FINE ART BY MARY J. DUVAL

Pet Portrait Fun

2012-01-15T18:39:00.002-06:00

I'm not trying to be "punny" when I say that creating a special pet portrait for a client leaves me feeling "warm and fuzzy" inside. It's a real joy to work with a client to develop a lasting memory of a beloved pet and these two portraits are the latest of what has become a fun side of my art business. I pride myself in working hard to capture the pet's personality as best I can. (If you are interested in having a pet portrait commissioned, feel free to check my pricing list by clicking on this link: http://artbymj.blogspot.com/p/commissionspricing.html )

Perusing my blog posts from 2011, I see that I did not do a very good job of posting a majority of my artwork. This may be due to the fact that 2011 was a year of experimentation for me as I returned to my old stand-by pencil, played with watercolors and pens, dabbled in digital media, and finished off experimenting with mixed media and acrylics.

Who knows what 2012 will bring to my art, but I will try to keep you better informed. Maybe I will feel brave enough to show you some of my more experimental work! I am hoping to find a way to offer prints in addition to the original art and commissions that I am creating.

As always, I humbly thank you for your encouragement and allowing me the privilege of sharing my art with you.

Top: "Pom Buddies" 11x14 oil on canvas
Below: "Bucky" 11x14 oil on canvas

Sacre Coeur Cathedral

2011-10-08T22:56:00.006-05:00

When I visited Montmarte in Paris, way back at the age of 18, I could never have imagined that one day I would be painting it as a commission. You just never know where life will take you!

And when my client's fiance took her to Sacre Coeur one evening, she had no idea there was a proposal coming as they stood at the front of this beautiful cathedral and he asked her to marry him.

Sigh. So romantic.

And I (moi!) had the honor of creatively capturing that momentous occasion.

"C'est à partir de toi que j'ai dit oui au monde."
- Paul Éluard
It was beginning with you that I said yes to the world.

C'est magnifique!

Tea Ceremony & Tradition - Golden Gate Park

2011-09-01T09:16:00.007-05:00

Art is my work, but it is also my play. I have been doing a lot of playing over the summer months, hence my lack of posts. In between commissions, I have been playing at new kinds of media (different types of paint, pencils, pens). It's been rejuvenating and revealing.

This current "play" is actually a little piece that I started for fun early in the summer. I've also posted the preliminary work so you can see how a painting gets started. A departure for me, this is acrylic on heavy gessoed paper. It was a challenge to work with acrylics the same way I work with oils because they both behave very differently.

Originally, I had intended to paint a picture of the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco a la Monet. I got sidetracked though when a friend offered me his photos and after picking one out, I found that when I enlarged it, there was a little boy taking part in the traditional tea service. So I scrapped Monet and did MJ instead, creating my own version, redoing the scene and the little boy.

I was just telling a friend the other day that I don't think I could ever settle in to painting just one thing or one style. I love being an artist - I can be a gardener, an architect, a cowboy, a traveler, a naturalist, a child, a florist...the world is my inspiration!

"Tradition and the Tea Ceremony"

11"x14" acrylic on gessoed paper

El Santuario de Chimayo

2011-04-02T21:16:00.005-05:00

The village of Chimayo is located just north of Santa Fe and is known for its church which was built in 1816 after a crucifix was discovered buried in the dirt. El Santuario de Chimayo has a long and interesting history (you can read more here about it's history) and is often referred to as the "Lourdes of America."

I have had my reference picture for this painting for several years now, but it wasn't until I was able to visit Santa Fe this winter and walked through several galleries, admiring the use of colors that I finally understood what I wanted to portray with my Chimayo painting.

I could've painted it exactly like my photo - a truer visual representation - but it was more important for me as an artist to capture my feeling of New Mexico, it's culture, it's local color. I'm so glad I did, because this was a lot more fun!

El Santuario de Chimayo

16"x20" acrylic on canvas, private collection

Journey Series - #5

2011-02-26T21:35:00.002-06:00

It's been awhile since I've completed another addition to my "Journey" series. As my family traveled by car to California, we were delighted to see snow on the approaching mountain range and I snapped a photo of Interstate 15 on the way into Barstow. Historically, Barstow is known as "a jumping off point for immigrants entering the state" during the Great Depression and was made famous by John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath.

As I painted, it brought to mind a painting done by my father (posted here and one of my very favorites) - his interpretation of what was either Interstate 10 (most likely) or I-40 on the way to California. The cars represent our family's multiple moves to and from California along with a plane in the sky which I like to think symbolizes the many miles he logged on airplanes in between moves. He always preferred travel by car.

Lots of good memories were made traveling back and forth on those highways. I hope my own children will treasure similar memories from our travels. To my delight, my son recognized my painting right away and said he could recall that exact point on the road. I hope he meant it, but maybe he just wanted more money so he could go get a hamburger at McDonalds :0) !

"Road Through Barstow"

24"x36" oil on canvas

All of Nature Proclaims His Glory

2011-02-06T09:59:00.004-06:00

"All of nature proclaims His glory" (Psalm 19:1)...and for bird lovers and others, the indigo bunting may be viewed as one of nature's visual crescendos.

A friend, and avid bird watcher, generated much talk when she posted a photo of the indigo bunting that took up residence in their backyard this past November and is still visiting them every day (!)

As an artist, nature inspires me in a way that nothing else does. When I saw her photo, I knew I would paint it, I just wasn't sure how or when (which is what happens with many of my initial inspirations - they come to fruition on their own time and I've learned not to force it).

How do you do justice to an indigo bunting?!

This year, I plan on playing with some new types of media. Oil remains my priority, but I look forward to taking some creative adventures with watercolors, acrylics, colored pencils, digital art...sky's the limit!

And what better place to start than with this little guy? (You may see him again!)I'm grateful for people (my friend) who share what inspires and delights them in their daily lives, and I thank you for allowing me to share my own delights with you, here, on this blog.

Elk Journey

2011-01-09T21:32:00.003-06:00

Just before Christmas, I was commissioned to complete a large painting for a man's study which featured snow and elk. I was so thrilled to be asked to do this because of all the things my dad used to love to paint, mountain landscapes combined with deer and elk were among his favorites. Because of that, there is a special connection I feel with him whenever I paint these subjects.

This was a creative challenge for me as I have never painted snow (to this extent) or elk, for that matter.

What you can't see in the finished painting is all the back and forth and creative input that goes into the painting between myself and the client. When it is done, it definitely feels like a combined effort.

I've shown the original sketch because I thought you might be interested in seeing how the initial photo layout transformed into a beautiful, peaceful painting for the client's study. As I look at this sketch, I think about the level of trust this person had that I could go from step A (the original idea) to step B (the final).

I learned more than I ever thought I'd care to know about elk as I poured over websites of our National Parks and read an entire book about elk. I put as much personality as possible into each of the elk and thoroughly enjoyed it once I had done my research. These bull elk are portrayed during their journey up the mountain. There are no females or young ones because they leave several weeks ahead of the rest of the herd in the autumn.

Originally, I thought it might be interesting to add a little cabin in the back of the woods, but my client thought an eagle in the sky above the elk would be a better idea. It might be hard to see among the contrast of the trees (which was how we intended it to appear), but it was a perfect suggestion and adds such a wonderful touch!

...oh, and by the way, one of my dad's trademark accents was to add an eagle in the sky of his paintings.

:0)

Elk Journey

3'x4' oil on canvas

Private Collection

Autumn Gloria (Small Study)

2010-11-27T19:00:00.004-06:00

For the beauty of the earth,

For the glory of the skies;

For the love which from our birth,

Over and around us lies;

Lord of all,

to Thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise!

~Folliott S. Pierpoint

"Autumn Gloria" (Small Study)

8"x10" oil on canvas $55+s/h

Japanese Tea Garden Koi (Small Study)

2010-11-17T20:02:00.006-06:00

My original photo for this small study was taken in the Japanese Tea Garden of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. We were blessed by a lovely, sunny (!) March day and enjoyed a walk through the Japanese Tea Garden. I remember being slightly disappointed that we were missing all the Spring color that would be present in the flowering trees had we been there a few weeks later, but the koi certainly didn't disapoint with their jewel-like tones.

For Asian cultures, koi are good luck signs in business and life. I have read that there is even a blue version of koi, and I will be on the lookout now. I'm tempted to paint a much larger version of this - the colors were so fun, with the lighting and water almost giving an abstract effect to the painting.

