Lion and Lamb ACEOs

What a coinkydink!

It was not my intention to paint these fellows on back to back nights. But they are getting along and are in no way responsible for the wreckage and mess in the studio. So I thought I would pair them up here for you to meet.

Fall into Winter

 

"Country Road"

 

"Cabin in the Woods"

Winds are shifting, temps are dropping.... people are whispering the 'S' word -- oh just flurries, but still. Painting a little every night and working on organizing the studio. Things pile up and beget new piles. Its time to clean out and throw out or you may see me on one of those cable shows about hoarders.

Work of Art

I'm wondering if any other artists are watching the Bravo TV show "Work of Art" ? This is the second season for the show and while I really enjoy seeing the process of creating art I'm usually baffled by the finished projects and how they qualify as 'art'. I suppose I just dont think outside the box enough. I do enjoy hearing the judges  [Bill Powers, a New York Gallery owner and literary art contributor,  Jerry Saltz, senior art critic for New York Magazine and world-renowned art auctioneer Simon de Pury ]  comments and I wish we could hear more of their thought process.

Have you watched the show?

October Light

"In Her Garden"

an ACEO on board

"Meadow in October"

an ACEO on paper 

When we think of fall the first thoughts of color are orange and reds. But October brings us wonderful lavenders and muted heather tones, shades of butterscotch and rust. It's such a pleasure driving in the country side - I dont even mind when the skies are pearly grays -  Love all these soft cashmere colors.

These ACEOS are listed here

Soft Kitty

While painting this I kept hearing the song "Soft Kitty"

~OK now you'll hear it all day too ;-) ~

The painting is 4 x6"

Lunch with a View

I imagine she had crab cakes and he ordered the calamari.
They had a bottle of sauvignon blanc and watched the sailboats.

An ACEO currently offered for sale on ebay

Emile and Me

My love affair with Emile Gruppe continues. Three years ago I wrote about him here.

This week I painted this small 4x6" based on one of his works. I was working on water reflections and snow effects in this one and feel I could paint this scene again and again.

Water's Edge

These are two ACEOs I did the other night. Just playing with colors and forms and trying to add a bit of atmosphere. Ships and seagulls are always great subjects and I come back to them again and again.

Winter Walk

This is an 11 x14 that I recently finished. It's at the MD Garage thru October. I used a limited palette - and then gave her a red hat to brighten the day.

Shell Game

This is 9x9"  and it seemed like a good subject to close out the summer. The shell is old - my Aunt Katherine found it  - when? the 30's? the 40s? I remember playing with it when I was little and it has been far inland, on the bookshelf in my house for many years. Some things just seem to last and last. The painting is at the Peninsula Art Academy now.

And this is my final entry in the Plein Air Competition in Peninsula. I painted at the banks of the Cuyahoga  (video posted yeterday). I met so many wonderful people.... the girl from my hometown Yonkers, N.Y. and her friend from Peninsula, the man in the white hat, the nice little boy in the bike helmet and the couple with the black lab. Special thanks to Michael and my studio dog Casey for helping to carry and tote and just keep me company. 
I saw some of the other entries and this promises to be a fabulous show at the Peninsula Art Academy.  I'll keep you updated with info on the artists reception and the judging!

This is where I set up today .. what a great location to paint!

Plein Air Today!

Today I was in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park painting in the Plein Air competition. I chose to set up at the Log Cabin Gallery today... a beautiful log cabin in Peninsula looking down on the Cuyahoga River. There were musicians playing and the sun came out and there were so many great choices of subject matter.
I'm posting this slide show so you can see it all.

Heres the two pieces I finished today:

 And I am going back tomorrow for another day of fun!

Its coming...

This morning I think I need to start the space heater under the desk. Its damp and chilly and I see it as a clear warning of whats to come. The other day I was in a discussion about  ice-skating and I remembered my Dad taking us skating on the Bronx River. I remember the ice was bumpy and you could see all the leaves and twigs frozen under the surface and there was an arched bridge in the distance. And unlike the rink in Yonkers there were no walls to hang onto.
This aceo can be found here

Special Day

A very special Happy Birthday wish today to my grandson Lucas who is turning 5 today



Since I dont have any paintings of Star Wars guys I'm using this cute little fellow to wish you a great day!

Farm Buildings

I think this might be where Grandpa kept his chickens.

The painting is 8 x 10 and is also at the MD Garage Gallery thru September.

New Gallery!

I have been terribly bad... I've not told you about the new gallery where I am thrilled to be showing my work! Artful Living is on W 67th St in the Gordon Square Arts area of Cleveland. Map...map... (how to get there)

You'll find this little seascape there ~

I've brought some large and small pieces and you'll also find wonderful photography, wrought iron work, jewelry and vintage clothing. The gallery is open Friday and Saturday.

Grandpa Feeding the Chicks

I painted this acrylic (not watercolor) for the September exhibit at the MD Garage. The theme is Farm Life and I thought I would add a touch of nostalgia to the piece.



This would be a great weekend to stop in at the MD Garage. Its an old gas station that has been converted into an art gallery and its located at the bottom of Boston Mills Road near Riverview Rd in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It's open Saturday and Sunday from 10-4.

September Days

The water is still blue but the skies let us know whats coming. We've had so much rain in Ohio this past month but I'm happy that the high temperatures are past us.



ACEO 2.5 x 3.5"

Back to Business

Summer is over and its time to return to cooler temperatures, eating indoors and close-toed shoes. This little painting sums up my feelings - heading back to shore after vacation days.



Still plenty of good times that are coming with the new season. There's a plein air paint out on the 24th and a clambake the following week. Football and pumpkins and lots more time to write on my blog!

