Peggy Kingsbury

A Great Day

2012-01-18T13:35:00.001-06:00

There is a walking trail near my home and I have been eyeing some paintable views for a while. When this morning dawned sunny and crisp, I couldn’t resist. I was set up at 9:15 and all packed up at 10:43. It was high 40s to mid 50s and very little wind. Perfect conditions! Texas January’s can be wonderful. I even got in a three-mile walk before lunch.

I call this 9x12 Armand View—the name of the street nearest this spot. Armand Bayou is on my left and curves around to the right, just over the rise. I could not get a good composition with the blue water next to the warm grasses. Maybe at another time of day.

A beautiful day. A real blessing. I pray that you too have a blessed day.

San Barnaba Kiosk

2012-01-14T15:05:00.000-06:00

Click here to bid.

This 8x8 was done plein air in San Barnaba, Venice. I later changed the figure in the studio. The linen is glued to archival gatorfoam. It is up for bid for a limited time.

Goodbye 2011

2011-12-31T17:27:00.000-06:00

White Amaryllis, 12"x12"

Happy New Year to all my friends and followers! Here's wishing you joy and success in 2012.

This is the last painting of 2011--finished this afternoon.

Into the Light

2011-12-30T08:15:00.002-06:00

A few years ago, I traveled to Mexico's San Miguel de Allende to paint. I found the people fascinating, especially the women. Many of them were vendors, selling dolls, balloons, flowers, etc. Let's just say they touched my heart. Everyone has a story and, when I travel, I am curious about the people. This flower seller was near Plaza de Allende.
This small, 6"x6", is an auction item on Daily Paintworks and bidding starts at $60. Click here to bid.

Fishing Camp Road

2011-12-02T11:00:00.007-06:00

Recently I was invited to paint the Louisiana bayou country with friends. It just doesn't get any better than that. Texas artists LaNell Arndt, Judy Crowe, and Bernice Keown were excellent company and the subjects were incredible. Bernice had access to a house with a perfect deck for painting the sunrise. We also painted sunsets, marshes, fishing shacks, and boats. I will post additional images from the trip on my website later.

I painted Fishing Camp Road one evening right outside the house where we stayed.

p.s. Check out my website. I just added new images.

New Auction

2011-11-17T16:58:00.001-06:00

Click here to bid.

My latest Daily Paintworks auction is Scouring Moonstone Beach, 7x5. Starting bid is $50--a real bargain. My first painting trip to California was to the Cambria, area with the fabulous women of Alla Prima International. The beach where we painted almost always had people looking for stones and shells. It's a great place!

Postcards from Venice

2011-09-10T13:30:00.001-05:00

Lovely ladies visiting Venice and picking that perfect postcard to send home.

Texas is Burning

2011-09-05T09:16:00.000-05:00

I just read Carol Marine's blog & am shocked. She may have lost her home to fire in the Austin area. There is a link to her blog to the right. Please pray for Carol, her family, and her community. And, for rain!

Fundraising Auction

2011-09-01T13:37:00.003-05:00

100% will be donated to Save the Children.

I joined the Help the Children of Africa challenge at Daily Paintworks. With a starting bid of $50 (a real bargain). Proceeds, minus the cost of shipping, will go to Save the Children.

Venice Regalia

2011-08-25T09:10:00.002-05:00

Just added this piece to the portfolio at KingsburyArt.com. While visiting the area around the San Palo cathedral, saw this priest taking a stroll. The wind did wonderful things with his "regalia". He was well-photographed by the tourists--me included.

Dry Leaf Study

2011-07-30T17:02:00.000-05:00

I found this leaf--in the company of many of its kind--on a walking trail near my home. I gave it a good home, tacked it to a board and immortalized it. It is available on a Daily Paintworks Auction

To bid, click here.

Momentum...

2011-07-14T11:00:00.005-05:00

…is the lifeblood of growth. This is true in many fields—sports/writing/business/arts/etc.
As a painter, I have often “lost” momentum. Those are times when I am either not happy with the work I am doing or have little inspiration to begin.

