"Going Swimmingly"

6 x 3-7/8"

oil on panel
sold

You may think you know how to paint a figure until something like an elevated view or water distorts it - then you're truly forced to paint what you see and not what you know.  I love the wiggly form of her body under water, very challenging and fun to paint.  An ode to swimming pools that help me tolerate the summers in Georgia.  I think I'll go find one now.

The Last of the Hilton Head Gang

Now that I'm finished this fun project, I want to explain, one more time, what the Hilton Head Gang is.  I get emails that prove some are confused.  I taught a workshop in Hilton Head last fall and had 19 women join me as well as Vince Fazio, the arts director from Sedona Arts Center, who assists me and the students during the workshop.

One of our days included my demo painting of a police mugshot - afterwards my students painted one of their own, which always proves to be a good learning experience for all.   On the last day, someone came up with the idea of taking mugshots of each other and painting them when we returned home.  If you notice some had a sad, defensive look about them, that was the idea.  As if we just were arrested and booked.  Like my mug.  Some smiled.  So what.  This was for fun and for a continued exercise.

I've really enjoyed painting these - and especially proud that many have done the whole gang.  Check out our blog and look at the slideshows on the right column of each of us - you'll see a remarkable variety of styles.

Below, the redhead is Sheryl, very fun to paint - Sheryl doesn't have a blog yet.  Below her is Sherrie Hilliard, who does.

Also wanted to mention, this fall's workshop in Hilton Head is full, but putting yourself on a waiting list often does work, so don't hesitate to call Vince and do so.  Contact information is on the right column on this blog.

Now it's time for me to get busy with an upcoming show in September.   More soon....

4 x 4"

oil on panel

nfs

4 x 4"

oil on panel

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Hilton Head Gang

4 x 4"

oil on panel

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Fellow artist Dawn Hartigan...




4 x 4"

oil on panel

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... and fellow artist NJ Darling from the Hilton Head Gang.

Two More Hilton Head Gangers

  4 x 4"

oil on panel

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A true mugshot pose - fellow artist Kit Hefner

  4 x 4"

oil on panel

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and Cathy Engberg.

On a Roll

4 x 4"

oil on panel

nfs

I'm on a mission to finish up these gals - the Hilton Head Gang.  It has been a well-timed exercise for me, I'm about to bear down and paint a grouping for a show coming up in September.  It's much like stretching and getting into shape before running a marathon.  Not that I'd know anything about that.

You can paint every day and occasionally lose the ability to 'see'.   Paintings become more mechanical, overworked.  I tend to see things in blocks of color, not so much the details - that comes as things progress.  That's what, I think, makes a successful painting in the end.  So these fast, painterly studies put my brain back in place.

Above is Terri Buchholz, below is Judy Elias.

4 x 4"

oil on panel

nfs

Two More in the Hilton Head Gang

 4 x 4"

oil on panel
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Fellow artist Allyson.

 4 x 4"

oil on panel
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And fellow artist Linda Nickles.

Hilton Head Gang

4 x 4"

oil on panel
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This is fellow artist Betsy Stevenson, a member of our Hilton Head Gang - who I'm proud to say does have a website and blog showing her work.  

I like this one.  It was done fast and furious, I barely looked away - as if my hand had taken over.

Hilton Head Gang

4 x 4"

oil on panel
nfs

Fellow artist Diane H. - a Hilton Head Gang member who doesn't have a blog or website yet.  I'll bug her until she does.

Finishing up the Hilton Head Gang

4 x 4"

oil on panel
nfs

You may have seen several 'mugs' of our Hilton Head Gang - the talented women who were in my workshop last fall - we're all doing paintings of each other and creating a book.  So I'm catching up and painting the remainder of those I've missed.  This is the most fun. I love doing these.

This is my version of Maria Hock aka The Enforcer - the very one who dreamed up this project.

