Thursday, June 30, 2011

"Splendor in the Glass"

"Splendor in the Glass" 6x6" Oil on Canvas Panel
Click to Purchase
What a bully! Momma mango roller is at it again, crushing down the last green tree in the neighborhood to make room for yet another highway headed somewhere. Progress they call it! What a shame, and just as this comfortable citrus couple, lime and orange, were settling down to enjoy a quiet picnic under the cool shade of the canopy. 


My seven-year-old grandson and I had a great time painting from this still life we set up yesterday. While in a panic to prevent an obvious tragedy, I tensed up and painted a bit tighter than I like. To me, less is always more...the fewer brush strokes the better. I guess I just got carried away trying to rescue these near-casualty victims from ultimate destruction. Whew, that was a close call!  

Thanks for viewing my painting!
 nancy


 FREE SHIPPING
I am offering FREE shipping this summer within the U.S. on all paintings in my ebay and  Etsy stores. These small paintings look great in groups of two or more, and add interest and charm to an entry, kitchen, bath, sitting on a bookshelf, or other small areas. 
                                                                           FRAMES
To purchase online frames, check out the "floater" frames like those shown below. The paintings just gets glued onto it...super easy. http://www.kingofframe.com/6x6-Frames_c_22.html


   


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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Cana Can-Can 8x6"

"Cana Can-Can" 8x6" Oil on canvas
Click Here to Purchase

Miracle of miracles! Despite "exceptional" drought conditions, wild fires and record breaking heat all across Texas, imagine my surprise stumbling upon this thirsty can-can girl hanging on for dear life, like an Israelite lost in the desert of my scorched garden. From the time we moved into this house, some 20 years ago, I have had 5 ft. canas blooming from April through September expect for this year. With little-to-no rain all year, most everything is now shriveled and parched. 

I felt like a merciless butcher chopping off this young ladies long slender neck and beautiful red mane for my still life. Buckwheat is now dead...but no longer thirsty! LOL Looks like I'll have to start buying flowers to paint this summer.

 FREE SHIPPING
I am offering FREE shipping this summer within the U.S. on all paintings in my ebay and  Etsy stores. These small paintings look great in groups of two or more, and add interest and charm to an entry, kitchen, bath, sitting on a bookshelf, or other small areas. 

 FRAMES
To purchase online frames, check out the "floater" frames like those shown below. The paintings just gets glued onto it...super easy. http://www.kingofframe.com/6x6-Frames_c_22.html

Thanks for viewing my work. 

-nancy   

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Sunday, June 26, 2011

"Misty Watermelon Memories"

"Misty Watermelon Memories" 6x6" Oil on canvas panel
This painting is my submission to DailyPaintWorks' "Upside Down" Challenge. We were given the photo above with instructions to paint it upside down from start to finish. No, I don't mean me hanging upside down painting, the photograph had to remain upside down. This technique was first introduced in the book "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain." For some strange reason our left brains can't handle not being able to name and identify parts when things are upside down, so the submissive right brains steps in to take over. It's so much easier to draw and paint upside down. In fact I'll double-dog-dare you to try it sometime. You will find that literally everyone in the universe can draw amazingly better using this approach. I loved the way this turned out, once I was able to turn it right side up and see what I had painted. Those very cool reflections were really fun painting especially when you didn't even know they were reflections from upside down.

I am now offering FREE shipping within the U.S. on all paintings in my ebay store. These little paintings look great in groups of two or more and add interest and charm to an entry, kitchen, bath, sitting on a bookshelf, or other small areas. 

Also, here is a great source to purchase online frames for these small paintings. Check out the "floater" frames like those shown below. The painting just gets glued onto it...super easy. http://www.kingofframe.com/6x6-Frames_c_22.html

Thanks for viewing my work. 

-nancy   

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Thursday, June 23, 2011

Lemon Drops

"Lemon Drops" 6x6" Oil on Canvas Panel 
Click here to purchase

These lemons are bursting at the seams waiting to be squeezed into an ice cold glass of lemonade. 

They are reminding me of my son, his wife and my grandson all nestled together and hunkering down in their home with mono. I have been so busy trying to help out that I haven't had much time to paint this past week. Hopefully, we'll all be back on our games next week. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this painting. Thanks for checking in today.

