Charlotte's Smile

I try to shoot for one post every week but the last 2 weeks have been pretty busy with the other stuff.  I did manage to complete this commission yesterday. At least I think I am done. I usually sit with things for a week before delivery making corrections. This is a 6x6 acrylic on cradled wood panel.Have a good week and be safe out there!

Pink Princess

Here's one more for the Civic Arts show. 6x6 acrylic on wood panel. The show is next weekend 11/30 to 12/2 at the corner of N Wiget and Ygnacio Valley Rd. I will be there Sunday afternoon helping with the kids room. If you are 12 and under you have a little shopping area just for you :). SOLD

Purple Compliment

Yet another addition for the upcoming Artist Market at the Walnut Creek Civic Arts 11/30 to 12/2. I am calling this the "Purple Compliment" because yellow sits across from purple on the color wheel. These petals are made up of yellow highlights contrasting the deep purple in the background. If you look real close, you can see one of Moe's hairs, which has absolutely nothing to do with the title and everything to do with my frustration living with a hairy beast. I do love him though. This is a 6x6 acrylic on cradled wood panel. Have a great week!

Pinks

Its been almost 2 weeks since my last post. I managed to finish (I think?) this one for the Civic Arts show. This is a 6x8 acrylic on cradled wood panel. I think I have been channeling Lisa Daria. She does wonderful expressive floral paintings. I do like the abstract quality on this and I feel like if I worked on it more, I would dilute some the energy it has. Any thoughts out there?

I said . . . HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

This was a recent commission of "Liver" who is owned by a top Mendocino chef. How could this not be Halloween appropriate? Have a safe one! 8x10 acrylic on canvas.

White Rose #2

Another one for my rose series. I hope to have 1 more completed by the end of this week. That will make 5 6x6s. I have 1 8x8. I am hoping for another 4 by the end of November as well as another 5 6x8s. Wish me luck!

Pink Garden Rose

Today I painted almost all day and listened to Simon Schama's Power of Art. I did not know you could find complete episodes on YouTube! I know, I know, you are just as thrilled as I am! This is an 8x8 acrylic on cradled wood panel. Another one for the art show at the end of November.

White Rose

I am trying to get geared up for the annual Civic Arts Holiday show coming right around the corner. I hope to have about 10 small rose paintings for sale and some greeting cards as well. The show is from Nov. 30th to Dec.2nd. They always have good stuff. I usually spend more than I make. Its for the love of it, right? The show is located at the corner of N Wiget Lane and Ygnacio Valley Rd in Walnut Creek, CA. BTW, this is a 6x6 acrylic on cradled wood panel.

Mango Tango

When I was home in January, visiting my folks, my cousin and I went to China town. They have many, many fruit stands. I couldn't resist taking photos. I love mangoes.I had an argument with one of my friends whether or not these were local or from South America. I honestly can't remember when mango season is, in Hawaii? This is a 16x20 oil. Its currently part of a group show at the Firehouse Gallery in Pleasanton, CA.

Jonathon

This is a 6x6 acrylic on cradled wood panel.  I did this for this week's "Bird Brain" challenge for the Daily Paintworks site. You can click here if you are interested in seeing the other submissions. Have a great week!

Yelllow Lab on Green Couch

I think I have painted Moe at least 20 times. It was time to do another one. This is an 8x8 acrylic on cradled panel. Have a great week! Sold.

Breakfast Prep

I worked on this in the wee hours of the morning before work. I was trying to finish so that I could submit it to the DPW's  "The Broken Egg Challenge" posted by Carol Marine. Every week there is a new challenge. I always learn and grow from them. I had to use my tiny mixing bowl and whisk that I bought several months ago. I had an old kitchen towel around that had a chicken pattern on it (how appropriate, right?) This is a 6x6 acrylic on cradled panel. SOLD

Street View

"Steet View" received the honor of 1st place in the oil/acrylic category at the  PACO Arts show in Pittsburg, CA last night.( Sorry for the long run on sentence there). Anyway, the painting is one I completed a couple of weeks ago. I had submitted it for the DPW Challenge posted by Carol Marine. Another artist of the show asked if they had  pronounced my name correctly. I answer to anything when a check is involved. My name is pronounced "Kathy" although spelled quite differently. SOLD

Horse in Grays

My niece Aimee is a very talented photographer (and model). She has been generous about sharing her photos, including the one I used for this painting. There was a previous challenge on the Daily Paintworks site to paint values without color. I submitted this one yesterday and decided to put it up for auction. This is a 6x6 acrylic on cradled wood panel. SOLD

Enough about me, well sort of . . .

