Flip It

What a beautiful day it was yesterday and today more of the same.  I've not been able to get out and paint since adopting Violet in early February.  Well, my daughter, Nicole, has been so great about watching Violet for me and yesterday I took advantage of that time and made it out there.

Above is a view I've been eying for quite some time only a few blocks from Nicole's.

 Block in - it's weak, later I punched up the darks.

After working on it for another 45 min. the wind was really kicking up.  I shut it down.

I brought it home and worked another hour.  Pretty happy with the results.  However, there was definitely something bugging me. I've turned it upside down and changed the photo to black and white.  Do you see it?

There are darts, going to the left then the right, same size. A great discipline is to flip a drawing or painting upside down. This helps to switch your brain off the subject and see the design.  The design serves as the bones, the structure that holds it all together.
I did not do a preliminary thumbnail before starting this painting.  If I had, this design flaw would have been avoided.

Aurora

Aurora    8" x 6"  Oil on oil primed linen panel

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/353349

Aurora caught my eye as I was perusing PMP, Photo credit, Jessica Joudy.  I love the her eyes and her lazy look. The pattern on the chair just perfect with her eyes. 

I simplified the painting quite a bit compared to the photo.  The shadows were a challenging.  They play an important part in the overall abstract design.  In the end I'm happy with the result.

Nelson Gulch

Nelson Gulch  6" x 8" oil on oil primed linen

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/353214

Ok, one more snow scene. I painted this a few weeks ago. A beautiful cold day, I knew I'd be painting in my car. 

The spot, just down the road from my house. I just loved the orange and pinks in the brush, pines in the back, the little gulch and those shadows!

Gus

Gus  6" x 8" Oil on gessoboard

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/353332

I follow a group of photographers on FB. This guy, Gus, popped up not long ago. I just loved the photo, photographer, Michelle Shively Chenier. I contacted Michelle to ask if I could paint Gus.  She was happy to let me do that. 
She mentioned he's 5 months old, a couple months older than my girl. Michelle said he's quite the handful.  She's got 2 more dogs, a couple of young children and a husband.  Amazing she finds the time to take such great photos.
Well, Gus sure looks tuckered out. Those big ol' paws and one tired eye open. What a cutie!
A couple of pics of my girl, Violet.

Nicole's Backyard View

Nicole's Backyard View   6" x 8"  Oil on oil primed linen panel

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/353270

More and more I see subjects for paintings where I didn't just a year ago.  Painting more, studying other artist, one in particular right now, Duane Kaiser,   http://www.duanekeiser.com/ shows me that paintings are everywhere.  It really excites me to know there is no limit to what I have to learn.  I feel anxious that there's just not enough time to do, see, learn and experiment.  I know, just do it!

The way the light was hitting that blue house and the dark tree in front with soft edges was challenging, don't overwork.  I do like the final result.

Perched

Perched  8" x 6" Oil on oil primed linen panel

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/353194

Came upon this guy at the Santa Monica Pier.  I loved the light glinting off the crown of his head and the tip of his bill.  A bright beautiful day, making the shadows very dark.  Of course that just make him stand out all the more.

Rosy Celebration

Rosy Celebration  5" x 7"  Oil on gessoboard

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/351676

I'm really happy with this painting! I've only done a couple of floral paintings. I'm a little intimidated, I don't know why. Just shapes, right :)
After almost 25 yrs. I quit my job and am now a full time painter, my kids gave me a really nice celebration. These roses were from my daughter.

Tucked In

Tucked In    5" x 7" oil on primed panel

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/351673

I love this home enveloped in the pines, surrounded by snow. I've  painted this scene a couple of times in the snow. I'm looking forward to painting it again as it warms up and fall will be spectacular with the brush that's on the property.

What Now?

What Now?  6" x 8"  Oil on oil primed linen board

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sheilamarie-littlehorn/what-now/350636

Basil, that's his name. Isn't it great? He just had that look of why the heck are you disturbing me... Painted from a photo on PMP, photo credit to Glennis Weston.

