this blogspot has moved!

2008-04-15T23:00:00.000-07:00

Having a great time over at the new site!

Wish you were here!

wwww.tarawheeler.blogspot.com

2008-04-12T21:12:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

Tonight's picture is on my new blog site: tarawheeler.blogspot.com

2008-04-03T20:33:00.001-07:00

"April Snowfall on Taos Mountain"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

We woke up this morning to snow!

Yeah, yeah, it snows up here. But we were pretty sure we'd missed it by moving in late March.

I was resigned to waiting until next fall to see it snow.

So, this morning, David and I watched the strange mist on the mountain as it roiled around and around and then came towards us and snow swirled through the air around our house for the better part of an hour.

It never made the ground, but it was amazing to watch.

I only wish I'd had my knitting; I could have crossed something else off my life-list (I have this fantasy of sitting before a roaring fire, knitting while watching it snow outside my window-- David and I have been trying to make this happen for years. So far, we've just missed it a dozen times).

2008-04-03T20:22:00.001-07:00

"Magpie in Flight"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

This painting was all set to go up on the website yesterday, but we had a little technical difficulty out here at the Ranchito.

My digital camera and David's laptop were stolen from my Subaru at our local gym while David and I were inside working out.

The good and bad news was that the thief didn't break any windows to get into my car. We still don't know how he got in. :/

The good news was that the thief was caught minutes later, just up the street, and the Taos Police Department called us about 10:30 last night to confirm that they had our laptop and camera and that we could pick them up the next day once they'd been logged in and processed as evidence. :)

The bad news; my knitting (thirty dollars worth of German knitting needles and twenty dollars worth of superfine Australian Merino) is probably on the way to the Taos landfill. :(

I had been lugging the camera around in my car to catch some pictures of these magnificent magpies. I'm really loving these birds.

Now there's a thief I can live with.

2008-04-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

"Wildly Cherry M&M's"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

I did make it out to the Rio Grande Gorge today.

And it was too cold and blustery to paint. :(

I promise to get out there and paint ASAP.

Meanwhile, I had these just lying around. . .

Still one painting behind. . .

2008-03-31T22:25:00.001-07:00

"Caribe Pepper"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

"Carribe Pepper II"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

Well, I had all these plans to drive down into the Rio Grande Gorge today to paint, but my crazy dog, Dulce, jumped through a barbed wire fence and now, after an expensive trip to the vet, I'm home with her, painting peppers.

Maybe I'll get to the Gorge tomorrow.

I'm one painting behind. I hope to make it up tomorrow.

2008-03-30T20:42:00.001-07:00

"Trying to Rain"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

"Cottonwoods to the Northeast"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

Two more views of my backyard.

Tomorrow I go to the Rio Grande Gorge. If I can get three paintings done, I'll be all caught up.

2008-03-29T17:39:00.001-07:00

"Marisol"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

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

Today was my first session with the Taos Society of Portrait Artists.

The model for today was Marisol from Ecuador.

Lovely, exotic features. Gorgeous colors. Just a joy to work with.

For portrait painting, the model stays in one pose, with breaks every 45 minutes or so.

It was great. I can't wait for next week

2008-03-28T21:00:00.001-07:00

"Hills Near Apoaca"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

"Hills Near Apoaca II"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

Went out with Plein Air New Mexico this morning to paint near Dixon, which is South of Taos.

We ended up in a gorgeous canyon between Dixon and the even less wide-place-in-the-road called Apoaca.

Had a great time and met some really lovely people who I can't wait to paint with again.

Tomorrow I'm supposed to go paint with the Taos Portrait Group.

Might not be nekkid day, but might be an acceptable replacement.

Still very tired. I will catch up.

2008-03-27T21:02:00.001-07:00

"View From My Kitchen Window"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

"The Ravens' Aspens; Early Spring"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

Hi all! Sorry I've been gone so long.

It's been a rough week.

I've finally got my studio all unpacked and gotten settled enough to actually *want* to paint.

The remains of this week are going to be very busy; I'm going to be out painting with Plein Air New Mexico tomorrow and hope to do some figurative stuff on Saturday.

Tonight's paintings are both from my own backyard. The first one is quite literally the view from where I'm currently sitting at my kitchen island. It's amazing.

The second one is from a stand of aspens just to the Northwest of us on a neighbor's property. For some reason, the local ravens love this stand of aspens and we hear them commenting loudly every time we go out back.

My husband and I have been referring to it as 'the Ravens' Aspens'.

I'll probably be painting this repeatedly as it leafs out.

Things are just about to start bud break here in Northern New Mexico.

I'm going to be a busy painter. And I promise to catch up with my paintings before the end of the month.

