Solitude 20 x 16 on Panel SOLD

Thank you for your purchase Gail and I will see you soon!

Christmas Bowl 6 x 6 on Panel

Last year I painted this during art class, but had already sent out my Christmas cards. Then this year I was going to have cards printed up with my painting, but ran out of time. Therefore I am just going to post this painting and hopefully next year I will have time to paint a Christmas theme and have it printed.

Solitude 20 x 16 on Panel

After everything that happened to the financial world in October and now all I wanted was Solitude away from the news and talk radio. I started painting this a few weeks ago, but then got interrupted by painting a baby room mural for my youngest brother and his wife so now I finally have finished it. I had decided the name of this painting weeks ago and since then have heard this word used so many times. Last week mom and I went to see Neil Diamond for her birthday. He of course sang, "Solitary Man," and did a fantastic job. Once I heard that I knew I was keeping the title of this painting.

Work Boots on Panel 6 x 6

This is week 4th through 17th of December for http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/ . This morning I had watched a program on PBS called "Simon Schamas Power of Art," and it was on Vincent Van Gogh. On the show it showed his painting called "The Pair of Shoes," much like the layout of this weeks challenge. After watching the show I was inspired to do a knife painting using brighter colors although I kept the shoes brown.

Honesty 12 x 16 on Panel SOLD

Thank you for your purchase and I hope you enjoy it for years to come. Thank you for calling me!

Antique Sugar Bowl and Fruit SOLD

Thank you for your purchase and I hope you enjoy the painting for years to come.

Gold Vase with Bittersweet SOLD

Thank you for your purchase. I hope you enjoy the painting for years to come. Originally I posted this as a 11 x 14, but it is a 12 x 16 painting.

Chastain Arts Center's Holiday Show and Sale

DATES:November 21 – December 20, 2008
OPENING RECEPTION:
Friday, November 21, 5:30-8:00 PM

The annual Holiday Art Show and Sale features a dazzling array of artwork created by instructors and students of Chastain Arts Center. More than 70 artists will be showcasing jewelry, painting, pottery, knitting, and much, much more. With the anticipated variety of styles and media, there is bound to be something to suit everyone’s taste and budget. The opening reception and the ongoing show and sale are free and open to the public!

I will have 2 paintings in the show. They have changed it from 3 framed paintings to 2.

Antique Copper Teapot with Cup 12 x 16 on panel

I bought this antique copper teapot a few months ago at a flea market and thought it would be fun to paint copper. Well its very hard and I may go back and work on the copper a little more. There are a lot of reflections so you have to cut down on the amount you put in the teapot or it will get too busy. I decided to add the design on the white cup so that it would be the main focus of the painting along with the orange slices. I decided to add leaves to fill in the space.

Quinlan Visual Art Center Show

61st Annual Members' Exhibition
The 61st Annual Members’ Exhibition October 16 – November 30, 2008
The most popular tradition in the history of the Quinlan, the annual Members' Exhibition showcases the work of the different member-artists from Gainesville, Atlanta and beyond and each year marks another season of unparalleled excellence in visual arts programming. The exhibition will be on view through November 20th and is a dazzling and eclectic array of art in all media including landscapes, abstracts, still life compositions, portraits, ceramics, wood turnings and much, much more.

I should have 2 paintings in the show, but I haven't been up there to see the show.

Gold Vase with Bittersweet 11 x 14 on Panel

I was able to find a package of bittersweet at Fresh Market a week ago and had regretted not buying it last year. This gold vase I have used in a painting before and thought the reds and golds would make a nice fall painting. On the ground there are leaves and a few grapes as David would call "Debris." In his paintings he puts onion skins, leaves, twigs etc.. as accents in his grounds. I asked him about it this time and he says that at the last workshop he carried a box that had the debris in it. He even has named a painting something like Fruit with Debris and the painting was selling for around $40,000. So "Debris" can be a really good thing!

Evening Tea 11 x 14 on Panel

This was the first painting I set up at the workshop. I wanted a dark background so you could see the beauty of the teapot and the richness of the pear and lady apples. I have had a hard timing taking a picture of this painting so in real life its a little lighter. This week I may try and retake the picture.

Jams and Jelly 8 x 10 on panel

I did this quick painting on the last day of class. I had a few hours before class was over so I just decided to do a simple painting with the ceramic box and fruit.

