Pink Callanques

I tried to paint this scene in oils not long after I returned from Marseille in July. I was a bit rusty as I had not painted for a while, wasn't happy and thus put it away. Here it is on my largest pastel to date: 8x10. 98% of the pastels I used were Terry Ludwig pastels with a sprinkling of some very soft Scminckes for some finishing touches in blue? I followed Karen Margulis' recommendation for doing an under painting with a dark blue hard pastel (Nupastel) and mineral spirits. The support is Ampersand Pastelboard. I'm happy with this one!

 

 

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Capri Cove II and Roussillon Cliffs

I am still painting that little cove in Capri with my Terry Ludwig Pastels in Littleton, Colorado. Also painted the ochre cliffs of Roussillon, France from one of my vacation photos this past summer. I am still painting small as I am only 1 month deep into the pastel world. Capri Cove II is 4x6 and Roussillon is 5x8.

A Pastel Adventure

I recently bought a set of Terry Ludwig pastels. It is quite different than oils so it takes some getting used to. That being said, I'm really enjoying the medium!  I have discovered some amazing pastelists: Karen Margulis, Marla Baggetta and Casey Klahn to just name a few.  I hope to study with each and everyone of them soon!

My first painting that I was satisfied with enough to post is "Capri Cove", a scene I have painted before in ACEOs.  "Ojai Path in Blue" is from a reference photo I took in Meditation Mount in Ojai, California from my first painting workshop with Elio Camacho.  "Variation" is an exercise (idea originating from Marla Baggetta's "100 Variations" using the contrasting colors of the red trees with the cool green in the foreground only allowing myself 30 minutes to paint.  It's a very good exercise, one which I intend to continue doing.

CAPRI COVE

OJAI PATH IN BLUE

VARIATION

Lavender of Gordes

I think this is the largest painting that I have attempted and liked.
Lavender of Gordes
36x24
Oil on Canvas

No-Bull Elephant

I have to say that elephants are one of my favorite animals in the animal kingdom.  Majestic, passionate, massive and gentle.  Mostly when I paint, I paint for other folks whether it is for a commission or for a potential sale.  I painted the No-Bull (Noble) Elephant for me.  I am a big fan of Bob Ransley's work and am inspired by the bright colors in his work.  I haven't painted this size in a very long time.  I incorporated most of the colors from my living room rug into the painting.  Below is the W.I.P.
24 x 30
Oil on Canvas
First 20 Minutes:

After 45 minutes:

An hour and 15 minutes:

I think I'm finished.  I'm thinking about it.  I'll take a better picture this week.

Fuzzy Wuzzy Koala Bear - SOLD

I forgot to post this fuzzy wuzzy purple koala bear who sold pretty quickly.
He looks more purple in person.

Ole One Horn Bison

On my easel.  Honestly, I am not going to name this painting "Ole One Horn".  I just haven't painted the other horn.  :-)

ACEO Calling All Hens

What is it about roosters that people love?  Maybe it is their pretty awesome looking feathers, or perhaps that cool wiggly comb thing a top their heads.  Either way, I do enjoy painting them.

ACEO
Calling All Hens
2.5 inches x 3.5 inches

On Alert - SOLD

Still on safari.  I haven't decided whether or not this painting is finished. I may go back into it to lighten up the background.  The reference photo I used had a really dark background.  I will list it on eBay to see if it gets any activity.  If it does not, then I will come back to it.

Peacock on Magenta

Peacocks are some of the most glorious birds on Earth, don't you think? With their bright colors and their fancy hats, who can resist a photo opp of them!

ACEO Unfazed

When in the Netherlands last summer, I snapped a picture of this egret who was completely unfazed by all of the people walking around his territory at the Volendam Harbor.

Dancing Rhino

One of the other paintings I painted this weekend was Dancing Rhino.  Actually he was the first of the animal paintings.  He does look like he's doing a little two step or something, doesn't he!

ACEO - Elephant Attack

I started an animal series this weekend. Some were 8x10s, and some were ACEOs.
Elephant Attack is an ACEO.

Peeking from the Shadow

This is my favorite coffee cup.  The day I painted this, the cup went directly from serving me coffee to serving as a model.

Stretch Harder

Holy cow! I just looked back in my blog to find my last still life, and it was November 13 -- 3 months ago!
Even though it had been months, I took the bull by the horns and went for glass AND a flower!  Probably my favorite color scheme:  turquoise and red.  The vase is actually greener than I painted it, but some Phthalo blue found itself in the green I was ready to paint.  I liked the way it looked, so I left it.

   

ACEO - Lily Zoomed

A return to oils, and I feel it was a happy return.

Over the weekend, I prepared a whole bunch of art cards (several layers of gesso, sanding).  I do prefer the oils, and using Galkyd speeds up the drying time with the added benefit of a lovely shine.

