Head on down the highway

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Bare Facts

"The Bare Facts" 6x6" Oil on canvas panel

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"Simplicity and repose are the qualities that measure the true value of any work of art."

- Frank Lloyd Wright, Architect, designed the Guggenheim

The object of this week's DPW Challenge was to paint an apple using the "smallest amount of information possible" and stopping, not when it is finished but rather as soon as the painting reads as a three-dimensional apple. It certainly requires discipline to limited strokes, the number of colors, and the number of areas of color.

For this red and green painting, I limited my palette to lemon yellow, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, phthalo blue, and just a dot of white for the highlight. I love painting quick, loose and wet into wet, so this was a really fun challenge. The painting ended up with sort of a watercolor feel. My favorite part is the area of green at the top of the apple just where it disappears and merges with the background. Edges should be both hard and soft, I like the loose edge of deep red on the shadow side of the apple. The cast shadow picks up the reflections of the green background and just a touch of the apple's blush peeking through the cool shadow. The hardest part of this exercise is stopping yourself from going back over a stroke twice. That's where the paint dies and looses its freshness.

I believe that less is always more. Leaving parts of a painting seemingly unfinished, beckons and engages the viewer to enter a painting and fill in the blanks for themselves. I'll be repeating this exercise again and again, to learn to simplify further.

Thanks for bobbing in today!

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Monday, March 26, 2012

Loves Me, Loves Me Not


"Loves Me, Loves Me Not" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

"You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming."

—Pablo Neruda

We had a couple to dinner over the weekend; my centerpiece was this old vase beaming with yellow pom daisies. I figured I better paint them quickly before more petals decided to take their final bow.

Author John O'Donohue said, "A room that is yellow can throw a glad brightness back into the space it surrounds." I love the freshness of this color, as most of the walls of my house are painted a soft tint of yellow. However during our dinner, between the glow of candle light, the yellow walls and the brilliance of the daisies, my dining room was literally bursting with such luminosity, you practically needed sunglasses! In fact, the vibrations were so intense, my demure purple vase was totally blown over from the blinding rays, as the grapes huddled together sheltering their faces in the shadows.

Thanks for ringing round my pitcher full of posies today!

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Monday, March 19, 2012

Mini Munchkin

Mini Munchkin, 6x6" Oil on canvas

Click to Buy

With spring in the air, instead of painting last weekend, I spent all day Saturday working in my yard. My yard is looking so much happier, but the downside is I didn't have any paintings to post. I worked on a landscape for several hours on Sunday and had it just about completed, but then decided I didn't like it and wiped my canvas clean and started on this nude instead.

I have been wanting to practice painting skin tones but didn't have a model. Flesh is a grizzly bear for me to paint, so I figured this would be a great exercise. I found this tiny rubber baby which is actually a to-scale model of a 12-week-old fetus and held it in my left hand while painting with my right. Not exactly easy, but the baby fit so perfect in my palm and looked sweet all snuggled up in the cradle of my hand.

I need lots more practice on skin tones but every time I try, I am learning something new. Slowly but surely with lots more practice, I hope to keep improving day by day.

Thanks for letting me bare my soul today!

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Birdie? What birdie?


"Mr. Bean", 6x6" oil on canvas panel (painted from photograph by Angela)

Click to bid

This is Mr. Bean, Angela's cat, all stretched out like some fat satiated king resting on pillows by a sunny window after an overindulgent meal. Hmm... I'll bet he's been up to no good? He is looking suspiciously contented, like he just got away with stealing cookies from a cookie jar. "Pussycat, pussycat where have you been?" Frightening a little mouse under her chair perhaps... or maybe a little Tweety bird or two? I inspected the scene for telltale signs of perhaps the tiny tip of a tail, or a wisp of feather at the corners of his mouth but efficiently, all incriminating evidence had been destroyed and licked clean. Pretty sneaky, Mr. Bean.

This was a fun one to paint. My favorite part is that one little red-orange spot of color on his tongue. The light was hitting it just right making it glow with transparency.

Thanks for resting here awhile... Meow!