David A. Leffel and Myself

Last week I was once again able to take a workshop with David A. Leffel. The workshop was located at the Quinlan Visual Art Center in Gainesville, Georgia. David is considered the "Rembrandt" of today and IS. He is a true genius, great teacher and wonderful artist. It is a privilege to be able to learn from such an artist.

Miniature, White Pumpkins 6 x 6 on Panel

This is the another painting that I did from Karin Jurick's new website http://DifferentStrokesFromDifferentFolks.blogspot.com/ You can click on the link and see all the different versions of this painting from artists around the world. I love painting pumpkins and Halloween is one of my favorite days. We used to collect so much candy and go out for hours.

Man Reading Newspaper 7 x 5 on panel

This is the 2nd week that I have participated in Karin Jurick's new blog, where she posts a photograph every week and then artists from around the world do their interpretation of it. It has me painting looser and with different subject matters. Its great. The website is http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/

Breakfast 8 x 8 on Linen

This was the set up that I brought to class this last week and then finished at home. Its just basic fruit with small little plums. I really wanted to try out this linen canvas that is gessoed clear. I wanted some of the linen to show through to give it a different look then painting the whole canvas.

Balance 8 x 10 on panel

I did this painting in class last week. The teacher had suggested for me to set up a simple still life since we don't have that much time. My mother mentioned how she liked the money plant balanced on the bowl so that is where the name came from. Then I thought about how hard it is to balance my work, art, and other activites in everyday life. I think about how much my life is wasted sitting in traffic and how much more I could accomplish if things weren't so complicated. Its just not my life that I see this with, but everyones and if you have children it makes time more precious. I guess you have to stay organized and focused as much as possible.

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 4 x 4 on panel

This painting came from a new blog that Karin Jurick created. Each Wednesday she will post a new photograph and then her painted version of the subject. From there artists from all over the world will do their interpretation of the photograph. This is the second week. I decided to paint mine very small and quickly so its looser then my other paintings. The first week she had painted and photographed a picture of her dog, Jack who had just passed. The paintings from the artists were wonderful. The website for this is http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/

Antique Copper Pot and Vase with Fruit 16 x 20 on Panel

After finishing the 3 studies on this painting I made a few slight changes. The lemons and the white bowl in the photo are brighter then in the real life painting. The leaves are a form of eucalyptus and I love the touch of pink to red that they have in them. You will see these used in future paintings. The antique wine bottle I have painted before in a painting called Mildred. This time I painted the other side of the bottle and its woven design. Well the grapes have all shriveled up into raisins and the lemons are hard as rocks so now its time to start on a new painting.

Off To The Beach 5 x 7 on Panel

This is just a quick painting to tell you I am off to the beach for the week.

Copper Pot with Lemon Wedge 8 x 8 on panel

This is the third and last section of the painting that I will do in a larger size. I will probably make adjustments to some of the elements and at this point change out the fruit since it has shriveled up. Hopefully I will be able to start the painting this week.

Vase With Grapes 7 x 5 on Panel

This is the second painting from the larger painting I will paint. This time I did make an adjustment to the lemon making it duller. The antique wine bottle has been in another painting called Mildred. The vase is really nice and the spa color is beautiful. The photo of the painting is a little darker then the actually painting. Right as I was taking the picture dark clouds appeared, but I wanted to get this posted today.

Lemon Wedges With Bowl 6 x 6 on Panel

This painting is a smaller study of a larger painting that I will start in the next few days. I may do a few more smaller studies of other parts of the new painting. The branches in the back are in the same family as the eucalyptus. I bought them at Whole Foods and then dried them recently. They have the same smell, but are different in shape. When dried they have a sage green color to them, but have a pink/red color in the branch and on the leaf. After looking at this finished painting I will make adjustments to the larger painting. For example using a smaller lemon slice. The large slice takes over a little too much.

Luminescence 16 x 12 on Panel

Luminescence means the low-temperature emission of light. The light source I used resulted in low light of the silver dollars. Just enough light for the composition. The "Honesty" plant is also known as Lunaria annua and it is from the mustard family. It has purple flowers first, which then turn into the translucent money plant. I have planted some, but they are the same size as when I planted them. Now I have purchased more seeds to try and grow on my own.

In this composition I wanted it to be similar to the series of paintings I started "Simplicity" and "Twisted Branches." I decided to do this one on a smaller panel and I accomplished what I set out to do. In the future I plan on painting more in this style.

