A New Day...aka Change Your Palette, Change Your Life!

"A New Day" 8" x 6"

Oil on Board

 

After two days in a row of scraping off my plein air attempts (including one fitful scraping which resulted in "a new painting shirt", if you know what I mean), I feel like I had success today. 

 

This time it was different.  For one thing, I picked a better location.....quiet, peaceful, some overgrown grass, foliage - not all manicured.  Second, I just worked smaller....8"x6".   Third, I changed my palette!  I felt like I got a new pair of shoes or a new haircut or both.  I used Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Light, Indian Yellow, Cadmium Yellow Lemon, Ultramarine Blue, Phthalo Blue, Transaprent Earth Red and Titanium White. 

 

Did I say the weather was perfect?  The weather was perfect!  What a pretty morning and I'm so glad I got to enjoy it painting and not scraping!

"Marsh Reflections" - Show at Renaissance Gallery - Northport, AL

"Marsh Reflections"

14" x 11"

Oil on Board

 

This recent piece is one of several new works just delivered to Renaissance Gallery in Northport, Alabama, for a show I'm having that opens this Thursday, April 4.  The reception is from 5:00-9:00.  If you're in the area, please stop by!  Northport is a beautiful place, very charming....the perfect strolling and walking and shopping kind of town! 

 

 

Happy Easter! *SOLD*

"Break Forth"

36"x24"

Oil on Canvas

 

This joyful Eastertide,

away with sin and sorrow!

My Love, the Crucified,
hath sprung to life this morrow!
Had Christ, that once was slain,
ne'er burst his three-day prison,
our faith had been in vain;
but now is Christ arisen,
arisen, arisen, arisen!

Death's flood hath lost its chill,
since Jesus crossed the river:
Lover of souls, from ill
my passing soul deliver,

My flesh in hope shall rest,
and for a season slumber,
till trump from east to west
shall wake the dead in number.

 

Had Christ, that once was slain,
ne'er burst his three-day prison,
our faith had been in vain;
but now is Christ arisen,
arisen, arisen, arisen!

 

HAPPY EASTER!

"In Thy Pleasant Pastures" *SOLD*

"In Thy Pleasant Pastures"

20"x16"

Oil on Canvas

 

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,

much we need thy tender care;
in thy pleasant pastures feed us,
for our use thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

"Spring Things"

"Spring Things"

5"x7"

Oil on Board

 

St. Patrick's Weeklong Green Painting Celebration is almost over and today's entry celebrates spring!  We have a gorgeous spring day here and to me the sight of strawberries and asparagus are a sure sign that spring is here!  So, the beautiful green stalks of asparagus with their touches of yellow ochre and purple are my "green thing" and one of my "spring things" for today!

"The Grape Escape"

"The Grape Escape"

8"x6"

Oil On Board

 

Little rascals....you pull out your grapes to wash 'em or eat 'em and there's always a few that go rolling around on you!  What I love about these little renegades - other than their tastiness - is their lovely transluscence.  It is a challenge to capture in paint and is an intense exercise in seeing.  A good way to s-t-r-e-t-c-h your eyes, your comprehension!

 



"Irish Eyes" aka "Katie" *SOLD*

"Katie"  *SOLD*

7"x5"

Oil on Board

 

 

Little Katie and I have something in common....green eyes!  The great thing about green eyes is that if you forget to wear green on St. Patrick's Day (but, really, who does that??  Right??), you can always rely on your eyes to keep you from getting pinched! 

 

Just a touch of green today for the St. Patrick's Day painting, but just a touch is all you need sometimes!

"Limelight"

"Limelight"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

 

 

Continuing to go green this week in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day!  Strawberries are the hands-down winner for making the studio smell great, but limes are close!

 

 I really am fascinated by color and light and focusing intently on one thing - whether it's a specific color or painting reflections or glass or whatever - has been an enormous help for me.  Every painting is an experiment, a new lesson, a new way of seeing....what a great profession!  It's never boring!  

"Petal Pushers"

"Petal Pushers"

14"x11"

Oil on Canvas

 

Did a little larger painting today because I just couldn't resist painting that big bunch of daisies!  I painted just one daisy yesterday, but they just seem to be bursting with "spring" and I just couldn't let them go without painting them!  See the limes?  They'll be tomorrow's victim!

 

Anyway, the daisies really have such a green cast to them and the centers are actually a gold-green.  I love them and am always reminded of Meg Ryan in "You've Got Mail".  Didn't she say that "they're just so happy"?  I totally agree!

"Daisy May"

"Daisy May"

8"x6"

Oil on Board

 

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day all week long in my studio by painting green things!  I really enjoyed the daily painting series back in January, so I thought I would try and introduce something similar on a monthly basis....just not EVERY day!! 

