Monday, September 29, 2014

"Come Share The Wine"

Come Share The Wine
Oil  6" x 6"
$100.00 + $10. s/h
SOLD

Day 29 in the 30 in 30 Day Challenge
In a recent post I talked about how I find my painting titles.  For this painting I Googled "songs about wine" and clicked on the page for "Wine in song titles."  There are a lot of songs about wine!  One thing I noticed is how many songs are about cheap wine!

I liked this Bing Crosby song because I agree with him, wine is for sharing.  When we have friends over for dinner, we always serve wine.  And, Bing Crosby reminds me of my late dad.

Come Share the Wine by Bing Crosby
"Come share the wine,
It's so nice and warm in here
we're happy and kind."

There must be more to the song, but this is all that was on the list!

Sunday, September 28, 2014

As I Pour The Wine

As I Pour The Wine
Oil  6" x 6"
$100.00 + $10. s/h
SOLD


Day 28 in the 30 in 30 Days Challenge

Wine glasses also are something I like to paint.  For this painting I toned the canvas black and really like the way it looks.  

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Heavenly Bounty

Heavenly Bounty
Oil  6" x 6"
$100.00 + $10. s/h
SOLD

Day 27 in the 30 in 30 Days Challenge
I've mentioned in the past that I often Google "poems about ..and then whatever I happen to be painting" to help me find titles.  For this series I put "wine" in that spot.  In the last half hour I've read dozens of poems about wine and find it interesting that so many of them have religious and Biblical references.  

How do you come up with titles for your paintings?

Friday, September 26, 2014

For Bacchus

For Bacchus
Oil  6" x 6"
$100.00 + $10. s/h


I recently painted several wine bottle and wine glass pieces that I'll be posting over the next few days.      I've painted lots of these over the years and always like the challenge of painting ellipses.  Enjoy!

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Spicy Flavor

Spicy Flavor
Oil  6" x 6"
$100.00 + $10.s/h

Day 25 in the 30 in 30 Days Challenge
This is the last of the 4 garlic paintings that I recently finished.  It was a fun little series which I think I'll do again sometime.  Because they were painted on different days in different light, but on the same surface, it really got me looking at the grays.  A great exercise.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Fleshy Sections

Fleshy Sections
Oil  6" x 6"
$100.00 + $10. s/h

Day 23 in the 30 in 30 Challenge

This is another title that I found while Googling "garlic".  I love the sensual sound of it and think that it is just the right description!  What would you title a garlic painting?

Monday, September 22, 2014

'46 Chevy -- Quick Draw from the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration


'46 Chevy -- Quick Draw from the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration
Oil  10" x 10"
$195.00 + $10. s/h

This Chevy truck is my Quick Draw piece from the last day of the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration earlier this month in Fairplay, Colorado.  For the Quick Draw you could paint anywhere on Front Street including the old, historic buildings in the South Park Museum (which, if you're ever in Fairplay is an incredible museum!)  I was all ready to paint in the museum and waiting with my supplies by the entrance when a local drove up in this Chevy and parked it right where I was waiting. I decided it was a great subject matter.  Painting old trucks is so much fun!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Pikes Peak Studio Tour this weekend!  It was a great event!  It's motivating to sell work, see old friends who always offer kind words, and meet new artists and possible future clients.  Thanks to Julie at Summerland Gardens for her continuous support.  Here's a couple of pictures of the Upstairs Gallery/Studio taken just before the tour:







Saturday, September 20, 2014

Prince Of The Night

Prince Of The Night
Oil  6" x 6"
$100.00
SOLD

If you read what I wrote yesterday in my blog, you'll know where I got my title!!

For those of you who live here in Colorado Springs, I hope that today and tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday September 20th and 21st you can stop by Summerland Gardens, 124 E. Cheyenne Blvd, 80906 where Dottie Lirette and I will be in the upstairs gallery/studio as part of the Pikes Peak Studio Tour.  We have lots of new paintings as well as marked down oldies but goodies!  Hope to see you there!

Friday, September 19, 2014

Pungent Flavor

Pungent Flavor
Oil  6" x 6"
$100.00
SOLD

I just finished several little paintings of garlic.  They were so much fun to paint!  They look kind of like little round bodies, some of which have eaten too much great pasta flavored with garlic!  My husband does most of the cooking and I love how the kitchen smells when he's sautéing the garlic.

