Friday, February 29, 2008


"Leap"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord








Happy Leap Day everyone!

I tried to find a picture of a leaping hare that I liked, but couldn't and then remembered; frogs leap too. . .

This is a red-eyed tree frog.

They're tiny little multicolored jewels, almost the whole spectrum in one frog.

I should do a whole frog series. . .

Thursday, February 28, 2008


"Berry"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord













David's been to the store again buying more berries.

I borrowed this one for a little while, but it too succumbed to it's inevitable fate. . .

Wednesday, February 27, 2008


"Guardian I"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord
















"Guardian II"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord













Sorry I didn't post yesterday.

Yesterday was a horrible day.

Yesterday's dentist was much better than last week's, but horrible things were done in the name of fixing the previous badness.

Thankfully, I don't remember much of it. And I had a designated driver.

So, I got home yesterday afternoon and had totally missed Nekkid day.

Then I read my email and found out that oil paints are no longer welcome at the Dougherty Art Center's live model sketch sessions, so not only did I miss Nekkid day; there will be no more Nekkid days, period.

As I said; Yesterday was a very bad day.

So today I painted two guardians from my school days.

I used to paint and draw these guys on all my stuff to keep the bad people out.

Worked tolerably well too.

Maybe I should get tattoos of them. . .

Monday, February 25, 2008


"Andean Flamingos Mating Dance"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord






I saw this video reposted on one of the boards and was just obsessed with it today.

It's from an old episode of Nature called "Andes: The Dragon's Back".

There's this washed out desert landscape with a body of dead water in the middle ground. On top of this water, these masses of pink birds tango back and forth.

So, you should be listening to a tango, preferably one with pan flute, while you look at this picture.

Sunday, February 24, 2008


"Circus Peanuts"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord








Love 'em or hate 'em, here they are.

I love 'em. Have since I was a very little girl.

The time between Valentines Day and Easter seems to be the season for sweets.

Everybody seems to be painting candies and cakes and things.

I didn't see anyone painting circus peanuts, so I think I may have an exclusive.

I might try painting a 'peep' in a week or two. :)

Saturday, February 23, 2008


"Nessie"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord








You knew it was only a matter of time before I got around to Nessie. . .

I've actually been out on Loch Ness hunting for the beastie.

I did a huge amount of hiking and hitchhiking (which I'd never done before and haven't had to do since) to get out to Loch Ness from Inverness.

A delightful old man in an MG convertable gave me a ride to Urquhart Castle (the ruins in the background of this picture).

He asked me if I knew what the locals though of the famous 'Surgeon Photograph' of the monster.

I said 'no'.

His eyes twinkled and he said: 'ah, lassie, they say the monster was just raisin' his kilt for the photographer.'


Friday, February 22, 2008


"Red Plum"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord








I don't think I've mastered plums yet.

Need to paint more.

Thursday, February 21, 2008


"Illegal Alien"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord













I'm almost back to what passes for normal.

More dental work next week, though. :(

Buckle up folks; could be a rough week in Adventures in Art.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008


"Bad Dentist"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord













I've been reading up on abstract art lately and wondering if I could maybe go a little more abstract.

I haven't really been able to wrap my head around it until today's really, really bad dentist appointment.

Then I couldn't paint anything else but rage.

Mostly better now.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008


"Anthony"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord








Nekkid day!

And my 50th daily painting! Three hundred and fifteen left to go!

Monday, February 18, 2008


"Tri-colored Habanero"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord













I've been having trouble finding good habanero peppers to paint. They're way out of season.

Whole Foods got some in today and they were kinda off; a lot of rotten ones in the box.

Then I found this one and the colors were so amazing I just had to have it.

So, here's the first of the habanero peppers in the tiny format.

I'm afraid there's more to come as I just love the little buggers.

Sunday, February 17, 2008


"Knight Rider"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord







Tonight NBC ran the new and improved 'Knight Rider'.

I actually kinda liked it.

First off, I was a huge fan of the original.

Let me qualify and quantify that; I was a huge fan of the car, K.I.T.T.

I agreed totally with the lead mechanic, Bonnie, when she'd turn K.I.T.T. and Michael loose for the week and would state that the only thing wrong with the car was the nut behind the wheel.

K.I.T.T.'s now a Ford Mustang and can change color. Nanotechnology. And he's a wiz at surfing the net. I'm OK with all this.

He didn't refer to anything in his past; here's hoping they let him.

And we did see the old Michael Knight at the end. He's the dad of the new Mike. He came in, gave his blessing and took off. Again, very OK with this.

I'll be watching and hoping this continues to be better than the original.

Not sure about Val Kilmer as the new voice of K.I.T.T. though.

I miss William Daniels' metallic purr.

Saturday, February 16, 2008


"Albuquerque Sunset"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord













Gorgeous sunset as we drove into Albuquerque this evening.

I've had crap lights to take pictures of my pictures this week.

Those hills are actually a dull green. . .

Ah well, back to Austin and the semi-decent lighting setup, which I now have a plan of how to improve.

Friday, February 15, 2008


"St. Francis Church"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord








Since I gave y'all a two-fer the day before yesterday, and since yesterday was valentines day, I'm afraid I didn't paint yesterday.

I almost didn't get to paint today.

We found a house to rent in Ranchos de Taos.

This is my new neighbor.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008


"Bagolitos; Early Evening"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord






"Bagolitos at Twilight"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord







Today's my birthday and to celebrate, I bring you a two-fer.

This is the view out my second story B&B window in Arroyo Seco.

