark Bailey which really inspired me, and then a book of etchings of faces by Frank Boyden. I like the idea of the series. The ground rules I've laid for myself are very loose--actually more about saying what I CAN do--basically anything I want. It can be from my imagination, a photo, someone I see on the street and draw from memory, someone sitting for me--whatever seems to work that day. They'll all be the same size.

I hope to improve my ability to observe and to capture expressions. In this job I'm doing, I'm finding that being more aware of expression is something I need to work on, so hopefully this will help.

The person in this portrait is someone I know--a loving, beautiful young man who had the world before him when mental illness took over during his college years. I call this "Prophet" because at times he believes he's Jesus Christ.

"BBQ Babes" (and being tagged!)

5"x7"

Oil on canvas panel

$100 plus $10 s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this painting through Paypal

Well, first about the painting--of which I haven't been able to do much of lately! These girls were seen at the Merril Potato Festival in October at a community BBQ sponsored by the local Lions Club every year. I was actually gong to concentrate on the one on the left--I was intrigued with her black-line-surrounded eyes, her many studs and her suspicious expression! Maybe that will be another painting. 5x7 is SO SMALL!! Anyway, I working on the other person first and realized that SHE was the subject of this one! She doesn't look too thrilled with her meal. . .

Where's Merrill and what's a Potato Festival? In southern Oregon, about 5 miles from Tule Lake, CA. . .

The Potato Festival comes each October to celebrate the harvest in what at least used to be a big potato-growing area. Football games, a parade, the BBQ, a dance and lots of exhibits in Merrill, which seems like it's always had a population ranging from 750-950 as far as I can remember.

OK--not painting these days is very hard. Maybe the woman in the painting is a reflection of how I feel about that right now--pretty disgruntled. The illustration job I'm doing is very consuming. It is going well and I am pleased with alot of things about it. However, I'm finding it really hard to switch gears to painting--and it is painful to me. Hopefully the coming week will allow for some time at the easel.

AND NOW!! THE TAGGERS, THE TAGGEE AND THE TAGGED!

First the rules, as I understand them: You link to the person who tagged you in your blog, you mention the rules, you say 7 interesting (or whatever) things about yourself and then tag other bloggers and comment on their blogs to let them know they've been tagged.

MY TAGGERS: Roxanne Steed and Carolyn Finnell. Please check out their blogs if you haven't--great work and musings on both!

THE TAGGEE: me and I was so intimidated by this thing when I thought I had to list 7 INTERESTING things about myself--never have I felt more dull. Fortunately, my husband has a different perspective.

1. I was one of 26 peo0ple in my high school graduating class (in Merrill, of course)--just a small town girl

2. I took a road trip to the Yukon Territory with a "friend" in my bright yellow VW bus back in '78 to fish and camp for about a month; the sight I won't forget is arriving to the top of a hill on a muddy, rutted ALCAN highway and not being able to see a telephone/electric pole or another road or a clearcut for as far as I could see

3. I am a descendent of the Achomawi Tribe (northern California)

4. I have not read WAR AND PEACE and I only skipped the chapters on the Battle of Waterloo in LES MISERABLES

5. I am a 9 on the enneagram

6. I lived alone in a teepee for a few months after said trip to the Yukon. It was great until I sat on a slug in the "teepee-style" outhouse I had and the Oregon rains began in earnest

7. I raised and showed steers and cows in 4-H

And now to the NEW TAGGED! Some of these are artists that are new to me and a couple are some I've been following. Hope you enjoy them! Jennifer Bellinger, Jeffrey Boron, Sharon Wright, Atul Pande, Deltra Powney, Mary Sheehan Winn and Craig and Tanya Amberson.

"En-Countered"

8"x8"

Oil on Board

$150 plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this painting through Paypal

I was drawn to the design elements of this composition--the play of the vertical and horizontal shapes, the pattern of the tile in the background and the play of the cool and warm colors against each other. It was really fun to do!

I am at a point where I need to spend concentrated time on that illustration job I'm doing so I don't expect to post again until Saturday, December 6th. I SO miss doing the painting everyday! It is just about the best thing I do for myself. However, the job I am doing is great and deserves all the energy I can give it. I would post those illustrations, but am afraid there are copyright issues. I will have to check on that.

Meanwhile--wishing you all a beautiful Thanksgiving!!

"Black Stockings"

7"x5"

Oil on Gessoboard

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this painting through Paypal

It was fun playing with the light and the reflections in this painting of a scene from the 5th St. Public Market in Eugene, OR. at lunchtime. I really enjoyed the warmth of this palette of colors and the high contrast of the different elements in the painting. Ahhhhh, life is good!