What causes this lack/loss of momentum? Depends on the day and the individual! It can be a discouraging event (Were you rejected for that show or by a gallery?). It can be family issues (Is someone ill/hurt?) It can be distractions (Is there a remodel project at your home? Are you moving?).

How do we regain that momentum? Depends on the day and the individual!
• A plein-air trip
• Get together with other painters to “talk art”
• Look at magazines/scrap files/travel photos/read an art book
• Visit galleries/museums
• Buy beautiful flowers for a still life
• Paint small warm-ups
• Just start!
• Insert your favorite here!

My recent loss of momentum was due to a family illness. When all was well, I bought flowers (my frequent inspiration). Arranging Yellow and Blue (18x24) is the result.

Think about it. What inspires you? The following quotes might help:

Enthusiasm is the energy and force that builds literal momentum of the human soul and mind.
Bryant H. McGill

If you have the guts to keep making mistakes, your wisdom and intelligence leap forward with huge momentum.
Holly Near

Happy painting!

A New Venture

2011-07-06T10:00:00.004-05:00

Today I posted my first on-line auction piece—Bird Seed Vendor, 6x6.

I recently joined a site www.dailypaintworks.com that features auctions. This function of the site is the brain-child of Carole Marine ( follow her blog ) and her husband, David. He has done a great job. My auctions will be for unframed paintings smaller than 8”x10”. All other sizes will still be sold through galleries/shows. Starting price for this one is $50—a real bargain! I have a few others on the site at fixed prices. Look for them under All Art.

Getting Started

2011-05-20T15:36:00.000-05:00

Are you a morning person? I am. When I start a new project, it usually must be early in the day. Otherwise, will I have the energy to stay with it—to do a good job? This, most likely, comes from years of rising at 4:30 a.m. to be at work by 6:30 or 7.

Recently, my morning was spent on the computer working on an organizational newsletter. Going to the kitchen for lunch, I spied the sun on brilliant yellow coreopsis through my back door. Striking! You guessed it. I started a new painting after lunch. Afternoon Yellow (12x12) is the result. I cut the bunch, plopped them into a white vase and mindlessly ate lunch while staring at them. There are times when it takes hours or days to plan and set up a still life. By 2 p.m. the coreopsis were in a different vase and on a velvet cloth and under a studio light. A morning painting probably would have been done outside. Keeping it simple made for a quicker finish.
Funny (you know this, I’m sure) if you just start painting, you forget:
--you are tired
--your energy is low
--you are pre-occupied

--you’re afraid you won’t finish that day
Likely, more time and thought would have produced a better composition but I had a good time doing this one. And, I was reminded to just start!

April Plein Air

2011-04-16T22:04:00.015-05:00

April in Texas is the time to go out to paint. The weather is usually good and the wilflowers are usually spectacular. Then there is always lots of GREEN! It also seems that there are art show galore in April. Really keeps us hopping.

The Plein Air Southwest opening at Southwest Gallery in Dallas was great. It's a wonderful show. Go by the gallery during April to see. Participating artists gathered at the Dallas Arboretum for a quick-draw. Those pieces are also hanging at the gallery. The day was beautiful and the crowds were able to watch us paint.

After the Dallas event, I was home for a day--to grab clean clothes--and then traveled to the Brenham area to take advantage of that great April weather. Can't say the flowers were great. Texas is in drought and the flowers are less than spectacular. Please pray for rain. Those land owners are really suffering. We did find color at the Antique Rose Emporium. They have lots of wonderful blooming plants to buy and to just enjoy.

Our group show The Beauty of Still Life at Cloister Gallery in Houston opened April 15 and was well-attended. The six artists have had sales. That show is there through April as well. Some of us will be there during lunch on April 26, at about 11:30. The gallery is open week days from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Spring Whites, 9x12, sold at Cloister.

Look out Dallas...

2011-04-05T19:21:00.001-05:00

…there will be creative energy flowing throughout your city as members of the Outdoor Painters Society (OPS) paint your Farmers’ Market, White Rock Lake and the Arboretum.

Plein Air Southwest opens with a reception Saturday, April 9, from 3 to 7 p.m. This follows a morning quick-draw event at Dallas Arboretum.

