Man, Woman

These two paintings are 30" x 36", and

are hanging together in the StutzArtSpace

Gallery. The current show, "Women of a

Certain Age", ends tonight with a lecture

by the show curator, Leigh Dunnington-

Jones, on the history of women's under-

garments! Tonight's reception is 6-8pm.

I hope some of you can attend, it should be

a very interesting lecture!

Both of these paintings, and "Coming and

Going" (seen in a previous blog) will be for

sale. Our calendars will also be available.

Please come join us!

Camping with Avery

Is he not the cutest? This is my grandson, Avery. This is what I've been doing instead of painting, camping with the kids. Got some good scenery pictures of Sugar Creek to use as reference photos. Maybe this one should turn into a painting?

Progress

Worked on this figure today, not sure if it's improved or not! Also, had my photo shoot today for the upcoming "Women of a Certain Age" calendar. Be sure to look for it, coming out to accompany the exhibit of the same name in October.

Value study

I have a new iPhone and just added the bloggerplus app. Now able to post blogs from my phone, don't have to wait til I'm home at my desk top. This means more frequent blogs! Woo Hoo! just started this new figure painting, now waiting on the first layer to dry... getting ready for two shows at the Stutz, October and November. More to come!

Missing my Friend!

This is the beginning of a tryptich mosaic tile wall art. Ran out of glue, so have to wait to do the other 2. Thought about Michelle while doing this, she is an awesome mosaic artist friend who just moved to Chicago. We miss her at the Stutz, and I'm sure they miss her in the Carmel Arts and Design district too!

Frolic

Continuing to build a body of work (no pun intended) of nudes in oil. I'm hoping to have more time to paint, now that I am no longer president of the Stutz Artists Association. That's right! As of last night's elections, I am free to paint, draw, even to work at my paying job (nursing)! Very excited about the future, especially since there are two shows coming up this fall that I hope to be a part of. Stay tuned for October's "Women of a Certain Age..." and in November, Spirit and Place, "The Body". Both of these will be exciting events!

Napping on a Cloud

Newest painting, started from our model two weeks ago. This is in oil, 20 x 24. It feels so good to paint!

Starting Something New

Today I moved my mosaic supplies back to my studio. Hope to begin some conrete garden stones, then move on to something more sculptural. The possibilities are endless! This new inspiration came from seeing the work of a handful of other artists. It is apparent that GOOD art is done in community. I am excited about beginning!

Painting is a Process!

Today I am posting 2 images. The one, "Coming and Going" you have seen from last week. I wasn't sure if it was finished, but I've made some adjustments, and I believe this is done. I notice that I have forgotten to sign it, though. Something I am frequently guilty of.

The other image is of a painting I'm not entirely satisfied with. I am happy with the compostition, a male nude in a contemplative pose. I am not happy with the colors, but need to let this percolate before tackling it again.

I am having fun painting again, though, and for that I am grateful!

Exposed

I've been exploring Expressionism. It's really kind of fun! One result is that I'm beginning to think that it's possible to "draw" with paint. This opens up a whole new world for me, because drawing is what I really enjoy and feel called to do. This painting and the previous one are about drawing with paint, and about drawing what I like, often, this is the human figure.

Hope you like it!

Coming and Going

After spending a couple of "dry" weeks, artistically, I decided to just DO something! I have always loved figures, but haven't attempted to paint them very often, thinking I need a model, and why pay for a model when the first paintings for a while won't be any good. So do you see how backward this thinking is? I decided to just do it, paint figures without worrying about making them realistic or even attractive to anyone but me. This is the start of my efforts. I began from a gestural drawing done in open figure last week. This isn't done, but not sure what more to do. It's large-ish, 34" square. It's oil with some charcoal. The charcoal is another piece which I decided to leave in, even enhance. Usually I just use charcoal to sketch the rough outlines, but I like charcoal, and I like line, so why not emphasize that? I kinda like it.

Are the Roses Finished Jumping?

I have worked on this pastel painting, adjusting edges and color saturation to emphasize the intended focal point. Can you guess what it is? Thanks to Pam Newell, my pastel instructor, for the critique of my earlier work.

When Roses Jump Out

Doesn't it look like the roses wanted to go for a walk? They just jumped out of the vase before they realized, they don't have feet!

This is pastel on Wallis paper, 24 x 18. Not sure I'm finished with it. It's "percolating" overnight.

Beach Umbrella, or Rain?

This is the first of what I hope to be a short series of beach items. Useful on a rainy day, or a sunny one!

Hopefully, as this year as Stutz Artists Association president draws to a close, I will have the chance to do more art. I can hardly wait! I think I'm almost ready for an "immersion" into pastel still lifes. We shall see...

Coffee Break

The hardest part about doing this still life is that I couldn't make coffee until I was done using my Mr. Coffee as a subject!

Don't you just love a fresh, hot cup o Joe?

Tea Time

Did this pastel in class, taught by Pam Newell. What a great experience! Can't wait for the next class!

Also, I'm very excited to report that I sold four art works at the Open House this year. Most notably, "White Mums" found a new home with Justin, who has been eyeing it since last fall! Thanks to Justin!

IT'S HERE! OPEN HOUSE 2011

This is the event I wait for all year! If you are a fan of mine, or of art in general, then you don't want to miss this! Come look me up in studio C 350. Some of the art from this blog will be framed and for sale. Hope to see you there!

Orange Hibiscus

I've ordered frames, backing, etc. As soon as it arrives I will frame this and several other new pastels in time for the Open House April 29 and 30. Can't wait for the end of April!

Vegetables with Blue Bottle

The downside of being a Still Life Artist... Your food is never very fresh because all your produce has to "pose" for a few days before you can eat it.

Sunflowers in a Basket

I've not posted lately, but I have been busy doing pastels. Trying to have a body of work ready for the upcoming Stutz Open House! Mark your calendars, April 29 and 30. This will be a great show!

Bottles, Potatos, and Daffodils

I was setting up this still life in my studio, with just the bottles, potatos, and vase, when Carol came in with a handful of daffodils and gave me these! Instantly my still life was more interesting. This is done in pastels on Wallis paper. I'm really appreciating the Wallis, it holds a lot more pastel than other sanded papers.

Still Life with Onions, a Progression

I did this in the pastel class with Pam Newell. She set up this still life, and in the first session I got as far as the bottom picture. In 2 more sessions I ended up with what you see in the top picture. Not sure I like the finished version better than the unfinished. I feel like the unfinished version has more energy. Any comments/ opinions?

Pastel Landscape 4

Last week between blizzards I made my way to my studio at the Stutz to pick up some art supplies to take home. So while the nation was covered in snow and ice, I printed out some reference photos from vacations of the past. This is the result. A landscape from a forgotten spot, but I believe it would have to be at an Indiana State Park.

More Fun with Pastels

Something I did after attending two Pastel Painting classes taught by Pam Newell. Love the class!

Sunset, Key West

Debby sent me a photo she took from Jerry's trawler in the Gulf off Key West. They are always beautiful, but sometimes spectacular. She know I hadn't seen one in a while. I had to recreate it with pastels.

Wedding Dress - Commission

Had fun doing this commissioned drawing of a wedding dress, with images of Rome, the honeymoon destination, in the background. What a great idea for the first, "paper", anniversary!