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

In the Red


"In the Red", 6x6" oil on canvas panel

No, this painting isn't about negative finances. It's about, red, one of my favorite colors to paint with. It's a color that really knows how to scream out loud. Red has the ability to conjure up a wide range of emotions from passionate love to violence and warfare. Red is the color of blood, energy, danger and fire, also known to stimulate and increase blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat, and pulse rate. In China, red is associated with good luck and fortune and in Singapore it symbolizes joy. It is the highest arc of the rainbow, the longest wavelength of light, and the first color you lose sight of at twilight.

According to "The Language of Stained Glass" at Armstrong Browing Library at Baylor University: When Dante spoke of the Seraphim - the first of the nine choirs of Angels - the color that "glows" was the pure orange vermilion which his fellow citizens and brothers-in-spirit (the painters, illuminators, and glassmen) knew as red. So, it may be said that pure red is the color of divine love, the Holy Spirit, courage, self-sacrifice, martyrdom, and all the warm impulses that belong to the great-hearted everywhere. You can read more about red here.

So what does this rather strange combination of apple, radishes and Flowering Quince (Japonica) have in common? You guessed it...the color RED! Oh, how I do love red, the warmest of all colors.

Thanks for looking through rose colored glasses with me today. : )

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Relentless Desire

"Relentless Desire"(painted from a photograph by Angela Fletcher)
6x6" oil on canvas

Green is the color of relentless desire denoting growth and new hope, bursting forth, at first, with soft lime whispers of spring energy. John O'Donohue in his book The Invisible Embrace Beauty says, "Gravity cannot hold it down; the call of light is always stronger." The power and will to survive, as witnessed in tender first grasses and plants, find a way to emerge through even the tiniest crevices in concrete. Miracles emerge out of the cold, dark emptiness of winter's tomb, bursting forth in triumphant birth into the light of life. The glory of spring has come again.

Thanks for viewing my painting.

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Pond-ering Thoreau


"Pond-ering Thoreau" 8x10" Oil on gessobord

"A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature." - 9. The Ponds, Walden, Henry David Thoreau

Did you think you were looking at this upside down? This abstract landscape was painted from another one of my friend Angela's inspiring photos, capturing looking glass reflections of aqua sky and surrounding forest. Sparkling on the silent stillness of another "Walden's" pond, the aqueous pool was dotted with a flotilla of lily pads, all set a sail in the early morning chill. A bare low-lying branch with willowy outstretched arms, hovers just above half submerged logs breaking the water's surface, and forming bridges for sun loving turtles.

And where was Monet for all this?

Thanks for pausing and reflecting on my work today.

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Monday, March 5, 2012

Cana Carnival

"Cana Carnival" 5x7" oil on canvas panel

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Spring in the air! My bright fuchsia-colored azaleas are in full bloom and robins have returned on the waves of warm afternoon temps in the high seventies in this part of Texas. Meanwhile, I've been on high-visual alert for signs of resurrected friends donning billowy bonnets for my garden spring follies.

I actually painted this flamboyant redheaded Cana Lily, sometime ago. She was doing a high-kick can-can like she was expecting Toulouse-Lautrec himself to show up to paint her portrait. I have to admit, she is pretty cute even in the abstract.

Thanks for buzzing around my world of color. ; )

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Just Horsing Around

"Just Horsing Around" 10x8" Oil on gessobord

I was really jazzed to enter this weeks DPW Challenge, since I have never painted a horse before. Guess I've just never had the opportunity to photograph one in the wild. I have included above, the photograph we were asked to paint for the challenge.

I think I enjoyed painting the grass as much as the horse. I tried to break the grass up into an interesting pattern, and was happy with the mosaic, patchwork-look that emerged. My personal challenge is to always try to keep my brush strokes as loose as possible. I had been working on a large commissioned piece that had to be rendered very tightly, so this was a welcome change of pace for this old mare now free to roam in new pastures.

