A brief breakdown of process.

So you can see I have my set up with a strong source light.  I begin my drawing usually with a neutral color.  Here is kind of a raw umber.

And I continue with the drawing process until I have the shapes finished.  I am someone who really responds and loves "line".  There are those who go right for the masses and that is also a wonderful way to start.  But for my personality, I love to respond to line. I have no fear of going inside or outside of the line which helps.  Some feel trapped by a line and hence feel more comfortable with adjusting contours of masses.  It's all good. 

I was unhappy with the drawing of the spoon so I wiped it out with a transparent wash of the ground color and redrew the spoon.

Now I begin to mass my shadows in first, helping to set the darks of the painting.

 I continue to develop the shadow shapes and add more information within those darks.  When I feel satisfied with this part I move on to the information illuminated by my source light.  You can see that the spoon is more developed.

Now I put in the ground color, a light pink.  What I love about saving this for last is that I can carve in on the contours of the shapes and adjust where I want to.  A little more information on the cup and saucer and a finished painting.

And another shot of the finished painting and the set up.

Mileage

I talk a lot in my workshops about how important it is to keep sketchbooks.  Don't make it hard!  Have one in your purse with a pen (or european man satchel for you guys).  Have one at your bedside with a pen.  Place one next to where you sit and watch TV, with a pen!  Having a family and all that goes with it AND trying to improve and gain earnest mileage we may only be able to carve out 15 minutes of time for art.  The top sketch was done while my daughters were at gymnastics.

When my husband's hand is frozen on the channel changer and it's NBA, NBA, NBA,  I have a Vogue or Elle (some fashion magazine) and I can keep him company and get in a little more mileage on my drawing.

Sometimes I will just sit with a pile of photos I have taken of our daughters and draw from those.  Hopefully to help keeps my skills in the intuitive department.  And I get painting ideas.

I always had a sketchbook with me at our kids' sporting events.  That's Rex in the middle!  Brings back fun memories!  I always feel a sense of satisfaction that I am able to do both.  Have a wonderful family, be there for them and have my art.  It's possible!

Paintings from the Knowlton Gallery

Ray and I recently participated in a Figure Show at the Knowlton Gallery in Lodi, CA.  Here are a few paintings from the show.

This is a painting I did of Cassidy.  It was in one sitting at a table in our backyard.

This painting I did of Ali and Tessa.  

A color study done down at the Torrey Pines Beach in Southern California.  It is one of my favorite beaches to paint at.

This I did from a photo of our daughters, Mary and Ali.  

I hope to!

             I love blogs that keep me in touch.  One of my favorites is Elements of Style by Erin Gates.  She posts everyday!! (almost) and not just to post.  She is very funny and candid.  She covers all things beautiful.
             I love beautiful art, homes, land, interiors, comfort, quality in all forms.  One thing I think we can all afford is original art.  I am surfing little nooks and crannies on the web (Etsy) and I am amazed at how much affordable art is available.   You do have to wade through the crap but it's there.
             So here are two images of recent works done in black and white gouache.  I still haven't got my own Etsy up yet, but someday and this is the type of work I hope to offer!  And they won't cost anywhere near my gallery oils and it's ORIGINAL!
              With that said, I do hope to post on a more regular basis.  I am always excited to see what's new!

Inspiration.

Lovely color harmony!

                                                          

More color relationship.  Simple and love the shape of the vessel.

                                                            Simple black and white.  

Beautifully stylized figures and wonderful color.

I've posted here and mentioned before that I have been creating ceramic containers and recently found more inspiration for some new pieces.  I hope to use the color and the stylization of these.  You know, I used to just pass by these sections in museums that displayed these art forms and run straight for the paintings. Now that I am using other venues for my creativity I can't get enough of the rooms with the silverware, porcelains, glassware, ceramics, jewelry etc.  Well, I do pass on the knights armor and weaponry sections!  Give me Prada and Alexander McQueen rooms instead.

I'll help myself to these!

I was recently in Massachusetts and Vermont taking a workshop myself at the Bennington College! That place has a fabulous history.  I went with a good friend and we were able to fit a few museums in,  the Clark and the Williams College Art Museum.  We almost left and I just ducked into a room off to the side and discovered the David Park beauty and the Homer at the Clark.  I said "I'll just take these two for now."

Wait! There's more!

Everyone's drinking wine these days!  I love a little red in the evening and I just don't find those corks that attractive!  I've been trying to dress them up with these bottle toppers I've made using a low fire clay and glaze.  They look great sitting on a table and amuse our guests!  You can keep the cork in and then just pop these on top.  They really do dress up the setting.