Le Chien Marcher sa Personne - Day 11 of #jan30in30

 

6"x6" oil on archival panel

To bid or to purchase, click here.  

Another scene from my recent trip to France, I love to go walking...and people watching. The French do love their dogs, and they are every where..."taking their people out for a stroll"!

Creche Angel - Day 6 - #jan30in30

6"x6" oil on archival panel

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Today is Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, Today is Epiphany, or Three Kings Day...a Christian festival held on January 6 in honor of the coming of the three kings to the infant Jesus Christ. I'm going to be wrapping up our creche, or manger scene from Christmas, and decided I must paint the angel first. This is a new creche in our house, I just bought it in December at our church bazaar. It was brought back from a summer church mission to Ecuador this summer by another member. They got to see some of these pieces being carved. I'd been hoping to find a set like this to have in our house during Christmas-time...though I'm especially fond of the angel!

 

Rhythm & Blues Peonies

 

7"x5" oil on archival panel

For more information, or to purchase, click here.

This one was a little study of shapes, and yes, I did do it after the  large one on the prior post.  Just testing out some fun little ideas. These small panels and canvases are great for that- trying out new ideas before going on to bigger things. I think the little ones pack just as much punch as the big ones. (Sigh), I just can't get enough of these peonies!  

"Livraison de fleurs en vélo" - Flowers & bicycles in France! - SOLD!

8"x8" oil on archival panel

For more information, or to purchase, click here.

Oh, the French really do know flowers! And how to display them. I'm so anxious for warmer weather to get here and have flowers billowing over everything in my own yard.  

So many wonderful sights to see - sometimes the best parts of travel are the inspirations we bring back to our own homes!  So - what might you do with an old rusted bike? Plant it with cascading fleurs - tres chic!

Winterberries and Mandarins

 

8"x6" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

For more information, or to purchase, click here. 

My hubby grows the winterberries...well, we planted them in the yard several years ago. Some years are better than others, but this year there is a bumper crop of them, they are nice to bring in with some evergreen sprigs for small winter bouquets! 

Check out the shape of this shrub this year! 

They're such a wonderful blast of color during New England winters, either before OR after the snow! 

Daisy Riot - SOLD!!

 

4"x4" oil on archival panel

So far, this is my favorite of the group of recent florals! Very happy with the depth on this one, it's what I've been working to achieve with this broken color and attention to edges in these recent studies.  So it is a mix of technique, using transparent colors (yes, as well as opaques), brushes, knives, and even a squeegee!! These are the techniques I'll be teaching next summer in Ireland! Follow this link for more information about this.  Also, if you live in my area of southeastern CT, I still have a spot available in my studio class in January- "Mentoring Mondays"...from 9 to noon, Jan. 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th.

 

Zinnias On A Sun-Dappled Table

 

4"x4" oil on archival panel, $100

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These small paintings are beautiful placed on a small display easel, or especially elegant mounted on linen mat board & beautifully framed! Just ask your framer!

These little paintings are addictive, and capturing the light on a summer's day is the best cure for deep winter's cold and snow! 

 These last few small paintings have been so satisfying, I've been quite pleased with them.

Andre's Garden...and living in the moment/thoughts on workshops!

8"x10" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

For more information or to purchase, click here.

Ah, living in the moment. How often do we truly do this?  I am back home in New England, though I'm sure I've left part of me behind in France....and I've definitely brought back part of France with me, too (in addition to a couple extra pounds).  

I got to practice the little bit of French that I remember (which is probably more like 'Franglish') and was treated so kindly. I've met a new gardening friend in the village of Frayssinet, Andre, a neighbor of our hosts - and I got to paint in his garden! So many varieties of roses, salvia, plum trees, oh the list goes on and on. He very proudly showed off a very interesting German rose, which was violet in color, and fragrant; rare for a hybrid.  

I'm determined to return to this beautiful part of France next year, and get some intense practice in the language before I go! Time to start looking into that right now!

So I've been home over a week or two now. Had a house full of company, spent time doing touristy fun things here in Mystic, CT and now that the house is empty again, am back to my paints.  Every day since I left France, the whole experience has been on my mind.

During our last dinner together in Frayssinet, I asked one of my new painter friends, "So, how will you do things differently once you get back home?" She thought I meant just painting technique-wise....but this trip was much more all-encompassing than that. Every day our senses were filled with beauty. Simple loving gestures like fresh flowers on the table at meals, a house full of art and color, literature and art books to peruse, gardens to wander, meals that delighted the eyes as well as the taste buds, and wonderful companions to share it all with! I've seriously spent a lot of time in the last two weeks thinking about how lovely it was to share all that! 

