The Dune

I painted 98% of this painting a few weeks ago and had been meaning to fix a portion of the sky. I finally got around to it and it only took two minutes. I have no idea why I procrastinated so long, but I am glad that I finally finished it as I am happy with the result.

Clouds over Kiawah

A high school buddy of mine has a place on Kiawah Island and said I could use her photo of a marsh as a reference. I toned the paper with orange and allowed some of that to peek through. Still using the oil paper but I computer it down to 8 1/2 x 11. I know that isn't a standard size for paintings, but I accidentally bought some diploma frames (nonreturnable at this stage) and thought the oil paper paintings would fit in them perfectly. I am still using a palette knife, too.

8 1/2 x 11

Oil on Arches Oil Paper

 

 

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The Foot of Notre Dame de la Garde

Last year I visited Marseille and Provence.  They have these little tourist trains (as they do just about everywhere in Europe) that will take you around town so that you can look at stuff.  At first, I was embarrassed to do this, but my friend Sheila and I realized it was the best way to get to see Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille at the top of the hill.  I snapped a random picture of a tree at the bottom of the hill, because I liked the intense shadows.  This tree could've been anywhere, but I know it was in Marseille at the foot of Notre Dame de la Garde! That is one of the reasons I prefer painting from my own pictures.

6x6
Oil on Board

"Fitting In"

Fitting In is the finished product of a painting I apparently started a couple of years ago and set aside. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of how it was before. Because the apples are so small on this 6x6 painting, I only used the palette knife a little bit. The apples were then shaped with the brush. The drapery was largely done with the palette knife and polished with a brush.

I also made a change to the name of my blog. For marketing purposes, I think it is best to be consistent, so the name is donnaweathers.blogspot.com as opposed to mosaichippo.blogspot.com. It isn't as clever, but it's less for potential collectors/buyers to remember.

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Tomapples

​I've actually painted this scene before, but it was in pastels.  I thought I would give it a shot in oils with the palette knife, because, hey, I must love a challenge.  Boy was it a challenge.  So much of a challenge that my tomatoes look more like apples, so I titled the painting Tomapples.

SOLD Zakynthos Cave

I've painted this once before, but it was in pastels and sold it to a repeat customer in Georgia.  Still playing with the palette knives and oils.  The palette knives are so much easier to clean!

6x6
Oil on Cradled Board

The Most Beautiful Village in Provence

Oops!  I forgot the picture when I first posted this!  Roussillon was one of the most beautiful villages in Provence. On our tour through Provence, our lovely guide, Virginia explained that there were quite a few villages boasting to be "The Most Beautiful Village in Provence". I, for one, could not choose. They are all beautiful in so many different ways. Roussillon is very unique with its ochre cliffs. I painted this scene before in pastels, and thought I would give it a shot in oils and with a palette knife. I'm pretty happy with this ... well ... except for that stupid shadow from my easel that I didn't edit out!  Doh!  

I titled this one Ochre Naturel (spelled the French way since this is from Provence)

Ochre Naturel
5x7
Oil on Board

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Pacific Spray - SOLD

It has been many years since I've played with palette knives, and it was quite fun to embark on this journey!
I used Galkyd product by Gamblin to speed up the drying. Hopefully it won't take too long.
8x10
Oil on Board

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Figurative Experiment

I'm getting ready to take a figure drawing class on Saturdays, so I thought I would try my hand at a figure in pastels. I used the same technique that I used in Pynki, the elephant painting I did awhile back. The model is from website that provides virtual models called posespace.

 

 

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Sedona Peaks

I've been going back through my studies and I have been slacking on the posting! From my photo reference.

 

 

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Electric Marsh

I wish the vibrant colors would show up in the photo, darn it.

Kissing Cousins

To me, it looks as though this "pear" of cousins want to kiss one another but fear the taboo.

Transparent Trio

My first pastel still life. The reference photo is from Wetcanvas. The only thing Wetcanvas asks of you when you use the photos is that you credit the owner. I didn't have any real tomatoes, but user Olika posted this gorgeous photo which I used.

Her photo:

There is an app I use to blur photos (versus squinting) to focus on shapes:

My painting:

5 3/4 x 8

Pastel on Schmincke Sansfix. Incidentally, I really like this paper, but it seems impossible to find online in the U.S.

 

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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.

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