See the 150 plein air pieces by signature OPS members, juried members and invited artists at Southwest Gallery, 4500 Sigma Road, Dallas 75244. The show will be up throughout April. Read all about the exhibit at the gallery site:

http://swgallery.com/events.aspx
As an OPS signature member, my two pieces (shown here) in the exhibit are Cement Creek and Owl Creek Pass. Both are 9”x12” in oil on linen panel

Mercer Magnolia

2011-03-18T09:35:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I painted at Mercer Arboretum with a group of friends. Lots of color! So beautiful! This 9x12 was done in about 1.5 hours. It needs work and not sure if I'll finish it. The Pink Magnolia looks a bit like a redbud. The point being, it was good to paint outside in a lovely setting.

Cloister Gallery Show

2011-03-16T10:04:00.000-05:00

The Beauty of Still Life is a show including six local artists: Kim Carlton, Judy Crowe, Mary K. Forshagen, Susan Hotard, Bernice Keown, and me (of course) at Cloister Gallery (in Christ Church Cathedral), 1117 Texas Avenue, Houston. It is mostly still life with a few other subjects as well. The show hangs during April, with a reception on April 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. Bring friends!

If you want to attend during the day, there is a great cafeteria, Treebeards http://www.treebeards.com/ on site. I will be there on April 26, beginning at 11:30. Come by. Have Lunch. Let's visit!
This painting, Studio Layers (16x20), is included. For a long time I have wanted to paint a grouping of studio "stuff". This is it.

Art With Heart

2011-03-04T15:14:00.000-06:00

If you are near downtown Houston on Saturday, March 5, drop by San Jose Clinic (2615 Fannin). The Art with Heart auction benefits the clinic which provides compassionate health care for uninsured clients. The auction begins at 6:30 p.m. Venice Awnings is included in the auction.

Ten-Minute Match

2011-02-08T15:22:00.000-06:00

Daily Paintworks has begun to issue challenges for artists. I "accepted" the latest--to divide a canvas into small sections and paint ten-minute studies. It's way harder than it sounds. When that timer goes off, it's a jolt! I wanted to throw it across the room. Check out the site to see all the submissions. Very interesting.

In addition to the time limit, I tried a new palette. While I've been using just six colors for a long time, I added a full-range of cadmiums: red light, orange, yellow deep, and yellow. In addition, I used yellow ochre, naples yellow, pthalo blue and burnt sienna. This a real departure for me but I will keep trying it for a while.

I sometimes paint very small studies in a short time and have been thinking about doing a box of matches (it's a small, 32-count box). It will be interesting to try, since I did these 10-minute versions. Each one is about 3"x5.5"

Second Day Painting

2011-01-15T09:31:00.003-06:00

For some reason, I could not at the second painting. So, here it is--a 6x12. The first day piece is 9x12.

In the Flesh

2011-01-15T09:30:00.003-06:00

My last post was about a workshop experience from DVDs. Well, last weekend I studied (in person) for three days with Qiang Huang (pronounced Chong Wong). He is a delightful artist and teacher. I would highly recommend him if you want an excellent workshop experience. He is well-organized, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic.

I regularly read his blog -- click here for blog and click here for his website--. His artistic journey is inspiring. And, his skill is remarkable.

A bonus was being with other artists/discussing art. Studio isolation should not be a full-time situation.

Here are a couple of “studies” I did in the workshop.

Workshop in a Box

2010-11-22T17:11:00.003-06:00

Learning should be a lifelong pursuit and I believe workshops can be a great benefit for painters. An economic downturn can, however, make it difficult to attend. I recently watched a DVD by Morgan Weistling. It was a long one and I enjoyed every minute. He is a wonderful painter and it was informative throughout. Truly, a workshop in a box.

