Evening Trees 12 x 10 Available at Albuquerque Museum Miniatures & More
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So, I wrote about my wayward, mysterious disappearing paintings here. A couple of days after hearing that the paintings had been found, we were told they had been found in Salt Lake City!
Despite continued questions, Fed Ex has never been able to explain what happened. In fact, they originally took the position that the crate had not been delivered without a top. Meaning I guess that the paintings somehow jumped out, the top replaced itself and the paintings migrated to Utah. Really?
The good news is that one of them has already found a home with a collector in Atlanta and the other awaits adoption at Huff Harrington Fine Art.
Autumn Evening 8 x 12 Available at Albuquerque Museum Miniatures & More
I've just launched a new site devoted to my online classes and workshops. It includes not only class descriptions and schedules, but examples of the demos and instructional videos I use in the classes, resources, and much more. Click on over and take a look!
Several weeks ago I posted images of two small paintings that were headed off to Atlanta to Huff Harrington Fine Art. These paintings had some special significance to me because they depicted the western edge of our property line and also because my husband had created some beautiful little tabernacle frames for them. It was a successful collaboration.
And the gallery had already had some interest in them based on the images I had sent them. So, it was a complete kick in the gut when I received a call from the gallery saying they had received this:
How an empty half of a crate could be delivered by Fed Ex was beyond everyone's comprehension. I was devastated. The idea that they were just gone was hard to accept.
My local Fed Ex ship center, a small office supply business here in Clarksville, is luckily owned by my friend Laurie who was determined to find the lost paintings. I was not optimistic, based on other dealings I have had with Fed Ex. A trace was put on the paintings, but Fed Ex was more interested in trying to get us to accept a $100 check than looking for the paintings. Laurie persevered, getting her sales rep involved. Today, the paintings were found! They were still wrapped in bubble wrap so we have our fingers crossed that they are in good shape. Soon, I hope they will be headed back to Atlanta.
Update: The paintings were found in Salt Lake City! I have not been able to confirm their condition but they are in transit to Atlanta and should arrive there on 10/14.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
John Constable Fir Tree Study
Just a quick reminder that the online class Drawing and Painting Trees starts in just a little over two weeks. For landscape artists, trees are arguably the most important raw material of our craft and art.Their very individual character, their attitude as living beings within the landscape make them a source of endless fascination and challenge for the artist. Artists in the 19th century routinely sketched and painted studies of these sentinels of nature in order to understand their structure as well as their artistic bearing. These drawings and studies were then used to create larger studio works. Through drawing and observation, we will learn to paint not only their anatomy, but their line, character, and the emotions they can inspire.
There are just a couple of spots left in the class. You can go here for more information and to register (scroll down).
OK, here they are in their sweet little tabernacle frames. They really ought to be switched around to be hung, but you get the idea.
I am really pleased to announce I'll be teaching a five day workshop in Taos, New Mexico next fall, September 19-23, 2011. The class will be held in a beautiful private home with two spacious studios that can accommodate up to ten students. You can go here for more information or to register. This is going to be fun!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Backyard Magic II 12 x 10 Available at Huff Harrington Fine Art, Atlanta
This is the second piece of a pair of small paintings which will be framed in elegant little tabernacle frames, and available soon at Huff Harrington Fine Art in Atlanta.
When we first moved here three years ago, the first thing I noticed was the light in the late afternoon and evening on our west property line. Every day was a changing show of light and color. After having had huge views of gorgeous mesas and mountains from our home in New Mexico, I was astonished that such a simple row of trees, a little hill and a field could produce such wondrous results. I still am. Every day.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Autumn Afternoon 24 x 30 Available at Hildt Galleries, Chicago
It seems I am usually painting one or two seasons behind the calendar, but with this piece I leaped ahead to late October- a time when the fleeting sensual feeling of Fall is palpable.
Benediction 30 x 40 Available at Hildt Galleries, Chicago
I made a video of a series of photos I took while painting this piece. Some of the photos were taken in less than perfect conditions and so have some glare and other issues, but I think its a fair representation of the process.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
So, here at last is the cover of my new book. There are images of drawings and paintings, as well as some short essays on painting, inspiration and Nature. After a few false starts, I am very pleased with how it came out.
You can click on the badge below for a preview of the book and to purchase it. However, if you would prefer to have a signed copy, click here.
The Long Goodbye 24 x 30 Available at Whistle Pik Galleries
I don't know why this film noir reference came to mind for a title while I was painting this, but I think it fits. This is one of three new pieces I will have at Whistle Pik in September.
Friday, August 6, 2010
September Evening
24 x 30 Available at Heritage Auction Gallery, Dallas
My work is included in a beautiful new book called Texas Traditions, which contains essays and images of historic Texas artists as well as living contemporary ones. The publication is being kicked off on August 21 with an exhibition and sale at Heritage Auction Gallery in Dallas, and includes a barbecue (this is Texas, after all) book signing and an artist's discussion panel which I have been asked to participate in. If you are in the Metro area, please come by and say hello!
Despite the horrendous heat (102 today!), my zinnias continue to show their happy faces to the sun. When I am not in the studio with the little window AC cranked up, I'm enjoying rereading Asher B. Durand's Letters on Landscape, first published in 1855.
Here's a sample:
"Go first to Nature to learn to paint landscape...take pencil and paper, not the palette and brushes, and draw with scrupulous fidelity...I know you will regard this at first thought as an unnecessary restriction, and become impatient to use the brush, under the persuasion that you can with it make out your forms, and at the same time produce colour, and light and shade. In this you deceive yourself, as many others have done, till the evil has become irremediable; for slovenly and imperfect drawing finds but a miserable compensation in the evident efforts to disguise or atone for it, by the blandishments of color and effect..."
Our big cumulus clouds have created some big storms this summer and also some lovely evening light the last few weeks. I am working on ten good sized pieces for fall shows and to restock galleries with new work. This is the first to be completed.
Evening Trees