Those little rectangular things in the foreground are what we call 'luminarias' in Texas; paper bags with a little sand and a candle that line driveways and the rooftops of ranch style houses during the Holidays in places where people don't get a lot of snow.

Here in New Mexico, they're called 'farolitos' and the mass produced plastic bag version (usually used where people do get snow) are referred to as 'bagolitos'.

And a luminaria is a bonfire ouside your front door.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008


"Nekkid Feet"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord













It's Nekkid Day!

And I'm probably 1000 miles away from Dougherty Arts Center, so what did I do?

I waited until my nekkid husband fell asleep and painted his feet.

Monday, February 11, 2008


"Startin' Something"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite







Alright, I admit it, I did not paint this today.

I painted it the day before yesterday because I was pretty sure I'd be exhausted today, and boy howdy, was I right.

Eight hours in a U-Haul three-ton-truck yesterday and eight hours today.

I'm wiped.

They certainly didn't put any money into seats, insulation, shocks or even a horn. . .

There was no way I could paint in that pig. Moving *or* still.

Anyhoo, I'm in Santa Fe tonight and will find something entertaining tomorrow to paint.

I promise.

Sunday, February 10, 2008


"Little Pink Apple"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord







Alright, I promise, I'm done with apples for a bit.

I wish this picture could show the hint of green in the bottom yellow. . .

When I get back I'm going to seriously work on my lighting/picture taking system.

Just about to hit the road for New Mexico.

My Husband rented the biggest truck they had. I think it's a bit of overkill. I could set up a studio back there and still have room for all the stuff we're taking this load.

I hope to try and paint something on the road. If not, I've got something in reserve.

I will post a picture a day. :)

Saturday, February 9, 2008


"Little Red Apple"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord







I intend to conquer my apples.

I'm pretty satisfied with my yellow/green variety, now I'm after the Red Delicious.

I know I already painted a Red Delicious at the first of the month, but I'm still not satisfied with my dark reds. I think I'm going to have to go in for multiple washes/layers to get the clear, dark colors I'm wanting. I can only pull off so much by painting it Alla Prima (or all at once, to you non painters out there).

I bought three 'lunchbox' sized apples from HEB Central Market. They're little, tiny minature versions of the big apples I'm used to seeing. I guess they're for very little children.

I did the Grannie Smith variety yesterday, today's the Red Delicious, hopefully tomorrow I'll get the Gaia done before hit the road for New Mexico.

Get ready for a change of theme and scene!

Friday, February 8, 2008


"Little Green Apple"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord






I think I'm finally getting these apples!

Just like all the rest of my painting, the trick is to stop the moment I think I might be finished and STEP AWAY.

My worst problem is overworking something.

So, one more apple in pink, and I think I'll have this problem licked.

Thursday, February 7, 2008


"Dover Demon"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord







I figured it had been a while since I posted any monsters, so I painted this little nekkid guy.

He's the Dover Demon, who showed up around Dover Massachusetts in the spring of 1977.

Four people saw him in three different sightings and then nothing since.

The little bugger was running around on all fours, had long prehensile fingers and toes and was about four feet tall. No tail, no mouth, no ears. Just that lovely melon shaped head.

Weird!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008


"Golden Frog Waves Goodbye"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite







Yesterday on Neatorama, there was a report that a BBC documentary called 'Life In Cold Blood', which documents the lives of unusual reptiles and amphibians, had covered something called the Panamanian Golden Frog.

In addition to being bright gold in color (oh, and they're really a toad, not a frog) they wave to attract a mate.

When the documentary team got home, they were shocked to hear that a fungal infection had wiped out the entire wild population of Panamanian Golden Frogs. They had just filmed the last of them.

Now, there are some in private collections (the National Zoo has a few), but that's it for the wild population.

The BBC got the last wave.

So, I might be silly and sentimental, but I'm pretty upset about the whole thing.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008


"Nude #4"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord













Nekkid day!

Today's model was very angular in some ways and very rounded in others.

Very interesting.

Very challenging to paint.

Next week, no Dougherty Arts Center; I'll be in New Mexico.

Might have to skip a Nekkid day. Sorry. :(

Monday, February 4, 2008


"Blood Orange Slices"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord






I had no idea blood oranges were purple inside!

The pulp's a gorgeous crimson, but the segments individually are purple!

What a weird fruit! And the smell is just overwhelming! Wow!

Sunday, February 3, 2008


"The Snub"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord








Back to those pears again.

Things are going to get a little weird. . .

Saturday, February 2, 2008


"Don't Drive Angry"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite







With today being groundhog day and all, I just had to paint good old Punxsutawney Phil from a very sick and twisted movie that should be playing all day on at least one channel on February 2nd.

I remember seeing 'Groundhog Day' at a walk-in outdoor theater (a walk-in, because you brought your lawn chairs and your coolers instead of your car) in Wimberly, Texas called the Corral.

I'd already seen the pic several times and was kinda discombobulated when they showed the reels out of order. I looked around and several of the people who'd come with me were just as weirded out as I was.

After the credits rolled, I went up to the projection booth and told the guy he'd shown the reels out of order.

"I showed it this way last night and nobody complained." He said with a shrug.

That pretty much sums up Wimberly, Texas.

Friday, February 1, 2008

"Apple"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite














After some very timely advise from the members of Plein Air Austin, I have finally managed to paint my first apple.

I can't begin to tell you how relieved I am. I was really getting worried that I couldn't paint apples!


















And for all of you who missed it, here's all of January's paintings on the wall display.

Tomorrow the first row goes into the drying rack.