Same Story, Different Day

Yellow Rose Study 2, 8x8, Oil on Canvas, Click to Bid

"Take - two" for my yellow roses. Same set up actually. I just added another rose. Still with the painting and scraping, painting and scraping. It just doesnt happen on the first, second, third... try or so it appears. What's up with that? 

Anyway, I'm happy with the final result. Finally. :)

A Whole New Can O' Worms

Yellow Rose Study 1, 8x8, Oil on Canvas, Click to Bid

So it turns out that yellow roses are a whole new can of worms. At least for me. I believe that's because I lean towards strong values and that simply does not work for these little babies. Again, that is MY experience. 

I scraped several times re adjusting values and temperatures until I FINALLY unlocked the mystery to yellow... and then it was "Viola!" :) Well, maybe there's really no actual mystery but there WAS a " Voila!". 

It's an oddity that I never got frustrated. I just kept on going like the energizer bunny. Painting and scraping, painting and scraping... 

Every once in a while a painting will all but paint it'self but by and large, there's a push - pull thing happening in my studio. A little ugly before the pretty. But I'm pretty committed to pretty. :) Pretty much..

Out Burst

Out Burst, 8x10, Oil on Canvas, Click to Bid

So this is my second attempt at this set up. The first, done on an 8x8, is doomed to the back of the studio and will never see the light of day. I much prefer it on a more horizontal canvas. It seems to help the spray effect I was liking. 

All that aside, I am not sure how I feel about the brass pot. It could be I'm just not a hard metal kind of girl and that could be a problem because I really wanted to use it in a larger gallery painting that I had in mind. I'll do some more experimenting before diving into THAT one. :)

Side note on this painting: I must have shut off my brain early because I signed instead of initialed this study and I did NOT paint the sides of this canvas ( but I could if I was asked to...)

Game Changer

Game Changer, 8x8, Oil on Canvas, Click to Buy

This framed painting is headed to the gallery with a "Whoop Whoop!" :) Hey, not everybody needs validation but I freely admit I find it encouraging! 

I have yellow roses on the easel now and I'm going to tell you right now, same flower, different story. Whew! It's like re-inventing the wheel I suppose. But that's what I do... :)

Painting Roses in February...

Rose, 4x6, Oil on Canvas, SOLD

This is the last of this rose anyway. I'm moving on to other colors and other flowers. 

I was so happy with the way this one turned out I contemplated keeping it. I've had it on a table top easel for a while as it dried and really enjoyed how the colors played out as well as the edges. Sometimes it just all comes together, you know? 

Timeless

Timeless, 8x10, Oil on Canvas, $320Buy with PayPal

This is the result of all those rose studies. I really feel like it just all came together on this one. The value listed is for the painting unframed.  

I will be offering this one to the gallery next month if it's still available.

Red Rose Study 1

Red Rose Study 1, 6x6, Oil on Canvas, SOLD

I am finally starting to feel comfortable with roses and am no longer intimidated. I have, by no means, mastered them, let alone their leaves but I do feel more at ease and find them enjoyable, even relaxing to paint. 

I think I have more trouble navigating through photography and photoshop elements in order to present you with the most accurate images of my artwork at this point. After a few do overs, I think I have a pretty good image here. Try to ignore the little speckles. I believe that is glare from thicker brushwork. :)

Rose Study 6

Rose Study 6, 8x8, Oil on Canvas, SOLD

This painting was done twice. While trying to adjust my lamp I knocked my canvas right off my easel and it landed jelly side down on my studio carpet. I took a deep breath, and as I picked it up, I fumbled it and it again, landed jelly side down on the carpet. Another deep breath, carefully picked it up again and inspected it to see if it was a wiper or a fixer. Hmmm. 

Unbelievably, it was a fixer. About the only issue was some debris from the carpet but that meant new brushstrokes for each and every square inch. Oh well, what else was I going to do that day? 

Rose Study 5

Rose Study 5, 6x6, Oil on Canvas, SOLD

I think I'm finally honing in on a palette that I'm comfortable with and a better understanding of what I'm looking for in a floral still life painting. I can see that unless I want to settle on "technique" this is a life time of learning and experimenting. So learning and experimenting it is. :)

Rose Study 4

Rose Study 4, 4x6, Click to Bid

​I actually used a white rose for this little study.  I dont know how I migrated to these colors but it's more of a value study than anything else at this point. Still, I find these flowers complex and a little translucent.  It's kind of like splitting hairs I guess.  I could probably study these till I'm blue in the face and never run out of new discoveries.  But since I prefer simplicity in my art, I may have to back off a little.

