Time is flying by!!!

Well, I know it's been forever since I posted. I kept meaning to get back here to say that I'd be too busy to post for a while. I guess I was too busy to do that!!! Here's my latest still life that I've just completed. (20 x 20 inches) I'm always picking up rocks or feathers, "treasures" as I call them when I'm outside. Those of you who have hiked with me know how I can slow us down! LOL! Anyway, it's fun for me to put these little "treasures" in my paintings.

I may not post much thru the end of the year, but once I'm back in Florida, will pick back up. I'll try to get my ebay line going again after the first of the year as well (for my faithful collectors!) Thanks everyone!!!

Latest Still Life...

Here's my latest little still life. I just can't get enough of those teacups!!! They're so fancy...and I'm not...so maybe that's why they're so fun to paint. I hope everyone is having a great week!

For paintings I have available for sale on ebay, just click on the link at the above right. Thanks!!!!

What's on my drying rack...

Here's a few paintings I just finished on the drying shelves (8 x 10's). I found this Native American pot at a thrift store for like a $1.00. It has a chip in the rim, but I just paint it out. I looked up the signature on the bottom and it's signed (I think) Gerie Vail. Evidently the Vail family does a lot of horsehair pottery. One thing that was interesting while painting it, was that it wasn't completely symmetrical. At first I was going to correct it, but then thought better of it. I think it adds to the charm of the pot.

For this weeks painting available for sale on ebay, just click on the link at the above right.

Work In Progress photos...

I'm so swamped lately! School has been keeping me busy, plus my classes, plus I try to have a life! Anyway, it's been a while since I posted, so thought I would post a wip of this cloud painting that's up for auction on ebay. I hope all of you are doing well!

For this or other paintings I have up for sale this week on ebay, just click the link at the above right.

Cars....

Well, I found out officially that my little car has developed an oil leak. It started out about a month ago...just a small drop on the concrete. The drop has gotten larger, which means the leak is getting worse. I love my car. It's a 2002 Miata and is probably the first car I ever bought and picked out on my own (with no husbands, or Dads, or anyone telling me what I should buy). Is my car practical? Nope. Can I haul lots of art supplies in it? Nope. In fact, I have to put the top down to get large canvas in the front seat. Will I be upset when I have to let this car go eventually? Yep! I'm hoping my little oil leak won't be too expensive to fix and is nothing serious.

For this or other paintings I have available for sale this week on ebay, click on the link at the above right.

Favorite Things...

I went with my Mom several weeks ago to one of the local antique shows and I bought these sweet little handkerchiefs. I've always thought they were pretty and my Grandmother would sometimes let me carry one of hers in my purse when I was a little girl. Now, granted I never use them...(I'm a kleenex girl!!) but I just love the delicate little patterns on them so I've been putting them in my still life work. Being an artist gives me a bit of an excuse to keep useless little things around just because I like them.

For current paintings I have available for sale on ebay, click on the link at the above right.

Getting back on track...

Well, I'm starting to get caught back up again and I'm very glad to be back blogging! School is keeping me busy and my daughter's wedding is only about 7 weeks away, painting is officially my new favorite stress reliever. I've got several still life paintings I've been working on and I'm trying to take some work in progress photos of them. So, be looking for me to post them pretty soon. Thank you all again for your prayers and thoughts for me and the family of my friend.

For this or other paintings I have available for sale on ebay, just click on the link in the above right.

Terrible news...

A good friend of mine died this week. Bobby Martin. He and his wife have been very good friends of mine for too many years to count. It was sudden to say the least. He's only like 41 years old and had symptoms of a heart attack. They've done an autopsy, but still can't find out why it happened. We'll know more in the weeks to come when lab work is complete. I just can't believe it! I've heard of and prayed for other families who have had something like this happen...you never think it will be you. Please send your hugs and prayers to his family and those of us who were lucky enough to call him friend.

Super busy week....

I can't believe this week is almost over! I'm still adjusting to school (I know I'm not the only one), so time is flying by. Plus my daughter is getting married in a couple of months and it seems like every weekend I've got a class, or a shower, or a ton of homework! Crazy! But...life is good. I hope all of you have had a great week!

For this or other paintings I have up for auction at ebay, just click on the link at the above right.

Cleaning brushes....