"Andean Air"

12"x9"

Linoleum Block/watercolor

NFS

I'm ending the last of this series of Latin-themed prints with my favorite.

Looking back on these pieces makes me think how fortunate I've been to have spent most of my adult life focused on doing artwork in one way or another. I have enjoyed exploring so many techniques and styles. Each one has been my favorite at the time, of course! At one point I did alot of papier mache wall sculpture--and IT was my favorite! Then I got into re-creating some of my paintings by embroidering with tiny tiny beads--which I still might be doing if I could actually get paid for the amount of time they take! Then I've known that landscape painting in the vein of Georgia O'Keeffe was where I would stay all my life; and then I rediscovered wood and linoblock printing and THAT was my calling!! Then I discovered you daily painters and now I feel like it's painting these "slice of life" themes--and I can't imagine doing anything else!! It's so funny. And it's such a huge gift!!

"Woman Wrapping Copal"

12"x9"

Linoleum Block/Watercolor

NFS

Ah, yes, another non-painting day--but I did do two illustrations for the project I'm working on!! This is another one of the series I mentioned a couple of days ago. She represents Central America, more specifically Guatemala. The copal is being wrapped in large leaves to be sold to be used as incense in rituals.

"Playing the Bordunua"

12"x9"

Linoleum block print/watercolor

NFS

This is another of the series of prints for the illustrations I mentioned in yesterday's post. The publisher wanted to highlight four different areas of Latin America: Mexico, the Carribean, Central America and South America. This one is of a man playing an instrument called a "bordunua" from Jamaica. It was so fun to do this, but I still think I should have visited there to do my research!!!

I had a question regarding the technique I used in these. I printed the linoleum block print with oil-based relief printmaking ink then watercolored it when it was dry. I usually use Somerset Satin paper with this technique as it is a bright white that lets the color stay true and it is a little more flexible and soft than a hot press watercolor paper.

"Dreaming of Mexico"

12"x9"

linoleum block/watercolor

NFS

Today is being spent preparing some work to hang for a show and working on my illustration project, so I decided to post one of the pieces going into the show since I won't be able to get a little painting done. Actually, this is one of a series of pieces I did a number of years ago for an illustration job for covers for a Spanish language magazine. I had been in Mexico City on my honeymoon for the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The print is a composite of memories from my trip (and not really aself-portrait!!). Makes me want to be there! I will be posting the other three images in the series as the craziness around here continues. They are not available for sale on this site, but I do think I'll have some greeting cards or giclees done of them.

"At Palmer's Cafe"

5"x7"

Oil on Gessoboard

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this painting through Paypal

I love going to this little "mom & pop" restaurant here in Bend. The food is sort of "greasy spoon" and really tasty and you always see an interesting group of people. It looked like this woman was with family that had eaten breakfast and was just hanging out having coffee and visiting. She'd gaze off toward the window every so often, looking lost in her own thoughts in the midst of the chatter around her.

"What's the Attraction?"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this painting through Paypal

Today's painting is from the Sisters (Oregon) quilt show. Sisters is a town of under 2000 (I'm pretty sure!) and every July they have a quilt show that draws quilt afficionados, quilters and their quilts from all over the country. They hang them early on a Saturday morning all over town and thousands of people walk all over the quaint little town looking at the beautiful creations. I don't know how many quilts go up, but I'm sure it must be in the hundreds. The show lasts for the day. The week before is filled with workshops on quilting and dying and whatever one might do as they quilt. I am not a quilter, but certainly admire the art of it! I took lots of pictures and this is the first time I've gotten to work with any of them for a painting. I have liked the pose of the woman in the foreground and have wanted to paint her for quite some time.

"Bayfront Reflections"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

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This little painting is done from my trip to Newport, Oregon. It was a beautiful morning--the clouds would clear for a bit and everything just sparkled. . .and then it was gone!

"Between Storms"

5"x7"

Oil on Artboard

$90 plus $10 domestic s/h

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Another "plein air" looking out my window. The weather goes from rain to hail to sunshine and starts the cycle over again!

"A Not So Pacific Morning" (sold)

6"x8"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

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A couple of days at the Oregon coast for a little R&R! Very stormy, but I love the drama and the ever changing clouds! It was fun to do this painting plein air--except for the window between me and the out-of-doors!

"Paula" (sold)

6"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

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What caught my attention was her youth, her beauty, her look (not showing are the short skirt, black tights, big bag), the confidence she had in being the center of attention of her group--definitely in charge. She made me think of being young in the '70's and remembering people like her that I really envied and thought I ought to be like. WOW!! Am I glad to be "old"!!

"With Pigtails Flying" (sold)

6"x8"

Oil on Board

Taking a little sabbatical from "Daily Painters Gallery" got me out of the habit of posting!! I actually forgot to do it yesterday!

