Red Pear, Green Pear

Red Pear, Green Pear - Which do I choose?

Most of us artist wear many hats.  It often becomes difficult for us to choose which hat to wear each day.  We get so comfortable with one, we don't really want to change hats even when we need to.  And after all, what we would really like to be doing all the time is just creating & painting.  I guess that's what happened to me in the month of October.  I did lots of painting but totally ignored my blog.  Also, this fall my work was accepted by a gallery in Hot Springs, AR, Artists Workshop Gallery.  If you get a chance, visit them in person or online.  It's a great co-op gallery of 30 or so artists in historic, downtown, Hot Springs, AR.  I will be their featured artist for the month of December.  Yeap, this alone has got me on the move & a little off track with other things.  And did I mention, I still work several days a week.

So in an effort to get back on track, I will start posting some of the paintings I did in the month of October.  Some of them are just small palette knife paintings similar to the ones above.  Others, are paintings that took a lot more time in planning & painting.

Just one more note.  I know there must be other artist like myself that have a blog & not too many readers.  We look at other successful bloggers with a large following & feel like we will never get there or even close; so why bother.  Well, for better or worse, this is the way I'm looking at it from now own.  It's my art.  It's my journey.  It's my record of what I have accomplished.  Small or great, it's important to me to take the time to reflect and record my thoughts & feelings about what I do.  So just remember, your blog or your journal is important.  It's part of the process.  It gives you an opportunity to look back & see the progress you have made.  But the bottom line still remains - I have got to get better at changing hats!

Thanks for listening,
Sarah

Blue & New Hydrangeas

11"x14" Oil on Canvas

This was an effort to try and do a little better on Hydrangeas after attending Nancy Medina's workshop.  I feel like I am finally making a little progress with this method of oil painting.  I really like using transparent colors for the underpainting.  It seems to give the finished painting a glow, although it's not so visible in this photograph.  I plan to continue doing this type of oil painting along with palette knife paintings. 

I'm glad that football season is in full swing.  That will give the hubby, "Big Daddy," something to do while I'm putting miles and miles on the paintbrush or the knife.

Thank you for taking a look.

- Sarah

Summer Glory Hydrangeas

12"x12" Oil on Canvas Panel

This is the last painting I completed before attending the Nancy Medine workshop.  I hope I will be able to show you some progress in the weeks to come.  However, I do intend to get back to my palette knife painting soon.  It's great to have so many choices & so much to paint.  I'm really trying to narrow things down these days to palette knife painting & colorful flowers in oils.  I thought about setting a goal of doing one of each almost every day.  I'm just not sure how well that would work.  That might be too much on switching the old gears up there. 

Anyway, the last of the summer hydrangeas are now but a single vase of dried flowers sitting on my desk in the studio.  I just can't seem to let go of them even though they have lost almost all of their color.  So in memory of all their beautiful summer blooms I decided to paint them the way they were in all of their summer glory.

Enjoy, & thank you for taking a look at my art.

- Sarah

Bedtime Roses

12"x12" Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

I painted this one as a practice piece before attending a Nancy Medina workshop.  Nancy is a wonderful artist and teacher as well as a great person.  I hope to make some improvements in my flower paintings after attending her workshops.

I'm calling this one "Bedtime Roses" because it reminds me of a print one might find on a flowery bedspread.  I like the background color but it's actually a poor choice since everything in the painting is too close to the same value.  Why do we knowingly make the wrong choices?  Ok, that's a loaded and deep question but one worth examining.

Sleep well.

- Sarah

Santa Fe Sunflowers

12"x12" Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Seems like I've been on a sunflower kick lately.  Just had to do one more.  I didn't have any fresh filler flowers so I improvised by adding a bright, cheerful, red & orange flower that I had seen blooming while in Santa Fe this summer.

Yes, these sunflowers are a little loud, but cheerful & happy.  That's the way I like them.

Enjoy!

- Sarah

Sunny and Blue

12"X12" Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

This is another sunflower painting from the same set-up as one I post a few days ago.  When I end up buying sunflowers from the florist I try to paint several paintings from them.  All but one flower had started wilting so I had to also look at the photos I took.  The one remaining sunflower was still bright and sunny but blue.

Thanks for taking a look.

- Sarah

Bath Time

11"x14" Oil on Canvas
Palette Knife Painting

I snapped this photo a number of years ago while having lunch at an outdoor restaurant in rural Mexico.  It was entertaining to watch these young boys bathe their horse.  After all these years, I finally got around to painting from this photo with the palette knife.

