Vicki Brevell, Painter

"Austin Skyline"

2011-11-13T08:58:00.003-06:00

After my previous intense workshop week with Judy Greenberg I came away and painted this one. It utilizes several "techniques" Judy taught us during our workshop. I got a brief start on it during her class but it took another 2 weeks to complete it at home. There are probably 30+ layers of watercolor on this painting. Each one must dry before adding the next. Hope you enjoy it.

"Backyard Sunset" - SOLD

2011-11-05T11:11:00.002-05:00

Thank you Tom for your recent purchase of 4 paintings!!! I am honored that you are now enjoying them in your home. Thanks for all the great comments and continued support.

The above is an acrylic painting I had fun painting representing my back yard. I spend a fair amount of time on my studio deck and look out at the trees and creek while contemplating my paintings. One day after sitting out there I just went inside and painted this mental impression.

Abstract Silk - SOLD

2011-10-22T10:48:00.002-05:00

Thank you Steve!!! You are my number one best client. Not only is your house beautiful, it's just chocked full of my original paintings. You're the best!!!!!

"Cataclysm" - FIRST PLACE WINNER

2011-10-02T10:42:00.004-05:00

Update: This painting just won First Place in the Waterloo Fall Juried Show!! I'm so excited. Our juror was national watercolorist Judy Greenberg. The opening reception and awards will be presented Sunday, November 6th at the Northwest Hills Gallery. Yippee.

Sorry to take so long to post again. I've been really involved with the Round Rock Arts group and all the great upcoming events. I wish I had more hours in each day or an assistant. Ha This is another full on abstract creation that combines watercolor, ink, painted collage papers and some calligraphy. I had a great deal of fun painting it; now it's time to share. I hope you enjoy it too. BTW, please mark your calendars for next weekend's 2nd Annual Chalk Walk event. The streets will be blocked off and hundreds of artists will be in town painting the streets. There's a great plein air art exhibit at ArtSpace, so stop in and take a look. We are turning in to a real artsy town!!!

"Primitive Matter"

2011-09-18T17:48:00.002-05:00

The sounds of old music playing in the background, a quiet mind and a paintbrush in hand . . Primitive Matter is born. This is a watercolor/collage 15 x 23 abstract that just came out of ??? Hope you enjoy it.

"Italian Sunflower" - SOLD

2011-08-29T15:02:00.002-05:00

I saw this huge sunflower last year on our Italy adventure. It was inside a gelato shop sitting on the counter. I'd never seen such a big sunflower, so I snapped a photo and this is my interpretation. It's 14 x 11 oil on canvas. Thank you Daryl & Karolyn for purchasing not only this version but also my watercolor of the same flower.

"Peach Lady" - SOLD

2011-08-26T19:12:00.005-05:00

I don't know why she's a lady, but that's my feeling anyway. I did 3 versions of this flower. Guess I liked it or something. This is the peach/lavender version. It may be little 12x9 but it has some big life (according to her).
If you are interested in this painting please go to: Daily Paintworks

"Down By The River" - SOLD

2011-08-12T21:30:00.004-05:00

This is another 'giant' 4"x4"x1" window sill painting. I've got a series of mini paintings going on while I'm working on some larger pieces. This one is done in acrylic with some copper leaf. The original has a bit of a glow about it which is not reflected in my fancy photography.
If you are interested in this painting please go to: Daily Paintworks
Or you can:

"Cassis Reflections" - SOLD

2011-08-09T12:05:00.006-05:00

I painted this little one from a photo I took in Cassis, Italy the day we went to the Rivera. The town is full of colorful buildings and lots of boats. We all took a cruise and saw the huge white cliffs with all the nude sunbathers. The waters in the coves were the most beautiful turquoise color. Great day.
If you are interested in this painting please visit: Daily Painters
or you can:

"Ladybug" - SOLD

2011-08-02T12:55:00.003-05:00

This is a new experiment for me. I painted this watercolor with just neutral paint. Depending on the amount of water you use it will be anywhere from almost black to almost white. When I finished the flower the painting was screaming at me to add just one ladybug so I did and broke the totally neutral painting. Hope you like it.

If you are interested in owning this piece please visit: Daily Paintworks

"Clarence"

2011-07-31T19:00:00.002-05:00

As a tribute to the late great Clarence Clemons, who played for many years with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, I did this painting just three days after his recent death. He was beloved by all who knew and worked with him. Fortunately, his long list of great music will be around for us all to hear. He will be so deeply missed.

This painting is currently on exhibit at ArtSpace, 231 E. Main Avenue, Round Rock, Texas. It is part of the Austin Pastel Society Exhibit which will run from August 1 through 30th. The opening art reception will be held Thursday, August 4th from 5:30-7:00 pm and it's free to the general public. All are welcome, so please meet the artists at the reception or come by any time this month and look at some wonderful paintings.

