Painting again!

Work in Progress

I Sold A Painting to A Stranger!

I Sold A Painting to A Stranger!

Lots of my artwork hangs on walls in my own home and in the homes of friends and family but I had never sold a painting to a stranger until this past Christmas season when this little painting was purchased by a very nice couple.  Isn't that nice?

This one needs some more work...I'm kind of stuck with how to jazz it up.  I just keep staring at it...
I have not been very productive in the art department lately.  Every time I start something I think "this is it, I'll break my rut," but then...I don't.  I'm joining in Paint Party Friday.  It's been forever since I've linked up and I've missed the interaction and inspiration!

Flowers! Flowers!

It's Friday and I'm ready for a weekend! 
My husband and my grandmother share a birthday (she'll be 91!) so there will be some celebrating.  And I am still feeling great and relieved to be on the other side of the doldrums...and creative again!

I have been enjoying a return to acrylics and canvas lately.  This is a painting inspired by something on the bathroom wall (of all places!) at my yoga studio.  I've had the idea of painting this for about 3 years and finally got around to it.  I'm really pleased with it.

Acrylic on cavas 16X20

 

Plumeria still blooming

I never get tired of flowers.

Happy Friday! 

The Fog Lifts

Living near the ocean you get used to the fog.  All of us lucky enough to live in coastal neighborhoods will tell you we don't mind the fog but the truth is, we are all just waiting for the fog to lift!  Here is a view of the Santa Cruz Island as the fog lifts. 

 

 

Happy PPF and happy birthday to me.  Yes, it's a shameless plug for birthday wishes.  :)

Finally, I have had a very challenging time photographing my art lately.  I have a great digital camera, a tri-pod and still not happy with the results.  For instance, the dark corner on the bottom right of the top photo and the way the white edges look pink.  Also, there are lots of brush stroke details lost in the photo.  Any suggestions and tips would be most welcome!

Purple Mountains

 

Just a quick little post to say Happy Friday. 

This is an acrylic painting from several years ago, I think it was the 3rd painting I ever painted!

It's only 5X7 and hangs right by my front door.

I really like it.

Illustration Friday - Intention

 

Giving paintings as gifts was a regular practice of mine a few years ago and it has been my intention to start doing that again.  This painting is for Stella's 5th birthday.


These are apple blossoms in my garden.  Despite the wonderful climate I live in I have had terrible luck with fruit trees...I'm hoping these pretty flowers turn into delicious apples.  I had them in mind when I painted the flowers above although I wanted a more bold pink in the painting. 

Fluid no. 2

Fluid no. 2



Acrylic on canvas

Number 2 in a 3 part series.  See Fluid no. 1 here.

Illustration Friday - Fluid

Fluid no.1

I do believe in a certain amount of serendipity and this week's word on Illustration Friday is Fluid.  When I first started painting I was painting mostly landscapes and seascapes and I love them but I always felt that there were SO MANY talented painters out there painting the very same local scenes.  I didn't feel like I could compete.  Over the years I have tried experimenting with other styles and medium but I was always keenly aware that people responded most favorably to my landscapes, especially if there was water involved.  For the last few months I have felt a strong pull to paint the ocean but something was holding me back.  I played around with different things for Illustration Friday and my days get hectic and the painting gets put on hold.  So when the word this week was fluid and I found myself stuck at home with a cold it felt very right to paint the ocean.  I had a bit of a mad weekend, my wonderful husband kept the kids busy and I painted like crazy.  Despite not feeling well it was so fun and I felt alive with creative energy.

The painting above is acrylic on 12x30 stretched canvas.  It is number one in what will be a three painting series (I'm well into Fluid no.2!)

The below painting is Butterfly Beach, also acrylic on 11x14 canvas.  I've painted 3 or 4 painting of this beach and so far it's on of my favorite subjects.

A busy weekend

Leave me a comment, if you'd like, I love to read them! 

Remembering Annie

Here is a whimsical painting remembering Annie.  If there is a doggy heaven, this would be it for our Annie.  When I showed this to my 9 year old he got a bit emotional...I would never upset my child on purpose but his reaction to this little painting assures me that I got her spirit right. 

Illustration Friday - Popularity

 I can't help but wonder if the birds sit in order of popularity.

Don't Save It

The other day in yoga the instructor said "don't save it." In a specific pose don't go easy because you are saving your energy for the next pose. Give it 110% each time. I take this to heart in yoga...rarely do I save it. There are times when my 110% is not as strong as it was yesterday but I still try to push it to the edge each time.

I've been trying to do the same with my art. I recently got the book Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts and there is a quote I really like: "when we challenge ourselves to push our boundaries, we...shed layers of muck - jealousy, perfectionism, worry, fear and self-doubt." I have found this to be so true!

You've figured out by now that I am participating in Illustration Friday, a website that gives us a word every Friday and we are to illustrate that word. In trying different subject matter, techniques and mediums I am learning so much about myself and what I am capable of.    It brings to mind that saying about doing something every day that scares you (Eleanor Roosevelt).  I used to hear this quote and think about bungy jumping or jumping out of an airplane.  Things that would really scare me and I have no intention of ever doing, by the way.  But now I know that trying a new style of art - or picking up a paintbrush for the first time - can be scary. 

For years and years I wanted to create art but didn't think I could because I had not really ever tried!! Vincent Van Gogh once said "If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."

I've posted about the first time I ever tried to paint but I thought it would be fun to show you my first ever attempt. .Corny, isn't it?  But I was happy enough with the results to realize there was something to this painting stuff. 


I am so proud of myself for trying something that scared me - years ago - and that I continue to do so now.  I try to push my boundries and do things that take me out of my confort zone, but most of all I don't save it.


See some of my departues from my safety zone here and here.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Have you see this link dear reader?  "30Thing to Stop Doing to Yourself" made the blog rounds during New Years but something going on in my life right now made me want to share it today.  I love it, it's worth a bookmark and regular revisits.




Wildflowers at the Botanic Garden

I've recently been introduced to this quote by Mark Twain.  Love this, too.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore.  Dream.  Discover."

The View

This is the view from my living room window.  This poor little painting has been in limbo for so long that the view is a little different now...this is a spring time view.  I'm happy to sign my name and call this guy done.

This morning started with a sunny run...no pain!  A Gingerbread Latte.  A healthy salad for lunch.  Kids playing nicely with friends and I am going to start a new painting.  Pretty nearly a perfect way to spend the day.

Silent Auction

Butterfly Beach Aloes

I've returned to landscapes for a silent auction to raise money for a good cause.  The best thing is that this painting now lives so close to me I can visit is every day!

  Acrylic on canvas.