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.