Thanks for stopping to graze awhile in my pasture. ; )

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Monday, February 27, 2012

Outside the Lines

"Outside the Lines" 6x6" oil on gessobord

Lost in a creative world all her own, Annie gets in touch with her inner artist. I painted this from a photo of my niece as she blissfully included most of her arm as part of her extended canvas. Children are so naturally uninhibited and unaware of boundaries including those thick black lines of coloring books that we were so terrified to cross outside of as children. Who decided that we had to stay within those lines anyway? I think most people got discouraged and gave up on art once the guidelines were imposed on us. We were even graded as to how perfectly we could stay inside the lines. Or for that matter, who told us that trees HAD to be painted green with brown trunks? I've always wondered if children don't see more than we do with our conditioned brains? Perhaps trees really are purple but we ceased to see the purple after someone unknowingly handed us a green crayon and basically told us what we WERE suppose to see, rather than allowing us to see what we were seeing? I wonder what else we once saw and heard that was filtered out? Hmmm... food for thought.

I usually simplify and edit unnecessary information in small paintings, however I included all the surrounding details here to show Annie in her magical world of toys, fun and bright colors. Draped across the back of the chair, Annie's golden fairy princess dress awaits her next adventure. Life was so simple and magical back then...what happened?

Thanks for entering my world of color today.

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

In The Hood

"In The Hood" 6x6" oil on gessobord

I have been having so much fun painting birds. I decided to buy a serious bird feeder, so I could get to know some of the locals in my hood. Sunday morning, I put the feeder up and filled it to the brim with bird seed and went inside to paint. When I peeked out the window several minutes later... to my total delight... there were were a pair of titmice munching down like they hadn't eaten for a week. Moments later these happy patrons became dining companions of this little Black Capped Chickadee; he was dressed to the hilt including his masked Zorro disguise. I nearly jumped out of my skin I was so excited!!! This was the first time I'd ever seen one that I recall? Funny how, until I started painting birds, with the exception of avifauna (cardinals, blue jays, robins, sparrows and crows), I was never able to recognize or identify any of the other birds. What a gift this has been as a whole new world has opened before my eyes. I wonder what other priceless treasures I am blind to in the world which surrounds me?

Today a cute cardinal couple discovered the free handouts and hung about most of the early morning. All was well until Suzy squirrel got wind of the grand opening of my fast food avian diner and made a total pig out herself...what a mess!

Thanks for dropping by for the feast today.

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Monday, February 20, 2012

Rainy-Day Sunshine

"Rainy-Day Sunshine" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

When did we lose the desire to jump into mud puddles in carefree reckless abandonment? This little girl's spirit captured my heart as she delights in the sheer joy of sloshing in mud and water in her pretty pink boots. Totally lost in the moment, she was captured in a photo shared by my friend Angela.

How sad we've lost that same sense of wonder, discovery and magic over so many simple things in life, like: climbing trees, finding pictures in cloud formations, making necklaces out of sweet clover, creating angels in the first snowfall of winter, or jumping into piles of raked autumn leaves. All of these brought the greatest and most satisfying pleasures. So what happened? Did we just grow up ... or have we just grown down?

Thanks for jumping into my puddle today.

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

I Give You My Heart

"I Give You My Heart" 6x6" oil on gessobord

As Elton John would say, "Don't go breaking my heart." This little crimson ceramic heart balances in the shadowy-well of a slippery spoon, precariously suspended over the deep, bone-chilling chasm of white china. One false move and Miss Scarlet could find herself plunging into the deep abyss, crashing and shattering into countless pieces at the bottom of the cup ... and just like Humpty Dumpty ... never be put back together again.

Ever wonder why hearts are so fragile and vulnerable? Such a dichotomy for a rough-tough organ saddled with the enormous responsibility of life and death. Perhaps today we need to pause for a moment to say thanks to our hearts ... even if they do break from time to time.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Thanks for viewing my painting for today.

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Birdie Want a Berry?

"Birdie Want a Berry? 6x6" oil on gessobord

Although at first glance you may have thought this was a robin, it's really a beautiful Eastern Bluebird, a member of the thrush family. If you're like me, I thought only robins had red breasts?

