Wednesday, May 30, 2012

"Kai" Female nude figure painting from life asian chinese woman fine art


11 x 14"
oil on canvas
NFS

I don't consider this my most "beautiful" figure painting, but I am pleased with many aspects of it, like the painterly/design-ey treatement of chair and the floor/background. In this painting, I tried to make every part of what you see on the canvas as important as everything else. I hope that's coming across. I "brought it all up" together, which is something I was taught to do in college, and something I teach my students now. Another way to say it is "Paint all around the painting." Someone should anthologize the language of art school. It would give linguists a laugh!

 

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

"An Apple for Tea" still life fruit coffee tea teacup mug daily painting

8 x 8"
oil on canvas
Sold

My blog is going to be getting a facelift over the next few days. I'm feeling the need for a new look! I'll be adding some new content, too. Hopefully there won't be too much disruption while I tweak things, but if there is, just bear with me! Thanks.


Sunday, May 27, 2012

"Lemons and Limes" fruit bowl still life oil painting original

 6 x 6"
oil on canvas

It's been a great weekend so far. The run yesterday was out of this world! As in, my brain went to another universe when I came down out of the woods and was told by a course marshall in an oh-so-cheery voice that I was at mile 9.2! With three miles left to go, I've never wished for a race to be over so much, but hey, I finished it, made my goal time, and hope one day soon to be walking pain-free. Here is a self-portrait from the finish line:


Friday, May 25, 2012

"High Spirits" liquor vodka martini glass olives bar decor oil painting

8 x 10"
oil on canvas
Sold

I'm posting this at exactly 5 pm, which seems appropriate! Does anyone else have exotic mixology-type plans for the long weekend? I'll be running a 20K trail race in the morning, so I think I'll save the martini for tomorrow night!

(Also, I have to add that the vodka bottle top does not touch the top of the canvas in "real life." Not sure whether it's Blogger or my photog skills to blame here.)

Thursday, May 24, 2012

"The Striped Leggings" female figure portrait painting woman girl fine art

 Alternate post title: "I painted someone with clothes on!" 
11 x 14"
oil on canvas
Sold

This morning I headed over to the Art Center for their clothed figure open studio. I've never attended on Thursdays before - 9 am to noon can be a tricky time frame for me - but I had a blast and I'll definitely be going back. I really love painting portraits. In fact, I prefer clothed models to nudes, but I'm going to have to learn how to simplify those fabrics if I want to get a painting done in 3 hours. The folds and patterns of drapery over a form can be so much more engrossing (and time consuming) than, say, a stomach! Below are my work-in-progress pictures - the second one was taken at the end of the session, and I finished up at home.  

Ooh, another perk of the clothed model - I can post a photo of the sitter! Head over to Facebook to see.
(click on the image to see it bigger)

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

"Ali with a Rose" Female portrait painting from life

9 x 12"
oil on canvas
Sold

Another go at this lovely pose. I was floundering around with the likeness a little bit in the beginning. It looked exactly like any one of my failed self-portrait attempts (they occur periodically, and never turn out well enough to keep), but then I found her! None of you would know if I didn't capture the likeness, but the challenge of getting it right is part of my fun.



Sunday, May 20, 2012

"Morning Coffee with Iris" still life oil painting floral

6 x 6" 
oil on canvas
Sold 

Well, it's the end of the weekend, and I'm tired out - but I do feel like I fit a lot in! Running, painting, family time, friend time, book club - wow, I didn't even realize how much I really did until now. And it's not over yet. Jesse is off tomorrow, and we're heading to the big city to take our little one to the zoo!


Friday, May 18, 2012

"The Checkerboard Table" *Revised*

8 x 8"
oil on canvas
Sold

I adjusted the flowers to look a bit more natural in the vase. Above is the revised version, below is the original. What do you think?


I rescued this funky table from Gabriella's tree lawn after her last studio move. I thought, what the hell, I might want to paint it someday.... and finally, a year later, that day has come! Here is her interpretation.


