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