Being excited about getting paint out of brushes may be boring to most, but when they are such an integral part of your work, it's important. I just learned a new way to get dried paint out of my bristle brushes. If you put them in rubbing alcohol for a bit, it seems to break the dried paint up and then you can clean them like normal. I did not know this until this past week. I currently use Masters brush cleaner, or some sort of liquid soap to clean my brushes, then hair conditioner (usually the kind that comes free with my hair color!!) to keep them soft. That has always worked, but I still would get a build up of dried paint up by the metal part of my brush. This method seems to break it down and my brushes don't appear to be damaged. I learned this in school this week.

This little ATC size plein air oil painting will be available for sale on ebay after 9/10/2011 by clicking the link at the above right.

Back in the swing....

Well...the new semester has started for me and I'm back in the swing of things. (Or at least I'm fooling myself into thinking I am!!) I've just started my first painting for still life, and so far so good in my design class with my homework there too. This little Hull Vase painting is from some homework from last year. I don't know why I like putting antiques in still lifes, but I do. This vase isn't worth a tremendous amount of money, but I like it because it's old. I always wonder what the previous owners did with it. Was it for flowers, for sitting on a shelf, or maybe a gift? There's something cool about finding these little treasures with a bit of history in them. I expect to have a lot of my favorite antiques in my studio work this year.

The little plein air landscape from Bracken County Ky is currently available (along with others) for sale on ebay by clicking the link at the above right.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!!!

I hope all of you have a great holiday weekend! I've been re-organizing the studio to set up a more permanent still life station today. (I'm in an advanced still life class this semester.) I'm not doing anything special this weekend, but just looking forward to a few days of doing whatever!!! Have fun!!

For this or other paintings I have up for auction this week, just click on the link at the above right.

Kentucky State Fair...

We went to the Kentucky State Fair yesterday and had a great time. Mostly I like to check out the art and the quilts. There was some beautiful artwork and amazing quilts!!! We also went for some of the free health screenings. The one I was really interested in was the pre-screening for skin cancer. I'm good to go, but my guy needs to go in and have a few things removed. Nothing serious thankfully. How cool was it that we could just go in and do that though!! They had free eye, hearing, & skin cancer screenings and you could even get a mammogram for a reduced price. We also sampled lots of goodies, (mostly dips and ice creams) and of course stopped the the ugliest lamp competition. Who knew there were two identical Elvis lamps still out there! LOL! Fun day!

For this or other paintings I have up for auction this week on ebay, just click on the link at the above right.

Nibblefest on ebay...

Here's my Nibblefest entry on ebay for this month..(ebay search NFAC..this month's them was "On The Farm"). This was done plein air in Bracken County. I had told some of the folks at EBSQ that I had several little jumping bugs commit suicide on my painting while I was painting it. This painting session, I forgot to bring my chair. No biggie (I thought) because I had a quilt with me. So I picked a spot under a shade tree between the horse fence and the tobacco field (there's a tractor path there). I guess because I was so low to the ground every little jumping bug seemed to make it into my paint, on the canvas, on me, in my bag...it was very frustrating. I doubt that I'll forget my chair again!! I like to sit in one shaded spot and just move my chair vantage and paint. I don't like my plein air easel so I didn't bring it. I just hold the painting in my hand and I have an Artbin travel bag that housed my paint/solvents etc. When I get the money, (hopefully soon!) I'll be getting a Guerrilla Pochade box. I already have it picked out waiting in a cart online. Anyway, I smoothed the bugs out and this painting is what I was left with. I do love it out there...bugs and all!

This little 5 x 7 inch oil painting is available for sale on ebay by clicking the link at the above right.

Cleaning up...

I love using oil paints, but they are such a pain to clean up. I guess I'm just griping because I've been condensing thinner and filling up old containers with cat litter for disposal today. That was after I did some TLC to some of my brushes, scraped off palettes, and gave permanent "burials" to the bowls that I use for my mediums. (Sigh) I know I shouldn't complain, but sometimes I miss acrylics. I'll be using gouache for the first time this semester in school and I'm looking forward to trying this new medium. I'm still not sure why its called "Designers" Gouache. Anyone know why "designers" is in the name? Just wondering.

This little painting is currently up for auction on ebay by clicking the link at the above right.

Every barn needs a cat....

