Gillette Cherry Tree Study

 Gillette Cherry Tree Study 

oil on canvas

10 x 8

Done in art class with Lynn Gertenbach. We met at a local cherry blossom orchard and I spent about an hour plein air painting this tree.  It has a nice soft ethereal quality about it.  I would like to refine in a little more in my studio.  

Blue Hydrangea WIP- Day2

 Blue Hydrangea WIP

oil on canvas

11 x 14 (i think)

Done in art class with Lynn Gertenbach.  Further refining this piece.  I fixed the background so it isnt the ugly yellow anymore.  I also defined the flowers more and cleaned up the colors.  I think it looks light-years better then it did before.  To finish it I need to resolve the background a bit better, add a pattern to the vase, and drop some petals onto the table.  

Blue Hydrangea WIP

 Blue Hydrangea WIP

oil on canvas

11 x 14 (i think)

Done in art class with Lynn Gertenbach.  I brought in a reference photo of some hydrangeas in a vase and Lynn thought it would be better if I worked from life instead of a photo.  It just so happened she has some hydrangeas to use in still lifes.  I like every part of it but the background.  I think it needs something more.  I also want to add some detail to the vase and some flower petals on the table.

Blue Vase WIP- day 2

 

 Blue Vase WIP

oil on canvas

 9 x 12

Done in art class with Lynn Gertenbach. Working more on it.  Some areas were frustrating but I pushed through.  It needs a little more work on the flowers and then I think it may be done. Previous step.

Blue Vase WIP

 

 Blue Vase WIP

oil on canvas

 9 x 12

Done in art class with Lynn Gertenbach. Today she told us that the great Richard Schmid once said that after being asked how he became such a great artist he replied that it was 20 years of working from life.  This inspired us to set up a still life and paint from life.  Lynn has so many amazing things to use for still lifes but for this we wanted to keep it simple. 
I love the background and the vase and the flowers.  I think the lemons are coming along nicely but could still use some work.  I am struggling with the grapes.  I think the key to those is to keep them simple and not try to paint every detail on every grape. 

Mountain Peak v2

Mountain Peak  

oil on canvas board

9 x 12

I worked on this a bit more today in Lynn Gertenbach's art class. Sorry for the poor photo.  With Lynn's guidance I worked on making the mountain peak the focal point and and more dimension to the trees. It needs a bit more work to be completed.  I am certainly learning a lot from this painting :)   

Mountain Peak

  Mountain Peak  

oil on canvas board

9 x 12

I went out painting with Lynn Gertenbach and a group of other artists.  This is my second plein air painting.  1st plein air painting. The day started out nicely and then the wind picked up and we got cold. I am liking the over all look but it could use some work.  Tomorrow is art class with Lynn so I think I will work on it more then. 

p.s. Naming paintings is difficult.  I do not know what to call this one.   

Azores Seascape

  Azores Seascape

oil on canvas board

8 x 10

Done in Lynn Gertenbach's art class.  I didnt know what I wanted to paint today so I brought 2 reference photos.  A moonrise and waves crashing on rocks.  Lynn liked the colors in the water in the waves so that is what I went with.  We changed it a bunch from the reference but I think it still reads as the Azores.  Painting this was a nice departure for me. 1) I think this is the smallest I have ever worked.  I think I like it though.  There is something sweet about the smaller size. 2) I did the second half of this using a palette knife.  I havent used a palette knife for painting since high school, approx 7 years.  I will try and take a better picture tomorrow.

Finals- Popo & Poppy, Storytime

 

Popo & Poppy

oil on canvas

 20 x 16

For Head Painting. My husband's grandparents. Finished.  I brought this to class with Lynn Gertenbach again.  Her input was invaluable. I am very happy with the finish of this.  It is going to be Popo's Christmas present.  I hope she loves it. Previous step.

 

Storytime

oil on canvas

 20 x 16

Final for Composition and Painting. Using multiple references.  Just a few changes to this.  My teacher commented that I needed to lighten the bookshelf in the background and to add more definition to the toys in the foreground.  Previous step.

 

 

2 more paintings to do.  Due tomorrow.  I am very ready to be done. 

 

 

 

WIP- Popo& Poppy

Popo & Poppy (wip)

oil on canvas

 20 x 16

For Head Painting. My husband's grandparents.  I worked more on creating 3D forms.  I brought this to class with Lynn Gertenbach and she helped me to work out the shapes of the figures.  Im doing nice thin layers with this one too start.  Much different then I usually do.  Im liking the results though. Previous step.

WIP- Bubbles, Draped Reclining Nude, Popo & Poppy, Skatepark

 

Bubbles (wip)

oil on canvas

 18 x14

For Head Painting. Im having fun with this one.  I love all of the colors. Reference. 

Draped Reclining Nude (wip)

oil on canvas

 18 x 24

For Clothed Figure Painting.  From my personal reference files.  Softened out the skin tone and adjusted the background.  Im having issues with the face though.  I tried putting it in, hated it, and wiped it out.

Any tips?  That is still the biggest struggle for me. Tiny faces.  I think I get too caught up in the details.  Previous step.

Popo & Poppy (wip)

oil on canvas

 20 x 16

For Head Painting. My husband's grandparents.  Basic lay in, lights and darks.  The colors choices have to do with their races.  She is Chinese, he is Japanese.  I dressed her in red because that is a color of luck in Chinese culture.  I did the background green because it has positive meaning in both cultures.  I may do a glaze of a darker brown over the background to give it a bit more depth.

