2.2 Study

This is another 3 hour study. Again, I am not overly happy with this painting. I will be away for a few days then I will be back. Remember to see the beauty in the smallest of things!

Black Model 2.1

This is a 3 hour study for my situation and the environment class. It is not great. It is done from a photo. I am working on the commissions for Lodi Memorial Hospital so I have been negligent in posting. Sorry. I have 5 pieces started and none done. I keep working on them a little every day. I am starting to panic about my midpoint review. That is where I present everything to the Academy of Art for my Candidate Status on my graduate program. I am terrified. I do not own a web cam or Power Point and need them both for the presentation. I guess I better break down and buy them and try to install them. I hate this feeling of not being in control. As if I really AM in control of anything anyway. Who am I kidding. The only control I have is over what I do and nothing else. Once I actually start I am sure I will be fine. Take a deep breath and plunge in!

Three Muskateers

I did this on location a few months ago and finally put a few highlights and refinements on the front face this morning. I have been working on the paintings for the hospital. The 3 oils are almost done and one pastel is off to a good start. I have 2 more pastels that I have not started yet. My computer has been treating me badly today. It kept kicking me off-line even when I was in my on-line class. It kept telling me I was low on memory????? My computer says I have 78% freespace???? I do not get it. Well, I defragged it, cleaned out files, threw away pictures and emptied the trash. Hope that helps. Seize the moment!

Twins Again

This is Maddie(Peanut to some) and Jacob. They are my niece and nephew. Their brother Jacob and sister Megan are their older twin brother and sister. I have wanted to paint this for a long time. I love how the light plays across the form of Maddie. I love how her body is sprawled out...so unposed.
I read something interesting today. "If we want to be more honest, we have to be willing to let go of our "niceness". In letting go of our niceness,we find ourselves becoming more honest.Getting honest about ourselves and our lives is an essential step toward health." by Anne Wilson Schaef.
I always tried to be "nice " to people even when it hurt. That isn't honest. I need to be honest with myself. I can not be nice all the time. What I need to be is true to myself and my beliefs.
The sun is shining and the studio and dogs are waiting. Must go! :)

"3 Grandsons" again only revised

I have done a lot more work on this painting of my three grandsons. I was hoping, oh never mind. The earlier version can be seen on my Tuesday April 11th post (I think). I hate doing detail...it is like having teeth pulled. I LOVE starting paintings! I can be wild and sculptural with the brush but when it comes to all those delicate temperature changes, form shadows and minute detail ULK!! I WILL NEVER BE A PORTRAIT PAINTER!!!!!!!! I am hoping that I will be able to use all the things I am learning to make the new improved me, better. I really do not want to lose who I am artistically in the process!

"Until a person can say deeply and honestly, "I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday," that person can not say, "I choose otherwise". This is a quote from Stephen R. Covey

Oleander and the Rabbit

Well, this painting is inspired by Carol Marine. She was painting a little gold mouse and warned that sometimes they look more like chocolate. So as I painted when it got to the point of looking like chocolate I stopped and came back to it a few days later when I had a fresh eye. Yep!!! It did look like chocolate. Since my bunny is gold leaf with much of the gold leaf worn off down to the red patina underneath it is not gold all over. I stated being very picky about value and color temperature remembering that Ning Hou would nag"one stroke...now change color , one stroke... He totally intimidated me when I was in his class but every time I break his rule I think of him and his"One Stroke".

I found the rabbit while going through antique stores last week and just had to have it. It would be so much fun to paint from many angles and it is so cute. It is a 6 inch X 6 inch oil and is at the Knowlton Gallery for $150.00

Planting the Olive Ranch

Sorry I did not post yesterday I was out at the olive ranch helping my husband check the drip lines for leaks. It has been 100 to 107 degrees here so those little trees must have water. The trees are actually about 6 to 7 feet tall except for the ones that were killed a year ago by high winds and freezes. I will be going out again today to help some more so I need to quickly take my quiz for my on-line class then I am off. Stay cool!!!!!