Category: Oil Paintings

Gift Exchange

One of my long-time drawing students took as many art classes as he could cram in for several years at the local junior college. (Sorry, not sorry – “community college”) He completely immersed himself in art until suddenly, he was finished. Done. His interests moved into mechanical subjects, and currently he is immersing himself in all things automotive.

A few weeks ago he asked me if I’d like to have his oil painting supplies. REALLY?? Yes, please! What a generous gift!

So, I decided to paint a gift for him.

It isn’t quite finished because it needs me to draw with my paintbrush in order to reach the level of detail to do justice to his Karmann Ghia.

Yes, I still have paintings to finish for my upcoming show, Still Here.

But, in spite of those necessary paintings for the show, I am still. . .

. . .using pencils, oil paint, and murals to make art that people can understand of places and things they love.

Cowboy Logic Applied

I was tempted to work on the Mineral King paintings, but cowboy logic steered me toward finishing the ones with the closer deadline (April, Still Here, an exhibition at Arts Visalia).
This new one (not the Mineral King ones – were you paying attention to the first paragraph?) is 8×16″, a new shape and size for me to paint. It is lacking some detail, a signature, and paint on the edges.

This painting is almost finished. Here are three stages:

It lacks a couple of wind machines, some oranges, a signature, and paint on the edges.

This one will take several more layers because I am covering over some old painting on this canvas, which a friend kindly brought to me from a yard sale.

Because these 3 new pieces were going well, I decided to try a 4th new one. A realtor friend advertised a Springville ranch with a photo so beautiful that I asked him if he could connect me with the photographer for permission to paint. The photographer replied to me directly in the affirmative.

Rose-colored glasses might help you see the potential. (That’s just a figure of speech.)

You can see that I am really taken with scenes that combine foothills and agriculture. I feel certain that a cowboy would agree with the appeal of these paintings.

oil paintings in progress

A Few More New Oil Paintings

When I thought through the oil paintings that are ready for the upcoming show, Still Here, for April at Arts Visalia, I realized there were a few more subjects that will add to the mix. Round it out. Complete it.

These are looking scrappy and rough, as paintings do while in progress. This isn’t a very satisfying step in the painting process; hence, the odd job kept pulling me away from the easel. But with a looming deadline (doesn’t that sound ominous?? It doesn’t truly feel that way), I will get back to these paintings and see if I can finish them for the show. They are 16×20″, 8×16″, and 6×18″, all manageable sizes.

P.S. Hi Tucker. You’ve already been fed three times – thank you for just sitting with me instead of begging.

oil paintings oil paintings in progress

New Mineral King Paintings

Take a deep calming breath. There are no new ones yet, but “Starting New Mineral King Oil Paintings” is too long a title. However, I have fired up the Mineral King Painting Machine (that is a particular part of my brain that gets a little time off in winter).

First, I read through my lists of what sold, what remains, what subjects and sizes are missing. (That step isn’t one that I can photograph for you.)

Then I decide on canvas sizes, look through my photos, and make decisions. Last year more medium sized paintings sold than small ones. I have plenty of small ones remaining, so the sizes I’ll be painting now are 8×8″, 10×10″, and 6×18″. “Medium”? In my world, yes, these are medium sizes. (This step was tricky in that I had to figure out what to do with my large oil paintings that are still wet in order to use the table.)

There are many ways to start oil paintings. I chose a haphazard semi-lazy just-draw-it-on-the-canvas method. I don’t have a lot of hustle right now – just plodding forward is getting the job done. (More coffee? Start eating sugar again? Nah.)

Scribble scribble, dab, pick any color, just do something.

That’s a decent start.

Can I take a break now? A little recess, perhaps? Maybe I’ll go weed my baby poppies, because I love February.

Mineral King Mineral King oil paintings

Recess for Oil Paintings

Those large oil paintings were looking so good that I carried them out into the sunshine for a little recess.

After recess, I made a few additions and changes in spite of having signed them. They will need another recess for yet another photography session.

This one was too wet to carry outside. It is also unfinished and unsigned.

Now it is a little better. This one requires copious amounts of studying and thinking.

(Sorry, no hopscotch or tetherball at recess, although Tucker may have considered playing tag at one point.)

oil paintings

Dithering Over Decisions

Still Here, my upcoming exhibition for the month of April has me dithering about how much is enough, how to prioritize the work ahead, and wishing for the umpteenth time that I had a functional and accurate crystal ball.

When Arts Visalia asked me if I’d move from January 2022 to April 2021, I decided that I would finish 4 of the 5 paintings in progress and not try to add anything else. The fifth could just wait for another opportunity.

Because I am painting larger than normal for me, I am not able to guess how long a painting will take to finish. The ones on the easels seemed almost impossibly far from completion. Then suddenly 3 of the 4 looked ready to sign. So, I pulled out #5, because it will be a nice addition.

Incrementally closer to completion with each painting session.

Meanwhile, I went through my framed pencil drawings and decided a bit more variety will be good. So, I delivered 3 more drawings to my framer with the usual instructions of “Make them look good and call me when they are ready.” I believe in hiring the best people for the job and then just getting out of their way.

I wonder if Arts Visalia will rethink the decision to hang my work in Gallery 2 and move me into the Main Gallery. I could fill it up. My work could fill both galleries. HEY, ARTS VISALIA, DO YOU READ MY BLOG?

Probably not. Guess I’ll head back to the easels.

arts visalia cabin drawing pencil drawings upcoming show

Show Prep

The weather was stunning last week, which made it difficult to focus on work. Trail Guy invited me to go enjoy the great outdoors with him, so I spent 2 hours doing non-work. Then I dove back into my show prep.

First, I chose photos for Arts Visalia to use for publicity. They requested 4; I chose 12. Oops.

Then I worked on the artist statement, which I streamlined a bit more (thank you, Blog Reader Sharon!)

Next, I filled out the contract. Seems a little bit out of order, but maybe they know that I am a woman of my word.

Finally, I painted.

These big boys are a little cumbersome to move around and store while wet.

Finally, I decided this smaller one is finished, no more messing around.

Sunny Sequoias #33, oil on wrapped canvas, 12×16″, $325 (including tax)

You may breathe easier, seeing that I didn’t put this Sequoia oil painting in the dumpster.

Pippin is certainly feeling better about life now that he is allowed access to this chair in the living room.

art show oil painting sequoia oil painting

Looks Better in Person

All my paintings look better in person. Maybe I should I stop showing you my paintings in progress so that you will be inclined to attend my show at Arts Visalia in April.

Nah. These posts could cause you to either really become interested in the show or run away screaming.

Now that I see the before and after together, I am wondering if the upper painting (before) looks better than the lower painting (after).

I added more sky on the upper right, more detail in the corn lily on the bottom left (weird colors in the photo aren’t true), more detail to the corn lily on the bottom right and put in more distant forest.

Now that I see the photos here, I can see some botanical problems with the trees.

I’ll keep working on it.

oil paintings oil paintings in progress

Cabin Painting in Stages

You’ve seen most of these photos before. I am showing them again so you can see them all on the same page in order of progression on this painting. Besides, it will help me to see them all together because then I will know I have actually accomplished something.