catching up..

Since yesterday was a good day for shooting photos outside I decided to do some catch up... these ones are all 6 inch square or 5 by 7 inch.

On Her Side

'On Her Side'   Click on images to view full screen

I have decided to put 'On Her Side' up for auction.  To be fair to those who follow my blog I thought I should give a shout, in the case someone may be interested.  You can view the auction and detailed information here.   'On Her Side' is a signed original oil painting on gallery wrap canvas.  The sides are painted, and comes complete with professional hanging wire system on the back.  It is 16 inch square with a 1.5 inch depth.   There will be a wait period of approximately 4 weeks as the gamvar varnish will need to be completely dry before shipping.  When a painting is ready to ship, I forward the tracking and insurance information. 

... narrowing things down...

One of my goals this year is to try narrow things down.  Life just never seems to slow down so my only option is to try make things a bit easier... not so here and there.   I am hoping a website might help with this, as well as working again with a sales rep who I have worked with in the past.  She had moved out of the country for awhile, and soon will be moving back.   She will be handling most of my online sales, as I will be working on other projects.  Which hopefully will help in the way of easier.    The website I am working on, which still needs more tweaking, is on the scale yet... undecided.  The link to visit the in progress site is here.

Pondering Polka

6

... Ok... I may as well just admit it.  This time of year is making me nutty and mad.  Oh, you don't need to be concerned for your well being... unless you are worried that polka dots may just drive you insane.  And if that really is a problem, I would highly suggest not even heading over to the auction because the start bid is only a quirky penny AND free shipping!  But if you like polka dots and loose, painterly, original works of art.. which, like this 6x6 inch oil on linen panel (mounted on wood frame)  with sides painted totaling 1 inch deep.   Ready to hang or display.  "Pondering Polka" is fresh off the rocker and will have to sober up a bit before she can ship anywhere.  I would give her about a month.  If that all checks out, take a look over here.

.. Officially.

  9" x 12" oil on linen         'Repose'  (click image to zoom)

This painting kind of says it all for me.  I am wiped out, exhausted, officially sick of winter and ready for some fun in the sun.  We don't really have much of the later just yet, but hopefully you will find this a bit fun.   I could use a bit of what she is having (which would be fun)...

To spice things up a bit I am going to offer some quirky paintings at a quirky price.  just ride this link over..

Self Expression ?

'Hot Potatoe'  6 inch oil on linen mounted to panel.

.... it has been WAAAAAAAAAAY too cramped busy around here with WAAAAAAAAAAAY too many things that I don't even want to talk about and I am sure you really don't want to hear about either... so I thought I would drop in and add a little painting that I did sometime in the last few months.   You know how they say painting is an expression of ones self? ... Well... hmm.     Thought it would be fun to paint a different kind of face for a change, ala prime.   You can view the auction here.

A few fresh paintings...

oil on gallery wrap ... approximate 22 x 30 inches

... oil on gallery wrap canvas/ not sure if I am quite finished yet...

...a simple light... (a Christmas message)

 I remember as a small child, I would often wonder how was it that those wise men could follow that star to find that beautiful baby Jesus, born in the manger on Christmas Day. I could never quite understand how they could pick one star out of the sky and knowingly find that precious gift that was given to all.

I suppose it is only natural, that as one grows to become an adult, these questions are forgotten and such.  It was He who remembered, and answered when the time was fit.  You see, it was very late one Christmas Eve, some years ago.  After finishing the things a parent of 6 might do, admiring the stars seemed a perfect fit on that blessed morn.

What happened next, a miracle to me, a message confirming that God does answer- in His own time.

As I sat there,enjoying the brisk air, a light shone on the road at the end of our drive.   Glowing from edge to edge as though every pebble was shown.  I thought this beam perhaps to be from a car,  I waited, while looking to the left, and then the right, there was none to be found.  Soon the light began to fade, obvious now the beam was cast down from above.
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How beautiful that moment was, a sign to me, that His simple grace message is indeed pure and true. Have a very blessed Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Fun With Frames...

