This painting was originally going to be a demonstration with just the "location" being painted. In the end, I kept my future son-in-law in the painting along with all the duck decoys that had been placed out. He was done hunting at this point and was headed back in to retrieve his decoys. Again, like the previous blog mentions, I like the close value that requires you to look for the decoys :) Hope 2024 is a good year for all! Happy New Year!

A ton has been happening and I forget to keep up with posting! This painting (untitled) is on the easel right now, not quite finished, but getting closer to completion. I decided to show the gray scale version of this one. I'm really liking the direction of this painting, the focus being on the contrast of light and shadow. What I'm really liking are the patterns and the little hint of "Sargent's" style (John Singer Sargent) where the contrast is so close that you don't "see" the shovel handles until you look closer. I thought about changing that, but it made me smile so it's staying that way :) Bottom line . . . stay true to what makes you happy.

Wow, didn't realize so much time had passed since my last post! Several paintings have been completed. The most recent, Frosty Walk, is actually still on the easel. Not really sure if I'm done with it yet. It's got a couple spots that I'm not very fond of right now, so I continue to contemplate them . . . I listed it, but . . . I can't seem to get the light to hit the top of the left tree the way I'd like it to . . . hmm . . . ideas? It's been lighter, now it's darker. Think I'll step away from that one for a while and revisit it with fresh eyes. Sometimes you just stare at things for too long :)

Thought I'd send an update on the class challenge - no drawing of our images on the canvas before painting them! As I mentioned in my newsletter, it is harder than you think. You are creating the image by just placing shadows (darks) and highlights (lights) where you see them onto the canvas without a drawing to follow. Challenging but fun! This technique results in a much looser painting! I like the results! I haven't given this painting a name yet and as I showed in my newsletter, it didn't stay quite true to the reference, but I don't plan on hanging the reference on the wall next to it - Lol

I did finish that barn. I really enjoyed the challenge of painting the snow and found that it was fun. I do have to say I'm not sure why I put it off for so long, afraid to tackle snow, because, in reality, it was really no different than painting the white daffodils that I just finished.  Hmmm, weird. The next challenge that I and my teen students will be tackling is incorporating an undertone into an image. We will not draw the image at all. We'll choose our undertone, utilize it within the image and simply paint! 

Here's the promised update on the barn painting. I talked about adding two-point perspective to the barn but after several attempts, I scratched that idea, I did not like the look, so I decided not to use it. I haven't gotten far with it; I've been busy on other projects and classes. Here's what I've got so far . . . to be continued.

Let's see, yup, it's cold out. So . . . thinking I need to attempt to paint snow. That's a subject I have not broached. I admire a ton of winter paintings - the amount of color in the snow is absolutely beautiful! I haven't done well with this blogging thing; so, I'll try to do better and keep you posted on the new snow inspired painting. I'm thinking 2-point perspective - as if snow itself isn't challenging enough! Lol

Wow - can the summer slow down please? Great news on the book adventure with Kathryn Anderson - it is completed and available at ArtisanAlleyNewfane.com, Amazon, & Barnes & Noble Books! What a fun collaboration! Classes have been going full steam ahead. If you're wanting to schedule instruction for Fall check out the schedule and contact me if you're needing a different class time, I'm super flexible! I haven't done much of my own painting but I hope to. I can't show you the commission that's on the easel at the moment, but I have a couple of painting ideas in the wings. One involves a farm tractor and the other Snow. Yeah, can't tackle the Snow image right now while I'm trying to keep the Summer thing going! Hope all is well with everyone!

I haven't done much with my own projects lately but have had the pleasure of working with a local author, Kathryn Anderson, to help with the illustrations for her upcoming faith based children's book titled "Dragonfly Dreams".  I have always wanted to dabble in illustrating books and was so excited that Kathryn asked me. She has been an absolute pleasure to work with and hopefully later this year her book will be available for purchase!! I'll keep you posted on that!

Baby steps . . . got to start somewhere right? Starting to tread into the area of self promotion, not a comfortable spot for me so I'm trying to move one step at a time in that direction. I know it's not easy for most creatives but doesn't make me feel any better about it. So, first step, sending out that first newsletter. Next step, Instagram? One step at a time into an uncomfortable area.