Videos and DVDs are not cheap but are less than most workshops and you can view them as often as you like or need. Quang Ho has three recent editions that are excellent. Other favorite on-screen instructors are Scott Burdick, Richard Schmid, and Matt Smith. Let me say, there are many really good viewing opportunities out there and I have not seen them all and cannot name all the good ones. Many have clips available on the web and it’s a good idea to research before you buy.
Those mentioned above are also favorite classroom instructors; except for Schmid since I’ve never studied with him. I have also learned much from Gay Faulkenberry, Lesley Rich and Ann Templeton. When I have an opportunity to attend a workshop, I look for someone whose work knocks my socks off.
Over the years, I have been to a few, not-so-good, workshops. I do, however, believe you can always find something to bring home and apply to your work. It may just be what you learn not to do. Most good instructors teach fundamentals and those don’t change. I feel we all can use drilling on basics. What I get most is input on my own skills and suggestions for areas on which I need to concentrate. (Those are legion.) I usually do not paint well in a workshop. I try to paint like the instructor while I am there, just to learn. In my own studio, I want to paint like me, only better.
One pet peeve is an instructor who pats me on the head and flatters my work. I know they need to be positive and compliment everyone. That’s okay. It’s nice to hear but I am there to learn. When that happened to me, it was a really good painter who was, I think, new to teaching. If all I get is praise, I feel cheated. In those cases, I learned from watching that artist paint. That is sometimes the highlight of the workshop. I want his or her educated eye on my work.
Watching a great artist paint is inspiring—in person or “from a box”. I can come away from a workshop or a DVD with head spinning with inspiration, information, ideas and self-knowledge. I believe that’s a good value.

QUOTE
"If criticism had any power to harm, the skunk would be extinct by now." Fred Allen

Camp Fire USA Paint Out

2010-10-24T13:57:00.000-05:00

It’s been a week since the Camp Fire USA paint-out. Once again, it was a blast. Painting in the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens with other artists was inspiring. Each artist donated one plein air painting from the four-day event plus one from the Sunday, two and one-half hour quick draw event. During a jazz brunch on Sunday, the donated paintings were displayed and sold during a silent auction. This year’s work was even better than last year’s. John Cook won both best of show and people’s choice awards. His work is always spectacular and this year was no exception. Qiang-Huang won first place in the quick draw and second place in the plein air event. He is another fabulous artist whom I admire. Kaye Franklin had a wonderful painting of yellow flowers that won fifth place. It is inspiring to paint with these artists.

The Camp Fire organization and all the volunteers make it a fabulous four days for the artists. They treat us so well that I, for one, get quite spoiled. The proceeds will go to the organization's camp near Granbury, TX. It is a worthy children's cause.

My mother went along on the trip and we enjoyed staying with family and visiting with others in the area. One afternoon, we drove to Ennis and to Lake Bardwell. My mother’s family lived on a farm on land that is now close to the edge of the lake. When I was about three, the family moved into Ennis. My grandfather eventually became the Ennis Marshall. There is a newer brick home on the corner where my grandparents lived. It was satisfying to reminisce and re-visit my past

Sacred Colorado Ground

2010-10-10T13:41:00.000-05:00

Near Crested Butte, there is a special place that is cared for by a special couple. This couple came to own the property by a series of extraordinary events. Judy saw a home in a magazine article, tore out the photo, and carried it around for years. She then asked her husband how he would like to live in that house. She contacted the decorator mentioned in the article and, guess what, the house was for sale.

After moving in, Judy had a number of dreams of past events that included Indians who lived on the land. Eventually a group of Native American Indians gathered and arranged boulders during a ceremony.

The couple erected an altar on the river that runs through the property. She calls it Chapel in the Spruce. There is much more to this story and I do not know it all. However, I hope I have given you a sense of how special this place is.

Visiting these locations was a spiritual experience. I believe Judy and Craig are ordained and excellent stewards of the land in their care.

I have included a photo of one of the boulders. On the surface is, clearly, an image of an artist’s palette. The painting (Sacred Ground, 12x9) I did on the property. The photo of me and my friends in the previous post was taken at one of two benches where the boulders are placed.

YIKES!

2010-10-07T20:30:00.003-05:00

Colorado was spectacular! My four friends and I decided that we would need a thesaurus to find more adjectives to describe the beauty. In all the times I’ve seen fall color, this year was the most vibrant. The aspen and cottonwoods appeared to be drenched with yellow paint. Skies/water/all elements were inspiring. How fortunate I am to be able to paint in the midst of God’s beauty. On our first painting day, our friend Mary K. took us to an area along Cement Creek where I painted this 9x12.