2008-03-19T22:38:00.001-07:00

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

"Red Banana; Peeled"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

I noticed a lot of people lately painting bananas.

So, of course, I had to go out and find the weirdest version I could.

These are Guatemalan Reds.

And they went bad too fast for me to try one, so I can't tell you how they taste. :(

Sorry about all the starts and stops; we're packing for the move to Taos.

I promise to keep up my picture count; you just might get it in twos and threes for a while.

2008-03-17T21:43:00.001-07:00

"The Black Draped Harp"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

Years ago, I used to play the Irish harp.

St. Patrick's Day was my least favorite day of the year. I've never seen him as a Irish hero.

St. Patrick was a Welsh slave, brought to Ireland in chains.

His curses toppled the Hill of Tara, at the time, the Irish seat of power, culture and knowledge.

He drove the snakes from Ireland (read; pagans) and instituted the religion of the White Christ.

And that set off a thousand years of civil war.

Every year, on St. Patrick's Day, I would drape my harp in black and not play it.

Everyone please lift your glasses to St. Patrick.

Having a holiday dedicated to drinking, song and merriment would probably have pissed him off no end.

I will not be joining you.

2008-03-16T23:43:00.001-07:00

"My Peeps"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

"Love Peeps"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

I warned y'all I might get around to painting Peeps.

It's finally come.

If you're not familiar with Peeps, go to your local grocery store and look at the Easter display.

Trust me, you'll see them.

They're horribly addictive little marshmallow candies that are the opposite end of the spectrum from circus peanuts in that they're light and fluffy and usually coated in granular sugar.

Mmmmmm.

2008-03-14T20:40:00.001-07:00

"Weird Little Carrot"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

"Bunch of Weird Little Carrots"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

These are from last week's major raid on the produce section of HEB Central Market.

They're just about to go bad; they've been in my fridge since then.

I went to paint the bunch first.

I was setting up, looked away for a second and my dog, Dulce, walked by, casually snagged the entire bunch and went to her bed with them.

Thankfully, I noticed the theft before she'd done much damage.

She did manage to pull the single most interesting carrot out of the bunch, so I ended up painting that first.

The whole bunch reminds me of a rat king somehow. . .

2008-03-13T22:02:00.000-07:00

"El Chupacabra"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

I realized I'd been so caught up in those weird new colors for my still lifes that I'd gone and neglected the weird stuff.

Here's El Chupacabra for ya.

This is directly from the *original* description from March of 1995 in Puerto Rico where the beast is described as being:

"Covered by fine grey fur with darker spots."

And the famous spikes down the the back:

"Phosphorescent bright colored spine- like appendages that run over the body from head to the end of the back. The spines colors change constantly from red to blue to yellow, to green to orange to violet."

If something like this is sucking your goats dry; you need to be watching your goats a little closer.

2008-03-12T22:21:00.001-07:00

"Blushing Pear"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

I've been packing and cleaning all day and I can't get the colors on this to come out right in this scan.

Trust me, it's got a lot more red and the darks are a lot less dark.

I hate my camera set up right now.

2008-03-11T22:46:00.001-07:00

"Six Nekkid Jelly Babies"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

Still smarting over the loss of the Dougherty Arts Center and nekkid day.

So, here are my very own six, count 'em, six, nekkid models.

And I ate them all up afterward. :)

2008-03-10T22:35:00.000-07:00

"Asparagus Spears"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

More odd colors from HEB Central Market.

I just love that salmon pink against the yellow-green.

Can't stand to eat asparagus though.

My Mom, Dad and Husband had this for dinner last week after I brought it home.

I got the leftovers to paint.

When I was a kid I used to catch fish for my parents and siblings to eat.

I'd eat hot dogs.

I loved catching fish. Just couldn't stand the taste.

Guess this is more of the same.

Enjoy!

2008-03-09T23:30:00.001-07:00

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

Well, it's been a very unhappy 48 hours here without Spike.

My Husband and I put up fliers, notified vets and shelters and pissed off most of our neighbors with our almost constant calling.

I just couldn't settle down to paint.

Finally I said 'what the hell' and decided to paint Spike. The whole time I was praying that my cat would come home.

Call it sympathetic magic. Call it wishful thinking. Call it divine intervention.

My Husband came home from making a midnight order at his shop and told me he thought he'd heard Spike outside. We walked the block calling for her. Nothing.

When we got back to the house (both of us near tears) she galloped up to meet us.

2008-03-08T20:29:00.001-08:00

"Pepino Melon"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

This started out as a fairly straightforward study of a weird Ecuadorian pepino melon I found at Central Market, on a collection of some of the new color drapes my Mother helped me pick out.

