Gray Skies, Carrots, and Lemons

Gray Skies, Carrots, and Lemons

It’s a dark and stormy day in Portland today. Surprising, huh?  I have to tell you, Oregon in February and March can be pretty grueling for this Southern Californian. While these winter days are cozy in my studio, I'm getting ready for some sunshine.

Here's a little bright spot. February is the month of CARROTS, according to my 2017 Vegetable Calendar, at least. 

Carrot
12"x 12"

oil on 1" cradled panel

$285

Click here to purchase

Thanks so much to everyone who contributed recipes and purchased a 2017 calendar. I’m pleased to announce I sold out—and am starting to plan the 2018 edition. More to come on that soon!

In the meantime, I’d love to share this month’s recipe and story with you. 

The recipe comes from my friend Pamela Dussault’s cookbook. It’s a collection of all the recipes she’s created in her catering business, Almatierra Catering. When a big group of us gathered on the beach for a February retreat year after year, Pamela always made our meals. As we bustled in from cold sunset walks, we’d find the table set with bright tablecloth, glowing candles, fresh cedar boughs. Pamela pulled fresh, golden loaves of bread from the oven and hurried them to the table with potholders on her hands. She’d glance to make sure everything was there—and then play guitar nearby as we ate. Her artful soul showed in everything she made—whether art, music or food. Warm, nourishing stews, curries, soups. But, oh, the nights when she brought out this salad. So simple, so complex. The bite of vinegar; the sweet, crunchy carrot; salty seaweed; woody sesame… Whenever I make it, I can taste love. 

- Madeleine Eno, www.inthewriteplace

Carrot Hijiki Salad

6-8 large carrots, grated

¼ cup hijiki, soaked (Find hijiki, a sea veggie, in health food or Asian food stores)

Dressing

1 T. rice vinegar

2 tsp. toasted sesame oil

1 ½ tsp. sugar

1 tsp. tamari or soy sauce

½ tsp. crushed garlic

1 T hot Thai garlic sauce

1 T toasted sesame seeds

Soak hijiki in hot water until soft or bring to a boil and remove from heat. Let set until cool.

Combine dressing ingredients. Pour over veggies and sprinkle with sesame seeds. 

_________________________________________

ANNIE’S MINI-PAINTING LESSON:

Conquering fear of the “blank panel”

Today, I want to use a current commission I’m working on to teach you a fear-conquering trick. This is a big panel, measuring 70 x 40 inches. It’s a commissioned painting – a fun one—of three big lemons that I'm painting for client’s large dining room.

I’m using water-soluble oil paint and a cradled panel. Now, it can be intimidating to start in on such a big project, so here’s what I did to make the process a little easier. 

First, I made a grid on the panel.

Then I projected the lemons onto the panel. That way I could make a decision about where to place them. 

Next, I sprayed water on the panel, then proceeded with a very watered-down version of the color.  I then painted my shapes with a two-inch brush.

I found this Speedy-Carve by Speedball, and use it to spread my paint around. 

This pink eraser-like material is designed for block printing, but I love it for painting. It's pliable and moveable, and I can easily move it around the shapes.

With paper towels, I then removed some of the paint, especially on the lemons. That way I can quickly get a basic value study for the work. 

The Speedy-Carve presents some lovely, interesting shapes that I can work with as I continue. 

Working this way is not so intimidating as just diving in and painting on a blank panel. 

Stay tuned for more lessons as I work on this project!

Listening to while I paint:

Audiobook:  

Podcasts: 

Building a Story Brand, hosted by Donald Miller

American's Test Kitchen, hosted by Bridget Lancaster

Online Marketing Made Easy, hosted by Amy Porterfield

Beyond the To-Do List, hosted by Erik Fisher

Artists Helping Artists, hosted by Leslie Saeta

Social Media Examiner, hosted by Michael Stelzner

Splendid Table, hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper

Online Marketing Made Easy, hosted by Amy Porterfield

Pack Your Mics, Top Chef 

Music: 

My iPod

Pandora - Music makes a difference on these dreary days! Spending time alone, I need upbeat, happy songs, like "Thanksgiving Radio", "Bing Crosby Radio", "Maroon 5 Radio", "Stevie Wonder Radio"...