While the early bird caught the worm, this one got up late and had to settle for a bright little berry for supper.

I sure am loving painting these birds. Thanks for poke'n your head in today.

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Orange Wars

"Orange Wars" 6x6" oil on gessobord

Totally unsuspecting, I entered into this brightly-lit colorful setup thinking it would be a snap to paint. Wrong! It was an ambush as a three-hour battle raged in all out war. Blood and guts spilled everywhere. You can still see mangled and dismembered casualties laying around on the ground. Whew! It was a fierce encounter of the worst kind. The two lone survivors avoided demise only by the safety and protection of their blue tank and, of course, the white flag they waved. What cowards.

Thanks for paying these unsung heroes honor today.

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Thursday, February 2, 2012

"Not One Step Closer...

"Not One Step Closer" 6x6" Oil on gessobord

...or I'll drill you full of holes." This tough looking mean guy is a Western Scrub-Jay, the Blue Jay of dry western lowlands. I certainly would hate to meet him in a dark alley. Maybe I am just jay prejudice, or perhaps suffering from post traumatic stress after being attacked by a mother blue jay whose baby birds had fallen out of their nest. I was only 10 years old at the time and wanted to rescue them from neighborhood cats lurking nearby. I had barely gotten within an arms reach before momma jay started dive bombing me. I thought for sure I was going to end up like those eyeball-less dead people in Alfred Hitchcock's, The Birds. Scared the living daylights out of me as she proceeded to drill my skull full of holes.

I do love the rich deep blue color of these guys but I'll just do any appreciating from the safety of a photo.

Hope you enjoyed the bird watching? I've really have been having fun with these birds.

Thanks for viewing.

nancy

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

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Morning Serenity

"Morning Serenity" 6x6" oil on gessobord

I must be stuck on painting "A" words this week. "A" as in animals and apples. So here we are today back in the bird kingdom where this little feathered friend was caught on film by, none other than "A" as in, Angela. He/she stole my heart away with its graceful salutation-to-the-sun looking pose, and those distinctive markings. I can't remember what the name of this bird is but what a looker. It seems to be at total peace and one with the universe.

You get another A+ in photography, Angela. I sure had fun painting this one.

I hope you enjoyed this birds eye view. Have a glorious day!

nancy

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: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Monday, January 30, 2012

Caught Red Handed


"Caught Red Handed 6x6" oil on canvas

Stop thief! It looks like Alvin is up to no good again, stealing seeds from local bird residents. I've never seen a chipmunk in this part of Texas. I painted this one from a photo taken by my friend Angela on her recent trip to Santa Fe. I have to admit he's pretty doggone cute for a furry little rodent, even if he is a criminal. Those stripes down his back are going to look nice from behind bars. Better run Alvin, we're on to you. Just kidding... Smile your on Candid Camera!

Thanks for viewing my work!

nancy

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: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Bowl Me Over

"Bowl Me Over" 10x8" Oil on canvas

Click to Bid

Well bowl me over...it's a bowl of apples spilling out over the table top. I love to paint, as well as snack on apples, and thought these were especially lovely subjects!

With two apples in the bowl and three outside the bowl, this painting could serve as a metaphor for the political arena. The apples inside the glass bowl are holding on trying not to fall out, while those on the outside are vying to get in. Although all the apples appear bright and shiny on the outside... some do contain worms.

Thanks for dropping by today!

nancy

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: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Morning Glory

"Morning Glory" 6x6" oil on gessobord

Ah, the good life. This relaxed looking senior sits on a sunny park bench early in the morning, reading the sports page...no doubt, while sipping on a Starbucks coffee...I am sure. From here it's probably on to the crossword puzzle followed by a game of dominoes with his buddies, then grab a sandwich at the lunch counter at the grocery store on the corner before heading home for a nap. Ah, retirement...it sure looks like a good life...or is the grass just looking greener?

This is my entry to this week's painting challenge from Daily Paintworks. I was really surprised how much fun this was to paint. I cropped and edited out a lot of the distracting background and focused in on our morning glory.

