This is a copy of one of Carol Marine's sunflower paintings.  Needed to force myself to focus on large shapes of color and this was a fun one to do.  Hope to set up some similar objects to continue working on this.  While looking at painters in the Daily Paintworks website, I came across Lisa Daria.  Take a look and then also click on one of her links "Girls Just Wanna Paint".  It's a group of women in the Boston area who meet once a month, look at each other's work and post a challenge for the month - love, storefront, etc.  Interesting concept - maybe we should try a monthly challenge topic and see what we come up with???

Boxer finished

On Saturday I had the last session using this model.  I realize that with more time I could push the rendering even further.  I had to force myself to slow down and be very meticulous.  It was a good challenge for me.

Next stages

White on White

This was my little painting today 6X6 trying to work on values, values, values.  I'm to particularly thrilled with it, but it's a start!

Changing tree

I have been struggling with this tree as it is now coming out of my imagination.  It is hard to make it look real.  I just started reading The Artistic Anatomy of Trees.  I hope it helps!

Day 2

Another Start - Penny and Pepper

Feminine tree

As I wrote the words feminine I imagined a new tree that was more voluptuous.  And I also colored in the woman who is supposed to be walking near the tree.

Tree of Life

I have started this sketch for a larger painting.  I want to work on the tree to make it an amazing and feminine tree.

The boxer #1

This is our new model.  The drawing is week #2.  I am starting to define the shadows and highlights.  And working toward greater detail in the shaping.

Figure #3

Here is the third sitting of this model.  She was supposed to return for a fourth sitting but never did so this is as far as I got.

Figure drawing #2

We have started a long pose. That means the same pose for 4, four-hour sessions. This is after 2 sessions. Will post the progress each week.

Portrait in class

I went to my first drawing class this past Saturday. We were supposed to draw a nude model but she didn't show up so we did a portrait instead. We had 3 hours. The teacher helped correct my drawing which had the face too compressed so this is a "doctored" drawing. But it was a great learning experience.

Painting Maggie again

I can't believe the last entry was in April!! Oops - we need to get back to posting. I've only been looking at this canvas for 2 years and finally decided to paint some more on it. Tried using the medium from Daniel Smith and really like it. I think a little more work on this and it will finally be finished. I'll post all three photos (hopefully in the right order) since it's been so long.

Friday's Painting Session

Painting Challenge

To get us painting again we decided to try one of the challenges posted on http://www.dailypaintworks.com/. We started with Carol Marine's German Landscape. Jane and I started with copying Carol's piece to work on brush strokes and color. Pam worked from the photograph. On the second piece, Pam and Gay worked from the photograph (much harder!). Here are our results.

Jane's New Show

Jane's show "The Season of Winter" opened at the Copper Quail Gallery in Silver City on Friday.

La Biznaga show

Rosa with her dog

This is the finished version. I put up the show in La Biznaga on March 1 and we had a reception on the 4th. It was really fun.

Man in the corn

Almost finished but wanted to see if my fellow painters had any helpful hints.