Hope you enjoy.

- Sarah

Can't Wait Sunflowers

12"x12" Oil on Canvas Panel

This weekend I found a beautiful green glass vase at Goodwill.  In the past I've seen dozens of the common dark green ones but never one like this; one that was not only larger than usual but also one that was a beautiful bluish green color.  I couldn't wait to get some sunflowers and paint from a live set-up.  For some reason, perhaps because of my limited palette, I couldn't quite capture the exact color of the vase.  After a couple of tries, I just pulled out one of my favorite colors, Old Holland Caribean Blue, added it directly on top of what I already had painted, blended it in, & called it finished.

Thank you for looking.

-Sarah

I Want That Boat

9"x12" Oil on Canvas
Palette Knife Painting

I never thought about wanting a sailboat until I visited a local yacht club recently to take photos.  This boat wasn't new by any means, but it had character.  I watched it sail into shore at the end of the day.
     A beautiful day of smooth sailing.
     Sailing buddies gathering on shore.
     A picnic supper waiting under the pines.
     Good music playing.
It just seemed like the perfect escape.  If only I had that boat!

Thank you for taking a look.

- Sarah
    

Sunflower Strokes

5"x7" Oil on Panel

Today, I decided to practice sunflower strokes with different types of brushes to see which brushes I liked best.  That may be the reason this little painting looks a little overworked.  I had been using a 3/4" soft flat brush.  After trying a number of different brushes, I decided I liked one of my angle brushes and also a Monarch round brush for some strokes.  However, a Mongoose filbert won out for softening & combing the petals, giving them a finished look.  After all of this, I decided I may continue my practice with the only the one flat brush.  It makes cleanup a lot quicker.

Thank you for viewing my art. 

-Sarah



First New Rose

8"x8" Oil on Panel

I planted a new rose bush by the porch this spring & it has finally began blooming.  Since the bush isn't very tall yet, I can't see it when seated on the porch.  I cut the first new blooms & put them in a jar so I could enjoy them.  Then I decided to paint them so the enjoyment could continue. 

Hope your summer is coming up "roses." 

- Sarah

Sunflower Fun

8"x8" Oil on Panel

Just had to paint another sunflower after attending Dreama's workshop.  Hopefully doing a few of these little paintings will reinforce what I have learned.  Anyway, I do love to paint flowers.  That's something I haven't quite mastered with the palette knife.  At least, not to my satisfaction. 

I have been using Walnut Oil on these little paintings.  No solvents! No turp!  So far, I am fairly pleased with the results.  I just have a tendency to use a bit too much.  Also, after I lay in my transparent underpainting, I scrape off my palette, getting rid of the oil,  & then try not to use any more oil or very little.  I avoided oils for years because of solvents.  I just didn't feel like my respiratory system could tolerate it.  When I did start oil painting, I used the water-soluble oils.  They are ok, but in my opinion not quite as good as regular oils.  I still use them on some small palette knife  pieces & sometimes when traveling. 

Thank you for viewing my art.

-Sarah

Your Table is Waiting

8"x8" Oil on Panel

"Your Table is Waiting" and so are lots of exciting adventures in life.  Sometimes you just have give yourself a little extra push.  If you're like me, you may need a lot of extra pushing.  The main thing is to get out there & enjoy life even if it means taking a few chances.  Don't wait too long.  Remember time is ticking away and something is out there waiting for you.  It may not be a table on a French sidewalk but there's lots of little mini-adventures and opportunities out there for you to enjoy. 

Still experimenting with the brush but I have done a couple of small palette knife paintings that I will post later this week.

Thanks for taking a look.

-Sarah

Sunny Break

8"x8" Oil on Canvas Panel

I guess artists need a break every once in while from what they normally paint.  And since I signed up for Dreama Tolle Perry's workshop even before I started painting with the palette knife, I went ahead and attended her workshop this past weekend.  All I can say is that it was Great!  Great fun, great ideas shared, great new artist friends, great food, & it was great to paint with and finally get to meet Dreama.  I still love painting with the palette knife but I do have a few photos that I have wanted to paint for a long time that would work well with her technique.  So, we'll see what happens.  Right now I have to get busy for an art show & sale that I'm participating in on April 27th & 28th.

See you next time.

