Pumpkin Light Repeated

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This is my second attempt at the smooth pumpkin, this time with glass and fabric both added for an extra challenging composition. My favorite part is the pumpkin stem.

Pumpkin on Blue

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I hadn't painted any cloth folds in a while, so I thought I'd take my newly acquired pumpkin and combine it with something difficult and blue. Interestingly, the most challenging part ended up being the totally smooth pumpkin. For me the ones with grooves down the side seem easier. Crazy.

Can't Put it Down

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This is another gal from San Francisco, this one on her lunch break, sneaking in a good book. She keeps looking at her watch, dreading giving up her book because it's at a pivotal moment and she simply has to find out if Claire forgives Jonathon!

Girls Day Out

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These ladies were shopping in San Fran's Ferry Building when I was there last - just three friends, hittin' their favorite stores, finding the good sales, snaggin' a bite to eat, havin' fun. I'm in love with the light.

Too Cool For School

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I spotted these two in San Francisco on a bench near the water. The seemed like the epitome of San Fran Cool! Especially their shoes. She was wearing these weird high tops with pink laces and he was wearing leather dress shoes (with his t-shirt and jeans) and no socks. This is why I'm not allowed to live there - I'm not cool enough for that.

On a more painterly note, I had so much fun suggesting the background. In the photo it was very busy, and my goal was to subdue it so it didn't take attention away from the people, My solution was to change the values (only in the background) so there were only subtle shifts. I'm quite pleased with the result!

You're a Delicate Flower

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I don't know what kind of flower this is, but I love the shape of the petals, especially the ones on top that look like hearts from this angle. It was also really fun trying to suggest the sticky-outy parts in the middle.

My 2014 San Antonio workshop is full, but (fyi) if a spot opens up at any time, everyone on the wait list is notified at the same time, so ... get on it!

WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT

November 10-14, 2014 - San Antonio, TX - register here - FULL with a wait list

Crowded Roses

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Every time I get home from a trip or workshop I feel like I'm floundering a bit for the first week or so. I don't remember what I was excited about before I left and I feel a bit directionless. So this time I decided to return to roses, since they are always a joy to paint. I had to paint a couple of duds first, which is usual for me after a break, but this one I like.

Simple Cup 4

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Here is my fourth and last cup from my 4 in 4 challenge/series. And I am finally able to report about my recent workshop. But first, quickly, a reminder about this month's DPW contest, AND, a heads up about a 2014 workshop in San Antonio, Texas (to be announced Thursday, 10/24/13 at 8pm, CST), FYI, SYT (see you there!).

So, I flew to Wisconsin last weekend in time for a gorgeous show of fall color! You can see a tiny bit of it through the window (my view while doing demos) in the bottom left photo below. My kids were a predictably troublesome bunch, but redeemed themselves every evening by plying me with wine and dessert (apparently my reputation proceeds me)! Here are a few shots of them working:

And here is the final shot of the bunch of us, me in the Maine sweatshirt (in case you don't know me yet). Honestly, they were great kids and made some really great art. I will miss them all!

Simple Cup 3

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This is the third painting for my four in four challenge (the same four objects, four different paintings). Want to do this challenge?

Tomorrow morning I will meet my newest group of kiddos. I haven't tortured anyone in a while and I'm ready for it! Hopefully they will all forgive me by wine time - five days in a row. Boy I ask a lot, huh!?

Simple Cup 2

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This is my second composition from my four object challenge. Would you like to try it too? Well, guess what! It is now the current Daily Paintworks Challenge, which anyone can submit to and sell through, for free! So don't miss out.

Simple Cup 1

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Yesterday I painted a really simple composition with this new cup I got and some paper. I enjoyed it so much, I decided to challenge myself to come up with three more compositions using just these objects. So that was hard! But I did it and I'm glad because it was out of my comfort zone, and I think it's good to be there sometimes.

Tomorrow I start my trek to Wisconsin for my last workshop of the year. I'll post the other three cups when I can.

Tomato Run

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Here is one more painting I did with my friend Bren here. The other one was the fish painting from my last post (here's her version). We only did 2 because the rest of the time was spent exploring Oregon and working on other art projects. We had so much fun I tried to convince her to stay forever, but her husband and kids wanted her back. : (

I am now recovering from a little cold and hope to paint some before I head off to my next workshop, in Wisconsin.

Sardines and one tomato

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Sorry I haven't been posting much lately! I've been busy finishing up a long-term project, and this week I have a good friend from Maine visiting, Brenda Ferguson. Yesterday we were chatting about how we've always wanted to paint fish but are both intimidated by the prospect. We agreed that together we could make it happen. So today we went searching for fish and after one false start and 3 stores we (luckily) found these whole sardines (with sad little tails - not pictured). I won't begin to tell you how much they stunk up my studio!! But it was totally worth it.