Then it got all dark and angsty.

You see, my cat, Spike, has gone missing.

And my heart is all yellow and purple and feels like it wants to burst (in a bad way).

Tomorrow I have to put up missing posters.

I might have to paint Spike a few more times to get me through this. . .

2008-03-07T22:38:00.001-08:00

"Three Tangelos"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

David's been at the fruit section again.

These tangeloes were such an amazing shade of orange and they looked so good against the blue. . . And then he ate them.

I'm afraid it's been a very good week in the produce section, so there's more fruit and veg to come.

The good news is that my Mother has been color sorting for me (she's a professional color consultant) and there's some very interesting color combinations in store.

She pointed out some combos I would never have dreamed of.

You'll have to tell me what you think.

2008-03-06T21:50:00.001-08:00

"Black Calla Lilies"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

Wouldn't Georgia O'Keeffe have just loved 'black' calla lilies?

Back when she was painting her lilies (and she was known as 'the lady of the lilies'), the white ones were the only ones available and then for only part of the year. She would spend a week sequestered with them when they finally arrived, waiting for the perfect moment to capture their beauty.

We're spoiled now, and can now get them all year round in an amazing range of colors.

The dark purple of these 'black' ones has been pestering me for some time. I'm glad I finally got around to painting some.

It won't be the last time.

2008-03-05T23:00:00.001-08:00

"Raspberry"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

I needed to paint this before it totally ripened into mush, but it's kinda how I feel after yesterday's debacle with what passes for 'the voting process' in this country.

Rpppththhhhpppppp.

I think I'm going to swear off news until January '09.

And I'm definitely swearing off politics.

2008-03-04T20:55:00.001-08:00

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

Well, the first nekkid day with no nekkid day.

I'm still pretty bummed.

So I painted some weird, taupe colored pears.

Two more weeks before the move.

I have a vague idea what to try next week. . .

Might be even weirder than usual, so stay tuned!

2008-03-03T20:44:00.001-08:00

"Jersey Devil"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

I haven't done anything monster-wise for a few days and decided to go ahead and take a stab at another of my faves, the Jersey Devil.

This beastie first roamed through Eastern Pensylvania and Southern New Jersey around the turn of the last century.

It was described by several people as a 'Jabberwock' with long, thin wings, short legs; the fronts shorter than the hinds, and either cloven hooved or shod like a horse. It left bewildering trails of tracks in the snow that went through fences and went on for miles and miles.

Several people describe it's dog-like head and it barked at one woman.

It emitted a squalking whistle at another couple.

Whatever it was, it wasn't like anything else.

And it certainly wasn't any half-nekkid Neanderthal like they claimed on the X-Files.

Hmmmphp. Mulder would know better than that.

2008-03-02T21:48:00.001-08:00

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

The first official movie trailer for the new 'Indiana Jones' movie hit the internet today.

All Harrison Ford has to do is pick up that hat and people lose their minds.

This trailer's no exception, it's got a shot of the hat on the ground and it's Indy who picks it up and puts it on.

So here's the hat.

Just waiting.

2008-03-01T22:09:00.001-08:00

"Yellow Plums"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

I saw these at Whole Foods yesterday and had a WTF moment.

I had to have them. They're the weirdest looking things.

Yellow gold hearts.

Then to make things even weirder; tonight David and I were watching Babylon 5, an episode called 'Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi', and the mad Emperor Cartagia had one in his hand.

If coincidences are just coincidences, then why do they seem so contrived?

2008-02-29T18:36:00.001-08:00

"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. . .

2008-02-28T20:27:00.001-08:00

"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. . .

2008-02-27T20:52:00.001-08:00

"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. . .

2008-02-25T22:44:00.001-08:00

"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.

2008-02-24T19:10:00.001-08:00

"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. :)

2008-02-23T20:01:00.002-08:00

"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.'

2008-02-22T19:45:00.000-08:00

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

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

Need to paint more.

2008-02-21T21:07:00.001-08:00

"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.

2008-02-20T21:47:00.001-08:00

"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.

2008-02-19T15:51:00.001-08:00

"Anthony"
3" by 4"
Oil on Gessobord

Nekkid day!

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

2008-02-18T19:18:00.002-08:00

"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.

2008-02-17T22:55:00.001-08:00

"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.

2008-02-16T22:43:00.001-08:00

"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.

2008-02-15T20:58:00.001-08:00

"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.

2008-02-13T20:37:00.001-08:00

"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.

2008-02-12T20:24:00.001-08:00

"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.

2008-02-11T18:07:00.001-08:00

"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.

2008-02-10T09:38:00.001-08:00

"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. :)

2008-02-09T21:13:00.001-08:00

"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!

