This is No. 9 is the series, the one I like better than all the rest. But I think it may be because it's more of a portrait... and that's what I do best.

It's been a busy week!

We finally finished our Christmas shopping. There are still a few packages that haven't

shown up yet but there are still three more days left so maybe they'll get here on time. I'm catching up on my Colorful Nude series. I need to have ten done by the end of the year to stay on schedule and it looks as if I'll make it. I am thrilled that No. 6 sold for $91.00! I have listed no. 7 at $34.95- it's a 16 x 20 and I think it's only fair I charge $10 more for them but it really seems to discourage bidding.
I finished two more today and these listings will begin tomorrow right before no. 7 ends. Hopefully I'll get a bid because I don't really want to relist it and mess up the order I have them in. I am going to Front Page no. 9 because I really like it and I think it has some possibilities but you never know, I guess. One person's favorite painting is another person's trash. And an additional $20 fee is a lot for a painting when you start the bid out at $25.

Jake joined our family

We adopted a new puppy last Friday and I haven't had a lot of time to paint because I needed to spend some time with him introducing him to how things work around here. His old name was "Smoke". We re-named him JAKE.. well Scott did. I was just happy Scott accepted him because I didn't give him much warning that it was going to happen. We all love him a lot though. He is so different from Ebony, our lab-chow-shepherd mix. He looks a bit like her, meaning he is black and has brown eyes. But the resemblance ends there. Ebony looks very lab-like. Jake has a long tapered nose and fluffy ears. He is a mild-mannered little fellow who almost dances when he walks. He has light brown inquisitive eye and a very dainty way of sitting as if he is saying, "Please?" I love the little guy already. Puppies require a lot of attention though so I am thinking it's going to eat into my painting time. I have already had to block off my studio to keep him out of my stuff. The last thing I need is little paint-covered doggie pawprints all over my house.

NUDE 11.05.06 is finished

These nudes are selling pretty well on eBay now. Well, at least they all seem to sell, which is more than I can say for my still-lifes. I started another still-life this morning - then I knew I wanted to work on another of the Colorful Nudes. This one took about 3.5 hours. A bit long for offering it for $24.95. What does that come to-- about $7.00 an hour not counting materials? I just have to hope that it gets bids. The last one sold for $51.99 - it was a bit larger though- 20" x 16". On the other had, it didn't take as long to paint either. Here is the newest one- which I really think is the best yet. I am really accomplishing what I set out to do here: paint quicker and more impressionistically, yet retain the quality.

Pongo is Done

I have put the final touches on this horse commission and can call it done. He turned out rather well and his owner (who is 11 years old) really loves the painting. That's what counts! I haven't been able to find time to paint as much as I'd like though. Christmas parties, shopping and "life" seem to be getting in the way.

A Little Progress...

Three eBay auctions sold last week (no. 3 and no. 4 in the series of nudes and the Lone Wolf in Moonlight). I also sold three paintings at the museum sale (an Angel nude, a landscape and a still-life) so things are picking up a bit. Thursday I listed two more auctions on eBay: No. 5 in the Colorful Nude series and the Cat on the Piano. I really love this painting, and I listed it pretty low so it will probably sell. But if it doesn't I am going to keep it. I just feel like I at least have to offer everything I paint as I am trying to make a living at this now. And I could always paint another one, I suppose. The Pongo painting is finished; I added a few more details and put in some more spots where the client's daughter wanted them. It's hard to paint a horse's back when the horse has a saddle on and they don't want the saddle on in the painting. I'll email the photo today and hopefully she'll Ok it so I can ship that out before Christmas.

I am hopeful that things will pick up after Christmas. I know that I'll have more time to paint then. We have to get some Christmas shopping done today and put up some lights so today is going to be a total loss, I'm afraid.