Yep, every barn needs a barn cat. This is Kitty. (Original name right...I didn't name him!) He's my boyfriends cat and he is the sweetest little thing you'd ever meet...unless you're a mouse or a bird. I call him our little carnivore because despite the fact that I try to keep him full of kitty food, he still likes to hunt. I'm grateful for his raids on the barn getting rid our our unwanted rodents, but I always regret the little birds who fall prey to his hunting skills. Usually I never see them...just the pile of feathers he left behind. Cats must truly have 9 lives and Kitty has used up about 7 of his! He's been locked in a trunk of a car and a shed in very, VERY hot weather (one he almost didn't survive). I've seen him nearly run over by a slow moving vehicle in the driveway....because for some reason, he doesn't feel HE should have to move even though he's no match for the truck or car he's in the path of, and I personally have accidentally locked him between the storm door and front door (couldn't be more than 4 inches wide!) for several hours, until I heard a sort of "scuffling movement" and realized he had somehow gotten in there after I closed the main door and before the storm door shut. No meowing...just a scuffling noise where I guess he was switching positions! Thankfully I heard it! I just love Kitty and hope we have many more years with him.

This little ATC size oil painting is currently available for sale on ebay by clicking the link at the above right.

Body of Work...

I've been spending time this year trying to get scholarships and grants to help pay for college. It's soooo expensive! I so wish I had just finished when I was younger and tuition was about 1/3 the cost it is now. Hind site is always 20/20 though. Anyway, many of the grant programs want to see a body of work from your portfolio that that shows your innovation in style and concept, technical proficiency, consistency etc. Which is all well and good, but part of why I'm continuing my education is so that I may develop all of those things further. It can be discouraging, though it hasn't stopped me from applying. My paintings are selfish. When I'm someplace that moves me, I want to stop time and hold on to that moment. Since I can't stop time, I capture it with a painting then I can re-visit it whenever I choose. I wish I had something more profound to say as to why I paint the things I do, but that is the honest truth.

This little 5 x 7 inch oil painting will be available for sale on ebay after 8/9/2011 by clicking the link at the above right.

Missy and Storm

I don't really have anything to talk about today, so thought I would post another photo of a couple of our horses. This is Missy (back) and Storm (towards the front). Missy is the horse that kicked me a couple of years ago. She's a sweet, sweet horse and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. We had another colt in the field and while I was giving her some treats, he started approaching. (I wasn't paying attention.) I moved just a bit in the wrong direction (in his direction) and she got me instead of him. I still have a bit of a "dent" in my leg from some scar tissue. I guess it was bound to happen sometime, though I would never have thought it would have been her to do it. I pay more attention when I've got the grain or the apples out now.

This little 5 x 7 inch oil painting is available for sale on ebay by clicking the link at the above right.

Artist Trading Cards...

I'm going to start listing some of these little 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch paintings (now that they are dry enough). Most are plein air and I like them because when I'm outside, I can just hold them in my hand and paint. This one is on unstretched canvas, but most I have are stretched canvas on these cute little stretcher bars. The biggest problem I can see with them is they look better in person than the scan. My naked eye doesn't see that close up, but my scanner gets every detail!!

This little 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 oil painting is currently available on Ebay by clicking the link at the above right.

What's with the heat?.....

We're just about to beat the record for over 90 degree days here in Northern KY. I can't stand being outside in this and have been doing most of my painting in the studio. Basically, we get up early and walk about 5 miles, I run errands, then the bulk of my day is inside. What did people do in the old days before air conditioning! I have been re-evaluating my plein air easel. Mine's a big old heavy clunky french style. I'm dumping that for a Guerrilla thumb box or something small like it. The thumb box may be a bit too small for me I think, but I'm definitely downsizing. I learned that in this hot weather. I hope your weather is behaving better than ours!!!

This little 5 x 7 inch oil painting is currently available for sale on ebay by selecting the link at the above right.

Helping hands....

This week, a few of us friends from church are going to help one of the local widows with some yardwork. I think it's so important to volunteer or help out a neighbor, our seniors, even our kids. Do I like yard work...no way. Will it be hard, absolutely. Will I do this work with joy in my heart...you bet. I hope if I'm ever in need someone will step up and help me out, even if they have nothing to gain. Not only does it benefit the person you're helping out, it sets a good example for the young people coming up after us. I hope all of you have had a chance to get the blessings of volunteer work!

This little 4 x 6 oil painting is currently available for sale on ebay, by clicking the link at the above right.

