Red Team - International School of Bangkok all classes reunion 2014

Red Team

International School of Bangkok all Classes Reunion

9 x 12

Oil on Raymar panel

$150

After a brief respite with travels to New York City for a YANKEES baseball game...watching #2 play in his last season and a trip to Chicago to do some portrait painting I am back and trying to get in a couple more 30 in 30 paintings done before the challenge is over!  

This is the flag carrying ceremony as the games were about to begin.  The teams are all color coded and theoretically we all remember our colors from high school and join in the team spirit!  It was great fun with lots of antics...as you can imagine.  BUT...what goes on at the ISB reunions STAYS at the ISB reunions!  

Watching - International School of Bangkok all Classes reunion

The Games

International School of Bangkok all Classes Reunion

9 x 12

Oil on Raymar Panel

$150

This is a group intently watching the games at the ISB reunion.  I am really trying to be loose here but still capture the essence of the personalities in this piece.  It was hard to walk away without nitpicking and getting into more detail but I am happy with where it landed.  

Red Napkin Hat - International School of Bangkok all Classes reunion

Red Napkin Hat

International School of Bangkok all classes reunion

9 x 12

Oil on Raymar panel 

$150.00

What could be better than yesterday's yellow napkin hat???  A RED napkin hat!  These hats may really take off...better stock up on some napkins.  I know I will attend the next ISB reunion with napkins in my suitcase...so I am prepared!  

This is a continuation of my 30 in 30 series.  Having great fun remembering all the great reunion moments!  

Red Kimono

Kimono

30 x 30

Oil on Canvas

Cherry Blossom time in Washington DC is always a wonderful time of year with celebrations and the enjoyment of warm weather.  The museums and galleries associated with the Smithsonian always offer many Asian items in their gift shops.  I was fortunate to get there early and found this gorgeous red kimono and black brocade obi.  I just love it.  Once I got it home I realized I would have to tie the obi...not an easy task.  I researched how to put on a kimono and tie an obi checking out videos and lots of source material.  It is an involved task and there are quite a few ways to tie it.  You cannot see my handiwork in this painting...but it was done correctly I believe!  One of the most amusing little tidbits I learned is that the kimono is wrapped around left over right.  A particular video did a little skit involving "leftover rice"...ending with the lesson that the closure is to be made left over right....leftover rice.  I just loved that.  

This painting is the result of my kimono purchase, the trial and errors getting it situated on my model and the cooperation of my beautiful model Kim.  

The Thinker - Strong Powerful Woman

The Thinker

24 x 30

Oil on Canvas

$3000.

Back in the day there was a TV show called "Dobie Gillis"  I used to love that show...it was about a young man, Dobie and his sidekick Maynard G. Crebs.  Maynard, or Bob Denver, went on to Gilligan's island fame...but I digress.  At the end of every show, Dobie would sit next to a statue that resembled "The Thinker" by Auguste Rodin.  The image of Dobie sitting next to the statue and wrapping up the theme of the show has stuck with me all these years.  Those fond memories led me to name this piece "The Thinker"  It is part of my "Strong and Powerful" women series.  

After I completed the piece I took a quick photo and brought it into an app on my iPhone call "Value Viewer".   The app has become invaluable to me as I sort my values.  When I brought "The Thinker" into Value Viewer I was very happy.  The lights and darks are exactly where I want them to be.  I love the lost edge on the left and the way the pearls lead the eye down and across the canvas.  

I usually work on two or three (sometimes more) works at a time.  This is the beginnings of one of my Military Life series pieces.  I love painting series of works and this particular one is near and dear to my heart.  As a the granddaughter of a Naval Officer, and Air Force Brat, Army Spouse and Air Force Mom I have a close connection to all service members.  My goal for this series is to depict my memories of military life...with the help of those currently serving.  I will elaborate more on this pictures when I post the final painting. 

 And Finally...this one just started...This one will be part of my "Strong Powerful Women" series.  As I scheduled this photo shoot it made me very aware of timing...If you miss the week you want to shoot a pregnant woman...the pregnancy may be over and an opportunity lost.  I had scheduled a shoot for this particular woman's last pregnancy...but waited too long!  Lesson learned!  I will also be elaborating on who this woman is when the painting is done.  

That is what is on my plate!  What is on yours?  Do you work on more than one piece at a time?  

Cornered - the Lady in Red

Cornered - Work in Progress

16 x 16

Oil on Canvas

I am working on a few things right now…exciting events coming up and always lots of painting to do.  This painting is from the photo shoot I did with my daughter in law, Marissa.  She is always so kind agreeing to pose for me…sometimes I can even get her to sit so I can paint from life.  Painting her from life always influences my work with photos.  This picture was taken in my dining room where the light is just perfect.  I fear my dining room table will never see the middle of that room again!  

One of my best friends was able to come for a visit from the Boston area.  We spent her time here visiting galleries/museums, touring monuments and painting.  It was a perfect visit!  The weather cooperated somewhat…at least we didn't get wet…but nothing could dampen our enthusiasm for our art chats! 

The final day of her visit we spent in my home studio.  Having never oil painted before she was hesitant to try but I encouraged, cajoled, and prodded until she agreed to try.  

This is her VERY FIRST oil painting ever!  She did a fabulous job!.  I set out the palette for her and then just made a few marks laying in darks to get her started.   After that she dove in with fabulous results.  She asked questions and I was pleased that I knew some of the answers and I tried to provide insights into things I have learned to make the painting go more smoothly.  

So Patricia Hutcheson Burkhardt is my first official art student.  

Charlotte - Portrait of a cowgirl

Charlotte

11 x 14

Oil on Raymar Panel

$350

I love this little girl…I haven't met her, but I love her.  She has such personality and it is written all over her face.  Some faces are just meant to adorn a canvas…and this is one.

This is my third in a series of 30 paintings to be completed in 30 days thanks to a challenge presented by Leslie Saeta.  Some of my works will be works in progress because painting 30 paintings in 30 days is daunting.  I want to join in the fun of the challenge but not put undue stress on myself…I want to present my best work.  So I continue…stay tuned...

Red - Just for Fun

Anneliese Hock

6 x 6

Oil on Raymar Panel

Did you ever have one of those days when you have so much to do it is overwhelming???  Instead of doing what you have to get done you do something totally random...something that you don't need to do...something that is just fun???  Well, that is what I did today.  I met my  husband's, cousin's daughter on facebook.  She just cut her hair...a great cut...it is bright red and I just wanted to paint her.  She is adorable and I don't think I captured her "free" spirit totally, but I had a great time with her.  

Tomorrow...back to what HAS to get done...or maybe not ;)

Life is good.

Dottie Leatherwood fills the 30 in 30 spot for today!

Dottie Leatherwood

6 x 6 

Oil on panel

Whew it has been a whirlwind of a day!  So much to do so little time...and her I am just getting to post this late!  Nevertheless I shall persevere.  Dottie is so beautiful she was hard to capture in such a short time on such a small canvas...but 30 paintings in 30 days dictates the terms and I comply!!!

Dottie is another fabulous artist who does have a blog that simply must be visited!  And then check out Leslie Saeta's band of merry artists still plugging away on the 30 in 30 challenge.