This little painting is a companion piece to my last post for someone whose daughter rides and jumps. I admire how hard these kids work!

"Over the Bar II" (sold)

6"x8"

Oil on Board

It's been awhile!! I am working hard on the illustration project, but managing to get a little painting in, also. This one is "version #2" of my previous post. I just never was quite happy with that painting. A big part of the problem was the oiling out--I'm not quite sure what to do with that, but really don't like it!! I used a different medium with this painting--Winsor & Newton "Artists' Painting Medium" that was described as good for that problem. It seemed to help keep the paint looking fresh and moist. I'd be VERY interested in hearing how other painters deal with this issue!

No picture today, or yesterday or for a couple of weeks!

Once again, I am having to take a break from a commitment to posting for the Daily Painters in order to put the right kind of energy to an illustration project I've been asked to do. It is the one with the 73 biblical drawings. As I was working on the sketches this morning, I realized how important it is to me to be able to put my best energy towards this. It is an intense amount of work for a few months, so I've decided to take a 2 week break to focus on it, then come back to posting and break as needed to keep current on the job. I already miss the daily paintings, but will be doing them as time allows! So, back to Daily Painters Gallery on Nov. 1st!

"Over the Bar" (sold)

6"x8"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this painting through Paypal

This rider must have been around 12 or 13. She looked so confident and focused as she rode him over the course--beautiful to watch!

"Over the Bar" study

image size app. 8"x12"

graphite on bristol board

$55 includes domestic shipping

click here to ask about purchasing this drawing

I spent alot of time today on a painting of this subject and just was having a really hard time with it, so decided to do a drawing of it and loosen up a little! Hopefully the painting will improve tomorrow!

"A Penny For Her Thoughts" (sold)

8"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 US plus $10 domestic s/h

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When I was painting this morning, I really noticed how intuitive the painting process is--or can be. It's like my brain checks out to a degree and something kicks in that chooses colors and decides where to put them! Of course, it's not always like that, but when it is, I have to marvel at the whole thing. What a wonderful thing we get to do!

"Where's the Cotton Candy?"

6"x8"

Oil on Canvas on Board

$100 plust $10 domestic s/h

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This little version of the carnival painting I finished last week was quite the challenge--trying to get lots of information (maybe too much!!) in such a small space! Let's hear it for dabs of color! It took some time for me to see things that way and I think it wouldn't have hurt if I'd been able to do it moreso. Fun, though! The title comes from comments from others on the larger version of this painting--"I can smell the cotton candy!"

"In the Beginning"

9"x6"

Black Prismacolor Pencil on Yupo
Sold

This is a sample illustration I created for St. Mary's Press and tried to post it yesterday, but for some reason it wouldn't upload. St. Mary's Press is updating a bible they publish that's geared towards high school age people and have asked me to do an illustration to precede each book of the Bible--73 of them! I'm excited and honored to get to work on this project! My part will be finished sometime in January--an intense few months! Hope my daily painting can stay somewhat on track!

I've really hit a wall since finishing up the paintings for the show I just hung and the illustration job that preceded it--I have a little painting on the easel, but just couldn't bring myself to face it today! Guess it's called burn-out! I expect it won't last long!

"Afternoon Blues #2"

8"x8"

Oil on Board
$150 US plus $10 domestic s/h
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This is the second version of this scene I have painted--the first was 6x6 and I always kind of wanted to do it a little bigger--and now I'd like to try it larger yet! It is so much fun when all of a sudden a brushstroke goes on and works, or a color. It happened a few times here today and it just makes me want to paint more!

At the Ore House"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

$90 plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this painting through Paypal

This painting is an older one--actually the 2nd I posted on my blog nearly a year ago! I'm sorry to have nothing new today, but I find that after the intensity of work the past couple of months, I needed a break this weekend! But I always liked this little painting and am happy to put it out again, as it has not been on the Daily Painters Gallery. Hope you enjoy it! The scene is at the Ore House Restaurant in Santa Fe. I had spent the day in a workshop taught by Carol Marine (what a treat!!!) and was waiting to meet my husband and "daughter-by-marriage" for a glass of wine. A lovely afternoon!

"Carnival Time"

16"x20"

Oil on Board

$1100 framed

contact Tumalo Art Company for purchase information

I'm posting a better photo of this painting today--my apologies to all who have seen it before, but I noticed I didn't make it in time to get it on the Daily Painter's Gallery last night. The show opens today! What a relief! It's been quite a process getting everything ready. I'll post a link to it next week.

"Carnival Time"

image: 16"x20"

Oil on Board

$1100 framed

This isn't a very good photo, but I wanted to get it posted tonight. I'll find some better light tomorrow. It's the last painting for my show, though, and I am relieved and mostly satisfied!

