Waiting for Tea

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I am completely in love with color, but a simple black and white composition can say just as much. It really proves the old saying that, "color gets all the credit but value does the work."

Blue with Dots

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Here's the final blue on a shelf. I'll definitely return to this theme. Hey, maybe I could do a series for each color family!

I've been experimenting lately with a new light. Normally I use an LED flood bulb, which is quite bright. For this painting I wanted a more subtle, focusable light, so I used the light I bought for workshops (my travel light). It is a zoomable LED spotlight lamp with a gooseneck and a clamp, and I got it from Amazon (not getting a kickback for this mention). Here it is in real life:

True Blue Friends

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Here's the second in my little blue on a shelf series. And speaking of rockstar subjects, you've probably noticed this little white cup a few times. I got it in Germany so many years ago, and it's cracked from when I poured hot tea in it once (?), so I can't even use it for liquids. But it's still perfect for being painted.

Got the Blues

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x8in. - oil on panel

I did a small series of blue paintings on a shelf, of which this is the first. It's amazing how just a few, simple objects and a light can create such drama.

Power of the Flower

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I just did an AI image search on this painting to see if it would identify the kind of flower (even though it's just a fake one, haha). It says, "The artwork is a still life by artist Carol Marine," and identifies the flower as a "sunflower," which I've painted a lot of, and it showed examples. Obviously it got the artist right (which I probably shouldn't be surprised by? even though I am), but I'm not sure about the flower. Maybe a cone flower? Thoughts about any of this?

And Breakfast

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x8in. - oil on panel

This is another object I borrowed from my friend Patti - the ampersand. It had a lot of neat reflections in it, but also reflected a lot of funny light everywhere. I used my artistic license and left some of it out. My guess is you can't tell?

Party Cups

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x8in. - oil on panel

I found this pink stripey cup in Boise when I was there recently. I tried painting it a couple of times, but this is the first one that worked out. I think it's because of the company it's in. I tried with apples before, and my guess is they just didn't get along.

Big Bird Little Bird

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Here's another thing I borrowed from the lovely Patti - the brass swan. I decided he needed a companion in the painting, and now they are inseparable in my studio. I think some imprinting happened.

Group Chat

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

My good friend Patti lent me a few things recently to paint. One is this fancy yellow mug. The design of it is prettier in person, but this was all the detail I wanted in the tiny painted version.

Thank you, Patti!

Not for Consumption

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

In case you missed it, I recently released a new online tutorial (ArtByte) that is all about painting glass! The idea behind the ArtBytes is they are bite-size and affordable. If you have seen it, please email me with feedback, or leave a review. Thanks!

Networking

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

When I was younger I dabbled briefly in web design. I didn't know how to get my name out, so I joined the Austin Chamber of Commerce and went to a few networking events. For me, securely in the introvert camp, it was painful. This is my re-envisioned "happy" networking event, with happy apples and cups, all completely comfortable with each other, no financial advisors allowed. : )

Ready and Waiting

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I tend to like orderly scenes. I think it's the German in me. Of course my mother would say that I wasn't orderly as a child. But it's definitely something I embraced as I got older. In my environment and my paintings.

As for the bird I posted yesterday, the general consensus is that it's a Great Tit. Thanks to everyone who emailed me. : )

Dainty Daisies

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

NEW ARTBYTE (online tutorial) ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

I've been asked a bunch of times over the years to make a tutorial about painting glass. I started working on it about a year ago and it is finally done! Unfortunately the nerve damage in my neck still makes it difficult to sit for any length of time, so editing the videos is what took so long.

In the ArtByte I talk a lot about the particular challenges of painting glass, and all the tips I've acquired that make it easier. There are 2 demo videos - one of this painting above, and another composition with colored glass. This one >

The cost is $15, and you can find it here: Painting Glass ArtByte.

Too Much Cantaloupe

 

Click Here to Bid - 12x12in. - oil on panel

I did this one as a study for a larger piece. It was difficult because the canteloupe kept trying to wander off. I don't often paint canteloupe, and now I remember why. They need to go to obedience school I guess.

Rose is Single Again

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

You might think this isn't very different from the other rose paintings I posted recently, but anytime the scene includes reflections like this, the challenge of painting it goes WAY up. It almost broke me.

Hogging the Tea

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I snuck off to Boise with the hubs for a few days. The drive from here is particularly beautiful, especially this time of year. For an artist it's like a visual feast. It's my favorite kind of break from painting. It refills my soul.

Confiding

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I am home from my Nashville, TN workshop. I had a really wonderful group of students. I gave them a list of things at the beginning about "how to get the most out of this workshop," and they did it! And with humor, which made it fun for me. : ) Also the organizer and her helpers were fantastic. I will definitely return to this location. Here we all are:

Color Conference

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I've been attempting to dye fabric for backgrounds lately, with mixed results. The problem is that the length of time it stays in affects the color, but once you pull it out and wash it, the color is very different from how it looked when you decided to pull it out. But I'm learning. And I like these two (the gray and the peachy strip).

Mostly what I want are less saturated colors. I bought a whole bunch of white cotton fabric and Procion dye to play with. It's fun.

I'll Tell You a Secret

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I specifically like turquoise and orange together, even though they don't fit any established color scheme. But I honestly don't think schemes are the end all - be all. Just suggestions.

Funky Cups

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Here are some colors I've been playing with lately. I was going through my Pinterest boards and noticed that these colors together were a common theme. So I challenged myself to make some compositions with them.