Wednesday, May 16, 2012

"Red Rose in Her Hair" female nude figure painting fine art oil on canvas

14 x 18"
oil on canvas
Sold

I've painted this model before, but I didn't realize how LONG her hair was, since it was pinned up last time. Wow! The rose hair clip was the finishing touch on this excellent pose.


Tuesday, May 15, 2012

"Irises on a Low Table" still life floral interior scene fine art oil painting daily

8 x 10"
oil on canvas
(on hold) 

I had a really hard time getting started this morning. One of the best - and most difficult - things about painting still life is the incredibly wide range of possible subjects. Decision-making can really hold up the process! After several false starts, I took a giant step back from my setup, and the wider view helped me settle down to paint. See a work-in-progress shot here.


Monday, May 14, 2012

"White Pitcher of Lilacs" floral flower still life daily painting one dollar auction

8 x 8"
oil on canvas
Sold

Hoping you all had a great Mother's Day weekend. I went a little crazy on Saturday, competing in a 5 mile mud run and getting ever so slightly banged up. After attempting to minister to my bruises and scrapes all day Sunday, I thoroughly enjoyed (the comparatively civilized act of) painting with my still life workshop students this morning!


Friday, May 11, 2012

"Iris Bouquet in a Pint Glass" floral flower art oil painting purple still life $100 ebay auction

8 x 10"
oil on canvas
$200

I have a lot of paintings in my Etsy shop - some of them are two years old or more! But as I often remind myself, they all find their owners eventually. Recently a particular favorite of mine, which had been hanging around the studio for quite a while, sold to a very wonderful and enthusiastic patron. The next day someone else contacted me about buying it! I've resolved to do a series of Iris paintings this summer, in the hopes that my disappointed buyer can find another Sedwick original to love.


Wednesday, May 9, 2012

"The Red Rasta" male nude figure painting portrait original oil on canvas

9 x 12"
oil on canvas
Sold

Below are progress shots, taken at about 45 minute intervals. The first picture is possibly the coolest one of my paintings has ever looked at that stage! Zombie man!

 
(click on the image to scrutinize the undead goodness.)

Sunday, May 6, 2012

"Pink Lilacs" floral flower fruit daily painting oil on canvas

8 x 8"
oil on canvas
Sold

I've taught myself a lot about plant identification over the years, painting different flowers. I can now recognize many flowering bushes when they're not in bloom, just by the characteristics of their leaves.  Of course, now there's an app for that. Oh well!


Saturday, May 5, 2012

"Ready to Poach" still life oil painting wall art kitchen decor brown egg spoon eggshells

6 x 6"
oil on canvas
Sold

 I've never actually poached an egg, but I love the scene in "Julie and Julia" where she learns how to do it. Meryl Streep is one of my favorite actresses, and I also love food and cooking, so it's no wonder I love that movie!


Friday, May 4, 2012

"Still Life with Brown Eggs" art original oil daily painting for sale on ebay

8 x 10"
oil on canvas 

Ok, I admit that I had some lofty ideas about my goals for the year, back around new years time (four months ago!), like doing some shows in local coffee shops, attempting to break into the Portland gallery scene, etc. Well, so far this year, I've been putting a lot more effort into my distance running goals than my art-showing goals, but I did manage to get a piece accepted into the Emerald Art Center spring juried show, which opens tomorrow night. If anyone is out searching for some art to look at tomorrow around 5:30, come say hi!


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

"Fresh Eggs" still life food kitchen decor art daily painting brown eggs

6 x 6"
oil on canvas
Sold

My neighbors have chickens, and my husband has back trouble. Over the weekend, the menfolk struck up a conversation while they were out doing whatever it is men do around the yard,  and the next thing I know Jesse has gone next door to try out our neighbor's upside-down suspension back therapy thingie. And he came home with a bowl of eggs! Thanks, wonderful neighbors!


Tuesday, May 1, 2012

"Peppers and Wedges" fruit vegetable bright colorful daily painting one dollar auction

6 x 6"
oil on canvas
Sold

Here is my demo painting from class yesterday. I managed to not be too sore after the half marathon on Sunday - in fact, I felt a lot better than I thought I would (and am already looking forward to next year!) Carol and I both crossed the finish line in under two hours - read her post about the adventure here.