"Japanese Tea Garden Koi" (Small Study)

8"x10" oil on canvas $55+s/h (tax if applicable)

A Tree Of Life

2010-11-01T21:22:00.004-05:00

In a mood to paint something whimsical and fun, I decided to paint my own version of a "Tree of Life" and fill it with symbols that were meaningful to me. This marks a return to a style I used when I was much younger and did far less realistic paintings and drawings. In that sense, I allowed myself to be more creative and less literal.

The hardest part may have been choosing what to put on the branches of my tree of life. Each item has a special meaning, of which I will give you only the basics so you can participate by filling in your own connections as you view it.

Here is a list of a few of the items and what they represent:

Hummingbird - "timeless joy & the nectar of life"
Morning Glory - "affection" & "resurrection"
Dove - "peace"
Snail - "perseverance & determination"
Apple - "Old and New Testaments"
Pear - "Christ's love for all of mankind"

The "tree of life" is mentioned several times in the Bible. According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, "the tree of life became a common poetic simile to represent that which may be a source of great blessing."

I kept thinking my painting wasn't finished so I painted until I could go no further. I'm still not entirely sure why I added the word "hope" but thought it was interesting to discover after the fact (Really! Completely unintentional!) that Proverbs 13:12 reads: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life."

"A Tree of Life"
18"x24" oil on canvas, gallery wrapped

Footbridge on the Path to Ninian's Cave

2010-09-21T06:44:00.004-05:00

I love doing commissions that capture a specific time and place for the individual I am painting for because I know they will look at it when it is finished and it will take them back into a special memory and place. I'm so glad to be able to do that for them. This particular travel photo was taken on a footpath on the way to St. Ninian's cave in Scotland.

Thankfully, the person I painted it for was very patient because it took a long time for me to know exactly how I was going to execute all this...GREEN. I wanted to achieve a balance because if I painted it all green it would lose character, but if I took out too much green it would lose it's Scottish-ness. I reached back to my childhood and remembered what it was like exploring various footpaths in the English countryside and how that was one of my earliest memories of adventure on untrodden paths. As a child the sudden appearance of a creek or little bridge was exciting and to this day, there is something that enchants me when I see water flowing over rocks.

"Path to St. Ninian's Cave"

11"x14" oil on canvas, private collection

Trois Plus Un (Small Study)

2010-09-09T09:48:00.003-05:00

Every year about this time, I start to be a little sad that the summer fruits are on their way out and our selection will turn to the year round varieties...not that they are so bad in and of themselves...but I do miss the fresh berries, plums, nectarines and peaches. Summer fruit salads are like being given permission to have dessert with dinner. The endless combinations are more fun than the fall/winter versions, in my opinion.

At first I thought I might need to highlight the Three Plus One...Plum a little more, but I kind of like it as an "afterlook" so that's the way I left it.

"Trois Plus Un" (Small Study)

8"x10" oil on canvas, $55 + s/h (tax when applicable)

Around the Bend (Journeys Series #4)

2010-08-11T22:26:00.008-05:00

"Around the Bend" is part of a continuing series I'm doing on roads and journeys. Something about roads grabs me and makes me feel all philosophical. I painted this from a photo we snapped when a car full of kids and I were driving home on County Road 257 from Galveston one morning this summer. A tropical storm was entering the Gulf and the clouds were a fascinating contrast from one side to the other. It seemed that what was around the bend was pretty menacing, but once we came around, it wasn't nearly as bad as we had anticipated.

"Around the Bend - Journey Series #4"

10"x20" oil on canvas

"When I left...my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla."

~Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Rosita's Bridge, San Antonio (Small Study)

2010-07-19T21:53:00.007-05:00

A friend of mine recently started watercolor painting and had painted a picture of Rosita's Bridge on the Riverwalk at LaVillita in San Antonio. This reminded me that I had a file of reference photos of my own trips to San Antonio and I was inspired to do this small study. In the past, I've walked by this area which features a stage on the right side and outside seating on the left (not seen here).

If you continue up and to the left you can visit a very charming shopping and arts area known as La Villita Historic Arts Village which pays homage to San Antonio's first established neighborhood. We happened upon it during our last trip and were pleasantly surprised at all the quaint shops and welcoming shopowners combined with some wonderful San Antonio history.

"Rosita's Bridge" (Small Study)
8"x10" oil on canvas, SOLD

Peanut Butter Jelly Time - Small Study

2010-06-19T10:59:00.005-05:00

My goodness, life has been busy and I have gone 3 weeks without painting! Aaarrghh. I needed to do a little warm up before I started back on some of my larger, long term works and wasn't quite sure what subject matter to choose. Around lunchtime, I decided to have some fun and make myself the kind of peanut butter jelly sandwich I would've eaten as a child (before we had any idea at all about grams of fat per tablespoon): lots of peanut butter and lots of jelly (with a tall glass of ice cold milk - definitely not my usual diet!) Sometimes, I wish I was still a kid so I could eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich everyday, that's how much I like them. Some people like to go light on the peanut butter and heavy on the jelly, or maybe the other way around. Several members of my family add bananas (for extra nutritional value?) There are lots of versions out there. Didn't Elvis like his fried? I usually don't use white bread, but I decided that I needed to make it on white bread for the sake of my artwork. Oh, the sacrifices we artists make! My sister called while I was working and asked what I was painting. She kind of paused like she wasn't sure what to say to that, but artists enjoy most painting the things we love. Can you tell that I love PBandJ by looking at this painting? I hope so.

"Peanut Butter Jelly Time" Small Study

8x10 oil on canvas, NFS

"Hunger of the mind and spirit is as strong as hunger of the belly."

~Camille Pissarro

Nanny's Vase (Small Study)

2010-05-23T16:20:00.006-05:00

There's something about the way glass and crystal reflects the light and catches my eye. Same goes for clear water in streams. For a long time now, I've wanted to try my hand at painting crystal so when I had this beautiful bouquet of roses on my counter in a very special vase (pink roses "Belinda's Dream" and red roses "Oklahoma"), I thought a small study would be a good start. I knew it wouldn't be easy to capture the colors and design of the crystal.

The vase is one that I picked up a long time ago from a family friend and avid collector of treasures and garage sale finds whom we called "Nanny." Nanny took great relish in her garage sale discoveries and was known to give you a good deal on an item when she re-sold it if she thought you loved it as much as she did. I believe she might have even raised the price if she thought you didn't love the object as much as she did! I bought this at a time when the family budget was tight and it definitely wasn't on the list of household necessities. I think Nanny knew that because she gave me a bargain. I swear the flowers look even more lovelier when I pull out this vase to hold them.

I look forward to trying my brush at more glass and crystal. I can't offer this one up for purchase as it was snatched up before I could get it posted.

"Nanny's Vase"
8"x10" oil on canvas, SOLD

An aside: If you don't have an Oklahoma rose, do yourself a favor and go out and get one! Heaven scented!!

Cook's Garden at Chateau Chenonceau

2010-05-14T11:50:00.003-05:00

The Cook's Garden at Chateau Chenonceau in France is a commission that I recently completed and wanted to share with you. The client I painted it for had a beautiful selection of vacation photos from her trip and wanted to commemorate her journey with a painting for her house.

These types of commissions are very much a combined effort between myself and the client because often I am trying to capture the feeling of a place I've never been before and the client has their own special memories they want to capture.

I knew, when I saw her photo, that I definitely wanted to paint it. Who could resist?! I completely lost myself in this garden as I worked on it over many weeks. Sometimes, I had to shake myself out of it and come back to my little painting corner. It was a joy. I do know that after painting it, I hope I someday have the privilege of journeying there myself. I wonder if I will walk into the garden and feel a special connection after having studied it for so long?

I always feel honored when someone asks me to create a visual reminder of a special memory of a time and place in their life.

"The Cook's Garden at Chateau Chenonceau, France"
30"x30" oil on canvas, private collection

Green In Gruene (small study)

2010-04-18T22:37:00.006-05:00

I snapped a photo of this barn after we strolled down Hunter Road in Gruene, Texas. My reference photo captures the lush green of early summer. I loved the way the old oak frames the barn across the street. I took the artistic liberty of adding the tire swing as an afterthought.

It is our tradition to always save enough time and energy after visiting Schlitterbahn to make our way to Gruene and the Grist Mill River Restaurant which overlooks the Guadalupe River. As stated on the town website, Gruene has been "gently resisting change since 1872." We usually walk off our dinner with a stroll through the historic town and pick up chocolate covered raisins at the Gruene General Store with it's old time Soda Fountain. Then everyone piles back into the car and falls asleep while dad drives home.

Next time we visit, I think I need to take a photo inside the soda fountain. That would be a fun painting.