My Favorite Sky

"August Afternoon"

24" x 20"

Oil on Canvas

 

Well, I am in a complete mid-winter (please, oh, please, let it actually be late winter instead!) funk.  I am yearning for green fields, green trees, big cumulus clouds, late afternoon thunderstorms, painting outside with no blasted north wind....you get my drift! 

 

I painted this from a photo I took late last summer.  Actually, this is about the fourth version I've painted of the same cloud.  It was a very photogenic cloud.  :)

 

 

Happy Valentines Day!

"With Appreciation"

4"x6"

Oil on Board

Happy Valentines Day!

What a great day!  The sun is out after days and days of heavy rain and thunderstorms, spring is in the air, and everyone is is glowing today - giving and receiving expressions of love.

I love to read about the meanings of flowers and discovered that pink roses can mean joy and appreciation.  It is my great joy to paint and share my work with you and I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to visit my blog and website, to look at and comment on my work presented here.  

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!  May this day be filled with joy, appreciation and love for you!

"A Great Pair" *SOLD*

"A Great Pair" *SOLD*

6"x6"

Oil on Board

 

If you're not from around here (Alabama, that is), then you might be scratching your head on this last painting in the Famous Couple series.

 

To Alabamians, this sight says "Football!!"  Pairing Alabama-based Golden Flake potato chips and Coca-Cola.  Back in the day, this duo was advertised by the University of Alabama's, coach "Bear" Bryant, with the slogan "A great pair, says The Bear" and by Auburn University's coach, "Shug" Jordan, with the slogan, "What a team!" 

 

Like so many great Alabama romances, this happy couple met at a football game and the rest is history! 

 

Hope you've enjoyed this Famous Couples series! Happy Valentines Day! 

"I Got You Babe" *SOLD*

"I Got You Babe" *SOLD*

6"x6"

Oil on Board

 

 Famous Couple #6 - Salt and Pepper. I think they're my favorite because I can identify with them....what with my 25th anniversary coming up! 

 

They've been side by side forever. They're even starting to look alike! Content with the simple life they've led (still spicy after all these years, however) these two would be holding hands if they had 'em!

You Needed Me

"You Needed Me"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

 

Famous Couple #5 - Soap & Water....

Admit it Soap, you need Water!

You just come alive around Water!

Water gushes over you and you just melt and get all cute and bubbly. 

Bread and Butter

Let's Stay Together

6"x6"

Oil on Board

 

"Bread and Butter!"....it's what my aunt always said if we were walking together and something blocked our path causing us to separate or let go of each others' hands. The old superstition says if you say "bread and butter", you and the one you're walking with will never be apart.

 

 Famous Couple #4...Bread and Butter....may they always stay together no matter what threatens to come between them! ;)

"I Think I Love You"

"I Think I Love You"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

 

What a sweet couple, milk and cookies!  They have been together for a LONG time.  Everybody loves them.  Everybody wants to have them over for dinner....or after dinner. 

"Main Squeeze" *SOLD*

"Main Squeeze" *SOLD*

8"x6"

Oil on Board

 

Famous Couples Series...Day 2: 

Introducing that lovely colorful couple "mustard and ketchup"!  Making our lives tastier with every squeeze.  Internet perusal shows that the average person will consume 3 bottles of ketchup and 12 ounces of mustard each year.  So what's your favorite?

"Spread the Love" *SOLD*

"Spread the Love" *SOLD*

4"x6"

Oil on Board

 

Now that the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge is over, I've been thinking of different challenges I can do myself throughout the year.  The first one I want to do is to celebrate Valentines Day, so this upcoming week I'll be painting with the theme "Famous Couples".  One of the first great duos I thought of, of course, is peanut butter and jelly.  So many daily painters have painted this subject...primarily because Duane Keiser has done it so beautifully!!  I've always wanted to give it a go, but just thought it would be so hard that I never did!  (I really have to get over these irrational painting fears and just do it!!) 

 

More dynamic duos to come as we lead up to Valentines Day!  Thanks for looking!

Atlanta's Trinity School Spotlight on Art 2013

"Summer Glow"

24" x 30"

Oil on Canvas

 

I am so excited to be one of the artists participating in Spotlight on Art 2013 at Trinity School in Atlanta, Georgia!  Over 350 artists have work in this huge fundraising event.  Original art in all sorts of styles and prices will be available this week and 50% of the proceeds go to the school. 

 

It kicks off with an opening reception tomorrow night, February 4, from 6-9.  Then the market is open Tuesday through Thursday from 8:00-4:00.  On Friday, the market is open from 8:00-9:00 with a Cocktails & Canvases reception from 6:00-9:00.  The final day is Saturday, February 9, and the market will be open from 10:00-6:00. 

 

If you're in the Atlanta area, I surely do hope you stop by the school at 4301 Northside Parkway and support them! (Free admission and parking; please access the school via the North Entrance)