Zinnia, Portland Open Studio, Washington County Open Studio

Zinnia

10"x 10"x 1.5"

oil on cradled board

Click here to bid

This is one of twelve paintings of flowers that I am doing for a calendar and note cards that I am having available at the Portland Open Studio and Washington County Open Studio tour, 

October 10-11, 17-18, 2015. 

My son, Thomas, and I look over black and white photos for the calendar.

I am almost done with my paintings. I have laid out samples of envelopes from Envelope Mall to see if any of them match. (look how many "greens" they have!) The next thing is to email images of my paintings to the printer.

Canna Lilies are blooming right now, and although they are one of my favorite flowers, I decided not to paint them but to use them to show you how effective light can be.

(That's my daughter Claire a few years ago. She's 5'10" now!)

Here is sunlight directly on the leaves... 

...and this is sunlight from behind the leaves.
Notice the difference? Isn't it beautiful?!
That is why "light" is always so important to me when I paint.

Studio Tip:

I clean my brushes in Murphy Oil Soap. 

Oil, water-based oil, acrylic,....whatever, it's great at getting all the paint off!

If you have any other ideas about a cleaning solution, let me know. :)

Listening to while I paint:

Audiobook:  

"The Scarlet Pimpernel", by Baroness Orczy. I watched the movie in 1982 with my dad. It had Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, and Ian McKellen.

Podcasts: 
American's Test Kitchen, hosted by Christopher Kimball
Online Marketing Made Easy, hosted by Amy Porterfield

The Nerdist, Patrick Stewart, hosted by Chris Hardwick

Artists Helping Artists, hosted by Leslie Saeta

The Chalene Show, hosted by Chalene Johnson
Social Media Examiner, hosted by Michael Stelzner
"Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!", hosted by Peter Sagal
Splendid Table, hosted by Lynne Rossetto KasperTruth For Life, hosted by Alistair Begg

Music: 
My iPod

What I am reading:
Youtility, by Jay Baer

Really helpful!:

I am continually checking a dictionary, thesaurus, spell check, but one thing that has been particularly helpful is the grammar check. Please excuse any errors that I make and tell me! :)

Soldier/Dogs

Soldier/Dogs

11"x 14"

Acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I finished a commission for a client who has a lot of veterans come work for him. He offers them jobs because they have a hard time finding them elsewhere. My client shared some amazing stories with me, and I was surprised and touched to learn about the importance of the relationship between dog and soldier:
   "One of the key themes my guys tell me coming home is that dogs helped get them through the war. These guys credit the dogs with saving their lives. I never would have guessed that to be the case, but it was. I never realized it until someone came into my office and commented that there were dogs with all of my boys in the pictures I had on my desk." 

Listening to while I paint:

Audio-books: "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. Read by the author.

Podcasts:
              "Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!" hosted by Peter Sagal
               Here's The Thing, hosted by Alec Baldwin
               Social Media Examiner, by Michael Stelzner
               The Splendid Table by Lynne Rosetto Kasper
               Artist Helping Artist by Leslie Saeta
Music: my iPod

                 

Stroke Update - "Not Leaving"

Rose Bush
11"x 14"
acrylic on gessoboard
$375
Click here to purchase

"The Book Thief", an audio book by Markus Zusak, takes place in the fictional town of Molching, Germany between 1939 and 1943. Often, a little girl in that town had nightmares and her Poppa, would come to her in the middle of the night and "not leave" her alone.....

A quote from the book:

                "A definition not found in the dictionary, 'not leaving'; an act of trust and love often deciphered by children."

I cried when I first heard this because, ever since my stroke, I've had to depend on people "not leaving" me. Everything I do, driving, walking and especially my one armed reverse double flip hand springs (just kidding!), requires having them near me.   

There have been many people in my life who are "not leaving": acquaintances, friends, 

but most of all my family. :)

Listening to while I paint:

Audiobook: The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell, read by the author

Podcasts: The Nerdist, by Chris Hardwick

                 Social Media Examiner, by Michael Stelzner

              Artist Helping Artist, by Leslie Saeta

                 Oh So Pinteresting, hosted by Cynthia Sanchez

Music: my iPod

Hawaiian Turtle

Hawaiian Turtle

30"x 40"

acrylic on canvas

SOLD

This was for clients whose favorite vacation spot is Hawaii:

"We go to Hawaii as often as we can- We fell in love with the islands when we took a Hawaiian cruise in 2006. 

Each Island is so unique.  Our favorites are Maui and the big Island of Hawaii.  We've gone back 5 times since that cruise. We've been lucky enough to discover turtles in the water or on the beach each visit.  I'm always fascinated with how slow and agile they glide through the water. The photos we shared with you for this painting were from a visit 3 years ago to the Kona side of Hawaii.
The beach was very quiet that day, and we discovered several turtles resting on the beach near the black rocks.
We couldn't stop looking at them and comparing their shells and unique characteristics. This guy in particular seemed very tired and happy to just nap on the beach and soak up the sun! We sat down near him and did the same ; )"

Here is the process:

I drew out the image with vine charcoal so I could erase it (if necessary!), then I'd fix it or secure it with a workable fixative.

Thank goodness for Brian Buckrell! 

He is a wonderful painter. He introduced me to acrylic pens. I have only begun using them, but they helped me draw out the lines on the turtle. 

Listening to while I paint:

Audiobook: "Someday, Someday, Maybe", by Lauren Graham read by the author

Podcast: Social Media Examiner, by Michael Stelzner

                 The Nerdist, by Chris Hardwick

              Here's The Thing, hosted by Alec Baldwin

              The Alton Browncast, hosted by Alton Brown
               Oh So Pinteresting, hosted by Cynthia Sanchez

Music: my ipod

A link that I found that will help me with my grammer!

 

Daffodil

Daffodil 

7"x 5"

acrylic on gessoboard
SOLD

Buy a print here!

A little painting of springtime as we are snowed in here in Portland, OR!

Listening to while I paint:

Podcast: Off Camera With Sam Jones , hosted by Sam Jones

                 Alton Browncast, hosted by Alton Brown

Music: my iPod

Green Mums

Green Mums

7"x 5"

acrylic on gessoboard

Click here to purchase.

I have six 6 of these glasses. They're originally shot glasses, but I like to use them as vases!

Listening to while I paint:

Audio book: Centennial, by James A. Michener
    Podcast: Oh, So Pinteresting, hosted by, Cynthia Sanchez
    Music: Spotify

Through The Glass

8"x 8"

acrylic on gessoboard

$150

Entered into Daily Paintworks "Through The Glass" challenge.

Click here to purchase.

On Writing

My Son Gave These To Me

8"x 8"

acrylic on gessoboard

Click here to purchase this painting.

I am listening to "On Writing" by Stephen King, although I have never read  his books or seen his movies. :)

At one point he talks about who it is he writing too. He says, "all novels are really letters aimed at one person" ..."I wonder what he or she will think when he or she reads this part".

I always think of the client or the person who may buy it. I want it to add something special to their home. Will he/she notice this part?

They may live with it for years!

I always want to hear the story, the humor, the tenderness, the reason behind what they want me to create. That is very important!

But, I create for the artist too. (although, he or she doesn't know it!) 
Will he/she like the edges, the shape, the flow? How is the value, the warm and cool? Is the drawing okay, the proportion? Is there enough balance, contrast, etc....

Do he/she like it? :)

It is a combination of both.