Akira

"Akira"

6"x 9"

acrylic on wrapped canvas

Not For Sale

I have been wanting to do this painting for a long time as a gift to Mark.

I had my stroke in Oct, 2010,  when my good friend, Mark Heimann,owner of the Lost Mountain Clayworks, sent me a Kanji (oriental calligraphy) lantern that says "Perseverance" and a little shot glass that says "Courage" that he made.

 "Everyone needs a little shot of courage," says Mark.

Here is Mark's story about Akira:

           "7 & ½ years ago, Becki decided she wanted a dog. Since we had about ten goats then, she wanted a livestock guarding or a herding dog. I was watching the litter and Becki’s decision-making, a long-haired puppy trundled over to me, sat down, and looked me right in the eye. Well, I was completely done in, captured, no doubt chosen by her, and she was coming home with us. 

She had to grow into her ears….

Her name morphed from Keira (from the beautiful Keira Knightley) to Akira (Kurosawa?) somehow – but we do call her Kira (“Keera”) for short.

Anyway Akira has been my constant companion ever since July of 2006. From art festival to pirate festival, beach to river to forest.

She is a natural born guard dog, perhaps prone to bark a little too much…..

And a total love."

Thank you so much Mark! :)

Listening to while I paint:

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

                   America's Test Kitchen hosted by Christopher Kimball

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

Fred

"Fred"

8"x 8"

acrylic on gessoboard

SOLD

My friend, Barbara, emailed me this picture to paint:

" My dog, Pebbles, passed away at 15. I was super lonely so I decided to get another dog. I adopted Fred when he was 7 weeks old from the German Shepherd Rescue Foundation. He was the runt of the litter and is now over 60 lbs. You will find him waiting for me when I come home from work. He follows me everywhere and sleeps next to my side of the bed each night. I love my Freddie!" 
Barbara

It's not too late to send in pictures!  The people who pictures I choose to paint will be getting

my note 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: South of Broad, by Pat Conroy. Narrated by Mark Deakins
     Podcast: The Alton Browncast hosted by Alton Brown
     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

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

Stroke Update - Lifting Hooks

It's been three years since my stroke. I keep getting stronger (slowly) every day. 

A few weeks ago, I had a trainer at my club,  Joni Neilson (International Federation of BodyBuilders...she's fabulous!), suggest that I might try these lifting hooks. (well, 1 anyway....)

As you can see, the hook fits inside my hand and rests inside my palm and fingers. This is so my fingers and the hook work as a unit. They are, "Designed to enhance grip and reduce finger fatigue".

It has made such a difference! I lift about 5 times a week and before when using my right hand, my fingers gave out as the weight increased. Now I can lift more (they can lift 825 lbs) AND I can use both hands! Something I couldn't do before. I felt like crying when after three years I could use both hands, but it probably wouldn't go over too well in the weight room with all those guys...
Thank you Joni!!!!

The New President of Corban University

24"x 30"

acrylic on canvas

I finished the painting of Dr. Sheldon Nord. He is the new President at Corban University in Salem, OR. 
I got to meet him before I painted his portrait. As he told us his story and his reason for taking the Presidency at the school,  he got very emotional about Daniel from the Old Testament in the Bible:

 " I get emotional about Daniel in Babylon because we are living in a post-Christian culture, and probably one of the most relativistic societies ever.  We must be about preparing the next generation of Daniels who know, respect and follow God's word.  Our children will face unprecedented challenges in being salt and light.  The issues of our day demand courage, boldness and resolve like never before.

To Christ be all glory!!"

I got very emotional too!

I read through the book of Daniel, looking for a quote, but I decided that what he said summed it up perfectly! So, I asked him to send me his quote in his own writing:

I ended up tracing his writing onto my painting using Derwent Inktense pencils. You can add water to the dry pencil or wet the surface to create a strong, clear color wash.

  " Inktense pencils can be used dry for rich, intense color or washed out with a little water to create a vivid translucent effect. Once dry, the color is permanent and can be worked over with other media." 

I drew it with a dry pencil and then added a clear water wash. 
I wish I had these!

 They are Sakura Koi Water Brushes. "A fine, flexible brush tip and a barrel handle with a plug to carry water." 

If you have any other ideas about how I could have put the writing on, I love to hear them!


Listening to:

Truth For Life- Alistair Begg - Daniel

The Alton Browncast

Splendid Table