Antique Pitcher with Fruit 16 x 20 on Panel

This antique pitcher came from my grandmother's first cousin, Maime Funkhouser. They lived in Takoma Park, Washington D.C., back in the 1940's. This is part of Takoma Park, Maryland, but on the D.C., side. Maime and Perry had chickens, and a wonderful garden on Dahlia Street. Just think of having chickens in your backyard in D.C., and it wasn't that long ago. Anyway, the gold handle with the black top of the pitcher and the decorative floral on the base was just calling me to paint it. I think now my lady apples are at their end so I will have to wait until November to buy new ones.

Sunflowers on panel 16 x 12

These Sunflowers were volunteers this year. I bought a packet of seeds this year, but didn't plant them until today. I decided today would be a great day to do some plein air painting. It was extremely hot so I had to paint quickly. A few years ago we had some volunteer sunflowers and I just loved them. I guess a chipmunk or bird dropped of the seeds last year. In front of the Sunflowers are Black-Eyed Susan's, but they haven't bloomed yet. The Gold Finches were not happy with me today when I was painting. After I finished they were flying around just waiting for their chance to eat the sunflowers. They have already eaten the first one that bloomed.

Antique Sugar Bowl and Fruit 11 x 14

In this painting I wanted to have one or two objects and more fruit. I was trying to emphasize the sugar bowl and the light in that area. In the photograph the background turned out dark and actually it is a more of a dark teal color. The lady apples are still the ones I bought in November and I have kept them in the refrigerator. I can't believe that they have lasted this long :)

Simplicity 20 x 16 SOLD

Thank you Anita for your purchase at the Chastain Art Show.

Twisted Branches 20 x 16 SOLD

Thank you Kathy for your purchase at the Chastain Art Show.

Good Morning 14 x 11 SOLD

Thank you for purchasing this painting at the Chastain Art Show Kathy.

Summer Bouquet 12 x 12

These flowers from our garden were so pretty that I had to take advantage of their beauty and paint them quickly. I wanted to have a black background to bring out the color of the flowers and for it to have the old masters look. My mother has referred to the black background as a black velvet painting. Hopefully it doesn't look like that. At first there were too many details in the oak leaf hydrangea, and they looked a little hokey so I simplified them. Before I could even finish the painting and look at each flower some of them had moved toward the light I was using; especially the purple flower at the very top it was standing straight up. At work I have a few small prints that I purchased at the National Gallery of Art of detailed bouquets painted in the early 1900's. I wonder how they got the details without the flowers either wilting or moving in different directions. Maybe they painted them in sections and then put them all together.

Honesty 12 x 16

I bought this red vase the other day at Parson's and decided since it was red to use its complimentary color green for the other 2 bowls and at the last minute added the little bowl on the right. The silver dollar pods in the painting are ones given to me by a fellow artist from a workshop. The plant is also known as Honesty. I took some of the seeds a few months ago and planted them in small pots and since then have planted them in the backyard. They seem to be taking a long time to grow so I am not sure if something is wrong. After reading about the plant a few minutes ago I learned that they should flower in April so I guess I will have to wait another year. If they don't grow taller this summer then I may have to buy the plant from the store and try again.

The following paintings are SOLD

I would like to thank the Briley family for purchasing the following 3 paintings: 3 Pears, Bowl of Strawberries and Bowl of Lady Apples. They look great in your kitchen. I appreciate the support!

Chastain Arts Center's Spring Show and Sale

DATES:May 2 – 30, 2008
OPENING RECEPTION:
Friday, May 2, 6:00-8:00 PM

Don’t miss the opportunity this year to shop for unique gifts for the special occasions of this season: graduations, weddings, Mother’s Day. Or, you may want to acquire something special for your own collection. The annual Spring Art Show & Sale takes place from May 2 – 30, featuring a dazzling array of artwork created by instructors and students of Chastain Arts Center. Previous shows have featured the work of more than 70 artists, working in jewelry, painting, pottery, knitting, and much, much more. With the anticipated variety of styles and media, there is bound to be something to suit everyone’s taste and budget. The Sale will open with a reception on Friday, May 2, from 6:00-8:00 PM. It is free and open to the public.
CHASTAIN ARTS CENTER
135 W. Wieuca Road, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30342

In Thought 16 x 20 Panel

The Tibetan looking man is actually a bookend. We have 2 of them that my parents bought in the 60's and I have always loved them. They have a very spiritual feeling about them. So for awhile I have wanted to paint them and decided to put one in the painting. I wanted it very serene. It may have crossed over to being boring I am not sure. Since the monks of Tibet and the Tibetan people have been in the news lately I thought it was time to paint this man. Maybe in the future I will paint both of them in one painting.

