A Sheltie Named Joy

This is a painting of a Sheltie named Joy. I find these collie type dogs as hard to paint as wolves. Now that I've done this one I'm ready to do one of my Border Collie/Aussie mix. He is a beautiful boy, but he doesn't care much for strangers.

8" x 10"

oil on canvas

Painting Demo from my class last night

I call this painting Rue d'Art. The door reminded me of many I saw on my expedition to France last year. Students in my painting class painted it last night.

9" x 12"

Rue d'Art

Finally Moved In

The studio is coming along. Hard to believe after three years I have my own space all on one floor with frame storage and a framing space and two sets of flat files! Plus room for all my books. Oh yeah and my easels too and desk. I am ecstatic! Just need to put stuff away and pitch what I don't want.
Stopped to do a painting this week, using one of the cool fabric backdrops I bought two years ago and FOUND last week in a box. 

I consider it a plus that I get to share the space with three cats. I do wish they would stay off my lap though. My clothes are always full of hair and it's not mine.

This is a small piece; 

6" x 6" oil on gessoed Masonite

Same Pear--Different Background

I'm not lazy. I just don't have much energy left after moving all these canvases and frames around so I painted the same pear a couple days later. Yes, now it has turned yellow. So I suppose it is ripe and will need to be eaten. Things are beginning to look more organized in the new studio.

A New Year and A New Studio

I am in the process of moving my studio form the first floor to the lower level-- a fancy name for the basement. It doesn't look much like a basement anymore, thanks to the hard work of my husband, who built some closet space, added a drop ceiling, dry walled and carpeted it. It's actually quite an attractive setting and I'll try to use drop cloths so it stays that way.

I did find a few minutes to paint something the other night --other than a wall or some trim, and believe me, there is plenty of that left to do.

It is the ubiquitous pear, a frequent subject, but one I never tire of. I think pears are like people. Each is unique. Some need to be propped up and others stand on their own. Many are bruised from being knocked about, while others have a hard shell which is relatively unblemished. And of course they age like us too; acquiring dark spots, soft places and wrinkles, which lower their chances of finding a suitable mate -- I mean diner-- you know- someone who wants them-- to eat.

Anyway, I've picked on pears enough so I'll just post it.

6" x 6" oil gessoed panel

Happy New Year!

My new year's resolution is to be kind to everyone no matter how angry they make me or how stupid they talk. I'm putting away the snarky hat. I've worn it for too many years. And it doesn't really fit too well. I'm practicing my look of studied indifference in the mirror, followed by a tiny smile. I think I can do this.