Cold Wax and Oil Painting....Landscape in Transistion Series

 

The painting on the top is a redo of the bottom painting.  I felt the abstraction on the right side didn't convey the landscape in transition enough and that's what the series is all about.  I also knew the photo of the bottom piece was too intense in color.  The top is  more accurate in the color of the flower. I removed the side strip of color near the flower and added another flower near the top.  Not only are the landscapes in transition, but so are my paintings! 

 

Gallery Show tonight at "In Bocca al Lupo" Milwaukie Oregon

My last post is about this evenings First Friday at "In Bocca al Lupo" Gallery in Milwaukie.
Roxanne Clingman has worked hard to promote my art and all the other artists she has in her gallery.
If your in the area please stop by and talk to the artists and Roxanne and to see the wonderful job she has done to create an intimate gallery of local artists.

http://inboccaallupofineart.com/

My piece at the gallery, acrylic, size 12"x36"

 

 

 

Audubon Wildlife Arts Festival (Portland Oregon)

It's that time of year again, the Audubon Wildlife Arts Festival another outstanding show of art.  The request for the small 6x6 inch paintings where for urban birds.  I thought I would do a painting of a pigeons because it doesn't get more urban then a pigeon!

 

http://wildartsfestival.org/6x6-wild-art-project

This is a link to the show, along with a video of many of the 6"x6" paintings for sale.

Along with the small works are many outstanding nature and wildlife artists and authors who have books and art for sale.

 

The show is held at Montgomery Park, NW Vaughn, Portland this years date is Saturday November 23rd from 10:00 to 6:00 and Sunday 24th from 11:00 to 5:00, the 6x6 painting sales starts on Saturday at 10:30.

COLD WAX REDO (Landscape Transition #1)

The painting on top is the very first piece I did of the "Landscape in Transition", after working on several more I knew I wasn't happy with the first flower.  I decided to sand off the flower painting, regessoed the side and painted a different flower, along with darkening the photo to show a better representation of the colors in the piece.  The bottom painting shows the painting after it's transition with a new flower image.

Sitka Art Invitational show 2013

Several weeks ago I went to see the Sitka Art Invitational Show at the World Forestry center in Portland OR.  I wish I had the time right after I saw the show to comment how outstanding the show and art was.  There where so many wonderful artists in the show, painters, sculptors, print makers, woodworkers, fiber artist.  It truly is one of the premiere shows of Pacific Northwest contemporary art.


http://www.sitkacenter.com/4-1-2.html

About Sitka

Founded in 1970, the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology fosters creativity, intellectual inquiry and education. By helping others discover more about their core creative selves and their connections to nature, the Sitka Center works to fulfill its mission of expanding the relationships between art, nature and humanity.
The Sitka Center offers workshops, residencies and community events, while maintaining a facility appropriate to its needs in harmony with its inspirational coastal environment near Cascade Head and the Salmon River estuary.
Literally a center at the edge – where land meets sky, saltwater meets freshwater – the Sitka Center is a place where a diverse group of people and ideas converge, co-mingle and depart transformed.

In transition # 4 ( Oil and Cold Wax )

Another oil and cold wax piece.  Again, I was working with the cold wax with the oils and the abstract side reminded me of a field or perhaps a lawn at the end of summer.  We all hate and try to eradicate the Dandylion growing on our lawns, but I stopped to really look at them and saw some amazing colors in their spent blooms. I know we all dislike the puffs that the flower gives off to come back another year but nature is beautiful no matter what stage it is in.

So, the question is should I try and find a title for each piece or should it just be "In transition #?"
What would you do?

Oil and Cold wax, size 12"x12" on 1/12" Cradle Board

Landscape in transition #3

Another oil and wax piece about transition.  On another trip to Suavie Island near Portland Oregon the morning was chilly and foggy.  The abstract side of the painting represents the morning mist coming off the river.  This flower was most likely another zinnia from a farmers field of flowers. I was so intrigued by the formation and color the petals had taken.  There is still a hint of the vibrant color the flower had once had in it's petals.

Oil and Cold Wax painting size 12"x12" on 1/12" cradled board.

