I Sell on ETSY

Check out some of the new additions to my Etsy shop.  Several of the 'now' dry and varnished 30 in 30 works are now 
for sale!  
Enjoy the special pricing while it lasts.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/PattieWall

End of the Month - More Fairy Tales

"Seven Ravens"

12" x 16"

watercolor, watercolor pencil, marker, acrylic paint, Caran d'Ache 

watercolor crayon

on Arches watercolor block

You can find the story, HERE.

I have been working on this for a couple of days, honestly the first

one didn't make it off the easel.  I figured that my human

image need to be large and the first one I tried, didn't 

come out that way and it had too many things details in it.

I feel the need to stick to more 'design' rather

than a detailed painting.

I loved the colors in this one, I originally had

her top as a WRONG color, but was

able to correct that one with acrylic paint.

I am enjoying this sooo much.

I can't seem to stop.  It has got

me in it's grips..and I don't think it

will let go for awhile.

Leader of the Pack

At the end of the last post, I was trying out some faces for a future piece

to go with the story Little Red Riding Hood that has been done in the online course

I am taking "Ever After".  I envisioned Red as being a great wildlife enthusiast, calming and catching the wolf to lead him off down a different path.  I know, one shouldn't mess with Mother Nature, but 

think of all the Grandma's that were saved!!?

This one measures 11" x 14" and is done on Canson bristol (my first time trying this product).  I was surprised as with all the layers of marker, paint and pencil, it did not buckle.  Yay!

  

  

Where Have I Been?

You may have checked in and wondered, what is she doing?  Well, it has not been my intention to let my blog LAG like this..sorry.  I signed up for and am taking an online class called “Ever After” from July through October.  It is a mixed media art and style development course with a fairy tale theme hosted by Tamara Laporte and 12 other popular mixed media art teachers from all over the globe.  So spending most of my time, watching, learning, trying, failing, trying again, and planning and drawing and painting and painting - along with petting and combing and playing with studio cats and organizing and cleaning studio...oy!

And~~~along with that, DH and I continue to work on things around our 112 year old farmstead that need attention.  Home maintenance, car and appliance repair are all things we tackle on our own.  Why?  Because we can.  

Here are several of the finished pieces and some of the sketches from the class and what I am attempting to make my OWN..at this point, we are encouraged to copy the content and use the same methods and supplies for the learning part, about 3 complete pieces per month.  Then tackle our own piece using what we have gleaned from the month long attempts. studying, and videos along with journaling and sketching.  It's fun!  It's refreshing!  It's full of camaraderie and interest.  

The Little Mermaid

(almost exact copy)

Tam Laporte instructor

Beauty and the Beast

(a little change on the Beast - the one to copy looked too friendly)

Andrea Gomoll, instructor

Snow White

(used my daughter Jessica as a model for this one)

Annie Hamman, instructor

Just a sketch - trying out design elements - you get the idea

Jack and the Beanstalk, (my own creation)

Some Beauty and Maleficent sketching on my own

Sleeping Beauty

(not quite exact copy)

Jane Davenport, instructor

The Handless Maiden (my OWN maiden - 

and I hadn't heard this one either, google it)

Galia Alena, instructor

Little Red and Wolfie

(almost exact copy)

Micki Wilde, instructor

working on my own sketches - modeling the faces for my own version

of Little Red...

Now comes the good part for me - leave me a comment on

which is your favorite.  I want you to know, this is really

pushing me, and it's quite a struggle - but in a good way because

I am having a really good time learning to develop a new style

in this genre.

A Pastel for Today

"In the Long Run"

6" x 9"

pastel on Art Spectrum/burgundy

An intuitive melding of a couple of my photos ~

sky from Prairie Dog State Park 

and landscape from Jewell County,

in Kansas, sunset from my mind.

Painting 30 in 30 - Day 29/Moon

"Biological Rhythms"

6" x 6"

acrylic on wood

Painting 30 in 30 - Day 28/Row

"Windbreak"

acrylic mixed media

8" x 8"

Raymar canvasboard

Number 21 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Archie"

7" x 7"

watercolor on semi-rough Arches

SOLD

Archie belongs to a artist friend, Marcy, who lives in

Salina.  She got him this past year.

