A real painting ..for reals

Red Hollyhocks 4x6 inches oil on canvas

Loosening up my brushes (finally) This was a quick little painting of my all-time favorite - red hollyhocks and yellow stucco. I have been studying Stapleton Kearns blog - tons of wonderful information. Like taking a workshop. I enjoyed using some of the things I learned while doing this piece.

A new confession...

The reason I haven't been painting much is because I've been writing.

For some reason its easier for me to paint a picture, good or bad, and post it on the blog for the world (yeah, right) to see than to admit that I am also a hopeful, maybe a capricious,  writer. 

I have no illusions about my artistic ability - I have moments when my mind seems to be able to clearly communicate to my hand what it wants out of the paint and brush and for that I am very grateful. I also have many moments when my brain and my hand don't appear to be on speaking terms. That's just the way it goes for me.


But the truth is I think I'm a better writer than painter.  I'm an unpolished stone in that I lack a lot of formal training in grammar and punctuation but I think I have a talent for conveying whats in my mind and heart onto paper with far more accuracy than canvas.  Now lest you think that last statement reeks of ego let me tell you something, I have far more insecurity about putting my written work "out there".

Seriously, I have had my first book written for a long time and can't seem to manage to finish the editing in order to have it read by those who's opinions I trust.  And that's a shame because its a good and fun little story.  I'm also about half way through the second book which is a little gem but again - can't seem to get on with it.  The format for the third book is already laid out.

I don't know what my problem is, I'm open to suggestions.

I don't know if its lack of focus, lack of discipline, exhaustion stemming from poor health and working both a full time and part time job.....

When my first marriage was breaking up my then husband asked me to go to marriage counseling.  I agreed and he picked out a therapist and off we went.  After a couple of visits my former husband realized that the doctor wasn't going to take his side and make me behave so he quit going but I kept on.  I had always laughed at folks who went to therapy but I have to say, it was one of the best things I ever did for myself.

The reason I'm telling you this is because it was this doctor who first alerted me to the possibility that I lacked the backbone to put myself "out there" and that was the real reason why I never seemed to finish up my book (s) or the half painted canvases that are laying around my studio or the half crocheted tablecloths in the closets.

And here's the hard part.  I know better.  I have sold my paintings.  Won ribbons in shows for both my painting and my crochet work (are you surprised?)  Recently I sold enough of my handmade jewelry to help finance my trip home for Christmas.  I receive a steady stream of confirmations from a variety of people in a variety of fields encouraging me to write for a living.

So what's my problem?

In the meantime while I'm writing, editing and trying to sort it all out and find my backbone I'll entertain you with some more photo's that I've taken and kind of like...a lot.  Feel free to critique my issues - apparently I need to get used to it and overcome my insecurities.....

I'm still here

I'm not ill I just haven't been well lately.

Dana took me home to New Mexico for Christmas in hopes of giving me a spiritual shot in the arm.  Although winter, I took lots of pictures and this is one of them.  Look for upcoming painting (I promise) coming along soon.

I know, these aren't paintings....

...but they're nice to look at anyway. We've had a couple of beautiful weekends and these are some of the photo's I've taken to capture the mood.

Desert Blossoms

Oil on gallery wrapped canvas - Damar Varnish for a high gloss finish.
5 inches by 5 inches square - painted wrapped sides - 1 1/4 inches wide.
http://team.etsy.com/images/downloads/buttons/as_seen_on.jpg



I don't paint flowers - love them, but no good at them. Then several weeks ago we got a new channel on our cable line up. A great channel called "Create". There's a program called Passports and Pallets and two Saturday's ago they ran a marathon of that series. One of the artist was from Santa Fe and she painted flowers in her garden. I watched and studied and said - I think I might be able to do that.

I was surprised at the results - very surprised and very satisfied. (Nice combination) I decided to but a coat of Damar on this little jewel. I used to put it on all my paintings but stopped because of the drying time. As soon as I opened the bottle the smell enveloped me .... I had forgotten how much I like that smell. It brought back the memories of studying at the Southwest School of Art. That studio always smelled like Damar.

Coming soon -

I will be posting a new painting this weekend - something special..at least to me.

Believe it or not!

Pine Tree Branches in Winter 9X12 Oil on Canvas/ Palette Knife

TOTAL SIZE: 12X14

This is a odd canvas. Today you see many "wrapped" canvases that allow you to hang a painting without a frame. This is along the same lines only instead of a 90 degree angled wrap this canvas curves back. For the record - I didn't like working on this canvas - it was difficult because the edges are still too much of a part of the painting. The color is a little off in the photograph. This painting is much warmer than it appears. I tried to fix it but couldn't.

This painting had been sitting on my easle for months. Started in the dead of winter I forced myself to finish it up this afternoon. Hard to get in the mood to do a winter scene when its sweltering outside. But I have other things I want to paint and wanted to finish this up before moving on.

Its been a very long time since I have painted. I got way too busy with my job and some other things and lost my way for a while. Last Thursday I had a total melt down at work. I was asked to take on yet another task and I lost it. The task itself was small and insignificant but it was the straw that broke the camel's back. I left my office and went to Sonic to have a little break. I called my Dana on the phone and cried so hard that the poor car hop stood as far as she could away to hand me my order - she was really freaked out but that's okay - so was I.

One of the things that came out of that good cry (which my sister Vicki would call a "soul cleansing" - great name for it) was that I refocused on the fact that I need to paint even if its just a stroke a day - I NEED to paint.

Believe it or not....

....I'm finally back at the easle after a long absence. I have been incredibly busy at work for months. Many nights (most night and weekends too) I brought home a card board box full of paper work to work on here at home. But we (my agency) completed our daunting task and now I have time to breath. Hang in there, I should have something posted by the weekend.

