Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums, oil, 20x20 inches

White Peonies

White Peonies, oil, 20x20 inches

Peonies in Progress

Last night as I left this painting in progress in my studio, I thought it was about 80% done. This morning I think it is closer to 95%. To remain emotionally distant from it, I have made corrections in red on a photo in the computer and hopefully, I'll be able to go back to the painting, make those corrections and NOT start painting other areas until I revaluate. Overworking is always DANGER! DANGER! Scroll down to see the progression of this one.

Two Peonies

Two Peonies, oil, 8x10 inches
Sold Collection of P.D.

Let there be light

About the time that I was struggling to see the high-key painting I was working on, I received an email from Beth asking about my Studio lighting. I finished the painting but when I took it off the easel and walked around the studio with it, it looked different depending upon the light. After a couple days of thinking about it, I decided that to paint my best I really need all the natural light I can get. So, I ripped my Studio apart (again) to move both easels for natural light. If you have a studio and a bunch of STUFF you know it isn't just moving the easel. Much better now.

I spent a long time selecting my track lighting and I'm very happy with it but it is very bright and I needed a more subtle light for high-key work. Now, I have the option of using natural light from the windows, overhead light (very warm) or track lighting (color corrected but very bright).

I'm done...Always Remember II

Always Remember II, oil, 20x20inches

New brushes, new painting

Yay! My shipment of Rosemary Brushes arrived today and they motivated me to finish up a painting I've been avoiding. Happy now.

NYC Flowers, oil, 20 x 20 inches

 Here's the backstory in photos:

Feb 8th post continued...

Remember my Feb. 8th post experience about water soluble oils? This is a continuation of the 3 I started before I began doing my taxes. Back to them tonight and I'm not done but I think I'm hooked on this new medium.  Love the clean-up of this paint.

Back to the block in

Remember the block in from my February Open Studio? It was a demo about how to take an old painting that had not been varnished and start again. After many days of tax preparation, I finally got back to it today. Thought I'd post it now in case I wipe the whole thing off. Scroll to the bottom to see it about 85% done.

This is the block in. Next comes a lot of value work.

About 85% complete or I might wipe it all off...
Happy painting to you.

February Open Studio

All ready for my first Open Studio Session 2018. 

Thank you Bertha, Susan and Pat for a fun day!

Open Studio Sessions 2018

This is my 30 minute demo. How to paint over an old oil painting that has not been varnished. Block-in for a new flower painting. Glad the old one is gone and hopeful for this one...I'll let you know what happens.

Water Mixable Oils?

Yesterday I had a conversation with my friend Kay about how important it is (to both of us) that we enjoy the process of creating. Maybe that is why I still haven't bonded with acrylics...I'm just not a fan of the process of painting with that medium.

But, I've been curious about water mixable oils for a long time and today I finally blocked in three little florals using that medium in the limited colors I have. I was skeptical but I have to admit the application feels like traditional oil and they perform similarly. Most noticeable is the clean-up. It is wonderfully easy. I'll order a few more colors (I need a cool red and a cool blue), then continue on these 6x6 paintings and will let you know how it goes.

Thinking of Spring...

...and the paintings I need for two upcoming shows.

One more old painting bites the dust. I unframed 2009 "Silver Lining" and brushed it off leaving just the ghost. The ground is gessoed gatorboard that I textured with a brush (in 2009). Today I repainted the surface using many of the same colors but this time, instead of a landscape, it is a flower painting.
Here is the finished painting. Scroll down to see the steps.

Peonies, pastel, 13x 13 inches

Taxes and Reworks

This week I've been doing tax preparation so not much painting but the last four pastels have been reworks of old paintings. The color palette of the new painting is much the same as the old one but that's about it. Here are four examples of work from 2009 and how I repainted them earlier this month.

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