Paint and Draw Together Challenge: Spring is Coming

An 8x10, Oil I completed today for the Paint and Draw Together Challenge. Another nice day painting with an artist friend! The emphasis was to paint the subject with a strong back lighting. I began to see many colors in the back light of the photograph. I almost got carried away with it! I plan to paint again tomorrow. Not sure what I will do. Have a great weekend! Thank you for looking.

Luke 27:27-28
"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

Daily Paintworks "The Easter Challenge"; Bunny

An 8x11 Oil I completed for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge. Decided to do the classic Easter Bunny! Could not resist this cute little guy. I used a large brush and wanted to come up with a loose, more representational painting. I broke down and reached for smaller brushes for the "detail". My intention was to stick with the larger brush only. Oh well! I like the way it turned out anyway. May you have an enjoyable Easter Sunday. Thank you for looking.

Mark 16:6

"Don't be alarmed," he said. 'You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him." 

Three Baby Owls

An 8x8 Oil I have just finished today. I had the pleasure of painting with two of my painting buddies today. Was a blast. This little painting was fun to do...giving these little owls a little personality..through the expressions in the faces and eyes. Two of them peeking out from behind the more brave sibling! Fun to do! I am working on a little Bunny for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge (dailypaintworks.com). So I think I will get back to painting! Have a great weekend. Thank you for looking.

Luke 6:38
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Winding River

An 11x14 oil of a winding, meandering river in a lush green landscape. Had fun layering on the different colors in the green. Had to put this aside to do a teaching canvas last week...and the paint dried a little halfway through the process. So it was easy to glaze on the different color on top without things getting "muddy". Thank you looking. Have a great week.

Luke 6:31

"Do to others as you would have them do to you."

Boxing Gloves

An 11x14 oil. This is a painting I have done for our local Relay for Life Event. Local artists have been asked to donate a piece of art with the "Fighting Back" theme in mind . To honor those individuals that are still battling cancer. These works will be auctioned as a fund raiser. When I was asked to do this I mentioned it to my husband and he immediately came up with the idea of boxing gloves. Way to go Kent! I wanted to do a pair of gloves that looked like they have been through some fights, made of tough stuff, but still up for some battles. Just like those that are battling cancer. I have used a bright back lighting to symbolize Faith, Family and Friends that support these brave individuals fighting cancer. Thank you for looking.

Psalm 30:2
"Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me."

Day at the Beach

An 8x10 I finished last night. Had fun painting yesterday with my sister and 2 young, budding artists ages 11 and 9. We all did the same beach scene. Was fun to see the different interpretations! It was a fun day! I particularly liked the symmetry of this beach scene. I wanted to achieve a sense harmony with the colors. A restful feeling. Tieing in the colors of the ocean, sand, umbrella and chairs.

Exodus 33:13
"If You are pleased with me, teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with You..."

Donuts and Donut Holes: Daily Paintworks Challenge

A little 5x7 oil I completed for the Daily Paintworks Donut Challenge. I really wanted to do this particular composition of the classic glazed donuts and donut holes. When we were kids at home, my sister, brother and I would love to go to the local donut shop and load up! Could not stop at one! I remember also that Mom started to make  the glazed donuts at home. Oh my goodness...were they ever delicious. It was interesting mixing the colors used on the donuts. The yellow color kind of shimmered up too. I wanted to use the lavender blue color to help the donuts pop out a little. Have a great weekend! Thank you for looking.

1 John 3:16
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."

Charles

An 11x14 oil of our son Charles. Just finished it this morning. Based on a photo taken this year during a Basketball game in Spain. I understand he is known as the "Warrior". Very intense player. Hey Charles...did I make you look fierce enough? As I have been painting portraits of those that I love, I find that I smile alot and really feel a deep since of satisfaction when I get it right. I wanted to achieve a sense of motion and strength with this painting. Love you Charles!

Galatians 6:9
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Golden Field

An 11x14 oil I just finished today. The sun drenched golden field is what attracted me to this scene. I also love the branches of the tree. I tried to capture the texture and color I saw in the bark. The distance was really soft and hazy too. Enjoyed doing this one. Thank you for looking. Have a great weekend!

Deuteronomy 6:5-7
"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Dollie

An 8x10 oil painting of another beloved miniature daschund of ours, Dollie. She is 12 years old and has quite a bit of white hair on her face and scattered over her body. Maggie, our younger puppy, keeps her young and active! In Dollie's younger years she was a solid red color. This is based on a photo I recently took after she woke up from one of her many naps. I loved the way she is tilting her head and her left ear is floating out away from her head. I tried to capture her really relaxed and calm personality.

Romans 8:26
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through our wordless groans."