"Green in Gruene"
8"x10" oil on canvas
(small study) sold

Happy Spring!

2010-03-22T18:11:00.004-05:00

Do you think I got a little carried away by all the colors in this small study? Oh well, it was fun and I was "Spring dreaming." Recent sunshine-y weather has me wanting to get out and plant flowers. I always dream of having a garden like this, but alas, I'm sure I wouldn't want to take time away from painting to take care of it. I'm glad I can have fun and get carried away with the brush (without the weeds!)

Once the heat and humidity arrives, the thought of staying inside with the a/c becomes more attractive than the idea of tending the flowers anyway. I think I'll stick with the brush.

Cottage Dreams (small study)
8"x10" oil on canvas
Private Collection

Leftovers (small study)

2010-03-19T22:59:00.002-05:00

I happened across a picture of an old homestead and decided to use the leftover paint on my palette for this small study. I chose the title "Leftovers" because of the leftover paint, and then because of the fact that these old buildings and homes that I see as we drive out in the country remind me of leftovers. I wonder what stories they would tell "if walls could talk." I suppose some might find the term leftovers depressing, but not me. I'm not sure why I find them so endearing, but they seem to be representative of a different time and era in history that speaks to my family heritage, I suppose.

"Leftovers"
8"x10" oil on linen
Small Study $55+s/h

Donkey Love (Small Study)

2010-03-01T19:50:00.010-06:00

I have a friend who graciously forwarded some fun pictures of her horses and donkeys and this little donkey couple was just too cute to resist. I am fortunate to have many friends who are kind about sharing their photos with me. That is an enormous asset as an artist.

Another painter friend of mine has been encouraging me to start working on small studies and I've finally decided to follow through. Small studies are often done with the intention of completing a painting in a single day. Many artists these days are participating in this "painting a day" approach. While I have no desire to do a painting a day, it's good practice and very liberating because the whole goal (in my mind anyway) is to be less formal and restrictive and more creative and experimental. Even the brush strokes are more loose as I keep reminding myself to have fun with the brush and not over think any particular area of the painting. They are a welcome break from some of my long-term, planned commissions and larger works and should be easy to work in when I need a break from a more intense project.

As such, they are a great opportunity to own an original work of art at a reasonable price. I will be selling these small studies (8"x10"s) for $55 +s/h.

Donkey Love - SOLD

8"x10" oil on canvas

$55+s/h

"Let It Rain"

2010-02-09T19:58:00.009-06:00

First of all, thank you for all the great title suggestions. You sure did not make it easy for me to decide. I really liked the deceptive simplicity of "Let It Rain," but wasn't sold on it until I read this interpretation:

"Although the barn design definitely sets the scene in the USA, the mood reminds me of time spent in southern Iran when the countryside is waiting expectantly for the first rains after the hot dry summer. I can almost feel the heat from those bright reds in the foreground. I thought of parched dusty grasses - the kind that rub the skin and itch, and I have memories of kids shoes covered in dust. Against that are the towering dark clouds – threatening thunderstorms: storms that will bring long awaited cooling, nourishing and reviving rains. Again, I can see those first raindrops splattering up the dust, turning the foreground to a mud and releasing a cool rich smell . . ."

As an artist, the thought that I could inspire beautiful words like that, makes me want to jump up and down! Prior to receiving this, I had started plans to revise the painting because even as the artist, I wasn't sure I was getting the message across. These words captured in writing exactly what I was trying to capture in colors.

As you can see, I think I found the perfect temporary home for it, viewed from an archway. Even though it's still for sale, I'm liking it quite a bit right where it is so I'm in no hurry!I'm also including a picture for you of where "Let It Rain" was supposed to hang (the big wall in the small room) and what is there now. This diptych was a departure for me as it was painted entirely in acrylic and was strictly done as a design element - like a giant doodle. I painted and played and didn't worry and fuss. It's a completely different experience when you are painting from a design perspective because there are different things to consider. It complements the room without demanding attention as the other did.

Thank you again for your titling help and, as always, I love hearing about what kinds of things you think about when you see a piece of my art.

"Barn Storm" - (Need titling help!)

2010-02-06T20:30:00.003-06:00

Our home has a very large wall in an otherwise small room that has been begging for a painting so I decided to paint this barn that I snapped a photo of as we drove by. As you can see, I had fun getting carried away with the colors and my own ideas for the landscape and playing with contrasts. At 3'x4', this is a rather imposing picture, as I found out when I went to hang it up in the small room it was intended for. I absolutely love it, but this painting demands way too much attention and knocks the whole room off balance. I should've known better as I often paint pictures for people based on the room where it will hang and I totally missed it for my own home. Duh. I'm glad it wasn't for a client! Alas, I had to paint something else for the room, but that's ok - I had a blast with this one. I guess it will be looking for a home where it can be a focal point.

Only thing is, I can't seem to think of a title. Every now and then I draw a blank and I figured it's been awhile since I've asked my readers for help. Please email if you have a title recommendation for me.

"Untitled Barn, Before (or after?) a Storm"
3'x4' oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

Cozy Kitties

2010-01-27T19:52:00.004-06:00

It doesn't seem possible that I haven't posted a painting since last November. (I need to do better!)

This painting is a keepsake for a family member whose cat, Romeo, passed away late last year. She had the cutest picture of him sitting on the couch with his sister, Sassy, and this is the composition we came up with. I love the way their legs are all entwined, sharing their spot on a cuddly throw perched on the couch.

"Sassy & Romeo"

11"x13" oil on canvas

Finally Finished - "Niece With a Pearl Earring"

2009-11-09T13:37:00.003-06:00

I started my "Niece With a Pearl Earring" exactly one year ago, and then got so busy with other projects, it was put on the backburner. When I realized it had been a whole year, I figured it was time to finish it. Sometimes waiting is a good thing. I think seeing the wonderful paintings in the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC in October inspired me. No matter all the art you can see on the Internet these days, nothing replaces seeing great paintings in real life. (And I didn't even make it over to the National Portrait Gallery!)

If you'd like to see my original blog post, click here. I think I was able to achieve a glow (something I was concerned about after the first go around), but I won't be any so bold as to say it can compare with Vermeer's glow. I did knock out the straight black background with more colors than you can imagine by viewing on the Internet. That was kind of fun. You can learn a lot by painting a study after a master from long ago, but I think this one will be my last for a long time (if I ever do one again). I have too many of my own ideas I want to execute and learn from.

This has been sitting on my shelf for a week now and as I will often do, I like to live with a painting for a few days before I proclaim it officially "done." The only thing I'm trying to decide for this one is whether I will give it an antique glaze to tone down some of the colors and give it more of an "old world" look. Feel free to let me know what YOU think.

(I get a kick out of thinking of her ancestors, long after I'm gone, fighting over who gets to inherit this painting of her).

"Niece With a Pearl Earring"
14"x18" oil on canvas, NFS

"Headed Home"

2009-11-02T15:15:00.003-06:00

I had some leftover paint on my palette and decided to play with this little farm scene. I'm always a sucker for a pathway and often when I'm painting one I think to myself "I wish I was taking a stroll right there, right now." Sure seems like I have a lot of buildings with red roofs. I thought about changing this one, but it just didn't do a thing for me when I tried to move away from the red. Oh well!

"Headed Home"
8"x10" oil on canvas

Yeehaw!

2009-10-08T21:47:00.002-05:00

Imagine my surprise this afternoon when I received an email notification that "Life: Saddle Up" had, in fact, been selected for the Boots 2 Heal benefit art show! I guess I assumed incorrectly that it hadn't made it. Just wanted to share the news. I'm honored and excited.

LIFE- Saddle Up

2009-10-08T08:22:00.004-05:00

Alas, neither of my two paintings were selected for the Boots 2 Heal Art Show benefiting pediatric cancer patients at MD Anderson, (a great cause, info here). Yes, I'm disappointed, but I realize that any contest is subjectively judged and for whatever reason, my paintings didn't meet the criteria they were looking for.

"It's all good," as the saying goes. I had so much fun creating "Saddle Up." Maybe I subconsciously did it more for myself and the judge saw that.

I put a lot of symbolism into this painted collage. I thought about cowboys and life and when I mixed them together, I chose a variety of objects which worked together to portray a universal message.