Rose Study 3

Rose Study 3, 6x6, Oil on Canvas, SOLD

I feel like my roses are taking a new dimension now.  The more I study them the more I can get a better feel for their mechanics - which in turn takes some of the mystery and complexity out of them.

I'm continuing my study until I can either get a real grasp on these delicate beauties or simply get bored and have to move on.

I have to add that while my photo light box has helped tremendously I still struggle with some color issues.  The shadows appear a little dirty on my monitor and I could not, for the life of me correct that in photoshop elements.  On top of that, Blogger has a tendency to change my images as well.  I have a hard time keeping up with technical issues these days and sometimes just accept it as a force of nature I cant control.

Rainier

Rainier, 12x12, Oil on Canvas, Buy with PayPal

I painted this last year - twice - but wrestled with a few areas since my focus at the time was still life. It was done from a photo which presented some problems of flatness and silhouettes that I had to enhance with memory. This is a view from my driveway but since snow is few and far between and this is a sunrise painting, I would have few opportunities to study the actual landscape in this particular climate setting. So there it was in my studio for a year until I felt I had done enough trees to experiment again with it.

Relatively few changes were needed in my opinion but I think they made all the difference. I really love the way it changes as the light in my house changes. I thought about using luminescent paint but I dont think it needs any help at all in this respect. Really, if it's not broken... right?

I almost hate to see it go and may just change my mind, frame it and keep it myself.

Rose Study 2

Rose Study 2, 8x8, Oil on Canvas, SOLD

The challenge continues.  Also, I got new brushes.  :)

Rose Study 1

Rose Study 1, 8x6, Oil on Canvas, SOLD

What I'm finding is that a lot of great artists have made the art of painting roses look effortless. It's not. There are so many layers of petals to consider. So I'm starting with the big shape and taking baby steps, one petal at a time until I can get a toe hold on these beautiful blooms.

Thank you for viewing my art! I hope you find it engaging in one way or another. :)

Love You Forever

Love You Forever, 12x12, Oil On Canvas, Click to Buy

​A very antique-y painting.  Just a subtle hint of light falling on red roses for a quiet, heirloom feel.  :)

Forever

Forever, 8x8, Oil on Canvas, Click to Bid

I'm thinking heirloomy, antiquey, sepiaish. Trying to get to a place in in my head where days were long but full, slow but busy with friends and family, hot but air conditioned.  No computers or cell phones to keep us on top of things.  We learned about the days events when we watched the evening news or someone stopped by for a little gossip.

I kept the values close because I was told in a workshop that close values helped with a romantic theme.  And while I'm not really thinking romance, I like the idea of close values slowing down the visual.  I didnt push the lights like I usually do (maybe a smidge).  I think it says what I want it to say.  !  :)

Dark Ages

Dark Ages, 8x8, Oil on Canvas, Click to Bid

Last pumpkin posting until fall ( I think).   I'm really happy with the way the silver cup played out.   I wasnt sure if I was going to be able to it pull off.  In the set up it was hard and shiny (tarnished but shiny) and I knew it was going to compete terribly if I didnt address that.  A little smooshing of the background into the beautiful blue-blacks of the cup and carefully manipulating the values did the trick.

It's usually my habit to over play values so it was a challenge to not add a strong light and highlight to it.  But that would have messed it all up.  So in the end, I learned to hold back a little...  Patience is a virtue!

Boris's Hot Romance

Boris's Hot Romance, 8x10, Oil on Canvas, SOLD

Just for grins.  :)

I guess the point was to warm up a relatively gloomy subject matter.  Compared to my last "Boris" painting which was kind of creepy,  this one is fit for the dining room!  But that's just comparing it to my last Boris painting...

My real feat was losing the appropriate edges.  Whether or not that was accomplished is a matter of opinion, but I like the way the vase kind of disappears in the background.

Daisies

Daisies, 8x8, Oil on Canvas, Click to Bid

So there I am in my studio wondering what to paint, what to paint.... And I come across some photos I took of daisies. I'm thinking, hmm.. these look fun.. and relatively simple.. I think I'll add a dark, atmospheric background for mood though. And I think perhaps waft some of that atmosphere across the petals. 

And now, dancing between light and dark, warm and cool, I found myself in some murky waters trying to balance the direction of the light, the direction of the composition and the planes in which the petals fall.
I turned my "relatively simple" project into a complex equation fit for an MIT student, or so it felt. Yikes.