Landscape in Transition

This is another attempt with the oil and cold wax showing the landscape in transition.  I haven't titled them yet, perhaps they will just be numbered #1 through where ever it takes me.  The flower was a zinnia and the field was from a farm on Sauvie Island near Portland.  It was a beautiful day early in October on the island and the roads were clogged with families going to corn mazes and buying pumpkins and apple cider.

Oil and CW on cradle board, 12 inches by 12 inches.

In Transition ( Oil and Cold Wax )

The weather here in the Portland area has been just spectacular.  So because it has been rain free and mild I have had the opportunity to do some Plein Air painting with friends.  Painting outdoors has really never been something I have aspired to learn very well.  I find it hard to focus on just one small area of the landscape.  Right now the landscape is in transition.  The land is going dormant but with amazing colors before it settles down to it's winter mode.  I always take lots of photographs to review so that  I will be inspired through the rainy winter months.

  Looking at my photos I am always intrigued by flowers as they lose their blooms.  While I find flowers beautiful in their full bloom there is also something very beautiful in there final state of dormancy.

The fields are also going into dormancy and as I was working on some new cold wax pieces I realized how I had been affected by the autumn landscape and decided to do a series of work on the subject.  The process of working with the wax and oils creates beautiful abstract surfaces.This was my first start about the landscape in transition.  The abstract side is the field in transition and the flower side is also in transition going into it's last bit of life.

The pieces were done on 1 1/2 inch cradled boards, 12" x12"

 

UP COMING SHOWS....

"CITY BIRDS" collage 12"x12"

 

Well as usual I have been off the blogging world.  Very busy summer hosting house guests for the summer and having fun showing the them the beauty of Oregon.

I am lucky to be included in two local galleries this month.  The first is my friend Roxanne Clingman's gallery called "In Bocca al Lupo" tonight Sept 6th is the First Friday celebration in Milwaukie Oregon.  If your in the area please stop by. The above collage will be in the show along with some new small collages.

http://inboccaallupofineart.com/about/
https://www.facebook.com/inboccaallupofineart?ref=stream

In mid September I will be showing with three friends at the Grapevine Gallery at the SingerHill cafe in Oregon City. The show is called,  "Chasing Northwest Visions". The other artists are Wendy Dehart, Mary McCarty and Kathy Johnson , the artists reception will be on Set 20th from 4:00 to 7:00.  At the reception there is going to be a contest.  All four of us did two paintings of trees and the public has to guess which artist did which paintings by viewing our other works; should be fun to see how many people get it right.  I will be showing some of my new oil and cold wax paintings in this show.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Grapevine-Graphics-Picture-Framing-LLC/118967241524014

 

"VISITING THE CITY" oil and cold wax 16"x16"

 

http://grapevinegallery.wordpress.com/

 

Snuffy The Seal - Funniest commercial of 2013

I don't normally post videos on my blog that aren't art related, but I just had to post this.  This Ad for the Discovery Channels "Shark Week" was created by mOcean our son's company in LA.  You have to love it or be horrified by it, I love it and think it's so clever.  Way to go mOcean! http://www.mocean.tv/
 

Trio of Crows "IN COMING" (SOLD)

Last post for awhile.  I started out using the Cold Wax  and oil on this work but somewhere I scraped that idea and it became just a work done in oil paint. ...Size 16"x16"  Framed in black frame; price $300;shipping $15.00
 

Collages

When I am in an artistic slump I like to play around  working on small collages.  It sort of gets the painting juices flowing.  Working on them seem to help with a better understanding of composition.  I think my next direction might be to take some of them and work them up into a painting. They are all small about 6"x6".

Crow painted with Cold Wax and Oil Title "Last Light

Another attempt at the Cold Wax and Oil....Size 12"x12" on gessoed board; price $225. shipping $15.00 in USA

Oil and Cold wax Painting. Title " Curiosity"

I wish I could do more blog postings. It just seems like I never have enough time in the day.  I have had a  huge artistic challenge lately.  Just can't figure out what I really want to paint or in which medium.  I have done five paintings recently and they all became wipe outs. 

