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