Let the Drums Roll Out!

"Let the Drums Roll Out"

6 x 6

Oil on Raymar Panel

$200

While walking around downtown my husband and I always see interesting sights.  One day I spotted this little guy playing the drums…have a ball!  I snapped a few quick photos for my file.  Today after hearing "Pa Rum Pa Pum Pum" for the third time I decided it was time to share this painting!  So I will leave you with the Little Drummer's song floating through your brain!  

Masked Ball at the Opera - National Gallery of Art Copyist Program

Masked Ball in progress

16 x 20

Oil on Panel

This is the latest progress on the Masked Ball piece at the National Gallery of Art.  It has been a couple of weeks since I last posted about it.  I just felt like I was working hard with not much progress to really show.  Today my goal was to finish the first layer of the faces and start on the balcony.  I was able to achieve that and am pleased with my progress.   The canvas is covered with paint and now I have to go back and put more paint on, detail, adjust and play.  It will be a fun next visit!  

My husband always comes to visit me at the gallery when I paint…he works two short block away so is easy for him to stop by and I love having the support.  Here is the obligatory action shot.  That is me using my new telescoping mahl stick.   He told me I put my easel in the wrong spot and he couldn't get a good picture.  Oh well…

The National Gallery had all their Holiday decorations up…it looks so festive!  AND It was very crowded!  Who'd a thought this would be a prime time to visit the gallery???  People are always very respectful and always very complimentary.    

Strike up the Band!

Strike up the band!

6 x 6

Oil on Raymar Panel

$250

Hear the cymbals ring…strike up the band.  After watching the Macy's Christmas parade and seeing all the wonderful bands at half time during football games I was in the mood to catch that excitement and action!  What fun!  It is an exciting time of year.  

In other news I am having an open studio this Saturday the 7th of December.  It should be fun.  This week I will spend cleaning up my studio and finishing up a few paintings.  My son Michael is quite a good cook and he will be catering the affair.  So nice to have help!  He also writes a blog, BadShakespeare.blogspot.com…just in case you feel like reading some witty prose.  

Ho Ho Ho - Santa Claus is coming to town!

Ho Ho Ho

6 x 6

Oil on Raymar Panel

$200

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us…let the Christmas celebration begin!  This is the Santa I painted for my Christmas card this year.  Last year I had the opportunity to take pictures of Santa Clause at a local mall.  He was kind enough to pose for me…I had a ball.  As a result I have quite a few source photos that I am sure I will be using for years! 

The Thanksgiving dishes were hardly dry when I started decorating for Christmas.  I have a large collection of Santa Clauses that adorn the base of my tree and each year it is a treat to unpack and arrange them.  

Here is a picture of some of my Santas and our tiny little tree.  The Santas are all shapes and sizes and were purchased/gifted/collected from all over the world.  There are so many memories…I just love revisiting the good times.  

Sun Showers - Tour of Washington DC

Sun Showers

8 x 16

Oil on Raymar Panel

$250

This is a painting I never thought I would finish.  It just didn't seem to come together…so many lessons learned!!!  Lessons on perspective, figurative positions…light…dark…warm…cool...it was just a jumble.  Slowly and methodically I started working out each issue.  I studied angles, positions and perspectives.  It is still not perfect, but it was a great learning experience.  Some paintings seem to just flow off the brush…this is what I call one of my BST works.  Blood, Sweat and Tears!!!

The scene is actually in front of the Lincoln Memorial looking away from the memorial.  The concrete blocks were placed there during construction and are no longer there.  The first woman with the yellow umbrella was a tour guide and her flock followed behind soaking up her knowledge of our great capital, Washington DC.  Sometimes I follow these groups to hear bits of knowledge…they always have amusing stories.  

As an aside…this is is a small portion of a large piece I am working on.  "Steampunk Marissa" is the working title.  I still have lots to do on it…but I am please with my progress so far!

Miss Sweetieheart

Miss Sweetieheart

6 x 6

Oil on Raymar Panel

$200

All this talk of Randy Higbee's 6 x 6 small works show inspired me to try a few 6 x 6 pieces.  I didn't enter this one but I loved painting it!  I have been painting larger pieces...but it was fun to go small for a bit.  The subject of this painting is one of my now famous grand nieces (Vivi) and her very much loved stuffed animal, Miss Sweetieheart.  

The results of the Randy Higbee submissions will be revealed tomorrow and I am sure Facebook will be all abuzz with congratulations and high five's for well-deserved acceptances.  The show is always a rousing success and sales are traditionally very high.  I am looking forward to seeing who will be represented.  

This past weekend I was able to gather two of my son's friends and my daughter in law for a fabulous photo shoot!  The girls played dress up with lots of tulle, corsets, top hats, and lots of other accessories and I snapped about a thousand pictures!  I tried to study shadows, angles, positions…giving thought to composition…hopefully paintings will spring from my brush with all this inspiration!  

Unfinished Mom and The National Gallery of Art

Unfinished mom

My mom doesn't like having her picture taken so getting sources for portraits is a challenge.  At our recent family reunion my brother Dan, and excellent photographer, took many family photos.  I love this one of my mom so I did a quick sketch just for fun.

This is my progress picture of the National Gallery of Art.  It still doesn't look like I have accomplished much but I have been working diligently.  I brought a tiny brush with me today…I usually try to use large brushes…but the detail on this one requires a very small one.  I started on the right and decided to paint each person in turn…It was slow going but it is such a rewarding piece to reproduce.  I am loving it!