Where I Stand Sunday

Getting ready to 'show' your work (many pieces) is an orchestration of prep work.  Many pieces (oil paintings) needed a coat of varnish.  I usually wait a lengthy drying time before I final coat my paintings, although it's not always possible.  Many needed to be placed in frames, some had to be removed from frames to be fixed, as the pastel dusted down onto the mat - that is the most frustrating one of all. Transporting to and fro, doesn't help.  I wish to get back to the easel more this week.

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life standing. Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on. If you'd like to join me by posting a photo on Sunday of places you've been on your blog/photo hosting site/website, leave a comment on this post telling me where I can find you/your photo and I'll add a link to my sidebar so others can find you. 

Oil Painting for Today

"Cafe au Lait'

6" X 6"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

Been away from the easel a little too long, needed a warm-up - so painted this great cup o' joe. 

Where I Stood

Each day brings - a mystery.  This has been a winter of weather.  I stood here yesterday.  It was a nice sunny (whoa sunshine!) day to be outside, looking around at the receding season.  It is amazing to us how quickly the snow is melting, hour by hour.  It's not THAT warm but the snow melts all the same which is good and bad.  Good because it means that perhaps we are done with the icy, extreme cold, snowy weather but bad due to the mud and muck that takes place of the frozen ground.  One of the drawbacks to living outside the concrete jungle ☺. Saw a bluebird yesterday.   I checked online and some bluebirds don't migrate, but we haven't seen one all winter - and we certainly had lots of inside days to watch out the windows at the birds.  I think we may be on the home stretch!

Painting for Today

"Just Another Sunny Day"

6" x 6"

oil on Raymar plein air board

Wishful thinking....

More Progress on "Red Mischief"

I said I would change the mouth on the little red-headed Russy, well, I kept working and working and before you know it I had repainted the face, hands and hair.  I stopped and put it aside as finished.

Back to What's Known

For ALL those comments on this possible new look, I am returning to the blogger templates - perhaps a different style or color combo.  First one didn't look right, as the text ran over onto the border.  There are some of the sidebar items that got jumbled around during this trial run. Over the next few days, they will return to the spot where they were before, maybe one or two off.  Thanks to all who braved this out there with me.  I was looking for something that isn't there.  The solution would be to learn HTML...was going to do that one day, but right now isn't the time. Addendum - I am having lots of trouble getting it back to what it was before all this, ain't that the way it is.  If this changes every day, it's cause I can't get it to do what I want it to. Want to get the info at the top of the body of the post - to the bottom.  Arghhh.  Lesson learned, don't mess with it Pattie!

I'm Trying Out a New Look

Excuse the mess, I am trying a new template designer called Artisteer...that's why there is the word "Trial" all over the place (and know that it looks a little different without Trial everywhere).  Let me know what you think.  It needs some tweaking - some items that fit into the old template, don't necessarily fit here...stay tuned.  As I am getting feedback, I am tweaking - and not publishing your comments, I don't want you to be influenced by what others say at this point...to those of you who have already commented...you see I am changing as I get these..thanks for helping me out.

"Happy Birthday to YOU!"

Today is my daughter's birthday!  We live far apart.  I wanted to celebrate her day by painting a portrait (often used subject matter) of her.  Found this cool photo of her and my granddaughter catching some sun on a cruise they were on with her husband's family a year ago in November.  I have one more thing to add, my granddaughter was wearing a MardiGras type necklace that was wrapped up over her arm but in talking with her today, we decided it's not important. Decided to let the canvas dry a little to add that.  So Happy Birthday - Jessica!  May the sun shine bright on your day!

"Sungirls"

6" x 8"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

Portrait for a Couple of Days

"Red Mischief"

9" x 12"

oil on gessoed board

I saw this photo on the internet and wrote to ask permission to use it. I think redheads are such good portraiture material.  Under the skin - is a transparent blue-ish tone when in light.  This nephew, Russy, of another artist, Diane Hoeptner (hep-ner) and his pose were just what was needed on the easel these last three days.  I have another portrait completed that I will post on Friday.  Wow - working on two at once has it's challenges - I think the big thing about it is, I just didn't get too wrapped up in it - could stay loose and move on - going back and forth between them.  At least that is my experience and process for the last three days.  May have to try that one again. 

