Today's work.....

The thing about oil painting is that there are no immediate results. No easy way to get where you want to be and the final glorious image on one's mind ever pushes and dredges up many doubts concerning ever being able to attain to the original idea. Yet, here we are and along it comes with much patience.

Today's painting

(oil on canvas, 6" x 8", $50)

We sort of played hookie today and took Reuben James to swim over at Hemlock Overlook on too beautiful a fall day.

I haven't tackled the white horse this week, but have done three small landscape paintings. The other two will have to wait to be shot as it is the end of the day.

New painting on the easel

(Excuse the mahl stick.....I just realized I didn't take it away before shooting.)


So, from the difficulty of a black horse to the difficulty of a white horse....I must be crazy.
If I wasn't before, I am after today's painting. Unsure about the background still.
I am really struggling with the mane hair and have decided to call it a day, at least for painting. I fight seeing every detail...ever hair. It is due to my blasted perfectionist heritage.

This painting's very early basic narrative is about a blind horse with a guide which will be some sort of bird. "Creepy good", no?

Etsy Store Front: Art Notecards

After much prodding from friends I have opened an Etsy shop where people can buy nice notecards with my paintings reproduced on them.

I can't afford my own artwork and neither can my friends, so I am happy to provide a way for them to have an image they love at an affordable price. Though the store front offers my dog and cat paintings, almost all of my work is available in this format.

$10 for a five pack with envelopes in a neat bag, same image or mix and match...click here: Etsy Store

New Painting

When I am chewing on ideas for new paintings, I choose one and then begin research. For the past three days all my mind has been bent upon this process. I am so focused I can barely walk away from it at the end of the day. I am wiped out. I dream about it....

This afternoon I started a new painting. There is great relief in sketching out the image directly on the canvas, beginning to mix color and put down those first strokes. But it is usually then that doubts begin to knock. Is it going to work? Do I have the skill to pull it off? Does the idea have enough strength to stand? Is this the best representation of my idea? It can be quite maddening at the beginning. I have a good start today, though.

I sold two paintings over the weekend, started a new one and have several new ideas for paintings. And it is fall.......God is faithful.

Candy Factory Opening 9/27

There was a great turn out.....it was a fun night. Met a few artists, too.

New Painting Squirmish, Art Note Card Endeavour

All kinds of doubts have sprung up with the start of this new painting. My good friend often refers to my paintings as "creepy good." I like that description and feel is fits exactly what I am aiming for in my work, but I think this new one is just plain old creepy. I think it is too early to judge but it is one of those paintings in which the eyes follow you wherever you move...and sort of stare at the back of your head while writing a blog post.......hmmm.

With Pam's courage an interest has been generated for note cards with my paintings on them (made $18 this week!) I have been busy with the computer, most specifically Microsoft Publisher, making cards and inserts. After many hours of work, I have a beautiful group of note cards. So, this looks like a viable way to get the work out for people to enjoy and make a profit. Most of my paintings are available on a note card at $2.50 for single card and $10 for a five back either assorted choices or five of the same image. The come with envelopes. Pretty cool.