Day 2 - The Challenge Continues

"Model in Fur Coat" was my challenge for today. My cat, Mr. Tuxedo, is getting pretty good at posing. For a minute or two. Good thing my husband has a Nikon handy! This is an oil painting on a 6x8 Raymar canvas panel.

While you're here, please subscribe to my blog. Mr. Tux needs a bigger audience!

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

+Leslie Saeta has challenged artists to paint every day in January (except New Year's Day). So here's my first painting hot off the easel this morning! I call it "Cat Eyes" today, but if any of you have a better name, I'd love to hear it! Just in case you are as curious as a cat to know all the details, I painted it in oil on a 6x6 board.

I am so excited to take this challenge! It is very easy to put other tasks ahead of painting and never get around to it by the end of the day. I'm glad to have good company in my quest for consistent production. After all, 2013 is going to be my best year yet! 

I've been painting animals recently, and I will continue that trend with this challenge, although there will be some  deviations here and there. Stay tuned!

Portrait Commission at Sawdust Winter Fantasy!

Grandmother, mother and twins came into the booth at the Sawdust Winter Fantasy in Laguna Beach and wanted the oil portrait of the girls. I took some photos of them (they are much too young to sit still), but the next day their mother called and said, "If you haven't started the painting, we have just taken a wonderful photo of the girls running on the beach." So she emailed me the photo, I painted it, and they loved it! It's truly "from heart to art."

I get such a thrill when a client is happy with an original painting that I have created. What could be better?

There is only one more weekend, December 8 and 9, for the festival. I have very special low prices on originals and commissions, so be sure to come and bring your friends and family - there are lots of fun things for kids, plus great food and great music!

Print Sold Today!

Sold - Laguna Beach
Check out Fine Art America- it's a great place to buy or sell prints of artwork...

My Sawdust Winter Fantasy!

I'm so excited to be part of the Winter Fantasy at the Sawdust Festival! Each year I have attended the summer Sawdust Festival over the past few decades (seriously!), I have always yearned to be a part of the festive atmosphere and artistic showcase. Now I'm getting my chance! It'll be open on weekends November 17 through December 9, 2012.

But first I'm planning my booth construction, painting up a storm, promoting, and trying not to get overwhelmed. If you've participated in a similar event, I'd love to hear your insights...

Guard Cat on Duty

Mr. Tux watches out for suspicious looking dogs and other critters.

This little kitty lives with us, and he guards the house. He's so darn good looking, I can't resist painting his portrait - this is number three. Now I thought it would be fun to experiment with an iridescent gold background, and it was a great success! The painting is 6"x6" oil on panel. I think I will paint some more golden paintings!

Skimming off the Top

"Wipeout!" by Alice Leggett - Prints available

Wet and wild, cutting through the water and kicking up the spray, makes a great action scene with an impending splashdown. I enjoy seeing the graceful curves of the white spray that follow the trail of the skimboard's path - I think it's quite beautiful! Not sure if I would ever try skimboarding, though. I like painting too much.

On a technical note, I'm using phthalo blue and phthalo green instead of cerulean blue and viridian. I'm enjoying the more intense colors for the water, finding that interpreting the color I want is more challenging and dynamic than matching the colors of nature. 

I'd love to hear what you think about color interpretation!

This new painting is a 6" x 6" oil on panel, $225 unframed.