The bronco rider is a symbol that my father would often draw when he would sit down and doodle on a piece of paper. For me, the bronco rider represents a great deal of the strength that was in my father, the old-time, hard-working, cowboy, not afraid of a challenge, honest and ‘WSIWYG.’ "When you fall off, you get right back up and ride again." The bronco rider in the sunset is a tribute to that and is what inspired the rest of the painting.
Boots 2 Heal required that there be boots in the painting – I painted my brother’s boots. These are a little more scuffed up than his original boots. You gotta have good boots!
The bolo tie is one that my father wore frequently. I like the fact that this is an Indian piece of art and for me it gives a nod to the importance of the spiritual life.
The spur is painted from a very old sterling silver spur that my Uncle Jack wore as part of the Long Beach Mounted Police. Uncle Jack’s horse was named “Golden Splendor” and I think that’s appropriate to the painting.
Cowboys loved playing cards and so does my family. Three aces are present, the Ace of Spades is covered by the Ace of Diamonds; but the Ace of Hearts stands out – it’s the most important, signifying love.
The pocket watch represents time, of course, and is reminiscent of the watch that my grandfather always carried. I had to paint it from memory. I chose not to show a face on the watch because none of us know how much time we are given on this earth. The bandana was my father’s.
The horseshoe is about “luck” and placed upwards so "the good luck doesn’t run out.” Cowboys can be pretty superstitious, can't they? I remember lots of horseshoes at the top of door frames when I was growing up. The only time luck does us any good is with card games, the rest is all grace! Wouldn't you agree?
The rattlesnake belt was my fathers. Poor rattlesnake! The belt symbolizes how the evil that threatens our lives can be overcome.
And lastly, the coffeepot. Much debate went on in my family about the coffee pot, but the artist won out. The boys wanted me to put a revolver there. I know it may have looked better, but I couldn’t do it because while guns may have one time been necessary to a cowboy’s life, I don’t think a good cowboy would let their guns define them. I chose a much gentler approach, the old, beat-up, campfire tarnished coffee pot. Every good cowboy needs a cup of coffee to start his day. I know I do.

I may not have had the opportunity to share this painting with the wider audience of the contest itself, but I'm sure glad that I have this blog so I can share it with you.

LIFE: Saddle Up
20"x24" oil on canvas

There's A New Sheriff In Town

2009-09-21T20:45:00.006-05:00

A few months ago, I learned about the 2009 Boots To Heal juried art show which will be held at Morton Street Gallery this October. (For my friends who aren't artists, a juried show means that a judge decides whether your entry will even make it into the final show for judging). Proceeds from Boots to Heal will be going to the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Children's Charities.

The main requirement in all art submitted for the show is that there be "boots" somewhere in the artwork. I completed 2 entries, the first of which you see here of my boys, painted from a photograph taken on Fort Bend County Fair Day when they were little guys. I super-imposed them onto a photo I had taken a couple of years ago of a horse in the yard of a historical site in Richmond.

Honestly, I had so much fun with the title, it gave me lots of creative enthusiasm as I painted. One surprise for me was how few paint strokes I was able to use to get it to look like my son on the left. For someone who agonizes over every little paint stroke when I do portraits, this was a welcome diversion from the norm.

I'll let you know when I hear whether my entries make it into the show - it would be a real honor - and I'll also be posting my other entry which was a true labor of love.

New Sheriff In Town

14"x18" oil on canvas

Point Lobos State Reserve - California

2009-08-20T22:06:00.005-05:00

I have great memories of this day as our California family hiked the trails around Point Lobos Nature Reserve in Monterey County, California. From the youngest (5 years old) to the oldest (70's), we all thoroughly enjoyed the easy hike on this beautiful December day.

Landscape artist, Francis McComas, was quoted as calling this "the greatest meeting of land and water in the world." It's certainly one of the most beautiful I've ever seen, but I don't know that I've traveled extensively enough to confirm that opinion with my own. How about you? Have you been to Point Lobos? Are there other impressive "meetings of land and water" that come to your mind?

Point Lobos State Reserve

18"x24" oil on canvas, private collection

Schilo's Delicatessen - Take A Big Bite

2009-07-30T19:10:00.002-05:00

The latest edition in my series of diners and delis, these working men were enjoying their lunch at Schilo's Delicatessen in San Antonio. I was taken in by the atmosphere and surroundings of the old building but they were more interested in the food and fellowship, I think. I'm not finished with Schilo's yet (as far as paintings are concerned), but have several other eateries I plan on painting in the upcoming months. A restaurant reviewer stated that "Schilo's has the best root beer in the world!" What?! I missed out on that! Something to try on my next visit, I guess. I did have fun painting the neon beer signs in this picture though - part of what originally drew me to the photo. However, the first thing that made me realize I was going to paint it was the fact that I caught the man in blue taking a really big bite out of his hamburger, hence the title.

"Take A Big Bite" - Schilo's Deli, San Antonio

8"x16" oil on canvas

French Quarter - After Morning Shower

2009-07-14T10:15:00.004-05:00

I couldn't have been more thrilled as I strolled the streets of the French Quarter in New Orleans one morning, and turned the corner to see this delightful "old world" image of a bicycle (with a real basket - not plastic!) in front of two shops. Thank goodness I had my camera with me. I snapped the shot and said to myself, "Oh, you are SO getting painted!" It had just rained, so I had the added benefit of the light shining from the damp street and sidewalk. I wish I had made note of the street it was on...maybe Royal Street?

For those of you who haven't visited NOLA recently and wonder about the condition of New Orleans and specifically the French Quarter after Hurricane Katrina, we found it to be beautiful with a sense of much fresh paint and spirit restored. I was able to capture many great images which I hope to turn into paintings.

Old World Charm in the French Quarter
11"x14" oil on canvas

Hurricane Preparedness

2009-07-05T16:14:00.005-05:00

We have some friends who have given us an "open invitation" to come to their ranch whenever a major hurricane is headed our way from the gulf. We have taken them up on this offer a couple of times and I wanted to do something nice for them. I asked if they'd like a painting and she told me, "How about a painting of one of our longhorns?" So here is Mama, painted in the old style of horse portraits, next to her water bucket, with the scenery of the Texas hill country behind her.

There was debate in our family during the painting process about whether females have horns, and come to find out they do. I thought only steers had horns, but apparently it depends on the breed. (?) You can tell I'm no ranch hand. I didn't know much about longhorns at all before painting Mama, other than as a mascot for University of Texas.

Longhorns as a breed faced extinction as of 1927, until the US Forest Service saved and bred them exclusively, along with a few dedicated ranchers. Apparently they have quite a knack for surviving in harsh climates and are often bred with other cattle to enhance the health and viability of other breeds. Other longhorn facts from Wikipedia:

- Texas Longhorns with elite genetics can often fetch up to $40,000 or more at auction with the record of $160,000 in recent history for a cow.

- Most breeds of cattle fall into either beef or dairy. The Texas longhorn is a beef animal and is known for its lean beef, which is lower in fat, cholesterol and calories than most beef.

I felt a little under pressure to finish their longhorn before the hurricane season arrived - I didn't want to show up on their doorstep without the promised longhorn. So far, all's quiet on the Gulf and I hope it stays that way. (But I am looking forward to seeing Mama's portrait framed and hanging up at the ranch house).

Keeping One Eye On God

2009-06-23T10:26:00.005-05:00

"Keeping One Eye on God"

6"x12" oil on canvas, gallery wrapped

For purchase information, contact me at fineartbymj@aol.com

Antiques U.S.A

2009-06-11T16:33:00.005-05:00

Texas has some wonderful, old downtown areas, and I love to try and imagine what it might have been like 50 or 100 years ago to walk down these same streets. I admire the dedicated individuals who have worked so hard to keep the historical evidence of small town America at hand.

I sometimes paint with a group of friends in the upstairs room of a local gallery in our hometown which overlooks the downtown historical district. For years now, I have looked out at this charming little antique shop that sits at the corner and have wanted to paint it. I am always pausing to admire the American Flag painted on the front of the building.

Having finished another painting the same day, I finally decided to grab a blank canvas and give it a whirl. Typically, I paint from photographs so this was a switch for me. I did, however, take pictures with my camera just in case I second-guessed anything after I got home.

I wonder if the man shopping with the woman was happy to be antiquing or if he was hoping she'd had enough so they could head home? Or maybe he was the one who enjoys antiquing?

"Antiques U.S.A."
8"x10" oil on canvas

Not So Mellow Yellow

2009-05-27T17:47:00.005-05:00

It wouldn't normally occur to me to do a painting of taxicabs, but a recent challenge on the "Different Strokes from Different Folks" blog presented a photo of a busy New York City street scene (Madison Ave). This is partially why I like to participate in this challenge, because I paint scenes I most likely would not tackle of my own volition. Unfortunately, I got busy with other paintings and didn't finish mine in time for the deadline, so I did not submit it on the DSDF blog. If you would like to see how other artists approached the same photo, click here.