2008-02-08T13:28:00.000-08:00

"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.

2008-02-07T20:24:00.001-08:00

"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!

2008-02-06T13:24:00.001-08:00

"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.

2008-02-05T19:05:00.001-08:00

"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. :(

2008-02-04T13:07:00.000-08:00

"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!

2008-02-03T20:40:00.001-08:00

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

Back to those pears again.

Things are going to get a little weird. . .

2008-02-02T20:49:00.000-08:00

"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.

2008-02-01T19:42:00.001-08:00

"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.

2008-01-31T23:41:00.001-08:00

"Jackalope"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

Not sure if I like how this guy turned out.

I might have to paint him again.

Again, inspired by watching too much bad TV.

There's a jackalope in the framing graphics on 'My Big Redneck Wedding' on CMT.

I'm enjoying that show entirely too much.

2008-01-30T09:40:00.000-08:00

"A Million Ways To Be Cruel"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

Gods, I love these pears!

I think I might get a dozen and spend a week setting up passionate relationships and torrid affairs.

2008-01-29T18:22:00.000-08:00

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

Ya know, every model I've had at the Dougherty Art Center has been just an absolute joy to work with.

This lady was no exception.

I tried using terra verte as a base for this painting, I'm not sure I'm happy with it.

Flesh tones still need work.

2008-01-28T17:57:00.001-08:00

"Sparky"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

I've always loved snakes. I've been catching snakes since I was a very little girl.

My first book was 'Poisonous Creatures of the Desert Southwest' (I was born and spent the first seven years of my life in Tucson, Arizona) and I colored in the black and white photographs as I caught the critters in the book.

My Father was tickled to find me lecturing to some fellow tourists out of it on a trip to Mexico. I was six. It was over a velvet ant, which is actually a wingless wasp, and I remember it was bright magenta in color.

But rattlesnakes have always held a special place in my heart. I remember begging my Father to catch a sidewinder rather than kill it. He did, and I kept it for a week.

The first snake I caught in Texas was a rattlesnake. It had different markings than the ones we had in Arizona. I took it in the house to look it up and my Father made me take it back outside.

But my record is catching twelve rattlesnakes in an hour just south of San Antonio last year. I turned all of those loose.

David won't let me keep them in the house either. :(

Doesn't this guy look friendly? Look, he's wagging his tail! He just wants to be friends with you. . .

2008-01-27T16:07:00.001-08:00

"Dulce"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

I promise, this is the last puppy or kitten I'll post for a while.

Today is my dog Dulce's first birthday.

Last year, about this time, I got a call from Dixie, of Dixie's Doodles, telling me there were enough chocolate colored Labradoodles in Amelia's litter for me to have one, and in six weeks I could make my choice.

I won't say that she's been a perfect angel, but she's been a pretty good dog so far.

Here's to another year with the dog who looks like she's a creation from Muppet Labs.

The Dulcinator.

The Fuzzball.

Dixie's Dulce De Leche.

2008-01-26T19:14:00.001-08:00

"Sunflower"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

I saw this bizarre sunflower at Whole Foods yesterday.

It's very striking, so I painted it as loose as I could to try and preserve that.

I'm not sure if I got it or not. I might have to try again.

2008-01-25T10:06:00.001-08:00

"A Pair of Pears"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

Up until today, I couldn't understand why artists were always painting pears.

First off, I'm not a big fan of fruit.

Sure, I'll eat apples or raspberries or blackberries if they're cooked into something.

Pears aren't on my 'acceptable fruit' list.

I mean, they smell nice and all, but I just don't care for the taste.

But I kept hearing artists going on and on about pears. How 'human' they are to paint.

Human? A fruit? Gay jokes aside, I just couldn't see it.

Until I went and bought a pair of pears and painted them.

They're like little flirty green Schmoos!

You can put me in the 'I love pears (to paint)' category.

2008-01-24T14:17:00.001-08:00

"Spike"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

Sorry folks, it's come down to puppies and kittens.

This here's Spike, my tabby-point Siamese cross. One of her other names is 'devil cat'. She likes to bite, she doesn't like to be petted, but hates to be alone. She likes to sneak up to you and cuddle against you, but the moment you notice-- she's gone.

Spike's not right, never has been, never will be. We think her momma was starved when she was pregnant with Spike's litter. Spike was the only 'white' kitten in the litter, the rest were black as was her momma.

To be truthful, she started out kinda cream colored.

My friend Susan said, "you know she's going to get darker as she ages." And she was right.

Spike has gradually darkened to where she is almost black along her spine and stripes.

I think when she finally turns completely black, she will become one with the darkness.

Which might finally make her happy.