3 Pears 6 x 6 Canvas

These 3 beautiful pears came from Fresh Market. This painting is in a series of 3 paintings with fruits and bowls. This was a suggestion by my friend Melinda. I hope you like the painting Melinda:)

Scottsdale Model 14 x 11 SOLD

This painting was done last April at the Scottsdale Artists' School with David Leffel. The workshop was both still lifes and painting models and you had a choice each day on which to choose. Most of the time I painted still lifes, but decided that I should paint one of the models. It is so interesting painting models because so much of the time their souls come through on the canvas. In one class at Chastain we were all painting a male model and afterwards looking at each of the paintings we all thought he looked so spiritual. A few weeks later we were painting him again so we asked him about himself and sure enough he had gone on this huge spiritual journey to India and elsewhere. I think he was even a licensed preacher . It was interesting while painting this woman the different looks she had from artists painting her during the week. In my painting I believe it shows her strength and her peace.

Thanksgiving 12 x 16 SOLD

Thank you for purchasing this painting.

Peace 12 x 16 SOLD

Thank you for purchasing this painting.

Red Bowl 8 x 10 SOLD

Thank you for your purchase of this painting.

Bowl with Strawberries 6 x 6 Canvas Sold

This is a piece of pottery that my aunt made. I have been wanting to paint it for some time and finally decided to add strawberries to the bowl.

Golden Years 6 x 6 Canvas

Yesterday I decided to paint in the complimentary colors yellow and purple. Ever since my workshops with David Leffel I love painting grapes. He did a great demonstration on how to paint them and I really learned from that experience. As far as the vase I made it much more vibrant then it actually is and love the added reds and oranges.

Waiting On Spring 20 x 16

I was given this Quince by another artist from her garden. I wanted another light painting and I wanted to keep it simple. After receiving the Quince I came down with a winter cold and finally was able to paint this painting the last 2 weeks of February. At that point the flowers starting changing colors and wilting. I was able to use a few of the remaining flowers for the painting. I am glad its March and I am ready for nicer weather.

Spa Blue Bottles 20 x 20

I wanted to have a lighter feel in this painting since so many of my paintings are darker. I love the color spa blue and use it for my work frequently. The color gives one a calm feeling. Many times in my backgrounds I don't put reflections or shadows, but a smooth feeling. This time I decided to put in the reflection of the bottle and the clay pot. The clay pot made by my coworker Roberto, gives the overall painting a southwestern feel. That was not what I planned, but I like it.

Bowl of Lady Apples 6 x 6 Canvas SOLD

I bought these lady apples back in November and they have lasted in the fridge. The bowl was a pottery piece that my aunt made a few years ago.

Popcorn Plant 6 x 6 canvas

I took more photos of this painting and decided to re-post this painting again with a better photograph. The popcorn plant, probably not the official name, is found in coastal areas and this came from South Carolina. It seems to have lasted since November so I guess it dries well. This painting is similar to the Blue bottle and bowl in that I used the complimentary colors of orange and blue. I usually work on masonite, but decided to try some canvas. Once again I have decided that I like the feel and effect that the masonite gives me for my style.

Blue Bottle and Bowl 8 x 10

I wanted to paint complimentary colors so I picked this delft bottle and bowl with blue trim along with the orange slices.

Taken Away 20 x 20

I took a photo of the scene I painted a few years ago. I haven't worked from a photo since I was in high school. This creek goes out into the Chesapeake Bay. It is very serene and seems very spiritual in its peaceful environment. When the tide changes the beach changes and therefore sometimes the water from the creek won't go out into the bay and sometimes it will. Our cottage on the Chesapeake was recently sold so I don't know if I will ever get the chance to go to this place again. I look to the Bible to get through this great loss.

"Set your minds on things above not on earthly things." Colossians 3:2.

Cropping this picture I was unable to get the whole sky in and may update with a better photograph once a get a filter for my camera.

Twisted Branches 20 x 16

I bought these branches at Fresh Market and love how they twist and turn so naturally. I wanted to paint another painting similar to Simplicity, but ended up adding a few more objects. I took a week or so off from painting and I don't think I will do that again. Happy New Year!