third time's the charm?

Marshy pond on a dark rainy morning. Also, the third painting on this piece of Wallis paper. The previous two paintings hung around the studio unframed until they bugged me so much I had to hose them off. We'll see if this one survives...
Two months later...about 95% of it survived. A 5% rework and recrop. See my post of 3/30/10.

horse ranch pond

In our search for retirement property, my husband and I visited a 10 acre horse ranch with pond. It isn't the right place for us but I got some good reference photos that rainy morning.

red surprise

Today when I unframed a 2008 pastel painting to shoot a digital image of it, I discovered I had painted on red Canson paper. Now I think the painting is more interesting unframed.

too sweet

This painting has been on my easel for several days while I have been busy with other things. I just want it off. So, though it feels too sweet, I'm calling it done. 

snowscape

A fresh coat of paint over another old painting from the March 2009 series. Below is the original painting of marshland, water, and mountains in the distance. At right is how it looked turned upside down before I started painting over it.

big brush, white paint

Find an old painting, turn it upside down, load your brush with thin white oil paint and paint over the entire surface of the old painting. If the ghosty image that remains suggests anything to you, emphasize it with additional color (or more white). In this case, a water scene became a snow scene. 

blobs of oil paint

Another day of training myself to use more paint. A palette knife helps in applying big blobs - well, they're big to me. Others would laugh. Also finally remembered to clean my metal thinner containers and add fresh Gamsol odorless mineral spirits. Today's painting was more fun than frustration.

paint on, paint off

A year ago I was just beginning to experiment in oil landscapes. When I look at those paintings now, I see a need for more texture. Today I painted over the first of those old images.

For 3 hours I applied paint to the canvas panel, scraped it off, scooped up all the paint blobs on my palette, applied those, scraped them off, squeezed out new paint, mixed color, applied paint...over and over. Frustrating and fun. It took all afternoon to paint "Reason to Believe," a 9 x 12 inch textured impression of a northwest meadow.

shipped today

Today I shipped my painting to the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) 15th Juried Exhibition. This is the first time I've entered this show and to be accepted is an honor. If you're near Brea, California, visit the gallery.

studio tour

I'm always interested to see where other artists work, aren't you? The idea to post photos of my studio motivated me to tidy up for the year of painting ahead. If you post photos of where you make art, please let me know. Happy painting!

My wet-media painting station with Soltek easel.

 

Studio entry.

 

Desk and computer area as well as my collection of art by other artists, family treasures and photos.

 

Flat files for paper storage with framed painting storage below

 

Paintings awaiting framing are hung from pants/skirt hangers

 

Pastel station with my Mabef easel.

 

My cozy gas fire. Paper mache masks were made by my son when he was in grade school.

 

Round oak table top and big work table with mat cutter.

cleaning and shredding

It's that time of year again...studio cleaning and old document shredding. I started yesterday in the southeast corner cupboard/bookshelf behind my paint station and will continue along all walls, then to the big worktable in the middle. When I'm done, I'll post a little Studio Tour.