Skatepark (wip)

oil on canvas

 16 x 20

For Clothed Figure Painting. 

Super loose with this.  I enjoyed doing it :)
Not sure I like the background.  I think it needs more. Reference from my personal stash.

2 weeks left of school!! Im so ready to be done.
Im excited for the projects I am going to do during winter break since I will have time.  I want to get my creative juices flowing again.  For my brother in law I am going to do a giant (like 3ft x 5ft) painting of a wild fire because he is a wild land fire fighter.  It is his Christmas/ birthday present.  For Christmas gifts for our friends and family I think I am going to do little 8 x 10 watercolor paintings.  Something simple like winter birds.  We will see if I have time to get all of this done.  I hope so.

On a totally unrelated note, I have discovered Pandora and I love it.  It is great to have on while I am up to my ears in paintings.  Today I have been listening to Colbie Caillat Radio.  Great songs :)

Black Robe 2.0

Title: Black Robe

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: 11 x 14

Inspiration: For Composition and Painting. I felt it was unfinished so I took it to art class with Lynn Gertenbach today and she helped me bring it to a more complete finish. Previous step.

PCH Postcard, Camarillo Ranch

 

Title: PCH Postcard

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: 9 x 12

Inspiration: For Composition and Painting.  Take a post card and continue it.  I love this.  It was super fun to do.  My only issue is the oil sort of soaked into the edges of the postcard making the edges a bit darker.  Otherwise, I think it turned out awesome!

 

Title: Camarillo Ranch (updated)

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: 12 x 16

Inspiration: For Composition and Painting. I went back into and added some "fog".  I felt like the white house was competing with with tree too much.  I want the house to be more of a second read.  I like it better now. Previous step.

Bellydancer in Blue, Dad, Winter Wear

Title: Bellydancer in Blue

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: 14 x 18

Inspiration: For Clothed Figure Painting.  I love the movement in this. Reference from mjranum-stock. 

 

Title: Gilbert aka Dad

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: 12 x 16

Inspiration: For Head Painting. I didnt end up turning this upside down.  I got some feedback from my instructor and applied that.  I darkened the background and the dark side of the face.  I am pleased with the finished piece.  I took about 20 pounds and 10 years off of him though :) Previous step.

Title: Winter Wear

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: 18 x 24

Inspiration: For Clothed Figure Painting for midterm.I struggled through this.  I am really struggling with this class.  I dont really enjoy the work I am producing.  I know compared to my very first attempts at figure painting I have gotten much better.  It is still challenging.  Previous step.

Gilbert aka Dad

Title: Gilbert aka Dad(wip)

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: 12 x 16

Inspiration: For Head Painting.  I think my next step is going to be turning it upside down.  

Sunset for Jessica v3, Chillaxing, E.A.P.

Title: Sunset for Jessica

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: 24 x 36

Inspiration: I showed this to my mentor and she recommended a few changes so I did them. This is the final result.  I have to give it to her tomorrow. 

Title: Chillaxing

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: 11 x 14

Inspiration: For Clothed Figure Painting. We had three choices on pose. I chose this one. Proud of it.  See below for in progress. 

 

 

 

 

Title: E.A.P.

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: 11 x 14

Inspiration: For Head Painting.  2 value study. 

Sunset for Jessica- Better Photo

Title: Sunset for Jessica

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: 24 x 36

Inspiration: For my sister.  She did me a huge favor and asked that I paint her a painting as a thank you. Her birthday is on Sunday so Im going to give it to her then. I liked playing with the sparkle in the sky and water.  I found the reference here.  You can see the previous step here.

 

I took the previous photo at 11pm so when I woke up this morning I decided to take a better day light photo. It looks much better.  More true to life. 

Back to School- Telling Time, Sunset for Jessica

Title: Sunset for Jessica

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: 24 x 36

Inspiration: For my sister.  She did me a huge favor and asked that I paint her a painting as a thank you. Her birthday is on Sunday so Im going to give it to her then. I liked playing with the sparkle in the sky and water.  I found the reference here.  You can see the previous step here.

Title: Telling Time (~50%)

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: 9 x 12

Inspiration: For Composition and Painting. Ambient light still life.  This inspired me to write a whole page of still life ideas.  I chose this as the best idea for this assignment.  Playing with the idea of how we tell/ manipulate time.  Calender, clock, cell phone, watch, timer. The clock and cell phone will display different times. 

Lilies for Mother; Sunset for Sister

Title: Lilies for Mother 

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: approx 23 x 19

Inspiration: For my mom's birthday.  Her favorite flower is the day lily and her favorite color is purple. Reference found here. 

I have been working on this for a few weeks and have no posted it here for fear of my mom finding it.  I hope to create a Work in Progress for you to see how it came to be.

Title: WIP: Sunset for Sister

Medium: acrylic on canvas

Size: approx 24 x 36

Inspiration: For my sister.  She did me a huge favor and asked that I paint her a painting as a thank you.  From my imagination, no reference.  Doing this reminded me why I dont like acrylics.  They dry to darn fast.  I think I will finish this in oil. So then you could call this the underpainting.  

Indigo

Title: Indigo

Medium: oil on canvas

Size: 18 x 24 (i think)

Inspiration: From my list of Paintings I Want To Do.  Done at art class with Lynn Gertenbach.  I really didnt want to paint today but I am glad I did.  I love my kitty!