It's Holiday Sale Time!

"Brown Pears"

8 x 8 inches, oil on canvas

$250

Click to buy

There are so many holiday sales, and I'm here to announce yet another one! But, in my humble opinion, if you only visit ONE this year, the Whiteaker Printmakers Holiday Show and Sale is the one to see. I was there last night setting up, and let me tell you, the studio is crammed full of amazing art. 

Getting it on Paper

 

"Calla Lilies with Green Apples"

8.5 x 11.5" oil on paper

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I have been enjoying the new oil painting paper by Arches, especially because every time I turn around these days, I'm out of canvases. I'm going to do some experimenting soon with mounting these onto panels, but they'd be great framed under glass, like a watercolor.

And now I'm off to scrounge up something to paint on and head out to the Alpaca farm for another rainy, cold (in fact downright wintry) afternoon of plein air.

Working on my Resolutions

 

"Path by the Lake"

8 x 8 inches, oil on canvas

$100

click to buy

On Saturday, Carol and I drove up to Salem to meet a group of artists from Portland and do some plein-air painting. If it had been my idea, I'd feel better about bragging that I'm finally making progress on my perpetual New Year's resolution, but this fun event was organized by Randall David Tipton (thanks, Randall!). I was honored to be invited.

 

"Tall Grass by the Lake"

8 x 8 inches, oil on canvas

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Salem is not a town known around our state for it's charm (though conveniently located halfway between Portland and Eugene, hence its selection as our meeting spot), but Minto-Brown park was a picturesque spot, and the weather was quintessential Oregon. We get the greatest clouds.

Annie Salness, Carol Marine, and Celeste Bergin

 In a bit over three hours, I made two paintings. My new French easel worked very well, and I didn't embarrass myself by failing to set it up or take it down (this sometimes happens). When the wind picked up, we all headed into town for a delicious lunch and some great conversation. I love meeting new people, but meeting fellow artists is really special.

For more pictures of the day, visit Celeste Bergin's blog, or my Facebook page.

"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.)

Two Portraits

  

"So Serious"

8x10" oil on canvas

$200 

In addition to my regular Tuesday night figure painting, I've started attending a series of clothed-model sessions. I really want to focus on faces and skin tones. The most difficult part of these paintings is mixing the shadow colors. I wish I had more of a formula, or a go-to plan for mixing them, but I feel like I'm fumbling around every time. I don't find the lights as challenging. 

What are your tips for mixing gorgeous shadow skin-tones?

  

"Little Redhead"

8 x 10" oil on canvas

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"Cherry Hearts" a still life oil painting of valentines day candy hearts and chocolates

  

6 x 6"

oil on canvas

click to buy

These little heart candies are like jelly beans, and all the different flavors are a variation on cherry: cherry cola, bing cherry, cherry cheesecake (my favorite), chocolate cherry, etc. They are darn good, and dangerous to have lying around the studio! The title "Cherry Hearts" does double duty here, since these bon-bons have cherries inside. Proof of that, coming soon!

I am featured today on the blog "The Art Room" as part of a series of daily painters' favorite pieces from 2012. You can see my top two picks, as well as Taryn's picks - we each chose one still life and one figure painting.