Category: General

Pomegranates VIII – oil – 8×10 – wrapped canvas – $80 

These things are beautiful, in season, and good for you!

Pomegranate XV -8×10 – oil  – wrapped canvas – $80 

When one draws, there are those (who do not draw) who say, “WOWthatisSOgood” and many other complimentary gushing things. We who draw or paint need this admiration. It feels good, it encourages us to continue, it gives us confidence.  What it does not do is help us to improve.                                                                                   We have to tell each other the truth if we are to make our art be the best that it can be.  In my drawing classes, it is imperative that we are honest with one another. Those that know how to draw have a wealth of experience to offer one another. It has to be done carefully, because sometimes discouragement can set in. “The bark on your tree looks exactly right, but the leaves are looking a bit like cat fur” – that is the kind of feedback often heard. And even that isn’t quite enough. So my leaves look furry – HOW do I make them not look so feline-ish? (That is where the teacher is supposed to have answers.)                                                                                                                                                    My students get the chance to be honest with me. Most of my work gets shown to my students so they can have a go at it. They are just as honest with me as I am with them (and we DO try to be kind in our criticism). I listen carefully to what each one says and consider each suggestion and usually do what they tell me. (Perhaps I should be paying them for lessons!)  I actually enjoy hearing them tell me the same things that I have told them, because it confirms for me that they are learning! 

                                             I drew the river and while showing it to a class, one girl said, “Can I say something?” I said, “PLEASE do!”, while remembering that she is a guide on river rafting trips. She gave me a ton of little tips about how the water should look as it flows past rocks. Brought to mind something Jack White wrote – “If you don’t know your subject, someone else will.” Thank you, HJ! (This is not the picture – I didn’t photograph that other one and it is sold, as is this one.)  

Here is how this painting is supposed to appear, minus the blurriness.!

Kaweah River – oil on wrapped canvas – 11 x 14″ – $154 

You would hardly believe the list of things I have done today, even if I dared bore you with it! Instead, have a look:

 Well, 2 were actually started yesterday. It is a little hard to see what they all are, but more will be revealed (as you probably know by now). There are a number of shows coming up in the fall that could require many paintings. It is hard to estimate, but I’d rather paint like a maniac than not have enough for people to choose. Even with painting like a maniac, there might still not be enough. 

                             Meanwhile, there are several portraits and house drawings to be done in the studio. So when my brain is a bit fuzzy from oil, I head over to the drawing table, and look who is waiting for me:

I thought about calling this entry “Water is Everything” because this a.m. we didn’t have any water. (I knew I should have washed the dishes last night!) My lovely neighbors (who have their own well) let me use their shower. When you don’t have water, everything looks either hot, dirty or dry. Have you noticed this?

So, here I am sharing the final details of this painting with you because it is WATER, lovely, precious life-giving water!  Notice how it is blurry? After I discovered the rattle snake, my hands were trembling and I dropped my camera. I think this blurriness is a result of that blunder. The more stuff I own, the more stuff breaks. Anyone have any wisdom on a good camera to buy next? sigh.

Kaweah River, oil, 11×14, wrapped canvas, $154  

Since I am sort of newish to oil painting (any kind of painting, actually), when weeks go buy without working in oils, fear strikes my heart. What if I can’t remember how to mix colors? What if I can’t control the brushes? What if I am so used to quickly slapping acrylic down in large quantities that I won’t be able to do tight detail anymore? The more I horriblize it, the more I procrastinate! Sure, it is still working to organize files, prepare a deposit, return some calls, work on my website, blah, blah, blah. But procrastination is procrastination, no matter what form it takes. (ow.)                                                             After blowing off an hour or two with non-essential work this a.m., I finally returned to oil painting. Wow, is it ever fun! Maybe I am glad I got that not-so-fun stuff out of the way this a.m. after all. I began several more paintings (shows are coming) and went back to the others that have been so patiently waiting for The Mural to be finished. 

They start out so very sloppy looking that it is sometimes hard to believe these paintings will actually turn into something worth the effort! (PL, can you see yours beginning to take shape? )

But look, this is the second pass over this one, working from the top down, and you can see the upper half is starting to look worth the effort. And look! Here are my primary colors used to mix all the colors you see in this painting – phew! I can remember how to mix colors after all. Silly me. (The photo photographed darker than the painting, but in actuality, they are quite close in color.)