SOLD/ Fort worth Texas

SOLD/ Fort worth Texas

SOLD/ lafayette, LA

..... Just thought I would share a few photos that were sent today... It is always fun to see how customers frame them.  I just love the framing on the three 6 inch pieces!     I am hoping I will see how Betwixt is framed ... which will reside in Lafayette LA, at least for a while. (click on images to view full screen)

Betwixt

BETWIXT  16 x 16 3/4 inches  oil on masonite

*click on any image to view full screen

Betwixt... between.

The greatest challenge as an artist, for me, is simply revealing myself.  Blame it on my Finish heritage. Some claim we cling to a bottle rather than open up.  No, I can't say that I cling to a bottle,
 I guess one could say it is replaced with a brush. 

As time goes by I find it increasingly difficult.  Perhaps it comes out in form of a picture.

Today is a difficult day.  When I hit a rough patch I try remember simple words of inspiration.... usually ones I was taught as a child.  Things like 'with only a grain as small as the mustard seed'...

When I began painting 'Betwixt' I was in a mood set of not looking forward to the cool Minnesota winter.... Again, I remember words that my mom always said, ..' It's a good thing there is only one winter in between two summers.


This morning I went to my studio to work on my new painting ... but this picture kept hounding me.  Well, maybe not exactly the painting.. but the whole picture.

One of my friends, who is also a mother of 7 young children, the oldest is in 9th grade, has been at the U of M since early September battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.   The family lives in our town which is about 4 hours from the U.    It crushes my heart when I think of it all...  Simple words I so want her to be able to tell all her children, words they will remember down the road.  I feel so helpless, all I can do is pray.   She is for certain- Betwixt.   Life will get better and it does, with only a grain.

'Betwixt' will be on auction for 10 days with all proceeds donated to her family.  (link to auction)

.... The Berry Boys..

click on image to view full screen

... this is going to be one commissioned piece that I am feeling a bit attached to... and don't want to part with.   Many of the elements tug at me... finish heritage, berry picking etc.  I have to say that I really do love it even though I may go back in and add a few more details.     I also love the emotion..note the boy on the left doesn't look so pleased with his empty cup while the boy on the right is almost proud as punch.

'Lady Lay'

detail view

'Lady Lay'  (click on image for full screen view)

.... just a bit more fun... this little 6 inch sweetheart is on auction with again a super value 1$ start bid! (+ shipping)  Check it out if you like...    I used the same process as shown in this demo.

6 inch study... 'Twirly Girl'

 *click on the image to view full screen*  

Colors in painting most similar to 'close up view' (first image)

... I did a few paintings today and thought I would share my favorite of the day...  a 6 inch oil on linen mounted on pane ..sorry about the glare - still wet and gping on a daring auction with a start bid of only 1 buck!       ... click here to link to the auction   

Speed painting demo...

..ok, I agree... the title is a bit misleading.  This is actually an attempt at demonstrating how I start a an oil painting without use of visual aid or markings....  and more importantly an attempt to learn some tricks of technology....whew... I have been trying to figure out how to speed up the painting portion for a few hours and then whallaa... it actually isn't that difficult.  Hopefully the next video (which will be for a much appreciated and special gang of friends) will be WAAAY better!  ... you can check it out and see what you think.  *note- to prevent choking, eating while watching is not advised!  

.... in progress...

.... Giving myself a breather from commissions is something I need in order to be able to make sense or sort the process of commission work.  This piece is a 24 inch oil on gallery wrap... photos taken with my phone , sorry- they are poor quality..... a few closeups...  thinking the title will be 'A Matter of Interest" ... clip shown is about 1/5 th of the painting.

Midsummer show and a note...

       ... Beep beep..someone stop the bus!
I photographed these a few weeks ago and just now am finally getting to posting!  My ma in law nicely set up shop for showing during the midsummer festival, thought I should share.

 I can't believe, well I can, how crazy busy this summer has been!
Paperwork, commissions,  kickstarter projects, kids, summer fun....  and more to come :)

I told a very kind lady that I would post some images for her to view....  Maam.... please view the photos below... to expand any of the images just give them a click...

ex. a

ex. b

same frame as shown above but with a matted interior frame.... 

I will have to catch a better picture of this for sure.

ex.c