"Apple Tea" - SOLD

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A very kind student of mine in Sedona this last spring gave me this cup and saucer (thank you!). I've done several paintings now with it. I love the subtle green and gray.

"Please Step Forward" - SOLD

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Well, I got done cleaning my house in time for one small painting yesterday. I figured it would be terrible as by that point I WAS nervous (about the interview at our house for the Dr. Phil show), but I ended up quite pleased with it. For those who asked, I did hang a few extra paintings on the walls because hey, how often do we get the chance to be on national tv?!

I recently ran into a new daily painter/blogger who I think is really worth checking out - Dan Robinson. He has a kind of understated style that appeals to me.

Dr. Phil Show

Some of you may remember me mentioning a book I co-wrote with my husband's ex-wife, called No One's the Bitch, about how a mother and stepmother CAN get along and we're here to prove it. Well, we got a call a few days ago from the people at the Dr. Phil show - they're interested in having us on! They've got a film crew coming to our house tomorrow to film us for a few hours, and then we fly to LA on Tuesday for the show. I am still in shock. In fact, I'm so shocked I'm not even nervous. Yet.

I didn't want to say anything until I knew for sure, but the airline tickets have been purchased! I will let you know when the airing will be as soon as I know. For those of you who know me (my kids and friends) you'll get a kick out of this next part - today I honestly felt like painting but I had to clean my house instead. : )

"Sacked" - SOLD

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Yesterday I mentioned 2 new workshops and completely forgot to post the info about them. Sorry about that! Here are the times and registration info:

July 30 - Aug 1, '10, Hudson Valley, NY - register with Hudson River Valley Art

Aug 20th-22nd, '10, South Freeport, ME - to register email Suzanne deLesseps

"Gathering Place" - SOLD

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It rained all day today and was, consequently, dark. I take my photos outside so I didn't get a good photo of this - but I'll get a better one and repost soon (done). I'm back to my comfort food - apples - until I get back in the groove again. It always takes me a few days after I get back from a trip.

I just posted 2 new workshops for 2010. One is in New York in July, and one is in Maine in August.

"Cracked Up" - SOLD

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Today we wrapped up the workshop here in Jacksonville. I'll be back to painting (and posting) on Monday. Below are 2 more demos from class (that's a fig beside the cup).



Below are some 10 minute studies from my students. They are not all left to right, top to bottom, but I think you'll be able to see how they get better. I told them to stick with one subject until they felt they really had it (or were sick of it) and then move on.



And last but certainly not least, my kids! This was another great group of great people, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love my job. : )

"Shell on the Side" - SOLD

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Below are 2 of my demos from class - not a great picture, sorry about that. And below that are some student paintings, also not a great photo ... some are sideways. I'll get some better ones later.

"Casual Times" - SOLD

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Today was the second day of my workshop here in Jacksonville, FL. I meant to say I was leaving for it, but I see that I didn't. Below are some of my kids at work. I promise to post some of their work this time - I've gotten a lot of requests for that. This is another great group, and as usual they are dragging me out every night and plying me with boose. I complain, and don't tell them this, but I love it. : )

"Hasty Escape" - SOLD

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Someone asked me to share how I do the polka dots (as in yesterday's rose painting). I think the key to getting polka dots to appear ON the cloth rather than floating, is to get the value as close to correct as possible. When you're working on a ground that isn't all the same value, this is a little trickier, but basically the dots need to follow the same gradient as the ground. So where the ground is darker, the dots need to be darker, and so forth. Also if the ground gets warmer or cooler, the dots need to follow suit. Also, as the ground gets further away, the dots get smaller and closer together. Mostly though, they just need to look like what you see. : )

"A Rose by Any Other Name"

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I've decided the best way to paint roses, and I may have said this before, is to really REALLY squint at them, and paint what you see when you squint. Then unsquint and put one or two more strokes down. If you try to put in every detail you'll drive yourself insane. That is, unless you're painting a really large rose (lg painting). That's my opinion anyway.

"Reflecting Together" - SOLD

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My husband said "are they apples or tomatoes?" Actually, they're plums. Argh.

Thank you all for the comments and title suggestions for the Iris painting I posted a few days ago! I got some really great ones. Among my favorites were "Slender Ladies," "Iris, I'd split before breakfast...said the Apple" and "The giraffe in the room." I love them all but settled on "Dutch Blues," suggested by Ginger Pena, since they are Dutch Iris. Thank you!

"Time Out" - SOLD

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One thing I am finding, over and over, is that almost every time I stumble upon something that "works", it never works again. There is a certain kind of magic that makes one painting work and another faily miserably. You can read every book and learn every rule and still find that magic frustratingly elusive. Happily, we can always wipe the miserable failures and try again.

"View From Behind" - SOLD

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Below is the hi-key painting with reflections I mentioned yesterday. I was also going for something simple & understated. I used two lights - one was just my overhead florescent for painting by, and the other was the daylight, spotlight I generally use. Together they create some nice light shadows, which I am really enjoying playing with. I don't have any title ideas yet ... any suggestions?

I'm not sure where this painting will go. I'm painting for a few group shows at the moment. It is 20"x28".

I just posted a workshop in San Luis Obispo, CA that will be next Februray, in case anyone is interested (look over to the right).

"Grapes & Bowl" - SOLD

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I've been really interested lately in doing something hi-key with reflections. I just did a larger painting like this and will post the results tomorrow.

"Prickly Invasion" - SOLD

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I haven't painted any prickly pear cactus fruit in a while, but one of my recent students painted some and that got me thinking about them again. I still haven't eaten any ... not quite that brave yet.

"Quarantine" - SOLD

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The garlic came down with a pink disease and the peppers decided it would be best to separate it for a while. But the real story is that the peppers were having a secret affair and didn't want the garlic to find out.

"Pumpkin Puddle" & "Get Down Now!" - SOLD

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Again I didn't get to photograph yesterday's before dark so I am posting 2 today. I feel like I am finally getting the hang of these pumpkins. I really struggled with the first two. I've wiped at least one pumpkin for every one I keep!



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"Pumpkin Shadow" - SOLD

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Still having fun with pumpkins. Also working on a couple of commissions. Busy busy.

"Shadow Pumpkin"

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I'm off to Jacksonville, FL for another workshop in a couple of weeks. There was a last minute cancellation leaving one spot open, so if you were thinking about it, now is the time! Email Eileen Corse to register.

"Jack Junior" - SOLD

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I can understand the pumpkins being out already. I can. But Christmas decorations? Crazy!

"Don't Look Back" & "Painted Apples" - SOLD

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I forgot to photograph yesterday's painting before it got dark, so I am posting it now along with today's. Apples are my comfort food - not to eat necessarily, but to paint. I paint them when I am feeling rusty because I've painted them a thousand times - they are old friends. Here I was experimenting with backlight.

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"Negative Space" - SOLD

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It's nice to get back to still lifes, but as usual I feel a bit rusty after a break. I hate to admit it but my mood seems to be inextricably linked to the last painting I did - as in, my mood is only as good as my last painting. I ride the roller coaster, which can be exciting, but my husband has to deal with me and my moods. Poor guy.

A recent student, and fabulous artist, Claudia Hammer, emailed my demos from Salado - thanks Claudia!! Here they are (sold):