...the beginning

~ click on image to enlarge ~

18"x24" oil on stretched canvas

Mmmmmmmmmmmm.......I haven't had my oils out for awhile and absolutely Love the smell of fresh paint.



This is the beginning of a commission I'm doing for a man that loves the outdoors.  He gave me a photo he took of geese flying over a patch of water and grass plain.  The ground area is almost black and is darker here then I've painted it. 

First step was to lay in a red wash over the entire canvas. After drying...I've mixed blues, white,  naples yellow, and violet in the sky.  Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, and black in the ground. 

Now it's time to let the paint set up a bit, then add the geese that are flying and blades of grass that are in the foreground.  I don't know....I may not wait :D  I love painting wet on wet and Alla Prima.  

Sigh.....I just looked at the clock and realize, there's a reason I'm s-l-o-w-i-n-g down.  Creativity really has no timeline.  My body is telling me something else.  It's used to a regular schedule of going to bed by 10pm. 



Eyes done in Pastel

~ Soft Pastel on Belgium Mist Wallis Paper ~

I thought I'd share something I'm currently working on.  The top picture shows where I've started to pay attention to the eyes on this portrait. 

The bottom picture  shows the finished touches of this part of the painting.  I tend to do the eyes early on in a portrait painting.  For me......If I can't get the eyes right, then the rest of the picture doesn't fall into place as it should.  

Mom's Christmas bulbs

~click on image to enlarge~

6 individual paintings on stretched canvas measuring 2 3/4" square.

I haven't painted with acrylics for quite some time.  I found this to be a bit of challenge after painting with oils.  The challenge is.....they set up fast and dry on the palette in no time at all.  I'm used to working where I can put brush or pastel stick down and go do laundry, start supper....you get the idea I hope.

My mom decided to "gift" me with some of her old glass bulbs when I had my first Christmas tree in 1974.  Yep, it's been awhile and they are still around.  I say a prayer of gratitude when I hang these on my tree every year.  I love the memories and traditions we shared so long ago.