Where I Stand Sunday

When we moved to this farmstead house about 3 1/2 years ago, the only heat it had was a stand alone wall heater in the kitchen. Wanting to bring it up to current times, we had central heat installed.  Several of the heat vents have diffusers on them.  Herman, our oldest dachshund, visits this one vent by the door for his EXTRA heat need.  You can find him here on many a cold day...and more so this week. Most mornings have been near or below zero.  One has to watch him carefully, as he has a back leg that literally freezes up outside...he stalls where he stands, which causes you to rush out to pick him up and bring him back inside quickly. Anyway, I can't imagine how the people in this house, ever survived without "full" house heat - it has been on almost non-stop for weeks.  The old heater is now in the studio, and does it 's thing just fine! Going there soon.  Take care and hopefully we'll all see more warmth this week!

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life standing. Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on. If you'd like to join me by posting a photo on Sunday of places you've been on your blog/photo hosting site/website, leave a comment on this post telling me where I can find you/your photo and I'll add a link to my sidebar so others can find you.

More 'Family Dogs'

"Skip"

6" x 8"

oil on canvasboard

Another dog - from the family.  This is Skip.

He is a Jack Russell mix who lives in Texas. 

I think he is terribly cute - and hear he is a real follower!

Let’s Swap Cold Stories

Take a look at the way the frost is like prickly little porcupine quills.  We are in for some dipping subzero temps the next two overnights.  I left the color on the last photo to show there is no color right now (or very little).  The trees look like a scene from “Dr. Zhivago”.  Hunkering down in the studio. 

Where I Stand Sunday

OK, I take it back.  I said I love winter, cold weather and snow...but I think I have had enough.

It's paralyzing!!

Each day I have such inspiration upon bailing out from underneath the covers...but it wanes as the morning moves forward.  I let the dogs out, I let the dogs in, I let the dogs out, I let the dogs in, I PUSH the dogs out...they immediately turn around before the door closes.  It is just too cold.! 

(BTW - new slippers..so warm and cozy.  Thanks hubster!)

We are supposed to have '-11' degrees on Thursday.  I am not looking forward to it.  At this point, I will have to heat the studio all the time....although it is well insulated and kept at about 36 degrees when I am not there, it just can't be that warm after allllll these days of biting cold.  I see by entries on other social networking arenas, it is cold in a lot of places.  How do you deal with it?

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life standing. Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on. If you'd like to join me by posting a photo on Sunday of places you've been on your blog/photo hosting site/website, leave a comment on this post telling me where I can find you/your photo and I'll add a link to my sidebar so others can find you.

Happy New Year!

It's always great to approach a 'new beginning'.   In pursuing art as a career (again), I have made "someday" - my "today".  I keep the door open. I let possibilities in.  Being an artist has its ups and downs, just like any vocation or area of interest/career/job, but if one stays passionate about their task - the sky is the limit.  I find there is a definite ART to being an artist.  I realize each day - time is of the essence. 

One of my goals for the new year is to use my time more wisely with respect to technology.  Researching is a great past time. It's the teacher/learner in me.  And although that is important to keeping my brain healthy, it doesn't get the paint on the canvas or give me that planning time I need to create more substantial pieces.

Along with that major goal are several that deal with personal health and well-being I will share with you:  continue to get out of debt, fit in fitness time, 'tame the bulge' and get organized.  Sounds all too familiar, been there, didn't necessarily DO THAT..but all the same, I have to continue trying. 

With optimism, I am hoping that this new year brings more hope and possibilities in these uncertain times for all of us. I still believe, that one can do anything they put their mind to. More diligent and concentrated focus will help to make small dreams come true. And I believe all the 'little' things can roll into a 'bigger' thing, no matter the obstacles or bends in the road. Continuing to move forward and looking to the future with an open mind will push us along.  It's easy to be critical or to blame others for the woes of our world, but each one of us has a duty to make better - what we can. 

Thanks for visiting my blog.  Those of you who are followers, those of you who check in once in awhile and those of you who just stumbled across this cyberplace...here's hoping that you find your way to better your world and find the happiness and well-being you deserve in this NEW YEAR.   Go on!!  Make it a great one!!!