Exploring new ideas

It is a new year and time for some new things. Over the last 25 years I have always loved drawing figure and have done loose gestures as a warm-up. The drawings end up in bins at my galleries and people have loved them. These works are larger versions on oil primed linen. Initially I put down a loose charcoal sketch then seal it with spray retouch varnish. When it is dry I come back on top with a mix of burnt umber and ultramarine. I use a soft viva towel like an eraser to soften and blend.

New Series

I have started new series from personal references I have the last few years. This is the first of the series "Evening Sky - Drifting Mist" 40 x 30. The location is the family farm July 4th. We had been shooting fireworks with the kids and I was shooting photos even though I had forgotten my tripod. So all the images are soft and fuzzy. That is the interpretation for this work.

Fall Approaching

As the seasons change so does then subject matter for my still lifes. My husband and I frequent his family farm in western Tennessee. It is a rich source of subject matter particularly the cotton fields. I pick the ripe open bolls and the this year for the first time I harvested some of the unopened ones. They are beautiful. The unripened boll is a beautiful shade of purple with shades of rich green. The leaves cupping the bolls are wispy and soft like tender feathers. This was the first time I tried to capture them.

Cotton Bouquet  - 12 x 12 Oil on Linen Panel

Spring Still Lifes

This spring I have continued to explore still lifes both outdoors and in the studio. My focus has been on a particular flower the peony. It has a short season here isn Arkansas and the beautiful shapes must be captured very quickly they change constantly and last maybe two days in a still life setup. Edges are very important on these florals and expressive texture.

Last Peony Pose 18 x 24 Oil on Linen

Peonies and Nectarine 20 x 16 Oil on Linen

Winter Still Lifes

While Arkansas was shrouded in ice the first week of March I went to Scottsdale Artist School and attended a wonderful workshop with Sherrie McGraw, David Leffel and Jackie Kamin. Weather was mild and pleasant. We had the choice to work on still lifes or models. This workshop I chose to focus on building my still life skills. I felt very successful. All three of the instructors were encouraging and informative. Each pushed me to make changes and find the right movement for my brush. This is the first one I completed during my workshop.

Copper Pot with grapes and Tangerines 12 x 16 Oil on Linen Panel

Remembering the Snow

Over New Years I made a trip to one of my favorite painting spots Steamboat Springs, CO. It was incredibly cold -13 degrees on one of the days I hiked to Fish Creek Falls. Only used my sketchbook and camera on this trip but had great time in the studio remembering this special spots.

Bank of Aspens Yampa Valley, Lake Catamount 24 x 24 Oil on Linen

Colorado Mailboxes 16 x 20 Oil on Linen
 

Windbreak 12 x 16 Oil on Linen

Moving to still lifes - Vases, persimmons and color

As the summer winds down the abundance of color and beauty from my surroundings captivates my eye. On my husbands family farm in Tennessee we discovered a wonderful persimmon tree loaded with brilliant ripe and unripened fruit. I was enthralled by the orange and subtle green of the small round fruit with a delightful four leaf top. Pulaski Gardens has yielded a bounty of color with glorious sunflowers, zinnias and lovely chickens. Again on the Tennessee farm purple thistles with tender blossoms reaching out. At the Argenta Farmers Market a great find of Japanese persimmons the size of baseballs. What fun it has been to find these gems to paint.

Persimmons 11 x 14 Oil on Linen available at the Art Group Gallery

Razzle Dazzle Sunflowers II 9 x 12 Oil on Linen Panel
Available direct from Artist

 Summer Thistle 12 x 9 Oil on Linen Panel Sold

Japanese Persimmons 12 x 16 Oil on Linen Available at The Art Group Gallery