Painting in Process--Carnival Crowd #2

A little further along here from yesterday! It's good to be able to compare yesterday's to today's, though--I see some things I prefer in the earlier one.

Painting in Process--"Carnival Crowd"

16"x20"

Oil on Board

not yet available

Just ONE more painting for my show! I swear I am obsessed! As long as there's time to work in another one, I'll do it! We'll be hanging the show later this week, so I will finally stop and get back to the little ones! But I'm glad I had time to start this. It's really a fun subject and a great challenge.

Painting in Process--It's a Dog's Life #2

36"x36"

Oil on Board

Not available

Well, I started out working on this today with high hopes and lots of enthusiasm. I really liked how a couple of areas were going. so I got going! After hours of work, I ended up scraping off all I had done the last two days. I just don't think this painting is going to get finished until later. I still haven't figured out what's not been working with it--though I can think of one thing. The brushstrokes were really inconsistent. In my post on Thursday (?), I showed the upper left of the painting which I really like. The next day, I worked hard on the dog and did him in a very painterly way, piling on the paint--had a great time, too! But the more I worked on it today, it just never felt cohesive or "natural" to paint for me. It was as if I was trying to paint someone else's painting in a way. At any rate, I decided I'll let it dry, then see what I think and go back to it when I'm more relaxed with it!

painting in process detail #2

I was watching the movie "A Wrinkle in Time" and I'm afraid I've posted this too late to get onto the Daily Painters Gallery! My 5th grade teacher, Millie Retterath, read the book to us so long ago. . .

This is another detail from the 3x3 foot painting I'm working on--a large version of the other day's "It's a Dog's Life". I'm still not quite ready to show the whole painting, but I am definitely having a great time with it!.

Painting in Process detail

This is a detail from a 3x3 foot painting I've got going of the same subject from a couple of days ago--"It's a Dog's Life"--but it is at that point where there is no way I'm going to put the whole thing out in public!! Maybe tomorrow! :)

"Morning at the Stables" (sold)

8"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this painting through Paypal

Another painting from the equestrian event this summer. It was a beautiful moment!

"It's a Dog's Life" (sold)

6"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 US plus $10 domestic s/h

click here to ask about purchasing this painting through Paypal

Sure feels good to paint a little painting! I have really missed these. I love the small, intimate format. This was a scene I saw at the High Desert Classic equestrian event this summer. It was a hot morning, but this dog looks like he's enjoying soaking up the sun! I think I'm going to try to do a 3x3' painting of this subject--one last painting to put in next month's show!

"Roller Coaster Ride"

8"x10"

Oil on Board

NFS

Well, this is today's painting! Somehow a bright, sunny day turned very gray!! It didn't start out that way, but the more I painted, trying to find the colors I wanted to use and trying to make the brights brighter, it just kept getting more and more dull. So. I do believe that this will be wiped off and tried again!

"On a Red Sofa"

24"x24"

Oil on Cradled Board

NFS at this time

Painting with reds has been quite an experience! It was one thing doing it on a little 6x6" painting and quite another on this one! Basically, I feel like I made some progress with this painting, that I have learned some things. Also, though, it almost feels like it's an "in-between" painting--in between where I have been and where I hope to be going! I guess every painting is one of those! It strikes me that I can only paint what I can paint right now. What I mean by that is that I will see work and think, Yes! That's what I'd like to try! And then I find that I have not yet completed whatever steps it takes for me to get to the place that the other artist has arrived at, that I need to do the work to get there and just have to accept that! And it is all OK!!

Painting in Process

24"x24"

Oil on Board

I started this painting about a month ago and was totally discouraged with it, but as time has gone on, I've been looking at it and seeing things I'd like to try so I brought it out this morning and started working on it again. This time around, it feels more like I can just enjoy painting until I get something I like rather than "having to make a painting!!!". But I DO hope it ends up being one I'll put in my show! I've painted two other versions of this painting--a 6x6 and an 8x8. This image was one of the first I used for a little "daily painting" about a year and a half ago. I was in such awe (and still am) of Karin Jurik's paintings and when I finished my first version of this subject, I was so excited because I thought that MAYBE I can do this, too! She has been such an inspiration!

Study for "At the Carnival"

11.75"X7"

Watercolor and Black Colored Pencil on Yupo

$100 includes domestic s/h

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This is a study of a part of a painting I'd like to start tomorrow. It was good to do the study--just to make myself really see the subject before I jump into it! I enjoy how the watercolor sits on top of the Yupo and stays bright. It's tricky stuff to use and forces me to let things be loose. I've been using a spray acrylic fixative on the finished paintings and it seems to work well.