Later, we were photographed on land considered sacred by Indians. (More later.)

Benched

2010-09-15T22:12:00.001-05:00

In anticipation of a Colorado trip, I pulled up CO photos and painted this small study. I liked the light on the dry-grass field through shaded trees and the patches of early snow. Really looking forward to painting fall color in fall temperatures.

And, hoping I will be inspired enough to come out of a recent slump. Maybe it's the long, hot, H-O-T, hot summer but painting has been hard. I have experienced slumps before and probably will again. Haven’t hit one out of the park in a while. Heck, haven’t even had “extra bases”. I am trying to work on skills and wait it out. I will hold my head up and work it/wait it out. (No crying in baseball.)

In fact, I’ve benched myself for a couple of weeks. My dining room needed “rehab” so I’ve been stripping wallpaper. UGH! That’s a whole other ball game.

(You may not like sports analogies but I do). I like baseball, basketball, and football in that order. A loyal fan, I watch my home teams—even when they are pitiful. Go ASTROS! Go ROCKETS! Go TEXANS! There is much to be said for loyalty. (Where would I be without loyal collectors?)

Will try to have something wonderful to post from beautiful Colorado.

Beach

2010-08-17T10:11:00.000-05:00

This is from photos taken in the Brittany region of France. My aim was an "S" composition and high key.

I apologize for the photo. I am having computer problems--especially downloading and editing photos. Am on the verge of taking this (one-year-old) laptop in for repairs. Hate to do a full recovery if it's not necessary.

Please note a new addition to the blog. You can sign up to receive updates by email. Hope you will.

Day Game Reflections

2010-07-21T18:00:00.002-05:00

These days are best spent inside. Texas heat is fierce. It's fryday every day (pun intended). Spent the afternoon watching the Astros win over the Cubs in 12 innings. I love day games. It gives me a chance to study shadow colors and reflected lights. The white uniforms are especially fun. The orangey dirt of the pitcher's mound and; infield really reflects into the white uniforms. Even the Astros' grey pants are "warmed up" by the dirt. Sky colors show up in the shadows. An announcer in the stands had a bright white shirt and the shadow from his head included the blue/violet of the sky bowl and there were folds that reflected the other blues. And, the side lights are extreme!

A Learning Tool

2010-07-08T22:00:00.001-05:00

These one-hour-or-less studies are fun and more. It's an opportunity to focus on shapes, edges, values, color temperature. It is humbling to publish unfinished pieces that I might not be proud of. While painting is not about "things", I enjoyed painting chickens for the first time.

Study

2010-07-07T16:54:00.001-05:00

Spending an hour painting this little bowl brought back memories of the California trip. I bought it in a wonderful little pottery shop in Harmony.

One-hour Chefs

2010-06-30T17:32:00.001-05:00

These quick studies are usually done on a piece of canvas taped to a panel. This one is a recycled panel that I painted over -- thus, the mid-value tone. I should use a toned canvas more often. It's easy to just add lights & darks & you're done. Chefs/cooks are very appealing with their white jackets & hats. Will do more of these. What's more fun than painting white?

Under Cover

2010-06-29T18:58:00.000-05:00

Here is a 16"x16" done from the one-hour study posted earlier this month.

Cafe Scene

2010-06-26T09:27:00.001-05:00

This one-hour really needed longer. I got too pickey & forgot to just put down value shapes. I quit anyway--as promised (to myself).

Today's Hour

2010-06-23T16:56:00.000-05:00

I like this one-hour 8"x8" study & plan to do a larger version. These small, quick studies really help work out elements/ideas. I can tell it needs stronger values & color on/around the two women among the flowers. It just might work.

Challenge

2010-06-22T09:27:00.000-05:00

Each day that I am in my studio, I am giving myself the first hour to paint a small study. Some of these will be final pieces & some will be studies for larger pieces. This is a time to work on color harmonies, values, & shapes. And, maybe texture. this 8x6 (Day at the Beach) is another CA piece. I liked her purple jacket with the yellow hat.

