Pine and Aspen Completed

"Pine and Aspen" is a 5x7" collage on canvas. I made just a few additions to this piece that, even though they may seem small were important to the composition and focal area. I added one aspen on the right and a pine, but worked to keep them in the background so as to bring more focus on the pine and aspen on the left. The strong horizontal with just a slight upturn were important to draw the eye to the right, and the very light suggestion of pine boughs on the right helped to unify the piece. This painting is available on my website.

I want to thank Autum Leaves for sending me several bird pics AND a link to others! Because she sent me pics and a link I am putting her name in the next give-away three times total. Any others who wish to send me pics I will add your name more than once into our next drawing.

In a post coming soon (as soon as my hubby gets them from the storage) I will be adding a few things to a give-away I will talk about soon that will come in December...right around the corner!!

Until then my blogger friends...HAPPY PAINTING and welcome to my newest followers!!

Pine and Aspen

I thought I would show another piece in process. I enjoyed the abstract beginning and have decided to keep a focal point to the left with the pine. I sit in my studio and can see all my trees from two different windows. I can't help it but to try to portray them in as many different ways I can. I love the process! I don't mind showing things before they are finished. It's all a learning process, and if it helps then that is a bonus!

Where to go from here...hmmm...I'm not sure, but plan to play again in the morning. I know I want to keep the feel that I have going right now, so it may be small bits here and there. I think this one needs to rest for the night and let me see it with fresh eyes.

So, a request...I'm wanting to do a series of bird portraits...close-up. If there are any bird lovers out there that have a bird pic or two I'd sure appreciate it! I have a few, but it doesn't hurt to have a bigger pool. A lot of our birds have "flown the coop" as the raccoons and squirrels take great pleasure in emptying out our bird feeder every day...Those rascals! I spent yesterday trying to catch one in process so I could photograph him...but they are FAST! Anyone with a bird pic they don't mind sharing just e-mail it to me at art4life44@hotmail.com. I'll put your name in the pool twice for our next give-away!! This next give-away will be a little special...I'm hoping it will be near Christmas...tee hee...we shall see!

Hope you are having a great day where ever you are!!

Christmas Cactus

The Christmas Cactus ended up being about the bloom instead of the whole plant. I played with several different compositions and came up with just the focus on the flower itself. I put a very light green for the background so as to really make the red bloom pop. This is a 4x4 acrylic on clay board for our follower give-away choices. I admit I am a bit intimidated by this flower, and that drove me to at least play with it. The funny thing is I started out with a different size...this 5x7 small canvas began as the cactus and ended up being this awesome background that I will decided later what to do with. Fun stuff how things are always changing.

The past couple of days have been subbing and chasing squirrels. The sub calls have been at 5 a.m. Those calls catch me so unprepared to take my paints I just barely get out of bed, showered and down the mountain to work. That was frustrating, but one must work when one can!!
The rest of the time has been chasing this little squirrel. He/she absolutely loves making as much noise as possible trying every which way to get at our birdseed! I have put in a request of my husband to move the feeder as this little guy has gotten VERY good at emptying it out every day...He is getting fat! Thought you'd enjoy this little pic! Happy painting!

Nebraska Players Completed

I'm calling this piece finished. I may, since it is going to be sitting in my studio until Christmas, take another look and fine tune this or that as we all do when we continue to look at our work! HA. I decided to continue with the loose strokes I began on the jersey's and it works.
I kept some of the same colors in the dark area up top so Damon can hang it below the Memorial Stadium if he so chooses. The two seem to fit together fine. Nebraska Players Completed!So, we got another 12-15" of snow last night! Sigh...Last year at this time we'd only gotten 1". This year so far we are up to 60"...Did I sigh yet? Sigh!! The good news is I didn't have to shovel...in fact..

I was able to walk out on our deck in my Reebocks..



And, other good news is my Christmas Cactus is blooming again...pretty! Wanted to share! I call it my alien flower...I can't ever paint it properly as it always looks like an alien...duh...thus the name.

Nebraska Players in process and...you guessed it...another sunrise

I'm moving down with the Nebraska Players. I want to cover the canvas before I move in for perhaps more layer of color, defining the crowd just slightly as I think this piece will work nicely under the Memorial Stadium painting. I am playing with skin color and next will tackle their behinds...:) I think I need to work on the shape of the helmet in the center...it is just a little off, but that will be after I lay in my base colors. Damon didn't want player names on this so it would be more timeless, so I think just an impression of them will work fine.


I got up this morning and actually walked up the rocks behind my house. I am a little frustrated with my camera as it doesn't capture things exactly as they are, but it is close, so I had to share the beauty I woke up to today. Tomorrow we get more snow, so the scenery may be quite different.

Happy Day to you all!!

Nebraska Players detail and yep another sunrise!

