I Call Them "Three Peasants and a Baby"

The finished painting. 

oil, 30 x 40

                                                            The photo I worked from

Another shot. The white areas at the top of the painting are from the glare of the window behind it.

As always, the photo of the painting doesn't show quite the true colors compared to the scanned photo of the actual magazine picture from which I worked.  But the woman I painted this for was ecstatic, and I was pretty happy with the results as well.

There has been talk lately about the migrating butterflies, and the large numbers that have been spotted in this area. I hadn't noticed anything unusual until yesterday. I was admiring the back yard since it was the first day in a long time that I was seeing it with the sun shining, and sure enough, my eyes started seeing not one, not two, but dozens of butterflies flitting about our patio area. I grabbed my camera and snapped a few shots.

 They landed in groups as well, but I wasn't quick enough to snap the photos. They seemed more skittish.
I included the following photo because the sky was actually this blue. I LOVE this combination of the bright green leaves against the bright blue sky.

 I have been posting some of my drawings on Facebook for a group that I am in.  The drawings are portraits stemming from the challenge, 29 faces in May, as seen on http://ilove2paint.blogspot.ca/p/29-faces-may.html.

I wasn't going to take part, then I started drawing, then I thought to post my blog address on that site, but alas, the directions are far more complicated than I have patience for, so I am just going to post the drawings here. I am behind because of my late start, but- OH WELL!!

This portrait started out as a self- to which I added the background doodles, then the headpiece, and finally the color. I'm not entirely happy with the way she was painted.

 This was an idea from the sketchbook people (through the Brooklyn Art Library.)  They are having some kind of challenge (maybe it's ended already) where you do a self-portrait on a 4 by 4  inch canvas that they mail to you. I am not doing that, but I took the same idea for this, and did it on watercolor paper.

 The last page of one of my sketchbooks.  Trust me, if I thought someone would sit still for me, I would do someone other than myself!  I've left off the shadows and lines for a more youthful face. (If only it were that easy!!!)

These people had no choice but to sit here, but I had to move quickly so they wouldn't know I was sketching them. This is called "The Waiting Room."  I know there are many, many variations on this theme.

                

                                            

 So there it is, and there I am.  Off to visit with some of you, then back to the little room upstairs.

bye!



My Painting, and a Shout Out to Susan!

Some of these are taken with a flash, some without.  I have been having fun with this painting, as all I have to think about is matching the colors as closely as I can to the original, and making sure that no part stands out any more than another.  Just copy.  There is no worry about composition. or focal point, nor choosing the color scheme.



I do have to turn the canvas over occasionally in order to work with a steady hand.  I worked on the two faces on the right yesterday, and I have already toned down the red in the one.  Last night, around midnight, I walked into the room and picked up a brush.  I swooshed the canvas with a brush over the face, then asked myself if I was crazy to start that at that hour.  I decided that though I may be crazy sometimes, I wasn't going to be last night. 

When I started this blog, my father had just passed away about 4 months prior, my sons were in their first year at their respective colleges, my one daughter was graduating from college, and my other, from grad school.  Since that time, the boys have done wonderful things while in school, and are now graduating in 2 weeks.  Daughter number 1 is a licensed social worker, has been married now for 7 months, and she and her hubby just became homeowners. Daughter number 2,  the nurse who volunteered for a year in a San Diego health/hospital for the homeless, has been working at a local hospital in pediatrics for the last year.
I am proud of them, always have been, and I don't mean to sound like I am bragging about them.  It's just that this blog, begun while dealing with a huge loss (my dad was a wonderfully intelligent, sweet man) has put into perspective for me, how life truly does go on.  Things happen, good/bad, but we go on.  If we are lucky.  And I am lucky.  I know it, and acknowledge it.
I haven't done as much writing as I did back in the beginning, though I am still reading others' blogs.  I am doing more art work, and learning from the generous artists who post their artwork along with their methods and the tools that they use.  Everybody serves as an inspiration to me.  The non-art blogs that I read are just as wonderful.  I see parts of the country I've never seen, talked to people in other countries, heard about books that I have gone on to read, read about movies that I may or may not see. I've seen people's gardens and home interiors.  I've read about illnesses, and likewise, fighting spirits.  I could go on! 

Have you ever thought about how "blogging" has influenced your life?  My friend Susan, of http://sueskitchen.typepad.com/black_eyed_susans_kitchen/  is the person who introduced me to blogging.  It was such an innocent meeting- I had run into her while taking a walk after visiting my dad in the hospital.  She took a picture, and mentioned her blog.  Sometime after that, I checked out what she was talking about, and I haven't looked back!  So I say- thanks, Susan!
How did you get involved/hear about blogs?  Can you remember? 
- and now, as is typical- I have been sitting at this computer for much too long, and have to get busy with my errands for the day!

Have a good weekend!
xoxoxo

Making Progress

This was the start of that commissioned painting.

Set up on the easel, sketched, and ready to paint.

I started by toning the painting.  I don't know who the original artist was.  If anyone knows, please let me know!

Till next time!

Step One

Last week, my name was given to a woman who wanted a painted copy of another painting. We spoke with each other, she explained what she was hoping for, we agreed on a price and I went to work.  I know this painting that I will do can never be shown anywhere, it is strickly for her happiness and benefit. She plans on hanging it above her bed.  I don't know (nor does she) who painted the original.  It was in an ad for a furniture store many, many years ago.  I am calling it "Three Peasants (and a Baby)".
I bought a canvas and began with the gesso.  It is 30x40, and I laid it on the floor in a corner of my living room to begin.

