Coffee paintings sold

I was thrilled when I was notified that two prints of my coffee painting of the Longhorn sold. Tonight I must work on the watercolor. But I had a nice luncheon with the critique group...sure wish they would show up for group. It is even held in a coffee shop so they have no excuses! Finished shopping for my Mom so will paint tonight. First, supper!

Good Morning

Today's post will come later in the day. I have put three drawings on canvas and applied masque to a watercolor drawing. I have Tai Chi class this morning , a Critique group luncheon, and I must do some shopping!

Looking for the Spark

I am looking for that art spark. I put two drawings of the neighbors houses across the street on my canvas. I had sketched them early one morning when there was a scattering of snow and the sun was making great shadows. Of course, the snow was gone quickly and it hasn't snowed since. Now I am uninspired! Must look through some photos that I saved for future projects.I have a Fall arrangement in a basket that is drawn on watercolor paper. I could do that, then put a Christmas arrangement in the basket. Guess that will be the project as Christmas will be here and gone, soon, and the snow will come eventually and inspire me again.

Hearts in the Snow

I completed the painting of the hearts made in the snow by the UPS driver for my grandaughter. She requested it. I am pretty happy with it considering the photo was in gray tones from a phone.I feel the composition works. Your eye seems to go to the wood pile first then to the tracks in the snow and then to the objects to the right. The road helps the swing of the eye and the trees give stability. I feel there was depth to the woods and the Naples yellow in the snow area lends warms to the painting along with the brush and leaves on the trees in the background.

Longhorn in coffee

Gosh, got interrupted with a phone call and forgot to publish this. It is a layering process using real coffee.

Resolution

Finally my mother is safely in a nursing home and I can get back to this. I have been painting but not blogging. My resolution is to begin today to get back to it! I spent the summer doing plein air whenever I could and did a number of commissions. I will put the coffee painting of the Longhorn here as I am very proud of that commission.
Today I am going to paint from a photo my granddaughter loves. Where the UPS man made hearts in the driveway when he turned around. This will be her Christmas present. Hopefully you will see it tomorrow.

To begin again

My inspiration was the far right corner of the field beyond the trees and that is what I initially used for my focal point in the rule of thirds. I loved the hay bales against the trees in the distance also. As I painted from top to bottom, I realized I would need more in the foreground so...since the cows were meandering, grazing,laying down, getting up...I got a few photos and worked the cows in using the camera for reference, although it is terribly hard to see in the sunlight. During an Ohio Plein Air Society critique I had been told by Jack Liberman twice that my backgrounds look pasted on so I remembered to blur the edges and gray the trees in the distance. I do have difficulty with my greens and had to repaint them as they ended up too dark for the sunny day. I do like a little drama and strong values in my paintings but that just doesn't work in most plein air paintings.I tried to design the shadows to point to the focal point even though the sun was above the trees but the light was still on the cows and I liked that they were peaceful looking.