"Double Dip"

5 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

Inspired from my short span of attention on a sunny afternoon and a stronger desire to jump in a pool.

 

200 Faces, No. 110

 4 x 4"

oil on masonite
sold

I loved painting this face - an addition to my ongoing series BUST-ED.

 

Classic Coke No. 3

by Neil Hollingsworth

And hat's off to my good friend, Neil Hollingsworth, who's art was featured in Charley Parker's awesome art blog Lines & Colors.  Neil has an upcoming dual show in July at the Tree's Place Gallery, make sure you check out his paintings at the gallery.

And a Happy Flag Day to you - this house in central Nebraska celebrates every day. 

Moving your iWeb Site to a New Host

There's a lot of you out there who built your website with iWeb and know by now Apple is shutting down MobileMe at the end of this month - which means you need to find a new host for your website.

I finally got my website switched over to a new host and I'd like to offer some help - starting with an article published in the New York Times on June 7th which helped me a lot.   Apple finally offers assistance for the move on this page.

I chose MacHighway to host my website, (you'll find a link on the right column under Zac & Joey's picture).  They offer immediate assistance on the phone and by email to help with the process, so I highly recommend them.   I'm not gonna lie, it was scary - like walking the plank between two ships. Just read through the NYT article and Apple's instructions, go on MacHighway's site where they have plenty of instructions and videos - you'll get it done.

Apple also discontinued updates on the iWeb application, those who like using the program to build their website can continue using it or learn a new program - I'm sticking with what I know for now.


Good luck fellow Mac users!

"Low Tide"

 6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

There comes a point when I know I'm painting too tight for my liking - it's a fine line.  So I ditched my other painting and whipped out my fat brush, knowing that would take care of it - you just can't get too nit-picky with it.  It's a good exercise - sure to get you to loosen up again.

"Queen For a Day"

12 x 7"

oil on masonite
sold

A queen, on her throne, for a day - on the beaches of Hilton Head Island.

Please click here for a larger view.

"The Reel Thing"

7 x 10"

oil on masonite

A perfect way to spend a morning at the beach on Hilton Head Island.

To purchase directly, click here.

"Triple Play"

10 x 8"

oil on masonite
sold

The evil flu bug that possessed me for too long has finally left to go make someone else miserable.  Not that I'd wish that on anyone.  More important, my brain finally works again.  Yay.

This new painting is a typical moment on the beaches of Hilton Head Island.  Happy dogs.

Please click here for a larger view.

Speaking of dogs ..... today is the 1st anniversary for Zac & Joey coming home to live with us.

In their first year, they've traveled to the beach in Hilton Head, Virginia for Christmas and across the country to San Francisco and back.   They're the best.

Cover Girl

Sedona Arts Center - who facilitates my field expedition workshops, chose one of my paintings for the cover of their newest catalog.  How cool is that?  Makes me proud to be a part of their faculty - I'm in the company of some of my favorite painters - Carol Marine, Kevin Macpherson, Vince Fazio, Michael Workman to name a few.

Visit their website for more info - remember I still have openings in this fall's workshop in Hilton Head, South Carolina and next May's workshop in New York City.   I need eager, excited people to sign up so please do.  I'd love to have you join me.  Contact info for registration is on the right hand column of this blog.

"Looking Great For 75"

5 x 7"

oil on masonite
sold

My new painting you see below, "Fifty Shades of Green", took me five days to complete.  I've had the flu.  Today I feel a bit more human and felt like enjoying a quick one - no sketching out, no planned out composition - all I knew is I wanted to paint the Golden Gate Bridge.  I was just there.  It does take your breath away - it's magnificent.  After watching a cool program on TV, about the 75th Anniversary, I simply was inspired.

"Fifty Shades of Green"

8 x 8"

oil on masonite
sold 

How could I resist this title - I looked at my palette and said out loud that I must have mixed 50 shades of green.  I'm so happy with this painting, it must be this personal love for old, little houses.  I spotted this one somewhere along the Lincoln Highway in Nebraska.