2008-01-23T19:37:00.001-08:00

"I Want To Believe"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

Yesterday, I heard that there's a new X-Files movie supposedly coming out this summer.

I'm *so* hoping it's not an early 'April fool's' joke.

With that in mind, I decided to paint one of my favorite things from the old series; the 'I Want To Believe' poster, which is based on a Billy Meier Pleiadian 'beamship' photo.

If I were to have a personal motto, I think it would be 'I want to believe'.

2008-01-22T19:12:00.001-08:00

"Nude #2"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

Nekkid day at Dougherty Art Center.

Yet another very nice model.

Very tall.

Well. . . as tall as me, which is 5'9".

One of the other artists was raving about how she was the perfect proportion of eight heads. We're talking superheroes and Greek godesses here.

I *was* that proportioned once upon a time. Not no more. Ah well. I'd rather paint than model.

I think my figurative painting's improving. Still need work on my skin tones though.

More practice.

2008-01-21T17:05:00.001-08:00

"Flatwoods Monster"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

As long as I'm showing y'all West Virgina monsters, I might as well show y'all the Flatwoods Monster from Flatwoods West Virginia.

Supposedly ten feet tall and possessing an oily stink that caused one boy to faint and two others (and their dog) to retch for hours, this horrific thing floated hissing out of the woods in 1952.

I promise, no monsters tomorrow.

Tomorrow is nekkid day!

2008-01-20T21:33:00.001-08:00

"Mothman"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

Tonight was a prime example of not forcing something.

I spent six hours trying to paint an apple David brought me.

No go. I just could not get that apple down. I wiped panel after panel and kept trying. Threw two into the trash after multiple tries.

After snapping at David and Dulce (the dog), I finally decided that I couldn't paint something I really didn't care about and had a look 'round for my idea pile (a pile of pictures and sketches that sorta follows me from room to room).

Guess who was on top of the pile.

(and I come by him honestly as my Granny was from West Virginia)

He took all of 45 minutes to paint.

Lesson learned; paint what you know.

2008-01-19T19:55:00.001-08:00

"Lucile Brawl"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

Kinda disappointed by tonight's Dr. Sketchy.

I've been looking forward to this for over a month now.

The gals they had posing were very nice (from the Texas Rollergirls Roller Derby, a team called the Hot Rod Honeys ), but had trouble holding a pose. And the lighting was for crap.

Then they put the gals on the floor rather than the stage and I couldn't see them at all.

Last Dr. Sketchy, I came out with ten, 9" by 12" sketches, four of which I'm still working on and quite happy with.

This Dr. Sketchy, I came out with four 3" by 4" sketches, and this is the only one I'm vaguely happy with.

Sigh.

The other thing I did today was build a display case for my daily paintings, so I can see a month at a glance.

Here it is.

It's a 30" by 30" piece of 1/8" luan, with five little shelves and some framing to hang it on the wall and keep it from warping.

I figure I'll put my new paintings on the wall, then put them in a drying rack and from there I'll box them.

2008-01-18T13:09:00.001-08:00

"Blackberry"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

David bought a box of blackberries last night at HEB.

I love blackberries cooked into a pie or cobbler, but just can't stand them 'raw'.

Great for painting, though.

2008-01-17T17:00:00.000-08:00

"Reepicheep"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite
After an Illustration by Pauline Baynes

Last week, I saw a trailer for the upcoming "Prince Caspian" movie.

Reepicheep, the talking mouse, is going to make or break this film. Needless to say, he's not in the trailer.

So, I did a bit of research on the 'net. Turns out Eddie 'Executive Transvestite' Izzard is doing the voice of Reepicheep.

Again, make or break. I adore Eddie, but I'm very worried about him going over the top with dear, sweet, too-honorable-for-his-own-good Reepicheep.

I'm also worried that they're going to make him the wrong color.

It's not described in Prince Caspian but in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, he is described thusly:

"-- a Mouse on its hind legs and stood about two feet high. A thin band of gold passed 'round its head under one ear and over the other and in this was stuck a long crimson feather. (As the Mouse's fur was very dark, almost black, the effect was bold and striking.)"

I'll bet dollars to donuts he's done up in brown for the movie.

So I painted him right. :)

2008-01-16T10:11:00.001-08:00

"ABH #1"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

Today in Adventures in Art, we're playing 'Anywhere But Here' as I have a dental appointment this afternoon.

Antigua, anyone?

2008-01-15T13:15:00.001-08:00

"Eligius"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

Week two at the Dougherty Art Center's Tuesday morning art modeling session.

(I'm trying very hard not to call it 'nekkid day'. Hooray, it's 'nekkid day'!)

Very nice model.

