Busy!

Late Afternoon Light
16 x 20

The last few weeks have been a busy time in the studio as I am working on several groups of paintings for a couple of different shows. The work for the group show in London and for Atlanta will be shipped next Tuesday and the others shortly after. This painting will go somewhere although I haven't quite decided where yet!

My Trees class has kept me busy as well, with my students doing some lovely work. I'm also getting ready for my Taos workshop, pulling together some teaching materials and images.

Perhaps the most exciting thing though is the seed of an idea for a new project which I'm not quite ready to talk about yet. Stay tuned!

Drawing & Painting Trees

Summer-Rick's Pool
Charcoal on grey toned paper

Although I am working on six paintings in the studio for an upcoming show at Blackheath Gallery in London, I am also taking time to do some drawing. This is always a good way for me to unwind when I come off an intense period in the studio, or in this case, at the show in Telluride. Vine charcoal and toned paper is a favorite drawing medium.

I still have a few spots left in one of my most popular online classes- Drawing & Painting Trees, which starts next month. You can click here for information and registration. Wondering if an online class might be right for you? Be sure to check out student comments here.

Dusk

Dusk

12 x 12

Available at Blackheath Gallery, London

I took this image using a tripod but it looks like a Halloween poltergeist got into my studio and was shaking the camera. Really, I don't know why its so blurry! The bad news is I didn't get around to checking it until after the piece had left the studio. Lesson learned.

As of this morning I have one spot left in the online Luminous Landscape class for January. Information and registration here Update :Class is now full. Email me if you would like to be notified about upcoming classes.

Blackheath Gallery Christmas Show & New Galleries

Remains of the Day
10 x 10

This painting and a half dozen others are on their way across the Big Pond to the Christmas show at Blackheath Gallery in London. The show opens November 7.

I am very pleased to say that I am now represented by Galerie Kornye in Dallas and Galerie Kornye West in Ft. Worth. I'll have work in the Holiday open house at the Dallas gallery on November 19 and the Miniatures Show in Ft. Worth which opens December 4.

Also very happy to say that Evening Embers sold at the Albuquerque Museum Miniatures & More gala on October 24!

Studio News

We are doing more than growing tomatoes (upside down or otherwise) around here. I've been working on a whole new batch of paintings, including several for a new gallery (more about that later!). And, Steve has been working on the studio improvements in addition to his regular job as chief frame maker for Mountains Edges Frames. The Constable Closet has drywall .


And my bookshelves are in progress in the shop.


I also heard this week that Blackheath Gallery in London has sold two paintings!

Still Evening

Still Evening
10 x 10 oil on linen
Available at Blackheath Gallery, London

The Early Summer Show at Blackheath Gallery opens on Saturday, 10-6. If you happen in be in London, pop in! The show runs through June 6.


Online Painting class- Painting the Luminous Landscape, May 15- June 12. Just two spots left!

The Constable Closet

April Dusk
12 x 12
Available at Blackheath Gallery, London

This weekend Steve (my husband) started framing up the walls for the new storage area in my studio. There never seems to be enough storage in a studio and I'm sure I'll fill this one up immediately. There is one very special feature to this storage area, however- The Constable Closet.

A few months ago Steve and I were talking about John Constable and his famous "six footers" - the large exhibition pieces he painted for the annual Royal Academy shows. In many respects these huge canvasses had an extremely beneficial effect on his career and brought him to the attention of landscape painters and collectors in France (even as he was somewhat ignored in England) . About the same time as this conversation, my dealer in Chicago started encouraging me to paint some really large pieces and Steve enthusiastically supported that idea. Ever since then, he asks me on a regular basis when I'll be starting my first "six footer".

I've had a few mishaps over the last few months, with large panels getting dinged while sitting around in the studio. So, this weekend when we started working out the design for the storage area, he came up with the idea to include an area where I can store big panels. And The Constable Closet, named after the great man himself, was born.

Its a bit tough to see (it sort of looks like a forest of 2 x 4s at the moment), but the tall narrow opening on the left front is the opening for the Constable Closet. It will be dry walled in the interior and have a funky little narrow door. I'll be able to store panels up to about 7' x 7' in there. The opening for the rest of the storage area is around to the right (the shelves will back up to the right wall of the Constable Closet. There, I'll have some vertical storage for smaller panels and paintings and shelves for supplies.

I've read that Constable often let his children play in his studio and that on one occasion one of his sons punctured a large canvas with the mast of a toy sailing ship. I just bet John would have loved this closet.

Studio Improvements

Summer Moon II
12 x 11
Available at Blackheath Gallery, London

Sold

This morning we shipped six paintings to London. It was such a relief to get them out, and I was tempted to just relax a bit this afternoon. But, we are finally going to get started on the improvements to my studio this weekend. And not a minute too soon. Between filming videos for the online classes and trying to get the six pieces done, its in a total shambles. So, I spent the afternoon moving book boxes, supplies, canvas rolls, frames, paintings -stuff- to one end of the studio so we could start building the bookcases and storage area this weekend. I saved a little corner where I can hopefully keep working.



In addition to bookcases, storage area, painting the ceiling and walls and hanging proper lights, I want to replace this lovely sort of Stalag 13 door with a more inviting french door.



Charming, huh?

Twilight Wood
12 x 12
Available at Blackheath Gallery, London
Sold

It's been a bittersweet pleasure this past week, working on the pieces to send to London. It's an exciting task but the loss of Sophie has tempered it. But, six pieces are almost done, which is a good thing since they must dry, be varnished, and dry again in time to ship on Thursday!

A Busy Week

Sunset Stream
30 x 30 oil on linen
Sold

Finally, after several months of puttering around with this painting, I finished it and shipped it off to Chicago. I'm happy with the final result and the presentation in the frame (although this image is blurry- low light and an unsteady hand). My dealer called to say he had put it in the big front window of the gallery.

In the midst of finishing up a commission and working with my online classes, I received an invitation to exhibit in a show at Blackheath Gallery in London! The catch is that the show opens at the end of April and they want six (thankfully, small) pieces. I am very happy about this opportunity to show my work in the UK. I had somehow managed to run completely out of my favorite linen, but a new roll arrived yesterday so I've prepared my panels and will start to work this weekend on the pieces for the show. The next few weeks will be very hectic!