"Back To Back"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

I painted one more for the road, (I think it's one of my personal favorites). My boyfriend saw a more have-and-have-not pair here, which is pretty interesting. So..... I'm heading back to Chicago for some inspiration and going to my 30th high school reunion to relive the disco days. Lots to do leading up to it all. I hope to see you back here around the 29th.

Taken from a bench in the Art Institute of Chicago, where weary patrons sit for a spell. Especially the husbands.


- Happy Trails

"Show Stopper"

10 x 8"
oil on masonite
sold

This past July, in Charleston, the annual Palette to Palate Art Stroll was held. Meaning art and food in one place - can't beat that. I was inside the Sylvan Gallery on King Street that evening - where I spotted this striking figure against the gallery wall. Very fun to paint.

Please click here for a larger view.

"For the Love of Monet"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

First - pardon me for two things. The title is corny, I know it. But it's the first thing to pop into my head and I usually go with it. And pardon the absence, I appreciate your frequent visits - I've been creating some fun things for my upcoming 30th high school reunion.
DVD's......soundtracks........posters......... tracking people down, and in between, I paint. It's been busy and fun.

This new piece is a scene from the Art Institute of Chicago - my favorite museum where I should be a week from today. I can't wait. This young couple stands before Monet's London paintings - on the left is 'Houses of Parliament' and on the right is 'Charing Cross Bridge', both showstoppers.

Please click here for a larger view.

Different Strokes

For those of you who don't know - I have another blog that started one year ago, called Different Strokes From Different Folks. It wasn't planned - truly it was thought out and created in about two hours. And I surely didn't expect it to become this ...... inspiration for many artists out there. To date, over 2,500 pieces of art have contributed to this 1-year-old blog. How cool is that?

Cracker Jack

The blog came about a short time after our dog, Jack, died. I posted a handsome photo of Jack, on this blog - and a painting I had done from that favorite picture. A couple of days passed, and I starting getting emails from other artists who had painted their own version - over 5 of them. Within 4 days, I got over 20 more. In a week, I got over a total of 55. And to show them off, I created the blog - only to follow up every couple of weeks with a new photo reference and see what comes of it. It's a very cool result from a sad event. Thanks to all who have participated through the past year.

I also wanted to thank Vern Schwarz, a painter who has loyally offered his interpretations since the beginning. The current challenge is cupcakes - and Vern painted another jewel - with a very sweet expression of gratitude. I just had to show ya.

by Vern Schwartz

Poker Faces

each is 6 x 6"
nfs

Painting faces is...... can be complex. Just like the cupcakes, there's hundreds of approaches - which is why it's important to study this subject matter from time to time. The last thing I want to do is paint portraits for a living - only because the results are subjective. In this case, I know the victim - so I chose the poses that define her in my mind. I enjoyed it for that very reason.
Just something I wanted to share with you today.

"Escape of the Orange Sprinkle"

8 x 8"
oil on masonite
sold

It's a holiday and I felt like a silly title. And I had great fun painting cupcakes and sprinkles - a subject matter that can be painted a hundred different ways. Also the current challenge on my Different Strokes From Different Folks blog, where you'll see those hundred different ways.