What have you been up to lately?

Here's a look at a painting I did on canvas for my living room. Is ok-

Not the best thing I ever did and not the worst. Heh!
I'm still working on my other painting of a landscape from Ireland, for some reason it has just gone down hill. I'm stuck, but no biggie, I'll get back to it again soon. Now I'm working on other projects, sewing, etc. Merry Christmas to all!

Three Friends

My newest. Oil 12 x 17 a close up

I'm considering this one as done. I am not too fond of my tree areas on either side... I didn't want to mess around too much with it tho.

Army Packer- Remington

This is my Following the Masters entry

it is a Frederic Remington
for copyright legalities: This is not for sale and is for my own personal use.....
calling it a "study".... One website says this was painted before 1922, approx. 1901

a bit of a closeup As you can see I changed the background and foreground.... This below is the original:
I did enjoy doing this in oils. It was a perfect size, 5.5" x 5.5". I haven't painted too many animals before. Now on to the cupcake challenge on Different Strokes from Different Folks!!!!!

An oil painting- Peony on Copper Bowl

My reveal- This is from last months Following the Masters challenge.

This is oil on Masonite hardboard. And I completely forgot who the original "Master" was who painted this! Someone out there will know...
I enjoy working on the hardboard more than the canvas. Now I need to go buy some more.

DSDF Challenge

My entry into the DSDF challenge.

I changed the scenery the poor guy was around. I like to call this "Enjoying Retirement".

It seemed too "I don't wanna be here" with him sitting next to the Office door.

I cropped the painting. It was 6.5 x 9.5
It is now 6.5 x 6.5 done in watercolor.

This is the photo that was given to work with.

Below are "Peppers and Onions" done with watercolor also. I'm working on the shading now.

Florence, Italy

My entry into "The Virtual Paintout"

I enjoyed working with watercolor for this project. Perspective isn't my favorite but this was fun. This is where I dropped the little google guy into Florence, Italy. (I looked all around for several days and finally found this street that caught me)Watercolor, original is 8.5 x 5.5

Florence, Italy

copyright2009

Following the Masters- challenge: complete

I have completed the "Following the Masters" Challenge!

I chose John Singer Sargent as I love his portraits and paintings. I used acrylic on a canvas panel and I really like acrylics but I found this particular landscape a bit blah. I did pick a bit of an "easy" landscape as I haven't painted a landscape like this in 10 years. I also found that I'm not such a huge fan of canvas panel. It felt almost TOO bumpy. So maybe I need to step it up a bit next time and challenge myself a bit more.

As for now I'm enjoying the prismacolor pencils and pastel pencils. I'm like a kid (artist) in a candy store (art store).... I've discovered that United Art and Education store has a lot of unique items that Michaels and Hobby Lobby does not carry. I bought some masonite so I'm very excited to try that. I love re-discovering the ar-teest in me! Can't wait to find out this next challenge from Following the Masters and DSDF.

A first look

Here is a first look at a painting I have almost finished that I'll be putting up for sale soon. Got some detail work to finish on it....

Off to start my day! Hope yours is a good one!

Testing my waters.....

This is a first look at the "Following the Masters" challenge. I chose John Singer Sergeant. I'm not a huge fan of doing landscapes. But it is a fun way to challenge myself as I am getting back into painting. There are some obvious changes that I'll be making. Is nice to take a picture of it and put it on the computer. I always find what is missing or needs to be fixed this way.

oil on canvas panel

Here is a 20min. sketch from a LIFE photo. It's not a finished product or anything.... just a fun way to get my pencil moving....

graphite and charcoal on 100lb. smooth bristol

I found a aqua watercolor brush at Michaels and a constant wet aqua-brush at Hobby Lobby. I'm so excited to try them out! I enjoyed the last Following the Masters challenge in watercolor. Maybe this will be my media of choice for awhile..... who knows....

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simple. HENRY DAVID THOREAU