Painting all of these garlics got me thinking about vampires and why we associate garlic with vampires and Dracula.  So, as I often do, I Googled it to find out.  Here's what I found on Garlic 101:

"The most famous of all garlic folklore is its association with vampires. This was popularised in the West by Bram Stoker in the classic gothic novel Dracula.
In Dracula, van Helsing uses garlic to protect Lucy from the vampire Count by placing it in her room and around her neck:
We went into the room, taking the [garlic] with us. The Professor's actions were certainly odd and not to be found in any pharmacopeia that I ever heard of. First he fastened up the windows and latched them securely. Next, taking a handful of the flowers, he rubbed them all over the sashes, as though to ensure that every whiff of air that might get in would be laden with the garlic smell. Then with the wisp he rubbed all over the jamb of the door, above, below, and at each side, and round the fireplace in the same way.
It all seemed grotesque to me, and presently I said, "Well, Professor, I know you always have a reason for what you do, but this certainly puzzles me. It is well we have no sceptic here, or he would say that you were working some spell to keep out an evil spirit."
"Perhaps I am!" He answered quietly as he began to make the wreath which Lucy was to wear round her neck.

Why Does Garlic Repel Vampires?

So, should we all be mixing heads of garlic with our Halloween pumpkin stew? Can it ward off the undead vampire princes of the night?
The reputation of garlic as a vampire repellent goes back long before Stoker's relatively recent gothic creation. Why should this be? It's true that garlic has long been associated with health and life in general, however why should it ward off vampires specifically rather than all undead monsters?
There are many competing theories as to the origin of the vampire story. Many have to do with disease.
A recent theory tries to associate vampirism with rabies. This works well in general however it fails to explain convincingly the position of garlic in vampire lore. Instead it relies on the idea of rabies sufferers becoming fixated on its smell - an idea that could just as likely apply to the smell of coffee, not a known anti-vampire tool!
Another theory is that vampirism can be seen as symbolic of mosquito bites - and garlic is known in folklore as a natural mosquito repellent.
Mosquitoes suck blood and in doing so spread disease. So do vampires. Some of the symptoms of malaria - exhaustion, fever, anemia - are reminiscent of the reputed effects of being bitten by a vampire without being totally drained or turned. Garlic is a known insect repellent which reportedly works well against mosquitoes, perhaps people saw the similarity with vampires, especially when in their bat form.
This would fit well with the vampire folklore and gothic fiction and is my personal favourite theory.
Of course, the $64,000 question is: does it actually work against vampires? Would it really protect us from the undead?
Let's hope we never have to find out...

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Fresh Bales -- Day 3, Painting 2 South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration


Loafing Shed
Day 3, Afternoon painting South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration, Fairplay, Colorado
Day 16 of the 30 in 30 Days Challenge
Oil  11" x 14"
$295.00 + $10. s/h



When I was driving back to Fairplay to turn in my 2 framed paintings at the end of the day 2, I saw this rancher out on his tractor baling hay.  So, for the afternoon of day 3 I headed back towards his ranch hoping he'd be out again.  He was no longer baling, but some freshly baled hay was sitting right by the highway.  So, I pulled over and painted away...I did see him and asked if I could paint his hay bales.  He laughed and looked at me and said "You want to paint my hay bales?!!"  He couldn't believe it!  But was as nice as could be!


I think this would make another great painting, although there was no time for it 
to be plein air.


I got a comment from yesterday's post asking what a "loafing shed" was.  I should have included a photo of the front of that shed.  But...here's this rancher's loafing shed.  It's usually a long, narrow shed that has just the front open.  It's a great place for hay storage or animal protection over the winter.  A bit of a break from the elements.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Loafing Shed -- Day 3, Painting 1 South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration



Loafing Shed
Day 3, Painting 1 South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration, Fairplay, Colorado
Day 14 of the 30 in 30 Days Challenge
Oil  12" x 16"
$295.00 + $10. s/h



Day 3 of the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration started out very cold and rainy.  At about 10,00 feet you have to be prepared for all types of weather.  So, instead of standing outside in the mist to paint, I set up inside this loafing shed.  I was protected from the elements, but had on a hat, a hoodie (with the hood up over my hat), and a jacket.   I loved the way the cloudy light filtered in between the wood and the bit of a view out the livestock window.  I took artistic license with the floor of the shed.  When I drew it in slanted, it just didn't read well, it looked like my perspective was way wrong.  So, I made the floor and roof a little straighter.  

Friday, September 12, 2014

Gray Afternoon -- Day 2, Painting 2 South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration


Gray Afternoon
Oil  11" x 14"
Day 2, Painting 2 South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration, FairPlay, Colorado
Day 12 of the 30 in 30 Challenge

After lunch, delivered to us out at Bartle Lakes, I went into Jefferson to paint.  Jefferson isn't much more than a cross roads surrounded by ranches.  I thought the barns on this ranch made a great painting.

Every afternoon of the plein air event we turned in 2 framed paintings to the gallery in Fairplay at 4:00.  I think I worked on this piece from about 2 - 3:30, then drove the 20 minutes from Jefferson to Fairplay and framed the piece from the back of my car.  Luckily I had framed my morning painting right before lunch.  Every day was fun but hectic!

