"Decorating by Candlelight" Christmas ornament oil painting holiday xmas art gift

 

6 x 6"

oil on canvas

$100

click to buy

While "Decorating by Candlelight" doesn't necessarily sound like a fire-marshall-approved activity, I've certainly begun my holiday decorating. Basically, I pull a huge plastic bin of ornaments out of my garage and dump them all over my studio. Then my daughter comes in and helps distribute them in totally random locations throughout the house. Like under her bed, and in the cat food bowls. Ah, Christmas!

Because Zazzle always has killer deals this time of year, I ordered myself some calendars. I'll have them for sale at my Oregon Art Supply show and painting demo next Friday, and it's also good to have some last-minute gifts on hand, right?

more pictures here

   I'm really happy with the quality of the printing, and the shipping couldn't have been faster. It reminds me of a joke we used to tell about a chinese-delivery place growing up: you hang up the phone and the doorbell rings!

"Dana" female figure painting nude portrait woman girl

 

12 x 16"

oil on canvas

N/A

I felt pretty good about this painting after the first sitting, but a couple of days went by and I wasn't so sure. I think of this as the "morning after" effect. How many of us have had the experience of working late in the studio, feeling like a total rock star, only to wake up the next morning to find a disaster on the easel?

Before the second sitting, I sanded down my painting. This smooths out any chunky brushstrokes and just generally prepares the surface to be reworked. Plus, you get to inhale all kinds of rare minerals. Cadmium, anyone?

"Persimmon and Christmas Ornaments" not my most original painting title to date, but hey.

 

6 x 8"

oil on canvas

Sold

December is right around the corner, which sounds kind of depressing right this moment, but on the bright side, another First Friday Artwalk will soon be upon us! I'll be all over it, with a show of new paintings at Oregon Art Supply, where I will also be painting live in the store all evening. In addition, I'll have several pieces in Eugene Storefront Art Project's winter invitational at 224 E. 11th. Plus, I have my usual great stuff at Imagine Gallery, and if after all that, you still don't think I run this town, why not stop by Noli Italian Cafe for dinner? The pasta is spectacular. And I have 15 pieces on display.

Don't say I didn't give you advance notice: make plans now to come downtown next Friday evening!

"Persimmon Harvest" fruit persimmon apple pomegranate still life oil painting

 

8 x 10"

oil on canvas

Sold

Wow, there's been a lot going on this week. All of it good! On top of the Thanksgiving celebration/my husband's birthday festivities, I got invited to be on the radio last Tuesday! It was really cool to see the recording studio and meet one of the dj's that I listen to in my studio almost daily. I was kind of nervous, but I ended up having fun. Just don't make me listen to it! It's ten times worse than having to hear your own outgoing voicemail greeting, plus it lasts for seven minutes. Here's the link, if you think you can take it.

"Ripening Persimmons" art still life fruit bowl original oil painting one dollar auction

 

oil on Arches Oil paper

6.5 x 9.5"

Sold

      I was skulking around an art supply trade show on campus a few weeks ago, mostly dropping my name in various door-prize boxes (but not winning anything, for the record), when a friendly Canson paper rep offered me some samples of their new Arches Oil paper. "Do I have to gesso it?" was my first, skeptical response.
     "Nope."
     "And it won't buckle?"
     "Nope."
     Thinking, 'Yeah right, buddy," I took the proffered samples.
     I taped the paper to my drawing board, as you can see here:

  

     And it didn't buckle! End of story. For more info on this new paper, and it's secret-non-buckling-sauce, go here.

     How do you feel about paintings on paper? Do you think they are inherently less valuable than those done on canvas or panel?

It's beginning to look a lot like...Thanksgiving

 

"Poinsettia and Pomegranate"

11x14"

oil on canvas

$200

click to buy

How many people have you heard say "I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week" today? Well, make that one more, because I'm a bit incredulous myself. In fact, it kind of feels like we're about to skip straight to Christmas with all the holiday cheer in the air.

I haven't gotten into the studio this week, and Tuesday's figure painting night was a total bust (no pun intended, ok maybe a little one), so the painting I'm sharing today is actually from two years ago (speaking of time flying), but hey, it's a fave. And it's so not seasonally appropriate.

