Lonely Watch - Oil 6x8 - $125.00

I passed this little cedar tree several times, before I realized the emotional impact it made on my mind.

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Pink Sky                                      8x10   Oil

Coffee with Richard Schmid...

With my morning coffee in hand I had a leisurely stroll through the art works of Richard Schmid this morning. He is right up there with Robert Henri. I have his DVD's on painting and the leather bound edition of "ALLA PRIMA" Everything I know about painting.
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It's so inspirational to study the paintings of these great artist. As I prepare to  start my own canvas, I think of all those in the past, struggling to learn and create good art work without the invaluable reference materials we have today. Just one of the many blessings to count!

Painting In The New Year...

This time of the year always has a feel of fresh starts, starting over with a clean slate. Promises of "doing better" and keeping focused. I gather my favorite art books, stack them in a neat pile and vow to read and study so many hours each day. One of my favorite books is about the artist Robert Henri. I have many others, but I do believe if they were all taken away and I had this book only to guide me in my painting, and I applied it every day, my work would improve beyond my dreams.

So, the week between Christmas and the new year is my time to relax and plan for what is to come in the
new year. And as country folk say, "If it is the Lord's will".

Country Artist with camera: White Christmas after all!

Country Artist with camera: White Christmas after all!

White Christmas after all!

Christmas was white this year, first time in a long time. it was absolutely beautiful! I managed to get out long enough to get a few "Snow photos" of the woods out my front door.

Has Christmas changed or is it me?

Well, here it is three days from Christmas and It still doesn't feel like Santa is near. Maybe it's because there is no tree in the house, no bright colored balls tucked into cedar boughs all tied up with big red bows. I must do better next year.

Several years ago I photographed a gentleman who played Santa in the towns around where my Studio
was located. He was so much like my idea of Santa when I was a child, he made me believe again !

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I displayed the Santa portrait every year in my studio at Christmas time. I've pulled it out to share with anyone who would like to see the "Real Santa".   Merry Christmas to all !!

Back roads with a friend...

On Tuesday Dec.14, my artist friend ( Marsha McDonald) from Texas, drove up to spend a couple of days with me. The sun was beautiful and warm, a perfect day to drive the back roads and photograph nature. Of course the best light is near sundown, so we get our cameras and head out. Well, near sundown it was as cold as blue blazes !!

We nearly froze our fingers off... laughed a lot and most of all got what we wanted, then headed home to
put the tea pot on for some hot green tea and art talk...all in all, a great day!

Paintings

Hay Bales  - 4x10  Oil             -       SOLD

                                      Old Barns   - 12x16   Oil

Thoughts on Painting & Images for Today

Not waiting for spring to do "Spring" cleaning . The studio was getting so cluttered and unorganized it was difficult to think!! It's amazing how much work it takes to keep your work

space " workable."

For me, good work habits and an organized work space make it easier to get started.

Walking into the studio and seeing my oil tubes , brushes ( some very old !! ), sketch pads, all of my working tools, makes me feel good and at home.

I include my camera and equipment as my working tools. I use them nearly every day.

It's a beautiful morning, lets all paint!!

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 It's 9:38am on Thursday , and I'm thinking about what to work on today. Here's  several paintings I've completed.

The old river bridge over the Red River and the small farm down the road from me.

Taking another short break...

It's so very cold today!! I have some images to share and think of warmer days!

This was a late evening I happened to be out just as the sun was going down. i did a small painting from this photo. I thought it beautiful ! 

My very first time to post on my new blog...

This is exciting and a little scary for me, my first start as a " blogger ". I must start with a list of all my flaws as a writer. When I was a school girl my main interest was not grammar. I have been an artist from the first day of my memory, or, I should say I have been a "creative" from the first day. Either way, I spent my time doodling and day dreaming while the teacher did her best to teach.

So to each and everyone who may stumble upon my blog , forgive my mistakes and join me in sharing our interest.

I have been painting and studying art for so many years, I really should be much better than I am, but I  like every aspect of art so much I want to do it all and "they" say that isn't good or the way to really grow. On top of that I have always enjoyed photography almost as much as painting.

Photography is a whole different way of creating images on paper or canvas, you still get the fun and satisfaction of seeing something  appear that you created, only much quicker!!

I just finished a show with a group of artist in texas that I meet with once a month. We had a good show, lots of fun! I came home and told myself I could take a few days off and maybe not start another painting until after Christmas, since everyone gets so busy.  What do you think 

I have been doing? Painting in my head every moment of the day!  Do we all do that?

Changing the subject... we had snow here in Oklahoma where I live ( last week ), it was so pretty! I got out real early and drove the back roads photographing every thing snow had collected on. We don't get the heavy snows we got when I was a little kid. The fact there was a fine layer that made every thing white was so exciting , I photographed every hay bale and old tractor I came across. Even the trees looked like the paintings by John F Carlson.

I wanted to go home and paint trees with snow on the branches.

Do any of you have Carlsons book on Landscape Painting ? It's kinda hard to find anymore, but a very good book to study. 

I went with my brother down to the bottom land where he pastures his cows to get the black cows in the snow, but we got sidetracked for a while looking at the trees and then the snow began to melt.  It never last long enough for me!

Signing off for now... it's time for a cup of green tea and a lemon, poppy seed muffin. Hhmm