I've begun the process of laying in value and playing with detail just to see how it can go. For two days I've been fighting a canvas that wasn't stretched properly apparently as it kept buckling! And I think I got this at one of our primo art stores here called Meiningers! Very dissapointed. I FINALLY think I've got it solved thanks to double the number of canvas strip pegs...So, I got to play with laying in some beginning color. My goal is to get as much paint on the canvas as possible and then go back and play with some amount of detail. But, I couldn't resist seeing how the helmets would look with numbers and playing with a bit of red with light and dark...FUN.




So, I am constantly amazed at the sunrises we have here...even though the scene is the same, I am blown away by the color! The first pic was early on, and then the beautiful blues show through...Had to share!

Son-in-Law challenge and another great sunrise!

Oh boy...here I go again with another challenge for my son-in-law for Christmas. This one isn't linear like the Memorial Stadium, but a challenge none the less. This is from another pic I posted some time back of Nebraska players. Damon doesn't want names so it will remain timeless. I have "zoomed" in on the players so the painting will be a bit custom. I've also moved them around a bit...I decided that you all were so helpful and supportive on my last big challenge that I would bring you in from the beginning! This sketch is merely a beginning so I can see where I need to adjust things...I already see a problem with sizes...but I'm telling you...some of these guys necks are SO big I'm having a hard time really showing it...ha...I'm sure I'll get over it and begin to see them as shapes so I'm not tempted to make things smaller...even those shoulders! WHEW! So...hopefully I will knock this out way quicker than my last challenge...but I'm sure I'll do my best...You may have to click on this drawing to see it...and, as always...thoughts are always welcome!

I couldn't leave you with a drawing beginning, so thought I'd share my latest sunrise...BEAUTIFUL skies we have here in Colorado!!

Happy Painting to you all!!

"Pine Top"

Pine Top

I was happy to have the where with all to do another little 4x4 fiberboard covered with canvas acrylic for our follower contest. This one I call Pine Top because that is what it is! I realize my days living in the mountains may be coming to a close in the next few months, so I feel a special need to find as many views I see every day to keep me cozy when I move away. I am loving this method of painting and then covering over a bit to give a more disheveled appearance....I accidentally found this when I reworked "Lone Pine" back in March.

Remember when we reach 100 followers I will choose again from all of you so you will be able to pick which little gem you want...

So, this morning I drove into town to visit my favorite Starbucks before grocery shopping and was lucky enough to get to see another type of Colorado color we see from time to time...This lone balloon was hovering near my Starbucks and for once I remembered to bring my camera! I would love to ride on one of these one day, but for today it was a thrill to just see one! Enjoy!!

Later today I'm heading off to my favorite art store, Meiningers for a free demo on acrylic painting. I have been asked by a local art guild to do a workshop on acrylic painting and a demo or two...so it always helps to see how others do it...as I look for fresh perspectives on this excellent medium. YIPEE!! Inspiration is right around the corner!!

"Aspen 3"

Aspen 3

Still getting back in the swing of things so wanted to do another in my series of aspen collage pieces on fiberboard for our contest give-away. As in the others I have used my handmade paper for the aspen.

November Sunrise

This morning we had a fabulous sunrise that I wanted to share with you all. Enjoy and Happy Painting!!

"Pine Shadows"

Click on painting to see detail

I want to thank all of you that sent me supportive thoughts during this little glitch in life I have been experiencing. You are all so important to me. It truly feels like a family of sorts as I have said before. I absolutely love being able to communicate with people from all over; sharing ideas, supporting one another and being of a similar mind through our love of art. Thank you for being there!

So, a few things today. I added a few darks and lights in this pine collage and now will put it in the finished area and move on. Thanks to those who suggested names. Doing SO many trees I sometimes can't see the forest for the trees when I am trying to name them. I finally settled on Pine Shadows for this 8x16 collage on canvas and added it to my website.
Yesterday was literally the first day I felt I could set my worries aside and do a small piece. This will go into our contest choices. You all were on my mind so much that I just wanted to do a little something that one of you could choose from. Plus, I think starting small was a good beginning to getting back to work! This is called "Snow Pines". It is one of my 4x4 collage pieces done on fiberboard with slots for hanging so it would work hanging or sitting on one of the little easels you can choose from.


These pics were taken the other evening as we watched the moon come out full and then the clouds begin to cover over the foothills across from our house. It wasn't but a few minutes before the clouds completely covered the foothills so they could not be seen at all. It should have been Halloween...looked mysterious and a little spooky...But, I wanted to share a different kind of beauty that God gives us everyday!

Thanks again from the bottom of my heart!! I'm still plugging along trying to weather this "glitch", but I feel happy that I am able to work now! Happy Painting to you all...and welcome to my newest followers!! You are ALL appreciated!