If you're in Eugene, or coming in for the holidays, you are in luck! I'm going to be all over this town for the next couple of weeks. The annual Maude Kerns Art Center member show opens tomorrow night (reception 6-8 pm, 11/16), and I gave The Eugene Weekly a few quotable lines in honor of the occasion. I got a sneak-preview of the show, and it's phenomenal, so even if you can't come out tomorrow, try to see it. This town has so many talented folks!

More on the rest of my upcoming adventures as an artist-about-town to come.

A screen shot teaser. Go here for the whole story!

"Tawny" nude female figure painting portrait woman girl oil on canvas

 

8 x 10"

oil on canvas

$200

Available in my Etsy shop

I painted this last night while listening to election results on my headphones. I had fun playing town crier, keeping everyone in the studio updated, since no one else wanted to paint and listen to political commentary. For some reason, I concentrate really well with talk-radio in the background. 

Below is my progression. You can see that I started out intending to keep both hands in the frame, but had to lose the lower one during hour 2 because I'd drawn the torso too short. It was either chop off the hand or repaint the head smaller, not exactly a difficult choice, since I was pleased with my rendering of the face at that point. Next week I will try to get both hands in.

 

The DPW auction to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy has raised almost $5,000 so far, and I'm proud to be part of it. My donation auction ends tonight at 6 pm PCT. Please place a bid, if you can, and support the American Red Cross. Thanks!

"Two Matches" still life candle flame fire lemons daily painting oil on canvas

 

8 x 8"

oil on canvas

Sold

I had to revisit this setup. I couldn't stop looking at those spent matchsticks lying next to the other objects and thinking they should have been worked into the painting somehow. I sized up to an 8x8" canvas and zoomed out just a bit to slip them in. 

A mention of the presidential election seems almost unavoidable today, and I've succumbed to the coverage as much as any American. My studio days are passed listening to NPR, and while I've never consdiered myself an activist, I had a lot of fun painting this guy four years ago.

I'll be painting a portrait of some as-yet-undeclared candidate tonight at the Art Center, and live-updating it on Twitter and FB, though I'm sure my efforts will be absolutely swallowed by election results. I can't complain - I'll be glued to my headphones.

"Candlelit Quartet" still life daily painting candle flame original oil on canvas

 

6 x 6"

oil on canvas

$100

click to buy

I'm convinced the color palette for this one was subliminally inspired by the view from my studio window today. Wet leaves, green shifting to yellow to rust red...forest-green fur trees and their greyish-lavender trunks, everything damp damp damp. I'd supply you a real picture to go with that mental one, but I'm a little bit camera-challenged right now. I need Santa to bring me a really gorgeous (or just reasonably attractive) digital SLR this xmas!

"Deep in Thought" portrait figure man male nude oil painting

 

8 x 10"

oil on canvas

$150

Available in my Etsy shop

Once again, I enjoyed painting this pose. Even though I usually don't continue the same painting for both weeks, I'm glad the Art Center's figure night is set up to have the same pose two weeks in a row. It's remarkable how much difference a slight change in vantage point can make.

DailyPaintworks is having a Hurricane Sandy fundraiser, so please take a minute to check it out. I donated a painting, and all proceeds will go to the American Red Cross.

"Sketch for 'Layla'" portrait painting oil on canvas young woman girl

 

8 x 10"

oil on canvas

Sold

Here is the preparatory sketch I did for a portrait commission I just (as in 15 minutes ago) finished. My biggest challenge was keeping the loose, painterly feel of the sketch alive in the larger (14x18, still not large by any means) final piece. I think it came out nicely. Fingers crossed until I hear from the client!

I'll be heading to figure painting tonight for another crack at this compelling pose. It should feel like stretching a tight muscle, going from a computer screen (from which I worked all afternoon) to a live model. You can follow along on twitter, or facebook.

"Fall Fruit Bowl" apple squash gourd painting still life oil on canvas

 

6 x 6"

oil on canvas

$100

Available in my Etsy shop

Okay, so I lied about being finished painting the little striped gourd. To make it up to you, I'll let you in on my latest blog collaboration and painting giveaway. Go here to check it out - and enter! Have a great weekend, and try to forgive me.

"The Clasped Hands" male nude figure painting fine art original figurative oil

 

8 x 10"

oil on canvas

$200 

available in my Etsy shop

Here is my piece from Tuesday night. It's been a looong time since I've seen this model (another link why not), and once again, he was great to paint. Love the big veins character in his hands! Here's a work-in-progress shot.