I thought it was done three times before finally signing it. But to be honest, I actually like challenges like this - when I really have to pick my own brain. It's rewarding to see how minor changes can make big differences!

*****

My studies and sketches are now for sale along with my finished gallery pieces. If you would like to be among the first to see what's up for grabs from my studio, join my list here:

Email Address 

January Plein Air

January, 9x12, Oil on Everlast canvas panel, Click to Bid

I realize this painting is done in a considerably higher key than my usual tendencies but when you live in the Pacific Northwest and the sun is shining in the middle of winter you get out and enjoy it. So with layers of clothes, finger-less gloves and ear warmers I braved the winter cold with my friend Sharman Owings for the afternoon.   Brrr.

*****

My studies and sketches are now for sale along with my finished gallery pieces. If you would like to be among the first to see what's up for grabs from my studio, join my list here:

Email Address 

Moo Ha Ha

Boris,6x6 Oil on Canvas, Click to Bid

I ordered a skull off of eBay sooo.....

*****

My studies and sketches are now for sale along with my finished gallery pieces. If you would like to be among the first to see what's up for grabs from my studio, join my list here:

Email Address 

Apple Blossoms

Apple Blossoms, 8x8, oil on canvas, Click to Bid

Silk apple blossoms in my heirloom creamer.  I'm currently exploring color palettes and mood.

*****

My studies and sketches are now for sale along with my finished gallery pieces. If you would like to be among the first to see what's up for grabs from my studio, join my list here:

Email Address 

White Wine Vinegar

White Wine Vinegar, 8x8, Oil on Canvas, Click to Bid

This is a little different for me in that I've never done potatoes. I got a wild hair and basically dragged dinner down into my studio!

*****

My studies and sketches are now for sale along with my finished gallery pieces. If you would like to be among the first to see what's up for grabs from my studio, join my list here:

Email Address 

A Quiet Evening

A Quiet Evening, 9x12, Oil on Canvas, Click to Buy

This is the result of all the pumpkin studies. My original intention was a 10x20 but after messing around with all the props, I settled on this quiet little composition.

*****

My studies and sketches are now for sale along with my finished gallery pieces. If you would like to be among the first to see what's up for grabs from my studio, join my list here:

Email Address 

Autumn Colors

Autumn Colors, 8x8, Oil on Canvas, Click to Bid

Probably my last pumpkin study for now. It turns out I LOVE working with red, orange and yellow. Once again I added some red kinnickinnick berries just for grins. :)

*****

My studies and sketches are now for sale along with my finished gallery pieces. If you would like to be among the first to see what's up for grabs from my studio, join my list here:

Email Address 

Good Night

Good Night, 6x12, Oil on Canvas, Click to Bid

This painting has a bit of texture to it which made photographing it quite challenging.  I found my self swabbing out speckles in photo shop but I did my best to get an image identical to the painting.

All that aside, I was trying to get a sleepy feel to this piece.  Quiet but not boring.

*****

My studies and sketches are now for sale along with my finished gallery pieces. If you would like to be among the first to see what's up for grabs from my studio, join my list here:

Email Address 

Mini Pumpkins

Mini Pumpkins, 8x10, Oil on Canvas, SOLD

I'm not sure what's happening but lately, my images are uploading strangely.  They seem to look fine in DPW and FB but not on blogger.  FYI: The grapes are not so blue at these appear on my monitor.  

Also, possibly good news:  I have my eye on a photography light box so hopefully, I will be experimenting with that next week!  

*****

My studies and sketches are now for sale along with my finished gallery pieces. If you would like to be among the first to see what's up for grabs from my studio, join my list here:

Email Address 

Grapes of Wrath

Grapes of Wrath, 8x8, Oil on Canvas, Click to Bid

I'm getting a light box.  That's all there is to it.  I've taken multiple images of multiple paintings to get acceptable images and I think this is the last straw.  

It's been one of those days. Dishwasher issues, photo issues, computer issues...

Otherwise, HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I think I might start celebrating a little early. What time is it now?

*****

My studies and sketches are now for sale along with my finished gallery pieces. If you would like to be among the first to see what's up for grabs from my studio, join my list here:

Email Address 

Covert

Covert, 8x8, Oil on Canvas, 

Another little painting capitalizing on chiaroscuro.  I'm finding that these highly textured paintings are really hard to photograph.  Does anyone have any advice for a photography novice?