When you are an artist, most of the time, most of your friends and family won't tell you when you suck. Sometimes that's ok, especially when I am having those vulnerable days. This is Nancy Roberts. She is a wonderful artist and teacher. She has given me honest feedback throughout the 8+ years I have known her and taken from her. She has been so encouraging and has opened the door to shows and galleries that I might not have ventured towards. I saw her yesterday at the Scene on the Straits and was reminded of how I have grown as an artist from her support. I think we all need a"Nancy Roberts" in our lives. At least I do and I am so grateful.
Check out her work at  nancyrobertsstudio.com

Red Truck

This weekend I have been super busy with painting and I managed to fit in a few hours at my day job getting some paper work done. I also fit in the DPW Challenge of the Old Truck Challenge. This is a 6x6 acrylic on cradled wood panel. SOLD

Rocky

This is another recent commission; 6x6 acrylic on cradled wooden panel. Rocky is part of an extended family. He is #3 and I will soon have 2 more to paint. It is really nice when people like your work and are repeat customers! Thank you! Thank you! I am sending this one off in one of the new floating frames I just ordered.

And all that Jazz . . .

I know it's corny using catch phrases but I wanted to post a couple of images that entailed more than my painting of Jazz. First, this is a 6x6 acrylic on Aquabord. I have it in a 6x6 frame that I just got from CanvasPlace.com. They make affordable floater frames in natural and black. I think you could easily stain or paint the natural wood. I am happy with the quality.

 Kira Bigda has been posting on her use of Aquabord, so I gave it a try. The surface is absorbent and it is easy to blend and glaze. I plan on doing more paintings with it.

Second, these are my new business cards from Moo.com. I love their quality.I like ordering from them because you can upload a a variety of images. I think its a good way to show other people examples of your work. I chose the rounded corners. They have a nice feel to them.  I honestly don't mean to be advertising but I wanted to share my new toys!

Little Peep

Jeanne is a lovely woman who has a big heart for animals. She is also one of my best clients. This is a portrait of the little bird she rescued sometime ago and has been a new member of her family ever since. 5x5 acrylic on canvas.

Delta View

Yesterday I went with my friend Sylvie to a public garden to paint plien air What does this scene have to do with my outing?  My plien air experience was a good learning session that turned into a "wiper". I decided to participate in the DPW weekly challenge and unlike yesterday, I am happier with the outcome. This is a 6x6 acrylic on claybord. SOLD

The Bird

"Skittles" was my reluctant model for this 6x6 acrylic on claybord. I used sandpaper and scraping to get different effects.

Heirlooms

This is a painting that I recently submitted for the Alameda County Fair and it got accepted! It is a 16x20 oil on canvas. The fair starts on June 20th and runs til July 8th.  Summer is here!

The Shell

I just completed this one this afternoon. Its a submission for the Daily Paintworks Challenge this week. You were suppose to paint something that was a gift. My friend Diane and I grew up together since our early teens in Hawaii. She gave me this shell long, long ago. Whenever I look at it, it gives me a smile. I'll be seeing her soon.

The Border Collie

I just completed this commission. Obviously I took some artistic license and changed the background and tilt of the head. Speaking of which, I thought the dog was leaning against the fence until my friend suggested that maybe this was a photo of him lying on a deck. Hmm. I changed the background to a damask pattern. I have a tablet of damask papers that I was going to use for collage and bought 2 years ago. I am glad I could use it for something. This is an 8x10 acrylic on canvas,

Blue Ears

This is my entry for the Daily Paint Works "Polka Dot" Challenge submitted by Carol Marine, (a wonderful artist). I made up the background to meet the criteria. I think patterns are fun and this maybe somewhat of a new direction. At least it was fun to try anyway. This is a 6x6, acrylic on cradled wood panel. SOLD

The Flower Jungle x 2

 

This is what I did today for the Daily Paint Works Challenge. The exercise called for using the same reference but painting 2 different compositions on 2 different sizes. The top one is a 6x6 and the bottom 4x4. Another fun one to do. I used photos taken from the time I asked Sylvie, my good art friend, to pose for me.

