Cow Descending

The good news for me in today's painting session is that my second attempt at a cow at least looks like a cow... I think.... [as for my first attempt last weekend, let's just say I had a cow "accident" and it so didn't look like *any* animal that I had to wipe it out. No genetic animal experiments gone wrong on my hands!]

I'm learning the ins and outs of painting with painting knives. It's more challenging than I anticipated. But I like it so far and want to do more.

I wanted this painting to be minimalist, abstracty (I'm pretty sure THAT is not a word!) in nature, and moody. I'm going to live with it for a few days and see if I just leave it as it is or if it is calling out for more work on it.

Sometimes I won't like a piece of work and quit it for that reason, only to learn either (a) I like it better after some time, (b) I never end up liking it any better but other people do. Not saying either of these apply to this painting, I've just learned to reserve my internal judgment (which can be so severe) and see what the painting says to me after I let a little time pass.

Also, my friends have been teasing me lately for my cow paintings (which I *always* get requests for from collectors), so I thought I'd take a cow out of my usual landscapes and put him (her?) in unfamiliar surroundings.




Technorati tags: art , abstract painting , cow painting

The Deadly Poppy Field

Okay, maybe it is NOT the deadly poppy field of The Wizard of Oz (I have the tune running in my head now!), but I completed an oil painting of the Sonoma Coast (in Northern California) in the spring, with the poppies in bloom.

It's a somewhat loose painting because it is done entirely with painting knives. It is for entering an upcoming juried exhibit where the theme is flora and fauna. I figure this fits flora, but my other entry is actually going to be a knife painting of a cow... so not exactly fauna (my friend Lisa says, "But they roam!")



I had a very good week with art this week. On Wednesday, I sold an encaustic painting and on Friday I sold an oil painting plus the collector is discussing to have me do a commissioned piece because they liked one of my paintings but it is not big enough. I wouldn't mind painting at that locale again because its been several years and I enjoy the view of the Palace of Fine Arts from there. I have two paintings on exhibit at galleries and two more entry dates coming up. And I'm in a phase of painting with knives and I like it. Definitely a good art week.

Technorati tags: art , encaustic , seascape painting , Sonoma Coast,poppy field

Off the Grid

I received notification today that I got one piece out of four entries accepted into an upcoming juried exhibit at the Lauryn Taylor Gallery in Carmel, CA.

Name of Exhibit: "Off the Grid: New Directions in Wax"
Dates: April 23 - May 14, 2007
Opening Reception: Saturday April 28, 2007 6-9 pm
Juror: George Y. Blair

The Gallery is located at Lauryn Taylor Fine Art, Carmel Square, San Carlos b/t Ocean and Seventh, Carmel, CA 93921

All artwork in this exhibit is encaustic (beeswax) and all had to be 12"x12".

The piece of mine that was accepted is called, "Boxes Stacked Precariously":


Here are the pieces I entered that were not accepted. This first is called "River Dreams"

This one is called "Just Beneath the Surface"

...and this one is called "Seedlings"


Technorati tags: art , encaustic , Lauryn Taylor Gallery , jellyfish, Carmel