Clouds this year....

You may have noticed that I've got several cloud paintings this year. I just LOVE painting clouds and the late spring, early summer paintings have a ton of them. If I could only choose one thing to paint, I think I would choose early morning, or evening clouds. You never know what you're going to get and I'm never disappointed.

This little 4 x 6 inch oil painting is available for sale this week on ebay, by clicking the link at the above right.

The Fair....

We had our local county fair this week and we had beautiful weather! I entered a painting and got a blue ribbon (wehoo!) and got to watch some trucks play tug of war, some horses show off, and hang with my guy. Fun time! Plus I've been painting like crazy! I hope all of you are having a great week!

This little 4 x 6 inch oil painting is available for sale on ebay by clicking the link at the above right.

Computers...

It still amazes me how much time I have to spend on the computer. Today, I got changed into my "painting clothes" (clothes I've already ruined with paint) expecting to get to work after I got done on the computer. Well...I've been on here all day and haven't touched a paint brush. Granted, I had to spend quite a bit of time working on some photos that have to be sent away for a scholarship I'm applying for, but some days it seems like I have to force myself to stay off this thing. My computer is a valuable tool, but I'm looking forward to diving into more painting tomorrow. Wouldn't it be nice if all I had to do was just paint.......(sigh). Oh well, back to reality!

This little 5 x 7 inch oil painting of an Ohio Valley overlook is currently available for sale on ebay by clicking the link at the above right. As always, all of my ebay paintings start at just $0.99! I'd better get off the computer and get to work!!!!

Storm...

This is my two year old horse Storm. He was born here on our farm was a bit of a surprise. We purchased some broke female horses from a very nice gentleman up in Ohio. He neglected to mention that one of them was pregnant. The first time we came across our little surprise in the field, one of those quickie thunderstorms we get around here blew in. I've called him Storm ever since. He got a saddle put on his back for the first time this week and did famously well! I think he's just gorgeous, but I'm a bit biased!

This little 4 x 4 inch oil painting will be available for sale on ebay after 7/10/2011 by clicking on the link at the above right. All of the paintings I sell on ebay start out at $0.99...crazy I know! I call them my little gems!

Happy Independence Day!!!!

Well, I got another "fifteen minutes of fame" this weekend. That weird looking lady in the western hat is me in our local parade. It was super hot on Saturday, but lots of fun. I'm on the float with my nieces and other relatives passing out candy. I hope each of you had a great 4th of July!!

This little 4 x 6 inch painting I call "Overlook" will be available for sale on ebay after July 5th. To view it and other paintings I have for sale, just click on the link at the above right.

I learned a new word this past week....

Verdure: an abundance of green flourishing vegetation. With all of the rain we had, and now with the sun being out, the fields and meadows have taken off! I love the "greenness" of this area and take it for granted too often. Anyway, after learning my new word, I decided I had to name one of my little paintings that.

This little 4 x 6 oil painting is currently available for sale on ebay by clicking the link on the above right.

Family Reunion...

We had a family reunion this weekend and it was so great to see everyone! It's hard to believe that I can live so close to some of my relatives, but only see them once a year. My aunt does a great job putting it together and I'm so grateful she does.

This little 5 x 7 inch oil painting I call The Sentinel is currently available for sale on ebay by clicking the link at the above right.

Nibblefest!!

Well, for those of you who don't know Nibblefest is a little contest on ebay where a few of us artists start our listing at $0.99 and see who gets the most "nibbles" or bids on our artwork. If you want to check it out for yourself, just go to ebay and search NFAC. The contest starts on the 20th of the month and ends on the 27th. There's a different theme each month and this month's is "things on wheels". I've been wanting to do a vintage car or truck for fun, so this seemed to be the time. I'm getting mine it late so it won't start until tomorrow morning early. On another note I survived my root canal! (So far anyway!) I'm up and about...Wehoo!!!

This little 8 x 8 inch oil paint I call "Ol Grey" will be available for purchase on ebay after 6/23/2011 by clicking the link at the above right.

Wish me luck....

Well, this week is "root canal week". I'm getting it done on Wednesday. Everyone keeps telling me it won't be bad...I'm hoping they're right! So today and tomorrow are mostly going to be me trying to get everything caught up for the week. I've also been trying to get more organized with some of my filing. I've not got a binder for school scholarships organized by date, and I'm starting one for upcoming art shows that I may want to submit too. For some of you, that may not seem like a big deal, but my last filing system for this was a box on a book shelf. I don't know why, but I'm inspired to paint more when things are organized around here.