I didn't paint his tattoos, the largest of which was across his lower back and was apparently his confirmation name.

Really need to sit down and work on faces.

2008-01-14T15:46:00.001-08:00

"The Old Moon Holds the New Moon in Her Arms"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

The moon has been absolutely gorgeous the last couple of nights.

David mentioned that I should just paint all the phases of the moon and said that aught to be good for at least thirty paintings.

So, that's ideas for thirty out of 365. . .

2008-01-13T13:26:00.001-08:00

"When Pigs Fly"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

I couldn't tell you why I painted this.

Maybe it's the ad I keep hearing for Trojan Condoms that has a song about pigs flying in it.

They play that ad way too much when I'm watching CSI on Spike TV.

2008-01-12T16:12:00.001-08:00

"Between Sunset and Twilight"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

This is just one of the reasons I'm moving to New Mexico in March.

There's this point in the evening where the sky turns greenish/gold/teal.

It's past sunset and it's not yet twilight (which is a whole 'nother color I hope to attempt someday soon).

I remember seeing this color in a Georgia O'Keeffe painting and then seeing it in real life and making the connection.

Snap. That's it. She nailed that color.

I'm close, but still need work. :)

2008-01-11T20:21:00.001-08:00

"Mystery Box"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

I saw this today on BoingBoing and just couldn't get it out of my head.

It's a Mystery Box, a sealed cardboard box with a big question mark on it, from Lou Tannen's Magic store in New York.

J.J. Abrams, the producer, director and screenwriter behind Alias, Lost, Mission Impossible III, and the upcoming Cloverfield has one.

He has this to say about it:

"It represents infinite possibility; it represents hope; it represents potential. . . mystery is the catalyst for imagination. . . maybe there are times where mystery is more important than knowledge."

2008-01-10T19:27:00.000-08:00

"Elvis Impersonator"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

Hi all!

Sorry I didn't post yesterday. Things are still pretty upset around here.

I had this great idea last weekend to paint a portrait of Elvis in honor of his birthday (and because my Mom is a big Elvis fan).

Well, things got nuts and I had to put it off.

I had a poblano pepper I had bought to paint and it was starting to go bad, so I decided to paint that first and leave Elvis until later.

But the whole time, I was thinking of how I was going to tackle the Elvis painting.

After two hours of hacking at that pepper, I still wasn't happy with it. Here's that painting.

"Bad Pepper"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

I looked up and it was past midnight, I was tired and I wasn't happy with my painting.

So, like an idiot, I started on the painting of Elvis.

Two hours after that, I had two paintings, and I wasn't happy with either one of them.

David convinced me to go to bed without posting anything.

Today, I repainted the pepper. Here's the one I like.

"Good Pepper"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

And I worked on the Elvis painting until I was pretty sure that I need a lot more work on my portrait painting skills.

So, today you get three paintings as an apology for not posting a painting yesterday.

2008-01-08T20:44:00.001-08:00

"Nude"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

I went to the Dougherty Arts Center today for their live model sitting.
This was much more challenging than Dr. Sketchy's.

Maybe it was the lack of alcohol.

Anyhoo, I just did sketches in oil on the little 3 by 4's and ended up experimenting with painting skin tones on the fly.

I think I'm getting the hang of it. I did four sketches and this was the last pose.

I was so tired, I almost left.

I'm so glad I stayed.

I think I'm ready for this month's Dr. Sketchy.

2008-01-07T12:16:00.001-08:00

"Arrow"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

This one's pure, unadulterated schmaltz.

David and I had to put down his thirteen-year-old corgi this morning.

This is her in much happier times.

2008-01-06T21:18:00.001-08:00

"Rolling Clouds"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

The skies this evening were magnificent. I just had to try and capture the pink in the rolling steel gray of front clouds.

I haven't painted any skies since November. I guess I'm out of practice as this one took forever. However, it was the first one I've ever done Alla Prima, so I suppose I should be pleased (I usually paint the background first, let it dry and then lay in the whites so they stay pure. This time I just laid in the colors carefully and used q-tips and Gambesol if things got muddy).

2008-01-05T13:35:00.000-08:00

"Pink Rose"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

Boy howdy, this one took forever. Wiped it at least once compleatly. Lost count of the number of times I went after small sections with a Q-Tip.

The 'stopping after 45 minutes' thing simply will not work. Asking myself over and over and over 'is it done?' does.

I think I want to come back in after this is dry and do some touch ups with some transparent alizarin crimson in the darker spots.

2008-01-04T11:24:00.000-08:00

"Reverse Engineered from UFOs"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

I *love* those new silver VW Bugs!

