Paint Party Friday- July 22, 2011

For this week's PPF, I have two WIP's to show.  The first is a portrait of a Chocolate lab named Miles....he's almost done, just a little tweaking to do.  I like to include a combination of shading and line work in my pencil drawings.

So I'll do a little shading on his ears and just a touch on his hind foot and then call him done!  I love working in pencil- it's funny but lately I spend so much time painting, that I forget how much I enjoy working in other mediums.....

For my other WIP, I started a new painting for this week's challenge at Inspiration Avenue- the theme is "Wings" so I chose to do a butterfly surrounded by zinnias.  I'm planning to work to the edges of the tape, then re tape along the painted edges and finish the composition in a paler palette creating a "frame" of sorts...I've never done this before, but I'm really excited about seeing how it turns out.
Here's what I have so far:

Be sure to stop by Paint Party Friday to see what everyone else has been up to- it's always an amazing collection of work!
Cheers,
Stephanie

Wings in the Garden.....

The challenge this week at Inspiration Avenue is "Wings" and since it's been a while since I've painted a new canvas, I've decided to use this theme as a starting point.  My first thought was to do something Dragonflies, since I LOVE them, collect them and have several hanging out in my garden lately.  I will try to get some pics of them when it's drier outside- they haven't come out yet today. 
But, I do have some garden art that relates to flying....which relates to wings
I have a flying fish:

 Here he is up close.....

 I couldn't resist sharing a shot of our baby Koi- they just got brave enough to feed while we're watching!

 Some of my Dragonfly garden art......which fits the theme better, since they have wings :D

This is a picture I took last year....and I'm thinking it's the one I want to use unless I get really lucky with the dragonflies today ;)

That's about all for today.  I also need to finish my journal spread in Andrea's sketchbook and start a dog portrait I've been commissioned to do....and there IS the never ending housework and chores.  Of course the kids are still home, but we've entered the teen phase where they'd rather be with their friends or on FB, reading, really anything other than playing around with me....I think that's called growing up ;)

Have a beautiful Tuesday!

Stephanie

Still having computer woes and a little more of my Zinnia......

Have you ever heard the saying about the shoemaker's wife going barefoot?  Well, my husband is an IT guy and I'm still without my computer 80% of the time.  I can usually sneak online for about 10-15 minutes before it freaks out and goes black screen on me.  Bill has tried several things to fix it but to no avail and now it's gone for long enough that it's kind of been put on the back burner.  I wouldn't mind so much, but my computer is the only one I can upload photos to which makes it hard for me to blog.....for now, I race on; upload my photos to my image software and then if I'm lucky enough to maintain a connection long enough to get on Picassa, load my pics there.  THEN, I'm able to blog from Bill's Think pad and use Picassa to add photos......arrrgh!  But at least I do have options even if they're a bit convoluted!
So, I just managed to get my pictures of my new painting onto Picassa- of course they're from Monday and I've done more painting since then....but still, it should be enough to at least give you an idea of where it's going.  My goal is to finish it in time to submit for this week's challenge at Inspiration Avenue.  The theme is St. Paddy's Day and what could be more appropriate than a green flower, I ask?
So here she is:

 

 Since taking these pictures, I've added more lime green and softened the back ground and the Ultra marine blue Salvia is well under way.  Hopefully, the next time I post about this, it will be DONE!

So long for now,

Stephanie

Weekly Challenge- "Finders Keepers"

When Angie first announced that the theme for this week's challenge was "Finders Keepers" meaning found objects, my first thought was to present a drawing I did a couple of years ago of my daughter.  Even though is wasn't new work (which I really try to use for the challenges:)) it fit the bill perfectly.  I drew a "wreath" of  leaves using references from my morning walks to encircle Emmie's head, thus creating "Our Lady of Autumn"  But then I finished my zinnia painting yesterday, and realized, duh (!) that it was based on a found object as well!  The reference I used was a photograph taken from my mother's garden.....so, for my main entry I give you my newly completed painting "Traversing the Zinnia Highway".  It is available for sale at Homegrown Decatur (just contact me if you're interested) and also as a card in my Etsy shop.