Ghost Rider

2011-07-30T17:45:00.002-05:00

Acrylic abstract 4" x 4" x 1" wrapped canvas painting. I have a very hard time photographing these small paintings. I don't know why it's so difficult, but I promise they look better in real life.
To bid please go to: Daily Paintworks and scroll down to the bottom
Or you can:

On The Edge

2011-07-28T11:51:00.005-05:00

I'm having fun with this auction thing. This is another little 4x4x1 abstract painting.

If you'd like to bid please go to: Daily Paintworks

Or you can:

Abstract II - SOLD

2011-07-26T15:03:00.011-05:00

This is a small 4x4 acrylic abstract with some copper leaf foil. I'm just now experimenting with putting smaller paintings up for auction. This is my first piece and hopefully all the new links will be working.

Click here to bid: Daily Paintworks

Or click here to buy now:

Monet's Lily Pond

2011-07-22T09:55:00.004-05:00

Fresh from my trip to France, this is a view of Monet's lily pond. I got to stand on his actual bridge overlooking this beautiful huge lily pond. I did this watercolor from one of my photos. I have many more views to paint from and will keep going. So much to paint and so little time!!

"Moody Blues"

2011-07-09T07:53:00.003-05:00

This is a new acrylic 24 x 24 abstract I did using high key colors. Once again I was inspired by the colors and the design.

"Friend"

2011-07-02T20:47:00.003-05:00

This is a watercolor sketch/study of my art buddy. Won't name any names here because it's not my best work and I don't want to offend anyone. We had a little one day workshop with Nan Brown (another wonderful local artist) and our goal was figure painting. The idea was to make suggestions instead of tight details. This was the result of that fun afternoon.

"Giverny Cottage"

2011-06-22T14:42:00.004-05:00

This painting was also inspired by our side trip to Giverny. This cottage was probably someones garage many years ago. With the addition of the fireplace I suspect it's now a high dollar rental property. There was a house directly across the street listed for sale. When I got home I looked it up on the Internet to find it was only $2 million dollars. It needed a little work! The entire town of Giverny was filled with these "Normandy" style homes. Like a time warp, but a beautiful one.

"Pink Peony's"

2011-06-18T21:18:00.004-05:00

This is another painting inspired by Monet's garden. There were several peony varieties and I just loved the pink/lavender ones. I chose watercolor to paint this one and it was a challenge! I hope this inspiration stays with me a bit longer.

"Eygaliers House"

2011-06-16T17:38:00.004-05:00

The French (and Italians) take great pride in their property entrances. Most homes have lovely shutters and some sort of colorful planters out front. It is their personal signature that they live there and take pride in their home. This is a pen/ink/watercolor I did of one of those homes close to where we stayed. Whoever lives here does a bang up job in decorating their entrance. It was so lovely to see, I had to do a little painting.

"Monet's Iris Garden"

2011-06-12T13:37:00.003-05:00

One of the highlights of my trip was visiting Monet's house and gardens in Giverny. There was a huge abundance of different kinds of plants including varieties of iris I'd not seen before. From my photos I painted these two in pastel. It's a 9x12 painting. Monet was one of the lucky artists from his time to actually be a successful painter while still alive. His home was just beautiful and quite grand. Trailing roses covered the front of the house which looked out on the other rose gardens. I actually stood on the same bridge he used to view the huge lily pond. I have many great photos and will definitely do a series from his garden and pond.

Journal Doodles

2011-06-11T11:41:00.002-05:00

I kept a journal of all the places we visited. It was my way of keeping track of where we went each day so I could later match photos with the correct towns. It's amazing when you take hundreds of photos how hard it is to remember each location when you view them later. The above images are quick sketches I made while sitting on the patio drinking coffee in the morning. They are my impressions from the villa. I just completed a pastel painting of iris's from Monet's garden. That will be my next post- a real painting from the trip!

"Villa View - Eygalieres"

2011-06-08T20:20:00.003-05:00

This is a morning watercolor sketch I did while sitting on the back patio at our villa in Eygalieres, France. In the evening these same mountains turned a beautiful blue/purple. The villa was on acreage, so this is just one view off the back. The grounds were so well attended and the rose garden was fabulous. I have other quick watercolor sketches I made while there which I will also share soon.

"Untitled"

2011-06-05T20:59:00.003-05:00

I'm back from my wonderful France adventure! We had perfect weather, great times, good friends, food & wine. Can't ask for more than that. I did this painting before I left town and it's currently on exhibit at the Georgetown Public Library 2nd floor. The current exhibit is by GROUP OF FIVE and is a great show. If you are in the area in the next couple weeks, take a minute and run by. I promise you won't be disappointed. I'm very proud of this one.