I love the 'champagne color' challenge.

Had to get out the white gouache..as I needed

that ear fur to fling out into the space a little more.

Wow - only 9 more to go, this

21 has gone by so quickly..

such is life, I guess.

Numero Uno - 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Miss Priss"

6" x 6"

oil on pine veneer

NUMBER ONE!!!  Woohoo - Happy New Year!  I hit the ground runnin' today

and got this first one done in no time!  I had DH cut me down some great 

cabinet remnants I picked up a few years ago, (thanks Linda).  They are cut into

small 6" x 6" squares for this challenge.  I sanded them all, primed them with gesso,

then covered them with a colored coat of acrylic - this one is an eggplant purple underneath.

Miss Priss belongs to my cousin in Texas, Debbie.  She has LOTS of doggies, and rescues 

and advertises LOST dogs alot.  She (and her daughter and niece) are dog lovers extraordanaire.

Because of her dedication, I chose Priss to be my first painting of the new year.

Priss is sooo tiny  and a real heart stealer - she is a chihuahua.  

P.S., my focus will be 'pets' - but what I am really working on is 

big strokes of paint,

with minimal 'detail' strokes.

A Watercolor of Some Pumpkins for Fall

"Scarlett's Jack-O-Lanterns"

11" x 14"

watercolor and colored pencil on Arches

Fall is my favorite time of year.  Colors of the leaves, crisp fall air, chilling temps - 

all commands a difference

in activities.  

 Halloween time - fun!  

I like Halloween things all year long - the colors, the images, the excitement -

it helps to transform fall into winter for me.

We have been busy changing the scene for winter at the farmstead.

This is a painting of my granddaughter's carved pumpkins 

last year when she was 6 years old.

I think the tall one, looks just like

one of her many drawings back then.  

So nice to see her able to transpose it to a jack-o-lantern

face.  The lights in their faces at dusk creates that special mood.

.

New Listings on Etsy - New Art Hangin in the Galleries - Life is Good!

It's 98° outside, the mosquitoes are about to carry us away..so inside I work today!

Made a trip to Independence Gallery in Loveland, Co. last week for "Night on the Town"

 and added new art to the walls there.

Now showing and selling art at Paul Wood Florist in Fort Collins, Co.

Interested in something on this blog that you don't see for sale, let me know.

While I was in Fort Collins, I celebrated the upcoming birth of my 2nd grandaughter, Sterling.
She will arrive sometime in the next 5 or 6 weeks.

AND...I got my Colorado FIX!  Love that state - someday - maybe -  I will live closer to there!

My son-in-law is a VERY talented artist - it was great to see the B & W series he is working on
and be in his studio a bit.  He is an awesome acrylic painter who has painted a lot of people!

This week will perhaps find me back in my OWN studio!

An Acrylic Painting of Eagles

"Tag Team"

12" x 12"

acrylic on wrapped canvas

This one's photo turned out too light on this blog - 

I am not going to change it, 

because how it looks

in PS 'is how it looks', but it
is a little darker.

Loved painting this one - I could hear the wind rustling through the tree

branches - of course the wind outside right now, kept that

sound fresh in my mind.

It is painted around the edges...no frame.

See last post for the story behind this painting.

Watercolor of a Kitten

"Meeka"

8" x 11"

watercolor on Arches

Watercolor is NOT my forte - but I have decided 

I need to change my feelings about it.

Yes, it is a 

'put it down and there is NO correcting it' 

kind of medium

and I think that is what gets to me about it.

With oil and pastel and even acrylic - 

the 'correction gods' are forgiving.

However, I have lots of paper, 

lots of paint, 

just need the patience to 

keep on painting and not worrying

that it doesn't turn out

exactly like I want.

This one I am satisfied with...the end of the nose

didn't come out exactly like she looks

but it's close!

I have been collecting ideas on Pinterest

on making 'smash journals' - 

you can check it out by googling that one.

Made myself an "inspiration journal"

in which I can collect ideas, sketch,

paint, plan, doodle. It's kind of 

a personalized sketchbook at least

that's how I will use it.

I will share it soon.  

It has been fun ~ sort of 

breaking away from the norm with making this journal

for the last few days.

