Look Who's Back...

...And it's about time! I didn't really intend to stay away so long, but life happens. Getting back into the studio has been a slow process, with the dreaded cold starts, and plenty of AA - that's Artist's Anxiety (...and yes, that's trademarked, but ok, you can use it!)

There is no slump-busting in my world that doesn't involve Figure painting - so here's my latest: 

"In Profile"

12 x 9 inches, oil on canvas

Available here

 Painted in approximately three hours, from a live model - and here's the proof:

Smile!

I Wish I had Three Arms

 

"A Shady Spot"

14 x 11 inches, oil on canvas

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Not the same blue umbrella, and not the same model, but yes, back-to-back blue umbrella paintings on the blog. It's a July thing.

I was wishing for a third arm to hold an umbrella over me this morning. We're having a hot hot summer in Oregon, and the Monday Painting Ladies were all slathering on the sunscreen / hiding in the shade in Patti's sunny garden. We literally brought out a fan on an extension cord to keep our model from melting. She's made of chocolate, you know.

Have I mentioned how much I love summer? My dance card is full until September, folks. I spent the past week partying with family (which was great), but now there are lots of fun things in store art-wise. So, plan to join me - either literally or online. The highlights include the Oregon Coast Paintout, my August 10th workshop "Painting the Figure en Plein Air" (4 spaces left!), and the Create Eugene Paintout August 21st. I just signed up! So should you.

Art and the Vineyard, my Awesome 4th of July

"The Blue Umbrella"

8 x 8 inches, oil on canvas

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 I had a great Fourth of July! The day began with hugs from my sister-and-brother-in-law who'd snuck into my house after midnight on the 3rd (who's awake to greet guests at such an ungodly hour? Not me.) Next I headed out to my favorite festival of the year, Art and the Vineyard, with my friend and fellow Maude Kerns instructor Farley Craig and a gorgeous model to spend the afternoon painting in the sun. We talked to so many awesome people, and squeezed in a little painting too!

Don't you love my Oregon Art Supply apron? It's new.

To really cap off the day with a bang, we had our closest friends over for a BBQ, and with both of my wonderful sisters-in-law and their husbands visiting this weekend, it was a house full of fun. And I managed to look the other way when the menfolk started blowing things up.

Monday Painting Ladies Meet Again!

"By the Oriental Screen"

16 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

click to buy

I've been so spoiled lately with models at home, and don't plan to stop spoiling myself anytime soon. Disclaimer: although this is not my home,  I do covet this orange corduroy couch, and loved painting it this morning. 

Not to be outdone by a couch, however vintage, Tahni wore a shimmery blue-green dress that looked perfect with her eyes.

The Artist at Home

"Gentle Reader"

20 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

Sold

 The past two days have been exciting, painting a model in my own living room! Carol joined me today, just to make the morning even more fun. If you've been reading for a while, you know I'm a huge fan of shaking it up / getting out of your comfort zone, and strangely, this week I've managed to shake things up by remaining smack in the middle of my comfort zone - or at least, my living room. 

I really wanted to paint the model backlit by that huge window, but she was so sillouhetted that I ended up shining an extra halogen spot on her. The effect was still pretty dramatic. I'm now feeling inspired to paint in other rooms of my house, but my next foray into figure will be in a garden setting (weather permitting). 

Here are some shots from this morning: Our lovely model with our work-in-progress, a face-detail from my painting, and Carol at work:

click on the image for a better view!

Go Figure

"Lounging Nude"

12 x 9 inches, oil on canvas

Click to buy

Here's my figure painting from Tuesday night. I know, I'm so behind! But I am on vacation after all. This is my kind of getaway - lots of computers lying around, plenty of wifi, drop-dead gorgeous scenery on all sides, and a craft brewery on every corner. 

Ahem, back to the painting. Or the model, at least. You'll be seeing a lot of her here in the coming weeks, as I'll be painting her in three different locations!