As you can see, the content in the photo (below) made the task more than a little daunting, but I tackled it anyway, trying to remember to paint shapes instead of details when starting out and not get overwhelmed by trying to paint every single object.

I don't let myself look at what the other artists do until I'm all done myself - I don't want to be influenced. Now that I see their postings, it's interesting how so many of us cropped it in much the same way, myself included. Second guessing myself, I'm wondering if I should've used a taller canvas to capture the height of the buildings? Probably. (But I'm not doing it over!)

"Not So Mellow Yellow"

8"x10" oil on canvas board

Quick Sketch - New Orleans

2009-05-18T20:24:00.005-05:00

I just returned from a "most wonderful" sister getaway to New Orleans. As we sat at a cafe near the French Market, I pulled out my new watercolor sketchbook to do a quick sketch of my view from the cafe.

I thought I might be crazy for even trying to attempt all this architecture at one, quick 20 minute setting (architecture is HARD!), but I reminded myself that it was good practice for me drawing from life and not to be so perfection-oriented. At one point my box blew away as wind and rain swept through the French Quarter, but I was determined. Anyone looking over my shoulder probably would've thought "Get another job" at that point. I snapped a quick photo for reference before we left, and when we got back to the hotel room, I did a quick watercolor wash and closed the book for the day.

Now that I'm home and I've downloaded the photo, I see a lot that I missed, but my objective was not to get everything in the picture, just the major shapes. It's interesting to compare what I noticed then as compared to now against the photo. Hmmm...I missed a lot! But I still like my rendition. I guess that's what they call taking artistic liberties.

Birthday Sunrise on the Bay

2009-04-29T17:28:00.005-05:00

I've been working on this one for awhile. I have always loved clouds and I'm bound and determined to paint them and paint them...and paint them, until I figure them out. I suspect this will take a lifetime. That's ok.

My sister sent me a photo last year of the sunrise on her birthday and I had held onto that photo for awhile, finally deciding it was time to tackle these fabulous clouds. I used every color imaginable in this painting, but you don't notice it until you get close.

I thought that was appropriate for a painting entitled "Birthday Sunrise." It's like God threw a party in the sky in celebration.

Here's a detail of the clouds to give you a little better idea of how many layers went into these clouds. The layers were more due to dogged determination to finally get it right than anything else. I'm sure there are artists out there who can whip up beautiful clouds in the skies in no time, but I'm not one of them...yet.

I'm still searching for my next sky photo to tackle. (Photographer friends, that's a hint for you!)

"Birthday Sunrise"

36"x36" oil on canvas, gallery- wrapped

Schilo's Delicatessan, San Antonio, TX

2009-04-03T06:51:00.004-05:00

On a trip to San Antonio last year, while strolling through the downtown, we stumbled upon Schilo's Deli which has been "serving up hearty German soul food at breakfast, lunch, and dinner since 1917." (Fodor's) I love finding a restaurant that has been around for ages and the building that houses Schilo's oozes of history. We had a great deli lunch and the service was quick. I had a feeling there were as many locals there as tourists (always a good sign).

What first attracted me to the original photo was the brilliant colors outside the window. Only after admiring the colors did I notice the man at the table. He was secondary to the original intention for the composition and that's the way I tried to paint him. I think he must have been a regular, he would turn and observe everyone who came in the door.

I have to say, it's nice to paint a person where I don't have to struggle for the likeness. Since I'm not trying to paint a specific person, I can just enjoying finding out who my paintbrush wants him to be. He reminds me an awful lot of my friend's dad, but it wasn't intentional.

I have another Schilo's painting on the easel which will be called "Take a Big Bite." You can imagine what that's about!

"Lunch Interrupted"
12"x12" oil on canvas

Psalm 36:9 - One True Light

2009-03-13T19:37:00.003-05:00

My friend, Jerry, from Celtic Crossings sent me a photo of the Umpqua Lighthouse near Winchester, Oregon quite awhile ago. I had wanted to paint it, but as is often the case with any photo, I spend a lot of time checking back in on it and thinking about how I would do it or what meaning it has for me. I never know when the bells are going to go off and realize "It's time to paint!"

What finally sealed it for me was when I looked at the photo for the umpteenth time and decided what I really liked about it was the fact that the lighthouse wasn't lit and the light in the picture is generated from the sun. I thought of the guiding lights in my life and what inspiration they are to me and yet, nothing can replace the "One True Light" that guides our lives.

Further research led me to a history of this lighthouse which was made automatic in the 1960's and actually stays on 24 hours a day (so it is lit in my photo). Apparently there was talk about taking it off automatic to limit the hours it was lit and there was quite an uproar. People demanded that it stayed on continuosly. Now, I like that even better because even though the lighthouse is on, it's outshone by the light of the sun.

Psalm 36:9
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

"Psalm 36:9 - One True Light"
12"x12" oil on panel, sold

Alone But Not Lonely

2009-02-16T09:59:00.002-06:00

I was originally inspired by Edward Hopper's "Lighthouse Hill" when I first put paint to canvas for this one. There was something about the simplicity and contrast that drew me into his painting and I hoped to capture some of that while making the painting my own interpretation. From the beginning, I wanted to capture a sense of solitude, but not one of loneliness or abandonment. While painting, I thought of my own ancestors who lived on ranches and farms, working and toiling without the conveniences and interaction that we have today. Sometimes, I wish I had my own house like this one to retreat to as a break from the constant "connectedness" in today's world. At one point of painting, I had asked everyone who came through the house what I should add to this painting (there were some wonderful ideas). I also took the horse out at one point, but my daughter said that made it lonely and took the life out of it so I put it back in. Did it need something more? In the end, I decided to stay true to my original vision and keep it simple.

"Alone But Not Lonely"

18"x24" oil on canvas, $400+S/H

Sneek Peek

2009-02-07T09:21:00.003-06:00

I thought it would be fun to give you a little sneek peek of a painting I just finished. Shown here is just a very small portion of the painting (albeit the focal point). What do you think might be going on in the foreground and all around it? I've been studying the style of Edward Hopper and tried to capture the mood of his painting in my own way, but changed the surroundings. I had a very hard time deciding what to include and not to include in my own version. I'll post the full painting in a few days.

There is a sort of elation about sunlight on the upper part of a house.
(Edward Hopper)

No amount of skillful invention can replace the essential element of imagination.
(Edward Hopper)

Different Strokes

2009-01-28T21:01:00.007-06:00

Artist Karin Jurick has created a fun blog where she posts a bi-weekly photograph and invites artists from all over to interpret, paint and submit their paintings which she then posts on the blog "Different Strokes from Different Folks."

I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing how different artists will express themselves through various media while using the same reference photo. This week, I decided to join in on all the fun and this is my resulting painting.

I love visiting San Francisco and driving by all the colorful Victorian homes, dreaming what it would be like to actually live in one.

If you are interested in seeing the various artists' interpretations, be sure to click here to go to her blog
.

"Pink Ladies"

9"x12" oil on canvas, $150 + S/H

New Addition

2009-01-19T09:39:00.004-06:00

A commission, I painted this little one's brother when he was a pup and now she's joined the family. Cute as a button, I hear she has a little mischievous streak in her. Her expression here captures a bit of that, I think.

"Maci"

8"x10" oil on canvas board

NFS

Poppies on a Hill

2008-12-15T08:44:00.006-06:00

Poppy paintings are so popular right now. I'm not one to jump on the bandwagon, but the reds were too tempting. The prettiest poppy I ever saw was here in Texas and it took me several years to find out the name of it - a "Shirley" poppy. I wasn't much of a poppy fan until I saw it. I'd say it's pretty much of a showstopper as far as poppies are concerned (the actual flower, that is).

Poppies on a Hill

5"x7" oil on canvas board, framed, SOLD

fineartbymj@aol.com

You can see my entire blog here.

Lavender Fields

2008-12-08T12:09:00.006-06:00

Every now and then, it's nice to take a break from larger, detailed projects and have a little fun putting paint on the canvas with a goal towards painting a happy little scene and not much else. I wish I could say I had been here in person (Provence), but maybe one of these days.

"Lavender Fields"
5x7 oil on canvas panel, framed as seen, SOLD

Yikes! I just noticed that I posted an incorrect size earlier for this painting. It is a 5x7, NOT an 8x10. Sorry!

