Avocado and Tomatoes in Black and White - and More about Notan

 "Avocado and Tomatoes"

approx. 8 x 11 inches, oil on Arches oil paper

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After reading this post by James Gurney, I decided to try some notan sketches on brown cardboard as a warmup for this painting - and it was fun! It's so satisfying to put thick white paint over a midtone surface. Why? Who knows - but I'll be back for more. 

The idea with notan is that midtones have to get lumped into either dark or light - you only have two values to work with. These forced choices remind us that we are interpreting, not copying the subject; composition is something we impose on nature. Two artists will not come up with the same value scheme in a notan sketch. There is no right or wrong way to do it. 

Also, it looks cool!

Plum Parade - Now It's a Series!

 "Plum Parade"

approx. 8 x 11 inches, oil on Arches oil paper

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Here it is, the one that made it a series. And my third one-dollar auction of the week! You can see the first two here and here.

All three plum paintings, in chronological order. Which is your favorite?

Left to right: "The Red Snake," "The Red Knife," and "Plum Parade," each approx. 8x11 inches.

The Red Knife - Another One-Dollar Auction!

"The Red Knife"

approx 8 x 11 inches, oil on Arches oil paper

One-Dollar Auction!
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Here is the second in my plums-and-strawberries series. It officially went from a "thing I'm doing" to a "series" when I painted the third installment this morning. Hopefully you'll be seeing that one soon - it still needs its highlights touched up.

It's One-Dollar Auction Time!

"The Red Snake"

approx. 8 x 11 inches, oil on Arches oil paper

One-Dollar Auction!

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This was kind of a demo for my Online Mentorship students, a couple of whom are working on loosening up their process this month with one-hour paintings. They are doing some incredible things! Here is a blog post one of them wrote - I promise, I'm not making her work THIS hard, she's just incredibly motivated. When I say I get as much from my students as they get from me, this is what I'm talking about. What an inspiration!

And speaking of inspiration, I had some help naming this painting. You know who you are, and thanks. ;)

Onward with the Auctions!

"Pretty in Pink"

8 x 8 inches, oil on canvas

$1 Auction

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An oldie-but-goodie from what I kinda think of as my "reflective glass surface" period. I guess it was spring 2012? I was really into placing my still life setups on these large pieces of glass. Before and since, I've had other obsessions periods: colored bottles, skulls, colored papers....Chinese lanterns....

You can check out all of this week's $1 Auctions here!

One Dollar Auction Week!

 "A Sunny Mix" 

6 x 6 inches, oil on canvas
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Well, I've done it before, and I'll do it again. One dollar Auction Week! (Ooh, click that "before" link for a breath of autumn air. I felt a pleasant Fall chill looking back at those pieces. Must be some kind of mutant synesthesia.

Here's yesterday's offering, an old favorite that needs a new home. I've always really loved this painting - I think it was the first time I painted blueberries?!

 "Blueberries and Water"

8 x 8 inches, oil on canvas

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This oil sketch kicked off the week, for those of you who weren't paying attention on Saturday. (I, too, like to ignore my inbox for days at a time, and always feel guilty about it). Having a father who is a musician, I feel this would be the perfect Father's Day gift, but perhaps the musician in your life is a son or a sister?

"The Little Violin"

9 x 5 inches, oil on Arches oil paper

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The Little Violin: A $1 Auction

 "The Little Violin"

5 x 9 inches, oil on Arches oil paper
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Milestones, Prizes, Birthdays, Weddings, and a Painting of Chinese Lanterns

 "Chinese Lanterns"

10 x 8 inches, oil on canvas

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It may be my birthday, but the gifts are all for you! First, a One Dollar Auction, and second, a HUGE thank you to everyone who has helped me get to 900 Likes on Facebook!

When we reach 1000, one lucky Liker will win a $100 gift certificate to my Etsy shop. To enter, all you need to do is share my Facebook event, or any of my posts about the giveaway. Thanks!

 I'm especially happy on this birthday because I put the finishing touches on not one, but two

 commissions this morning. I've also got a huge event to look forward to this weekend: my little sister is getting married! Matron of Honor, here I come!

Grease and Getting Serious

"Three Pink Ladies"

oil on Arches oil paper, 9 x 7 inches. Image size 8.5 x 6.5 inches

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 ...And three more Pink Ladies, because I couldn't resist:

What child of the 80's did not watch this movie a thousand times? I wonder if my daughter will get it at all when her time comes. 'Where are their cell phones, mommy?' I can hear it now...

My waxing nostalgic aside, I have a serious topic to broach today: the price of art. Now that I'm placing my work in galleries, it's been pointed out to me that my internet-friendly prices are no longer appropriate. Yes, paintings are selling, but collectors are wondering why my prices are so low - what's wrong with the work?

In advertising, sales, and the art world, numbers and the image they convey matter. 

So yes, there will still be internet-exclusive deals, Etsy shop coupon codes, and one-dollar auctions promoted here and on my Facebook page, but my prices will be changing as of July 1st. 

If you have some advice or a comment about pricing, selling, or the awesomeness of Grease, don't hesitate to leave it below!

Tea and True Stories

 

"Tea and True Stories"

6 x 6 inches, oil on canvas

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Phew! What a great long weekend. Our dance card was full every day, and my studio time was minimal - though I did get in a great thrift store trip, which was kind of a painting thing since I only bought props. I tend to get obsessed with certain objects and paint them over and over again (Hello, purple plate!), so hopefully I'll have some new still-life-stars in the batch I brought home.

This is a sketch I squeezed in between huge, luxurious, grilled-meat meals. Notable because it was done using 100% natural light. Apparently that's something to practice if you have plein air aspirations.

Speaking of plein air....if you look to the right of this post, you'll see an obnoxious little graphic that says "vote for me!" So. Why are you still here? Go click on it!

Thanks.

...And, while I'm asking for things, I have a fundraiser auction going right now, with all proceeds benefiting Oklahoma Tornado victims via the American Red Cross. DailyPaintworks is always so great about hosting these fundraisers, and there are many many more paintings to bid on. 

True story alert: my house in Cleveland was demolished by a tornado (well, technically a tree knocked down by one) when I was little. No one was hurt, thankfully - we were all safe in the basement!

Dark and Snowy

"Snowballs on Black"

approx. 5.5 x 4 inches, oil on Arches oil paper

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I love these Snowball bushes. Too bad the deer that (over)populate my neighborhood love them, too. My husband put a little fence up around the baby I planted last year, but it's been too munched on already to provide any blooms this year. Luckily, my neighbors have a lovely, lush specimen that leans oh-so-conveniently over their deer fence right into my back yard. Another piece of luck - they last forever in a vase! Who knew?

Here's an example of how this painting-on-paper might look matted and framed: 

Love these snowballs as much as I do? My first painting of them - another one-dollar auction - ends this evening! Check it out here.

Sickness, Sketches, and a Windfall

 

"Spring Snowballs/ sketch"

6 x 6 inches, oil on canvas

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In the past, I admit, I've been a thief. But these were given to me, wholeheartedly, by a friend who sympathizes with my seasonal-bloom-painting obsession. You know who you are, and thanks! That said, I have had precious little time to do them justice this week, as my daughter has been down with a high fever and so I've been on juice, crackers, and book-reading duty for the past few days. The snuggles are precious, but so is my studio time. Hence, only a sketch, and a windfall for Sedwick collectors everywhere! Bid away....