Maggie

An 8x10 oil of our beloved Miniature Daschund, Maggie. She is 5 years old and has lots of personality. We love her! This painting was fun to do because of all the color she has. I love her pink little tummy and the pink inside her ears. The pink color of her skin even shows through her white hair at her chest. I tried to capture her wonderful expressive brown eyes that always have a little sparkle in them. She is a very sensitive and smart dog and is always in tune with our moods. Thank you for looking!

Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

Kent

This is a 12x12 oil of my husband, Kent. Yes...he is tall dark and handsome! I wanted to practice doing portraits and skin tones. This painting is based on a close-up photo I took of Kent while we were on vacation last year...thus the relaxed expression. Fun to do! I think the next portrait I paint...I'll do someone I don't know. That way the pressure for accomplishing a likeness isn't so great! Or just make up a person...yeah...that's what I'll do! Thank you for looking.

Leviticus 19:32
"Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD."

Paint it Before You Eat it Daily Paintworks Challenge. Be Mine Choc Kiss.

Ok...so I know this one is a little different! This 12x12 oil went through about 5 different "morphs"! I wanted the color combo to be this Pink and Teal... Don't know why...just did! Became a kind of contemporary/impressionistic still life. I love working on this 12x12 size. The sides are painted also..so no need for a frame. Got to paint with my painting buddy again today. So much fun! Thank you Carol Marine for this challenge! Thank you for looking.

1 Peter 3:8
"Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble."

Black Lab

An 11x14 Oil I have just completed today. This is a commission piece that a co-worker asked me to do. She wanted me to do a painting of her fiance's beloved Black Lab Hunting dog. I wanted to do something out in this dog's element and the client was able to obtain a great reference photo that she "secretly" took. I loved it! The silhouette type of pose with the dog looking out toward the water and ducks. I am framing it in a 2 and 1/2 inch wide dark wood stained frame with hints of the rust color at the inner and outer trim. This is to be a wedding gift for her fiance'. What pressure! I sure hope she and her fiance' like it! Sometimes ...I don't know why I agree to do commission work! Thank you for looking.

1 Peter 4:8
"Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins."

Abstract Heart #7

Another 2.5x2.5, miniature Oil. This is my 7th and last Heart in my Abstract Heart series. These have been fun to do this Valentine Season. Fun to come up with different ideas, colors and designs. This one is painted on the sides (as all the others have) and will look great on a little miniature easel. Happy Valentines Day to you! Thank you for looking.

Proverbs 3:3-4
"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man."

White on White Daily Paintworks Challenge

An 8x10 Oil I completed last night for the White on White Challenge. Whew! I must have put down my brushes at least 5 times....thinking I was finished ...then picked them back up after a little while to "fix" something! What a challenge. Sure did stretch me! Really learned alot. So many colors in White. Just leaped out at me when I really studied the ref photo. Amazing! Enjoyed it...but I have to say I was up quite a bit later than usual last night working on this one! Thank you for this challenge Ann.

1 John 4:7
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Abstract Heart #6

This is a little 2.5x2.5 inch miniature canvas in Oil. The 6th in my Abstract Heart Series. It was interesting to do this. I had primed the canvas, including the sides as I have previously done on the larger canvas'. Decided to do a simple heart shape and create interest/texture using a larger #6 flat brush. I was careful to place each stroke down and then not fuss with it! Hard to do sometimes. I like the combo of the teal blue and hot pinks. I plan on displaying this little Heart on a miniature easel. Thank you for looking.

Mathew 25:40
"The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

Abstract Heart #5

An 8x10, Oil....The 5th in my Abstract Heart series. I decided to go with a color pallet inspired by Monet. Using the soft pinks, blues, the splashes of red and yellow against the blue/green background. I used a flat brush and achieved this look by placing one brush stroke at a time, cleaning the brush... then loading the brush again for the next brush stroke. I had a ref photo of a silver heart with a strong light coming in from the left. I used the different values I saw for decisions on placement of the different colors. It was fun to do. Decided not to scatter color in the background. Felt it would detract from the Heart. Happy Painting!

Ephesians 4:29
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Abstract Heart #4

An 8x10 oil. This is the 4th in my Abstract Heart Series. I have one more primed 8x10 and 2 small 2x2 mini canvas' left do. So much fun to come up with different ideas and styles for the hearts. I plan to take 3 of the canvas down to a little shop here in Kingfisher..."Cabin Fever". to show and sell. Fun for this Valentine's Day. Have been able to paint more these past few weeks. Again...very therapeutic! Thank you for looking.

Mathew 22:37-39
"Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

A River Runs Through It

An 11x14 oil that I did a while back as a gift for my brother and his wife. My sister-in-law actually is the one who gave it's title. I usually just come up with a straight forward non creative title! Like "River". So I am glad I can use her title! I like it. I enjoyed doing this one because of course the fall colors and the feeling of  crisp cool air. Wouldn't you like to be there right now? I sure would. Maybe do a little fly fishing, enjoying the peace and beauty. Thank you for looking.

Mathew 23:11
"The greatest among you will be your servent. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."