Beach Figure

2010-06-18T17:44:00.000-05:00

Scouring Moonstone Beach, study

8"x6"

People watching! It's a fun thing and in California, it was people wandering the beaches who caught my eye. This pose was typical of people on Moonstone Beach. apparently there are little moonstones & I may have found a few but not sure how to identify them. Sure hope this woman found some.

Oil Spill

2010-06-15T14:29:00.001-05:00

What will artists do when greed completely destroys our world's beauty?

Reading

2010-06-04T13:05:00.002-05:00

I dearly love to read and I love my Kindle! I can carry, in one small package, the Bible as well as a hundred books. Makes a great travel companion.

California Images

2010-06-02T08:19:00.002-05:00

Facebook is so frustrating. I put these there but not surre it worked. Anyway, here are 3 more of the pieces I did in California in April. I work on pieces of canvas taped to panels & then must glue them down when I get home. That has taken me a while this time. However, it is a lighter way to travel. And, some of them were just "starts" and had to be finished.

From top, Morning on the Coast, 9x12; Acocado Farm 9x12, Cold Afternoon, 9x12.

News

2010-05-28T21:19:00.014-05:00

Look for On a Mission (12x12) at the Bennington Center for the Arts Center (Bennington, Vermont) show--American Artists Abroad.
The show runs from June 5 to August 22.

I have work in a new space--Englishman's, 14655 Midway Road, Addison, TX. The following pieces are there: Texas Bluebonnets, Emshoff Road, Backroad View, Rialto Market, and Sunny Day Flowers.

Also visit G Stanton Gallery, 3412 Rosedale, Dallas, TX (in Snyder Plaza, near SMU). New work delivered!

And, I'm on Facebook now.

Granbury

2010-05-24T22:23:00.000-05:00

The Outdoor Painters Society had a paint-out in Granbury May 14 & 15. I was able to go on Friday & found the area delightful. If you have an opportunity to paint there do. The town square is nice &, even though it was pouring rain when I saw it, I think it's paintable.

Have been having technical trouble posting but maybe that's corrected.

Another Look

2010-05-20T10:05:00.001-05:00

The hurrieder I go, the behinder I get! That was on a button that square dancers sometimes wear. Have had a hard time catching up since traveling to CA & Dallas. Excuses, excuses, excuses. This image is the updated plein air piece from CA. Still anxious to work on other "starts" & some larger pieces from the materials gathered there.

Dallas

2010-05-12T09:41:00.000-05:00

I am leaving for Dallas on business & to see my granddaughter graduate from college. A milestone for sure. And, if weather permits, I will paint with the Outdoor Painters Society on Friday (& maybe Sunday) in Granbury. Hope to see some of you there!

Plein Air Farm

2010-05-08T11:20:00.002-05:00

Here is another piece from the California trip. It is about 1 1/2 hours of work & unfinished. Thought it would be nice to show this version then the finished version. Check back. The plan is to work on the foreground & maybe the hills.

California...

2010-05-03T19:08:00.000-05:00

...was awesome!!! I could live there, or at least paint there for a month or three. The central coast is unlike anything I've ever painted. Everyone should see it. I shipped my supplies so don't have my paintings back yet. I managed one carrier in my checked bag so am posting my favorite. This was practically out the door of the FogCatcher Inn where we stayed.

Cambria, CA

2010-04-17T14:28:00.000-05:00

Prepring for a trip to Cambria in California to paint with good friends--members of Alla Prima International. Will return on May 1 and intend to have interesting things to report!

Leonardo Da Vinci Quote

2010-04-13T14:17:00.001-05:00

"Those who are in love with practice without knowledge are like the sailor who gets into a ship without rudder or compass and who never can be certain whether he is going. Practice must always be founded on sound theory, and to this Perspective is the guide and the gateway; and without this nothing can be done well in the matter of drawing."
I've recently begun The Notebooks of Leonardo...& hope to be inspired by THE MASTER.
I take this quote to mean that it is not enough just to paint but to paint thoughtfully & with purpose/knowledge.