A New Pastel for Today

"Lobster on a Plate"

8" x 12"

pastel on Canson Mi-Tientes paper

My friends often allow me to copy their photos for use 

in my art. This artwork's inspiration comes
from Rich,  my friend of about 30 years.

Thanks!

A Still Life with Yellow Roses

"Valentine Roses"

16" x 20"

oil on wrapped canvas

Painted around the edges - no need to frame.

SO...

I decided to share the process on this one...
as I captured it at different intervals.

Scroll down and start at the bottom.

Fourth, I have realigned the placement of the objects

so that there is harmony in the space on the canvas, 

the pitcher is needing some help with it's shape

...the framed picture on the wall

has this great ornate detail that 

I wanted to just 'suggest'.

The roses were taller 'stemmed'

in the source photo I used (thanks T!)

but the way I set the placement and size of 

it all, I had to trim them down.

The source photo shows the great light coming from above.

I have been 'sitting' at the easel and realize I need to stand up

as this is a more involved - larger canvas

than I have been doing since the ravens.

Maybe my 'lines' would be more perpendicular.

I'm trying not to squash a nearby kitten

as I back up - that is what I am really doing..ha!

Third, I decided to get the roses in, as I was filling up the area pretty heavy with paint.

Second, I worked some on the shadows on the light colored surfaces...

I attempted to get some warmer color going.

First, I sketched with pencil, then I started with 

identifying the darkest dark areas with a mixture of ultramarine blue, 

cad yellow medium and a touch of alizarin crimson.

 These process photos are taken quickly with my iPhone.

New Pastel

"Sun Bee"

pastel on Canson pastel board

8" x 10"

.

Have been trying this pastel board made by Canson (it's not new, but I have 

a big pile of it to use).  I love their Mi-Tientes paper!

However, I use the wrong side of the paper, 

the side without much

'tooth' - the thing you need in a pastel surface to pull off the pastel and make it sit down

on the that surface.  Pastel hardly ever works on a slick, smooth surface.

This board utilizes the tooth that is found on the right side of that

familiar paper - a little too much tooth for me.

If you click on the photo, you will see what I 

am talking about.

I know that a surface definitely shows it's done in pastel

by virtue of seeing some of the tooth, but

I don't like that look. That's why anymore, I prefer

sanded pastel paper or board.

So I scumbled and scumbled this painting.

It had to come to an end.

I was even using a brush with

Gamsol on it, to brush the 

pastel down into the teeth

but still didn't achieve what I was after.

Live and learn - maybe I will use all that board

for trying colors and mixing colors up against

each other...my 'try it' board.

Pet Portraits

Push PLAY on this window and you will be taken to Smilebox to view this slideshow once it loads - just trying it out...

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Work in Progress - Third DAY

Working on middle raven today...

color in.

LOTS of work to do on background, foreground - 

mucho details to be done on biggest guy on the right.

You get the idea..

Time for Bigger Paintings ~ Life After 30 in 30

I thought that when the 30 in 30 was over, 

(loved every minute of the 30 in 30, but itching soooo much

to do some work that took extra time, planning and blood, sweat and tears)

I would get going on our taxes for 2013 - looks like something much bigger got in the way - 

Sitting in my 'pile' for some time now has been this idea - of RAVENS.

So I got out a BIGGER canvas, 15 x 30...

wrapped around the edges for more painting space,

(no need for a frame)

and began..by sketching (would show you that, but my iPhone won't cooperate 

with my email right now)

Then I dove right into and started that large guy on the right...

and the next day to the guy on the left...

Now I need to do some research to make sure 

the wrap around tail on this one is correct.

Crows and ravens are different in the tail and beak area.

I want to make sure these are RAVENS, not CROWS.

For today I work on the middle raven - I love the background color.

Don't know where it's going, or if it will change.

I am letting the muse direct me on this one.

Check back soon!

A CELEBRATION of 30 Days of Painting!!!

Here you have it.  You can look at my last year's "30 in 30" HERE.

It's good, for me, to see I have grown over the year

in my techniques, my color mixing, my energy at the task,

and the complexity of my subject matter.

There are several here, albeit small,

I would definitely like to

re-do in on a larger surface

or even in a different

medium.

Snowing here today - cold and blowing.