New paintings....

These are some new paintings drying on my wall.

Lately, every time I see one of my paintings, I see a children's story.

I don't try to paint this way...I mean... I do.  What I mean is, even when I know a color should be subdued a bit....so that another subject can take center stage in the painting,  

I can't do it.  It's like saying....this part isn't as special as this other part.  

I know the idea behind painting this way.  I know that amazing artists accomplish gorgeous pieces of art by using this technique.  I just can't seem to do it, even when I set out to try.

Maybe this is just how I paint.  

I'm cool with that, but some of these paintings feel like a page in a children's story.  

Maybe that's the most logical next step.  

I'm waiting for an idea to come to me...and I'm going to start that project.

Anyways, thank you for looking and reading!

I hope spring is filling you up with excitement and energy!

Have a good one!

Here are a few more of my story book paintings...

Flowers

"Flowers"

22"x 28", oil on canvas

sold

This whole painting was inspired by the colors of sunlight

 within this glass jar….me, trying to capture all that glorious color!

If I try again, would something new happen?  Would I see the colors the same way?  

I know the shapes could shift…that part I'm not too fussy on.  But the colors,

would I see and mix them the same way on a different day…different mood?

Recently I had someone want a painting that was already sold.  They asked if I could 

paint them another one just like it.  I said I could try….see how it turns out and let them know.

Even though they're almost identical, I can see the emotional part of it is gone, in the second painting.

The inspiration, that was there in the beginning…it's only in the first painting.

It's like a science fiction show….the cloned painting doesn't have the personality 

that the first did.  Maybe I'm the only one that would notice it in my own work. 

The inspiration, the spark…. the love…it's so important to a painting.

Its the main reason I don't paint commissioned pieces….

from someone else's photo.  It might be a wonderful picture/subject…but if it didn't 

tickle my brain….it might not turnout very well. 

Anyways…I do like this painting…and I won't try it again, 

cause I have something else I'm inspired about today :)

Thank you for looking…and reading!

I appreciate it :)

Beach Beauty

"Beach Beauty"

12"x16"

 oil on board

I was missing the feeling of watercolor painting lately…all drippy, with it's transparent colors.

So this started out as a burnt umber drawing with very wet, thinned oil paint and a fairly big brush.

Then, of course, I wanted to play with adding some color….

just in some areas…give the girl some pow!

I had fun :)  I do my best work when I'm having fun, 

am I repeating myself?  I bet I am….but its cause I think we all do our best creating

when we are knee deep in what we love! 

I love these girls I paint with their colorful hair and goggles

…I'm not exactly sure why…. I just do :)

Makes the painting part feel effortless.

Thank you for looking and reading!  

July Roses

July Roses

#9 

I was playing with a pallet knife on this one.

I'm tired of looking at my brush strokes....so out came the pallet knife!

This rose bush is on the corner of my house.  

Somehow it's managed to grow in spite of moose munching on it all winter and spring.

 Over the years it's grown to be about 6' tall.....in spite of all the munching and pruning.

What a survivor!  The roses are so pretty and they smell wonderful.  They're in bloom now for a few weeks and then they'll bloom again at the end of the summer.

This is the first time I've painted them.

This is #9 of my plein air paintings.....I'm going for 200.

That's my goal.  I have a ways to go. 

Thank you for looking! 

More clouds.....

Clouds #3

5.5" x 14"  oil

More clouds from my windy plein air evening.

Protected

"Protected"

24" x 36"  oil

Race to the Finish

"Race to the Finish"

12" x 16"  oil

I'm posting some paintings from last year.  

This one seems appropriate as I watch the school year come to a close.

I have two sons finishing a school year right now.

Tests.....papers......assignments...

The whole house seems to be focused on a finish line. 

There's not a lot of play going on these days....

I'll be happy for summer to come.

Tuesday night life drawing sessions....

This is a drawing from last night's session.  Fun evening with a nice group of artists!

Tuesday nights there is a open life drawing session downtown Anchorage, AK.

We meet at 6:30pm and draw until 8:30pm. Come and draw with us! 

AT.... International Gallery, 427 D St.  

Tuesday nights 6:30 - 8:30pm

We would love to see you there, no expertise required, all levels welcome, bring $15 and your own materials. (If more than 5 people attend, the fee goes down to $10!) (UAA students only have to pay $5!) Please try to arrive before we start. See you there!

1970's motocross boots!

Okay....I'm showing you paintings from the past year, give the blog something to look at while I experiment on paintings in my studio.

These are some seriously great boots!  Do you know what attracted me to them?  Yes....the metal shin guards and metal buckles.  Tarnished metal, paired up with old worn leather......it just doesn't get any better than this!  Kinda has a Mad Max flavor don't you think? 

I have a painting in mind for these, but this was a fun warm up for something else down the line.

4th Avenue

"Fourth Avenue"

30" x 40"  oil

This painting is from 2006, but it's dear to my heart. 

This one marked the start of me taking oil painting seriously.

Soon after this painting, I created space in my home for a studio, and gave myself permission to buy lots of canvas and paints!  And that's where all the fun began!