***Summer Sale: I am offering free shipping within the U.S. on this one.
 
-nancy   


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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

"Ta-Da" 8x6"

"Ta-Da" 8x6" Oil on canvas panel


Click here to purchase

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Big Top. Please turn your attention to the center ring where common household objects stack up to perform King of the Mountain, a death defying feat requiring perfect precision and balance. Warning: Do not attempt this if you are prone to vertigo.

Thank you for viewing my painting.
 
-nancy   


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Monday, June 13, 2011

Murder on the Rue Blue

"Murder on the Rue Blue" 6x6" Oil on Canvas Panel"
Click Here to Purchase
*********************CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS LINE ***********************

You've stumbled onto a grisly crime scene here today, where a deranged escapee from the nearby prison's kitchen has methodically dismembered an innocent young Lady. According to eyewitnesses, this cold-blooded butcher was heard ordering the other hostage about saying, "Do as I say or I'll cut you into little pieces like your friend here and turn you both into applesauce."

Thankfully this serial killer has now been apprehended and is being held in solitary dishwasher confinement. The motive in this brutal homicide is still unclear but a full investigation is underway. The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin. What is this world coming to? 

Thank you for aiding with the investigation, I know it's not easy looking at such a disturbing sight. 
 
-nancy   


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Thursday, June 9, 2011

Ladies in Red 6x6"

"Ladies in Red" 6x6" Oil on Canvas Panel

My supply of still life wannabe stars was running low, so I had my husband pick up some apples on his weekly jaunt to the grocery store. He loves to grocery shop, go figure? When he returned and pulled these three beauties out of the bag, I was kicked in the head and ran to grab my paints and brushes. This glamorous trio of juicy Pink Ladies are seen here dressed up in brilliant fiery gowns, as they prepare to strut on down the blue violet carpeted runway. 


You know, every now and then I produce a painting that just feels right and this is one of 'em! Exhausted, I put down my weapons and went to bed with visions of Pink Ladies dancing in my head.
   
Thank you for viewing my painting.
- nancy   


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Wednesday, June 8, 2011

"Good Day Sunshine"

"Good Day Sunshine" 6x8" Oil on Canvas Panel


The blueberry kids are out playing on the beach today, under the watchful eye of a diligent warm-skinned nanny. She sits close by in what little shade she can find, alongside the guard stand where a towering Black Eyed Susan is now on active duty.  

This was not the way the day began, in fact, this golden beauty is the replacement for a crude and deceitful white carnation who was on guard watch when we all arrived. You see, everything was going well until I got into a heated skirmish with him over his lack of values. I have to admit, I threw the first punch and then proceeded to hit him with one loaded brush after another. The regretful encounter ended when I threw him and his stem across my studio as far as I could throw. After wiping my canvas in total defeat, suddenly straight out of nowhere, entered this dark-eyed Baywatch hero who took the stand and ended up saving this painting from near drowning. 
   
Thank you for viewing my painting.
- nancy   


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Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Garden Pile Up

"Garden Pile Up" 6x6" oil on canvas panel



I've been stuck on the subject of food lately, as you can always tell when I'm trying to drop a few. Why is it whenever I try not to think of food, that's all I seem to be able to think about? However, here are some very colorful low-fat companions I came across while foraging around in my veggie bin. They were all piled up waiting to be sliced and diced into a nutritious soup. The trouble is dining on hot veggie soup will be miserable in all this summer heat, so I'll probably have to chase it down with something cold...like a little Blue Bell French Vanilla topped off with a smidgen of Hershey's chocolate syrup and well, maybe just a few chopped pecans. I'll skip the whipped cream after all I am dieting. Oh well, there's always tomorrow. 
  
Thank you for viewing my painting.
- nancy   


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Monday, June 6, 2011

"Peaches and Cream" 6x6"

"Peaches and Cream" 6x6" oil on canvas panel
Click to Purchase

Somehow watching my daughter try on long flowing, creamy-white satin wedding dresses all day Saturday, reminded me of this painting I had left unfinished. Do you recognize the models? This still life is actually the tragic demise of last week's "Peachy Keen" peaches, along with the discarded pit. It was a challenge being my first attempt at half submerged fruit. I was afraid it wasn't going to make it down the aisle into prime time but with few tucks here and there...I do think it now fits.
  
