Thinking of Christmas!

- Click on image to enlarge -

These little jewels are small stretched canvases that I've been having fun creating oil images on.  Each canvas is roughly 3"x3" in size.  They will be sold with the supporting easel. 

I'll have these mini gems with me this weekend (Dec. 1st/2nd) at the Iron & Lace store in Bentonsport, IA.  It's the "Celebrating Christmas in the Villages" weekend.   Store hours in Bentonsport are 10am to 5pm both days.

Want to support the creative process?  Give a Unique "One of a Kind" gift that is joyful and created with love?  Send me an email if you're interested in purchasing one or a set of mini oil paintings.
Send to: ginlammert@yahoo.com   with  " Mini Oil Paintings" in the subject line.

Now, back to being Santa's helper I go.......Hi Ho! Hi Ho! Hi Ho!

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The Gift

Here is a photo of a working space the Printy's have created for me in the Iron & Lace Store in Bentonsport, IA.   Part of  Bill & Betty's oil lamp collection hangs in the window beside my easel.  There is a big picture window to the left of this view where I can see the Des Moines River and the old Iron Bridge that was converted from driving to walking only in 1985.

This is the last pastel created here for this season.  I've packed everything up and have moved items home to work during the week.  The stores in Bentonsport will be open weekends only for the months of November and December.

This past weekend was celebrated with having a Buckskinner Rendezvous along the Des Moines River.  People from our Tri-State area come and re-create the past by dressing/living as Mountain men and women of the late 1700's, early 1800's.

This painting depicts one of those ladies.  She was gifted with this fox fur and it's one of her most treasured belongings.

Here's the finished Pastel painting   "The Gift"  18.5"x13"

This painting is part of my "Two Iowa Counties" project.  I'll share more about this series of works later.

Snow? White?

Soft Pastel 10"x14"
This was a first attempt with working with a new paper designed for soft pastels....from Canson called "touch".  It has a slight "tooth" to the surface so I was able to layer a bit without spraying the surface with a fixative.

The vote is still out if I like the paper.  I've become quite fond of Wallis paper for pastel work.  So, I think it will take a few more tries before I've made up my mind if I use this substrate for commissioned works. 

I came across the photo I took a few seasons ago that I've used here as reference....ice over everything.  It was early morning and bitterly cold.  Just enough snow to cover the ground, but not deep enough to cover the corn stocks.

2012 Iowa Nouveau Poster

24"x18"  Soft Pastel on Wallis paper

Here's this years poster design for Tassel Ridge Winery's 2012 Iowa Nouveau wine.  It will be released when the wine is available to the public in November.  The winery is located just off Highway 163 between Oskaloosa, IA and Pella, IA.  You can read more about the winery by going to http://www.tasselridge.com

I have to say....Thanks April for being my model.  She has beautiful naturally curly hair and is so full of life.

I really enjoy creating in the Art Nouveau style.  I'm thinking of making it my signature style....what do ya think?  send me an email with "Art Nouveau Vote" in the subject line.  ginlammert@yahoo.com

Labor of Love

Size: 8.5 x 11.5    Soft Pastel on paper

Just finished this painting this morning.  The inspiration here was of the blacksmith, Bill Printy, giving a demonstration to a group of young admirers.  Here, he's making vein impressions on the grapevine leaf by hammering the chisel into the heated metal. 

Now I have 4 paintings completed that will be in the "2 Iowa Counties" book I'm creating.  The goal is to have at least 80 to 100 images to publish.  I'd better get back to work.  Loooong way to gooooo!

Grape Cluster

Acrylic outdoor paint on metal surface.

The guy that commissioned this work had wondered into my studio in Bentonsport this Spring and asked if could paint the door to his barn.  He brought the door to me and here is the end result. 

I finished working on it here, behind the bank building at Bentonsport.  When the gentleman came to pick up his door....he seemed very pleased.

Calm Sunset

15"x19"  Soft Pastel on Wallis paper

Here's another "skyscape" I'm planning to take to the Mid Summer Art Faire in Quincy, IL June 22-24th.  I sold a skyscape last Saturday at the studio ...unframed.  Had it laying on the table, ready to take home to frame.  Now it's headed for Callifornia.

I love it when inspiration strikes someone and no matter what, they have to have a piece of original artwork.  Even better when it's something I've created.  I know then, it spoke to their heart and will inspire the viewer each time they look at it.

I can't think of a better compliment to an artist....unless it is a student that grows by leaps and bounds in their own creativity with having a start from something I've suggested.  Ego talking here...can't help it! Helpng others to enjoy the arts is who I am.