Tropical Yard

As I mentioned in the previous post, I went to Hawaii to help out as an orchid sales person. When I was allowed breaks, I walked around the neighborhood and took pics. Really, my Dad was very good to me and I would work my okole off for either of my folks.This is from one of those walks. Lava rock is very commonly used for retaining walls. Torch ginger looks so vibrant and I was excited by the shadow shapes. SOLD

Twins

Has it really been 2 weeks since my last post? Time is getting away from me. I go to Hawaii in a week to help my Dad with the Manoa orchid show. This is my latest 6x8 I will have for sale. It's an acrylic on cradled wood panel. SOLD

Charlie

Charlie is my latest completion. He is a 5x5 acrylic on canvas. He was ordered as a gift. I always hope that people getting these little paintings, or any of my paintings for that matter, like them. There is nothing as vulnerable as being an artist. The subjective world can be cruel and complimentary. Next week, I will be participating in an artist panel discussion at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts in Tracy, CA. I have never done something like this before. I hate public speaking, I am scared but I think I need to learn how to talk about my art and art in general. Wish me luck!

Commissions

I completed 2 commissions over the weekend and I was still able to get in a figure class and see my husband's family on Easter. Both of these 5x5 acrylics are done for people who have recently lost them. I am hoping it will bring the owners a smile.

Green Orchid

At the end of January I visited my folks and took a bunch of pictures of my Dad's orchids. He is passionate about orchids as I am to painting. They are all over the house, the back fence is covered with them. The perimeter of the house is also surrounded by orchid screen houses. I love them and I love that my Dad so enjoys them. This 6x6 acrylic painting will hopefully be part of a collection that I can sell at the Manoa Orchid Show, May 5th-6th. I plan on helping out with my parent's booth. If you are vacationing in Hawaii and like orchids, you might want to check out the show at the Noelani Elementary School in Manoa on Oahu.

Charlie

Just finished Charlie this weekend. I have had an increase in pet portrait requests lately and I am definitely not complaining! Charlie is a 5x5 acrylic on canvas.

Zoe

Zoe is one of my latest commissions. She is a 5x5 acrylic on canvas.

Housekeeping

This is from a series of photos I asked my friend Sylvie to pose for. She is a wonderful artist and has such a kind spirit, so I took advantage. You may have seen another garden painting on an earlier post. SOLD

Rudy

This is Rudy. He is a regular at Dog Bone Alley in Alameda, CA. Periodically I donate a custom, 5x5, pet portrait when they have events. I also sell small cat and dog paintings there. I usually spend my profits on Moe whenever I stop by the shop. If you are in the area, it is located on Park St. and the staff are super friendly.

Three Kisses

 I submitted this 6x6 acrylic to the DPW challenge today after taking a break from working on a commission that has been quite the  real challenge for me. The other day, I attended a work meeting where they passed out candy and had these heart design napkins. I played around with my smart phone and took pictures of different set ups. I was paying attention to the speaker, honest! HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!  SOLD

Clocks

I recently visited with my folks in Hawaii. I did these clocks while I was there. (Maybe that is why I never got to the beach?) The 6x6 acrylics are on cradled wood panels. My Dad will deliver them to his fellow orchid club member next meeting. Mahalo Dad! SOLD

Pink Bike

Yesterday I was very challenged by a larger painting I have been working on. It has a lot of greenery which can be difficult for me. Anyway, when I didn't want to look at it anymore, I did this 6x6 oil from the Daily Paintworks Challenge. It did help me to shift gears and get "unstuck". SOLD

Oscar

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I just finished this 5x5 acrylic on canvas for the SPCA auction held a couple of months ago. It was a fun one to do. Oscar's photo was supplied by his parents.The photo of the painting was done with my new photo shoot kit (Shutter Starz). I am still learning how to take better photos of my work. After spending an hour and a half playing with lighting and settings on my camera, this was my result. I would say the tripod and the timer are my best friends!