Something New

 So, a painting friend of mine has threatened to take me off her blog roll if I don't post something new.  I think she was joking, but it was a good kick in the pants, either way, so here's something new!  I took my kids out with me plein air painting the other evening.  Here they are, at the beginning:

Evan wore that brush down to the ferrule, in about 10 minutes.

 

Here he is, off to the races, still in an apron...

Here's what they created in their other medium: sticks and dirt...

And why should one slide down when one can climb up?

....and then climb down!

Here's what I did, in between kid assistance.

It was a successful session!

A Post for Spring

Contrary to appearances, I HAVE been painting, even though I haven't been posting.  It has been a chaotic Spring for me... between the tree branches coming through the roof in January's Perfect Storm (which put me out of my studio for a while) with all the subsequent repairs and clean-up, and the multiple colds, coughs and ills brought home by my first-year schoolgirl and first-year daycareboy, life has led me a dance the last few months!

I thought I'd post a few before and after pics of my studio:

you can see the painting I was working on-- the branch came through where I would've been standing had I been in there at the time!

Yuk.  Ceiling stuff was everywhere.

Daylight...

And all better!

I am so happy to have the exterior and interior of our home watertight again!

My Thoughts for the Day

I don’t use my blog very often to philosophize about art.  Mainly because I’m not very good at it.  Don’t get me wrong; I LOVE to philosophize, but I’m better one-on-one.  Nevertheless, here goes.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and no one knows this better than an artist.  Just recently, I was accepted at a top-notch regional art festival and turned down by a relatively unknown event, both based on identical images of my work.  Go figure.  And I know I’m not alone in this—I’ve heard similar stories from other artists.

You just can’t take it personally.  Even the most analytical juror sees art through the lens of personal preference.  That goes double for a collector.  After all, the art is going home to live with them.  The fact that the viewer likes or dislikes or is ambivalent towards a piece of art is no reflection on the work, but rather a reflection of the viewer’s taste.

Ultimately, jurors approve what they like, people buy what they love, and every genre has an audience waiting to be found. 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and art is in the heart of the collector.

Sweet Invitation

Sweet Invitation

30x40 inches, oil on canvas

$1950

This painting is making its debut at the Stevenson, WA, library, in the traveling "Trees" show.  I've been painting a lot of tree portraits lately, and this is crossing back over towards landscape.  It was a challenge because of the backlit scene, and very rewarding once it was done.  The title tells you how I feel about it.

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Centrifugal Force

So, I actually have been painting in the four months since my last post, although somewhat sporadically.  And even more sporadic is the photographing of my work, so I can share it! :)  Despite the smiley face, I DESPISE photographing my work.  I can never get it just right, but I try to get close.  Here's one of my latest pieces, which will be in the show "Celebration of Creativity" at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Beaverton, OR, next weekend, March 1-5.  Check out their website for more details.

Centrifugal Force

oil on canvas, 48x24 inches