Thank you for viewing my painting.
- nancy


   

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Thursday, June 2, 2011

"Cherries Jubilee" 6x6"

"Cherries Jubliee" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

Click Here to Purchase 


Bing! Cherries are back in season! Every time I see or taste a cherry, I am reminded of glorious "Flaming Cherries Jubilee." Served to your table set aflame like Baked Alaska, this was a dessert my high school boyfriend and I used to delight in at Cyrano's restaurant in St. Louis (I grew up there) at the end of a date. "Those were the days my friends...we thought they'd never end." 

More delicious summer fruit, these brilliant cherries are having their own little jubilee of a celebration. Running to meet up with each other like long lost friends, caught in a group hug at their seasonal reunion. It's so good to see these crimson peeps back in the local hood. 

Here's a recipe I found but have not yet tried. I don't remember there being coconut in the desert but sure sounds good. Enjoy!

FLAMING CHERRIES JUBILEE    
1 qt. vanilla ice cream
1 lb. can dark sweet cherries
1 tbsp. sugar
1 c. liquid (fruit syrup plus red wine or water)
Coconut (opt.)
1 tbsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. currant jelly
1/3 c. brandy
Cut or scoop ice cream into 8 equal portions. Roll in coconut. Place on a serving plate and return to freezer. Drain cherries but reserve syrup. Combine cornstarch, sugar and jelly in saucepan; add liquid. Cook and stir until thickened and clear. Add cherries and heat. Pour this cherry sauce into a metal serving bowl or chafing dish. In small saucepan, warm brandy slightly; ignite with match and pour flaming brandy over the hot sauce and stir gently. Serve sauce over ice cream. Yield: 8 servings.
The sauce may be made early and then reheated in the microwave. The flaming and serving must be done at the table, of course, with the lights dimmed!

 
Thank you for viewing my painting.
- nancy


   

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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Peachy Keen 6x6"

"Peachy Keen" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

Click to Purchase

Water, water everywhere except here! The month of May has come to a screeching halt, and dried up our last hope for rain. With only a half inch of rain since January, this is not a good sign, as the long hot dog-days-of-summer have again bullied and shoved their way back into the thirsty pine forests of east Texas.

However on the bright side, along with the over-bearing scorch of summer also comes the gift of fresh peaches, melons, corn and tomatoes that occassionaly contain hints of the flavors we knew and loved as kids. I found these three ripe, sunburned beauties curled up in my bowl resting in the shade. The luscious trio graciously agreed to pose for my quick study. Once I had brushed on the last touch of blush to their fuzzy cheeks, they made a beeline for the cool recesses of the fridge, where they will chill before being sliced and dipped into a bath of rich cream awaiting their final debut. I hope they taste as good as they look.

Thank you for viewing my painting
- nancy


   

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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Elsie Bliss

"Elsie Bliss" 20x20" oil on gallery wrapped canvas

Meet Elsie a local bovine residing at Old Oak Farm in Bellville, TX, right near the home of the Blue Bell Ice Creamery.  I spent an afternoon here trekking around on rolling pastures dotted with live oaks, carefully dodging cow paddies, while corralling willing cows to photograph. Elsie, with her sweet face, was my favorite. She was quite content to let me get close enough to snap photos of her. I don't know the first thing about cows but by the look in her eyes, she seems to be patiently bearing the weight of another soon-to-be life and telling me, "If you think this is huge just wait...I still have the summer to get through." 

Thank you for viewing my painting
- nancy


   

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Thursday, May 19, 2011

SOLD-Sitt'n Purrfect

"Sitt'n Purrfect" 12x12" Oil on canvas
Here's my submission to this week's "The Whole Cat and Kaboodle Challenge". I have never tried to paint a cat before but was purring with the way this one came out. I love the way the warm afternoon sun bursts through the window onto the restful scene.

We also love cats at our house and this totally content cat looks exactly like a feline we used to own who vanished into thin air. We're afraid he may have ended up as take out for some hawk's thanksgiving dinner.  Poor kitty!

This piece is painted on a larger 12x12" canvas so the sales price is higher.