"Water Lily Reflections"

2011-04-24T21:22:00.004-05:00

This is another full sheet watercolor. Guess I've been in a bigger mood lately. I've painted this same water lily (from my backyard pond) 3 times now. First in oil, then acrylic and now in watercolor. I took a fun approach to this painting as learned thru my artist friend extraordinaire Rae Andrews, and just played with the background first. I then painted both positive and negative until the image of my lily appeared. My image looks a bit faded here but in "real life" it's more colorful.

"Montana Dreamin'"

2011-04-19T12:51:00.002-05:00

This is a full sheet (large) watercolor that I did in the last workshop I took from Steve Rogers. I tried for more fantasy colors in my scene. This was painted from a photo I took while on vacation a couple years ago. I found Montana to be stunningly beautiful.

Crimson Orchids

2011-04-09T08:12:00.003-05:00

I recently completed this big one - 32 x 36 acrylic on canvas. My photo doesn't catch all the detail, because it's a large painting. I also just completed a full week workshop with master water colorist Steve Rogers. Fun, hard and frustrating, but worth it. Now I'm playing catch up on all the things I put off last week. Grrr

French Poppy Fields - SOLD

2011-03-19T08:57:00.005-05:00

I'm baack! Life has been ultra hectic lately and I have neglected my painting. Now that Imagine, Annex and ArtSpace exhibits are behind me, I finally got out the brushes. This is the first time I've painted in this long format. This is a 12" x 40" canvas. The first thing that came to mind when I saw the blank canvas was the wide open poppy fields of France. Since my upcoming trip is just around the corner in May, my mind is traveling in that direction. This is not a very good photo, I need a wide angle lens to really capture it, but you'll get the idea anyway. This painting is going to a very good home!!!

Yellow Flower II

2011-02-15T15:21:00.004-06:00

This is a painting from a painting. I did my first version some time ago and decided to paint it again. I don't know why I like this flower, but apparently I do. Sorry I haven't been posting much lately. I've been extremely busy doing volunteer work for the arts in Round Rock. Very rewarding, but also time consuming. I'm trying to get back in the studio more. Ha

"Snow Day" - Photo

2011-02-04T20:37:00.005-06:00

Miss Molly's first snow. Look at that little face. Actually she loved it. Couldn't wait to keep going back outside all day. What fun we had!

This is our back yard this morning. Frozen pond and very cold cook shack. I remember the last party held back here when we were all dying of the heat.

"Textures I"

2011-01-21T18:23:00.001-06:00

I had to let loose and do more abstracts. I did two "Texture" paintings in acrylic. I posted this horizontally, but it can work vertically or upside down. Whenever I do one of these, I don't want to sign them because I don't know where to sign it!!

"Lake Travis III"

2011-01-16T11:21:00.000-06:00

This is another pastel painted on emerald green velour board.

I'm going to have to resupply myself soon as I only have one piece

of velour left. This scene is from the parking lot on the left side of

the Oasis. After I parked one day I snapped a photo for this painting.

I don't think there is a bad view from any location at the Oasis!

"Pink Jazz"

2011-01-11T19:32:00.001-06:00

This was fun! I tried another experiment. My good friend

Carol gave me several scraps of velour board left over from her

framing projects. I tried painting with pastels on this very

different surface and was surprised how much I enjoyed it.

The pastels handle totally different, but I was pretty pleased

with the outcome. The gal in this painting really has hair

the color I painted it!

"Hill Country II"

2011-01-07T19:42:00.001-06:00

This is a pastel I painted from a drive by photo.

It's just the side of the road around the Oasis

restaurant. I snapped the photo from my car

window. Sometimes it's the little things that

inspire me.

"Pastel Poppies"

2010-12-31T21:05:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year!! I hope the new year brings you all

much happiness and joy. I've had a great year and look forward

to many more paintings and shows in 2011. Painting keeps me

happy and I love sharing it with you. All the best!!!

Pulito III

2010-12-12T13:22:00.001-06:00

This is another abstract I did of the Italian laundry. It's 3 little separate 4"x4" canvas block paintings that are spaced about 1/4" from each other. All of them are then fitted into a frame. I won another little prize for this painting from the Waterloo Group painters at our Christmas
party painting competition yesterday. This is the kind of laundry I like doing!!

The Gift

2010-12-10T12:13:00.001-06:00

This little oil painting is currently on display at Round Rock ArtSpace Gallery.

If you live anywhere close to RR, please come out and visit us tonight. It's

Christmas Family Night and the town will be packed with strollers, vendors,

food and fun. I will be at ArtSpace, located on Main Street across the street from

the public library throughout the evening and would love to see

you.