But because I liked the Emmie piece so much, I wanted to share it as well even tho it's unfinished.  Another reason it is close to my heart is because I drew it the first year we were back in the states after living in the Caribbean for seven years.  So it was my first Autumn in a loong time and the first one that Emmie and Garrett could remember which made it extra special for us!

 So there's my weekly entry for "Finder's Keepers" - if you have time, why don't you go make something for the challenge as well?  You have till noon on Sunday to submit your entry.  Not only is it loads of fun, it also qualifies you to be eligible for the monthly giveaway!  Even if you don't enter, be sure to check out what everyone else has done after 12:00p.m. Sunday at Inspiration Avenue.
Until next time- cheers!
Stephanie

Home Grown Decatur- A new Decatur gallery that I'm lucky enough to be part of!

Happy Sunday- I appologize for being away so much lately.  I've been burning the candle from both ends and there just hasn't been any time to blog as much as usual.  Anyway, I've recently been invited to join a gallery made up of a wonderful group of artists local to my area, called Homeown Decatur!  Opening day is on the 21st and I'm super excited!  Here's the link to their website for any who are interested: Home Grown Decatur.
It feels like I've been so blessed with many good things happening of late, I've really loved reconnecting with our community.  I also just sold one of my favorite paintings; "Green with Envy, Black and Blue with Salvia" I love it when my "babies" find their way into new homes.......:)

"Green with Envy, Black and Blue with Salvia"

I also managed to clock a few hours of work into my new painting- another zinnia.  Anyone wanna guess what my favorite flowers to paint are?  I'll try to get photos up tomorrow.  Anyway, that's about all for now.  I must be off to clean the house so the next week of craziness can begin......

Toodle-loo,
Stephanie

what's Up In The Studio?

O.K. so seriously, I call my work space a "studio" with tongue in cheek and the wishful thinking that some day I WILL have a studio......  But for now, I'm happy to have my own desk with all my stuff spread out in general disorder, at least it's MY disorder!  I'm trying to post more often and because I work SO slowly, I've decided to start a weekly posting visiting my works in progress.  Hopefully, seeing pieces at this point won't cause people to run screaming horror from their computer screens (as I sometimes feel like doing when a piece isn't going just the way I'd hoped...;))  Anyway, here are a couple of pictures of my desk in it's current state.....

Please allow me to introduce Peri, my mentor and muse and sharer of studio, er desk space, He says, "Welcome!"

You can see that he's guarding or sharing space with my new painting in the poppy series.....which is in the VERY early stages, and kind of an example of what kind of work I turn out when I'm not feeling well (like yesterday.....) hopefully, I'll be able to turn it around today.

Also on my desk, are the preps for what *might* be my subsission for this week's challenge at Inspiration Avenue.  The theme is "Purple" and I'm doing an altered board book with either an original painting of morning glories or a pair of my Joie de Vivre figures- haven't decided yet.  If I do the Morning Glories, I already have a book prepped and ready to go.....it all depends on how it goes with my poppy.

Last but not least of the projects on my desk is the book I started for last weeks challenge at IA but didn't get quite finished.  Also, I didn't feel like it fit the theme of "Reflections" well enough to justify rushing to the finish.  (FYI- on the last page, the packet contains zinnia seeds) I just need to do a little more on the outer cover and I'm done- note Peri's butt gradually reclaiming his, um MY space....

Anyway, that's what's going on in my "studio" at my desk......now I have to convince Peri that it's time to move his napping position to the bedroom....and get back to the desk before another kitty takes his spot ;)

Cheers,

Stephanie

New painting!

Here's newest painting from my Zinnia series.  This is an original 12" X 12" acrylic painting portraying the dynamic inner workings of a carmine red zinnia. The center feeds to the pale green stamens which in turn lead to the curling twists of petals in the process of opening. The composition is completed with a grand finale combining petals of vermillion, crimson and burgundy.  You can see more photos of it and my other works at my Etsy shop.