Sweet Cream

Sweet Cream, 6x6, Oil on Canvas, Click to Bid

I have an idea for a painting.  Unfortunately, I have to order canvas because I dont have the right size for my idea, bummer.  That means I'm at least 2 weeks out.  However, that gives me plenty of time to do several little studies to hash out a doable palette and what not.

Jarred

Jarred, 8x8 Oil On Canvas, SOLD

I think this is the last of my pear studies. They were all done with a fairly atmospheric setting and neutral purply background/foreground for a Shakespearean feel...  kind of, sort of, maybe....

At any rate, I finished my gallery piece entitled, Encore - posted to my FB page Dec 9th.

So onward and forward to my next series of studies and exercises!

Painting Makeover #1

  

Old version from 2011

New Version 2014

Pansy Tea, 8x8, Oil On Canvas, SOLD

I found myself re-organizing my artwork because it was once again beginning to take over my house. In the process I found a short stack of old pieces that I liked but really didnt represent my style at this point.  So --  what to do, what to do....  Hmmmm.

I got a wild hair and decided, what the heck, if they're just going to sit in a closet I might as well try re working them and see what they would look like in the manner I paint today!  Kind of risky.  I could ruin them all together.

I couldnt remember my palette at the time so I had to experiment a little but once I got that figured out the rest was CAKE!  :)  And great fun!

So here is the first makeover.  I am seriously recommending this to any artist out there with a closet of oldie, moldy but goldies.  (Or am I the only one?)  Yes, there is risk involved.  It could go south.  But it might not.  And it is a terrific exercise in self critique and execution!

So, what are you waiting for??  :)

It's A Wrap

It's A Wrap, 6x6 Oil on Canvas, SOLD

I used Kinnikinnick berries to give this little pear study a holiday flavor.
Our power was out for a few days so I set this up by a window instead of using my light controlled shadow box.  There was so much ambient light in the house that it was side lit as well as back lit.  My artist friend Sharman Owings pointed out the confusing configurations of light/shadow that resulted so I repainted when the power was back on and this is the much better result!

*****

My studies and sketches are now for sale along with my finished gallery pieces. If you would like to be among the first to see what's up for grabs from my studio, join my list here:

Email Address 

Pear 6 Ovation

Pear 6 Ovation, 6x6 Oil on Canvas  

I'm working on getting an 'old world' feel but I still want a little pop of color.

Cheers

Pear 5 Cheers, 8x8, Oil on Canvas, Click to see the auction on Daily Paintworks

This time on an 8x8.  I used a tarnished silver goblet for what I think is a Shakespearean flavor.  :)

Pear 4 Final Bow, 6x6, Oil on Canvas.  See auction page

Part deux.  This was done on a heavily textured canvas.  I almost always re-coat my canvas with oil ground but this was re-coated over a previous painting.  I think I prefer it and may work towards more texture when I re-coat with oil ground in the future.  I think it makes it a little more 'painterly'.  :)

*****

My studies and sketches are now for sale along with my finished gallery pieces! If you would like to be among the first to see what's up for grabs from my studio, join my list here:

Subscribe to my mailing list

Email Address 

Pear 3 Encore

Pear 3 Encore, 6x6 Oil on canvas. SOLD

My little pear taking a bow.  :)

*****

My studies and sketches are now for sale along with my finished gallery pieces! If you would like to be among the first to see what's up for grabs from my studio, join my list here:

Subscribe to my mailing list

Email Address 

The After Party

The After Party, 12x24, Oil on Canvas.  Currently at the Cole Gallery, Edmonds, WA.

Quiet but not silent, buzzing but not active.  A little ambiance and mystery.
I'm happy to say the gallery asked for this one (as well as the last post) so any interest in this painting  should be directed to the Cole Gallery in Edmonds, WA .

*****

My studies and sketches are now for sale along with my finished gallery pieces! If you would like to be among the first to see what's up for grabs from my studio, join my list here:

Subscribe to my mailing list

Email Address 

Sketches are done quickly to catch a particular lighting, time of day, mood and so on.  Sketches are initialed and unframed.

Studies are done from sketches applying information learned from the sketches.  Studies are initialed and unframed.

Finished gallery pieces  take considerably more time and effort applying what I've learned from the sketches and studies to enhance a particular concept.   Finished pieces are signed and framed.