This piece is another attempt at using the Dorland Cold Wax and oils together.  Haven't figured out a title for it yet.  Size 12x12 on a gessoed board.
Price $225.00 shipping in USA $15.00

COLD WAX AND OILSTitle "Crows Visiting the City"

This is the most recent cold wax painting I have been working on.  It's larger than my previous paintings in wax and oils, this one is 16x16 inches done on a panel. What I like about working with the wax and oil  combination is the giving and  taking of the process.  Layers can be added or removed, although the process does take several days or weeks depending on the drying time of the layers.  I am always wondering if the painting is done, questioning if I have "gone too far, should I add to it or should I take away parts?" 

Eventually I just tell myself to put the piece aside and come back to it later, this can be days or weeks later and hope to see it from a new perspective.  As artists how do you determine when a painting or work is finished?

Price $300; shipping $15.00

 

I opened an ETSY store!  The name of the store is Paint and Paper Art.  To locate it in the ETSY search box you must type in paintandpaperart, all word strung together because it's required by ETSY.  So far I have posted about 20 of my small 8x8 inch bird pieces, which are all fraamed and ready to hang. Each painting only cost $125.00 and $15.00 for shipping.

If you go to the site you can see that I have only listed shipping within the Untied States, but I am more then willing to ship out of the country once I am able to determine the shipping cost to another country.  If you read my blog please pass my shop along to your friends and please check out my shop.  I will be adding new work shortly.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PaintandPaperArt?ref=search_shop_redirect

I'M NOT BLUE (SOLD)

Sometime this winter we had this new bird show up at our feeders.  We had to look it up in our bird book as to what type of bird it was.  It's a Varigated Thrush, this is a male which has the darker bib going across his chest.  The female and junior birds have a much paler chest.  I really think it's interesting that the bird comes in complimentary colors.  This is another piece done in acrylic and collage that will be for sale at the Portland Oregon Home and Garden Show.

All the birds are for sale, I hope to set up an ETSY account, but they can also be purchased through my blog. All 8x8 inch birds are framed and cost $125, plus $15 for shipping in the USA.

"CAN'T SEE THE FOREST THRU THE TREES"

  (SOLD)
Sometimes trying to get the color right when I edit the pictures for a post can be a challenge. I had bought myself a new camera before the holidays and it really does a better job of  getting certain colors correctly then my old camera.  I replaced my Canon Powershot zoom for a Nikon D5100 and it's been a fun camera to learn.  I do miss the long zoom the Canon had but the quality of the pictures left a lot to be desired with the longer zoom. I bought the new one at Costco because the Nikon came with two lenses, a 18mm-55mm and a 55mm - 300mm.
CHICKADEE, OIL AND COLLAGE SIZE 8X8INCHES, FRAMED IN A BLACK FLOATER FRAME, PRICE $125.00 PLUS $15. SHIPPING IN US,

Another Crow "SPECIAL TREAT" (SOLD)

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY WHEN I POST A NEW PICTURE OF MY WORK; THE NEW PICTURE NEVER SHOWS ON FACEBOOK OR IN MY BLOG READER.  WHAT COMES UP ON FACEBOOK IS AN OLD PHOTO FROM A LONG AGO POST.  I DECIDED TO TRY A DIFFERENT TACTIC; WHICH IS DOING THE EDITING OF MY PHOTO IN ANOTHER PROGRAM THEN SWITCHING TO PICASA TO SEE IF THAT WORKS.

IF THAT DOESN'T  WORK WOULD SOMEONE IN THE INTERNET BLOG WORLD SHOW ME THE WAY..SO IT SEEMS i HAVE TO POST OUT OF PICASA TO GET IT TO WORK

ANOTHER CROW FOR SALE, $125.00 PLUS $15.00 SHIPPING
ACRYLIC AND COLLAGE, FRAMED IN A BLACK FLOATER FRAME, SIZE8"X8"

"ILOVE GREEN, HOW ABOUT YOU?"

                                  TITLE OF THIS IS "I LOVE GREEN, HOW ABOUT YOU?'
I don't know about you but I found thinking up a title for a painting sometimes takes longer then it takes to paint the piece.  Is there a method that you use?  I read the titles of other artists work and always wonder how the title came about, particularly if it's an unusual one.  Please comment or let me know if you have a way to figure it out.