Molly & Sweetie Pie - Photo

2010-12-07T19:48:00.001-06:00

Once upon a time, Molly was just a baby pup and Sweetie Pie,

the big cat, use to swat her across the room. Poor little Molly

could be heard yipping down the hall. Then she grew up and times

have changed. Molly is now one year old and they have finally

become best friends. This is a typical pose where they both roll

on their backs and do a little head hug and smooch. If one of them

moves to another room, the other one will go searching. We never

believed they'd ever get along, but they truly love each other now.

I'm pretty kicked back this month and will resume my regular

posts in the new year. Hope you all are having wonderful holidays

and enjoying the all the parties and goodies.

"Waterfront"

2010-11-06T19:28:00.001-05:00

This is a small watercolor I did that started as an exercise

in doing wet in wet washes. I wanted to add a punch of

contrasting color in between and it suddenly appeared

to look like a waterfront type skyline; hence the name. I

enjoy when I take time to fool around and just see what happens.

Reception Invitation - Tonight!

2010-11-04T10:59:00.000-05:00

The Capital Art Society (of which I am a member) has a beautiful

exhibit at the Round Rock ArtSpace. The reception is tonight from

5:30 - 7:00. Please swing by and meet all the different artists

and enjoy their work. Looking forward to seeing you!!

"Anderson Mill"

2010-11-01T07:22:00.001-05:00

Last week we had a plein air paint out at the 'real'

Anderson Mill. I had no idea this spot existed.

The mill and the original land owners have a long history.

This is a watercolor/gouache painting I did from my original

plein air sketch on location.

"Floral Fantasy"

2010-10-25T22:21:00.000-05:00

This is a half sheet watercolor. I am playing with washes and

transparencies. I call it "Fantasy Flowers" because I took a

photo of silk flowers on my front porch. From that photo

I did my creative tweaking and came up with this painting.

With the deer problem in this neighborhood, I'm unable to

plant the real thing; only make believe.

"Pulito" - Best of Show

2010-10-17T19:38:00.001-05:00

This is my painting that just won Best of Show at the Waterloo Watercolor

Group Fall juried show. Our juror was water colorist and author, Elizabeth Kincaid.

I was stunned when I found out and am still floating a bit. Winning provided my

first cash prize ever! Whoopee - now I can reimburse myself for all my art supplies.

"Pulito" is Italian for "clean" - it's my abstraction of laundry we saw hanging outside

a home in a small Italian town during our last European adventure. The entire show

is now on exhibit at the NWH Gallery. The address and directions are written in red

to the right of my blog.

Going to the Oasis - Plein Air Study

2010-10-15T10:39:00.001-05:00

Our painting group met yesterday morning at the Oasis. I did this pastel study of the entrance. If you haven't been to the Oasis lately, you won't recognize it. It's undergoing massive construction. They have already completed a 4 story parking garage and are in the process of building a very large hotel and additional shops. The one consistent thing - great views and mediocre food. This is the 2nd pastel plein air I've recently done. I like working with pastels because it lightens my load. Much less to carry and very light weight. I like easy!! 9x12

Round Rock Library - Plein Air Study

2010-10-14T17:31:00.001-05:00

Several people asked me to show the painting I was working on in the previous post. This is my pastel study of the library entrance. It wasn't a particularly easy painting to do. Besides straddling that rock wall for several hours, I was sitting so close to my subject it was difficult to scale down my drawing. It ended up being 12x9.

2010 Chalk Walk & Plein Air Paint Out

2010-10-12T07:17:00.000-05:00

This is yours truly painting the front of the library. After
straddling this rock wall all day, I could barely stand up and
walk when I finished.

These are my dear friends Beryl and Glenda. (Beryl on
the left) Our plein air group had an exhibit this past
weekend at ArtSpace. Beryl managed to paint 2 local scenes,
watch the chalk artists and still attend another art reception.
She's super woman! Glenda is such a great supporter. She
always manages to show up at my art events & I appreciate
her support so much.

This is a photo of another one of my artist buddies; Zanne.
She spent 2 whole days on her hands and knees producing
this beautiful artwork. I think she's probably still in bed nursing
her aching body after completing such a difficult feat.
She's a true artist an so much fun to be around.

"Elation" - SOLD

2010-09-24T09:38:00.001-05:00

This is a large abstract (36 x 36 acrylic) that I painted for Steve & Bobbie. Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to paint this commission for you!! I do miss it, but it couldn't have gone to a better home.

"YMCA" - SOLD

2010-09-18T16:40:00.000-05:00

Why would I paint the local Round Rock YMCA?? Good question. This is for an upcoming fund raiser and the request was for a painting of the YMCA! There you have it. It was a challenge because this is not a particularly "beautiful" structure. It's a functional structure but I took a photo of the most attractive part; the entrance. I hope they like it. 11x14 acrylic on canvas.

