Not a whole lot of painting going on!

But here's what I've been doing--hanging our Patron Show at LibertyTown. We are offering patrons a chance to buy a ticket for $100 and go home with a painting. Our whole show this month is the donated work of 50 local and regional artists. It was a fun show to hang, and the work is wonderful. I wanted to share a few pix.

Artists have donated pottery, fiber work, wood work, photos, paintings and jewelry. There is something for everyone!

I have done lots of new work, and here is the wall on which it hangs in my studio. The color is not wonderful here--my walls are a little less like cheese whiz than this looks! Or actually, maybe it's pretty accurate....


I'll have more new stuff next week!

Final of the Peacock

I added gold pen in a few more places and feathery touches to have the tail poof out and come forward in space. I think he's done.

When Cultures Collide

Here's what I've been working on this week. I'll show a little bit of WIP. I started by toning a 24 x 36 canvas with midnight blue acrylic paint and drew a peacock in cowboy boots in watercolor pencil. Then I went looking for collage materials and using matte medium collaged them into the background of the painting.

(Note: The horse is collaged in. I did not paint it. I am going to do more work on it as I keep painting the piece.)









Next, I began developing both the foreground and background by defining the sky, middle distance and foreground.








I had originally planned to use aluminum from drink cans as feathers, but it was too much, so I kept painting the feathers with different mixtures 0f phthalo blue, cerulean blue, quinacridone red, and permanent green light and pushing and pulling on the background to make some depth. The cans got used for the head feathers, and look closely at the spurs down the way. The spurs spin because I used brads to affix them!








Here are some detail pix.








Spinning spurs!










And here is how it stands as of the time I left the studio.










Why did I paint a peacock in cowboy boots? Well, I really can't say. But if I find out, I'll be sure to let you know!

Thanks Laura!

Laura Trevey paints beautiful watercolors with luscious colors. She featured one of my cupcake cards on her site, which I so appreciate! She is running a special where she is giving a print of one of her works if you join her site and comment on her work.

She has so much enthusiasm about blogging, it can't be contained in just one blog! Check out her new blog, too.

'Nother Birdie

Well, this guy looks as if he got lost from some traveling oompah band, or something. But he was waiting for me when I sat down to paint today.

Untitled, 5 x 5, acrylic over collage

In other news--I'm so excited! My buddy, Jeff, is going to come and paint our other room--I'm free! Jeff, you rock!

Summer on my Mind

What with the rain today and cooler temps than I am used to this late in the year (cause I'm still a Texas girl at heart!), I am longing for beach weather. And, also, because I worked hard today, but I don't have anything I can share yet, I am posting two paintings I did for a show in October last year and sold.

Under Cover, acrylic, 2008

By the Sea, acrylic, 2008

I plan to do more of these paintings where I create most of the form with my tiny block prints, and actually some of the work for my September show will have this style at least on part of the composition.

I am hoping to get back in full creative mode tomorrow. And...by tomorrow it is my goal for the home improvement hell to be over, until we have to begin on the next room...Just when you thought it was safe to go home!

I Won!

I correctly guessed what Laura Trevey used to create the orbs in her beautiful new painting and won a set of her watercolor note cards! I love Laura's paintings, and she lives just down the road in Richmond! Here is her etsy.com shop. Huge thanks to her!


Here is what I painted today! No, it is not some kind of minimalist still life. It is my #1 son's old room that #2 son is about to move into. (His color choice.) Those of you who know me, know that this kind of painting is torture for me and to be avoided at almost any cost. I so admire people who think home decorating is fun and no big deal.

This is a new painting I finished this week. The FUN kind! It is called something exciting like Pear Tree and is mixed media with oil. When I get it stretched, it will be 18 x 22. Can you find the collage elements?