Niece With a Pearl Earring

2008-11-19T09:25:00.006-06:00

A couple of people heard that I was doing another adaptation of a master painting and expressed hope that I would post my progress on this blog as I did with my daughter's version of Fragonard's "Young Girl Reading." I hadn't really thought of doing this, so I'm a little later in the game with this study of Vermeer's "Girl With a Pearl Earring."

Before I even did my first attempt at portraits several years ago, I knew I wanted to do my niece as "Girl With A Pearl Earring." It wasn't until this past summer that I found time to sit down and pose her for the painting.

I've studied this painting for several weeks now and I must say that I am so pleased with this first stage that it has me nervous to continue. The only thing that has anything close to a finished coat on my version is her right eye (and it took me three hours!)

But here's where the computer comes in handy and my early excitement gets a reality check. Putting mine next to Vermeer's (Egad!) reveals a whole new list of things I need to be mindful of when I pick up the brush to continue on. Notice how warm Vermeer's background is even though it is dark. Vermeer's girl literally glows, mine is just beginning to glow. Vermeer's hard and soft edges work together magically...that's a little intimidating for a novice like me! Vermeer has completely captured the moment with the expression on his model's face. (Do you think he loved her? Have you read the book by Tracy Chevalier? It's really good. I think Vermeer was more taken with her youth and innocence. I hope that with the last stroke of my brush I can say I've captured some of my niece's personality and my love for her too).

I have one thing going for me though, my model is a true beauty, isn't she? (Inside and out if I do say so myself). The inside beauty is what I really want to capture.

Texas State Hwy 205

2008-11-03T20:45:00.004-06:00

As nice as it is to have a portable GPS system in your car, it can get pretty interesting sometimes. We found this out on a recent road trip while using it.

This supposed state highway outside of Blanco got down to gravel at some points, but what beautiful scenery and we felt like we were on an adventure. Several times I asked my husband to pull over so I could get out and take pictures. The kids were delighted when we met up with a goat standing in the middle of the road. He seemed as surprised to see us as we were him. So much more fun than the main highway anyday (but I'm glad it wasn't dark and we had a full tank of gas!) I hope to go back to this same road in the Spring.

"Texas State Highway 205"
12"x24" oil on canvas, unframed
$220 +s/h

Morning Ritual

2008-10-19T21:48:00.003-05:00

I love it when the weather is nice enough for me to go out on the back porch for my morning coffee and Bible reading. That doesn't happen often around here. Coffee + humidity + heat = :0/

"Morning Ritual"

10"x10" oil on canvas panel

$100 + S/H

P.R.A.Y.

2008-10-12T16:37:00.002-05:00

This commission is actually 4 separate 18"x18" gallery wrapped canvases which were painted to hang horizontally on a dining room wall that needed a little color. I fooled myself into thinking that they would be easier to execute because they were more design-like than realistic - not so! But boy, were these little angels fun.

"Don't forget to P.R.A.Y."
Four 18"x18" oil on gallery wrapped canvas
Private collection

Road To A Villa

2008-10-12T16:13:00.003-05:00

I paint in a group of people in which there is a lady who has been painting for quite awhile and I think I could pick out her paintings from a mile away. Artists as a whole love for someone to say that about their work. Her personal style is established and she is comfortable with it. I'm a bit envious. You can tell by my work that I am still experimenting and exploring different things and figuring out who I am as a painter. There are so many roads to go down, I can hardly pick just one. Not yet, anyway.

"Road To A Villa"

8"x8" oil canvas board mounted on 10"x10" canvas board

Unframed, $100 +S/H

Delicate Bloom

2008-10-04T19:20:00.005-05:00

When I cut this rose blossom from my garden, it's petals were already loosening and falling out. I hated to toss it, because it was so full and delicate. I decided to do an impromptu still life with a pear from the kitchen and laid it on its side so more petals wouldn't fall out.

(Would anyone like to help me come up with a title? I guess I used up all my creativity painting it. Email or comment your suggestions and I'll pick the first one that strikes my fancy). Update - thanks for all the suggestions, you didn't make it easy for me to choose with all your great ideas!

Pink Petals and Pear
8"x10" Oil on Canvas Board, unframed
private collection

Where's Petey?

2008-09-28T18:11:00.007-05:00

Petey was nowhere to be found when it was time for him to go to his yard and his owner had about given up finding him on their ranch. It wasn't until she decided to go ahead and leave that she walked out to her truck and found Petey, ready and waiting. Petey obviously had other ideas.

What is it about cars and dogs? "Wanna go?" is all I have to say to my dog and he tears out to the garage as if he's afraid I might change my mind if he doesn't hurry. I wish it was that easy to get the kids into the car of a morning!

Petey, Ready to Go
9x12 oil on canvas, private commission, nfs

Dragonfly Pond

2008-09-09T22:35:00.006-05:00

Grab your book and a blanket or just sit quietly and wait for a dragonfly to land nearby. The photo this was painted from was taken in Colorado. Talk about a peacerful, serene setting. It's been a long time since I've been to Colorado in the summer - I much prefer it over winter trips. I hope we can go again sometime soon.

Dragonfly Pond

12"x16" oil on canvas, $220

Stealing Second

2008-07-19T22:55:00.003-05:00

My boys are always asking me to paint something for their room and it was this quote that finally inspired me:

"You can't steal second if your foot is still on first base." ~Author Unknown

Taking that first step away from a place that feels safe and risking failure applies in a lot more places than just the ball field!

This was a different painting for me, not only in subject matter, but also because I really tried hard to stick with a looser style. I did this by forcing myself to use large brushes and not obsessing over detail like I usually do. What a blast I had doing it.

"Stealing Second," 18"x24" oil on canvas, not for sale

In Step, On a Stroll

2008-05-28T08:55:00.005-05:00

I have one of my dear friends to thank for this image. We worked together a long time ago in a creative environment and when she sent me this photograph, I knew I would paint it eventually. I like the fact that it came from her because I see her eye for creativity in it and it reminds me how much fun we used to have when we worked together. She was one of the first people to ever believe in me as a bona-fide artist, not just a hobbyist. We had a discussion about filling out paperwork and I always cringed at the occupation part (I was home with kids) and she said, "You're an artist, of course!"

An artist is always looking for images that tell a story or engage the viewer to finish the story. That is something I am still working on developing. It's fun to do a painting that asks questions of you. Are they on a quick stroll? Is she walking the dog for her own sake - a need to get out - or for the dog's? Are they in a park or near a busy street? Maybe she's a dog walker and it isn't even her dog! I doubt it - in my mind, these two are buds.
I've always enjoyed cropping photos a little differently and placing them on a dark background. I hope I didn't do this one a disservice by doing so. I think it will look nice in a black frame and will almost give it a matted effect. Here's an adorable close-up of their feet.

In Step, On a Stroll 12"x12" oil on canvas, will be available on my website at www.artbymj.com

St. John's Anglican Church, Richmond

2008-04-28T09:46:00.004-05:00

Last week, I had my first experience painting "en plein aire," French for "in the open air." For those of you who have never heard of that, it means that the artist paints outside, exposed to all the elements, straight from life. Let me tell you, it's very different from painting from a photo...mainly in that there's no cropping feature when you've got a wide panorama in front of you. I rely on my computer far more than I realize. I loved experimenting with the much looser style than I am used to painting indoors. You also have to paint quickly enough that you don't lose track of your lighting from when you started the painting.

A friend that I paint with from the gallery was kind enough to organize this for us at the Old South Plantation in Richmond. Located on the plantation is this quaint church, St. John's Old South Anglican. The plantation home was built in 1890, but I neglected to find out the history of the church itself and now can't find anything about it online.

I chose the angle from the pond across the road as I wanted the reflection of the church in the water. Strange noises which members of my group identified during our lunch break as ALLIGATOR made for a less than relaxing finish to my painting day. I was constantly looking behind me to make sure nothing was back there. I'm pretty happy with my first attempt, even if I did rush the end!

Study After Fragonard - Finished

2008-04-04T22:25:00.003-05:00

I finally finished my version of Fragonard's "Young Girl Reading" with J. as my model. I was nervous to show her after I finished the face, but when I pulled it out of the car to show her, she said, "Mom, it looks just like me!" Whew! As one of my best and most honest critics, I knew she wouldn't let me get by with less. I think I solved the problem of the hand by staying true to Fragonard's version, but trying to make it a little more realistic.

In a continuation of Sister Wendy's opinions of "Young Girl Reading," she states: "What Fragonard seeks here is to show us the innocent bloom of young beauty, and its capacity for reverie." You'd have to ask J what book it is that she'd like to be reading.

