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2005

These paintings were some of the last i did before starting to paint with palette knife
Lately I'm tempted to go back to the brush and try my hand at some realism
Seeing all the incredible talent on these blogs gets me a little envious or maybe curious about what I"m missing
I have a better grasp of colors and value than I did in these works so maybe maybe I'll do try something different 

Jane reworked

This is the same painting, the one on the left shows the metallic effect a little more.Where there is no paint applied depending on the light will shine gold
36x48 --done in 2 hours

Full Bodied II is finished 30x30 oil on canvas

full bodied 2

this is what I wanted ,rich rustic colors ,more warm than cold.I am not fininshed yet,but nearly.
The color equation in this painting came like a revelation Very fun!

Angela, sorry I can't get a better pic than this the room is dark and it's been raining here for days.

This painting is about three years old it was accepted in a juried show.The idea I had was that the baby be more defined than the mother,meaning our children get all the attention. I just transfered this to paint.

It seems really funny to me now, I would never paint a potrait from a photo taken with a flash.The light is not very good.

Demonstration piece finished

Yesterday I was pleasantly surprized.On my weekly visit to The Heronbay Gallery, I walked in on the purchase transaction of this painting. I was very happy to meet the lady that will have it I began another work today
Full bodied II I intend to make it better than the first. I liked the first,but felt the colors were too much.
I have gone and lost my glasses,so typing this there may be mistakes (sorry)
Have to go search,so i can catch up on everyone's blog

ready to paint

This is my space ,not the space I work in. But where I put things and where I go to study the work and think.The portait you can't see very well above the love seat is me and daughter Dana.One of my first portraits.
I've come out of my painting block. I think I now know what direction to take.
Simplicity comes to mind .I would love to get the effect of realism but in a very clean clear way. With paiting knife this will be hard,but the fun is in the challenge.Right?

These images are my paintings

not painted by me,but part of my collection. I think I love collecting as much as creating. Most of us do(I think)

My taste in art is varied(opened minded?)I hope

I wish I had more money , so I could purchase those pieces I've seen that I still have stuck in my head

Funny about that. Art can certainly leave an impression on the mind

Finding things I love in others artist work helps me to understand my work better

Halloween

As Halloween approches I'm reminded, that I will have to go door to door with the kids ,pestering strangers,for candy I don't really want them having. Mmm chocolate addiction, wacky kids climbing walls, and wrappers everywhere.
I used to like Halloween, if I lightened up I possibly could like it again.

My son Chandler

George Lucas if i had you by the neck!

Sisters

 

Daughter Dana 7 a sheer joy 

choices choices choices

I've been having a little painting slump lately ,which is ok.They used to scare me ,but now that I've had a few of them, they seems more familiar. I also realize they will be a continuous occasional occurance.
Most times I come back from them a changed artist . I have been doing a lot of thinking about reasons for art. Why do we do it ? Who do we do it for? What is real,honest art? and the biggest of all Does it bring happiness? I know each artist would answer these questions differently. This is good Vive la difference! Sometimes.... it is hard ..to be opened minded enough.. to know there is truth in more than one answer....

at the watershed

 

 

painting demonstration

I was asked to do a demonstration on how I do my palette knife paintings
I was very nervous,it was the first time doing this. I thought that maybe under pressure I wouldn't be able to create ,but it went very well. The more time went by and as the painting came along it got easier.Of ourse as we all know you can't please everyone, but I was honest. Thats what counts. I 'll post pics of the event as soon as I get them.
Every one in my house is sick, and hubby's home from work. So My computer time is being cut short.I'm looking forward to catching up on everyones blog as soon as possible.

Pigment

I haven't painted anything new recently,but my chair and portait commission are done.
Jeannine liked her portrait very much she hugged me and said "It's you"(meaning my style) I thought that was funny.I said" No, it's you! "
This selfportrait posted was done about a year ago and is titled "Pigment"
I thought the relationship between the paint color and freckles was cute. In hindsight , I hadn't begun using color yet, and knew very little about true pigment. I love that as artist our trajectory is visualy documented . To look at past work reveals so much about who and where we are today
24 x 24 inches .(sold) 

Competition results

Before I tell you the results of the competition,I will tell you that I have a winning record that everyone is familiar with. It's kind of a joke. Oh,Amber will win again(everyone says), I always get second place; which to me always feels like I lost anyways.
In this competition I did not win, but I did in a way. I learned something very valuable: We as artist cannot judge our own work as to which is good or which is bad. It's like choosing which of your children is better looking. Very difficult. That Magic doesn't always happen, but it's good when it does. And to recognize it when it does is even better.

