Daisy, Studio Tip, Stroke Update

Daisy, Green Vase

6"x 6", Framed

oil on gessoboard

Studio Tip:

I like to paint on panels and boards, and my friend, Doug, built a storage system to hold them. 

Now.... I needed to come up with a way to hold/support them on my easel. 

There is a "lip" that covers up the upper and lower part of your panel.

I tried to sit the panel on the "lip"and it didn't work. It wasn't secure. (it fell down......scary!!!)

So, in my efforts to come up with a remedy, I have found some solutions:

David Darrow  -"My board is 2ft x 2ft x 1/2” birch plywood. I bought a flat, aluminum “bar” at a hardware store, cut too 12” pieces from it, and drilled holes through them both. I set a panel onto it, then somewhere along the top edge I stab a screw into the board very close to the painting. Sometimes the threads hold it in place, other times, the wide head of the screw. 
I have been using this board for 15 years, so far."

Scott Conary -"On my small easel, I've added some bits of wood so that 1/4" panel has something to brace against."

David and Scott made these supports/braces and are master woodworkers! 

Now, I could do Michael Orwick's approach:

He screwed 4 screws; .2 at the top and 2 at the bottom of his easel to support the panel.

Or..... I can just buy one...

Carol Marine - "designed by David Marine - holds the panel still and allows you to paint off every edge with nothing in the way." Carol Marine's Easel

Karin Jurick  the "Paint On" easel comes in two forms: one that fits on your stand-up easel and one that is a tabletop easel. 

Karin Jurick's Easel

 Any other suggestions???

Stroke Up-date:

This is kinda funny....

 This is where I lift almost every day...... pretty intense and intimidating, right?

But the one thing that I had to overcome this huge hill  because I have this thing called "foot drop".

"Foot drop is a gait abnormality in which the dropping of the forefoot happens due to weakness, irritation or damage...." Wikipedia

I couldn't climb up or down that thing without some help from a nearby weight machine....

Curbs were another problem. I had to use the car or a person, (all of which were happy to help!) to get up and down those.

But I conquered it!!!!

Listening to while I paint:
Audio Books:
"David and Goliath" by Malcolm Gladwell

Podcasts: 

The Nerdist, hosted by Chris Hardwick

Here's The Thing, hosted by Alec Baldwin
Artists Helping Artists, hosted by Leslie Saeta
Social Media Examiner, hosted by Michael Stelzner
"Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!", hosted by Peter Sagal
Splendid Table, hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper
American's Test Kitchen, hosted by Christopher Kimball

Truth For Life, hosted by Alistair Begg

Music: 
My iPod

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! :)

Carol Marine's Workshop - Stroke Update

Click here to purchase

Here are some of the paintings I did at Carol Marine's workshop in Springfield, OR. (about 1 1/2 hours south of Portland) 

It was WONDERFUL!!!! 

We studied items in white, glass, reflections, flowers and metal. 

Carol went over a printed handout each morning going through 

the different processes/objectives for the day, and then she did a demo. 

One of the best things about it was watching her paint:   

the layout;

her palette; 

her strokes;

stepping back;

her highlights....what she calls "bling";

 

and then we painted the rest of the day. 

I think that all of us students agreed that having Carol around to 

give helpful critiques was a HUGE benefit!

 I got back to the hotel about 4:30 in the afternoon and immediately went to bed! 

(Not really, I stayed up until 6:30? I was sooooooo tired!)

Stroke update:

This workshop was a big success for me. My husband and my two youngest daughters drove me down to Springfield and stayed the first night with me....then I was on my own! There I was: 2 hrs. south of home, in a hotel, taking the shuttle to and from the workshop, by myself for the first time since my stroke! This week I learned not only about painting but I also gained new confidence in my independence!

About a year ago I announced on Facebook that I would be running by this July. 

Well, recovering from a stroke is taking a little longer than I had planned, so, I will strive for next July. If I end up running sooner, I will definitely let you know!!!!! :) 

Listening to while I paint:

Podcasts: The Alton Browncast, hosted by Alton Brown

                  The Lede, hosted by Jerod Morris

                   Artists Helping Artists, hosted by Leslie Saeta

                  Social Media Examiner, hosted by Michael Stelzner

                  "Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!", hosted by Peter Sagal

Music: my iPod

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! :)

25 in 30

25 paintings in 30 days

Here is my "collage" of the 25 paintings I did during the month of January. 

About midway through the month, I decided to work in mostly black and white, doing value studies. An art friend told me, it doesn't matter which color you choose, just as long as it is the right value. 

Thank you so much for all the pictures you sent me! 

I am still working on some of them. 

Please continue to send me  pictures. For those I choose to paint, I will be sending my note cards and the first chance to buy the painting.

If you would like to send me a picture, email it to:   annie@anniesalness.com , and please include your address. 

Thank you!!!!

Listening to while I paint:

     Podcast: The Alton Browncast hosted by Alton Brown

                         Medieval Archives

                         The Lede from Copyblogger

                         Sherlock Holmes     Music: Spotify

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

Green Glass, Satsumas, Two Birds

"Green Glass, Satsumas"

5"x 7"

acrylic on gessoboard

Click here to purchase.

Day 2

In January, I am participating in a "30 in 30" day painting challenge. I have asked people to send me pictures of what they would like painted. The people who pictures I choose to paint will be getting: 

                                                     -  my note cards and gift cards

                                                                             and 

                                                   - first chance to buy the painting!

If you would like to send me a picture that I can paint, email it to:                                                                                                              annie@anniesalness.com . 

And please include you address! Thank you!!!!

"Two Birds" 

5"x 7" 

acrylic on gessoboard

SOLD

Day 3

My friend was kind enough to send me the picture that I painted from. As a thank you, I am sending her some of my note cards! 

"That photo was taken from inside a barn on Sauvie Island. The birds were so cute together.  When I saw them I had to capture the moment!"

"Sauvie Island, originally Wapato Island, is approximately 10 miles north of Portland, Oregon. It is the largest island in the Columbia River and one of the largest islands in the U.S. Located at the junction of the Columbia River to the east, Willamette River to the south and Multnomah Channel to the west, the island’s northern half is a wildlife refuge and the southern half is predominantly rural farmland with small residential enclaves."

I used some palette knife on the foreground and the background. That should make Leslie Saeta happy! :)

I NEED HELP with names of paintings. If you have any resources, email me! annie@anniesalness.com

Listening to while I paint:

Audio book: South of Broad, by Pat Conroy. Narrated by Mark Deakins

Music: Spotify