Peek-a-boo

Today has been a great day!  Early morning thunderstorms brought much needed rain to the panhandle.  We will still need much more to end the drought, but it is a wonderful beginning.

This painting is a complementary color palette using red-violet and yellow-green.  Also, I used the split complementary colors of red and violet.

I hope you're all having a happy "hump" day!

Pool Party

Hopefully, the rest of my week will be a little more painter-friendly, but I didn't have much time to paint today.  My day was filled with running errands, purchasing still life supplies, um, I mean...buying groceries.  And best of all...getting my hair done.  Yay for simple pleasures!

Have a great evening!

Checking Messages

This is my entry for this week's Daily Paintworks challenge.  Linda Popple chose the photograph for this challenge.  (Thanks, Linda!)  She is a wonderful artist, daily painter and fellow Texan.  If you have a chance, please stop by her blog and say hello.

Spring Gala

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the dachshund is power napping.  It's a great day to be alive and painting.  Wishing you all a wonderful Friday!

Vintage Vase

Today, I worked on both glass and metal finishes.  Gah.  Although I am not happy with this one, I would like to try painting it again.  It is a beautiful little vase, but I just couldn't get all of the issues worked out.  Frustrating!

Have a great evening!    

Artichoke in Repose

Doesn't this little artichoke look like it is patiently waiting for the spinach dip to arrive?  I worked from another Wet Canvas photograph today.  It was interesting to paint the different colors of green.  And I always enjoy the challenge that painting fabric presents.

During the past 24 hours, I have been experiencing technical difficulties with my computer.  It appears to be on its last legs.  As I was trying to respond to a comment on my DPW entry yesterday, it locked up on me.  And as I was clicking away, I managed to delete my painting.  That takes a lot of talent.  So embarrassing!  Anyway, I've had to reboot it quite a few times today, so I think there is an upgrade in my near future.  If I am offline for a bit, you'll know why.

Happy painting!  

Petite Oranges

With this week's Daily Paintworks challenge in mind, I tried painting with a complementary/split complementary color scheme of orange, red-orange, yellow-orange and blue.  This painting seemed to get muddy very quickly, so I am not going to submit it.  I will try again tomorrow, though.  It is interesting to work with such a limited palette, and it is a great exercise in seeing values, too.

Also, I worked from a Wet Canvas photograph today.  It is a wonderful reference tool for artists.   

Happy Sunday, y'all!  I hope you have a great evening!

Pink Moment

Today was all about mailing tax returns, windstorms and power outages.  We're having wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph, and let me just say, it has been a bad hair day!  The next time our weatherman issues a "Weenie Dog" alert, Rodeo and I are going to stay inside! 

Painting this little pink carnation provided a much welcome respite from the blustery day.  I really enjoy the way a color's true value is reflected against a mid-tone gray, so that was my focus.  Also, experimenting with mixing warm grays and cool grays.  Usually, I don't re-work my daily paintings, but I think that I may darken the background on this one.  I'm still considering it.  If I make any changes, I'll be sure to post the new image for you.

Enjoy the weekend! 

Chicken Little - SOLD

Previously, I've spoken about white being my nemesis.  So, when I saw the Daily Paintworks challenge for this week, I felt exactly like Chicken Little.  I mean, come on...white?  And a chicken?  The sky is falling.  The sky is falling!  But you know what?  It was so fun to paint!  I think the black gesso was the key.  I love black gesso! 

Aren't you loving the weekly challenges?  I know.  Me, too! 

Oh, and I wanted to mention the film "Vermeer: Light, Love and Silence" to you.  If you're a fan of his work or even if you're not, I think you will enjoy it.  It's wonderful. 

Have a great evening!

Grain Elevator

This is another grain elevator located on Route 66 near Groom, Texas.  I really love these old structures and their rusty patinas.

Under the German Sun

This is my entry for this week's Daily Paintworks challenge.  The challenge was to paint a landscape using one of the two photographs posted by Carol Marine.  She took both while traveling in Germany, and they're beautiful.  I would like to try painting the other one tomorrow.

I received my light box in the mail today.  I'm looking forward to experimenting with it.  We've had such windy weather as of late, and it makes photographing oils outside almost impossible.  Hopefully, the light box will help.  Cross your fingers for me!

I hope your week is off to a pleasant beginning!

SOLD

This was painted from a photograph taken this past December.  It is one of the grain elevators located outside of Groom, Texas on historic Route 66.  During the summer months, the elevators are a hub of activity, but on the day that I stopped to photograph this one, it was as quiet as a ghost town.

Also, this is my entry for the Daily Paintworks "Help Japan Challenge."  If you haven't had a chance to check out the entries, please do.  Thus far, they have raised $24,081! 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!