Showing posts with label decorative. Show all posts
Showing posts with label decorative. Show all posts

Sunday, April 12, 2009

First Dibs


First Dibs
Original 30" x 40" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today's painting is a new abstract composition in my decorative line of paintings. I've begun to venture into the realm of more abstract paintings as a challenge to myself, and to broaden the selection of my work for my patrons. Abstracts are among the most difficult compositions to paint, despite their seemingly apparent simplicity. The challenge for me is to create abstract compositions that are cohesive and fluid. They are a reminder of the joy I find in challenging myself, as well as the sheer joy of painting.

Tip of the Day
Tax day is on the horizon. It's an important reminder for artists selling their work to remember the business side of what they're doing. As much as we love the creative side of what we do, the practical matters of being in business for yourself require some of your time and attention. All of your materials you purchase to create, sell, and ship your work come right off the top of your taxable income. It's important to maintain good records of what you spend on things like art supplies, shipping supplies, postage and delivery charges, fees paid to sell and promote your work, etc. for preparing your tax return.

Quote of the Day
"Art doesn't begin with a brush and a palette, but with the artist's ability to perceive life. You have to learn how to live before you can learn how to paint." --Dean Mitchell

Monday, March 2, 2009

Today's Paintings 3/2/09


Sunrise Poppies VI
Original 18" x 24" x 1.5" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas




Sunrise and Autumn Trees
Original 24" x 30" x 1.5" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas




Four Abstract Trees
Original 72" x 24" x 0.75" painting
Four 18" x 24" canvases
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas




Red Poppies on Yellow Commission
Original 24" x 36" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas




Still Life with Blue Wall Commission
Original 16" x 20" x 0.75" painting
Golden, Liquitex, and Atelier acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas


Word of the day: prolific. Some days I wake up and paint from dawn til dusk. I managed to produce three new paintings to list on my sales venues, AND two commissions!! I LOVE my job! The Sunrise Poppies series is hot right now, so I had to paint another one of those. Sunrise and Autumn Trees is a variation on a composition I played with last summer. Four Abstract Trees is the latest incarnation in the Abstract Trees series, and the first time I've done it on four canvases.

The Red Poppies on Yellow and Still Life with Blue Wall are both commissions. My commission work has really picked up in the past few weeks, for which I'm very grateful (thank you patrons!).

Quote of the day: "Every good painter paints what he is." --Jackson Pollock

Monday, February 23, 2009

Alaska Commission Update - 2/23/09


Alaska in Early Fall
Original 60" x 60" painting
Golden and Liquitex acrylics

I still have some work to do on the foreground, but my publisher is THRILLED with what I've done so far. I typically save the foreground until last in order to get the atmospheric perspective just right. I worked on this painting today and managed to crank out two others for listing on my sales venues. It feels good to paint--and I'm grateful for my ability to work for myself and be a working artist.


Tall Red Trees VI
Original 66" x 28" x 0.75" painting - Three 22" x 28" canvases
Golden and Liquitex acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Here is one of the other paintings I worked on today for listing on my sales venues. The Tall Red Trees composition is one that I've reproduced for many patrons over the past 5+ years. This abstract composition lends itself well to large canvases.

Quote of the day: "As thin as this sheet of paper is, it contains everything in the universe in it." --Thich Nhat Hanh

Friday, February 20, 2009

Recent Work


Prairie Sky at Sunset
Original 30" x 40" 0.75" painting
Golden and Liquitex acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas


Red Poppies on Yellow VII
Original 24" x 30" x 0.75" painting
Golden and Liquitex acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas


Still Life with Daisy Bouquet and Red Vase V
Original 18" x 24" x 0.75" painting
Golden and Liquitex acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today's paintings are variations on two of my favorite compositions: the floral Red Poppies on Yellow series, and the abstract landscape Prairie Sky at Sunset. The third painting is one I painted a few days ago, and is a very popular still life in the Still Life with Daisy Bouquet and Red Vase series.