-Sarah

Salmon Gateway, Rocamadour, France

10"x20" Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
Palette Knife Painting

Rocamadour, France is a 13th century pilgrimage town with a dramatic, steep, rock-face setting.  The Salmon Gateway is one of 7 remaining gateways or entrances to the town.  Originally there were 11.  They were built to control the large pilgrim crowds who journeyed there from all over Europe to worship. Richard the Lionhearted was one of those pilgrims. During this era the town became a symbol of faith & hope.

There was so much to see in this remarkable town that I became distracted & became lost from my party & wandered out the wrong gate.  I used this opportunity to snap some photos of this magnificent arch.  Later I found out that this arch was know as the Salmon Gateway.  As the story goes, the Dordogne river near the town was once overrun with Salmon.  Workers in the town were fed Salmon so often that they finally rebelled against eating Salmon no more than 3 days a week.

There is so much to see in Rocamadour.  I would like to go back someday & spend the night there.  I almost did on my first visit.

Thanks for taking a look at my palette knife paintings.

-Sarah

All Dressed Up In Turquoise

11"x14" Oil on Canvas
Palette Knife Painting

This lovely French home has a fresh coat of paint & is ready to welcome all of the many summer tourist that will pass by her beautiful turquoise door & mailbox.

I won't be painting my front door this year but I can't wait to get my pot of red geraniums out there to welcome some warmer weather.

Thanks for viewing my palette knife paintings.

-Sarah

Provence Purple

10"x20" Oil on Canvas
Palette Knife Painting

You might not ever consider painting your front door purple; but at this house in Provence, France, it seemed like the perfect color.  Wouldn't you love to look inside?
Thank you for viewing my palette knife paintings.
-Sarah

Poppy Field

9"x12" Oil on Canvas
Palette Knife Painting

Spring brings not only beautiful weather but also beautiful blooms.  I painted this field of poppies from a photo I took on the way to St. Remy, France.  It was late May & this large poppy field was almost in full bloom. We put on the brakes, got out of car & immediately started snapping photo after photo.  As we continued our exploration of southwest France, we became overwhelm by beautiful flowers & foliage everywhere. 
Wherever you are, I hope you will enjoy your Spring.  I know it's not official yet; but it's just around the corner.
Thank you for viewing my palette knife paintings.
-Sarah

Caretaker's Cottage

11"x14" Oil on Canvas
Palette Knife Painting

I've been neglected my blog lately.  My excuse is that I have been spending hours upon hours trying to get a handle on using Photoshop.  For now I'm giving up on Photoshop & getting back to painting & doing other things that I enjoy. 
I painted this little French caretaker's cottage a while back along with several other French paintings.  So now that I have put my four Photoshop books aside, maybe I can get back to posting & have more time for painting.
Thank you for viewing my palette knife paintings.
-Sarah  

One More Cup

 

5"x7" Oil on Panel

Palette Knife Painting

One More Cup is a lively, colorful, little painting that I hope will brighten your day.  I've been busy in the studio the past two weeks and have finished three new larger paintings.  I haven't photographed them yet.  I am begining a "Photoshop" class tonight & hopefully I can learn to use their software to do a better job of photographing & editing my paintings.  Wish me luck. 

Thank you for taking a look at my palette knife paintings.

Cheers!

Sarah





Tall Cup No. 2

Palette Knife Painting

Once I'm in my studio, it usually doesn't take me very long to find something to paint.  This morning I noticed that I had left my coffee cup by the studio sink.  Instead of taking it downstairs to the kitchen, I decided to paint it in some bright cheerful colors.  Yes, I know that I have painted it once before; but after all, it's my favorite.
Thank you for viewing my blog.
-Sarah

Tipsy Cup

Hello Everyone & Happy 2012!

This new year represents a new beginning & I have started posting to my blog again.  As an artist, I have taken some time off to review my artistic activities & habits & how they correlate with my goals.  My passion for creating paintings with the palette knife has not changed.  However, I will not be producing as many spontaneous small paintings.  I will be spending more time planning & designing larger pieces.  I would dearly love to produce & post a small painting each day but that would not leave enough time to complete larger works in the alla prima (all in one session) method that I prefer to use.  So for now, my goal is to post a small painting each week & now and then surprise viewers with a larger painting.

This week's painting is titled "Tipsy Cup."  Too bad I didn't get it posted for New Year's Eve.  This one got a little tipsy when it hit the saucer.  Some morning are like that.

5x7 Oil on Panel

Palette Knife Painting

Thank you for viewing my palette knife paintings.
-Sarah