"Grand Marais Lighthouse"

2010-09-15T13:01:00.000-05:00

This lighthouse is so far north, it's just minutes from Canada. It's a small sleepy little town with a lot of summer tourists. There was a sea plane giving rides, this wonderful big sailboat drifting by and some fun shopping. This is a 20 x 16 pastel on paper.

"Two Harbors Lighthouse"

2010-09-15T12:58:00.000-05:00

This is another lighthouse I passed on the way up to Lake Superior. I unfortunately failed to get the name of this one. However, one of my great art buddies who knows her lighthouses emailed me the correct name - so I'm reposting it. I liked it because it looked like a comfy house the lighthouse keeper had when he was not on duty. I imagined it was a very quiet peaceful job, although an important one at the time. This is a 16 x 20 pastel - the messiest medium there is to paint with!

"Split Rock Lighthouse"

2010-08-29T08:06:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, I just got back from a very cool trip to Minnesota. I got the opportunity to travel north and see some beautiful country that I never saw before when I lived there. I discovered Lake Superior up close and personal and was awestruck at its size and beauty. I kept referring to it as the ocean. I also discovered there are many light houses along it's shores and I captured a few photos which I will paint. Split Rock is pretty famous and I thought I'd paint it first. This one is a 16 x 20 pastel.

"Austin Morning" - SOLD

2010-08-13T10:44:00.002-05:00

I finally finished this 12 x 12 last night. This is from a photo I took one morning on private property, on my knees, with the geese, almost falling in the water. I pushed the colors for fun. I love our skyline!

"A-Town"

2010-07-30T19:34:00.001-05:00

Our town has so many wonderful and unique buildings - I love our skyline. I decided to paint these 3 but would like to do some others from different locations. This one is a 9x12 acrylic on linen board.

"Sunflower IV" - SOLD

2010-07-25T18:31:00.000-05:00

This is a funky little sunflower painting I did some time ago which I never posted. It just found a new home so I wanted to thank Miss Nancy for adopting it. It's one of those "out of my head" paintings where I didn't have a photo or flower to look at while painting. I like to do that sometimes - it feels very free.

"Guess Who"

2010-07-13T17:52:00.001-05:00

Look what showed up in the mail!!!! Back in December when we did the "Different Strokes" portrait paintings, my partner Kris Wood sort of lost the portraits she did of me. Well, just like magic, they showed up and what a wonderful surprise to receive ALL of them from her in the mail. Thank you Kris and I love them all.

"Austin Summer" - SOLD

2010-06-29T15:35:00.001-05:00

I painted this today with my buddies out by the lake. This was painted alla prima (painted all at once) and was still very wet when I photographed it. There' a little glare on it. This is a pretty piece of land located in back of the 4-Seasons hotel on Lake Austin. Perfect place for a picnic - don't you think?

"Back Yard Fountain"

2010-06-25T10:15:00.000-05:00

It's that time of the year when you want water around you to stay cool. I was inspired by this little backyard fountain and kept the air conditioning on high while I painted it. So I guess it's a cool painting.

"Snail Fountain" - SOLD

2010-06-14T20:53:00.002-05:00

I've been hearing some grumbling that I don't do enough landscapes (you know who you are). So last night I painted this one Alla Prima (all at once) with oils. It's from our trip to Vancouver several years ago when we visited the Butchart Gardens on Victoria Island in British Columbia. The gardens are beyond description; they are so stunning. I haven't had my oils out for awhile and really enjoyed using them again.

Waterfall Abstract"

2010-06-10T22:19:00.000-05:00

This is a long 12x24 acrylic on canvas. I was really into the colors on this one when I started painting. After a couple of hours I began to see a waterfall, hence the name.

"Arkansas Bend" - SOLD

2010-06-09T20:21:00.000-05:00

Thank you Lois for purchasing this painting. I'm thrilled to have met you and hope to see you in the future.
This is a small plein air painting of Arkansas Bend at Lake Travis. This year it has beautiful water. Last year you could walk across it. Love that rain!

"Mechanical Thinking"

2010-06-07T10:54:00.001-05:00

This is another large abstract I painted right before my show at ArtSpace. It's all done in transparent watercolors. This type of painting takes much longer to paint than an oil painting. I think this one took about 4 days to complete.
On a personal note - the new hardwood floors are in and I've chased most of the dirt and dust from the renovation. I feel like I can get back to painting without so many interruptions. Yea!

"Sunset"

2010-06-01T21:49:00.000-05:00

This is a 16 x 20 pastel I painted of a sunset at Lake Chapala, Mexico. The original trip was to Ajijic, but Chapala was just a short distance away and was such a colorful fun town. Since I probably won't be returning to Mexico any time soon, I thought I'd paint one of my fond memories.

