Memorial Day Picnic, Smith Mountain Lake

9 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

Perfect weather, bright sparkling water, and this family having a picnic at the park over the Memorial Day weekend.  A painter's opportunity if there ever was one.  I have become addicted to painting people of all shapes and sizes.  I feel as though I'm sculpting when I move the paint around to get the effects I want.  I used to love to do this with pastels because my hands were in direct contact with the surface, but what was lacking for me was the thickness and creamy consistency that the oils have.  I'm still learning the ins and outs of painting with oils, but the fact that I wake up each morning and can't wait to get into the studio says it all.  I even dream about painting...How weird :-)

Sunday Morning at the Park

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

This should be called "Fast and Furious Study."  Limited palette (except for the kite), and limited time.  I really like this one.  I think it has movement and atmosphere.  I could have gone a lot further and given it a "finished" look, but that wasn't my intention.  I was trying to zone in on the two figures and what they were doing.  These exercises are really helpful for me, and I'm enjoying the process.  It's a very free feeling to paint like this once in a while :-)

Whose Kite is it Anyway?

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

A quick study of Spiderman above the City.  I gave myself a time limit and just kept my brush moving.  I'm not sure why, but as I post my paintings I see all sorts of issues I want to correct, and WILL correct on this one...Things I don't see when I'm in the "zone."  This, however, serves as a starting point for other paintings.  Just a beginning in my "thought process."  With these, I'm always really glad I start on small boards.  If I decide to do a larger painting, these are good references...Mostly in what I need to correct or change.  I do like the energy in this little piece :-)

Playground Tete-a-Tete

7 x 5 Oil on Gessobord

This started out to be my cousin's son and grandson, but morphed into unknown people.  I've grown to like them, though.  After you work and re-work so many times, your subjects become friends :-)  I almost gave up on this and thought about wiping it off, but changed my mind.  I'm glad I stuck with it.  It serves as a study for another piece, perhaps morphing back into my cousin's son and grandson....