Out to Lunch

On this Easter holiday weekend, I want to say I've completely lost my mind.

I've had a long time desire to paint Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party since the day I saw it in person about seven years ago.  I tackled it once.  It was much looser.  And there was a crowd in the way.  I was saner back then.

Now I'm zeroing in on Renoir's incredible attention to detail, seeing things I've never noticed before.  Here's my slow progress...

I really should go dye some eggs.

I also wanted to mention Senator John McCain wrote an article in the New York Times today - about a recent obituary, the death of a U.S. soldier Delmer Berg.  He was 100 years old.  

The reason I bring this up?  Picasso's painting Guernica, which I recently featured in my painting War Paint.  

Mr. Berg was the last known veteran of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.  One of about 3,000 mostly-American volunteers who fought in the Spanish Civil War, in defense of the leftist government of Spain, against the Nationalists, led by Franco.  I never knew about the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.  It was part of the International Brigade, which included tens of thousands of foreign volunteers that fought against the bombings and destruction of many little hamlets in Spain.  Guernica being one of them.

So coming to the aid of a foreign land and people, people that these volunteers never knew - is quite profound.  

~  Happy Easter

Hilton Head Art Auction This Saturday

I have two paintings in the Hilton Head Art Auction, held this coming Saturday - I'll include details below.  Auctions can be a rare opportunity to get an original painting for a really good price, you just never know.  The best way to play it, in my opinion, is to name your top price and roll the dice.

Here are my pieces in the auction,  both are framed....

'A Lot To Juggle'

8 x 10" oil on panel

sold

 'A Big Thumb's Up'

10 x 10" oil on panel

sold

"Red Heads"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

I spent my high school years in a suburb of Chicago and I'd occasionally cut school and spend the day in the city where I'd prowl the Art Institute of Chicago all morning, meet my dad for lunch, go back to the museum, then ride the train back to the suburbs with my day around 6.  My idea of a perfect day.

This Renoir painting, 'Two Sisters (On the Terrace) is a crowd pleasure, one of his most-recognizable oils.   And yes, this really happened. 

"Berettas"

9 x 9"

oil on panel
sold

This was totally intended to be a study of this figure and I got a bit carried away. 

From the Art Institute of Chicago, a young woman feels a connection with 'On The Terrace' by Auguste Renoir.

"Alfred"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

I felt like nit-picking a little bit today.  I had time.  It's been a cold, cloudy day here and since I prepared to hole up (due to unrealized winter storms coming thru), I put my cozy clothes on and started painting.   I love days like this.

From the Art Institute of Chicago, a woman viewing Pierre-Auguste Renoir's portrait of Alfred Sisley.

"Innocent Bystander"

12 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

A sure bet - women and girls are mostly drawn to artworks depicting women and girls. It's what we know. Men on the other hand are drawn to structural objects, sculptures and dramatic scenes. These two are standing before Morisot's 'Woman at Her Toilette', while on the right is Renoir's 'Woman at the Piano'. Both paintings hang in the Art Institute of Chicago.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Luncheon Date"

16 x 8"
oil on masonite
sold

Crowds or lines of people dazzle my painting senses - but it takes ambition to start and finish such a scene. I take on each individual one by one, as if they were the sole figure, so it's a time-involved process - and I'm never really sure it's going to work out until the last few hours. The hard part is sticking with the process and not giving up. I'm a painter who likes to start a piece in the morning and end it that evening and move on to something else.

In most of the more-popular art museums, there's a star work of art, a draw, a spectacle - that will pull people in like a magnet - and Renoir's 'Luncheon of the Boating Party' is certainly one of them. We recognize the image from coffee table artbooks and perhaps a print that we have on our own wall - and to see the real thing is rewarding. As with most works of art.

Speaking of which, I hope you have the opportunity to stop in to the Morris & Whiteside Galleries in the next month, where I have 29 pieces on exhibit. I also have paintings hung at the 16 Patton Gallery in Asheville and the Howard/Mandville Gallery in Kirkland (Seattle) - and I would appreciate you taking the time to visit any of them if you're in the area.

Please click here for a larger view.

"A Coat of Pink"

12 x 11"
oil on masonite
sold

A young woman in the French Impressionists gallery of the Art Institute - seemingly being eyed by Alfred Sisley, who was painted by Renoir. Speaking of coats of color, I'm currently having six rooms painted in my house and they're all different colors - and invariably, the painter keeps asking 'is this what you wanted?' as he slaps on the first brushstroke. 'yep, it's exactly what I picked', I say. My boyfriend had to confirm that 'she's an artist, what can I say'. A good excuse for almost anything weird. And no, it's not pink.

"Brotherhood"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

I really don't see too many kids in art museums that truly are interested in the art. Most squirm a lot and want to get going. These two brothers were the exception - seemingly enjoying the paintings. It's a nice thing to watch.

From the Art Institute of Chicago - accompanied by Renoir's famous 'On the Terrace'.

For a larger view, please click here.

"French Dip"

12 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

I revisited my photos from Philadelphia, a quick trip I took a couple of years ago - it was the Renoir that made this a choice - titled 'The Large Bathers'. Taken from the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Please click here for a larger view.

Special Offerings - Framed Gallery Pieces

"Capitol Domes" sold

"Performance Art" sold

"Bench Rest" sold

I do like to keep my gallery paintings fresh and from time to time I'll pull something out and replace it with a piece more recently done. These three are available for a direct purchase, thru eBay and Paypal, if you are interested.

Saturday update - the three paintings have sold. Thank you so much for your consideration.

"Performance Art"

9 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

A woman spending a summer afternoon in the Art Institute of Chicago, before her is Renoir's "Acrobats at the Cirque Fernando".

"Woman To Woman"

16 x 8"

oil on masonite

sold

I let a perfect spring day pass by today - I really did want to paint. That's a good thing. There'll be plenty of those days ahead.

This is somewhat of a backed-up view of museum visitors and I like that. I found the women, as a group, more interesting than singling out anyone in particular. The room filled with French artworks is in the Legion of Honor, in San Francisco.

Click here if you'd like a larger view and purchase info.

"Following a Lead"

9 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

I feel like I'm finally coming out of a fog - getting over the flu and watching my dog recoop from surgery. I've lost time in painting and need to catch up with some new gallery pieces, so the small ones may have to wait a little while.

This young woman was viewing the very famous Renoir painting "Dance at Bougival", which hangs in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. It is a truly marvelous work of art in person.

Click here if you'd like a larger view.