I can't wait to get it framed as soon as it's dry! I hope you have enjoyed seeing the entire process of how this painting came about.

"Southern France," Study after Andre Derain

2008-03-03T19:28:00.002-06:00

Another "Study For My Study," Andre Derain's Southern France, was also found in my copy of "Thousand Masterpieces" by Sister Wendy and inspired me to see what I could learn from doing a study of it (The colors also go well with my decor!) These are great learning experiences for me. I really wanted to see what it would be like to do a landscape without getting all stressed by the details as I am prone to do. This was thoroughly enjoyable and I had a much greater appreciation for the artist as I tried to understand why he made the decisions he did in painting it. When I first saw it, I didn't really like the white, blossoming trees; but as I progressed, I understood why they needed to be that color for the interest of the overall composition. I'm hoping that this study helped me loosen up a little so that when I do my own landscape in the future I can apply what I've learned.

24"x36" oil on canvas, collection the artist

Progress On Study After Fragonard

2008-03-03T19:15:00.003-06:00

I thought some of you might like to see how I progress with a portrait. This one is a little different since I am painting it after a master painting by Fragonard that has already been done (see earlier posting). I'm very happy with the first layer of color, but there is still a long way to go. I'm not sure why Fragonard decided to do such a "cartoon-y" looking hand holding the book(at least from my point of view). I'm not sure if I will leave it or paint it in my own style. The other issue I'm debating about is whether I will settle for it being a representation of J. with her as the model for the girl or whether I will go ahead and try to make it look like her (it really doesn't yet). If I decide on the latter, it will likely mean 6-7 more layers in trying to achieve that likeness. Next time you see it, it will be done!

Study for My Study

2008-02-09T18:24:00.001-06:00

I have a spot in my study that was really begging for a painting so I pulled out my "Sister Wendy's 1,000 Masterpieces" in search of inspiration. When an artist paints a copy of an old master, it's called "a study." Fragonard's "A Young Girl Reading," c. 1776, caught my eye (perfect for a study!), but I wasn't satisfied with simply duplicating the original. I persuaded my teenage daughter to pose for me and I used my computer skills to stick her head on top of the original. Here you can see (l to r) the original, the computer revised version, and my first go around with paint as a value study

"J" and I discussed why the artist chose to put a small head and hands on a stocky body (probably hard to see here - I think if you click on the image above, you will be able to see it even closer). and she came to the conclusion that it was most likely a sign of wealth to be on the stocky side back then. "I bet you're right!" I said. Close examination reveals a very strangely large body compared to the size of her hands and head. I also moved the composition over a bit - I didn't care for the way the book went right up against the left edge (sorry Mr. Fragonard) and I had to imagine what the rest of the chair would look like. "J" says the middle one with her head on it is "terrifying" but she likes the value study and so do I. Let's hope that the results will be as satisfying when I start laying in the colors. I'll post it when I'm done.

This could be a lot of fun. The boys now want me to paint their heads on body builders - I don't think so! I offered Gainsborough's "The Boy Blue" (times two!) but they said, "That doesn't sound cool." (I've seen it at the Huntington, and it is cool, but I don't think they'd let me hang it in our house).

John 14:27 - Peace

2008-02-06T13:39:00.000-06:00

Calla lilies are another one of my special favorites when it comes to flowers. I snapped a photo of this one in my sister's garden on my last trip to California. As a youth, we had six or seven very large calla lily plants and it was not unusual to cut a bouquet of 20-30 to place in a vase for the house. I was always impressed by their fragile beauty.

As I painted this calla, I ended up with an empty space in the lower right hand corner of the composition and wasn't sure what to do about it. Happily, I thought this might finally be my opportunity to incorporate scripture into my artwork. I thought about the graceful, fragile calla lily and what scripture would be a suitable companion for it. "Peace" was the word that came into my mind and John 14:27 was the match. I think that it's important to remember that the kind of peace the world offers may be a fragile kind of peace whereas the peace that Christ offers is strong and lasting, as noted by the continuation of verse 27: "I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."

"California Calla," 36"x36" oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, now available on www.artbymj.com

Postcard From Santa Fe

2008-01-27T18:19:00.000-06:00

No, I'm not actually in Santa Fe, but I feel like I've been on an extended vacation as far as painting is concerned. A bad cold after the holidays left me without much energy for creativity. I have several things in the works right now, but nothing ready to show so I decided to share this with you. I painted it for Mother from a postcard or card (can't quite recall) when I was SIXTEEN years old. I can only imagine what my paintings would look like now if I had stuck with painting instead of giving it up. Alas, no point in looking back...I'm glad for all I've learned in just the last year. I had a wonderful discussion with a lady this week who has taught art for 25 years and told me she didn't start until she was 49! Isn't that great?? We are NEVER too old to learn something new. What is it that YOU may have always wished you'd learned but haven't done yet? It's not too late!!

"Postcard From Santa Fe," 5"x7" oil on canvas, private collection.

Painted Ladies

2007-12-27T11:29:00.000-06:00

These two lovely paints were painted as an anniversary gift from a husband to his wife. I was fortunate enough to be able to visit them in person and take a series of photos before deciding on the composition with my client. It was a tremendous help when it came to sitting down at the canvas and trying to capture their personalities. I also had the privilege of being there when he presented it to her and that made my heart sing to see the happiness in her eyes when she unwrapped it. It feels good to know you've created something that will be a treasured keepsake.
11"x14" oil on canvas, private collection

Something Different

2007-12-18T08:43:00.001-06:00

I stared at the leftover paint on my palette Saturday afternoon and decided to paint from my imagination. To play!! That's a big stretch from me who likes the comfort of a well-planned out piece of artwork, start to finish.

Letting my imagination guide me, I ended up with something very different from usual...and I had a blast doing it. At first glance, this little 8"x10" looks dark and moody (I was wishing for my photographer friend's help with capturing it adequately!) but with closer inspection, you are invited in to one of my favorite hours of the day - that moment of dusk where the remaining glow of the day is barely hanging on and lights are coming on inside homes. For me, it's a magical, dreamy time....it's not yet night, but neither is it still daytime.

Novelist Zane Grey quotes: "People live for the dream in their hearts. And I have yet to know anyone who has not some secret dream, some hope, however dim, some storied wall to look at in the dusk, some painted window leading to the soul."

Dreams at Dusk, an 8"x10" oil on canvas board, is currently available on my website: http://www.artbymj.com/images/Dreams_At_Dusk.html.

Aspen Meadow Gathering

2007-12-03T23:00:00.000-06:00

In an earlier post, I showed you a study I did of a mother horse and her foal. Here's the final painting with mother and foal in their entire surroundings: a Colorado meadow on a cloudy summer day. Several times while painting this, I would pause and wish I was really in this spot, enjoying this scenery, breathing in fresh mountain air.

24"x30" oil on canvas, available here.

The Artist's Assistant

2007-10-30T09:24:00.001-05:00

Here's the faithful, furry friend who sits nearby as I paint, happy that I've sat down long enough that he doesn't have to continue following me all over the house to see what I'm up to (and follow me he does). His main job is to get me to move away from my typical close viewing of the paintings by wanting to go outside, wanting a pat or wanting something to eat. If you're an artist, you know how important stepping away can be. Even if you're not an artist, you may have other areas of your life or work that need "stepping back" reminders. I have a good friend in my art class that will walk by my easel and remove my current painting to take it across the room. I love it that she does that.

Of course, he's not the only assistant. It seems that anyone who walks through the room (I paint right in the middle of it all) has an opinion to offer and I welcome them because after a day of painting, I sometimes lose the ability to look at a painting with "fresh eyes."

Psalm 139

2007-10-10T09:48:00.000-05:00

Note: If you are receiving updates on my blog via email, you can either read the email verson (not as pretty) or you can click on "Fine Art By MJ" in the actual email and it will link you to the PRETTY version online. You can also then click on the picture and see a much larger version (which you will probably need to do to see this entry clearly since it is so detailed).

It has been awhile since my last entry, mainly because I haven't had any new paintings to add (big project still in the works). I have had "artistic-related" things going on in my life that I've wanted to share, but for some reason got it stuck in my mind that my blog should be for new paintings. It dawned on me that my blog can be anything I want it to be! Duh! It may diverge from standard art blogs, but I figure most of you out there who are subscribing to my blog won't mind. My hope is to add a little art to your busy day every now and then in whatever form or inspiration it is delivered.