Lily Zoomed
2.5 inches x 3.5 inches
Oil on Watercolor Paper

Joys of eBay - Rooster On the Move

I sold a rooster painting on eBay, and upon receiving it, my customer realized she wanted a larger version of the same painting.  I sent her a photo of the finished product before mailing it, and she is very pleased.
1st version she bought:
"Volendam Rooster"
6x6
Oil on Gessoboard

2nd painting she commissioned:
"Rooster On the Move"
8x10
Oil on Linen Canvas

Provencal Colors

Painting from all of these photos makes me want to go paint in Provence immediately!  I am enjoying the combination of greens and purples.

View from Beaulieu Sur Mer

From my reference photo in the South of France.
Taken from Beaulieu Sur Mer.

ACEO Provençal Lavendar

This is probably my favorite art card thus far.
A bit cliche, but I like it.  I think this would make a terrific large painting in oil.

Bedazzle the Butterfly & Betty the Beetle

Here "B" two more.  ;-)

Peppermint Seahorse

Peppermint Seahorse sounds like the name of a band to me.
I added a bit of Zentangle design to his interior and like the way he looks.
Tombow markers, ink, and pencil.

Snout Monster Hunting

Another fun thing I have been doing is making "blob animals".  I have two of Carla Sonheim's books: Drawing & Painting Imaginary Animals and Drawing Lab Mixed Media Artists Exercises which are both a lot of fun.  One of the exercises is to make a watercolor blob and see what kind of imaginary animal develops and take it from there.  It's a great deal of fun for anyone, but as an artist, it provides that child-like freedom of drawing/painting without the obsessive judgment that we frequently inflict upon ourselves.

This is Snout Monster Hunting.

ACEO - Capri Grotto Passage (acrylic) - SOLD

I returned to the acrylics for this one and was quite happy with the results.
I absolutely LOVE the colors!

CAPRI GROTTO PASSAGE - Acrylic on Hot-Pressed Watercolor Paper

ACEO - Amsterdam Roses (oil)

I tried to paint a still life with the acrylic, but it didn't work out too well.  I ended up painting over it.
Since I've painted so many still lifes in oil, I thought I would tackle it on an ACEO.  From a photo I took in the Amsterdam Flower Market this past summer.  I kind of like this one!

AMSTERDAM ROSES - Oil on Fabriano Oil Paper

ACEO - Capri Grotto Cliff (acrylic)

I really had fun with these last two from my vacation photos in Italy.
I take the photo and bump up the saturation in Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, blur it out a bit.

Another good thing about ACEOs is that they provide a good study for a future big painting.
This one, for instance is a definite possibility.

ACEO - Return to Oils - Antelope Valley Tree -- SOLD

I was having so much fun with the acrylics that I decided I could do the same with oils using the Fabriano Tela Oil Paper.  The scanner still picks up the texture of the Tela paper, but not quite as much as the canvas paper on some of the earlier ACEOs.

LONE TREE, ANTELOPE VALLEY, CA - Oil on Fabriano Tela Oil Paper

ACEO Bush Lupine - SOLD

I really enjoyed painting this one.  
I reintroduced Phthalo Green to my palette, and am quite glad I did!
Phthalo Green with Quinacridone Red and a bit of Phthalo Blue with a titch of white make a gorgeous gray which is used sporadically in the bush.

BUSH LUPINE, ANTELOPE VALLEY, CA - Acrylic on Canvas Paper

ACEO Sardinia / Sardegna - SOLD

I switched to Arches Hot-Pressed watercolor paper for this one, and was much happier with the scan.
Believe it or not, the photo reference came form Google Street View!

This one sold already, too.

 

ACEO - Ojai Path -- SOLD

Here was my 2nd ACEO acrylic landscape which has already been sold on eBay.

In 2011, I attended a workshop with Elio Camacho and painted this scene.  

This was my second round with the same scene.

ACEOs

I've been doing something a lot different lately to change things up, and to basically keep painting.  I've discovered the world of ACEOs or Artist Trading Cards.  These are miniature works of art that are about the same size as baseball cards or the like.  They fit into plastic sleeves, and even have little frames that you can buy for them. 

From Wikipedia, "the ATC movement … has its origins in Switzerland. Cards are produced in various media, including dry media (pencils, pens, markers, etc.), wet media (watercolor, acrylic paints, etc.), paper media (in the form of collage, papercuts, found objects, etc.) or even metals or cloth. The cards are usually traded or exchanged. When sold, they are usually referred to as art card editions and originals (ACEOs)."

I have been having a lot of fun with these as I can whip out little paintings in absolutely no time.

I even broke out the old dusty acrylic paints and have been having a lot of fun with them.  Following this post will be a few examples.  I've already sold quite a few of them on eBay!

Unfortunately, the scanner tends to pick up the texture of the support on anything except hot-pressed watercolor paper, so I believe I will stick to that from now on.

SOLD - TEMESCAL CANYON SLOPE - Acrylic