The silver ones are referred to as 'pods' by those in the know and every year, just before the anniversary of the Roswell Crash is celebrated, they have a huge meet-up in Roswell, New Mexico.

When I am ridiculously wealthy, I will learn to drive a stick and get one. :)

2008-01-03T22:24:00.001-08:00

"Winter Persimmons"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

My neighbor has this amazing tree full of persimmons.

When my husband and I first saw it last week we thought it was some sort of bizarre Christmas decoration.

The persimmons are so amazingly orange and so prolific and so, so, so *perfect* we just couldn't believe they were real.

And against a clear blue sky, they're just like tiny Chinese lanterns, lit from within.

2008-01-02T18:37:00.001-08:00

"Une Cerise"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

This is another of my Central Market finds. A Washington State Cherry. Cool reds and hot yellows. Not your average Shirley Temple find.

This little tiny picture took me forever.

Actually, I should have been finished after the first 45 minutes. But I just had to keep messing with it until I messed it up and spent the rest of the day fixing it. :(

Tomorrow, I'm setting an alarm for 45 minutes and I'm putting down the brushes and walking away for a bit.

I keep messing up paintings by messing with them for too long. I need to learn to get in, get the job done and leave it alone.

Alla Prima, baby. That's what I'm trying to learn. Alla Prima.

We'll see how it goes tomorrow.

2008-01-01T13:00:00.001-08:00

"Fireworks"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

Here's the first of my new series!
I'm rather pleased. It took me about an hour with multiple distractions, but I'm happy to say, I managed to ignore most of them and keep plugging along.

I oiled the new carrier and it'll be ready to hit the road as of tomorrow.

I'm hoping to do some plein air works in this format and maybe even go crazy and do some live model sketches. The Dougherty Arts Center has a live model on Tuesday mornings.

I may use it as a warm up for the next Dr. Sketchy!

Anyway, Happy New Year!

The Plan

2007-12-31T16:44:00.001-08:00

This is a box with 435 pieces of 3" by 4" gessobord (yes, that's how it's spelled). They were 3" by 5" pieces, but I cut them down to be more properly proportional.

This is a wet painting carrier David and I made today to hold at least twenty pieces of said gessobord. I can now take at least two weeks of painting material with me pretty much anywhere.

It is my intention to paint at least one painting a day. Failing that, I will paint however many it takes to catch up and still make my goal of 30 finished paintings a month for the next year.

I will paint at least one of these 3" by 4" gessobords a day. If I get more than one, or go for something bigger in addition, good for me.

I will attempt to post a picture a day. Again, if I fall behind, I will make it up.

Tomorrow starts the grand adventure.

Pray for me. :)

Poblano Pepper

2007-12-30T17:33:00.000-08:00

"Poblano Smirk"
8" by 8"
Oil on Canvas

Here's the results of yesterday's trip to HEB Central Market. I've got one more painting of this pepper, but I don't like it as much.

I'm having trouble dealing with greens. Hmmm. Guess I need to paint more green peppers.

Tomorrow I will reveal my major plans and schemes for the painting year to come.

Much preparation was made today. More will be made tomorrow.

Tonight, off to beat the whippersnappers who work for my husband at Lazer Tag.

Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.

Christmas flowers, pt. 3

2007-12-29T10:44:00.001-08:00

"Christmas Poinsettia"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

My Mother had this weird little scraggly poinsettia as a centerpiece on the dining room table for Christmas dinner. It was kinda the 'Charlie Brown' version of a poinsettia. And it was all pinks and yellows and greens rather than your traditional Christmas red.

I liked it, so here it is.

New Years is just around the corner and I'm chomping at the bit to start the painting a day.

Christmas flowers, pt. 2

2007-12-28T10:11:00.000-08:00

"Big Mike's White Bogainvillea"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

This is the single bloom on my Uncle's white bougainvillea bush on Christmas Eve 2007.

The bush (actually little more than a twig) was left at my parents house when my Uncle moved to Arizona. My Father attempted to care for it as best he could in it's tiny little plastic pot.

About a month ago, he couldn't stand how root bound it was so he re-potted it into a huge terra-cotta planter with new soil and good drainage. In return, the plant gave him a single bloom on Christmas Eve.

Christmas flowers, pt. 1

2007-12-27T10:59:00.001-08:00

"Pink Bougainvillea"
3" by 4"
Oil on Masonite

Trying out the new format.

These tiny little canvases are a real challenge!

I painted three of them over the Christmas holidays. Here's the first.

And then there were three

2007-12-23T08:00:00.001-08:00

"Crazy 3"
8" by 8"
Oil on Cradled Masonite

Here's the last of this series. I probably won't be posting for a few days due to the holidays, but I have resolved to start painting a painting-a-day for the next year.