This little 5 x 7 oil painting I call "Afternoon" is available for sale on ebay by clicking the link at the above right.

I've been neglecting my blog....

This week is Vacation Bible School at my church, and I'm helping. I'm in the snack area and today was blue snow cone day!! I don't know why it is that children love those things. Syrup poured over crushed ice doesn't really do anything for me but when the kids see that's what the snack of the day is, they are so happy!! Maybe it's the blue color, maybe it's the sugar, or maybe it's just that it's not something they would normally get at home. Whatever the reason, we had about 150 kids all leaving today with blue lips, teeth, and tongues. I heard one of the little boys telling another child that "this smurf juice must be permanent". I didn't realize that kids this young even knew what smurfs were, but I guess they do. My "baby" is in her twenties, so I'm out of the loop.

Today's little 5 x 7 inch oil painting is currently available for sale on ebay by clicking the link at the above right. I think the sky is about the same color as that "smurf juice" I was serving earlier!! LOL! Have a great day!!!

Still Life Work...

I don't talk much about my still life work here because I link this to my ebay account where I sell my little landscapes. However, I've had a trying week due to a bad tooth (I'm scheduled for a root canal...yikes!!). I don't have much to say because I'm a bit behind. So thought I would post this little cup and saucer. A lot of what I will be working on this summer, besides my little landscapes, will be still life work. This one is 14 x 14 inches. My new stuff will likely be much larger.

For paintings I have available for sale on ebay, just click on the link at the above right.

Live and Learn....

If you read my last post, you know about the gridlines I draw on the canvas to help me get proportions right when I paint. I used what I thought was a watercolor pencil for this drawing. Turns out it was a regular colored pencil and the pink marks are bleeding thru. I've posted the photo of my gray "block in" phase where I first noticed them (24 x 36 inch canvas/oil). I started putting some color in the sky and the pink lines weren't there at first. The next day, they bled thru much brighter. You may or may not be able to see them on the close ups I posted. So...I guess I'll be starting over with this one. All I had done was the drawing and blocking in. So, it could have been worse. Lesson learned....pay attention to what you use to draw in your paintings!!! I can't believe I used a regular colored pencil instead of the watercolor one. I hope all of you are having a better week!!!

For smaller paintings I have available for sale on ebay, click on the link at the above right.

A little problem...

Today I ran into a little situation. I'm working on a large 24 x 36 inch painting of the Grand Canyon. Now my larger works are much more detailed than these little ebay paintings I post here. To get the details right, I grid them out when I'm working from my photo references...(which I am in this case since I live in Ky). Anyway, I usually use a watercolor pencil to make the grid so that as I paint, my lines sort of disappear. Well, I guess I used a regular colored pencil and the bright pink grid lines are showing through! Yikes! I'm hoping that the successive layers will cover them up, but they seem to be bleeding thru the paint. I may have to start over. Always something right! I need the practice I guess!

This little 5 x 7 inch oil painting is called Water's Edge. It will be available for purchase on ebay after 5/29/2011. Feel free to click on the link at the above right to see the other paintings I have up for auction this week.

Pushing yourself...

I was so relieved when this semester ended. It just felt good to not have any deadlines looming over me. And yes, that what deadlines feel like to me. Problem is as an artist, you have to meet deadlines. So....I got my week off and now I've got my daily goal list back out. Today's was longer than my daytimer had lines, but I didn't mind. I know by pushing myself, I'm moving my career forward and it feels good.
To purchase this little 4 x 4 inch oil painting I'm calling Evening Clouds through ebay, just click on the link at the above right.

Where did May go?

Am I the only one who can't believe it's May 23rd?! I'm not complaining, I'm just surprised! I'm glad finals are over (A- on my still life...yeah!), I had a crazy busy week last week and I survived, and my daughter had surgery today and came thru with flying colors. (Thank you Lord!!) So, yes, I'm glad to be starting out a new week, but I can't believe it's nearly June!! Everyone says times seems to go faster as you get older. I guess they're right! Happy Monday everyone!!

This little 5 x 7 oil painting I call "Greener Pastures" is currently available on ebay. To see all the paintings I have up for auction this week, click on the link at the above right.