Roses and Caramel oil still life paintings

I wanted to finally finish a piece I started in the studio last year "Roses and Pears" 8x10 oil and it SURE FEELS GOOD! I sometimes worry when I run out of gas to finish a piece that I know I really was excited to paint! I'm so glad I took photos and the image was still farely fresh in my mind so I could bring it to a finish. I hope Alice Thompson will be proud that I finally gave the piece wings to fly :) Where are you Alice? I miss you and so do the rest of your blog friends I'm sure!

A sweet girlfriend sent me a 160z bag of gourmet caramel (Celtic Sea Salt flavor) and it was DELICIOUS! So I saved 3 because I wanted to try and paint them lol My husband has been bugging me to please paint them so he could proceed to eat the rest . Well here is my attempt at one of them. "Caramel" 2.5x2.5 oil on canvas.

I hope my blog friends are being safe from the rough weather. We in Arkansas have been subjected to frozen rain and snow. In my case, the roads are so bad that we hadn't received mail since Tuesday? I've been suffering serious cabin fever; I easily get claustrophobic when I'm surrounded by the same inaccessible surroundings for an extended amount of time.

Well today, we got mail and I was actually able to get to the mailbox because my dear husband was able to shovel a path for me. It's still so frozen so there's still about an inch or more ice left on the path which made my wheels spin a bit. We woke up to our lake somewhat frozen. I'm imagining those ducks' feet so cold!!! Well keep toasty and enjoy a safe Superbowl weekend!

Plein air art off the gate with Schmid

"Autumn Glow" 4.5x6 oil on gesso board

Now that's I've finished my charts, I was just itching to use them with for a plein air painting. The charts worked nicely, I saved time trying to figure out the right mixture. And what I like about Richard Schmid's chart is that the colors glow. I know this because when I painted the next piece "Copper Warmth" 8x10 oil on canvas panel (shown here finally scanned). I started out mixing my own take on the still life set up. Then just for kicks I thought I'd borrow dear friend Linda Cassady's Schmid charts. My colors literraly paled and fell asleep in comparison! At that very point I decided I'd have to buckle down and tackle the charts. Actually to my surprise I feel I have a better understanding of the charts and I'd like to create another set. It's not so much because I plan to be completely dependent on them, but more to educate myself and especially my eyes more.

I can't tell you how excited I was about painting en plein air. I enjoy the explosion of information that's before me which is mostly absent from photos. And I think it's good exercise to be decisive I can sharpen my instincts.

Much to my husband's chagrin I brought this old TV cart home from a neighbor's trash last Tuesday. Apparently he drove by the pile and was thanking his lucky stars that it didn't look like I'd find something to bring home. Welllllll as he was pulling in the driveway that evening he saw the cart immediately HAHAHAH! Glad to know I can still surprise him :) But look it was soooo handy for my painting session! And I bet he also loved all the tracks I left on his perfect lawn that morning when I was furiously looking for a good spot to paint. This photo reminds me of Smokey Robinson's song "Tracks of my Tears". Actually composers Robinson, Moore,Tarplin originally were writing the song inspired by me; it was meant to be called "Tracks of my Wheels". And if you believe that, there's also a bridge I want to sell ya!

Barak Obama Positive

"Obama" 5x5 oil on canvas

I think I'm done... I really need to paint McCain quickly for the fundraiser deadline. This is from camera, I'll post a scanned one later if it looks better or if I modify the portrait again.

Today is a beautiful fall day *cringe* did I say FALL??? DOUBLE *CRINGE* you know what comes after fall??? It's enough to bring tears to my eyes that's soaking up this beautiful crispy day. I woke up to opened window, compliments of my sweetheart and it really put an exclamation to my day! So, even though I woke up with a pounding headache and a lousy feeling of flu symptoms, I popped some vitamin Cs and aspirin and chugged some water so I can keep painting. :)

Last night my hubby brought home 2 dozen long -stemmed roses! And I mean BEAUTIFUL! It's all I can do not to want to paint each color for a specific still life!!!!!! But I know I have other paintings on the burner as well GAH! Deadlines and lovelines - story of my life!

For now I leave you with Senator Obama next to my roses :)