Lisa reviewed the progress from painting session #1 and sent me some more information. It is rather astonishing to realize the amount of words and communication necessary to create a painting from someone else’s photos. There isn’t a single photo that says it all, so many photos with lots of explanation is the only way […]
Lisa’s Lake House, a Commissioned Oil Painting
Lisa’s family has a lake house in Minnesota, somewhere northern and treed and lakey and gorgeous. She asked me to paint it. After briefly considering a request to be flown there to see it with my own eyes, I came to my senses and said “Yes, of course I can work from your photos.” (I […]
Mineral King is a Happening Place
Mineral King is a happening place in the summer, especially in August, and most especially on weekends. The Mineral King Preservation Society has two annual events. One was called the “hoe-down”, and was a square dance. It developed into a concert with stories of MK history, and it came with dinner. Have a look: Okay, […]
Last Chance to See Wendy’s Awesome Pencil Drawings
Now there’s a title and a half! Remember my amazing and very advanced drawing student, Wendy Miller? Her show ends this coming weekend. The last day to view it at the Courthouse Gallery (at 125 South B Street in Exeter) will be September 29, 2013. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. […]
Mineral King Rocks
Some people collect rocks. Some people learn about them, join clubs, polish them, and make jewelry. Some people notice shapes, some notice textures, others notice patterns, and I notice colors and sparkles. Here is a collection of photos of many rocks found through the years in Mineral King. They are all Leverites – “leave ‘er […]
Responding to the Voices in My Head
That’s a scary title, is it not? When I paint, I listen to lots of things. There is music, podcasts, talk radio, books on tape, and voices in my head, including my own. An aside: Someone said we should talk to ourselves the way we talk to our best friends. You know how sometimes you […]
Drooling Over Other Artists’ Work
On September 12 I posted about finally deciding how I want to paint. There is still some inner conflict as the zillions of conflicting instructional voices fade away. There is also a tremendous amount of inspiration. This is serious realism. Look at these paintings by artists whom I admire greatly (and please do click on […]
A Secret Mineral King Hike in Photos
I don’t want to tell the world where this hike is because I want it to stay trail-less. So, I’ll show you photos. If you know where it is and you choose to comment, don’t write the name, okay? Thanks! I hiked the first 5 miles wearing my old Tevas. Isn’t that amazing? I recently […]
I Have Now Chosen
I began oil painting on March 8, 2006. Sometimes it is hard, sometimes it is really hard, once in awhile it is fun. Sometimes I even like a painting or two. Oak Grove Bridge, 6×6″, private collection, 2013 2 classes at Michael’s (the craft store, NOT my husband!), 1/2 semester at the local junior college, […]