*****One of the habits I've wanted to return to was watercolor sketching, yet another reason for my interest in this workshop.  So -  yes, I will be sharing some watercolor postcards from our trip! Share this with a friend as well to help me grow my following!  If you sign up for my blog(or if you've already signed up & receiving my blog posts to your email), I'll be choosing two recipients from my blog followers each Friday for the next 3 Fridays to receive one of my watercolor postcards from France! 

So - for fellow artists that have asked about my workshop experience on this trip. I can honestly say that this was the BEST WORKSHOP I've had in the last 15 to 20 years that I've been taking workshops. Dreama Tolle Perry is so well prepared - which means YOU as the attendee will be prepared, and have what you need to learn. She's also POSITIVE, which is exactly what I needed at this point on my art journey.  Her students were 16 already pretty accomplished artists - all having their own styles. And not that any of us intend to become a "Dreama knockoff'- but her technique of transparent underpainting really provides such a glow. I've tinkered with various underpaintings (and no underpaintings) over the last several years.  So I'm excited to see how I end up integrating this into my work.  I can see why her workshops fill up a year in advance - and many of her workshop attendees are returns.

So there might not be history and religion on each of her workshops, (this on a side trip into the village church with our host)...

But you can count on having meals that are a visual and culinary feast! 

Great demos of techniques from this Parisian (Kentucky) with a great sense of humor, gentle wisdom and much encouragement.  Each day after I watched a demo, I'd tackle a new quest/focus on 'just one thing' to get around the learning curve. So each day felt like a success in taking on small learnable tasks - just one at a time. Each day I'd add one more task, so my the end of the workshop I had integrated several new techniques that I've been wanting to bring into my current work.  Now this is really getting FUN! 

Bringing some sketching back into my work habits with Loki the kitten looking on....

Loki wondering why art 'assistants' don't paint?!

Some of the "Purple Beret Society" goofing off, waiting for our official mug shot!

And a very grateful me....appreciating all that Dreama shares with her workshop classes! 

So if you are considering a workshop in your artistic future, my best advice is to "notice what you notice", paintings that really make you 'draw in a breath' and stop and be wowed over it.  That's when I really feel the need to seek out what that painter is doing and see if there's some method of that that I want to integrate into my work. (This is your clue- sign up for their workshops and find out how they do what they do!).  And then paint, paint, paint to see what gels in your working methods! Taking a class is never "one-stop-shopping" - at least not for me. It's more of an evolution. Like relationships grow, so does our relationship with our work. And that's what makes it exciting to go to work everyday! Aren't we lucky to be artists?!  

I do hope you'll continue to follow along on my blog as I share more of these new techniques and how I end up integrating them into my current work. Every thing we learn is a process. And that process is one grand journey. Bon voyage!

Gold and Purple Splendor in a Glass

 

6"x6"x .75" deep oil on cradled panel

For more information, or to purchase, click here. 

Yes, this is the same bouquet, just another day, turned a bit differently, (so the purple flowers show up more) and different lighting as well.  I find it exciting to follow Monet's example of showing up to the same views day after day, at different times, different lighting, and truly observing.

By the way, if you haven't seen these cradled panels before, they are delightful to paint on. I usually use the 1/8" panel for my small panel sizes. But these deeper cradled panels are nice when framing is not desired, they stand away from the wall just a bit and make a clean, uncluttered contemporary look.  I have plans for a set of these, to be hung together as a grouping, or on their own.  Edges are a pale blonde-wood. This one makes a nice set with "Sunflowers In A Glass" posted previously. 

Now, back to packing! Still trying to get the last few panels in that suitcase. Wondering if I should undo it all and start the process over? The hardest part of traveling (for me) is just getting out the door! Pull up a chair, log in, and follow along for the rest of the month. Hopefully the wi-fi's reliable, as I know I'm going to want to share these lovely views with you! 

Did you notice yesterday's travel advisory (noted in my 'Cheer Factor' newsletter?)

***WARNING - Arm-chair travel is usually the precursor to serious travel planning...you stand advised. Of course, you may share this notice with all your friends!

Sunflowers In A Glass

6"x6" x .75" deep oil on cradled panel

For more information, or to purchase, please click here.

If you haven't seen these cradled panels before, they are delightful to paint on. I usually use the 1/8" panel for my small panel sizes. But these cradled panels are nice when framing is not desired, they stand away from the wall just a bit and make a clean, uncluttered contemporary look.  I have plans for a set of these, to be hung together as a grouping, or on their own.  They were requested by one of my galleries.  If you are interested in owning one of these, and live too from from coastal CT to make the shopping trek, please contact me, they will be going to this gallery as soon as they are dry, once I return from my travels!

Tulip Bouquet

8"x6" oil on linen mounted on archival panel, $160

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These are the last of these blossoms, they have since faded with all the rain showers we've had lately.  The sunny days that we have been lucky enough to have lately, I've spent painting on my back porch! Nothing like painting from life, outside on a beautiful day!