BoldBrush !

I've thought about doing this and decided that today was the day. I entered a painting into the online contest called BoldBrush. This was my choice:

 

"Spring Runoff" 

You can see it Here

And if you are on Facebook, please - give it a "Like" !

The Barn That Would Not Die

This barn started out in life as a red barn. It didn't work. It use to have trees behind it. I got rid of them. The sky was a cold gray. I changed it. So here's where we are today.
Have you had paintings like this? They are just not quite right, or what you expected them to be so you tinker with it and worry about it and fuss with it. I'm at peace with my barn, at least for now.

Follow Me

I've had the idea to do this scene  for a while now. I tried it out as an ACEO...and I'm still enchanted with it. Look for a larger version to come. The ACEO is listed here

Summer Flowers ~ Watercolor

Summertime really seems like the right time to paint with watercolors. I did this flower study while the temperature climbed and somehow it was a cooling experience.




Listed here

A Penny for Your Thoughts

Well my Penny sale was fairly successful so I am going to try another one.  This time its a watercolor that I did plein air in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Its on ebay now here.

These are tough economic times but unlike the cost of milk and gas, the price of art has come down!

Mountain Stream ~~ Penny Sale ~~

This is the first in a Summer Sale Series I am posting on eBay. The opening bid for this original painting is ONE PENNY. The Western landscape is painted on 8x8" gallery wrapped canvas.Opening bid is .01

Bid HERE

Plein Aire

The Saturday morning painters met in Hudson this week an painted on the grounds of the Hudson Middle School while the clothesline show was held inside. It was a perfect June morning and there were big shade trees and good company. 
Here  Hillary Sheeter   works on a watercolor 

I know certain teacher at this school so I chose a view that would feature his classroom.

And this is the finished product:

Clothesline Show

Tomorrow and Friday the annual Hudson Days Clothesline Art Show is happening at the Hudson Middle School. More than 2 dozen artists are showing their work in an informal setting. Years ago we use to actually  string a clothelines on the porch of a building but we have since moved indoors to air conditioned shelter.I've brought a dozen paintings to the show including

On the Net

Am I the last person to know about the Google Art Project? "Walk" thru the world's famous museums while sitting in your home. I can see hours and hours spent on this.

Google Art Project


 Wish I go go to Dusseldorf to see this art happening:

Hundreds of guitars adorn 16 lime trees in Dusseldorf art project

And this is my art offering on the net today: a collage ACEO  currently listed here

American Pie

I loved this video so I wanted to share it with you.
This video was created as an official response to the Newsweek article calling Grand Rapids a "dying city." Obviously the residents felt this was not so and set out to prove it.

The Grand Rapids LipDub Video was filmed May 22nd, with 5,000 people, and involved a major shutdown of downtown Grand Rapids, which was filled with marching bands, parades, weddings, motorcades, bridges on fire, and helicopter take offs. It is the largest and longest LipDub video, to date.

Memorial Day Weekend

It's been a busy three days but I did complete a painting for the Daily Painters Challenge.

 This is 8 x 8" - I do love the square format.
Saturday we stopped by the clubhouse at the Signature of Solon Country Club  to see my painting that were included in the exhibit hosted by the MozArt Gallery of Aurora. The club is beautiful and all the art work just outstanding. It was great to visit with Stan and Alexis afterwards and see old friends.

Of course today was for remembering all those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We went to the Hudson Memorial Day Parade and enjoyed what others made possible for us.

Hope your holiday weekend was wonderful. Maybe we'll see you at the band concert on the Green tonight?

And Chickens to Cats

I painted this as part of the Daily Painter's Challenge by Dreama Tolle Perry .Painting  the fur was great fun- and those whiskers! The danger is having too much fun and overdoing it. The painting is 10 x 10" on gallery stretched canvas.

From Crabs to Chickens

I seem to be painting a full course meal this week! This piece is 4.5 x 4.5" - painted in acrylics on board. POR. 

There's something a bit wild and carefree about feathers that akes it fun to paint.

Maryland Boiled Crabs

I'm loving these reds... loving Maryland crabs too! This painting is 8 x 8" and listed on ebay here

Art at the Beach

Seaside Art Gallery is hosting their Annual Miniature Show in Nags Head North Carolina.
 I figured that if I cant be at the beach at least my artwork can!
So I painted and framed three little bitties and sent them off to the shore.

Harvest Pumpkins


Winter Sunset




And to see the third one click Here

So if you can travel to Nags Head please stop in - take a photo or two... and if you are one of the nice people who buy my art please drop me a line!

The Fisherman

I'm continuing to work on figures and  painted this Saturday. 

It's 11 x 14" and it will  be perfect for the June show at the MD Garage when the theme will be "Up Close With Nature".

Approaching the Green

I painted this as an entry in the Daily Painters challenge. The rule was to use only three colors. Mine were red, blue and yellow. I chose the subject because I know that sooner or later winter will be over and it will be time to golf again! This is an ACEO and its on eBay now.

Penmanship

Calligraphy and computers

I love this story. The random pieces fit together and make such a fabulous biography.

This tidbit of information alone is priceless:

  "Among his  (the monk's)  students were science majors, including a young Steve Jobs, who later co-founded Apple Computers and credits the calligraphy course for the typefaces Mac computers have."

We never really know how it all will fit together do we?





 

German Landscapes

So both of these are 8 x 8" on canvas board. I painted them as part of the Daily Painters Workshop challenge last week. Carol Marine provided the photo refs and as soon as I saw them, I knew what I wanted to do with them. They are available for purchase.