Paintings from the Past or ... More Moldy Oldies

From a few years back, and happily gone to a good home

One I did for my nephew about 3 - 4 years ago 

One of my early efforts

A Blast from the Past

Painted about 5 - 6 years ago

   I seem to be visiting the past a bit lately, in my thoughts. I suppose it's just the time of year. I was rustling through some old paintings from about ten years ago, when I started painting. It amazed me the volume I pumped out, at least one a day. Now, it takes weeks or months.

   Well, above is a painting of which I am quite proud. Below, are some of my much earlier visions of that fabulous city, Venice.

This looks familiar ... vaguely

Here's another scene

And yet another

Cindy, Continued ... or Don't Depend on Reference Photos

I've been playing slowly with Miss Cindy for the last ten days or so, and just realized [when looking at some other shots I took] that there is a fair sprinkling if brown in her coat. Light bulb flashes over my head!!!  "Cindy" ... "cinnamon" ... yes, that's where her name comes from ... hmmm.  So in addition to intensifying some areas here and there, I've been stroking in bits of light brown. The owner-to-be was here earlier today, to float Bruno's teeth, and he most heartily approved of the painting so far. He said I had really captured her expression and personality. That's always good! More to follow.

Cindy, continued ...

I did a bit of VERY light glazing yesterday after work

More light glazing today

Face starting to take shape

   This part of the painting I am taking very slowly, applying very thin glazes to achieve fur texture. I am using my favorite animal color combination of burnt orange, quin. violet and indanthrone blue. in varying   proportions. More to follow.

A Beginning for Cindy, the Ewok

Miss Cindy, looking every inch the Ewok

My sketch

Masked, with 1st couple of washes

   Having finally completed the other commission, I could now start on Cindy. I want a somewhat warm, grassy background, that does not overwhelm with detail, as her hair is quite textured. So, I started with a fairly even wash of aureolin. When dry, I did some sponging with quite dilute puddles of quin. gold, quin. burnt orange, and indanthrone blue. I then glazed over that with a mix of quin. gold and phthalo green. This is where I am right now, and debating whether the background has adequate intensity. Mind you, with a textured background, it's easier to play with, without having to worry so much about mucking up a smooth glaze.

   ... to be continued.

ShedRow Christmas Event ... or ... DAMN, It's Cold!!!

Brunz at morning hay

Icicles from his blankets

   I woke up early to head out for the show, wanting to have plenty of time in case the roads were bad with more snow. Well, I first had to use a hair-dryer to heat the window frame so I could close the frozen-open window. Yeah, off to a good start!

   Then I went down to the barn to feed Bruno, who was quite warm and happy, thank you very much. The icicles on his blankets indicate he was warm enough to melt the snow on his blankets. Then, pack up, and off to the show.

   The roads were very clear, plowed and salted, so the drive was not the problem I'd anticipated. So I arrived at Barb's, set up, and was there in the barn till 4:00. It was COLD in the barn, but only 2 exhibitors left because of it. The rest of us visited, chatted, sipped hot drinks, and I think had a good time. I did sell a framed painting [one I almost didn't bring] to a woman who was very happy with her purchase. For me, having someone that pleased and excited about having and displaying one of my paintings,  is worth much more  than the sale.

Barb greeting Santa

The farm looks very different under snow

Santa stopping for a "smokie", before he heads out 

Onno's car , loaded with salt for the driveway

Again, looking very different

Mallards in the back pond

This close-up of a tulip has gone to a good home

The Dreaded Moment Has Arrived ...

View from front door

Around the corner

Poor hollyhocks

A valiant effort by lupines and calendula

Bruno, the blue bit in the distance, out in his field

   Yup, it came last night, the dreaded cold and snowfall. Thankfully there is very little snow, and I hear not much more is forecast. However, it is going to be below freezing during the day, and, dammit, I have to be at an art fair tomorrow and it is an open air venue.

   I don't even want to say much about winter, the cold, the snow, and the dark except that I hate it. You can't ride; horses don't ski very well. You can't drive; I've had two accidents in the snow,  one of them involving me spinning in circles on Highway 99, and only being stopped by the cement divider. I REALLY hate the snow!!!

   Enough! More about the show tomorrow.