Annie

My Vegetable Calendar for 2017

You might have seen some of the sneak-peeks of my 

2017 vegetable calendar. I’m so excited that it’s almost complete. 

It will be available at Portland Open Studios 

and Washington County Open Studios in October. 

I chose vegetables this year because I eat them every day, 

they’re beautiful to look at, and there are SO many of them!

I discovered the Vegetables by Month chart by Cook Smarts, in my research. It’s a handy and beautiful way to make sure you’re buying your veggies at their peaks! 

I’ve had fun this summer going to the Portland Farmers Market to buy vegetables... 

(and fruits, and flowers, and listen to music...) 

and create them into still lifes ... 

 and do some color studies.

 I've done studies of the reds in beets, red onions, and tomatoes.... 

and the amazing orange hues in carrots, yellow beets, and pumpkins. 

I had an idea of how to make the calendar even more fun...to add in recipes and stories from my friends.

So, here’s my request: 

If you have a favorite recipe featuring one of the following vegetables, please send it to me—along with a short story about the recipe. It could be why it’s your family's favorite, how your mother/grandma taught you to make it, or that time you served it at a fun dinner party, etc.
  
And, I would like to send you one a cd calendar (small desk size), as a thank you gift!

DEADLINE: midnight PST on Thursday, September 15. 

LENGTH: 250 words or less for recipe + story together. 

CONTRIBUTOR: I can use your name or leave it anonymous—just let me know which you prefer. :)

SEND TO: annie@anniesalness.com

Here’s the line-up of vegetables for 2017.

Choose your favorite one—and have at it!

My mouth is already watering in anticipation of the FANTASTIC recipes I know you will contribute!

• beets
• bok choy
• pumpkin
• carrot
• red pepper
• red onion
• tomatoes 
• garlic, rosemary
• brussel sprouts 
• asparagus
• artichoke
• eggplant

Gotta share!

Here is this little boy, at the Farmers Market, holding an artichoke!

I couldn't resist sharing one of my favorite Little Rascals scenes of Stymie...

"It might choke arti, but it ain't gonna choke Stymie." :)

Listening to while I paint:

Audiobook:  

Watership Down, by Richard Adams, narrated by Ralph Cosham

Podcasts: 

Building a Story Brand, hosted by Donald Miller
American's Test Kitchen, hosted by Christopher Kimball
Online Marketing Made Easy, hosted by Amy Porterfield

Beyond the To-Do List, hosted by Erik Fisher

Artists Helping Artists, hosted by Leslie Saeta

Social Media Examiner, hosted by Michael Stelzner
Splendid Table, hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper

Robcast, hosted by Rob Bell

Music: 
My iPod
Pandora

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! :)

Happy Thanksgiving! and Scott Conary's Studio

Pumpkin

8"x 8"

oil on gessoboard

Click here to purchase

My husband and I went to the Sitka Art Invitational, and I was stuck by Scott Conary's work, especially by his painting, "Robert's Door".

The use of color and the paint application was stunning!

 

Roberts Door

32"x 54"

oil on canvas

Clearly, the colors, paint application, and its majesty does not show up in this photo. 

That is why it is so important to see the art work in person! 

"As my eyes came upon the worn door on the heavy old house, I saw the painting in my head. I saw generations of hands turning a now missing knob and" read more by Scott.... 

 Scott lives near my friend Mona Cordell, so she and I and my new friend, Mary Parkes, got to go by his studio.

What a kind, gracious man.

He said that he cleaned up!

He makes his own frames or orders then from Franken Frames.

Prime

26"x 38"

oil on canvas

Meat!  Isn't it beautiful? Read more about meat here.

