50 Strokes of Chicken 5x7 Small Daily Painting Oil on Canvas

Our group challenge for the Pieces of 8 for December is to paint a painting using only 50 strokes. For those of us who have trouble simplifying, this is a great exercise. You have to think about each stroke and make it count. For areas like the ruff around the chicken's neck, I used one zigzag stroke for each color. That covered some territory with one stroke; however, the dot that is the eye is also just one stroke. At the end, it is hard to stop because you want to do just one or two more--but you must resist!

Carmen

Recipes, Medical History and Being Crafty

 

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Two of the artists in our painting group, Pieces of Eight, have inspired me this month. Jean Thomas did a journal workshop in which I participated and I learned how to make the handmade journal, above. 

During a recent doctor visit I was asked when a certain injury happened, when pain recurred, etc. and I thought that it would be handy if all that was written down in a certain place, with all symptoms, because who remembers the dates of medical problems? Fay Picardi gave me a nice little sketchbook for Christmas, and I decided that I would use that for my medical history from here forward, and include sketches of my pain locations. And of course, being me, I have already included a sketch of my doctor. To give the book more importance and assure I would actually use it, I used my newfound knowledge to fancy up the cover.

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Unlike my travel journals, for this one I say the less entries, the better!

Carmen

The Black Hat, Portrait of Woman Original Oil Painting 8x10

$175

This is quite a departure from the 50-stroke paintings I've been doing. I don't know what got into me, but I really enjoyed this one. It has a vintage look but with a timeless feel. We need a little glamour now and then.

Carmen

Onions, 7x5 Oil Painting on Canvas Panel Still Life

 $75

The Challenge for this month for the Pieces of 8 group is to paint a painting in 50 strokes. I've been enjoying that exercise. Below is my 50-stroke painting of these onions, smudges and all. I decided to refine it to a finished painting. Which one do you like best? I think the 50-stroke one is more exciting. 

Carmen

Audrey Collage on Canvas Portrait of Audrey Hepburn

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This was a commission that I did a while back. I used pictures and articles from Audrey Hepburn's movies and it was a pleasant walk down Memory Lane. I still remember when "Sabrina" came out and we all went out and bought slacks like Audrey was wearing:

And from Roman Holiday, the way she tied her scarf became the way everyone tied their scarf:

When Audrey grew old, she didn't bother with a facelift, just faced the world with wrinkles and all and she was still beautiful. Here are some of her quotes:

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.

I can testify to what UNICEF means to children because I was among those who received food and medical relief right after World War II.

Paris is always a good idea. 

 

Rosy Outlook, 8x10 Original Oil on Canvas Panel

$99 Buy Here

There's not much to say about a painting of a pink rose. A rose is a rose is a rose. I will share this Dorothy Parker poem about how she felt about a single rose:

A single flow'r he sent me, since we met.
All tenderly his messenger he chose;
Deep-hearted, pure, with scented dew still wet--
One perfect rose. 

 I knew the language of the floweret;
"My fragile leaves," it said, "his heart enclose."
Love long has taken for his amulet
One perfect rose.

Why is it no one ever sent me yet
One perfect limousine, do you suppose?
Ah no, it's always just my luck to get
One perfect rose.

Dibble the Dragon, Children's Picture Book Fairy Tale

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My children's book makes a great gift item for your little ones who like books one can actually hold, and pages one can turn rather than swiping. This book is about a little dragon who has doubts that he is really a dragon, because he can't breathe fire.

Carmen

A Day in the Gardens with Pieces of Eight

Our Pieces of Eight Painting Group spent a lovely day at Rock City Gardens, photographing, drawing and, to our surprise, eating a delicious lunch. The gardens keep growing (pardon the pun) and one of the great additions is a small cafe with fabulous food. Here is a page from my journal, and below, Denette, Kathy, Donna and Fay.

Words from my grandmother's garden:

The kiss of the sun for pardon, 

The song of the birds for mirth, 

One is nearer God’s Heart in a garden 

Than anywhere else on earth.

Shady Cows, Original Oil Painting 8x10 Landscape

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It's been a while since I posted. I've been very busy working on a book that will be coming out in April. You will be hearing more about that later.

This painting is all about the light. I love the shade in the foreground, with a tiny couple of slivers of light on the pasture.

Carmen

Patchwork River, 16x20 Oil Painting Landscape on Canvas

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The Pieces of Eight were hiking in the woods on an artists' retreat and came upon this peaceful scene. This was in North Carolina, the same mountains where we went whitewater rafting and bonded over a near-death experience. Below is my drawing commemorating that scene.

Carol, Donna, Denette and I were airborne. We were The Flying Grannies.