For thie first time -- OILS

I have finished two oil paintings since beginning my oil painting classes about 6 weeks ago.  Now I'm trying to paint one of two folks I know.  That should be harder.  I think these are presentable tho.

It's that time of Year!

I've been busy "making Christmas".  I'm including two of my smalls that are for sale in Midway.  The one here is a Yorkie - pretty obvious - and the one to the right are of two kids in a snowy setting.  I've done seven.

Portraits in oil have come along and I'm actually attempting a portrait of real people - a fellow and his grand daughter.  It'll probably take several weeks and then I'll share.

I've had three sessions of life drawing so far and two sessions of oil people painting. Interesting, fun, and totally debilitating.

The landscape is rapidly turning into a riot of color.  The fothergilla in our yard are especially pretty.  This is my favorite time of year.  It always seems like it's the BEGINNING of the year to me.  Too many years of going to school, maybe.  Anyway I love it.

A New Leaf . . .

I'm rearranging my life to become more serious about art.  On Tuesdays I'll be doing life drawing at Kentucky State University and on Thursdays I hope to be taking a portrait class in Lexington.  I feel like I'm entering a new era.  We'll see.  Meanwhile I'm preparing a few small paintings to sell.  See to the right  . . .

AquaVenture Bound

I heard on Friday that my watercolor portrait entry to AquaVenture was accepted!  This is only the second juried event I've tried (the first being the LaGrange contest), and I'm thrilled.  The model for the portrait sat for a drawing group I attend during the winter.  I found her fascinating. The painting was actually begun last year (and that was a second attempt) and finished just a month or so ago.  I've posted a version of her before . . . here she is-- Dark Angel-- or Kurai Tenshei (coo ray ten she).

PufferBilly

The painting I displayed last week won a prize.  First place for adult acrylic painting.  This MAY be because there WERE no other acrylic paintings at the Painted Cow in Louisa, KY.  

I DID just win second prize (and MONEY) in a juried show . . . for THIS painting--Big Engine in LaGrange.  It depicts an old fashioned engine (with a cowcatcher) superimposed on downtown main street LaGrange.  I used the same technique for this train engine that I did for "Mama's Homeplace".

I'm waiting to hear about a watercolor I submitted to the Kentucky Watercolor Society's Aquaventure.

I've prepared 3 watercolors (painted, signed and framed) to take to Midway tomorrow for their Fall Festival.  Hope that goes well.  We'll see.

Movin' On . . .

I've taken my heart in my hand and placed three of my paintings in art shows.  I've been asking myself what I really want to do before it's all over and I waft off to dreamland.  The answer is ART.  I don't actually care a fig about making money, but I DO care if people like it, although that wouldn't stop me.

The first painting is of my mother's homeplace in eastern Kentucky.  The old home was destroyed this summer (both burned and bulldozed) and that weighs heavy on me.  Sooo, Mama's Homeplace has been placed at the Painted Cow Gallery in Louisa (my hometown) for September Fest.  If you're at the festival, please stop by and see it.

The painting is taken after an old photograph (upper right) and done in a primitive (think Grandma Moses) AND cartoony style.  The style makes it happy, and it WAS a happy place.  Enjoy, and
stay tuned for progress reports.