Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Old Folks, 8x10, for Japan

These are two of my favorite things that my son sent from Okinawa when he was stationed there. They are so clever, beautifully done, and just plain cute. When I saw Qiang Huang's Japanese doll painting, I knew I needed to paint these and join the Daily Paintworks Challenge to raise money for Japan. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to Japanese relief.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

The Pantheon, 8x10

The sight of people on cell phones in front of a building built in 126 AD is almost too much to take in. This is my entry this month in the Streetview Paintoff, in which Rome is the subject city. I chose the Pantheon because it is one of the most amazing buildings I've ever visited. It has a concrete dome with a large opening in it (an oculus), and rain does come in, but drains through a system in the floor. The artist Raphael is entombed there (and his baby angels live on, on coffee cups everywhere). How they figured out how to build something so spectacular in 126 AD is just beyond me.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Just Add Coffee, 6x6 Oil





My painting group used only primary colors and white this week, and we complained a lot while trying to get a nice pink, but I actually ended up with one of my favorite colors, that color between pink and orange. My husband once pointed out that half my wardrobe is that color. I guess that's why I like this painting.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Teapot With Chopsticks, 11x14 oil painting

This is the beautiful Japanese teapot my son sent from Okinawa. Even though I have posted this one before, I thought it an appropriate subject for my purpose. I am donating 100% of the sale of this painting to Japanese relief. This is an original oil painting on wood panel, signed and framed.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Am I Blue, 6x6

I really like this blue glass cup. I want to paint it with various other subjects.

I started my day today with weeding. Who decides what plants are weeds? I have some really lovely ground cover that is designated as weeds by...I don't know, the Weed Designation Committee? My father used to consider Periwinkles weeds, yet I see them in the garden shop for sale. Some people here have Xeriscaped yards, with no lawn, just native plants. Another word that could be used to describe Xeriscape: weeds. Some of Florida's native plants are quite nice, but put too many together in a Xeriscape and what do you have? Weeds. Just ask the Weed Designation Committee.
SOLD

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Purple Shirt and Orange Crocs, 6x6


The Pieces of 8 recently participated in Collaborations, an exhibit in which we partnered with the Seaside Peacemakers Quilters. This was the vignette display by two quilters and me. When I saw this man who had enough panache to wear a purple shirt and orange crocs, I knew I had to paint him. See all the vignettes at the Pieces of 8 website.
BUY

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Japan

No painting today, just had to comment on Japan's plight. I have noticed that the people there are patiently waiting in line for hours for food and water. Where are those scenes of looting that we are always treated to when a disaster happens in our cities? There aren't any. I wonder why?  Cultural differences? Not as many criminals in the population? I would really love to know. I'm so sorry for the victims there, and it will certainly take Japanese effort and ingenuity to bring the country back from this.
The Daily Painter Originals group is going to do something to raise money for victims, so stay tuned...

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Repose, 24 x 20, after Sargent





I went into the archives for this one. I painted this copy of a John Singer Sargent painting as a learning exercise. The original is hanging in the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. This one is hanging over my fireplace, which is also fake (I live in Florida).

NFS

Thursday, March 10, 2011

The Apple of My i, 11 x 13

My painting group, Pieces of 8, got together for a collage day with copious amounts of magazines, papers, and fresh apples. Since I sit at my Mac every day and use my iPhone every day, after I finished applying all my apple quotations and poetry I moved toward the less traditional. I found a quote from Steve Jobs and some iPhone material, and I was completely inspired. Zoom in to see.

Check out the Pieces of 8 at work at http://piecesof8art.blogspot.com/

Monday, March 7, 2011

Artist at Work, 8x6

I like the warm sunny aspect of this painting. This was at an art show, and I loved the concentration of the artist in the midst of the excitement around her. She is focused and at peace, and she is making--think about it--an American product.

I heard this week that if we all buy 1 percent more American-made products, we can add 200,000 jobs right here in the USA. One percent is not much, but would have big results. The problem is, just try to find a product made in the USA. And by the way, hint, hint, all of the art I do is made in the USA. Sometimes it's inspired in Italy or France, but it is American-made. Three cheers for the Red, White and Blue!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Jazon, 16x20

I nearly titled this one, "The Sphinx." Jazon is an excellent model and I really enjoyed painting him.

I'm really amazed by the news lately. I saw Ghadafi, Bernie Madoff, and Charlie Sheen on the same night, and their personalities are not all that different. Egomaniacal, unrepentant--a lot of similarities. A charmer like Charlie can get away with hedonism, drug abuse, and wife-beating. I've been thinking about what might make the public actually turn against him, and I think I have it: animal cruelty. Nothing causes a bigger public outcry. Just ask Michael Vick. Hope Charlie never gets a dog. He might treat it as badly as he has treated his wives, and then he's done for.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Lindsay, 8x10





This portrait is part of my learning process. I really like painting people doing things, but I'm getting into the more formal portraits also.

Our week has started badly. Yesterday, just as I was about to leave for church, my husband Hap fell from a ladder while trimming a tree. I immediately drove him to the emergency room. He had X-rays, got a splint, etc and they said his heel is crushed. His ankle was tennis-ball size, so we thought he broke that. We have to get with an orthopedist and find out if he needs surgery. So now I get to repay him for taking such wonderful care of me when I broke my wrist. He hasn't lost his sense of humor. He was in absolute agony, but when we drove off to go to the hospital, he told our neighbors, "If we don't come back, watch the Oscars so you can tell us who's wearing who." He finds the red carpet hoopla absurd.

The things you take for granted! I got up this morning and Hap was standing in the kitchen on his crutches just looking at the coffeepot. If anyone can tell us how to walk on crutches with a cup of coffee, please let me know. One's hands are completely occupied with holding oneself upright. I am calling him Hopalong Happity now.

  BUY