1928 Indian 4, 52" x 42", 

Oil on Canvas

-work in progress-

"A few months back, a friend gave me a tour of some old machines in Wichita. Amongst them was this amazing bike, restored by a friend of his. The painting is very much a work in progress, but the bones are there." -Scott

Ornament

7 1/2"x 6 3/4"

oil on panel

This painting inspired my "Pumpkin" painting. 

Take some time and really look at his work and read his stories. His blog is a great place to learn about his past and present struggles and how he, his wife and his daughter, continue to deal with these challenges. 

He can write and paint beautifully.

I have paintings for sale for your holiday gifts, most for under $200. 

Click here to purchase.

Or buy prints here.

Listening to while I paint:

Audio Books:

"A Painted House" by John Grisham, narrated by David Lansbury

Podcasts: 

Food is the New Rock, hosted by Zach Brooks
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
Splendid Table, hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper
American's Test Kitchen, hosted by Christopher Kimball

Music:
My iPod: Christmas music!

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! :)

Today is January 1, 2014.....

Gerbera, Glass, Pear

6"x 6"

acrylic on gessoboard

Click here to purchase

Today is January 1, 2014, and I am participating in a 30 paintings in 30 days 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!!!!

Listening to while I paint: 

Audio book - Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, narrated by Malcolm Gladwell

Podcast - Peter Sagal hosts,   "Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!"

Spotify

In a Engineers Home....

30"x 30"

acrylic on canvas

Here is the finished commission (custom artwork) I did for the couple that I mentioned here. 

They have a beautiful home, but they wanted more color in their living room. Her favorite flower was the Gerbera (gerber?) daisy and I agreed to do a painting of a floral arrangement.  I said, since I am doing this just for you, do you want to put some meaning into it?  Maybe a letter from a grandmother; photos; a memorable item; a vase? They decided on vases. The tall vase is from his grandmother, (all the way from Ireland) and the lady's head is from her mother. 
They loved it! 

Listening to while I paint:
Podcast:  Alec Baldwin hosts, "Here's The Thing"
                 Peter Sagal hosts,   "Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!"

Audio Books:   Jules Verne author of Around The World In Eighty Days, narrated by the                                        FABULOUS  Jim Dale!

Through The Glass

8"x 8"

acrylic on gessoboard

$150

Entered into Daily Paintworks "Through The Glass" challenge.

Click here to purchase.

Gerbera's, gerbers, ?

30"x 30"

acrylic

Right now I am working on a commission (custom artwork), where the person  wanted more color in her living room and her favorite flower was the Gerbera (gerber?) daisy.  I said, since I am doing this just for you, do you want to put some meaning into it?  Maybe a letter from a grandmother; photos; a memorable item; a vase? They decided on vases. The tall vase is from his grandmother, (all the way from Ireland) and the lady's head is from her mother. 

Listening to while I paint:
- Dan Brown, "Inferno"
- Stuff You Missed In History Class, "Building Disneyland's Haunted Mansion", 10/21/13 and 10/23/13
- Pandora

2 Cups, 2 Oranges

"2 Cups, 2 Oranges"

8"x 8"

 acrylic on stretched canvas

Click here to purchase this painting.

This is my last challenge for the "30 in 30 Day Challenge" by Leslie Saeta.

I made 7 paintings. 

I listened to Lisa Daria's message on Artists Helping Artists, and revamped my schedule. 

I used to get up at 5, make coffee :) and read aloud, do my "Morning Pages", (writing from the Artist Way), go through my planner, and do my electrical myostimulation. (electrical "pads" for my stroke)

Now, I get up at 5, make coffee, and paint! (I do that other stuff at night!)

Then I have time for commissioned paintings  through out the day.

I think I will continue the small paintings every three to four days. It has given me confidence.

Thank you Leslie and Lisa! 

5 in 10 in 30 ......whatever.....

8"x 8"

acrylic on gessoboard

sold

I  proposed (to offer or suggest....) to do Leslie Saeta's 30 Day Challenge by being aware of my current situation, (stroke) and agree to do 10 in 30.

Well......this is only #5. There are 8 days left, so I'm thinking, I may just make it to 6 or 7.....