"Green Apple Stack" framed fine art still life food fruit kitchen decor commission custom painting

  

8 x 10"

oil on canvas

framed $200

available in my Etsy shop 

I'm starting a commission today, a portrait of a lovely young woman. I moved my desktop computer into the studio so I can work from a digital photograph. Upheaval! So, for today's post I've pulled a painting from the vault, a personal favorite. I like it so much, I'm "storing" it in on the wall of my upstairs hallway. It would really make more sense in the kitchen/dining area, but that space is already taken.

Are you thinking of commissioning a painting for a holiday gift? Whether it's from me (why yes, I'd love to), or another artist, now is the time to get started!

"By Candlelight" art oil painting still life daily painting fruit

 

8 x 8"

oil on canvas

click to bid

I got this gorgeous little vase from the same ceramic artist who made this white bowl. After I bought the bowl from him last year we became Facebook friends, so it was extra nice to see each other at Clayfest this year and connect in person.

There's a rumor going around the Daily Painting network that many of us are going to get a chance for just such a face-to-face encounter in 12 months or so. All the more reason to head over to my Facebook page and start getting to know me ASAP! Bonus: you'll be the first to see my in-progress photos from figure painting tonight...

"October Arrangement" still life oil painting thanksgiving decor pumpkin squash apples

 

8 x 8"

oil on canvas

Sold

Ok. I think I may have worked through my obsession with the stripes on this funny little gourd, but no promises regarding my melange of different apples. Especially that orangey one, it's still calling out to be painted. Some people experience religious revelations as voices in their heads. I'm hearing the call of the produce aisle.

"The Leopard-Print Bra" female figure painting portrait art oil painting

 

8 x 10"

oil on canvas

Sold

I painted this last night while listening to the debate, and you're welcome for not making a #bindersfullofwomen joke about my figure painting archive.

(but if you're looking for a good one...)

"Autumn Apples" Fall fruit pumpkin squash still life art oil painting

 

9 x 12"

oil on canvas

$200

click to buy

This unsubtle play on current seasonal decorating themes also has the honor of being daily painting number 600! According to my highly scientific folder-within-folder-on-the-desktop record keeping method, I have posted 100 non-figurative still life type works in only the last nine months. Here's no. 500, for a trip down memory lane.

 

 I got my restaurant show all framed and installed! It was a bit of a crunch at the end, as the winter rains have arrived in a big, soggy way, and I could not get the final painting to dry for the life of me. I finally slapped a frame on and dropped it off this morning, two hours before they opened for service. 

 And now for the grand experiment I promised to tell you all about in my last post! My friend (and coworker at the firm of Stay-Home-Parents & Co) Alan had the brilliant idea of putting QR codes on the wall labels for each painting. Scanning them with your phone (there are numerous free apps for that) takes you straight to my Etsy shop. You can buy art while you sit there eating dinner! Will this result in more sales? I have no idea. But I do know this: people love an excuse to play with their phones in restaurants, as socially unacceptable as it may be.

"Autumn Bounty" fall thanksgiving decor harvest vegetable fruit oil painting fine art and an announcement

 

11 x 14"

oil on canvas

Framed, price $400

available in my Etsy shop

You know I wouldn't leave my dear old blog hanging for this long without a good reason, so here's the latest: I'm busy getting ready to install a show at Noli Italian Cafe's brand new location here in Eugene. (For the locals, it's right next to Sweet Life).

 The grand opening is next Tuesday October 16th, and my work will be on display through the end of the year (in case you have plans that night, or something)!

I'm also excited to try out a new idea (the inspiration for which, if it actually ends up working out, will not go unaccredited) with this show. Here's a hint:

"Daydreamer" original fine art portrait painting woman girl

 

11 x 14"

oil on canvas

Sold

With one thing and another, it's been almost a month since I posted a figure painting! Glad to be able to present you with this one today. I also have work-in-progress shots, which those who follow me on Facebook saw last night, in real time, posted from the Art Center's painting studio. They had no idea what they were doing when they gave me their wifi password. None at all.

I've been sitting in front of my computer a lot this week, and one result is this: my 2013 calendar is complete!

Every year I choose some of my favorites from the past 10 or 12 months, and I'm liking my crop of 2012 recruits! If you'd like to get one or several (they make great gifts - tell 'em, Mom and Dad), email me, or go here. Thanks!