Three Ornaments

This painting and local plein air work will be at the Holiday Open House at the Oliver Building Gallery tomorrow night in the historic West Bottoms from 6:00 to 9:00. What a wonderful way to celebrate the season!  I'll be featuring two paintings from the Inaugural Historic West Bottoms Plein Air Event in May as well as 4 holiday paintings, one of the Country Club Plaza, one of Union Station and another Christmas ornament painting.  It promises to be an evening full of good cheer with friends and local businesses.  Painting number 3985 in 3985 days. 

Holiday Ornaments

After spending time with the Nolan, Quinn and Layne, I find a little time to paint before bedtime.  Oh what fun it is to paint these shiny, colorful ornaments!  This large bowl of balls waits on the back porch for little hands to adorn them, and hang them on our outdoor spruce.  I will help the little ones dip their hand into acrylic paint - and then grab the ornament, leaving a lasting impression of this year's Christmas handprint. I hope to paint these a few more times before I put them away in January!  Painting number 3983 in 3983 days 

Ornament Impressions

I do love getting loose and impressionistic with these shiny vintage ornaments!  Using my acrylics in a dry brush manner, I can layer in the values and colors.  The heavy body acrylics dry quickly, so different from my oils.  I rarely pull out my acrylics these days, but doing so puts all kinds of ideas in my head!  How fun would it be to paint this large and hang out over a sofa?  I know the perfect spot - if I can find the time to get it done before Christmas!  Painting number 3258 in 3258 days. 

Cardinal on the Branch

Cardinals nest in our yard each year, many staying from year to year.  These beauties frequent the feeders all winter long, as well as many others.  Right outside the window, I can easily paint them as they flit about.  Using acrylics on a gallery wrapped canvas for this miniature painting.  Painting number 2163 in 2163 days.

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Christmas Ball Impressions

Sometimes I just have to switch gears and let the crazy out!!  I LOVE rich, vibrant colors - and these Christmas ornaments offer me the perfect opportunity to revel in the bold!  I am using my acrylics for this for a couple of reasons.  First, I am painting presents and want them to dry quickly.  Second, pushing more impressionistic, I like the quick, thick layering I can achieve with heavy body acrylics.  My favorite brand?  Liquitex, although I do use an almost equal portion of Golden.  For something like this, I dive into my vast supply of unusual tubes.  It gives me a chance to really play with the fun colors.  After all these years, I still fall back to my roots of the limited palette and mixing everything I need.  Tonight - I am pushing myself to just play with paint!  SO fun!!  Painting number 1789 in 1789 days.

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Geppetto and his Boy

acrylic on canvas, 4x4
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After a family birthday dinner out, I am coming to my easel late once again!  This charming pair if nutcrackers is Geppetto and Pinocchio.  Geppetto is even holding a wooden mallet, creating his masterpiece. I love the expression on his face, very animated for a nutcracker!  If only my body did not require sleep, I would keep painting all night long!  This painting makes 1434 in 1434 days. 

Santa and the Model Plane

My husband loves these model planes, especially ones from his childhood!  He and his dad built these together, just like he has with his boys and now the grandkids. These model planes seem to be reproducing the last few weeks - has Santa been making early deliveries? This vintage Santa is putting a Sopwith Camel under the tree, a nod back to year 1916.  This painting makes 1433 in 1433 days :)

Acrylic on panel, 4x4
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Santa and Dolly

This year, I am painting a series of vintage Santa scenes on small, gallery wrapped canvases.  Some are sepia, and some are in black and white.  In this one, Santa is looking at Dolly with an expression of wonder, and Dolly is looking right back!  The magic of Christmas is in the air and I'm channeling that feeling into each one of these nostalgic paintings.   Painting number 1432 in 1432 days  :)

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Santa and the Present

Today, as we were driving around town in my car, shopping with our two youngest sons, the youngest held up my oil can, asking what it was. I answered simply that I kept it in the cup holder, in case I found a scene I must paint immediately, I could.  My easel is in the trunk.  They all busted out laughing, thinking this was the most ridiculous thing they had ever heard!  Will they ever understand? There are so many places that call out to me to be painted, on a daily basis. Perhaps the less said, the better.  Just another day in this artist's life, failing to conform to the norm.  Painting number 1431 in 1431 days  :)

Acrylic on panel, 4x4
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Santa and the Nutcracker

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I sure wish there were more hours in every day!   I never feel that I have finished all I need to finish at the end of every day.   Why is that?   Too many things to do?  Perhaps, I should give up laundry and house cleaning to make more time for those important things.  I bet Santa doesn't do his laundry and housework.  And look, he's painting a nutcracker right now!  Painting number 1426 in 1426 days. 

Santa and the Train

Tonight, I am working in the sepia. I begin by painting in the darks around my subject.  From this beginning, the shapes emerge.  Depth is achieved by layering the short strokes in a fresh, loose way.  While the acrylic paint is still fresh, it can still be manipulated with a damp paper towel or q-tip, even removed right down to the canvas.  A soft touch is essential, or the results could be too abrupt.  I am really enjoying the nostalgia of these Santas.  This vintage Santa is my 1423rd painting in 1423 days.

acrylic on canvas, 4x4
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Checking the Jester

Checking the Jester
Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, 4x4
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I love the vintage feel of painting this Santa in sepia!  I mix red oxide and ivory black to get this rich color, and basically work the darks.  I try to not use white at all, except for a little light on the rim of his glasses.   I love this technique, and I've already primed 6 more gallery wraps for more vintage Santas!  By the way, this is the Santa I found on Main Street over the weekend.  Little did he know I would be memorializing him in paint, again and again!   This painting makes 1419 in 1419 days.

Shop Santa

I met my youngest daughter and her friend on Main Street for some local shopping after the gym this morning.   Not only did we find some fabulous things, but Santa arrived just as we were leaving - and of course, I had to paint him!  This painting makes 1416 in 1416 days!   Now, I must get ready for game night - the whole family will be here soon!   

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Nutcracker Pair

This is turning in to "nutcracker week"!   As we celebrate the holiday with family and friends, I am sneaking in paintings where I can!   I primed several of these wonderful, deep gallery wraps for special holiday paintings, and now I am painting small on canvas.   The weave grabs the paint of the brush in high spots, while resisting it in the grooves.  I now realize why some of my "acrylic" friends thin down their paint so much - you have to or the canvas color will totally show through!  Once coverage is achieved, I can then dry brush over as usual.  These will be cool for my upcoming show, but they certainly take longer than my normal masonite!   Painting number 1415 in 1415 days :)

Acrylic on canvas, 4x4
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