Lightening struck last night

I was talking to my friend Bobbi who I have not seen nor heard from in over three years. [my fault] She found me through my blog believe it or not and she told me she sort of 'caught up' with what was going on with me the past 8 months or so.

You know how it is with really good friends. You can pick up as if you had just seen each other yesterday. I don't know if my mind was in a good place or her quick wit made me happy or her warm soul made me feel safe but I just started sketching an old photo I found in an album.

This little girl is a relative from my mother's side. Based on the photo, she would probably be in her late sixties today. I have no idea who she is but her hand is being held by her grandmother. With the photo being B&W and her face almost 1/2 inch high, I was able to improvise on it a lot. I may paint the grandmother and her brother.

24x18 oil on canvas

Too many pots on the stove?

I'm sure most of you are not like me when it comes to projects. Maybe because it's still all so new, I want to experiment or paint at the slightest bit of inspiration.

Unfortunately, when I do, I have projects that are 3/4 finished hanging around for weeks and sometimes months until inspiration hits me again.

I've been not able to tackle any of these the last couple of days. I either need more inspiration or a bolt of lightening. *sigh*

That little sign hanging on my closet door handle? It used to hang in my office when I was working Internal Affairs. It reads: "Thou shall not whine."

This is Ranger

Ranger is owned by a minister that is being transfered out of her parish to serve in another community in Southern California. This is a going away present from her friends that all 'congregate' at the dog park with their dogs.

12x12 oil on canvas

FYI

One of my fellow bloggers posted an informative 'heads up' about parasites preying on artists. It's a short read but good info. Please go to "What is Krista Painting Now?" blog here.

Squeak again...

This is the video produced for the exihibition I saw at the Oakland Museum. You get to see her studio, her table palette, her method of painting and explanations of her symbols. She speaks how there is no right answer to how one can look at and interpret a painting.

Constant Evolution results in "Relearning to Fly"

This is the second time I've painted over the the original canvas. Well parts of it anyway.

You can see the two previous images here.

The only thing that has remained are the wings.

The original title was "This is My Life". There was a shadowy figure outside looking in the room. The toad represented my ex. The dying tadpoles were my kids. It was a dark view of my life. The next view was even darker. It looks like chaos had taken over my life and I really didn't have direction.

I am rather happy with this image. I do feel I am finally starting a new chapter in my life. The image is brighter and gives me a feeling of hope. I know there are more challenges in front of me before I take flight but I now see them as opportunities and not roadblocks. Hugs to you all.

Potential

I apologize for the lack of posting last week. With summer and school being out, I want to spend as much time with my kids while I have them.

This is a photo of two larger pieces of canvas stapled to Alba Studio's wall and just gessoed [note the fan drying the one one the right]

The horizontal canvas on the right measures 48x36 and I don't recall the exact size on the left.

I excited to start and yet anxious. Huge canvases have great potential but in my mind so many options. I've run a dozen ideas in my head back and forth and now the inside of my skull is starting to get sore. Benny Alba and I went to the Oakland Museum to look at Squeak Carnwarth's work. I was very impressed and loved those huge canvases she used. I have not decided what I'm going to do yet. Perhaps, I'll go to the studio tomorrow and sketch out some ideas with vine charcoal to see how I feel.

In the meanwhile, I got to paint a cute pygmy goat for my other blog. Check it out by clicking here! Thank you...

Bandit the Art Dog

This is Benny Alba's sweet pooch Bandit. When I first saw him I loved his unique markings and his crystal blue eyes.

Benny gave me the liberty to use a large unique size canvas [14x 43] and to paint him with a non-traditional palette.

He's very laid back and an awfully sweet dog. I really enjoyed painting him.

Police sketch day....

A new follower remarked that she didn't know where to find my old forensic and police sketches and that reminded me that I haven't posted one for a while. [ Most of them are in January and February if you're wondering]

This guy robbed a bank if I recall correctly and then stole a car. Most cops would think that if a crook was wearing sunglasses and a cap, there is no way a composite could be done. Thank goodness this cop took the extra time to ask if there were things about this guy that would set him apart. As you can see there were many and the witness met with me and we came up with this sketch.

This caught crook ended up having a blue ball cap with the yellow letters of "CAL" on the front. Black sunglasses with bright blue lenses, scar and tattoos.

I would have to give this witness a gold star.

Field Trip

Benny Alba was kind enough to treat me to a BART ride and entry to SFMOMA's current exhibit of paired works of Georgia O'Keeffe and Ansel Adams. It was very interesting to learn the correlation with the two artists and how some pieces were almost identical in image. While Benny was generous enough to talk about history, technique, composition and why an image worked; I was amazed at the variety of scale of O'Keeffe's work. I had the preconceived idea her blossom paintings were huge but they were only on average 20x30. I also learned my favorite pieces were her landscapes and a tiny 6x8 painting of an adobe church.

I bought a small sketch book at the museum store [because I forgot to bring mine] and was able to draw this very classy but intense lady sitting in front of me on the return trip.

Cold Wax Experiment

There is not much I could find on the web about using cold wax as a medium. I know it can be used as a matte finish for paintings instead of varnish.

So you know me, I just went for it. I like the way it feels and keeps the strokes but I still don't think I am using it the way I'm supposed to. Maybe I am supposed to add a medium to it but I didn't want to thin it down at all.

Any suggestions would be welcome!

6x8 oil/cold wax on RayMar

Pachyderm Dream II

A few of you may remember when I first starting blogging I tenatively posted Pachyderm Dream at the beginning of this year.

I never was totally happy with it. I decided to revisit it and worked on it all afternoon. I am much happier now. What a difference several DSFDF challenges and several hundred visits to my favorite artist blogs can do ....don't you agree?

Hugs,

S

Warren's Flowerwalk

Another ASAP portrait for CANTER. Read about her in that blog, thank you!

12x12 oil on wrapped canvas

Check this out...

I saw this on Dean's Den. I was moved to tears

Check out Norman Lear and how he came about making this video.

Happy Fourth of July

I know Uncle Sam would love to have our Service men and women home for the celebration. Let's hope that happens soon. Be safe!

Art Saving Animals Project

Find out more about Mr. President at the Art for Saving Animals Blog.

Mocha

This happy dog is a birthday present from a loving wife to her hubby. The only thing she was particular about was the background color but then she let me to whatever I wanted with the composition. Mocha the devoted dog was a real pleasure to paint.

12x12 oil on wrapped canvas