A Horse of Many Colors.

I had been looking at a couple of Southwest Art magazines and was inspired to do this one. I like to do bold unexpected colors. (I have a bookcase I painted for the co-op that has a large funky colored tree on it that is in the same style.) These kinds of paintings seem to come quickly and flow once they get started.... and they are fun without a lot of thinking. I think doing things in unexpected colors helps me exercise my skill of seeing light and dark and shades in between. I'm hoping it will lead me to better ability to do more realistic looking paintings. I'd like the ability to do realism if/when I wanted to - but I'm not sure realism will be my "niche".

Painting to me is therapy, and when the real doesn't look real combined with my sick desire for perfection - it may not be the best idea for me to think realism will be my voice. BUT, I do love a good challenge. Guess I need to listen to my mood and let it dictate what the painting will be. Hey maybe that's why I seem to have 5 paintings started at one time! lol Anyway - I present my Horse of Many Colors and hope you enjoy! The original is an 8" x 10" acrylic.

SmArtist Artist ...in training...

A few weeks ago I took a leap of faith and have invested in myself and my art by registering and committing to a telesummit. If you click on the title you'll go to their registration web page to find out all they are offering. You know some of us education types.... suckin up all the information we can about what we do. I actually enjoy those meetings and inservices I go to when it applies to something I'm interested in. Things like brain research and how it applies to learning. Treatment of ADHD, (now all known as ADD I understand), etc. Now I will admit I CONSTANTLY doodle during most, but I have ADD so I can multi-task... no I NEED to multi-task in order to pay attention! ...but I digress.

I'm really excited about getting the information. Self-supporting artists - portfolios - how to find corporate buyers , tax and law information and more... all in the next 7 days. All from what appears to be credible qualified people. It's all going to be completed via an on-line format and I'll get a CD and a link if I can't catch it as it is taking place. (Which is a GREAT thing because in spite of my registering for the pre-summit sessions, I wasn't able to get to any of them as they were taking place!)

...soooo I'll be pretty busy these next few days and I may not post anything (also trying hard to do regularly) for a little bit. I am adding two photos... one of a tractor a former student now an adult and friend (Thanks Tonya!!!) took a picture of and then the painting I created from it.

As someone with strong roots in a rural farming area this was "home" and easy to invision the what the inside of the barn might look a little like (which was fabricated from a shallower region of the brain ;). I seem to have a "cartoony" (to me) edge to most of my attempts toward realism - but to me pleasing to my eye. I like the monochromatic color scheme here and learning the white/black color mixing to create the difference in shade was a little challenging. Definitely a learning experience! Hope you enjoy too!

An abstract for fun... Entitled "Entwined". The original is still for sell, but I've sold note cards created in its honor.

This was one of those that just happened... (Same size as "Lobo's Boots")

One of the most difficult things I've found initially has been pricing my work. I have been told, the going rate for original paintings is $1 per square inch. So, that being the case, this one should have around a $600 price tag. I'll take it - but at this point in figuring out the importance of my art in my financial flow, all is negotiable!!!

Lobo's Boots and Realized Dreams...

It's been so long since I've been here, I had forgotten I had already posted this print photo. But - I'm leaving the post as I posted today. (Just illustrates my brain hiccups!) ...and so it goes:


This is the one that started it all...sorta. Many, many years ago I painted a picture of a washtub of roses. It was probably over 15 years ago. ...and it didn't produce many internal oooo's and ahs. There were a couple others in-between then and this one, with a lot of nibbles of creativity here and there. ...and then I got the bug.

This is a 32" x 40" acrylic (or some measurement like that - I'm in bed and don't feel like getting up... kidney stone #6 I'm afraid - and the memory capacity for numbers continuously diminishes!) It is entitled "Lobo's Boots" and I started with the real boots in front of me. I took the liberty of adding the background with a little biker consultation. I was tickled with the results. While I'm usually pretty content with self-satisfaction, the people in Lobo's life KNEW they were his boots. This external validation fueled the fire.

Since Lobo's Boots my art career has gradually moved upward. A charter member of Big River Valley Art Co-op, I'm getting expert instruction from a local professional, I've finished SEVERAL more paintings and feel I can legitimately call myself an artist. Someone besides family and friends have purchased originals and prints, with their new homes from New York City to Tallahassee. I'm stoked and realize I don't have enough time in the day to do what I love!

My plan is to use this blog as a means to share my work, the fun, the frustrations, the lessons and learning that happen as this part of my life develops. In the next few days I will be adding the collection and hope you come back soon!

Turning Geraniums into Begonias

Been a long time - dream hasn't changed. Painting more often - struggling with some flowers - turned some geraniums into begonias - will try again maybe tonight. Having never had any formal training I have a tendency to go over and over the trouble spot again, leaving some pretty thick paint. I kind of like it that way as it adds texture to the mix. Guess it's just "my style". lol I've finally gotten the courage to take it to the local restaurant to test the "can I be a money making artist" instead of a "teacher that likes to paint." Makes it a little more frustrating when I can't seem to get it to look just like I envision it. I've just got to "finish" it!

Until the next...

me

...and I did finish it - seeeeeee!!!