Thanks for parking with me for a spell.

nancy

My blog: www.headondownthehighway.blogspot.com

E-mail: njparsons@suddenlink.net

Click to order my NEW 2012 Daily Planner

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Sunday, January 22, 2012

The Lone Ranger

"The Lone Ranger" 6x6" Oil on canvas board

The Lone Ranger rides again! After two weeks of fighting off a viral infection and an abscess tooth, I am back in the saddle and ready to look life in the face, along with miles of canvases to come.

I am feeling so much better, I even got to teach my first one-day-mini workshop yesterday at our home. We had just completed some remodeling of my studio, so I was finally able to move my easel from the middle of our living room up into the garage apartment studio which is now donning a new staircase with a deck, new ceiling and lighting inside the studio. Woo-hoo...bring it on!

This lovely, yet a little lonely looking, apple was our class model. We painted her in gray scale values and also in full color. She sat patiently posing for us all day and never once made a move or uttered a peep. We couldn't have chosen a more well behaved subject. This was my demo painting.

I had a great time with the brave souls who attended. I think they all learned a little and were good sports, especially Jack whom I periodically called David throughout the day. Mercy me! It ain't easy living in the right side of the brain.

Thanks for viewing today.

nancy

My blog: www.headondownthehighway.blogspot.com

E-mail: njparsons@suddenlink.net

Click to order my NEW 2012 Daily Planner

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Breakfast of Champions

"Breakfast of Champions" 6x6" oil on gessobord

Want a bite? Breakfast is served. This painting is my submission to DailyPaint Work's Paint Your Breakfast Challenge. Nothing better than a hot bowl of Steel Cut Oatmeal to start the day off right. I like to top mine with a dab of butter, salt, pepper and a few nuts or seeds. Yum, yum, yum...keeps me going all morning. Throw in a cup of coffee and grrrrrrr!!!

Thanks for viewing.

nancy

My blog: www.headondownthehighway.blogspot.com

E-mail: njparsons@suddenlink.net

Click to order my NEW 2012 Daily Planner

Monday, January 9, 2012

The Good the Bad and the Ugly

"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" oil on canvas 6x6"

Meet "Yoda" the mighty chihuahua, death-defying-kitty hunter and CEO of the entire world.

I don't want him to hear me say this out loud, so I'll have to whisper but...he thinks he's the only dog in the world. Please keep it under your hat, I'd hate to burst his delusions of grandeur. Big things do come in small packages. Yoda also thinks he is my bodyguard, day and night, sitting in my lap when I am trying to work, and at night sleeping as close as he can get to me while I am burning up with hot flashes. Oh for joy!

I couldn't resist painting him as he sat relaxing in the bright sunlight streaming through the window onto the bed. I grabbed my camera while he posed. I am sure he's thinking, count yourself the luckiest person in the world to be the artist designated the highest honor of painting my official portrait to be revered for all ages to come. What an ego!

Thanks to all who were brave enough to enter today. Warning!!! Don't turn your back on Yoda when you leave or he'll nip you on the back of your heel, as if to say... And don't you forget it!

Yo quiero Taco Bell. : )

nancy

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Cry of the Cock!

"Cry of the Cock!" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

I really should have been a rooster, up and out of the house before the sun even thinks about peeking through the surrounding piney woods. However, on New Years Day I slept in a bit longer. When I walked into my kitchen to start the coffee brewing, I was greeted by the brightest of a new-year sun pushing and shoving its way through the wooden slats of the blinds, splashing luminous stripes of light beams like strobe lights across sleepy red walls of the breakfast nook. I grabbed my camera and started shooting the visual feast for this painting.

It's the simple things in life that have the ability to surprise and delight us the most! Perhaps I need to sleep in more often or just change up my routine every now and then? No telling what other amazing things I'd find lurking about in the most overlooked of ordinary places.