"Summer Storm"

2010-05-30T10:46:00.000-05:00

This is a 16 x 20 pastel painting I did for my show. I photographed these clouds in Georgetown one day when a big one was coming. I apologize for not posting. I have been doing some home renovations and have been totally consumed by all the chaos. I will attempt to get back on my regular painting schedule next week when all the dust settles around here.

One Woman Show!!

2010-05-17T08:36:00.000-05:00

I am having my first "One Woman Show" at ArtSpace in downtown Round Rock! We had the opening reception last Wednesday and I was so thrilled at the turnout.
There were speeches . . . an official ribbon cutting for the new ArtSpace and many friends who came and wished me their best. Such a fun event.
My show will continue to run until the end of May. If you haven't had a chance to see it, please swing by. ArtSpace, 231 E. Main Street, downtown Round Rock. Open Thursday's thru Sunday's - 11 am to 6 pm.

"Brushy Creek" - SOLD

2010-05-16T08:45:00.000-05:00

THANKS JEAN & KYLE - I'M GLAD THIS LITTLE PAINTING HAS FOUND YOU. This is a tiny plein air painting of Brushy Creek. As some of you know I live on Brushy Creek and this was my first attempt at painting it en plein air just down the road.

"Emerging"

2010-05-07T08:55:00.000-05:00

This abstract was just juried into the Waterloo Watercolor Spring Show. The show is located at 700 Lavaca Street in the old Chase Bank Building. The artwork is on display on the lower level corridor. I have 2 paintings in the show and I got a peek of all the artwork the other day - it's a very good show. If you are downtown and would like to stop by, the show runs until July 10th.

"Good Morning"

2010-04-29T21:36:00.000-05:00

This is the companion piece I did to go with "Morning Thoughts." Again, an experimental watercolor done in 2 colors. I haven't been posting faithfully because I've been really busy getting ready for my debut one woman show. Trust me, I've been working!!

Morning Thoughts

2010-04-18T10:41:00.001-05:00

Well, here's something a bit different!! I did two of these figure type paintings the other day. This is 2 colors on bristol board; neutral and gold watercolors. Another one of my experiments. Hope it's not too risque for the blog!

Big Red

2010-04-06T12:28:00.001-05:00

I guess I must of had Easter on my mind when I decided to paint this one. It's a big 24x30 Acrylic painting, so he's pretty much in your face. I snapped a photo of this guy a couple of years ago at a local farm here in Austin. I can't remember the name of the farm but this guy was very fat and very happy!

"Twilight IV"

2010-04-04T07:54:00.000-05:00

Happy Easter everyone! This is the last of the "Twilight" series. These small originals will be at our upcoming art show and sale to be held this coming Friday & Saturday, April 9th & 10th. The 620 Group Painters will hold this show at the Apache Shores Community Center located at 14919 General Williamson, Austin 78734 from 10 - 5 PM both days. Please come by and see some amazing art. Directions: 620 to General Williamson. Turn left on General Williamson. About a mile on your right is the community center. (General Williamson is the next street light past Hudson Bend Road) Hope to see you there!!

"Twilight III"

2010-03-28T12:42:00.001-05:00

Oops - I accidently uploaded the wrong photo. Don't know if the first one came through or not. This is the "real" one.

"Twilight II"

2010-03-26T08:47:00.001-05:00

This is the second in my Twilight abstract series. I have been busy getting ready for another art show which anyone in the area is invited to attend. More to come on date and location in my next post.

"Twilight I"

2010-03-21T10:27:00.001-05:00

This one's part of a series of abstracts I recently painted in Corpus Christi. I originally went down to attend a workshop, but the workshop was a total bust. We all just ended up painting whatever we wanted. This is one of four. The workshop may have been a bust, but I enjoyed 3 wonderful days with my two painting buddies, so all was definitely not lost.

"Black Grapes" - SOLD

2010-03-05T20:34:00.001-06:00

The inspiration for this painting came from a close up photo I took of dark ripe grapes while we were in Italy. I merged that image with my imagination and came up with this painting. This one is watercolor and colored pencil on Bristol board.
THANKS STEVE FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. I APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

"Player"

2010-03-03T20:21:00.000-06:00

This is a little painting I did of a woman I photographed in Ajijic, Mexico. I tweeked my painting (from the original photo image) to create a more design/abstract painting. I painted it with watercolor and gouache on bristol board, which is a flat smooth paper surface.

"Imagine 2010"

2010-03-02T17:02:00.000-06:00

What a wonderful night! The Round Rock Area Arts Council chose my painting "Whispers" to include on all the programs and art posters. It was a fun filled night signing and absorbing some great art.

Thanks to all involved at the RR Arts Council. The event was first class and enjoyed by hundreds of people.

