My Efforts Today

Hey Friends, A couple bits to show for my 11 hour day. Actually, I spent most of my day on another Peacock ! But I've got to hide her for a few days to see if she's as homely as I think she is right now. Whew, why do I torture myself with such hard, picky subjects? I suppose I just like testing myself every now and again.
The raven above is from yesterdays efforts. Not much time spent in the studio yesterday, so I kept it simple. I like simple. And you can't usually screw up such a beautiful, simple bird too badly.

This (above) is an under painting I thought you might like to glance at. I scanned at 72 dpi but I should have done it at about 200 so you could see the glass beads a little better. I used a palette knife to apply the glass beads at the bottom, in a sort of flower shape. It's pretty thick.

Then painted on an under coat of Acra Gold.

Can you see a faint line sketch in the smaller image? I'm going to make this a bee and flower painting. How common you say. But I really ENJOY painting Bee's.

Maybe I'll be able to show you this finished tomorrow.

Happy Trails and Happy Dreams

My Sugar Babes

Hey Friends, A little late but wanted you to see my SweetHearts. Above is my only granddaughter and her Love Letter Necklace. I got the Letter from Holly's Etsy shop.

And here is my only grandson, Professor Nic, with his patched up mag glass, looking for a binky.

Had a good day painting. Finished 3 small, 2 I started on Tuesday. I'll post them tomorrow 'cuz it is 12:30 here in the East and I've had a long day.

Happy Trails !

New Farm Animal

Hey Friends, Yep, I got 'er done. This is the Peacock I started last week. It's on a canvas panel and painted with acrylics. I used some of Golden's crackle paste in the corners.

Our closest neighbor has an exotic farm and I have taken photos of most of his critters for reference when painting. I say exotic 'cuz they don't have the usual farm animals. A couple years ago another neighbor told me they were getting a giraffe ! Haven't seen one yet so I guess it was just a rumor. AND their noisy peacock isn't this pretty. It's pretty raggedy.

Now I think I shall add Peacock No.1 to my Etsy shop instead of taking it to the Gallery.

Happy Trails.

Jumpers

Hey Friends, This is the piece I started last week. Maybe I should have taken a before shot, but it wasn't very pretty. I was trying to make it look like a lake. But the water was just too dark. Now it looks more tropical than I intended.
This has been painted from memory. I'm sure that's why I had trouble. I think memory paintings take a lot of practice. And I don't have time for that, that's why I normally use photos.
AND painting people from memory is really tuff. I think the little guy on the left reminds me of SOROLLA's "Sad Inheritance". Mind you I said Reminds. If I were 1/10th as good at painting as Sorolla I would probably be wealthy !

I have not finished the Peacock ! Maybe Thursday. Please comment/critique - It always helps.

Happy Trails.

Art by Night

Hey Friends, Just a quick little peek-see. Showing you a window at Gallery 108 with Valentine crafts on display.

Most are mine. The painting in the dark frame is by Martha Lalka and the heart necklaces are by someone I can't remember(Bad TuTu).

I had to take this photo at an angle because the flash made a glare. They are not under glass. I especially like the foamy waves coming in around the birds feet.

And this is my smaller works under the big birds. This part is for you Hallie. I've been showing everyone's wall at the Gallery except mine. So there it is.

It's still pretty cold here but we had about 45 souls brave the weather and visit our Gallery108 tonight. We enjoyed all the chatter if nothing else.

Happy Trails.

Painted Today

Hey Friends, The 10x10 above was done for a friend to give her mother. The puppy in the swing with her Mom died recently and her Mom really loved the big fella. So it's kinda like she is taking the pup up to heaven on a swing to show him how beautiful it is there and not to be afraid. See the dog looking at her and listening to her every word.

And the one above (which I didn't crop correctly) is just a piece I was playing with. I've always considered myself a colorist but thought I'd really push the colors while I was playing.

A title is always a pickle for me. How about "Red Shoes" or "Granny's Lap Blanket" or "Reading in Gran's Sunroom".

I also started 2 more ! One of a Peacock and another of children on a lake.

Thanks for taking a peek.

Happy Trails.

300 Years Ago

Hey Friends, I've been meaning to show you a few of my "Western" or "Native American" paintings. I decided to name this series 300 Years Ago because by my calculations this era would have been >< that far back. I have a little American Indian blood in me so maybe that's why I'm so compelled to do these.

When I was little I always hoped Roy Rogers and Dale Evans would come riding over the horizon to adopt me and take me back West with them. I can remember those day dreams very vividly. Lord knows what would have happened if I had actually seen them coming. I'll bet it would've been close to a heart attack!

Anyway, I have thought that I must be the only person in Virginia that likes this subject matter and that is proabably still true BUT when I came home from working at Gallery 108 this evening, a lady in Minnesota had purchased the painting above !!! That gave me such a thrill, to know that someone else appreciated my sentiments on this subject.

So now that I feel braver I am going to list the others in my Etsy shop.

Happy Trails to You , Sue

ALL THE COWS ARE HOME NOW . . . .

Hey Friends, No big news around here just yet ! But I thought you might enjoy seeing my cows again. I finally listed all of them in my Etsy shop. Take a gander - HERE.

For sometime I've been contemplating opening a 2nd shop on Etsy. Just to see if anyone would appreciate my "other side". My grandbabes are motivating me to do this. I hate being on the fence about anything, so I need to get on with it-one way or the other.

Hoping you all had a pleasant weekend. I did.

Happy Trails, Sue

Getting in the Groove.....

Hey Friends, I AM getting back into the groove of blogging. I still want you to meet all of the artists involved with Gallery 108 in downtown Roanoke. Above is Susan Lockwood, a photographer from Blacksburg, Va. She does a lot of traveling to get her photos. She has a lot of stuff for the RailRoad groupies too.

The photo above is for Mary Anne Meador, who works in all media and is especially good with pastels. She teaches workshops and is president of the LRA (League of Roanoke Artists). Bonnie Mason sharing a display panel with Mary Anne, is an amazing artist. She works with oils in a traditional style, also plein-air. Her subject matter is calm and restful.

Margaret Dubois is the artist above. She works with oil pastels but her claim to fame is ENAMELS! Now that is a hot mess. She has about 15 layers of this powder pigment and clear glazes to fire in a kiln. I mean each layer has to be fired. And the tiny images are just beautiful. Wish I had taken some close ups but the glass reflections probably would have made it useless anyway.

The next "Art by Night" is Feb.3rd, 5-9pm. So get out here and look for yourself. No

more stinking snow to worry about !

Happy Trails...

2011 ! ! ! ! !

Hey Friends, Last day of 2010 ! ! Yay - I don't want to remember this year. I know 2011 is going to be a GOOD year so I want to wish you a "HAPPY NEW YEAR".

May it also be properous and healthy.

I haven't posted any new artwork for a while so thought you might like to see something I painted about a month ago. In spite of all the bad in 2010, I have been painting. A lot!

Best wishes to all. Happy Trails ! Sue