I have a lovely box of 425, 3" by 4" pieces of gessobord. I intend to supplement this with larger pieces in addition, but the main goal is to have 365 finished pieces of 3" by 4" size, framed and ready to show.

Now to talk my Dear Husband into pledging to make the frames!

Happy Holidays!

Two of three

2007-12-22T19:01:00.000-08:00

"Crazy 2"
8" by 8"
Oil on Cradled Masonite

I really enjoyed heavily stylizing these peppers. Hope someone else likes them too.

The fluidity of the lines is very important to me.

I'm wondering how far I can push it.

Back to peppers!

2007-12-21T07:57:00.001-08:00

"Crazy 1"
8" by 8"
Oil on Cradled Masonite

I got a bunch of this Cradled Gessobord from Ampersand.

It's great! No frame needed! Just paint, varnish and hang.

So I did a series of crazy peppers to start. Here's the first.

Enjoy!

Dr. Sketchy X-Mas! Part four!

2007-12-20T08:22:00.001-08:00

Untitled Unfinished Sketch
Oil on Masonite
9" by 12"

Well, here's number four. I started putting in the backgrounds on one through three and decided to take pictures of the process.

It's quite cool. I thought about posting them here, but decided I should keep this blog for finished work with just the occasional sketch.

As soon as they're finished, I'll post them here.

Tomorrow, we're back to peppers!

Dr. Sketchy X-Mas! Part three!

2007-12-19T08:36:00.001-08:00

Untitled Unfinished Sketch
Oil on Masonite
9" by 12"

Here's sketch number three and the most unfinished of the four.

I had to start over on several as I had the bad habit of starting too far up the panel. Thankfully, I could wash the oil paint off with some Gamsol as it was mainly Liquin wash at this point, and reuse them.

Man, I love oil paint!

I took fourteen panels with me. I made four sketches I was happy with, two that were total failures and three that got wiped. The two total failures I set aside overnight to reexamine with a clear head the next morning (something I highly reccomend with a painting you're not sure of). They would have been too much trouble to fix, so I tossed them and decided to concentrate on the four ones I liked best.

Next time, I'll be better prepared and do better!

Dr. Sketchy X-Mas! Part two!

2007-12-18T19:57:00.001-08:00

Untitled Unfinished Sketch
Oil on Masonite
9" by 12"

Here's my second sketch. I think this was a five minute pose.

I can't wait to start putting in the details!

Dr. Sketchy X-Mas! Part one!

2007-12-17T14:28:00.000-08:00

"Fandancer"
Oil on Masonite
9" by 12"
Unfinished sketch

Last night David and I went to our first Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art class.

It was a blast! They had this incredibly beautiful burlesque dancer by the name of Cardinal Cyn posing.

I can't tell you how many too thin or too fat models I had to sketch in college. . . Bleh.

Cardinal Cyn was drop dead gorgeous and every pose was better than the one before. On average, each of these poses were held for five to eight minutes, so I had to work fast! It was such a challenge!

Here's the first sketch, and the one I'm most pleased with. I'll post the others all this week.

I hope to sit down and paint finished versions of these sketches soon.

I'm so psyched to do this again! I can't wait for next month's Dr. Sketchy!

Color Variation

2007-12-16T12:40:00.000-08:00

"Ocho 2"

Oil on Masonite

9" by 12"

Decided to try another color option on my Ocho design. I'll probably try another two or three colors, so don't be surprised. I'm also working on a a squid!

The sun's shining bright here, so I'm trying to get caught up on all my picture taking. I've got another four or five peppers to show y'all as well as some new and exciting stuff.

Stay tuned!

Back to Cepholopods

2007-12-09T22:48:00.000-08:00

"Ocho"
8" by 10"
Oil on Masonite

$75

From peppers back to octopi.

Isn't he fun? All painting should be this fun. :)

Don't worry; I painted a bunch more peppers this weekend.

More pics to follow!

Habenero Heros

2007-12-07T19:12:00.000-08:00

"The Three Habeneros"
7" X 10"
Oil on Masonite

$75

Still more peppers!

I think the produce people at Whole Foods are getting suspicious.

I dug through two boxes of habeneros to find just the ones with the most interesting faces.

I've got another half dozen to paint yet!

Buckle up, it's only going to get weirder!

More Peppers!

2007-12-05T11:46:00.001-08:00

Happy Habenero
8.25" by 8.25"
Oil on Masonite

$75

Hope you like peppers, 'cause I sure do!

Here's the latest with more to come!

This weekend I'm bringing this guy and a whole bunch more to Mother Egan's Pub on 6th street where I'll be selling paintings and scarves.

I'm so excited!