I'm contemplating making changes to this painting as it's a bit gray....of course, it was a gray day!  I'll think about it for awhile.


Thursday, September 11, 2014

Morning Reflections -- Day 2, Painting 1 South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration

Morning Reflections
Day 2, Painting 1 South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration
Day 11 of 30 in the 30 in 30 Days Challenge
Oil  12" x 12"
$295.00 + $10. s/h


On the 2nd day of the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration we went to Bartle Lakes, a privately owned ranch and family run fly fishing operation near Jefferson, Colorado.  There was incredible scenery with high alpine lakes, ponds, trees, trucks, boats.  I could have painted there for days!




Below is my set up in the woods near one of the ponds


I started with the pond reflections first, as I knew these would change with the afternoon weather  (rain and clouds) coming in early.


Then I put in the blue/gray sky before it got even grayer.


Sunday, September 7, 2014

In The Kitchen -- Day 1, Painting # 2 South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration

In The Kitchen
Day 1, Painting # 2 from the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration
Day 7 of 30 in the 30 in 30 Challenge
Oil  10" x 10"
$195.00 + $10. s/h

Here's the finished painting that I posted the other day.  This is in the kitchen of Buffalo Peaks Ranch, Fairplay, Colorado.  As I said, it was so windy and hot that I had to find a cool place to paint.  I loved the light coming in the back kitchen door of the ranch house.  I love plein air painting, but sometimes you just have to go with the flow!

Friday, September 5, 2014

In the kitchen -- Day 1, Painting 2 from the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration


Day 1 of the plain air event, Day 5 of the 30 in 30 challenge

This is the 2nd painting that I did on the first day of the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration, Fairplay, Colorado.  I don't have a good picture of the finished piece and it's now hanging in the event show, so I'll post it later.  We painted at Buffalo Peaks Ranch, which is undergoing renovations.  Each day we're given lunch and today it was delivered out to the ranch.

The afternoon was very hot, sunny, no shade and really windy, so I found a cool place indoors to paint.  I loved the way the light from the window hit the wall.

Below are a few photos of the ranch:






Thursday, September 4, 2014

Open Corral -- South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration



This is a plein air painting that I did this morning at Buffalo Peaks Ranch, Fairplay Colorado.  I'm participating in the South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration.  Buffalo Peaks Ranch is one of the oldest ranches in Colorado, built in 1859.  It's being restored as a retreat and library.  I have no idea how old this corral is or when is was built but I love it's age and all of the angles as it falls apart.  I hope it gets repaired, too.


 You can see that it's a pretty open range up here!  Fairplay is at 10,000 feet elevation which makes it chilly in the morning and hot in the afternoon!

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Mountain Valley

Mountain Valley
Day 3 of 30
plein air Oil  6" x 8"
SOLD

This little piece was done from the exact spot as yesterday's post.  I just turned my easel around and painted what was in the opposite direction.  Two for one!



Once again I'm participation in Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  As in the past, I'll post as often as I can.  I'll be in the mountains part of the month and don't always have access to internet.  Also, I don't paint that many small paintings, so I'll also be posting steps of larger works.  Anyway, enjoy the challenge with me and all of the other almost 800 artists participating!!

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Green Valley

Green Valley
Day 2 of 30
plein air Oil  8" x 10"
$195.00 + $10. s/h

I love how green Colorado is this summer.  I can't remember when I've mixed so many different greens!  This plein air piece was painted about an hour west of Colorado Springs up into the mountains.

I love how paths bring your eye into a painting;  I paint a lot of paths.  This fence seems to do the same thing.  It draws your eye into the piece and then, I hope, makes you wonder what's beyond the fence and under the trees, what's on the far side of the fence that we can't see, why is there a fence that doesn't seem to do much?


How great is that when you can paint right from the car!  That is truly not always the case!!

Once again I'm participation in Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  As in the past, I'll post as often as I can.  I'll be in the mountains part of the month and don't always have access to internet.  Also, I don't paint that many small paintings, so I'll also be posting steps of larger works.  Anyway, enjoy the challenge with me and all of the other almost 800 artists participating!!

Monday, September 1, 2014

PEO Waterlilies

PEO Waterlilies
Day 1 of 30
Oil  8" x 10"
$195.00 + $10. s/h

This water lily is in an incredible pond that's covered with water lilies.  It's a great location to paint.  It's at the PEO house on the west side of Colorado Springs, not too far from our house.  One never knows what to expect when plein air painting....a black bear walked up to the other side of the pond for a drink!

Once again I'm participation in Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  As in the past, I'll post as often as I can.  I'll be in the mountains part of the month and don't always have access to internet.  Also, I don't paint that many small paintings, so I'll also be posting steps of larger works.  Anyway, enjoy the challenge with me and all of the other almost 800 artists participating!!