Third Verse

2010-04-10T10:12:00.002-05:00

It was back to Brazos Bend State Park yesterday. Jeanne Reavis and I painted Elm Lake in the morning. So beautiful and lots of birds (not too many two-legged animals). Jeanne left after lunch for a chance to see her twin grand-children (all 3+ pounds ea of them) at the hospital. Clouds rolled in so I was leaving as well. On the way out, I stopped at the Prairie Trail and painted a 6x8 and the sun was in-and-out.
This morning I set up a bluebonnet still life in the back yard because the prediction is that the sun will be out by noon. Well, I am now hearing thunder. We'll see what happens. At least it gave me a chance to post this. I do an annual bluebonnet still life and almost waited too late this year. Some blooms are already going to seed.

Resting Spot

2010-04-09T05:50:00.000-05:00

Another quick study. This mother-daughter pair was strolling through the Fort Worth Botanic garden.

Do as I say...

2010-04-05T19:15:00.000-05:00

…not as I do. We’ve all heard that one!

One thing I know for sure—when I paint a still life, the set-up must be right on. I know that. Then, why did I jump right in & paint, paint, paint? Sometimes emotions take over and logic disappears. The spring flowers were so great I just wanted to paint them. Then, as much as I liked the flowers, the rest of the painting left me cold. So, instead of a day or two, I had to spend a third day “fixing” my set-up & repainting the right side.

I can spend a whole day setting up a still life—sometimes a lot longer. I know better! Lesson learned? Maybe.

Spanish Moss

2010-04-01T21:00:00.003-05:00

Guess I should post the paintings from yesterday. I'll get the hang of this blog thing soon (maybe). I went to do a tree study because on my last visit, the trees were bare. this one had a few new leaves but was mostly filled with moss. This is the first time I've painted a "mossy" tree & I want to go back to try that moss again. I checked out Spanish moss on the internet (isn't technology grand?) and found the following:

Columbia Encyclopedia entry: Spanish moss

Spanish moss, fibrous grayish-green epiphyte (Tillandsia usneoides) that hangs on trees of tropical America and the Southern states, also called Florida, southern, or long moss. It is not a true moss but a member of the pineapple family, and has inconspicuous flowers. It is used for stuffing furniture and as a packing material. Spanish moss is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Liliopsida, order Bromeliales, family Bromeliaceae
You Tube--starring Spanish Moss

A Day at the Park

2010-03-31T16:33:00.000-05:00

I spent another glorious day at Brazos Bend State Park with friend Jeanne Reavis. It was beautiful but got windy about mid-morning. One attempt was a tree study & the second was a piece of New Horshoe Lake. Saw so many beautiful spots on the water & plan to go back soon.

I Recommend...

2010-03-29T22:02:00.000-05:00

...DVDs by Quang Ho. He has three and they are all excellent. Quang has long been one of my favorite artists. And, he is an excellent teacher. If you are a beginner, try Nuts and Bolts for sure.

Still Life

2010-03-28T16:01:00.002-05:00

Here is the painting I started outside on Friday. Boy, this blogging is hard! I do not usually put work "out there" unless I'm somewhat happy about it. This one I'm not sure. I usually have an image of how it should look "as a painting". That doesn't always work out.

Some days are like that!

2010-03-26T18:54:00.001-05:00

Ever have a day (or two) when you paint and paint and nothing works. I've had a couple of days like that. Still life is my first love and I've set up and painted one today and one yesterday. Not happy with either. Today was beautiful and I took a 16x20 to the back yard to paint pots of petunias. After about 2 1/2 hours, I stopped. It's not too bad but unfinished. I'll take a whack at finishing in the next day or two. I'm not discouraged--have been here before--it will pass.

Southwest Art Magazine

2010-03-23T17:07:00.001-05:00

Today was not a productive painting day. I worked on a small figure study early & was not happy with it. So, I cleaned up & straightened up my studio.That always makes for nicer painting. After lunch, I decided to go to a wonderful garden shop in Kemah (Maas Nursery) to buy plants for the back yard. It was too nice to stay in anyway. And then, the mail came. It was exciting to get a copy of the April issue of Southwest Art that included a feature on Texas artists. They gave me a page! What fun! They did, however, fail to list Riverbend Fine Art (Marble Falls TX) among my galleries list. Check it out. There are six of us, signature members of Outdoor Painters Society in the article--Deep in the Heart of Texas.