Thanks for peeking in today!

nancy

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Show Your True Colors

10x8" oil on canvas

Click to Place a Bid

Do you think these Texas trees are dressing up for a masquerade ball? Check out those December colors! So where has all this color been hiding? For some reason, in spite of the worst drought on record in Texas with only half our normal rainfall, East Texas witnessed the most gorgeous fall color I have ever seen in this part of the country. The only problem was it didn't decide to manifest itself until right before Christmas! Now there is just something not right about hanging Christmas lights on trees that are still full of leaves and fall colors. I am not complaining mind you, but it has been a very unusual year. Who knows maybe we'll be blessed with snow this year?

Thanks for following along and viewing my work!

nancy

Get organized, place an order for my NEW 134-page, Not-So-Still Life-2012 Daily Planner (as seen on my blog), featuring 13 paintings from 2011. Available for purchase online, just click to view all the pages and add to your shopping cart.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

"Candied Apple"

"Candied Apple"6x6" Oil on canvas panel

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Happy New Year!!! I'm back and am sorry for the long absence. All the holiday shopping, baking, cleaning, wrapping, cards, entertaining and cooking, plus being hit by a nasty virus sure took a toll on my painting and blog time.

A CHALLENGING CHALLENGE


Still Life

In today's still life, a bit of leftover holiday treat sat relaxed in a candy jar, that is until the big-bully-of-an-apple forced his way in pushing the hard-headed candies onto the floor. Poor little fellows...no telling what sugar-starved predator might gobble them up.

Under painting

Today's painting is another entry to a Daily Paintworks challenge. The way it works is to setup a still life and photograph it (see photo left). Then paint an under painting of the photo in raw umber paying close attention to the values (mid tones, darks, and lights which were rubbed out with a Q-Tip) (see photo below). Lastly, paint in full color on top of the value study, but substituting all NEW colors for the real colors (The end result was "Candied Apple" at top of page).

The moral of the story is, if values are painted correctly, you can paint in any color and it will still hold together as a painting!

Get organized, place an order for my NEW 134-page, Not-So-Still Life-2012 Daily Planner (shown above on right), featuring 13 paintings as seen on Head On Down the Highway in 2011. Available for purchase online, just click to view all the pages and add to your shopping cart.

Thanks for viewing my work.

nancy

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Darkness Into Light


"Darkness Into Light" 8x6" Oil on stretched canvas

I have talked about my friend Angela who goes on hikes in the woods every Sunday, and then sends me amazing photos to paint. Well, this painting was taken from another one of her recent images.

I was especially drawn to the way the photo was taken from amongst the dark shadows in the foreground and looking out onto this quiet sanctuary of a watery cove that fades off into the distance. It seems to invite us to also step out of the darkness around us, into the pure misty-morning light that, like a curtain being suddenly drawn open, magically reveals reflections of color and life...our invitation into the pristine freshness at the birth of another day.

Like shattering light through stain glass, I decided to paint this one using only rectangular slashes of color, and a new color for each stroke, so no two strokes of color were exactly the same hue.

Thanks for entering my world today.

nancy

Thursday, December 8, 2011

When, When Little Wren?

"When, When Little Wren?" 6x6" oil on Ampersand board

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When, oh when, little Carolina Wren?...Will warmer weather come again?

BRR! It was 26 degrees on my thermometer here in Conroe, Texas this morning. I get up at 4:30 a.m. several mornings a week (or is that still the middle of the night?) to swim laps at a local outdoor pool, covered only by an unheated tent. When I returned to my car after this morning's swim, it was so cold, I had to scrape ice off my windshield with a credit card in order to drive home....now that's cold!!! I know I can't complain compared to others in many parts of the world but it's all relevant.

NOTE: No matter what I do, I always end up having to post blurry photographs of my work. So, I am experimenting with scanning my paintings on my flatbed scanner directly to my computer. The quality sure looks a lot better and much more accurate. It's a tricky process since my paintings are always wet, but I took four paper clips and placed one under each corner of the painting, just barely catching the tips of the corners, so nothing would touch the glass except the paper clips. After scanning, I touched up the tiny bits of paper clip that were visible in the final image in Photoshop. Pretty cool, huh?

Thanks for dropping by!

nancy

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

A Cardinal Point

"A Cardinal Point" 6x6" oil on Ampersand board