End of year challenge

This is my portrait for the Different Strokes blog end of year challenge. It measures 9"x6" and was really fun to do. I hope I captured this lady's likeness...I'll wait and see, since I have no idea who my mystery portrait person is....I'm going to wish everyone a Happy New Year, because I'll take the rest of the week off and get ready to start off with regular postings again in January. Thanks everyone for all your positive and encouraging comments throughout the year.

Merry Merry

Merry Christmas, Vrolijk Kerstfeest, Joyeux Noel, Froehliche Weihnachten, Mele Kalikimaka, Gledileg Jol, Feliz Navidad and to all a Good Night!

new subjects

The weekly figure session is on hiatus until mid January, boo hoo. I've gotten quite used to going on a regular basis. I should be less bashful and drag the sketchbook around town and sketch people in cafes and restaurants etc... I've done some of that, but some how the person I've chosen to sketch realizes something is up and gives me the hairy eyeball. I should focus on people who are asleep or mostly turned away from me. Hmm a thought for the new year, find unsuspecting subjects.

Red, red flower

This image is reminding me of all the poinsettias that I'm seeing around the stores. I know they look different, but the close-up and colors are similar. We didn't get any poinsettias this year, so I don't have a reference to paint one...I did do one many years ago for a holiday card...I should go dig that one up and try to post it this week or next....only 9 shopping days left...what does that mean? Maybe try to make something for your loved ones this year! hmmm, there's an idea.

Dragonboats

Okay this is the last blatant self promotion post this week! The sketchbook images above were from this past summer's dragonboat races here on Lake Champlain. A portion of the proceeds of the painting I currently have up for auction will go to Dragonheart Vermont, a breast cancer charity. The dragonboat racing involves alot of yelling and very colorful boats and people. It's quite impressive. Enjoy your weekend...auction ends on Sunday! Click this link.

Feels abstract

"Reflective Surfaces" 11" x 15" private collection

The wind is howling and the snow has fallen...it's beginning to look and feel like Winter up here in the great white north. That's a good thing..This is again an older painting, slightly abstract. My studio is currently turned upside down, but I'm hoping for a renewed surge of inspiration and motivation to clean and organize come January! Just a reminder..the auction I'm participating in ends on December 13th...don't miss your chance to own a piece of Vermont art by yours truly, plus other Vermont artists...Click this link.

Composition

"Forgotten Barn" 15" x 22"

This painting is around 10 years old...A little front and center..wish I had set up to paint the barn at an angle..but with the fencing in the front left at a diagonal and the handles of the wheelbarrow going the opposite direction, I think the composition still works. I'll be a little sporadic in postings these next few weeks..the holidays are going to get in the way of any regularity....thought I'd give you an early head's up so you wouldn't wonder where I was hanging out...

Auction painting

"Champlain Summer Sails" 10"x14"

This is a painting I did in August this summer during a day in the shade with fellow members of the Vermont Watercolor Society to celebrate the Quadricentennial of Lake Champlain. Currently the pieces inspired by water and the lake are being auctioned off through our blog. If you have a chance to check it out, click this LINK. Tell all your friends that they too could own a piece of original Vermont art! Click the title to go directly to the ebay page for a chance to bid on my painting.

a whole lotta leg

After almost two years plus that I've been going to the figure sessions at my local art center...I think I'm getting a bit better. There's something to be said for consistency and practice, practice, practice. When I was younger I never took that saying too seriously, thinking it couldn't possibly be true....well...I've changed my tune over the years. Wish I could say otherwise, but time put in is always good to further the cause!

Palm shapes

Another sketchbook entry...seems I always have these grandiose ideas while on vacation that I'll just paint and sketch all day long...but then I start reading, looking in the People magazines, walking around, napping...everything else BUT sketching. Oh well, if I manage to squeeze a few in there I'm happy.

On another note...thank you all for your kind words in response to my post yesterday...

catnip forever!

....tough week behind me...our old lady kitty (she always looked like a young kitten according to many visitors) passed away on Sunday afternoon(19 years old)...while I was petting her and telling her it was okay...oh so tough...those four legged furries have us under their spell and it's so hard to see them go...what a void...a tulip tribute to her and we'll definitely miss her terribly.. already do... :(

Happy Thanksgiving

It's a time for giving Thanks! Thank you to all who have commented, followed and encouraged me on my blogging journey and beyond! I sent this postcard out last week to my mailing list. Happy Thanksgiving!

journal brand

I was asked in a comment the other day what type of sketchbook I use...it's a square Holbein, spiral bound sketchbook. I have made my own as well..that's especially handy if you just adore a particular paper and want a specific size. I cut the paper to size and make a cover and back cover out of matboard. Then I take the bundle to a local copy store that does bindings and voila...a custom sketchbook. Make sure that they can handle a certain thickness to punch the binding through. You can then collage your covers or if you use a lighter colored matboard, paint right on there!

gobble, gobble

22"x 30" "Tea-time still life"

This week is going to fly by with Thanksgiving coming up...Time for turkey, stuffing and all that good stuff. Since I spent most of my childhood in the Netherlands, we didn't grow up with Thanksgiving, so therefore I spent many college breaks just hanging out by myself...which was perfectly fine...no roommates, the tv remote all to myself...ahhh peace and quiet. Now, however we do make time for turkey and the trimmings in some shape or form..cutlets, breast, whole bird..depending on how much left over we want!

adding to the list

"Savor the Season" 15" x 22"

It's hard to really declare a favorite flower like I did in yesterday's post. Don't get me wrong..the iris ranks up there at the top, but now that I see these delicate peonies...well I guess I just need to expand my top ranking flower list! They are all pretty and colorful and delicate and lovely. Which reminds me...I should hit the road and search out some amaryllis bulbs and paperwhites. 'tis the season for them after all...

favorite subject

One of my favorite flowers..the iris. I've painted a ton of them over the years...purple, violet, teal, lilac, yellow, white, etc.. They have those delicate almost see-through blossoms and then that angular, sharp leaf. If you want to do some negative painting...the foliage of the iris is just perfect.

Reclined

WOW! That's all I have to say after all the comments my piece received yesterday! Thank you so much. Such encouragement in this blogging community. Our Monday night figure session was cancelled again this week...I found out second hand, because I didn't go this week. Hopefully there's next week...I take some different paints with me to this class and give myself permission to experiment and try some new combinations...like here, the red and green. If you leave them alone and don't "scrub" and "fuss" too much, the pigments will get along fairly well on the paper!

"Muted Commuters"

6"x6"

The very quirky assignment for the latest Different Strokes blog. We had three weeks to complete this one and I went almost to the last day. I had printed the image up, but had it kicking around the house all this time. Well last night it felt like I could tackle this and really had fun with it. It seems I try to incorporate my splashes and droplets in all the DSFDF challenges. Or maybe it's just me and I just like them..