Brilliant Minds Think Alike Sunflowers

6"x6" oil on gessobord

$100, For more information or to purchase, click here.

When the rain is falling outside, sunflowers inside are about the cheeriest thing ever! This variety had sort of small compact bloom heads that were quite interesting.   Truth be told, I never met a flower I didn't like! But these were particularly charming!

Bright Spot In Your Day Sunflowers - SOLD!

5"x7" oil on gessobord
For more information, or to purchase, click here.

Sunflowers hang in there for such a long time! They're so cheerful! Still trying some of these techniques with layering & using brushes AND knives.  We're having glimpses of Spring-like weather now & then. Maybe it won't be too much longer before I'm back outside painting again!

Winter Thaw, Barn Island

6"x8" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

For more information or to purchase, click here.

Wow, this morning was a winter heat wave, 43 degrees F! Which makes for a great day of painting outside. The sun was trying to burn off the haze, but never did quite succeed. Much of our previous snowfall has melted. Only stubborn little patches of ice persist, though most have yielded to mud. Tide was going out, which I wasn't aware of until I heard some ice pulling against some crackly reeds along the edge of the water.  Most of the grasses have faded to a pale golden wheat color at this point in the winter, though I did see a few tufts of faded green emerging from some snowy clumps.  As I was setting up to paint today, a big egret came in for a landing behind me.  He became too busy stalking his prey to worry about me though. Life in the marsh goes on.  

Plush Pansy Pot ACEO Original Oil Floral

3.5"x2.5" oil on fine canvas board

Bidding starts at just $1

For those that have followed my work for a long time, you know I'm a garden painter. From early spring to late fall I'm out there (with my hubby, the main garden guru) planting for painting! Every surface in my garden is a topic that I've painted. To check out what I'm up to, visit my web-site and blog!!!

 

For those of you not familiar with the acronym ACEO, it stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals.  The miniature paintings are the size of a baseball trading card, 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches.  This category of art has become increasingly popular on eBay the last couple of years.  These can be displayed on their own, or with a tiny little easel (like the kind you can find in Michaels Arts & Crafts type stores) on a display shelf, or these beautiful gems can be elegantly matted and framed with perhaps a mat of 4 inches wide.  ACEOs also make wonderful gifts!

I also had another commission for one of these fun little collectables- another batch of daisies! 

So if you have a hankering for a tiny bouquet that you can actually carry around with you (and not actually look like a bridesmaid wannabe) this is perfect!! Let me know your favorite flowers & vase colors - we'll come up with one just for YOU!  

Lamb & Ewe Irish Landscape Original Oil Painting Art

6"x6" oil on archival panel

Click here to bid!

Another little painting from 'the vault'.  I have been enjoying this one in my studio for several years now,  and it still needs to find its 'forever home', perhaps yours?

I hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend - and not spending time standing in long 'Black Friday' lines! Lots of wonderful gifts can be found right here online!

Cow at Tiffany Farm original oil

6"x6" oil on archival panel

Click here to bid

While I'm celebrating Thanksgiving with my family, I'm offering some wonderful little paintings 'from the vault'  at great starting bids. These paintings still need a home, perhaps yours or a gift for a loved one?

Hoping you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

Morning Coverup

8"x6" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

$200

Buy It Now

or contact me here for more information

Mornings on the marsh are quite meditative....

The white egrets are in their group,

some are 'singing and calling' as they fly in to join the others.

Little creatures are working hard, so quiet in their quest...

A little dragon fly is trying ever so hard to haul away a tiny little crab.

In such a quiet place, it's so busy;

but we only see it's 'busyness' if we are quiet and still.

The sun made a short effort to burn through the clouds, 

but was momentarily defeated by a passing shower. 

The dance of 'weather' holds me in its gaze,

moving paint before the dance is quickly over. 

Changes Coming (Storm Clouds Over September Marsh, Stonington plein air)

6"x8" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

$200

Buy It Now

or contact me here for more information.

Autumn brings a bit of introspection.

Not just cooler air,

but a change in the wind altogether. 

Thoughts about summer passing, a reluctance to see it go....

Yet a bit of excitement 

for what's to come. 

Italian Sunflowers, North Light, Gray Day

8"x6" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

$200 unframed

Buy It Now

or contact me here

Click on the image to see it larger!

A really nice one from 'the vault' that I had almost forgotten about! We planted this variety of Italian Sunflowers in our garden in previous years. I think I do miss them! They are a smaller flower head, and a creamy - buttery - pale yellow that goes really nicely with the hydrangeas we grow. Hmmm...already thinking about what I'd like to grow next summer!!  Cut flowers are so wonderful to bring into the studio to paint!