August Paintings

I'm finally getting around to posting art I created in August and late July. It was a busy month- perhaps not so much as far as art creation goes- but in other aspects of my life. I started a new position at LE Smith working in the marketing dept., and I taught for two weeks at Lakeside, Ohio.

Here are some photos from the two weeks I spent teaching art at Lakeside, Ohio, Marblehead.

Painting a cottage

 Still Life Painting in Oils

 Working on his cottage painting- yes 12 year olds can paint

 Fancy Dog Paintings

 Portrait Drawing -- a full class

 Let's Draw Dogs!

 Let's Draw Cats!

Most people don't realize I own THREE CATS

And that is probably because when people come over the cats are nowhere to be found. they are all extremely shy and only friendly with family. My cats are also extremely sensitive to the dogs, and when we get company the dogs will let you know. The barking might be what initially scared the cats and sent them into hiding and I think that now it has just become habit. Dogs bark! Stranger alerts! Take cover!

They are affectionate cats for the most part and they each have their favorites. The youngest cat, a two year old female, loves to lie on my daughter's bed but hates to be held unless it is her decision. The middle cat is mine, apparently. A 4 year old tabby, she enjoys stalking me around the house and loves to insert her rather large and furry body onto my lap between the computer and my arms. then she rubs her head repeatedly against my neck until I put my arms around her. At this point she tries to wriggle herself into a comfortable position. Her favorite lounging position is to lean over my forearm with her front legs and rest her upper body on the table. I find myself wondering how much more cat hair my computer fan can suck up and still be able to boot up in the morning.

This is a painting I did of a friend's cat, which made me think of mine. :)  I recycled an unsuccessful canvas, which always gives me a head start by providing some interesting color and I have shown the way I typically start a painting like this with a notan study in brown and white to get an idea of how the composition will hold up. I fi like the first stage i will usually like the second if I hold my values.

8" x 10"

Sarah's Cat

Is the economy picking up?

After a slow month in April I started this week out by selling five paintings and one print! Three in one day! Okay, I have dropped my prices pretty low just to move some inventory because I am a prolific painter. But even considering that, six is a lot and I am thrilled.
One problem I have at my studio, which is located in my home, is where to put all these wet paintings. Sometimes I paint two in one day, but almost always 3-4 a week. I have solved the problem for small pieces painted on linen and mounted to board-- I just purchased some boxes from Phil Pidcoe of http://pidcoefamilyfurniture.ws I found Phil on etsy and he is a great woodworker. He made me some custom wet paint carriers, which I use when I am painting outside and also for general storage around the house. With three cats who like to rub up against things and compete with one another to see how high they can jump it is safer for my wet paintings to be store out of the way instead of leaning up against bookcases as they usually are.
Here is a picture of the boxes I ordered from Phil. Notice how he included my signature on the boxes. Now that would make it difficult for anyone to just walk away with it, wouldn't it?
Here is a picture of my latest painting-- it is sold already--- hooray!
6" x 8" oil on canvas panel