Head on down the highway

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

"Seeing Spots, 6x6" Still-life, Nancy Parsons


"Seeing Spots" 6x6" oil on canvas

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It's cobalt and magenta with a TKO! These colorful wine glasses were loaned to me by a friend to use in a painting. They display a lovely pattern of circles etched into the sides of the crystal. Once I had them arranged in my not-so-still life and turned on the studio lights, the arena was suddenly flooded with drama and intrigue. Shadowy ghosts could be seen kickboxing around in every direction of the ring. It made for an interesting and challenging competition but what a commotion as jabs of shadow, light and reflections simultaneously clamored for attention. My light box was a happening place.

Thank you for viewing my painting.

-nancy

Thursday, April 14, 2011

"Limoncello Echoes"

"Limoncello Echoes" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

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CAUTION: For adult eyes only! This risque young citrus was caught in the middle of stripping in public! That's right, peeling it off right down to fleshy pith.

While painting her portrait, I started wondering what to do with such a zesty little sphere, once I finished her portrait. Should I squeeze her into a dressing, wrap her up in a tart, or fold her carefully into a meringue? But then, it hit me, bottle her up into limoncello! If you've never tried it, limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy. You can store it in your freezer and sip it ice cold. Delizioso! Has anyone ever made homemade limoncello? I've never tried but perhaps that would be a good fate for this indecent floozy. Here's an easy recipe:

Limoncello
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Prep Time:30 min Inactive Prep Time:100 hr 0 min Cook Time:10 min
Serves: 7 cups
Ingredients:
10 lemons
1 (750-ml) bottle vodka
3 1/2 cups water
2 1/2 cups sugar

Directions:
Using a vegetable peeler, remove the peel from the lemons in long strips
(reserve the lemons for another use). Using a small sharp knife, trim away the white pith from the lemon peels; discard the pith. Place the lemon peels in a 2-quart pitcher. Pour the vodka over the peels and cover with plastic wrap. Steep the lemon peels in the vodka for 4 days at room temperature.

Stir the water and sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Cool completely. Pour the sugar syrup over the vodka mixture. Cover and let stand at room temperature overnight. Strain the limoncello through a mesh strainer. Discard the peels. Transfer the limoncello to bottles. Seal the bottles and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 1 month.

Thank you for viewing my painting.

-nancy

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

SOLD "Finger Lickin Good" 7x5"

"Finger Lickin Good" 7x5" oil on canvas panel

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Baaaawk, bawk, bawk, bawk...

Surprise, I'll bet you weren't expecting to see a chicken staring you in the face. This was my entry in the challenge of the week at Daily Paintworks. The assignment was to paint the chicken in the photo shown below. I laughed till tears were running down my cheeks and my sides ached, all the while trying to get this poor defenseless fowl to have some semblance of a chicken. I should have saved all the stages. At one point, Miss Henny Penny looked more like an alien psychopath on steroids.

From the look in her the-sky-is-falling eyes, she appears to have just seen the "Colonel" himself walking in through the back gate, hatchet in hand. "You'll need Easter eggs....eat more beef", she clucked!

Thank you for viewing my painting.

-nancy

Monday, April 11, 2011

"Oh-leander Ordeal"

"Oleander Ordeal" 6x6" oil on canvas

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Yesterday was one of those days when I was tired and not feeling like painting; plus I couldn't get excited about anything in my house to use as a model. I looked out into my backyard and noticed that our 20 ft. tall oleander bush was in full bloom. Never having approached that subject, I decided to try my luck and snipped off a branch. All went well until about halfway into my painting when one by one all the flowers started getting heavy petals and parachuted off their stems. I thought about hot gluing the blossoms back on but decided that probably wouldn't work. Oh well, one good thing about the oh-leander ordeal is that it kept me from getting too fussy and overworking it. I ended up calling it quits and took a nap.

Thank you for viewing my painting.

-nancy

Friday, April 8, 2011

"Fields a Glow"

"Fields a Glow" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

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I have really been pushing the color in these little landscapes. This late afternoon Montana field was streaked with warm golden grasses just as the last rays of drooping sunlight painted its way across the landscape. The complimentary green grasses shimmered the color of bright Easter baskets. I just love it when that happens and I get to be there.

Thank you for viewing my painting.

-nancy

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

"Blowin' in the Wind"

"Blowin' in the Wind", 36x24" oil on canvas

Here is another painting of those familiar spooky pale blue jeans but this one is a TEXAS size pair of 3x2' britches. Since I only sell my smaller paintings online, this one will not be for sale in my eBay store. It is however, on sale now at The Linda Watson Gallery here in Conroe as part of their April Art Show. Everyone is invited to stop by. For pricing and additional information, please contact the gallery at 832.928.7150, or email jfleshner@sbcglobal.net.

GALLERY HOURS:

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Mon-Fri.

8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Sat.

Sat. April 23, Reception 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Thank you for viewing my painting.

-nancy

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

"Around the Bend"

"Around the Bend" 6x6" Oil on canvas panel

Here is the second part of the challenge I submitted to the Daily Paintwork's Weekly Challenge. Today's painting is from the second photograph that was posted of another road in Germany.

I have missed painting landscapes and am anxious to hit the road again this summer for round two. It has surprised me to see how much my daily still-life practice has enhanced my landscapes. I really like the direction they seem to be heading as I learn to trust and express my feelings toward a subject rather than buying into what my eyes want to limit me into seeing.

Thank you for viewing my painting.

-nancy

Monday, April 4, 2011

"Road Less Traveled"

"Road Less Traveled" 8x6" oil on canvas panel

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Finally I have the opportunity to paint another landscape. This was my submission in the Daily Paintwork's Weekly Challenge. We were given a couple of photographs taken along roadsides in Germany to paint from. The instructions were to edit out whatever we wanted to omit. I took that a step further to include information not exactly visible to the naked eye although sensed. I totally felt the grouping of trees on the right were practically on fire glowing with light and color. I kept the brush strokes very loose and let the red tint from the under canvas show through. I do like the energy in this one. I've included the photo.

Thank you for viewing my painting.

- nancy

Friday, April 1, 2011

"Tangerine at Tiffany's

"Tangerine at Tiffany's" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

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Strolling along minding her own business, Tammy Tangerine found herself cornered by a towering gang of glaring glass. EEKS! Can't go over it, can't go under it...guess I'll ROLL from it. I caught up with her just as she was making her getaway.

This painting is similar to one I did a while ago titled Window Shopping. I love the turquoise blue alongside it's orange compliment and never tire of painting glass, especially when it overlaps other pieces of glass.

Thank you for viewing my painting.

- nancy