At last some things to show!

Ok, so none of these are finished and none of them are masterpieces, but here are a few things I've been working on in oil.  I have really fallen in love with oil painting.  So forgiving, and thus I feel more like experimenting. Remember I just started painting in oil on March 20.

I've painted this fellow a few times in watercolor so I was anxious to do him in oils.  I have a few more tweeks to do but he is not far from finished.  A small bit of the work is Mahto's when he was showing me how to do things but it is largely my own work.  This is on a canvas panel.

Our granddaughter, Gavin, when she was about 18 months old (now 15 yrs old).  Again, not quite finished.  This is done on Arches oil paper, which I rather like for portraits.

One of Freddie's spurs.  I just started this one yesterday.  On canvas panel.  I've done several other works of these spurs, in charcoal, carbon pencil and watercolor.  I think this one may turn out pretty well.

Soooo... I've never painted an animal.  Drawn, yes.  Painted, no.  This is Belle, a beautiful bay that Freddie owned until a few months ago.  On canvas panel, not finished either. 

Something different for me.  Someone posted on Wet Canvas recently about his portrait method.  No drawing at all.  He begins with blurred versions of the photo and paints only the value masses.  I have NEVER even tried to paint a portrait with no drawing or marks for certain features.  But I was intrigued and gave it a try.  The likeness is not great but this is a first attempt at doing this.  I will definitely try it again.  On Arches paper.

Another work in progress, again on Arches paper.  I'm pretty pleased with the face but those braids might drive me to drink!  LOL!!!

That's it for today!  Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog.  I'll try to get back to posting more regularly.

A new adventure!

I've not been painting lately and I wish I could say why.  A good friend passed away in November after a nine year valiant struggle with cancer.  She was my mom's best friend and I had spent the previous couple years sitting with her on Wednesdays to allow her hubby of 61 years to get out and about.  I loved the time with her and we spent each Wednesday working on knitting or crochet projects.  She taught me how to crochet and I made five afghans past year as Christmas gifts for grandchildren.  When she passed, it seemed that all I wanted to do was knit or crochet.  Maybe a way of grieving her loss - who knows? It just seemed that I could not get into the "zone" for painting.

A few weeks ago, I attended a showing at one of the galleries here in Fort Worth and the artist talk that day of the participating artists sharing info about their process of making art.  All of them work in oils.  I've always been somewhat interested in oil painting but did not pursue it because I did not want to deal with the toxic fumes, etc.  There are now water soluble oils that require no use of turpentine or other toxic solvents.  Brushes can be cleaned with soap and water. Sooooo.....I'm diving in with private instructions beginning on Wednesday, March 20, with a very accomplished local artist, Johnny Hogue.  Johnny has worked with water soluble oils for the past couple years.  The main thing I need to learn from him is how to use this medium, which is so different from watercolor.  Actually the exact opposite in terms of use.  
I don't plan to abandon watercolor but I feel that the oils will allow me to accomplish techniques that don't work well in watercolor.

I'm very excited to get started.  I ordered all the supplies on the list that Johnny gave me and they arrived yesterday.  I had a great time unpacking and inspecting each item but find that I'm somewhat apprehensive to actually play with them before Wednesday.  Guess I don't want to see how much of a mess I can make.  Silly, huh? 

So stay tuned for the new venture.  And wish me luck!!

Jim - started at workshop

As I worked on the painting of my dad during the workshop, I became more and more unsure of how much more it needed.  Here is how it stands today.  I have a made a few changes and have decided it should live on the wall for a while.  I think it may be finished but who knows!

In an effort to SLOW down and not ruin the one of my dad, I decided to start work on this painting of Jim on Friday.  Here's the photo.  We were at a Team Roping event watching my son, Freddie, rope.  

Here's the painting so far.  Lots more to do but I am not going to rush!  Gotta use what I learned this past week!

Ted talks alot of how he really studies the work of various artists, especially those who work in oil.  He looks for the ways he can incorporate their techniques in oil into his work in watercolor.  The Modern Art Museum here in Fort Worth has had an exhibition of the portraits by Lucian Freud.  I went to see it yesterday and all I can say is "wow!"  I certainly can see why Ted studies him.  Lots to learn.  Great work and I'm so glad I saw the exhibition.  It closes today.

