Experiment on Barn Wood

This is an experimental piece and one of several I've been working on these past few days.

Its painted on a distressed piece of linen, mounted to salvaged wood from an old barn on our ranch - one that is slowly being reclaimed by the elements. I used clear gesso to prime it, then a patina to warm the edges. The painting itself is from a limited palette of about 4 colors - plus white. When I started these, I must admit it felt a little like painting on a saw blade. But after I finished this one today, I'm beginning to like the results.

C.M. Russell Museum's Master's in Miniature Auction

"Just a Thought" oil/canvas panel 10x8

"Tail Wind" oil/canvas panel 8x10

The Master's in Miniature Auction for the C.M. Russell Art Museum was held this past weekend, and I have great news! Both my paintings sold!

We had such a great time. So many artists from our region were there. And boy, does the Russell Museum know how to throw a party! I think my husband had more fun than I did, which is saying a lot, since he's sort of the quiet farmer type.

___________

Blog Update:

In case some of you are wondering where I've gone off to...my painting sizes have increased significantly this past year and are taking much longer to finish. How long does it take?

My only answer can be, "All my life."

Be back soon!

"Just a Thought" revisited.

8 x 10 oil/canvas panel

sold

I suppose its obvious to all of you, where my passion lies.

This is the finished version of a sketch I did last year. (as seen below) I still need to cool some of the warm tones on her chest and also fix the values on her hand which seem a bit out of key, but its close. I'm just so glad my "Block" is over!

"Abe"

8 x 6" oil/pintura canvas panel

sold

Lately I've been feeling like my art could use a little shot in the arm.

So today I started an alphabet series, inspired by Karin Jurick. I'm sure many of you have seen hers. I think she even published a book after its completion. Shes a very gifted artist, who is making quite a name for herself.

So! "A" is for Abe :O)

"Young Girl II"

8 x 6" oil/canvas panel

sold

I got a wonderful Christmas gift from my artist friend Laurie Stevens, on the art of Ernest Blumenschein. He was one of the Taos Painters who was active in the area at the beginning of the twentieth century. I love his subjects and compositions, they have such a strong graphic style. I've been studying the book every chance I get. Oops! Can you tell? :o)

Christmas Portrait

16 x 12" oil/canvas panel - nfs

This is the portrait I did last week.  Its of my husband's mother Lucille, who passed away a few years ago.  Its a gift to his father for Christmas and one I've been wanting to do for awhile now.  The painting was done from a colorized photo, taken around the time she earned her teaching certificate, circa 1930.  Thats why the scholarly pose.  She was a shy, petite woman, who raised 4 sons and 2 daughters and taught her family to cherish each other above all else.

Merry Christmas Ambrose!

Merry Christmas everyone!

A Portrait and Another Auction Painting

This is a detail of the portrait I'm working on.  I hope to finish it up tomorrow.

I'm doing it from an old black and white photo, with a faded bit of colorizing on it.

For those of you know her, don't spill the beans!  Its a surprise for Christmas!  Shhh!

 

"Little Bay Horse"     6 x 8"      oil/canvas panel - sold

This is another painting I did earlier this year.  Back to auction it goes.

"A Head Study"

8 x 6" oil/canvas panel - sold

Heres another little sketch, with my daughter as the model.  It really doesn't look like her, but I wasn't going for portraiture.  I never tire of painting faces.  Burt Silverman describes it as being in love with the landscape of the face.  This is certainly true for me.

"Fixing the Focal Point"

8 x 6" oil/canvas panel

For purchase information click here.

This is an update to the previous painting seen below.

Here I am making good use of a critique I got from Peggi Habets, who suggested that the contrasting area surrounding the ponytail on my first attempt might be too strong.  (See comments link below.) So in this update you can see that I have connected my darks and diffused the values through this area, which pulls the focal point over to her face.  I also corrected some color issues using Photoshop.

This is my first attempt.