One Last Fling

 "The Swedish Student"

11 x 14 inches, oil on canvas

$450

Available from The Gallery at the Watershed

Big, cheap, and raggedy - No, I'm not talking about my model! It is a pretty accurate description of the brush I used to paint her with, though. It's an old, cheap, number 6 flat that I keep around for applying tone to my canvases - that orangey color you see behind this one, for example. Anyway, I sort of forgot to switch brushes after toning my canvas, and once I noticed - hey, it was working, so I just kept going. 

Worn out brushes often give me one final cool-looking painting before dying completely. One last, loose, sketchy fling!

Here's my progress, taken at 45 minute intervals. I'm pretty proud of the fact that once I'd painted an area, I managed to leave it generally intact, except for some minor blending and adjusting. It's so frustrating when I feel like I'm repainting the entire thing, over and over what I've already done.

Queen of the Elegant Segway

"Emily's Eyes"

9 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

$450

click to buy

Paint, paint, paint! Life is good this week, with lots going on, at the easel and elsewhere. Here's my work from Tuesday night, getting a bit closer-in to this pose. I used a basic primary palette - red, yellow, and blue - with a little black thrown in, you know, for darkness.

Because what this model needs is a little darkness!?! I admit, I'm totally taken with her clear blue eyes and blonde, asymmetrical hair.  I feel like I should be painting her in a beautiful garden, with flowers spilling everywhere.

....Speaking of which (and I will now accept the title of 'Queen of the Elegant Segway'), Eugene is having a huge celebration of All Things Art this August - there is even a plein air paintout and competition in the works - and I have thrown myself and my hat into the ring! I'll be teaching a one-day workshop, "Painting the Figure en Plein Air" in the lovely courtyard of The Gallery at the Watershed, Saturday August 10th. It will be an all-day affair, with a lengthy demo and plenty of time for painting and individual instruction. There are only eight spots, so if you want to join me, please call Amy at the gallery right now! ((541) 844-1668 - or email amy@thewatershed.com).

An Exotic Reverie

 

"Touching Her Shoulder"

11 x 14 inches, oil on canvas

$250

click to buy

 Not only do I love this graceful pose, but the lighting (which I can take no credit for) truly makes the painting. The way only her nose and cheekbone emerge from her face, while most of the light falls across her opposite breast and shoulder is what drew me to this view of the model.

What thoughts are brewing behind those eyes?

Could it be 'Ow, my hip hurts in this position'?

I choose to imagine a more exotic reverie.

New Portrait, New Paint

 

"Emily May" 

8 x 10 inches, oil on canvas

$200

click to buy

face detail - click to see it BIGGER!

 It's been *interesting* trying to get to a 9 am painting session for the past few months, but worth it. Many of you are mothers, fathers, grandparents, etc, and can relate to the challenges of getting a young child out of the house "on time," not to mention, a husband to work. I've been loving these portrait sessions, though, and with spring break next week and the decision of whether to continue on with them ahead of me, I'm feeling positive overall.

Our model this morning was the lovely Emily May, and because I'm lazy it's been awesome lately, I was Zorning it up. I even had to buy a very large tube of yellow ocher specifically for this new habit of mine!  You run through it awfully fast when it's your only yellow, believe me.

Here's my sketch after 45 minutes alongside the finish. I REALLY wanted to get her other hand in there, but, well, on an 8 x 10" canvas, there just wasn't going to be room if I wanted to do the face justice. And the pose was so eloquent that I didn't want to do only her face....I was torn over this one, such a beautiful pose, and I don't see this model enough.

 

Smile!

"The Green Earring" oil painting portrait from life

 

8 x 10"

oil on canvas

$200

click to buy

This one was going well, then it wasn't. So I scraped off half the face and repainted, and it was a lot better. There's a lesson there, a good one to constantly be relearning.

 Have you ever wanted to see what an artist would make of your beautiful face? If you live nearby, give me a shout. You could come over, sit for me, we could chat....you know, no biggie! (No obligation to buy, and no compensation either, though I've been known to bribe with wine.)