Thursday, June 9, 2011

Nature

Take a little time out of you day today and go outside and just sit -- and as you sit, take a few minutes and be “in nature” -- the feeling of the sun on your face, the smell of the flowering plants, the sounds of the birds, and the beauty that surrounds you -- that is what we are painting -- life!
"Happy Days"
12 x 9, Oil on Board

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

New Beginnings

       
Paintings have their own life -- we start out painting in one direction and then the painting takes us in another!
And, sometimes, the paintings come back to us -- that is a good time to “re-look” at your work and decide how you can make it better.  At the end of a season, I usually request that the galleries send me back the paintings that did not sell so that they have a “fresh” look for the season.  You certainly don’t want your collectors to return and see the same paintings still on the wall.  
And, now you are looking at your painting with “new” eyes -- certainly you have matured and so has your work!  
I put the paintings on the floor in my studio and study them -- for days, sometimes even longer.  And, then, when I am ready, I put “new” touches on it -- to make it sparkle and to give it new life!
This is one of those paintings.

"A Special Place"
30 x 30 Oil on Board



Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Summer is Almost Here!

        
Summer is just about here and I love thinking of the beauty of summer -- time at the beach, cook outs, vacations and basically -- time off!
As an artist, it seems that our lives are surrounded by art -- we look at the world through artist’s eyes and  “everything” is a painting!   Children playing  on the beach or even in your own backyard are paintings just waiting to be painted. 
Time to take the easels outside and see what magic happens!  Paint some flowers, a still life set up in the yard is always enchanting  and will get you “outside”.  Plein aire painting has been making a huge comeback and this is a great thing.  We all need to be paintings from life -- minimum -- once a week!  It is truly the best way to paint.  Certainly the impressionists and their predecessors all painted from life, long before we had cameras.  And, now with the digital camera, we take thousands of photos!
I know that when I paint from life, I paint faster, I see what I am painting with “artist’s eyes” and the colors are brilliant.  I have vowed to paint from life once a week and to draw every day!  Here’s to summer and all that it brings!
"My Summer Place"
10 x 8 Oil on Board


   





Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Being Lucky!

       
When I was a little girl (seems like yesterday), I was sitting at this restaurant right on the water in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and my Mother told my family that I was the only one that could have a lobster!  I can still see myself sitting there in total Bliss!  I must have done something really special to deserve that lobster!  And, as my three sisters sat there, I ate my lobster in joy!  I wish I could remember why I deserved the “royal treatment”!!!
And, I truly must have done something right to deserve to be an Artist!  When I think of how blessed I am, I stop and thank God and the universe for the privilege of being an Artist.
Every day I do a random act of kindness -- it could be giving money to a homeless person, calling someone who is lonely, helping a friend, listening to a friend, or just doing something for someone I have never met.
As artists -- Joy is the gift we give this world.  How lucky we are!  

"Time in Ruidoso"
12 x 9, Oil on Canvas



Monday, May 23, 2011

Being creative

       
No matter what your age or your life path, whether making art is your career or your hobby or your dream, it is not too late or too silly to start!
And sometimes even in the midst of an art career, we have to remind ourselves that God does want us to use our creativity to share with the world!
"Sunny Days"
11 x 14, Oil on Board



Thursday, May 12, 2011

Creating Memories

       
There are so many magical and special moments in our lives -- creating them on canvas and capturing that feeling and that memory is the reason that I am painting.
Throughout our lives we will see millions of painting moments and ideas -- choosing which ones to paint is the key to finding your soul in your work.
When a painting makes you smile -- you are there!
These two brothers sat for me in the hot sun so that I could do a commissioned painting -- what I captured for myself was them --- reading to one another and enjoying being brothers.  This is a little study!

"A Story For My Brother"
8 x 10 Oil on Board




Monday, May 2, 2011

Painting for Fun

It’s May and Spring is here!!!!  Yeah!  I can’t wait to paint outside!!!
Today is a great day to just LET GO!  Just paint for yourself.
Paint for the sheer joy of it!
And Just Have FUN!
"Afternoon Light"
7 x 5 Oil on Board