Since I posted my first entry on October 2, I've learned a lot. One of the more outstanding discoveries was "meeting" and getting to know the work of some wonderful artists. I particularly want to thank both June Parrish Cookson and Jeff Hayes for their amazing work and for their generosity of spirit.
As I write, it's a beautiful sunny morning. I've promised myself that I will go out early to paint, before chores, letters and organizing tasks take over and rob me of my time. I just began Alyson Stanfield's "Getting Organized" workshop, online. I highly recommend this to every artist. Even if you think you're organized, I promise there's still plenty to learn. Find out more about this and her other workshops at http://www.artbizcoach.com. I did completely reorganize my work studio, starting moments after I signed up for the class. Talk about a positive influence....it feels great to walk into my studio now, which previously would have been charitably called a disaster. My office, however, remains a work in progress.
To hasten the recovery, I've decided to post paintings for the next week or so, that are currently available, as well as work in private collections. As I look at how much has yet to be done to organize my inventory, files, piles, etc. this seems like a very good time for me to also appreciate what I have accomplished up to this point. A spoon full of sugar to make the medicine go down.....Hope that you enjoy!
One of my very favorite paintings, the cat in the poster closely resembles my calico, Celeste. This painting was featured in the November 2005 Plein Air article "The Magic of Miniatures".
Painted on a very chilly day at Menemsha Beach in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, this painting is available from Galerie Kornye West in Ft. Worth, TX. For more info, call 1-817-763-5227.
One of four, I seem to revisit this theme often. I thoroughly enjoy painting white objects, cherries and other red fruits and veggies, and always enjoy an homage to Winslow Homer.
This is one of the paintings being featured at Whistle Pik Galleries' Christmas Miniature Show, in Fredericksburg, TX. For more info, go to www.whistlepik.com or call 800-999-0820. The pre-sale begins November 17th through December 16th and may be viewed online.
This is the last one of the Yellow Rose Series.They are enjoyable from the standpoint of forcing one to go a bit farther, simply to fulfill the committment. Hoping to start a fresh series tomorrow- maybe a series of watercolor still life around a silver theme....or if weather permits, I've been wanting to start a series of watercolors entitled "Lakeview". My neighborhood was profoundly affected by Katrina. Only recently have I been able to paint any of the damaged homes. It's very emotional to see so much devastation every day. Since we returned to New Orleans less than a year ago, I've learned to bake fresh bread to avoid having to go to any grocery stores, which are @ 3 miles away in 2 different directions, but which all require driving through once lovely, thriving neighborhoods. Things are getting better slowly...It's unbelievably better than it was this time last year...but many homes and businesses remain untouched since the storm.
This is the painting the client chose. I'll post #4 tomorrow. The second, third and fourth paintings in the series are all very similar, with slight changes here and there. My habit is to buy fresh yellow roses and then do everything else imaginable before I actually sit down to paint them.