Meeting and making new friends is always a plus too!!

"Portrait of Karin"

2010-02-20T10:51:00.001-06:00

This is a portrait of a fellow artist Karin Jurick. Her blog Different Strokes From Different Folks has been the leader in presenting painting challenges to other artists all over the country. As a thank you to Karin, over 100 fellow artists painted HER portrait as a thank you for all she does. Click the link for Different Strokes and you will see all the portraits. Thanks Karin!!!!

"Pennsylvania Grass"

2010-02-12T19:56:00.000-06:00

I'm participating in the February paint challenge where people from all over the country do a painting of a particular photograph. At one point I was trying to encompass the entire photograph, but then decided I didn't like it. So I'm only showing the part I like. Also, this was a new experiment for me to paint with gouache. Gouache is a translucent to opaque type watercolor material that can be layered. My first attempt with this medium was also a learning experience; this painting has many layers. It was a fun challenge, but I'm glad it's over.

Mystic Garden" - SOLD

2010-02-10T18:31:00.002-06:00

Obviously I was in a bright mood when I painted this. It's a full sheet transparent watercolor on paper. It's another painting that came out of my head with shapes and colors that reminded me of a brilliant fantasy garden. I'm currently reading "The Lovely Bones" and this may have triggered my imagination. It can be rotated in different directions, but I had 2 votes for this direction and decided to post it vertically.

"Tuscany 2"

2010-01-26T22:48:00.000-06:00

Just finished this one this afternoon. It's going to be hung tomorrow along with several other larger works at "WATER TO WINE" our local Round Rock winery. There will be a reception this Friday night with wine tasting and food. If you are in the area, please drop by for a fun evening. Unfortunately, I took this photo indoors and it's showing a bit dark. The original is much brighter. I didn't have time to wait for the sunshine on this one.

"Tuscany 1"

2010-01-22T20:12:00.001-06:00

I tried a new long skinny format (12 x 25) acrylic on board. The paint moves very differently on this surface and I liked the visible brushstrokes. Unfortunately, you can't see them in the photo, but they are definitely visible on the original. I have started a companion piece to this one on the same size board. I was trying to convey the strong color of a beautiful Tuscan day.

"Abstract Silk"

2010-01-18T21:33:00.000-06:00

This is a really big one - 24 x 36 acrylic on canvas. This painting was inspired by a new silk blouse I recently purchased. I fell in love with the colors and suddenly saw a painting in my head. I worked on it day and night almost non-stop for 3 days and this is the outcome. It was great fun, but pretty exhausting. It was also difficult to photograph because of the size. I've actually cropped it more than the original painting. This piece will be on exhibit at Bass Concert Hall from January 22nd to April 26th. If you are attending a performance there, be sure to look at the original.

"Hard Edge Abstract 1"

2010-01-09T08:42:00.000-06:00

I have several venues coming up at the end of the month requiring large paintings. Since most of my work is small, I'm now on a painting terror producing large paintings. I love doing abstracts so much that I've decided to paint the large works in that format. I'm always interested in feedback, so if you have feelings about these next few postings, please share them with me.

"Redon - King Charles" - SOLD

2010-01-03T12:29:00.000-06:00

This is a portrait of a King Charles Spaniel named Redon. I don't personally know Redon, but have become emotionally attached to it's sweet face and loving eyes. I just know this is a good dog!! Our own puppy training goes on and on and on . . . .

"Chaos" - SOLD

2010-01-01T18:49:00.000-06:00

Thank you Jan & Richard! This will look great over your fireplace. I'm glad it's found a great home.

This is a watercolor done while my brain may have still been slightly under the influence of the anesthesia! It's another one that can be turned in different directions. I decided to post it vertically, but it really can go horizontally as well. I'm feeling much better now and am ready to begin my 2010 painting journey.

"Downtown" - SOLD

2009-12-29T20:57:00.000-06:00

This is another large acrylic painting (18 x 24) with some copperleaf. The photo barely shows the leaf, but it shows in real life. This is my version of an abstracted skyline. It could be NYC, Minneapolis or any other city you see.

THANKS AGAIN STEVE. THIS LOOKS GREAT IN YOUR LIVING ROOM.

"Different Strokes Portrait" - TRADED

2009-12-27T09:23:00.001-06:00

There is an online painting group called "Different Strokes From Different Folks". Every month there is a photo submitted and posted on line. Painters from all over the country interpret and paint from that photo. Then all the work is posted on line. For the month of December, we were asked to submit a head shot photo of ourselves. Our photos were sent to other participating artists (who we didn't know) all over the country and they painted from that photo. So this lovely gal I just painted is another artist (I don't know) who may be painting my portrait. I have posted the photo of her below so that you know what she really looks like!!