Jazz Band

10x20 Oil on Canvas, $715

Ahhhh...  I call this painting Jazz Band for a reason.  It's not about apples.  Yes they are apples and guess what?  They are from my small orchard out back.  BUT - this painting is not an apple painting.  NOPE.  It's about ambience.

Consider them players in a scene.  Or in this case members in a band.  Corny?  Maybe.  It's the way I approach a painting though.  So I get an idea...  then hash it around for a while.. using still life for subjects.  Then I twist my goose-neck lamp to pieces trying to cast the appropriate shadow for my idea.  Take a relatively crappy photo of it - just in case the apples ripen and leaves dry out before the painting is done - which in this case happened. And get to work injecting whatever atmosphere is necessary to convey what's in my head.  Viola!

You see apples, I see big, ole, jazz band musicians on a dusky stage, thanking the crowd- they've been a great audience.

People used to say to me, "what's it like in your world Lori?'  Now you know.  :)

I really like this painting.  I consider it wildly successful.

*****

In the next week or so my studies and sketches will also be for sale along with my finished gallery pieces! If you would like to be among the first to see what's up for grabs from my studio, join my list here:

Subscribe to my mailing list

Email Address

Sketches are done quickly to catch a particular lighting, time of day, mood and so on.  Sketches are initialed and unframed.

Studies are done from sketches applying information learned from the sketches.  Studies are initialed and unframed.

Finished gallery pieces  take considerably more time and effort applying what I've learned from the sketches and studies to enhance a particular concept.   Finished pieces are signed and framed.

On Deck

On Deck, 12x12, oil on canvas. SOLD

Another little T-Ball painting. 

The Line Up

The Line Up, 12x24, oil on canvas.

This painting took a little longer than I expected.  My idea was to do a painting of these little T-Ballers with all their funny little gestures.  That's what I focused on and that's what I had but it just didnt feel right.

I added a faint, greyed green in the background as I was advised by other painters but it then became a landscape and that was NOT what I wanted.  The green PUT them on a playing field.  It was far to telling for my original idea so I painted it back out.

In the end, what I found was clear and obvious.  I dont know why any of us didnt pick it up sooner.  The original foreground was primarily Transparent Oxide Red with a bit of yellow.  It was competing with the uniforms terribly.  Once I realize what was happening, it was an easy fix.

I actually keep a check list in my studio that I got from an instructor several years ago.  I rarely refer to it anymore but that may change now.  Check for competing colors is on that list.

I bring this up for any painter who may be reading this.  Maybe it's only me, but after all these years, some of the basic issues still creep up and cause a little grief.   The good news is, I'm getting better at catching them.. eventually.  :)

Not titled, 12x9, oil on canvas.

I did this from an old black and white photograph of myself I found in a dusty old album under the basement stairway.  I photoshopped the heck out of it to increase values where it was really muddled.  What a crazy program that is.  It was incredible that it was able to find any information at all on the scratchy scanned photo.

Not titled, 12x9, oil on canvas.

And here we are again getting all loose and crazy.  To be honest, I'm having a ball!  I wonder where this is going to end up?

No title, 12x12, oil on canvas.

This is a remake of one I did SEVERAL years ago.  Here they are side by side:

If my photography was better, you'd be able to see the slightly lighter greens in the foreground of the painting on the right.  That said, it's mostly dark.  So, remakes are fun.

No title yet, 12x9, Oil in Canvas.

So I'm exploring something here.  I may be a little premature in posting this online for the whole world to see but maybe it's best to have a 'base line'.  That way progress can be tracked.

Lily Waltz, 18x18, oil on canvas.

I did this one earlier this spring.  I really like the dancy feel of it.  REALLY having fun with loose, lost edges.

A lesson in composition

River Dance, 12x12, oil on canvas.

After reading Ian Roberts book Mastering Composition for the second time I was excited to dive into another landscape.  He encourages a composition a day discipline which, for me, lasted two whole days.  

The act of creating numerous tiny sketches to find the best composition feels tedious and, I'll admit, boring at times.  But it's probably a really good idea. 

So, I wrestled with this painting and repainted several times until I finally called it quits.  It is what it is.  Time to move along.  

Serendipity

Serendipity, 16x20, oil on canvas.

Tonight is the Anniversary Show at the Cole Gallery and I was fortunate enough to have two pieces juried in.  

This piece was inspired by the flurry of hummingbirds around my feeder all last summer.  I ended up planting a row of a variety of honeysuckles as well as a butterfly bush last fall to see if I could attract even more of the little guys this spring/summer.  Time will tell.