One of my patrons who owns a restaurant in Vail, CO purchased the previous iteration of the Daisy Bouquet painting along with a painting in the Flower Garden Against a Yellow Sky series, and a painting in the Fauve Farm series.

I worked on the Alaska commission more today, and should get that painting finished tomorrow. I'll be sure to share a photo of the finished painting with you.

Quote of the day: "At some point in life the world's beauty becomes enough. You don't need to photograph, paint or even remember it. It is enough." --Toni Morrison

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Autumn Aspens IV



Autumn Aspens IV
Original 48" x 30" x 0.75" painting
Golden and Liquitex acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

I painted this diptych yesterday in between working on some commission work that came in this week. I have been busy getting started on those, but I still feel compelled to get some new originals done and listed on the sites where I sell.

My publisher in the Atlanta area has requested a 60" x 60" painting for a client, and I have to get going with that. I also just finished a commission for an interior designer in New Mexico of an abstract piece.

My UK broker has received the embellished giclee prints I sent out last week, and is supposed to give me some feedback on them this weekend. As much time as those take to embellish I'm hoping for a big order from the samples I sent.

Quote of the day: "It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly." --Claude Monet

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Today's Paintings

Red Grass and Cypress Trees
Original 48" x 30" x 0.75" painting
Golden and Liquitex acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas




Twisted Apple Tree with Pink Blossoms IV
Original 24" x 30" x 0.75" painting
Golden and Liquitex acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Today's paintings are the latest in my seasonal, decorative line of paintings. For today's work I chose Autumn and Spring--my favorite seasons of the year. Red Grass and Cypress Trees is a new composition using the cypress motif that I started with over five years ago when I decided I was going to make a living as an artist. I haven't had to get a day job since.

Twisted Apple Tree with Pink Blossoms IV is a composition that is a favorite among my patrons, and one that I really enjoy recreating. The pink blossoms really pop against the blue sky, which is one reason why I think this composition sells well.

Quote of the day: "Painting completed my life." --Frieda Kahlo

Monday, February 9, 2009

Flower Garden Against a Yellow Sky III

Flower Garden Against a Yellow Sky III
Original 72" x 24" x 0.75" painting
Two 24" x 36" canvases
Golden and Liquitex acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvases

I must have Spring on the brain--this painting is the latest in my Flower Garden series of large, multiple-canvas, decorative paintings. This one is probably my favorite in the series. I'm trying to capture the essence of the seasons in each one of these seasonal series pieces that I'm painting lately. This isn't always easy, but I find that when I can relax and paint with my mind's eye it somehow brings it all into focus.

Quote of the day: "A writer should write with his eyes and a painter paint with his ears." --Gertrude Stein

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Poppies on Blue Sky VI

Poppies on Blue Sky VI
Original 72" x 24" x 0.75" painting
Two 18" x 24" and one 24" x 36" canvases
Golden and Liquitex acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas

Here is another one of my favorite compositions--for my patrons and me. In fact, a gentleman from the East Coast licensed a variation of this image from me to use as part of his company logo. It is also the image I use as part of my company logo on lookoutstudios.com.

Today is my baby's birthday--Happy Birthday Hannah!

Quote of the day: "To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage." --Georgia O'Keefe

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Autumn Aspens

Autumn Aspens III
Original 66" x 30" x 0.75" painting - Three 22" x 30" canvases
Golden and Liquitex acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvases


Aspens are quite common in the West, and they light up the mountainsides in the Fall. People often make an annual pilgrimage of driving in the mountains on crisp Fall days to view the colors. This painting is part of my new decorative series, and this composition is one of my favorites to paint.

The giclee prints went out the door yesterday (yay!!) so I'm focusing on originals exclusively for the time being. My UK broker hopefully will be placing a large order in the coming weeks, so until that time I am going to paint like crazy on originals.

Quote of the day: "Creativity takes courage." --Henri Matisse