Nuttall workshop

I had the great pleasure of participating in my second watercolor workshop with Ted Nuttall this past week.  My goal for this workshop was to re-focus my energies on getting back to his techniques for my work.  I have discovered that it is my favorite style and that when I stray and start incorporating other styles, I become frustrated and lose my enthusiasm.  Hence, my sporadic posting.

Ted is a wonderful teacher and artist- so generous with himself and his knowledge, while at the same time not disparaging of other styles.  So I carefully watched and listened, drinking in all that I could in the five days and wondering how I could have forgotten so much!!!  LOL!!!

Above are two shots from the workshop - Ted lecturing and Ted painting.  If you are interested, you can see his work at www.tednuttall.com

I went to the workshop with two drawings prepared for painting for the week.  The one below is the one I chose to begin first.  The photo is of my dad taken probably in the 1930's.  I like this expression on his face and it is ingrained in my memory as the "look" I saw when he was not particularly pleased with something or was in deep thought.  He was a very intelligent man and extremely well-read. 

Ted does not rush your progress and instead urges time and again to SLOW DOWN!!!!  (Patience has never been my strong suit!)  As I said, though, I listened carefully and forced myself to take my time.  In my next post I will show the progress on this painting and also the second one that I began on Friday of husband, Jim.

I'm tardy!

Seems I always intend to post and then life or something like it gets in the way. 

 Here are a couple things I've been working on.  This is a portion of a photo of me from the seventies. 

Here is the beginning of the painting.  Trying to do a little looser style on this one.  Hmmm....

Then I figured, what the heck!  Soon (art teacher)  told me to stop being so stuck in the middle of two styles.  To just go for it!  So here is how it stands right now.  I actually rather like it.  Not sure if it is finished.  It is living on the wall in my studio right now while I let it simmer.

A recent shot of Chandler, doing what else - looking at her phone.  Thought I should immortalize it in case I never see this pose again!  Not a chance!  LOL!!  My beautiful sweet granddaughter had her first day of high school yesterday. OMG!!!

This is in progress, as you can see.  Lots more work to do.



Thanks for reading!

I actually have been painting

I have not posted in a while but I actually have done some painting.  With Jim's retirement, it took me a bit of time to adjust and return to my own schedule.  We have also done a couple RV trips. 

This first image is a painting I did of  my dad.  The photo was probably taken in the mid to late 1930's.  I always liked the photo.  I named it "cocky sailor" because of the tilt of his hat. 

This next painting is of an artist that I met at an art festival this past spring.  She was actually writing up a receipt of sale for one of her works.  I am naming this one "private thought".  I might consider entering it in a competition. 

I'm also preparing to enter two of my paintings in some art competitions.  I need to start getting my work out there in public.  Recently I took two pieces, "the Drive" and "Vaquero Style" to the Adobe gallery in north Fort Worth.  Although they are not  hanging on the walls of the gallery, I'm still pleased to have them in the files in the framing shop that is attached to the gallery.  Joel, who runs the frame shop,  told me that he sells alot of loose paintings there in the frame shop and he chose those two of mine to try out.  I'm anxious to get feedback from his clients on my work. 

Ready for the show!

Sorry for the absence!  Lots going on here! Our little 3 1/2 pound yorkie, Emma, broke her leg and had surgery.  I broke the ring finger on my right hand.  Then I had surgery on that same finger yesterday to release a trigger finger problem.  Geez!!!

Anyway, on Monday I will deliver 10 paintings to the show that features the work of all the folks in the watercolor class I have attended this year.  I was able to finish all the framing this past Thursday before the surgery on Friday.  Whew!!!

The show is in the atrium of the North Texas Health Science Center, on Camp Bowie directly across from the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth.  The paintings will be up for the entire month of May.  The artists' reception will be on May 5, from 5 to 7 PM.  Join us if you can and pass the word along to all your friends in the metroplex who might enjoy attending.  There will be wonderful art in varying subject matters, all from local artists.

In addition to "A Word in Private" and "The Drive" from my previous posts, here are the other eight.  All are watercolor and all on 300 pound paper, mostly Arches. (Some are not great photos, but I did not have time to unframe some the ones I had previously framed in order to get better photos...my appologies!)

Watching the Storm

A Little Prayer

Lil' Feller

Tools of the Trade

Brazos

Railroad Man

Vaquero Style

African Girl