Play Things

Click Here to Bid (6x6in. - starts at $100)

When I set this up (which took about 15 years) I had NO idea (though you think I would, after so many paintings) how freaking HARD it was going to be! The painting part took about 15 years too. So, what I'm saying is, I aged a lot yesterday!! And I may have a little ptsd from the ribbon. But I'm still here.

FYI, I'll be out of town from (this Friday) 12.21.18 until 1.3.19, and won't be able to ship during that time.

Family Three

Click Here to Bid (6x6in. - starts at $100)

And here's family number three. We had such high hopes for little Johnny, but he turned out to be not a terribly bright bulb. But we think Mary Jane is a shoe in. : )

Little Girl Things

Click Here to Bid (6x6in. - shipped mid-March)

I painted this as an example for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge. This idea has been on my list for a while - painting only black and white (and gray) objects.

On another note, I will be judging the Sedona Art Prize this month. The prizes are pretty great, so you might want to consider entering!

We are currently in Farmington, NM, on our drive to Texas. It's been interesting to see most of the countryside covered in a blanket of snow, though it's pretty much gone from where we are now. I've been doing all the driving (because I'm better at it), but my wrists are finally healing, I think. My fingers are going only a tiny bit numb as I type this. : )

Red Shoes ArtByte!

Click Here to Bid (6x6in.)

Two of my workshops are already full! The one in Eugene in August still has 10 spots. So you know, Oregon is awesome in the summer! It's our best season.

For those of you who can't make it to a workshop for whatever reason, I just put up a new ArtByte (online tutorial) featuring these very red shoes (above)! It's a simple demo video (including a shot of my palette) with a voiceover. Instead of speeding up this video, I edited out all the boring parts (anything without mixing or painting), and got it down to about 24 minutes.

Stepping it Up

Click Here to Bid (6x6in.)

My husband would say I have too many shoes. I say, I have something for every outfit!

Ready for School

Click Here to Bid (5x7in.)

I threw together a few school supplies while my little guy was off learning (all his except for the shoes). They grow up so fast!

All Stars

Click Here to Bid (6x6in.)

These shoes continue to sit around my studio, so I thought I'd have another crack at them. I've always painted them on a white background before, so this time I thought I'd try something dark. I like the contrast.

Stepping Out

sold

I used two lights again on this one. I also played around with the broad expanses of color - adding little bits of other colors to spice them up. This is something I used to do all the time and then forgot about.

Microfashion

sold

I completely stole the title for this from Humans of NY, which I see on Instagram (so cool, if you haven't seen it!). The shoes I found at the thrift store the other day. I've been keeping my eyes peeled for some just like this for a long, long time.

Oh, and I shone (shined?) two lights on the shoes - a warm one and a cool one. It made for some interesting shadows. I tried this once before but didn't like it. I'm glad I gave it another shot. I don't think I'll do it for every still life, but I will certainly try it in the future if I think it might work. FYI - I used a florescent for the cool, and halogen flood for the warm.

Chuck Mate - #2000

sold

And here is (drum roll please) my 2,000th daily painting! I have a very good friend who wears these sorts of shoes often (when she wears shoes). Her daughter is just going into college, and due to some pretty huge issues that have come up for their family, I can imagine the funds are a bit tight for them right now. And so the proceeds from this painting are going a tiny way towards getting the sweet little gal through college.

Red Chucks

sold

I was very happy to find these shoes the other day at Goodwill. I had some pink ones when I was a kid. They were awesome. As for painting them, the laces were especially fun/challenging!

I have been painting less the last few days because we've had a visit from our granddaughter (Nina) and family - unfortunately leaving in the morning. : (

Work Shoes

sold

My hat is off to those who can wear shoes like this and act like a normal person at the same time. I myself lack that particular skill. I bought these to paint, but my husband and stepdaughter begged me to put them on for just a minute. They had a good laugh.

Scary Cherry

Click Here to Bid

I apologize for not posting this past week. We have been running around like chickens with our heads cut off in the never-ending (it seems) task of starting over from scratch in a new house. I hope to get back to regular posting soon. Meanwhile I am almost ready to start painting again. I keep thinking I can paint and then realize I am missing something important. The last order of supplies will come tomorrow while we are in Portland making an IKEA run.

See pics of our new house on our New Beginning blog.

Fancy Shoes - SOLD

Click Here to Bid

These are my favorites - Banana Republic (they make shoes!?), but I found them at the thrift store. Actually, I got them all at the thrift store. And after I paint them a couple more times, I'll return them and get something else.

Killer Heels - SOLD

Click Here to Bid

Woops - someone let me know the shoes I posted yesterday weren't actually Mary Janes. Sorry about that. My style of shoes (that I wear) usually revolve around hiking or running, so I'm not versed on the lingo. Today's shoes I'm calling "killer" because they kill feet. On the two or three occasions that I've worn heels higher than half an inch, my feet almost died. I don't understand women who wear these on a regular basis. I mean, I know they look good, but is it worth the pain?!?

Mary Jane Heels - SOLD

Click Here to Bid

For all of you who guessed the portrait I posted yesterday was of my son, I am sorry to disappoint. His name is Isaac and he is the son of my very good friend Karen (who was out all day and didn't see my blog until tonight!). Our kids are one month apart in age, and good friends. But while they are both silly, I would argue my son is more the ham. Hence the scissors, below, in my son's hands. And for this one I did have fussy parents: myself and my husband. We both agree he looks a little older here than reality, but still more or less like Jacob.