The Beach Boy

The Beach Boy, 10x8" Oil on Gessobord

SOLD 

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." — Mother Teresa

Today's painting is a recently commissioned piece. The photo reference I worked from was 20+ years old and so faded there was very little color still visible in the well worn image. However I have found over time, that if I pay close attention and focus in on each and every individual value shift, adding color isn't really a problem as long as I apply the same values found in the reference. In this reference there were also sand dunes in the background, so using a little creative licensing, I decided to add the cooler blue-green ocean behind this little beach goer for added color and contrast to his sun kissed flesh tones, and to also mimic his luminous sky-blue orbs. 

When I paint a portrait, I really have to completely forget that I am working on a portrait and not even try to think about capturing an exact likeness, or I will freeze up faster than a drop of water landing on the apex of the North Pole. I try to work all over the panel focusing on and breaking it all down into shapes formed by shadows, mid-tones and highlights. Once I am able to isolate a specific shape and value, and recreate that same value, each spot becomes a piece of the jigsaw puzzle. Somehow when I adhere to this limited focus approach, magically a little boy begins to emerge out of the paint. I might not always get an exact likeness, but somehow the underlying spirit and energy seems to rise out of the chaos.

I am not a great painter, only a very insignificant artist struggling to survive in a world surrounded by so many other more talented and formally educated masters. My desire is to disappear into the ocean of my work and experience over and over the tides of joy creating at the foot of the Master. That is enough. 

Thanks for dropping in today!
nancy

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

No. 3 Trio in Triptych

No. 3 Trio in Triptych, 10x8" oil on gessobord

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." 

— Berthold Auerback

Here is the final panel of my triptych. Somehow showing only the all-female string trio engaged in their music in the first two panels didn't seem complete without someone on the receiving end of their hard work, talent and magic; there's nothing worse than music falling on deaf ears.

Paused seated in partial sunlight, perhaps this man was on his way to the library, judging by the stack of books on the bench? He appears lost in his own world enraptured by the sidewalk jam session in progress? 

Music is a haven for our souls. I believe all beautiful art has the ability to transport us there. Maya Angelou said, "Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness." 

Thank you for crawling along with this project. I hope you've enjoyed the journey as much as I have. 

Together all three of the 10x8" individually framed panels create a 24x10"triptych.

YOU'RE INVITED

Please come see this painting which will be for sale in the Conroe Art League's February Art De Musique Exhibit opening Feb. 3 through April 4. All are invited to attend an Artist's Reception 5-8:00 p.m. on Fri., Feb. 6th. The Gallery is located at 127 Simonton St., Conroe, TX. 

 

No. 2 Trio in Triptych

"No.2 Trio in Triptych", 10x8", oil on gessobord

"A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?" —Albert Einstein

As I promised, here is part two of my triptych (3 individual paintings which make up one large piece of artwork).

 

All three 10x8" framed panels will be for sale as a group in the Conroe Art League's February Art De Musique Exhibit which opens Feb. 3 and runs through April 4. All are invited to attend an artist's reception 5-8:00 p.m. on Fri., Feb. 6th. The Gallery is located at 127 Simonton St., Conroe, TX.  

 

Stay tuned for Part 3 under construction and wet on the easel.
- nancy

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

No.1 Trio in Triptych

"No.1 Trio in Triptych", 10x8", oil on gessobord

"Music in the soul can be heard by the universe."

— Lao Tsu

 It's been way too long since my last blog entry. I'm still painting whenever I am not working, but have mostly been focused on commissioned pieces. 

Today's painting is part one of a triptych (3 individually framed panels which will all hang together as one piece of work). I found the reference photo on this very cool site called Paint My Photo. Artists can search by subject and paint any of the photos on the site free. 

Here's the photo reference I am working from taken by photographer Michael Yates. This piece really touched my soul with the passion and energy of these female musicians; and I loved the man-on-the-street camped out enjoying their sounds. I wanted to include the architecture, but decided to crop in tight on the instrumentalists so they would have a more universal appeal. You'll see how I changed up the photo a bit in the next panel coming soon.

All three 10x8" framed panels will be for sale as a group in the Conroe Art League's February Art De Musique Exhibit which opens Feb. 3 and runs through April 4. All are invited to attend an artist's reception 5-8:00 p.m. on Fri., Feb. 6th. The Gallery is located at 127 Simonton St., Conroe, TX. 

I hope you felt the music in my painting today. Stay tuned for Part 2 of Trio in Triptych.

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

Play A Song For Me

"Play A Song For Me", 10x8" oil on canvas board

CLICK TO PURCHASE

 

"The musician writes for the orchestra what his inner voice sings to him; the painter rarely relies without disadvantage solely upon the images which his inner eye presents to him; nature gives him his forms study governs his combinations of them."   

