Reading in the Park

5"x7" oil on hardboard

This week's Daily Paintworks Challenge.

There's a few areas I'm not entirely happy with, but sometimes you have to know when to stop. When you're poised with a paintbrush in your hand, thinking "there must be something I can do to improve this painting..." that's a good time. Wait until you actually know what you're going to do.

Email me for price.

A little hiatus

I know it's been forever since I posted. I had intended to take a break over the holidays, and that turned into a month+ of sinus infection, bronchitis, and plain old rotten cold. Twelve nights in a row sleeping upright on the sofa — couldn't even lie down without a coughing fit. Not the most enjoyable holiday I've had…

So I'm playing catch-up with everything; I'm four or five weeks behind in all aspects of my life. I hope to return soon with new Painting of the Week newsletters, and I'm planning a BYOB painting workshop for this spring — details to come.

Wishing everyone a belated Happy New Year!

Snowy Field

Oil on hardboard
8" x 10"

Brrr. The temperatures have finally dropped into the fifties, so I'm feeling wintry :) Really I'm hoping I won't see any of that frozen white stuff this year.

This is for sale on my Etsy shop

Airy

Oil on hardboard
5" x 7"

A very well-ventilated barn.

This is for sale on my Etsy shop.

Super duper end of year sale

Rock bottom prices on paintings - 50% to 75% off! This is a great opportunity to acquire original artwork inexpensively, for yourself or as a gift. Prices are good through December 31, 2011.

Visit the sale here.

Dappled

The challenge on Daily Paintworks this week was: paint in the style of your favorite artist. Well, I don't have "a" favorite artist, but I adore Jackson Pollock. Our styles couldn't be more different, but I love his work. There is such an energy and verve!

I've never tried to paint in his style before, and I discovered it's very difficult. I'm not displeased with it, but I never quite achieved what I was looking for. For one thing, I worked on a 9x12 inch canvas, and his were more like 9x12 FEET. It makes a difference—the physicality of laying the paint is entirely different. I've seen film of him working, and he moves around the canvas, approaching it from different sides and different altitudes, whereas I worked from the same position on a drawing board. He created a whole body piece; mine was all in the wrist :) Pollock is an artist whose work inspires people to say "My kid could paint that!" I can tell you, "No they can't." You may not like Pollock's art, but there is no question he is working deliberately and intently.

This painting is based on a landscape I've been working on recently. I can't find quite the approach I want, and I've tried a couple different things. This one might be my favorite.

Vista

Oil on hardboard
5" x 7"

Another scene from Nags Head Woods. I've been experimenting with a light touch on these landscapes, and I like the almost watercolor-y effect.

This is for sale on my Etsy shop.