Now....Psalm 139. I do a daily Bible study with family members. Yesterday's reading inspired me to do a little sketching. We read ONE chapter a day and send a little comment via e-mail to each other. Sometimes we just send out the verse that inspires us the most, other times we add personal feelings or research we've done. We will be a hundred years old by the time we finish (!) but let me tell you what a wonderful thing this has been for all of us involved. We decided on one chapter a day because we figured it was more manageable and we couldn't make excuses about it being too much. It's actually quite beneficial because I read it slower and can spend more time researching the historical aspects and commentaries related to the scripture.

I was really looking forward to Psalm 139 coming up in our readings because it has always been a personal favorite. I can still remember so clearly reading it for the FIRST time as a 7th grader and being totally enthralled with it. In fact, I pulled down that very same Bible yesterday off the shelf, opened it to Psalm 139 and I had underlined EVERY SINGLE line! At the end I wrote, "This makes me so happy." It is most definitely a love letter. At that moment, reading it as a 13yr old, I knew it had SEALED MY FAITH.

Fewer Tiaras, More Laughs

2007-09-10T09:13:00.000-05:00

I had more fun with this painting than any I've done before. I painted a sweet pose of this little girl for her grandmother, but along with the pictures she emailed me was one of her with Groucho-ish glasses on (I guess the current Groucho glasses don't include the moustache?) The minute I saw it I thought, "Oh, I have to paint that!"

I call it "Fewer Tiaras, More Laughs" because about the time my teenage daughter was a toddler (many long years ago!) the marketing onslaught of princess regalia began and I always felt I wanted so much more for my daughter than a label of "princess." Granted, I am as much a sucker for all the fluff and sparkle, but we all need to strike that balance for our girls between catering to their girly selves and drawing out the true riches of the kingdom....laughter (displayed here), faith, love, wonder, sharing, caring, and so much more.

This painting is not for sale, I will enjoy it for awhile before giving it to the above-mentioned grandmother. My blog postings may be a little sparse in the upcoming month as I am working on a VERY large sized commission (the canvas is taller than me!); a wonderful opportunity for me...but I will be painting other, smaller canvases in between drying times.

May laughter come your way today!

INSPIRATION in the sky

2007-08-22T08:13:00.001-05:00

I debated with myself about doing this, but if you know me, you know that a very large part of what I consider to be "my artwork" are the creations I do for my church every Sunday in putting scripture slides up on the songscreen. (So you may be seeing them on my blog occasionally).

This morning I awoke to the most beautiful sunrise (photographed here) and then, lo and behold, if this wasn't in my daily scripture reading. The two just begged to be paired together!

Oh, I do LOVE clouds! I look up at the sky and ask God, "Please teach me how to paint like that!" One of the best things about returning to my painting is that my eyes have become so much more in tune to God's glory all around me. This inspiration is invaluable as an artist and I thought you might enjoy the extra inspiration today too. Have a blessed day!

Nearby - Mama Horse and her Foal

2007-08-19T16:23:00.000-05:00

I entitled this painting "Nearby" as you might wonder what the foal is looking at in the distance. It is actually a study for a much larger painting which will contain this same image within it. So stay tuned, and hopefully in a few weeks you will see "the rest of the painting" and what this little one is looking at. Credit for this image goes to my sister who got out of the car on a recent trip to take photos for me...and did a wonderful job, I might add.

I'm enjoying painting horses as it reminds me of how much I loved them as a girl growing up. I spent many a day sketching horses. Horses are hard!!! I remember being so discouraged. I guess the hard work paid off, but I think painting horses is easier than drawing horses.

This 8"x10" oil on canvas is now available for $135 + S/H. Contact me at fineartbymj@aol.com.

Mission San Juan Capistrano - View From the Plaza

2007-08-12T17:55:00.000-05:00

Known as "the Jewel of Missions," Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in 1776.

With a few hours to spare one morning, I took myself over to the mission to walk through the gardens. I had visited the Mission San Juan Capistrano when I was a teenager, but had forgotten how beautiful the surroundings and gardens were. I like this view because it encompasses the bell campanario, the statue of Father Junipero Serra with an Indian boy, and the ruins of the church which are "believed to be the oldest standing building in California." What a delight for anyone who has the opportunity to visit these well-cared for, peaceful surroundings. Especially on a beautiful sun-drenched California day.

"Mission San Juan Capistrano - From the Plaza" 5"x7" oil on canvas, gallery-wrapped

Train Station at San Juan Capistrano

2007-07-26T11:10:00.000-05:00

I happened upon this back street view of the train station at San Juan Capistrano, California. Our family has many good memories of taking the Amtrak from Anaheim down to Del Mar to go to the horse races (no traffic!!!) We would stop to eat at the San Juan Capistrano train station. This is such a picturesque area of Southern California. I spent a morning taking pictures in and around the mission here and hope to eventually have a collection of California mission paintings.

This 6"x6" oil on canvas will eventually make its way for sale at a little fountain shop nearby the train station. (More details later) Contact me at fineartbymj@aol.com if you are interested in purchasing it before it finds a California home.

FUJI-LICIOUS

2007-07-09T10:08:00.000-05:00

I started a fruit series awhile back and have been surprised at how much fun it is to do these smaller paintings on gallery-wrapped canvas. After doing oranges and pears, I had to do a tribute to my favorite...the ever sweet, ever crunchy, Fuji. All other apples fall to the wayside, in my personal opinion. I remember first discovering them in California and being crestfallen when they were not available in Texas - they eventually made their way to the larger market and no mushy Gala shall touch these lips again (unless my mother uses them for baking). I can slice up one of the larger (1 pound!) Fujis for the whole family.

There's debate about the "so-called apple" in the Garden of Eden and whether it was actually an apple. I'm thinking it may have been a Fuji.

This canvas is a little larger, a 6"x6" and with a deeper gallery wrap at 2-1/2" deep. It would sit prettily on a shelf somewhere. Now available at $125 + s/h. Email me at fineartbymj@aol.com

Fresh From God

2007-06-28T08:11:00.000-05:00

This was painted from a picture taken just hours after this little guy's birth. It certainly made me think of a quote which has stuck in my mind: "It is no small thing when those so fresh from God love us." Every now and then you sit down to do a painting and it just flows. That was the way it was with this painting. It almost feels like my hands are not my own. When I can paint from my heart and not my head, I have crossed from execution into enjoyment. First of all, it helps to have a great photo to work from; the lighting and composition work was already done for me so I could sit down and let it happen. Painted on a 5"x7" canvas, the smallness of it added to the capturing the arrival of a new member of God's family here on earth. I enjoyed this so much, I think I'll start a series, "Fresh from God."

Living With a Painting

2007-06-11T08:08:00.001-05:00

Sometimes you just think you're finished with a painting and then, after living with it for awhile, you finally get the picture in your mind of what it really needs to finish it off.

The finished painting in comparison to the previous version has the new addition (among other things) of a little foal energized by the electricity of the approaching storm. Meanwhile "mom" is calm, her casual eating of the grass letting her foal know that there's nothing to fear. Personally, I know my enthusiasm for watching an approaching storm from our porch (respectfully appreciating it's power, yet enjoying the drama and excitement) has been passed down to my children who now yell out, "Mom, come see the clouds!!" If you live in Texas, you may be more acquainted with these quick changes in weather. I never remember being quite as drawn to the clouds when I lived in California (less rain, I suppose).

"Approaching Storm" 11x14 oil on canvas,

No longer available - Private Collection - http://artbymj.com/

WELCOME to my BLOG

2007-06-03T08:50:00.001-05:00

I suppose it's unusual, and maybe not so business-savvy for an artist to start an art blog with a photograph of her dad rather than one of her paintings. When I tried picking out a painting, I couldn't decide. Then I ran across this photo of my dad that I put together with this quote awhile back. It struck me as a perfect way to start out on another new adventure, that of blogging.
I look at my dad standing there, such a symbol of strength and hard work - He's truly an inspiration in my artwork and my life. And I know that he's my guardian paint angel, sitting on my shoulder with each brushstroke, cheering me on.
When he was a young boy, his mother wanted him to be an artist and she wanted to preserve his hands from the harsh ranch work. His father thought otherwise and said that if he could sell a few paintings then he would consider allowing him to stop his farm work. Poor guy - needless to say, not too many people were buying paintings during the Great Depression. He may have not had the opportunity to sell his paintings, but 70+ years after the Depression, here I am, creating and selling my paintings. We may not always have the success we desire for ourselves, but sometimes we pave the road for our children. Thanks, Daddy!

"...The stout heart stays trying by night and by day!"