Sunday, October 27, 2013

Such A Lovely Place

"Such A Lovely Place", 8x10" oil on gessobord
"I can walk through a hotel lobby and watch people at the desk and see what they're doing. People don't look at me. They don't even know I'm there." —Jerry Seinfeld
No, this is not the Eagle's hotel somewhere in California. It's "Welcome to the Hotel" Worthington Renaissance, Fort Worth. The lobby, with it's warm and inviting sitting area, was a great place to people watch and snap photos—like a fly on the wall—without being noticed by those two guys heading out the door in the background. 

This painting was more complex than most of my paintings and took 15 hours to complete. I sure had fun playing with all the details. I love the cool light streaming in through in the huge windows contrasted by the warm glow of the sitting area. 

I have had such a strong attraction to lamp light lately? I'm not sure why I keep wanting to paint this subject matter, perhaps it has something to do with the need for a path of light to shine into the darkness of the world? 

Thanks for  checking in today. I hope you enjoyed your stay.
nancy
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To see more of my art or to contact me: Online Gallery  • E-mail  •  Website  •  Graphic Design Studio 

Sunday, October 20, 2013

First Light

"First Light", 10x8", oil on gessobord
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"In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present."
 — Francis Bacon
Early one morning, stumbling into the kitchen for a cup of coffee, I happen to notice this quiet corner of my living room sitting in darkness, just as the sun began shining its flashlight into the east facing window to create a wondrous light show on the walls. I had painted this same scene last spring, but wanted to catch the light brought on by the changing season. It's always interesting to see how different light appears at various times of the year. 

Francis Bacon's quote above can apply to art, for without the darkness nothing has shape or definition. Darkness holds the light serving a backdrop, yet darkness and light are both necessary and have their own unique co-dependent roles to play; one is nothing without the contrast of its opposing truth. This is such an appropriate metaphor for life, especially when we find ourselves overwhelmed by darkness; if we can just wait patiently, soon the light will again break through to show us the way. Martin Luther King said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that..." 

My favorite part of this painting was placing the one little white dot of light hitting on the red pillow. After all it's the simplest things in life that mean the most.

Thanks for shining your light into my digital world today. 
nancy 

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To see more of my art or to contact me: Online Gallery  • E-mail  •  Website  • Graphic Design Studio 


Sunday, October 13, 2013

SOLD - Room Service

"Room Service" 8x8" oil on gessobord

"All of life is an empty room. It is our task to fill it with something worth listening to." 
— Joan Chittister
As Shakesphere said, "All the world is a stage"... and this empty chair is merely a player. A stoic prop, positioned slightly off-center stage, sits transfixed in the warm flood of first light pouring in through glass and splashing across the floor. 

This painting is of another corner of the hotel room where I recently stayed in Fort Worth. This delightful room serviced me well, an unspoken invitation to pause in the solitude of the great abyss. Or at least, that's how I perceived it. 

I've mentioned in previous blogs about my need for silence, and how important it is to my soul. I suspect this might have something to do with the fact that the TV broadcasts day and night at my house, especially during football season. I rarely ever sit down to watch it myself cause nine times out of ten, I'll be asleep within a matter of minutes. My need for quietude really is very productive because it spurns me to retreat to another room of service—my studio—where I can listen and paint to my hearts content in the utter soundlessness of "Do Not Disturb."

Thanks for checking in today! You've earned a tip!!!  : ) 

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To see more of my art or to contact me: Online Gallery  • E-mail  •  Website  • Graphic Design Studio 

Monday, October 7, 2013

SOLD Good Golly Miss Mollie

SOLD "Good Golly Miss Mollie" 10x8" oil on gessobord

Happiness is not a brilliant climax to years of grim struggle and anxiety. It is a long succession of little decisions simply to be happy in the moment.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jdonaldwa183433.html#xAsjdHyZkpu9hW2l.99
Happiness is not a brilliant climax to years of grim struggle and anxiety. It is a long succession of little decisions simply to be happy in the moment.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jdonaldwa183433.html#xAsjdHyZkpu9hW2l.99

Happiness is not a brilliant climax to years of grim struggle and anxiety. It is a long succession of little decisions simply to be happy in the moment.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jdonaldwa183433.html#xAsjdHyZkpu9hW2l.99
Happiness is not a brilliant climax to years of grim struggle and anxiety. It is a long succession of little decisions simply to be happy in the moment.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jdonaldwa183433.html#xAsjdHyZkpu9hW2l.99
"Happiness is not a brilliant climax to years of grim struggle and anxiety. It is a long succession of little decisions simply to be happy in the moment." 

— J. Donald Walters

Decisions, decisions. This sweet little girl with the big white bow in her hair, Miss Mollie, was with her mom at Panera one morning last week. You can find me there most mornings having coffee with friends before going to work. On this one particular morning, I glanced up from my cup of Hazelnut, to see little Mollie stretching up on tipey-tipey toes, barely tall enough to see all the decadent goodies behind the glass counter. Hmm...muffin, bagel, cookie, tart, danish or maybe a cupcake? 

While Mollie was trying to make up her mind, her mom graciously allowed me to snap a photo reference for today's painting. I was so thrilled at the prospect of painting her, I never even notice what she ended up choosing for breakfast, but hopefully she enjoyed it as much as I did painting her.

Thanks for choosing to view my painting today. 
nancy 
__________________________________________________________________________________
To see more of my art or to contact me: Online Gallery  • E-mail  •  Website  • Graphic Design Studio