Passages acrylic on panel 8x16

I created this painting for the show “Art, Wine and Chocolate” held last month at Wood Icing Gallery. Submissions had to incorporate some form of wine and chocolate by color, subject, or any other creative means. For my painting, Passages, the chocolate is in the browns and I used a dry white wine for mixing with acrylics.

It won Peoples Choice Award in the show. Many thanks to all that voted.

Beginning stage of Cat Portrait

I start by toning the surface in a rusty orange wet color. Then the basic shape of the cat is loosly painted with Ultramarine blue and burnt sienna. Now I have my dark areas established.

Mid way through

 Once stage one is dry I paint in the background color. Next step is to paint in the eyes. With lots of lights and colors stroked in, the cat’s coat pattern and shading are showing.

Finished Portrait

For the finish the nose, mouth, whiskers, and eye reflection are added. Signed and varnished it is complete.

Going with an under the sea theme I painted coral, sea horses, star fish and butterfly fish on it. Glass beads were added to look like bubbles.

The desk top was really rough with gouges and all kinds of graffiti. Evidence of years in the school system. To smooth the desk top out I sanded it down and applied Wood Icing to fill in the gouges. Made it as smooth as a baby’s butt and easy to finish with chalk paint.

I had a blast painting this for her and she loves it.

Did you have to sit in one of these desks in school? Were you one that decorated it with your own graffiti? Tell me if you dare.

Today I am sharing my writing space with you. This is where I jot down my thoughts and feelings about what I create.

 After a full day of creating artwork and some outdoor barn/horse time I am relaxed enough to think about writing. In the solitude of my studio with favorite candle flickering, I settle down into the hand-made cedar rocker and prepare to write for about 30 minutes. As the sounds of nature carry on, my thoughts are laid out with pencil in a composition notebook. I feel the satisfaction of accomplishment.

 Do you have a special writing space? What does it look like?

Trickle Tree Forest

 

Wood Icing was started in Novemeber 2009 by Rose Wild and her daughter Heather Haymart. It’s a gallery owned by artists, run by the artists for artists. Everyone is supportive and helpful. Besides great artwork by area artists there are classes and demos for people to attend.

I’m excited to be included with the Wood Icing artists. If you’re in the Chesterfield area drop by and view the gallery.

Getting Started

It was a windy overcast April morning to begin Art in the Park at George Washington Carver National Park.   The chilly 36 degree air made for a brisk walk around the hiking trail searching for a subject to paint.  I decided it was best to stay in the woods protected from the wind. 

A lovely dogwood in bloom became the hero for the first painting.   While setting up the easel two owls began hooting to each other through the woods along the creek.   

Most of the painting is established

As morning turned to mid day the clouds began to break up causing the light to change from misty/overcast to cascading warm light.  Fortunately there was enough time to capture the cool spring atmosphere before the light changed too much.  Finishing touches will be ompleted in the studio.

The next morning proved to be much nicer.  A footbridge cossing the creek by the

 old  Carver Homestead served as the painting for the day.  I was able to get most of the structure, light emphasis and movement established before heading home. 

Because this park is part of our National Parks system these paintings are eligible for  Paint the Parks.  I plan to enter at least one if not both of these in the competition when finished. 

 George Washington Carver National Park is a lovely place with a museum is full of Carver’s history and artwork.  He was a prolific painter as well as an inventor.  Here is one of his wonderful quotes; “My paintings are my soul’s expression of its yearning and question in its desire to understand the work of the great creator.” 

Brown Face Sheep 4x6 acrylic on paper

You’ve heard the saying, “in like a lion, out like a lamb”.  The Farmers Almanac say’s it’s more of a rhyme than a weather predictor. 

White Sheep 4x6 acrylic on paper

Around here March came in like a lamb and went out like a lamb but it was one of the coldest March’s on record.  Without concious thought I painted sheep on the first day of March and the last day of March.  No Fooling.

These are quick warm-up paintings I like to do just for fun.  Fun shapes, fun colors and a fun subject.

What did March bring for you in your area?

Black Sheep 4x6 acrylic on paper

Brown Ram 4x6 acrylic on paper

Rex Morton

An artist friend of mine Rex Morton is a copper smith and his work is amazing.  Rex worked for many years at Silver Dollar City which is where I met him in 2009 while I was there as a guest artist.  His creations range from an eight foot tall rooster to small delicate earrings. 

Rex’s art has an organic feel and look showing the graceful nuances of nature.  He has created fish and birds out of copper with such detail and life it’s hard to believe they are all out of copper.  When watching him work you feel his affinity for this beautiful metal. 

Some interesting factoids about copper:

Natural Copper

• The use of copper dates back over 10,000 years.
• In the Americas copper production has been dated back to between 6000 and 3000 BC in the present day Michigan, Wisconsin region.
• Copper is one of the few minerals to occur naturally as an un-compounded mineral.  Its mineral symbol is CU.
• Copper is 100% recyclable which is the major source of copper today.
• Being an essential trace mineral, copper is vital to the health of all living things.

 Of course I had to have a Rex Morton original copper art in my studio. 

Copper Sun Face

I chose this piece because I love sun faces.  This copper beauty is also an oil-wick candle and is really cheery on a cloudy day.   You can find Rex Morton on Facebook. 

My easel set up with painting in progress at the falls in Meramec Springs Park

 Here are some tips if you dare to take the Plein-Air Winter Challenge. 

• Wear something warm over your ears and cover your head.
• Fitted cotton gloves will keep the major chill off and still let you feel the brush handle.  You could add a second layer over the top without fingertips. 
• Cover your neck.  I highly recommend a silk scarf. 
• Be sure to bring drinking water.  Winter air is dry even in more humid areas.
• Watch the weather forecast before leaving the studio so you’ll be more prepared for weather changes.   
• Remember a camera in case you see something cool that might make great reference material.

Once we arrived and checked out various composition options we chose to paint the

What a majestic sight

waterfall just below the big spring.  We set up and began to work.  Standing so close to the spring fed fast moving water you could feel the moisture rising into the air.  About half way through our painting a bald eagle flew over and landed in a tall tree about 20 yards from us.  They hang out here during the winter in hopes of a trout meal. 

I have to admit our excursion was a lot of fun and I didn’t get too cold.  We followed up our plein-air outing with a wonderful lunch at Meramec Vineyards.  Both of us felt adventurous and satisfied with our painting efforts.     I would do it again especially with a friend.

6x12 acrylic on canvas panel

Getting instruction from Elin

Recently I went to Georgia for a week-long painting workshop all about color with artist/instructor Elin Pendleton.  She calls it Color Boot Camp.  Four years ago I had taken my first Color Boot Camp with Elin at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY and loved it so much I was excited to attend another one.   Those that attend a second Color Boot Camp are referred to as “ReBooters”.   

Working hard and having fun

As a “ReBooter” you have the ground work of Elin’s color system in place so each day is an advanced experience delving into deeper levels of painting to create better art.  We were challenged to utilize the full range of values, mix beautiful grays (yes grays can be beautiful and there are lots of them) plus implement the principles and elements of design into our work.   

Day's end review

At the end of each day we all gathered around to discuss the challenges tackled, the processes learned and the decisions made on how to handle our painting choices in the future.  It was a fun-filled week crammed with great new information and creative artist conversation.