Warts and All

2010-03-21T19:37:00.005-05:00

Painting with members of OPS is always great fun. Painting Brenham is always great fun. Having a four-day trip cut short by two days, not so much fun. Arriving on Thurs., we found a nice spot on Emshoff Rd. I painted a lovely pond that was mostly backlit. On Friday morning, the sun was in and out. Plein air painters know how frustrating that can be. The attraction at this spot was green trees. With such a cold winter, the trees were still bare—gray and dead looking—so we painted evergreens. The afternoon was spent searching for good spots. We found a road with great groups of barns and planned to return Saturday morning. Well, the cold front arrived and brought strong thunderstorms and winds. The wonders of technology allowed us to find a Walgreens and print photos from camera cards. We also bought cheap shower curtains for drop cloths and painted in the motel room. I painted March Morning from the photo. Sunday morning skies were clear and beautiful with 40 degrees and gale-force winds. We opted out. In a couple of weeks, Brenham will once again be tempting us with her wild flower adornments and leafed-out trees.

Here are the paintings, warts and all: Elmshoff Road 9x12, Backroad View 11x14, March Morning 12x16.

Painting Brenham

2010-03-17T17:01:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow, I'm off to beautiful Brenham TX for an Outdoor Painters Society paint-out. Check back (maybe Monday) for a report.

Sargent

2010-03-16T16:10:00.007-05:00

Amazing! I say AMAZING! Today I visited the Museum of Fine Art Houston (MFAH) Sargent exhibits—Sargent and the Sea and Houston’s Sargents. Some of the seascapes and beach scenes have the most beautiful grays. It was a lesson. And then there are the sketches. His open scrapbook stands encased before a small computer screen on the wall, running a continuous loop of all the scrapbook’s sketches. Throughout the exhibit there are other pages & small sketches displayed. The ones of slanting ship decks really made me feel the roll of a ship.
On one wall, there are oil sketches of figures that are also shown in pencil sketches. These are figures Sargent used for larger paintings. I can’t even explain how exciting to see his “process” of developing the piece commonly known as The Oyster Gatherers. It’s really Fishing for Oysters and there is also the smaller piece, Setting out to Fish. (Hope I got that right.) There are three of these paintings side-by-side and, as I said, it’s a lesson. It’s humbling to understand Sargent’s commitment to sketching. He must have had a drawing tool in hand constantly.
I need to shape up! And, dust off that sketch book.
Then there is the exhibit of MFAH pieces and those on-loan from Houston private collections. These are major pieces that I may never see again. If you have a chance, don’t miss this. I am definitely going back before they are gone. (May 9) The museum also has Prendergast in Italy—and I do love those Venice pieces.

http://mfah.org/

Glorious Saturday

2010-03-15T15:53:00.002-05:00

Oh happy day! With a prediction of a mild, sunny day, I headed to Brazos Bend State Park Saturday morning. It was a pristine day & I was tingling with excitement to be outside & actually painting. We have had such an abnormally cold winter & this was my first time to paint out this year. If you are near south Texas, Brazos Bend is a really nice place to paint (or just be outside) if you like water & trees. Later, there will be water lilies & other water flowers blooming. In the fall there is some color.There are lots of little yellow flowers blooming now. Most of the trees have hanging moss. There are many lakes & miles of trails. I enjoy taking photos of hikers & people fishing on the banks & piers. Even with "first-pretty-day crowds", there was plenty of room for unobstructed views. Caveat: keep your distance from the alligators. They enjoyed the sun too but didn't seem to pay much attention to the two-legged animals but you don't want to irritate them.

Venice People

2010-03-13T18:43:00.001-06:00

When traveling, I'm so interested in the people. In Venice, I went to Campo San Margherita almost every day. It was close to our hotel & had a good grocery store, art supply store, and gelato! I could not resist photographing the crowds in their many activities.

Welcome!

2010-03-12T06:22:00.002-06:00

Well, I'm jumping into the great sea of bloggers. Please swim along as I share my paintings and thoughts. I've been inspired by blogs by artists I admire and hope to inspire someone else. I look forward to your comments.

Here is a quick study from Venice. Tomorrow I will post a companion piece.