A New Avenue

Well, I have always been drawn to figurative paintings and portraits - not the formal type portraits, but those done in the impressionistic style.  I have tried doing figurative work in the past but haven't really stuck with it for any length of time.  I feel like I am ready to explore it.  So, along those lines, here is a painting I did today from a black and white photo in a magazine.

Also, I have decided to enter 2 paintings in the San Diego County Fair - it is a juried show, so won't know for a while whether or not the paintings are accepted.  I entered the "House on C Street" - painting that I mentioned in my last blog entry (that I decided not to put in the gallery show) and the following painting - "Le Cafe" - will post any results.
Linda

Gallery Experience

When I started this blog back in February, I posted a photo of a painting of a house in old town Tustin that I was hoping to enter into a show at a gallery in Tustin.  The requirement of the show was that the subject matter of the painting had to be something in Tustin.  So, last week, I took my paperwork to the gallery and was told that I could not put my painting in the show with a "NFS" (not for sale).  I was also told that I had to price it low because I was an amateur and that the gallery would keep 50% if it did in fact sell.  Yes, I am an amateur - I don't think that is anything to be ashamed of.  And I am not ashamed of the fact that I put my heart into my paintings - and become attached to a few that I am particularly pleased with.  The gallery owner told me that as an amateur I would paint a lot more paintings and it was better to get the "gallery experience".  Maybe I am just not ready for the "gallery experience".  I like to compare painting to a photographer who sometimes takes 200 photos before he gets that one photo that he is really proud of.   Yes, I will paint a lot more paintings and grow as an artist, but if there are a few that are special to me, I will continue to enjoy them and only part with them when I am ready.
Here is the painting of the "House on C Street".
Linda

Something yellow

I had a friend ask for a painting of "something yellow"!  Hmmm.  Yellow isn't a color I use a lot.  At least she didn't specify the subject matter.  So, attached is my first attempt at something yellow.  More attempts will be needed for sure.

I am off to paint plein air at Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad tomorrow . . . will post any attempts.  It's just fun to say Batiquitos!!!!

here is something yellow . . .

Koi Fish

At today's painting class, I chose to paint something different than the rest of the class.  They were painting a seascape - it just didn't speak to me.  So, I tried painting some koi fish.  I also realized that I need to get out and take some photos so that the paintings that I do from photos are from my original photographs.  So, that's on my agenda for tomorrow!
Here is today's painting . . .

Water Lilies

Here is my latest painting from yesterday's art class.  My routine is to bring any painting I do (whether it's painted at home or in a class/workshop) and set it up on my mantle for a few days.  I will walk past it several times a day and, usually, if something needs correcting or touch up, then I can do that.  That is the beauty of oil paint, that it stays wet for a while so editing is easy.  In this painting, I had another flower bud in the background.  This morning I took it out - it was too confusing. Linda