Hovenweep National Monument

Hovenweep National Monument
11" x 14"  Oil
This piece is temporarily "on hold" as it is a Mini Winner in "Paint the Parks."  It will be in several exhibitions in 2013.  Will keep you posted!

Hovenweep National Monument is on the border of Colorado and Utah with entrances from both states.  The four-corner area is filled with National Parks and Monuments showing villages and life from times past.  This is from a trip my husband and I took.  I loved the early morning light on the ruins.

Some Like 'Em Hot

Some Like 'Em Hot

6" x 6"  Oil

$100.00 + $10. s/h

Fall in Colorado means many things:  beautiful weather, cool nights, great fishing, wonderful colors.  But, it also means that the chilis from Hatch, New Mexico are here!  I prefer medium chilis.  But, my husband among them, some like 'em hot!

Near Tarryall

Near Tarryall

11" x 14"  Oil

$295.00 + $10. s/h

Tarryall is a little less than an hour west of here (Colorado Springs.)  We were up there for a gorgeous fall day.  I loved all of the reflections of the sky and rocks in the river.

South Platte Valley

South Platte Valley
11" x 14"  Oil
$295.00 + $10. s/h

This little valley is tucked away by the South Platte River.  Occasionally when there we see a few other people, usually fly fisherman.  But more often than not we're the only people around.

Glow Over Buffalo Peak

Glow Over Buffalo Peak
6" x 8" Oil
SOLD

This is the view we have up in the mountains.  I've painted Buffalo Peak, and this view, countless times;  different times of day, different months, different seasons, different weather conditions.  Each time the sky and the clouds are completely different.  Each painting is so different from the others.

I can truly see how Monet could paint Rouen Cathedral in so many different colors, values, and seasons. Although, have you ever really looked at his Rouen Cathedral paintings?  The drawing part is so similar in each one.  It makes me wonder if he sketched out the Cathedral many times on many canvases and had them all ready to paint.  Does any one know?  Any thoughts?

Grapefruit Half and Taryn Day

Grapefruit Half
Oil 6" x 6"
$100.00 + $10. s/h

This is another painting that I did last week while in New Jersey visiting my sister, Natalie Italiano.

She had a still life set up in her studio and this was the second piece I painted from it.

Here's the first piece I painted, still in progress.  I posted this one on FB.  I had enough time to do a second smaller, quicker one and love the loose, painterly way it turned out.

It's great having a sister who's also a painter.  We were chatting about blogging, artists, FB, etc and realized that we follow many of the same artists. One of these artists was Taryn Day, who lives outside of Philadelphia (where my sister has her studio at Studio Incamminati).  So, I emailed Taryn and the three of us got together for lunch.  It was so much fun to meet her in person.  We spent much of the afternoon chatting about painting, marketing, families and life.  

Here's Taryn and me in the Greek restaurant!

Figure Color Study

Figure Color Study
8" x 6"  Oil
$75.00 + $10. s/h

I did this color study the other day while visiting Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia.  I sat in on a class that my sister, Natalie Italiano, was teaching.  The color class teaches seeing the light hitting the figure (or form) and how that light changes the local color;  making strong color statements; and constantly comparing one color mass to surrounding color masses.  Some of the points about color:  color masses are painted in in relationship to the masses next to  them;  learn to see color by looking at color relationships;  in a color study start with the brightest, easiest to see color.

I've been painting this week in my sister's studio and will post some of the pictures soon.    

Cascade Bell Tower

Cascade Bell Tower
8"x 6"  Oil
$75.00 + $10. s/h

Last week my plain air group painted in Cascade, a town just a few miles west of Colorado Springs.  I loved the light on the chapel bell tower.

Labor Day

Labor Day
8" x 8"  Oil on cradled panel
$195.00 + $10. s/h
SOLD

Today is Labor Day.  I thought that was a great day to post a recent flag painting.  I have painted and posted this flag before.  It's the flag my dad received for his dad's service to our country.  My grandfather served in both WWI and WWII.  This flag has been passed down to our son.

Labor Day is a day that was originally intended to celebrate the American worker.  Now it seems more to represent the end of summer.  I thought it also a great day to post our flag as a few days ago the Republican National Convention ended and this week the Democratic Nation Convention begins.  And, no matter what party we belong to, or what candidate we support, we can all agree that we as people need to do something to increase jobs and help the American worker.  So, again, this painting seems great to post today.  Here's to celebrating the "American worker."  Happy Labor Day!