A larger view can be found here.

Update on Future Workshops

Registration is now open for my workshop in New York City - taking place the week of May 28 - June 1, 2013.  The studio is in the National Academy, a newly-renovated and larger space allowing up to 20 students.   I'm very excited, this will be my third workshop at this location.

Let me tell you a little more about it - the National Academy is across the street from the Guggenheim Museum, on 5th Avenue - in the Upper East Side of Manhattan.  We will start on the Tuesday after Memorial Day, paint every morning and break in the afternoons to get out in the city to photograph.  One of those days will be a longer studio session.  The workshop ends on Saturday afternoon, June 1st.

As in my past workshops, the gist of the workshop is about painting from photos - I do a demo every day, go over how to edit your photos on Photoshop and prepare the image for painting.  Students will paint from their own photos during the week, with my assistance on the process.

New York City is an incredibly image-rich location - museums, cityscapes, people, dogs, park scenes, restaurant scenes - I could go on and on.  You will not only enjoy painting from your photos during the week, you'll amass hundreds of images to paint from when you return home.

The workshop registration is handled by the Sedona Arts Center - the arts director, Vince Fazio, will assist students with editing and printing during the week.  If you are eager for an inspiring experience like no other,  contact the Sedona Arts Center and sign up.  More information can be found here, including contact phone numbers and online registration.

An additional note - my workshop held this October/November, on Hilton Head Island, still has 7 openings available.   The workshop begins on Monday, October 29 and concludes on Friday, November 2, 2012.  The studio is huge, on the top floor of the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina - this will be my third workshop at this location.  More information can be found here,  including online registration and contact phone numbers to the Sedona Arts Center.

One more thing - I promised to post when I had new PaintOn Tabletop Easels - there is 1 brand-new easel available now, click here to purchase yours.  

Thank you for signing up, I'd love to have you join me.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend ~

"A Simple Life"

6 x 6"

oil on masonite
sold

Adding to my new series from a recent cross-country road trip - a plain, unadorned homestead in west Texas, along Highway 40.  I marvel at little houses like this one, plunked on the edge of an interstate, baking in the hot sun.  I love the somewhat-abstract surroundings and I especially love the see-thru from the front window to the back yard.  So simple.  So cool.

"Biker Gang"

16 x 6"

oil on masonite
sold

A new painting - three kids enjoying a bike ride on the beach on Hilton Head Island.

Please click here for a larger view.

"200 Faces, No. 109"

4 x 4"

oil on masonite
sold

I've been gardening because, lately, painting became too frustrating.  That's when it's time to get busy doing something different and that usually brings back the flow.   One can only hope.   So I started a new day with a warm-up and to my delight, it did flow.

This gentleman is a new addition to my ongoing series BUST-ED, portraits done from police mugshots.

"Ole Miss"

6 x 6"

oil on masonite
sold

On our recent cross-country road trip, between Brett and myself, we took about 5,400 photographs - so there's a lot to browse through and pick the winners for future paintings.  The best way is to start at the beginning and taking it slow, and I may as well start now on a new series of small works/studies to help me get a grasp on the enormous amount of images.

Starting with Mississippi - when we first pulled out our cameras and began shooting.  Truthfully, our first day of travel included western Georgia and northwest Alabama, but we were more concerned with getting to our first night's stay around Memphis - this is from the area of Horn Lake, Mississippi, a few miles south.  

"Mr. NoBody"

9 x 12"

oil on masonite

When I visited the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco, there were a dozen or so students sketching various paintings and sculptures - including this marble bust 'Maffeo Barbarini, Prince of Palestrina' by Lorenzo Ottoni.  It made me want to join them - couldn't wait to get home and paint the Prince.  To the right is a portion of 'Samson and the Honeycomb', by Giovanni Francesco Barbier.

Please click here for a larger view and purchase information.