— Hermann Ebbinghaus

 
This is a painting of my son, Rob when he was younger. It doesn't really look like him in the face, so I am sure he will not recognize himself. However when I look at the painting, I get a distinct sense of satisfaction knowing I have captured his creative genius and spirit of love for music. Whenever I've watched him perform over the years, I can see him disappear pulled along by the hand of the illusive inner voice, enveloped into the sound of the great abyss. I recognize this sanctum, as I suppose is true with all artists. It's an inner sanctuary you simply fall and melt into similar to meditation. It happens quickly and...poof you're mind, heart and very soul are no longer in the space your body still occupies. I don't know where this zone resides, but for me if I'm not there, I am not creating. 

For me this was a successful portrait. 

Thanks for listening today.
nancy

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

SOLD - Big Momma and Little Jack

Big Momma and Jack, 6x6" oil on gessobord

VIEW IN GALLERY

STEP 1 Tone the panel and roughly sketch with turp and umber.

STEP 2
Working with thin paint, loosely begin laying in skin tones

"A baby is God's opinion that life should go on."

— Carl Sandburg

STEP 3
Continue laying in large flat areas and shapes of local color

STEP 4

Still working with thin paint, refining shapes, values, and larger details.

This is the hardest stage for me, I always start having doubts and 

think it not going to work.

 STEP 5
Making adjustments to drawing and begin to define with thicker applications of paint 

This is a commissioned painting, I have been working on from a photo reference of a tender moment captured between a great-grandmother holding her sweet great-grandson. 

I seem to be doing more figurative work lately, so I thought I'd share my step-by-step painting process with you to show how one of my paintings developed from start to finish. See steps 1-6 on right.  

The entire process took me about 12 hours to complete. I am learning more and more each day, and still have a long way to go, but I am having a heck of a lot of fun.

I also want to invite you to browse my NEW Website. I am so excited to be able to now offer my paintings for purchase as fine prints, canvases, note cards etc. Simply click on one of the paintings on my website to see all of the options available. It's so easy. Check it out here. 

If there is a specific painting  in my gallery you're interested that is not being shown on the website, just let me know and I will make it available for printing as well.

Thanks for letting me share.

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

• Graphic Design Studio 

STEP 6 
Continue refining adding highlights, adjusting edges, accentuate details, using thickest applications of paint.

SOLD - Silly Sister Secrets

"Silly Sister Secrets" 6x6" oil on gessobord

NOT FOR SALE

"There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day, when we seem to see beyond the usual. Such are the moments of our greatest happiness. Such are the moments of our greatest wisdom."
— Robert Henri

I'd sure love to know what was being shared by these two little sisters, all smiles and giggles? They sit huddled side by side perhaps hiding together during a game of Hide 'n Seek?


Life is never still. I believe art is a living thing, that hints rather than delineates. In my paintings, my greatest motivation is the desire to convey not just visual facts, but rather to lure viewers in to hear the melody I am singing in pure and simple form. Like music, I want my paintings to lead the viewer deeper, to share the breath of spirit dwelling within; it's a presence which can be felt even if the viewer is unaware of it on a conscious level. 

I have so much more to learn by listening/seeing with heart. I will continue down this road, rejoicing for every moment I have to try again and again. Who knows, maybe one day one of my pieces will transport someone to experience this world of seeing. For me that would mean true success. 

In one of my favorite books, The Art Spirit, Roberts Henri describes art saying, "Art is, after all only a trace—like a footprint—which shows that one has walked bravely and in great happiness."

This piece is a commissioned painting, sorry it's not for sale, but I wanted to share.

Thanks for stopping by to play today. 
 nancy

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

SOLD -Puttin' on the Ritz

"Puttin' on the Ritz", 6x6" oil on gessobord

"Why not seize the pleasure at once? How often is happiness destroyed by preparation. Foolish preparation?" — Jane Austen

 

If the hat fits wear it ... but if it doesn't fit wear it anyway! Meet Juliet our youngest almost-three-year-old granddaughter caught on camera as she delights in playing dress up in a huge green hat and blue satin slippers. Painting children is really a challenge, however it does seem to capture Juliet's joyful and playful little spirit in the moment.

Why is it when we are little we can't wait to grow up, and then once we're grown we want to go back? The grass always seems greener everywhere except where we happen to be. Perhaps the secret is to learn to water the grass where we are, and see what interesting things spring up. Or... as an alternative to watering... put up a bird feeder in your backyard and never know what the heck it is that's sprouting up all over your grass. I can personally guarantee that spot of your yard will be greener. 

BTW, speaking of seizing the moment, Dave and I are going to hit the road again in our pop-up camper this summer. We're planning to head for mountains and rivers to fly fish and paint somewhere out west. Yee-ha! I've been itching to paint more landscapes in plein air. I guess I'm still looking for greener pastures?

Thanks for trying on my blog... carpe diem! (translated from Latin, seize the day)
nancy

 

To view all of my available paintings in my gallery click here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nancy-parsons-122  * Sold pieces are marked with a red dot.

My blog: www.headondownthehighway.blogspot.com

E-mail: njparsons@suddenlink.net

My books:  NEW 2012 Daily Planner and Head on Down the Highway A Blog Book

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net