Interiors in Pastel

I spent the last three days at my favorite cabin in Franklin, NC.  While I was there, I saw some paintings of interiors in a Traditional Homes magazine.  The artist who painted them was much more abstract/impressionistic than I, but she inspired me to try some interiors of my own.  Here are three of the results!

Lady in Red

Sometimes you work on a painting and just can't get one part "right."  That was the case with the Lady in Red's face.   I worked and worked on it and rather than overworking it (any more than I already had done), I decided to STOP!

I'm working on not being so negatively judgmental of my work.  I had the delightful experience of seeing an old friend - a lady who is now in her eighties - recently.  She has started painting flowers and is SOOOOO proud of them.  She doesn't apologize that they are not perfect, but enjoys the process of creating and sharing her creations with others!  Maybe there is a lesson there!

April Figure Painting

In Andy's Monday Creative Figure class, we have been working on losing some of the edges of the figure, on creative expression, and on lights and darks.  I brought home my charcoal drawing from last week and worked to capture the image in oil paints. 

Dancing Sisters

I've been experimenting with my palette knife lately.  When I saw a photograph of a little girl dancing on the beach, it gave me an idea for a subject to attempt.  My sister Nell and I are very close, and we used to take dance lessons together.  SO, I "doubled the fun" and painted dancing sisters.  Here's the result.  (I'm the blond.)

Stiletto Sprint

These two little (8X10) paintings were just quickies to celebrate the upcoming Stiletto Sprint which will be held on Saturday, April 28th, at Southpark Mall.  The Sprint is to benefit the Carolinas Ovarian Cancer Fund at Levine Cancer Institute.  My good friend, Phyllis Zellmer, who has been battling peritoneal cancer is one of the sprinters.  I hope you will support this important cause by either signing up to sprint, volunteering, or making a donation.  You can do this on-line and see details by going to www.tealheels.org    

Happy Easter!

Portrait of my brother

I decided a portrait sketch of my brother Gibbs would be a good practice for me and a nice surprise for my dad.   It was a good exercise, but not a great likeness.  Practice makes perfect - but do I really want to be PERFECT?!   Artistic, creative, interesting - yes!  Perfect - been there, done that!  :>) Ha! Ha!

Yesterday in Andy's class we worked on a much more creative painting!  It's great to learn new techniques and to "see" things in different ways.   I'll try to post my painting from yesterday after it dries.

Lady in Red

I haven't posted in a while, and, actually, I've been in a little bit of a painting funk.  We've been out of town a lot AND the weather has been pretty enough to play some golf.  So, my painting has not been a top priority.  Today, I went back to Creative Figure class after a two-week absence.   Andy is such a good teacher!  Today we worked on the core form (pelvis, hip, pear-shape that forms the middle of the body) and connecting the darks.  Then, I came home and worked on the painting above.  I probably should work on it some more, but may let it "sit" for a while.  I have a tendency to overwork pieces.  It's not "perfect" but I'm pleased with my progress!   (I might need to take a photography class. I didn't make a careful image placement and the top ribbon of dark is actually not part of the painting - sorry!)