Unknown artist photo UPDATE: The artist is now known! Meet Kris Wood. I feel like I know her quite well after studying her face for hours while painting her. She's a fellow artist, art teacher and Sooner fan (which I will not hold against her). We have agreed to trade our finished portraits with each other. This turned out to be way more fun than I could ever have imagined.

Molly Update

2009-12-24T18:21:00.000-06:00

This is Molly running across the living room after her first bath. She is actually moving quite fast. I took several photos that showed no dog - she's that fast!

She may look like an innocent puppy just sitting there. But this little girl is very smart. She is always studying her surroundings and learning at lightening speed. She has only been with us for 1 week and today we only had ONE "accident" in the house. That's amazing. She's very clever and extremely bright. She has already done her homework on the cat and knows just how fast to run by her and the exact distance she needs to be from those dangerous claws!! We're so proud of her!

"Galveston Boats" - SOLD

2009-12-20T21:26:00.000-06:00

Thanks Cheryl for purchasing "Galveston Boats" - I know you are sick and tired of the cold and snow in PA! May this warm your heart a little. It will be there before Christmas.

Meet Molly

2009-12-20T08:23:00.001-06:00

Meet our newest family member, Molly!! She's a 10 week old ball of fluff (Yorkie). It's been a little over 2 years since we lost our other 2 dogs, and we felt it was finally time to add to the family. She's smart, full of energy and learning how to deal with Sweetie Pie (Godzilla cat). So far the cat is still ruler of the household.

"Colors" 3 - SOLD

2009-12-18T12:12:00.001-06:00

I've been laying low for a few days because I had another heart "issue". I had to have more stents added and now have a total of 5!! I've been feeling just a bit "glued" together. Today I'm back painting because it is for the most part stress free joy. We adopted a Yorkie 10 week old puppy last night and I'm trying to get her settled in while keeping the cat from delivering claw hooks and jabs. It's been an interesting morning!!!

"Ad Man" - SOLD

2009-12-10T09:29:00.001-06:00

I really enjoyed this fun painting. Thanks for the opportunity. I wonder how many people will recognize the back of your head!

"Metals Abstract 2" - SOLD

2009-12-05T11:08:00.001-06:00

This is a large one - 18 x 24 acrylic. I've photographed this painting 4 times and each time it looks totally different. It's extremely difficult to get an accurate photo because of the shine thrown off from the copperleaf. I think the overall colors are a bit dulled in this photo, but it's the best I can do with the equipment I have. I also couldn't decide which direction to post it. It can be vertical or horizontal, upside down, etc. It's about to drive me nuts, so I'm posting it and moving on . . . .

"Metals Abstract 1" - SOLD

2009-11-25T15:28:00.002-06:00

I decided to experiment with mixing metals with acrylics. I used some copper leaf on the canvas and followed with acrylics. This is another one of my tiny pieces - 4x4.

"Horse of a Different Color" - SOLD

2009-11-23T16:34:00.000-06:00

I got to thinking about Cowboys the other day which reminded me of horses . . . so I decided to paint a horse. Even though I used to raise Quarter Horses, I've always like the sculpted shape of Arabian heads. This was also a color mixing experiment. I used only the 3 primary colors plus brown and white to paint this. It was a challenge mixing the colors, but fun all the same.

"Strove, Italy"

2009-11-21T14:39:00.000-06:00

Every year we drive to the quaint town of Strove. There's a wonderful restaurant there which we can never remember the name, so we call it "yellow chairs" restaurant. Everyone knows where we're going. This is a building we pass on the way to the restaurant. We arrived when the shadows were good, so I decided to paint it. Please remember that there are 4 of us exhibiting right now at the Daily Grind Coffee House in Round Rock. It's in the strip center next door to Bank of America at Great Oaks & 620. Please stop by if you can.

"Big Brother Watching" - SOLD

2009-11-20T16:21:00.000-06:00

Here are 2 varieties of apples. I forgot the name of the one on the left but it tasted better than the 2 on the right. Yes, I ate my set up again when I finished painting it.

"Sunkiss Melon" - SOLD

2009-11-14T17:13:00.000-06:00

This is a new type of melon I found in the store the other day. It's kind of late in the season for melon, so it must be shipped in from some exotic place. Decided to paint and eat it. I will let you know if it's any good.

"Blueberry Surprise" - SOLD

2009-11-12T20:29:00.000-06:00

Still thinking about food, but got carried away with this one. It's still part of my mini-series, but reflects a different mood swing. Thank you Tom in Massachusetts - Hope you enjoy this little painting.

"Bosc-a-nova" - SOLD

2009-11-11T17:45:00.001-06:00

I think I've been watching too much "Dancing with the Stars". For some reason these two pears looked like they were ready to start a dance together.