New Work...

"Leaf Litter" 24 x 12 oil

As I have been working more with oils, I have decided to postpone any new work in this medium  'til summer when I can work outside...here is the latest (and last (for the season)...







...and another oil I completed previously, inspired by my sister's miniature chair collection....

"Chair Collection"  24 x 12 oil

New Medium...
For months I have been considering giving oils a try...at the urging of my husband, who gave me some oils for my December birthday, I jumped in...the first few days were iffy...the fumes from the paint and the Turpenoid were giving me a headache, even with my office window open and the 20 degree air flowing in...a few days later, it didn't seem to matter as much...perhaps I was used to it  or the affected brain cells were already gone...in any case, I completed two paintings. 

"Safe Harbor" 20 x 16 oil on canvas

"Square Boucicaut - Paris" 20 x 16 oil

I found my style was quite different, as the feel of the gooey paint was exhilirating!  The drying time however, was so...slow.....I realized that I needed to have a least six paintings in progress simultaneously to be able to productively work each day. While I also completed two small acrylic paintings of birds, these two oils were finished. 

"American Robin" 12x12 acrylic

"Winged in Yellow and Green" 6x6 acrylic

More to come!

The Chair Project

The Lakewood Arts Council Gallery has a wonderful holiday show each year that runs through November and December.  Earlier this year artists were asked to embellish a found chair, adult or child sized, that would be donated to the gallery and sold as a fundraiser at the holiday show.  Several artists participated, and I enjoyed adding chairs to my weekly searches through the local thrift stores, finding four children's chairs over the months.  After re-gluing, screwing, and sanding the chairs as needed, I was ready for the ornamental painting.  Some also have details highlighted with gold penwork.  See the results below.  Next year it will be small table and I'm already on the lookout!

Apple Blossoms

Below is my latest acrylic, 18x24.  The subject is my backyard apple tree near my patio, blooming without frost interference for the first time in many years.  We did in fact, get a tree loaded with apples in the summer!

Out of My Comfort Zone

In June, several artists from the LAC, myself included, had a show at the gallery requiring each participating artist to specify up to three subjects, after which each artist had to select at least one topic from each artist to paint for the show.  This concept pushed most of us way out of our comfort zone, as we were allowed to interpret the topics as we deemed appropriate.  Subjects included architecture, fish, eggs, trees, wheels, and ribbons.  My results are shown below.  We all had such fun with this concept that we are having a repeat performance in October of 2013, with two additional artists and additional topics!  Watch for it!

16x20 acrylic

6x6 acrylic

                                     

12x12 acrylic

12x12 acrylic  "16 Wheeler"

16x20 acrylic

16x20 acrylic

Colors!

Adapting a similar previous style, I created my latest acrylic painting and revived my interest in painting horses.  This one is 16 x 20 on canvas and currently hangs at the LAC Gallery.

More Birds!

My mother-in-law shares my love of birds, so for Christmas I gave her four 6x6 acrylic paintings for her home.  They are such fun to paint and really add to our snowy Denver winter days indoors.