Day Awaits 5x5 Encaustic

Interesting that this title came to me so quickly, while I had to think about the title of the last post for quite a sometime. I guess I came up with this title because of the feelings and emotions that come over me when I see such beauty in nature. It helps me say yes to the rest of the day.

Breaking Through

I caught this sunset last winter in Santa Fe coming out of the shopping center. Everyone on the street was looking up at the mountain in awe. It had just stopped snowing but there was still a lot of moisture in the air. As the sun broke through the clouds it illuminated the peak of the mountains painting it the most wonderful golden color. I don't think that I got the colors right for what it actually looked like but I am happy with this encaustic. I am going to give this another try or two. It is a good memory to dwell on and I love working with the hot wax that lends itself so well to the dreamy skies or New Mexico.

Black Mesa View 8x8 oil

This is a view from Black Mesa Golf Course. A good reason to take up golf. I still just go for the views, inspiration and beer.

Summer Sketchbook

A busy summer gave me little time to paint larger pieces, but did give me the opportunity to spend some time with my sketchbook. These pieces were fun to do. I did a lot of sketching, collage, and watercolor with my two nieces, who are 5 and 8 years old. The girls always bring out the kid in me and help me remember what it is like to just have fun and get lost in the process of painting.

These pieces are all done with Cretacolor Aqua Briques. The briques come in a convenient tin that travels easily. You can use the briques to draw or you can wet them with a brush and use them like block watercolor or gouache. I use them with a brush mostly but really enjoy the intense colors you can get with them.

I guess you can tell after looking at a few of these sketches that sleep was not going too well for me this summer! I actually did wake up looking that way on a few occasions, as my husband will attest! Isn't it funny how art reflects life? At any rate, next time I have a sleepless night I might just get up and do some journaling!

My last piece on this post is my favorite. There was something that just felt good about producing it. I love the colors but something more draws me to it. I felt like it came so spontaneously and I had an immediate connection with the image. I love that when it happens!

Missing New Mexico

This was an older painting that I got stuck on earlier.  It sat on a shelf waiting for  a finish.  I had to scrape it several times while I was reworking parts of it.  Now I know why so many artist have the scraping as part of their regular process.  I really like the way it can reveal the under layers creating so much depth.  I am going to keep this in my bag of tricks too.

Just For Fun 10X8

Ok this might need some explaining.  After a few days in the studio that were just not fun.    I needed to free myself up some, so I pulled out some old canvases that were heading to the trash pile.  I decided to see if I could come up with a new image using parts of the left over image.   I like limitations as it gives me something to go on.  I also had to use up my  left over paint on my pallet. Somehow my limitations encouraged me to take more chances and follow my intuitive side as oppose to my analytical side.  I really like this painting because I got to paint without my thinker getting in the way  while at the same time  letting loose the kid  inside me who really likes to paint!    It ended up being a really fun experiment and I think I painted better the rest of the day after having done this.  I am going to keep this painting around as I think it is a good reminder of how fun painting can be.  

Carbondale Red Rocks 10X10

I am not sure if the color on this came out true or not but it is close.  Might have to take it again tomorrow.   I did this piece from a photograph I had taken a few years ago in Colorado. Makes me want to head that way again!  This was a fun piece to do as I got to play with my direction of strokes and get lost in the wonderful colors.  

Wish I Fished

This was one tough painting.  It started out nicely but once I put the boat in things got complicated.

Simplifying shapes can be such a challenge for me.

I just kept adding too much information about the wonderful boat afloat!  I still think it has to much info, but I just got tired of fussing too much.   At one point or  another I was just trying not to mess up even more.  Don't you just hate that when it happens.  It takes all the fun out of painting.  All in all I enjoyed working with the color combinations but I know I can do better than this.  I am in Santa Fe this week and now will head off to some galleries for inspiration and check out some artist who  really know how to simplify!  I might even change a few things later on this painting and have another post.  

Scottish Countryside

This is a 12x6 oil that was inspired by a dear friends photograph from her trip to Scotland.  The photo was taken around West Kilbride.  I have been studying my  Van Gogh books to emulate his wonderful strokes of wheat.  I hope to do more of this series also, so check back for some more Van Gogh inspirations. 

FALL COLOR TWO

This was a fun piece to do.  My paint was just a little too juicy to get much separation in my strokes.  I think I need to experiment with letting my painting set up a little more before building up the strokes.   Just love these little panels to loosen up on!

Fall Remains

More fall compositions.  Carol Marine said in her workshop that if you are not sure what color something is, it is probably grey.  That rule helped me again on this painting.    I had to adjust my greys quite a bit in this painting.  Warm, cool, no warmer, darker, lighter, patience Diane patience!

Fall Color One

We really had a colorless fall this year, but I stumbled on a tree lined drive that had spectacular color.  I wish I could tell you what kind of trees these are, possibly some kind of crabapple.  At any rate they were actually this bright at sunset.  I am pretty happy with this painting.  After taking Carol Marine's workshop I have been practicing mixing greys and using them more often.  I think it paid off in this one. 

More to come in this series.   I think I  can learn quite a bit from this subject and the colors are fun to mix.  

Mary's View

This encaustic was inspired by a photograph  a good friend sent to me. Every time I look at it, I think of Mary sitting on her couch with her best friend Dolly, (a mini dachshund) perched on her lap, absorbing her wonderful view.