In the photo, the couch is grey. I switched it up to blue to compliment that wonderful orange pillow.

Testing-working out issues w/blogger

Previous post should've had a video-when email came thru post was cut off.  I'm testing.

Painted this from a photo.  I am not sure where I pulled it from but most likely PMP.  I liked the red frisbee in front of the green tree.  Of course the dog is the star.  You can't see it in this photo of the painting but the green grass and foilage are reflected on his chest.

Red in Flight

Red in Flight  6" x 8" oil on primed board

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/350928

Painted this from a photo.  I am not sure where I pulled it from but most likely PMP.  I liked the red frisbee in front of the green tree.  Of course the dog is the star.  You can't see it in this photo of the painting but the green grass and foilage are reflected on his chest.

Curious

Curious  6" x 8" Oil on Gessoboard

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/350706

I saw this little cutie on the Paint My Photo website, photo credit to Pamela Lind.  I just couldn't pass her up.  Those bright curious blue eyes.  Loved her orange and taupe fur complimenting her eyes.

Up Bobolink Trail

Up Bobolink Trail  6" x 8"  Oil on oil primed linen panel

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/350013

I was inspired to paint this when a good FB photographer friend, Jack Sasson, posted a photo of this trail. I was drawn to the vast foreground with the rust and oranges within a frigid scene.  The pinkish orange behind the barn.The heavy atmosphere in the distance.

I used a palette knife to achieve the flat crusty look of the snow.

I've painted a larger version which you can see in my gallery, titled "Bobolink Trail".  This piece
is painted on stretched canvas and is framed within a floater frame.

You can see I redesigned adding a small creek and dropping tree shadows in causing some tension within the design.  The blues and violets complimenting the oranges and pinks.

Bobolink Trail  16" x 20"  Oil on stretched canvas/floater frame

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sheilamarie-littlehorn/bobolink-trail/350032

Dad's Truck

Dad's Truck    6" x 8" oil on oil primed linen panel

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/349742

On Thursday evenings I attend a drop in figure sessions.  I'd have a couple of hours between leaving the office and the start of the session.

I usually carry a small pochade box with me in the car.  A winter storm was headed in and I really liked the colors that were coming across in the sky, snow and brush. 

Sat in the warmth of the car to paint.  This truck reminded me of a Ford truck my kid's dad had years ago. That truck hung in there for about 20 years before he decided he needed a 
dual cab.  Lots of good memories.

Winter's Color

Yay, first post in DPW, http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/349260.

This piece was done on a cold crisp wonderful Colorado morning.  
True to Colorado a no fail bright blue sky.  Beautiful colors in the 
willows and those blue sky reflections in the shadows.
          

Winter's Color    6" x 8"   oil on oil primed linen panel      

                                                                                                                                

 I've only heard wonderful things about this site and the folks who 
run it.  My expectations are high.  I've seen what painting and 
drawing regularly does for me.  Painting a small painting at the very 
least several times a week will bring vast improvements and 
understanding to apply to larger works.  Excited!!

The next couple of days  I'll be working on building my website within DPW. 

Happy!!

The beginning

Alright, here I am starting a blog.  Everyone says it’s a must.  I know I enjoy checking out my fellow painters through their blogs.  Being an artist is a solitary occupation.  Blogs are a way to connect and be part of a community.

Watching these artists grow in their art and learning a little bit about their lives.  Some so generous with their methods, tips, progress shots, art history, just tons of information that is so helpful  to one like myself.  

You can find a little about me in my “About Me”.  Since quitting my job in December life has been non-stop.  You’d think that gaining 12 hrs. a day back as your own you’d have plenty of time to do everything on your list.  But noooo, your list just gets longer and longer.

I’ve adopted a rescue puppy, Violet, and she is my life right now.  She’s doing great and I’m hoping I can get back outside to paint within the next few months.  Until then, I’ll be working a lot in the studio.

I’m joining up with Daily Paintworks, www.dailypaintworks.com.  I’ll be posting 3 – 4 times a week.  My website will run through Daily Paintworks as well so my gallery of paintings will be available there.