"Feeding the Chickens"

6"x6"

Oil on Panel

$125 plus $10 domestic s/h

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The more I looked at yesterday's painting, the less happy I was with it, so here it is with changes.  I added the chickens and changed a couple of other details.  I think it's definitely an improvement!  Needless to say, yesterday's painting no longer exists. . .

"In the Farmyard, Feeding the Rooster"--not available

Oil on Panel

6"x6"

A friend of mine took photos of this little girl and sent them to me--a great subject!  I was attracted by the lighting and the feel of the hot summer day.

"Kari's Daughter"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

sold

This painting is one of three "sister-paintings" of sisters.  It was nice to work with a summer subject and to imagine the feel of the sun on the skin when it is so cold and snowy here!

"Betty-Boop Jammies"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

Sold

This was so fun, I could paint it again and again!  It's one of three paintings of the daughters of a woman who has a framing business here in Bend (Framer's Corner).  It is such a challenge to do these little things when you really want them to look like the person you're portraying--when it works, it feels like a true gift from above!

"Little Britta"

6"x6"

OIl on Board

Sold

One of the framers I work with has generously offered to trade frames for paintings of her daughters as little girls and this is one of them. The children are beautiful. Painting from the older photos is a learning experience for me, though--working with pretty small images and wanting to get enough information in the painting so that Kari will "see" her children in them is a challenge! It brings me back to trying to see the value shapes in the faces, depending on them to give me a foundation to build on. It shows me how important contrast is in a case like this. The painting's so small, that when I try to do a detailed face, it looks very strange! I find I do best with getting the impression.

"Airplane!"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

contact River Bend Fine Art Gallery for purchase information

I know it's nearly summer, but the way this little girl is bundled up shows you what early "summer" has been looking like in Bend this year! Not that it looks like it matters to her! She's having too much fun. I think I'd like to find a swing myself!

"Erica Coloring With Oil Pastels"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

contact River Bend Fine Art Gallery for purchase information

This little painting is of one of the children in the recent "Portrait" class I taught. She really went to town with the oil pastels!

"Erika" and teaching art classes

Wow! I can't believe it's been two weeks since I've posted anything! My time has been full working hard on an illustration job, teaching and catching up on commissioned work. I hope to start my "daily painting" again next week.

Meanwhile this is a little 10 minute watercolor and pencil sketch I did of Erika yesterday while she was working on a self portrait. One of the classes I get to teach right now is a portrait class for 8-12 year olds. It is a kick. They are a great group of kids. I'll have to post some of their work next week. I've also been teaching a beginning oil painting class for adults. Again, it was a great experience! I think I forget how much I love sharing information and teaching when I'm not doing it for awhile. That class ended yesterday.

The classes are through the Art Station here in Bend, OR, a part of Arts Central which is a one of the strong forces for education in the arts in our community and surrounding area. Check out their classes at their online catalog. I am leading a Daily Painting workshop through them from July 26-30, and working with watercolorist Mary Marquiss to co-lead classes combining drawing and watercolor skills in June and again in August.

illustrations

6"x4"

watercolor and pen on paper

sold

This is one of a set of illustrations I've been working on the past few days for a client--unfortunately it hasn't left me time to work on the painting in my last post but that's tomorrow! These illustrations have been fun to do, though. They go with a poem about a woman's life. This one depicts her as a little girl in WW2 England as she watched the Germans and English fight.

"Contemplating the Painting" (sold)

8"x6"

oil on board
$125 plus $10 domestic s/h
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This little painting caps a great week for me! I began it as a demo today in the workshop on daily painting I've been leading all week. The workshop was great--the first one I've given about daily painting and I look forward to doing it again. There was a wonderful group of people in the class. Their enthusiasm and openness fueled my own. I am grateful!

"Water Dance" (sold)

7"x5"

Oil on Gessoboard

Doing this little painting was a welcome reminder of the hot hot weather we had until just a few days ago--now it must be no warmer than the high 60's! This little girl was playing in a fountain at the waterfront park in Portland, OR and loving it. It was a kick watching the kids run in and out of the spray, and then there were those who were barely getting their feet wet and feeling pretty daring about that!

"Friday's Child" (sold)

6"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $10 domestic s/h

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I saw this little girl at a bluegrass festival last Friday and was quite taken with her! My little painting here doesn't do her justice. Maybe it will be a warm-up for something that does! I loved the reflected light on her face, but had quite a time with the skin tones. I really need to work on that.

"Little Jumper" (sold)

6"x8"

Oil on Canvas-covered Board

$125 includes s/h

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I had a request to do a painting of a little girl on a white pony and this is it. I enjoyed revisiting this subject! I'm still working on paintings for the rodeo show, too--lots of horses these days! I am ready to do something with a bit more urban feel!