Oranges

Oranges was done about 6 months ago. I've been so busy I haven't done as much as I wanted to lately. It's small, about 5x7 inches. Its oil on paper.

Illustration Friday "Monster"

I thought that in monster society, they probably have portraits of their ancestors just like we do. I think this one might be from the early to mid-19th century. He's got little pointy teeth sticking out. They're too small to see well.
Its graphite and charcoal and was made for the wonderful Illustration Friday.

Genetically altered Pincushion

My favorite pincushion. I think it's supposed to be a tomato, but it has a little strawberry attached to it. It was the original genetically altered fruit. I think that makes it a Franken-cushion.

Steam Train

I found this in an old box in the attic. Its from a glass plate negative. I like trains, so this was a real treat to see. I have quite a few glass plates and can't wait to see what's on them.

Screen porch

A photo from the screen porch of my Grandpa's place.

Warmer Weather......

I'm so ready for warmer weather. Another plein aire painting, done when no coats, boots or mittens were even close to the area.
I was sitting in the sun on the side of a hill watching dogs play in the grass. Its like some mirage right now.

Highway

I usually don't do a lot of alla prima painting, but this is one I tried. If they would all come out like this, I would do more. It's small, about 4x5 inches.

(Big)Feet:Illustration Friday

Another entry for wonderful Illustration Friday. I did (Big) Foots/Feet. Someone has just gone to look for the Bigfoot living in (I think) the Maylay Penninsula. For animals that no one has really seen, they sure are everywhere. The background of this piece shows some of the names that various cultures have given him.

Hay Bales

A pencil drawing from last summer. It was done with pencils, but I am starting to experiment with powdered graphite, too. It's another small piece, only 4"x5". It's made up, or rather, embellished from the real landscape.

Meadow

I tried capturing twilight in this little(4"x6") painting. I like that time of day, the time when you can't tell if its going to get lighter or darker. It's mysterious and ambiguous. I showed this particular piece to a Buddhist monk, and he said, "This is amazing.....this looks exactly like the land at my retreat". It made me feel that, for some reason, I had done what I needed to do.

Collie

One of the things I like to do most is search thrift stores for old photographs. My theory is that many people are true artists, but they don't think of themselves that way, and so they don't make any formal art. Instead, almost unconsciously, they make wonderful snapshots, or they decorate cakes, or they sing in church choirs. Looking for these hidden pieces of art is like looking for gold or diamonds.
The photo here comes from around (I think) 1910. Those tracks in the snow aren't tires, they are wagon wheels. Someone on a farm looked out the window, on a brillant day just after a snowfall, and took a picture of their beloved and beautiful Collie. Someone, whether they knew it or not, was an artist.

Illustration Friday

This is my contribution to the wonderful blog "Illustration Friday" under the catagory "Tattoo". Illustration Friday is one of the most interesting blogs ever and its led me to dozens of fascinating sites made by the world's most creative people.

Old Rose

This is a really small painting done on paper. I was trying for a 19th century look to it and I think I acheived it.....or at least I came close. I always try to use the least number of colors, this one was three or four, which is a lot for me.

Tree on Rock River

I had to post this before winter officially ended. Its a tree on the Rock River, taken earlier this season. I paint, but I love photography too. This little tree was so pretty, and the river itself is lovely. Its home to a flock of mallards and one of geese. In the summer there is a Great Blue Heron that flys along the water like it was his personal highway. I can never quite get a picture of him( or her).

Louis

Louis decided to pose while watching a PBS documentary on dogs and the work they were bred to do. His job description includes laying on pillows and not eating anything without a sauce accompaniment.

Radishes

The first warm day of the year. I spent it painting a blue hyacinth (in honor of a high temperature of 65 degrees!) I hope to post it as soon as its finished. The painting of the day today is Radishes This painting used to have a gray background and I wanted more dramatic contrast, so I changed it. I think I was right, its much more eye catching now.
Someone told me today that burnishing a painting with silk cloth will make it easier to glaze.The paint will be less likely to bead. That sounds so wonderfully exotic that I can hardly wait to try it.

Rose Bottle

Rose and Bottle
A favorite picture of mine. The bottle is an old one I found at my Grandfathers farm. Its done with three colors, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre and hansa yellow.....plus black and white. And its done on masonite. I go back and forth about liking that surface; right now I am back working on linen.