Antiques U.S.A

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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