The second coat of gesso is drying. My Little Room Upstairs is presently being occupied by a house guest, and so supplies (and the use of the room) are temporarily on hold and somewhat out of the way. I hope that I can set this on my easel in my little room to work. Believe it or not, the room may not give me the space to properly paint and view as I go along!

We are having another Spring-like day with warmer than usual weather this week (as we've had for most of the winter.)  I am trying to get back into my daily walk routine. 
Stay tuned for progress on this canvas~
xoxoxo

Tidbits

On Saturday I worked at an estate sale that was a painter's dream.  The homeowner had been a ceramics painter and had many many vials of paints to go along with the shelves loaded with ceramic pieces just waiting to be painted.  She had loose-leaf binder after binder of inspiration photos, and how-tos, and two kilns in her garage.  While I wasn't about to invest in a new art form, there were beautiful art instruction books for sale. I couldn't resist buying a few.  The first that I am reading is a North Light Book,

It's an easy read, covering the basics, but I am picking up little tidbits here and there. 

I also bought a book shelf from the house sale since my books were beginning to take up floor space in my little room.  I spent a portion of Sunday and Monday trying to reorganize my supplies in order to fit this shelf into the room.

On Tuesday I went back to that tiny painting from the previous post. I decided to make the water curve around, and go back into the background of the scene. I also took out that tree in the middle of the painting, and now have to do something about the solid look of those fir trees. I made a black and white print of the painting with the hopes of seeing "values". hmmmm.

stage 1

ok- so the tree is gone.

the water curves back, but I need

to do something back there....and those trees still bother me.  I hope you can ignore that

awful shadow on the right.  I realize that color consistency in the photos is lacking.  (sorry)

        This is supposed to help me see "values".  I don't think it is helping me. 

So today, I hope to take a look again at this painting to see where I can go with it.  I think the tree on the right is an eyesore now.  lol.  If anybody has a suggestion (if anybody is reading!) please feel free to drop me a line. 

thanks~

jenny

a little afternoon painting

I spent a good portion of the morning on this computer, reading what many of you have been up to.  I was frozen to my seat by procrastination.  It reared its ugly head and I had to fight it! 
Finally this afternoon, after a quick trip to the airport to drop someone off, I went up to my little room and just started squeezing paints onto a pallet. 
I'd started this painting of this house about a year (or two?) ago, but pushed it aside.  It had had boats in the foreground, in dry dock, but I never cared for the way the painting was going.  I did, however, like the house.  Before I started to paint, I pulled out the photos that I had taken of this local scene, and decided to combine two of them.  I know this is not finished, I think the house is now lost up there on the rise, and it is hard to recognize that that is water in the foreground, but I worked for about an hour, and decided I had to stop or I might end up with mud.  I am working this in oil, and it is very small...4x6...

I'm also thinking that the top of the tree in the middle stands out too much.  I want to add highlights to the pine trees, and maybe I could tone that tree down.  Yes, I think the eye goes there, and I don't want it to be the focus.  Any suggestions?

Keeping Myself Busy

Good Morning~
So here I go again, trying to update this blog.  Sorry about the blurred photo up above.  I guess I  still have to get used to my new camera, and I hope to change that soon enough.


There have been some special people celebrating birthdays this month, and so I took a break from painting and drawing to make some cards.  Actually I did continue with my painting, I just did it in a different way.  This first card was made by gluing a magazine photo over a painted background,

and then painting over her features and the flower on her clothing.
I then added the details in the way of papers.  I decided to change the recipient of this card when I found an old fortune from a fortune cookie that I had once opened.  I removed the three words and added the fortune.  My girlfriend will no doubt be amused by this woman and the words,
 "awaken your divine nature within"

This next card was created by painting a background and "finding" the figure in the paints and tissue papers that I had glued down.  Then details were added.

 This little girl (below) is clip art that I received as part of an online art site.  I added the crown, and the butterfly is a fabric scrap.
                                           


This floral was very simply made with paper and stamps, with the flowers highlighted by- oh dear- the acrylic stuff that makes things shiny and adds dimension.  SO SORRY for not running upstairs to my little room to see what the stuff is called!

 And finally, for a dear friend in Texas who always surprises me in one way or another, a Valentine.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all.  I hope to be back soon!  I am off to bake a cake~

I am an Artist

There.  I've said it.  I have to believe it if I've said it, right? 
This past week, I have been in my little art room painting and stamping, cutting and gluing, and having a grand time.  I am simultaneously working on greeting cards, and those "journals".   
I will post some photos soon(?).   I am still figuring out my new camera.  I can't remember if I'd mentioned that my last one was dropped back in July, and I couldn't decide until recently, which way to go in order to replace it. 
I am an artist.  Why is that so hard to say?  I think I have to validate my reason for putting myself in that room for hours on end.   I don't make money on what I do.  Would that help?  I used to work in advertising, but I didn't call myself an artist back then. 
It is just an inner urge(?) to produce something.  I know You know what I mean.  Thank goodness my husband is understanding.  He plays the guitar every night after work, after dinner, after any bill paying, and after reading the newspaper.  Usually while relaxing with the TV on.  Yes, it is usually late!  But he knows how I feel.  He gets it.  Thank goodness he isn't the type who requires a full course meal every night (or a shiny, sparkling clean home, or a wife who works outside the home!)  Our four kids are grown (the last two are graduating from college this year- yea!) and so I don't have to provide meals for them, either (at least, right at the moment, I don't!)
It is Saturday morning.  We have some errands to do today, a mother to visit, and some finishing touches on some projects around here.  AND, it is a beautiful day outside.  I may try to squeeze in a walk.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Talk to you soon~