rough start

Began this morning i 'm doing something different with colors .I'm having fun
still a lot of work to be done on this but I will leave this chair in a rough condition

today full bodied left my home to find another. She was to be a gift for a wedding
I hope the happy couple likes it
I was a bit sad to see the painting leave. I don't really know why.Maybe i hadn't had enough time to look it Find all the flaws I usually end up seeing

Possible new subject

nose pinching duel

A few weeks ago i saw my son Dean had a red nose, I asked what happened and he replied "Claire did it"
I then went to find little Claire to scold her and to my surprize saw the same war wound.
I decided they had learned a lesson without my intervention
Don't they look angelic -- Not!
I have no art to post yet, I'm on the search for new subject and as soon as I find it I'll post the pic
I received an email of interest on buying the latest one "Full Bodied" I thought I'd work it more ,but I think its done.

second session "full bodied"

A few projects on the go right now,-portrait commission 11x14 - painting on chair for charity
-this painting for a new gallery that opened nearby called the Mosaic-Varnishing my competition entry, that will be next friday
I'm learning about using pure pigment (on my own)
I know it's better,but I find the colors a bit too much
Maybe too many colors ,thats the problem
I get a little over zealous

Full bodied

This is a painting I begun yesterday after my second session with" En che por"
En che por was a big disappointement for me I started applying paint with spatula and everything went wrong
The lighting was bad the colors were off I put it in the corner for now. But within the hour I had begun this.
This painting is of three women tasting wine (photo grace a Sonny photos)
I'm nervous to work over this with spatula for fear the same problems occur
We shall see....

en che por

These three words are slang for En quelque part which means somewhere in french I decided to title my new painting this. People in this area will understand and those who do not will find it interesting I'm sure. Our language( Acadian Slang) is a contraversial( i'm not sure i even spelled this right) issue
Facsinating ,but improper.
The painting is in it's first stage and is 30x30 inches oil on canvas I will post it in sessions done.

Pommier en fleurs

This paiting was done by Piet Mondrian now i forget what year but it was probably before his complete primary abstraction
I did not particularly care for his work,but while reading about him stumbled across this piece.
I have found that my ignorance can lead me to create opinions I may like to change in the future.
Now ,when I see Mondrian's work, I will relate it something i like and maybe find relationships between his works
To get a good effect of this painting squint your eyes at it, and all middle values disappear and we are left with just the essentials 

Waiting for dessert

found this and altered to my liking. I may paint this next
I think my craving sweets is having a pursuasion on my subject choice :) 

Well I haven't blogged in a while I've been very busy.Finished my commission of white orchid She was very pleased.Also I'm almost done this "Empty Chairs "
I really like this one .I feel it will lead in me in a new direction.Ya hoo!

Calla Lily

36x36 Calla Lily oil on canvas Here is the last floral I will be doing for the Hotel (for now)Next, I need to paint "White Orchid" 36x48 as a commissioned work for a friend of mine:)It will be finished this week coming After that, I will fininsh my competition piece "Empty Chairs" I can't wait to get to doing that one.

no planting for me

added a few last touched to these floral paintings not my specialty but i feel a painter should be well rounded,so the experience was a learning one the one on the left is titled flamboyance and the other is titled centered Thats how i feel today

I began this today, it mesures 36x36 inches
This blog is turning into a painting a day blog even if thats not what my intentions were.
the coordinator of the Delta hotel has invited me to be part of a group showing (theme florals)
It begins next monday ,I accepted. Being fully aware that I would have to work under pressure to finish quickly
Maybe this is the best way to work.

This is something quick I did today 36x48 inches oil on canvas I have something coming up, so I 'll be painting a lot 

Second session"Empty Chairs"

I also painted a bit on my competition project,it is coming along quite well.This is a detail of the painting.I learned about color today .Hard to explain ,but I feel I took a step in the right direction :)

Crazy

This painting was done very impulsively.It doesn't really reflect what I'm about ,but it was very fun to create.36x36 oil on canvas
Yes it's square and not in this pic there was a glare because the paint was still wet ,so I sliced that part off
After the croping I like it like this,I may have to paint another.

Here is the scene at the park

40 artist 20 tents great weather, some collectors buying

The three ladies My mom to the far left with her painting (loop in the road)next to her Lily and Grace (dear friends)

The weekend at the park is over now,and I'm some relieved.Fun to see all the artist ans spend time with friends.Weather was great and I made three sales and a few new contacts.I did consume some illegal beverages on the premises,and spread some sunshine to other fellow rule breakers. Here I am wearing someone elses hat.I had some very good art chats with artist more learned than I.( thanks Paul.B.)