A work in progress

Patience has never been a virtue I was familiar with. This morning I found the time, energy and drive to do some painting. I have to say I really excited about the painting so far.
I stopped myself even through what I really wanted to do was put the snow in and the dry grasses. For a change I was able to control the impulse knowing that the white would never stay white when the rest of the work was wet. I'm just as proud of my unusual discipline to stop working as I am the work that I did do.
(There is a glare on the left hand side of the painting due to a hasty photo)
I'm going to be away for a few days so I won't be able to finish up this painting until next weekend when I lay the snow in and cut the sky and branches back in. Still, I wanted to let you have a peek at what I got accomplished.

Neat photo and inspiration for future painting

This morning I decided to venture out into the snow and head over to the park to get some winter reference photos. I happen to see this group of trees and shot the photo from inside my car - through the passenger side window. Just a quick shot to get started, nothing special...

When I got home and downloaded it to my computer I decided to play with it a little.
My computer has a neat photo program with special effects and this is what I ended up with. I love this - love love love this - I saw no potential at all in the original photo - nothing inspiring - but now....

I realized that I'm too immature as an artist to see the potential in a scene - I think I'll be using this photo program to help me isolate shapes and colors instead of choking myself with details.
Look for this picture to end up in oil very soon.

Simply Moonlight (finished)

Simply Moonlight (SOLD)
11X14 inch original oil on stretched canvas

Ta Da! Here it is - finished and I really like it. As I mentioned before I intend to do more night skies. I'm a little obsessed with other artist who do them so well. I thought I'd try my luck at a few.

For my first completed work of 2010 I feel like I'm getting a pretty good start.

This year I also intend to change the way I market my work. I will post my paintings on my blog along with a purchase price and if anyone is interested they can contact me directly. After a week or so I will move them to eBay. This give those who follow my blog first chance to buy and avoid the whole bidding process.

I also intend to take a class on website building so I can establish a website for my artwork. I had some great advice from Donna Clair. She recommended I start doing some larger pieces and develop a website.

I also intend to "try" to be more focused and disciplined....quit laughing....seriously - I need to be more structured.
So now you know some of my goals for 2010 - wish me luck!

P.S. Just a note to let you know this paint sold shortly after being posted - my sincere gratitude to the buyer - Thanks so much and enjoy.

Something different...sort of....

Framed Miniature - $25.00 - free shipping

I was straightening up my studio and I ran across some watercolors in the bottom of a box. I never had the knack for working with water colors but I decided that I could keep them in the kitchen and when I'm sitting around the table I can play with them a little. This was what I came up with - obviously a repeat of my most recent oil but I really liked the feel of it.

Its a tiny little jewel. The watercolor itself is about 2 inches by 2 inches and framed its about 4 inches by 4 inches.

Simply Moonlight (not quite finished)

I have suddenly decided I like "night time" paintings. This is my most recent attempt to convey this new interest. Those of you who are familiar with New Mexico will recognise the famous Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Rancho de Taos.

I still need to correct a small patch over on the left hand side but other than that its almost done. Forgive my impatience but I really wanted to post something this evening.

The Road Home

This is a painting I did several years ago. I reminds me of home.

Cerrillos Daisies (Sold)

TWO PAINTING IN ONE MONTH - I'm on a roll!

When I was home on vacation I took this photo and knew that I would be painting. I also knew that it reminded me of Dee Sanchez (who's blog is listed on the right) and I love what she did with it. Make sure you visit her site and give it a look.

My painting is 9x12 inches and may end up being one of my personal favorites.

Back to painting.....finally!

Wonderful things - balms for my painful spirit.

Wonderful performance

Watched the Georgia O Keefe movie Saturday night and again Sunday afternoon ( another wonderful thing) - I want to go back in time and have Mable Lujan to invite me to rest and recover my soul at her her house.

I'm back (from New Mexico)

This is a photo, not a painting but it will be a painting one day soon. I have posted it mostly for Dee Sanchez - it reminds me of her work.

I went home for a rest and did everything but rest. I think I was foolish, came back very tired and have been a little extra fatigued every since.

But it was good for my soul and I enjoyed every minute of it. Hope to put brush to canvas soon to show you what I saw and experienced.

"In The Swamp" by Thomas Lewis 40 years ago today

I am very fortunate to own this painting. This 8x10 inch jewel was purchased by my father for my mother on July 20th 1969. My father gave it to me in September or 1978 - two year after my mother had passed away.

You may wonder how I can be so sure about the date - it was purchased in Taos, NM from the artist who signed it.

Especially for Naoma Zinck / Moon Landing Day 7-20-69 / Thanks Thomas Lewis

Have you been wondering about me?

Something from very long ago - early 1980's

Hi guys. I know - it's been a very long time since I posted anything and obviously a long time since I have painted anything.

I'm tired, tired and sad. I do nothing these days but work and sleep. And even in that I find no peace. Constantly dreaming about things that slip from my memory when I open my eyes but then haunt me all day long. Seriously - bit and fragments come to me all day long. I almost grab hold of them and they vanish. It's been going on for a while now and its driving me crazy.

I dream a lot about buildings and room and hallways and passages and I wake knowing that there was something or someone there in the dream but I just can't recall enough of it to sort it out. I think that's why I am sleeping so much - I'm trying to catch hold of it and pull it forward so I can work on it.

In just about a month I am going home to my beloved New Mexico for a couple of weeks. At the risk of sounding like I'm losing my marbles I will say that I almost feel like I'm being summoned to return. I can't hardly wait - its about all I have right now that makes each day worth stumbling through.

I almost feel like I am needing to return home to find something.

Hopefully when I return I will be renewed and ready to go again. Hopefully I will paint dozens of canvases when I get back. Hopefully I will once again be a painter...