This fellow is done in Acrylic and the collage part is from a photo I took that I manipulated on the computer.  I really am enjoying toying with the photos and various filters to see what effects I can get.

Just a reminder I will be showing my work at the Portland Home and Garden Show at the Expo center this coming week.  I will be there this week Friday Feb. 22nd and 23rd from 11:00-3:30, doing some  sketching.  Please stop by and say hello.

ACRYLIC AND COLLAGE, PRICE $125.00, SHIPPING IN US $15.00, FRAMED IN BLACK FLOATER FRAME, PICTURE SIZE 8X8 INCHES

"I'M HAVING TROUBLE DECIDING" (SOLD)

I just found out that my bird paintings will be featured all week at the Portland Home and Garden show at the Expo center.  The show runs from Wednesday FEB. 20th to Sunday the 24th.  I will be there sketching for two of the days, but not sure which days as yet.  I will try to post which days I will be there.  Hope to see you there.
OIL AND COLLAGE, PRICE $125.00, PLUS $15.00 SHIPPING IN USA, FRAMED IN BLACK FLOATER FRAME, PICTURE SIZE 8X8 INCHES

"When I grow Old I will Wear Purple" "What Do You See?" (BOTH SOLD)

For anyone who has read this latest post on my blog I have changed the type of bird these are; my sister-in-laws sister, Judy Boileau Mullins emailed me questioning if the birds were Crackles or Starlings.  Not sure why I thought they were Crackles, but she was right, they are Starlings and I do thank her for that knowledge.
 

We have had some new birds come to the feeders this winter.  Tiny little Bush Tits, they remind me of mice. Variegated Thrush with their amazing orange gold chests, Townsends Warblers; funny little bids that remind me of Zorro with their black masks on and STARLINGS. From what I have read Starlings aren't too popular in the birding world.  They do nip, scold and chase each other frequently at the suet feeders.  I took a few pictures of them and was so surprised to see the amount of color on their feathers.  I really haven't done them justice in their colors because they are almost iridescent when certain light hit their feathers.

These two are painted using acrylic because I am doing a show at the end of the month and don't have time for the oils to dry properly.  I find I paint very tightly when I work in acrylics.  I am also only using my own photographs that I manipulate on the computer for the collage element rather then pulling bits and pieces from magazines and layering them.  That process is too time consuming and I can't charge enough  to compensate for my time

TWO MORE BIRDS FOR SALE,  THE ONE ON THE LEFT IS THE PURPLE STARLING TITLE: WHEN I GROW OLD I WILL WEAR PURPLE AND THE ONE ON THE RIGHT IS TITLED WHAT DO YOU SEE?
EACH ARE $125.00, PLUS $15.00 FOR SHIPPING IN THE USA.
EACH FRAMED IN A BLACK FLOATER FRAME, SIZE 8X8 INCHES.

"DID YOU HEAR ME?" and "YES DEAR" (BOTH SOLD)

                                                                                                                          

 We have such a variety of birds that come to our feeders.  My husband gave these two the tiles because he felt the one on the right looked like he was being chastised by the other bird, perhaps his mate. These are two STELLAR JAYS.

TITLE FOR BIRD ON LEFT IS  "DID YOU HEAR ME? BIRD ON RIGHT TITLE IS    "YES DEAR".

I always know when they show up at the feeders because they are the noisiest creatures.  I decided to try my hand at working in acrylic this time along with the collage.  I find my work is tighter when I do the birds in acrylic rather then oils.  The collaged images on the side are from my own photographs; and I work from my own photographs to paint the birds.

On another note; I had a devil of a time trying to upload the pictures from my computer.  When I clicked on the insert the image button it wouldn't display the "choose file " button.  After some searching online I read that if I hit the HTML button in my post I could do it that way, then return to the compose button.  Talking about going in thru the back door!  Has any one else had this problem and if so what is the fix????
 

 EACH of the paintings are $125.00 with shipping $15.00 in the USA, framed in black floater frames.