Thank you for viewing my painting
- nancy


    

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Monday, May 16, 2011

"Old Oak Farm"

"Old Oak Farm" 5x7" Oil on canvas panel 

 
We had a blast this past weekend, camping at this lovely 100-plus-year-old farm in Bellville, TX where our youngest daughter, Allie will be married in Sept. to Jason Stevens. I took a ton of photos of the farmland, the old abandoned farmhouse and some very curious cows, calves and bulls. I can't wait to start painting from some of them.

Unfortunately, I was rushing so furiously to pack that I forgot my easel. However, Allie and I still managed to paint out in the pasture, avoiding cow paddies and sitting on chairs holding our canvases in one hand and paint brushes in the other. A bit challenging, I came away covered in yellow paint but had a glorious afternoon sitting in the shade with the wind in my face under the spreading arms of the big oak tree where they will soon say their "I do's."

The icing on the cake was winning in a game of Bocce Ball, and sleeping in the crisp night air inside our open pop-up. And then, to be awakened in the middle of the night by the haunting howls of a band of coyotes, or perhaps a pack of wolves from the nearby woods baying at the waxing orb of a moon.  

Thank you for viewing my painting
- nancy


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Friday, May 13, 2011

"Pairing Up"

"Pairing Up" 6x6" Oil on canvas panel
Click here to purchase

Blogger seems to be having a problem and has deleted my last two postings so I am reposting both of them now.

When I set up this still life and adjusted the lighting, the apple's shadow created a brilliant warm reflection in the middle of the dark shadow on the side of the pear. I just love it when that happens...so much fun to paint.

One good thing about painting fruit is that it doesn't wilt as fast as flowers, so you can take your time and don't have to paint like a whirling dervish in the middle of a Texas bonfire in mid-August.

Did you notice that sulking pear inside the bowl? She's sitting back in the cool dark pouting because she didn't get chosen to stand up front by the red center of attention. Thank you for viewing my painting
- nancy


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SOLD -"Strut Your Stuff"

"Strut Your Stuff" 12x12" oil on canvas
This beautiful, bright-sunny floral arrangement was recently sent to my husband (first time he ever received flowers). I totally fell in love with the colors and started painting it immediately but then kept getting pulled away for one reason or another. Each time I went back to work on it, the flowers got a little droopier. By the end of the week, all of the flowers were faded and several had fallen off their stems. Thus, I was left to finish painting it from memory—which was not a bad thing—as it forced me to work quick and not overwork it. I do love the loose abstract quality.

This painting is sold but will be on exhibit at The Linda Watson Gallery in Conroe during the month of May. 

Thank you for viewing my painting
- nancy


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Thursday, May 5, 2011

"How Now Brown Cow"

"How Now" 6x6" Oil on canvas panel
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She's baaack! Nope I didn't die and am sorry for the long absence. I was beginning to think the gods were against me. I hadn't had a chance to even pick up a paint brush for nearly two weeks. This was the longest period of time in which I haven't painted in nearly a year. My goal is to paint every night after work, and then all-day Saturday and Sundays "but clouds got in my way" as one commitment after another invaded my pasture! It sure feels good to be back in the saddle again.

BTW I have to brag about husband Dave Parsons who recently learned he has been selected as the 2011 Poet Laureate for the State of Texas! ...Lots to MOOOOOOOO about at our house. Check his work out at Dave Parsons Poetry

Thank you for viewing my painting.
-nancy
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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

"Hide Me"

"Hide Me" 6x6" oil on canvas panel
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Today's painting was my entry to this week's "Color Challenge" at Daily PaintWorks. In this color theory assignment, we were to limit the colors in a painting by using one of three color schemes: complimentary, split complimentary, or triadic. I used a complimentary color scheme of orange and blue which are directly opposite each other on the color wheel. I also used orange as the dominate color (see the color wheels below for more explanation). Having one color dominate also adds unity to the composition and helps lead the eye to the center of interest by projecting it forward. As you can see, the center of interest here is my big-bad-scary sugar bowl from which the little orange is trying to hide behind the slice of cantaloupe. He was caught orange handed sneaking sugar out of the bowl and is now in big trouble.

Day by day, stroke by stroke, painting by painting I am learning. Life is exciting... and oh so grand!

Thank you for viewing my painting.
-nancy

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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

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

"Seeing Spots" 6x6" oil on canvas
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




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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

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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

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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




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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




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