Window Shopping

6" x 6" oil on stretched canvas

The day started off with me almost ruining a painting I had previously done.  I was putting on the varnish and it completely lifted the paint off in several places - all the way to the canvas - big white, holes in the paint!   I was getting it ready for a show this weekend so I had to figure out how to salvage it. It turned out fine but I have to wait for it to dry and then get it framed.   I then had a hard time being inspired to paint anything else after that fiasco.   Oh well, tomorrow is another day.....

Amsterdam Street Scene

6" x 6" oil on canvas board - SOLD

We visited Amsterdam in the summer of '09 when my sister was still living in Holland.  This is one of the more famous tourist areas but the inhabitants of this street really don't want you photographing them.  I sneaked a couple in though.   

Morning coffee

6 X 6 oil on canvas board - SOLD

I painted this today in our Tuesday painting group.   This is a group I was originally a member of 30 years ago.   They graciously accepted me "back into the fold" two years ago and it is a highlight in my week.   We paint most of the day and have a great time visiting, critiquing each other and inspiring one another.   I chose this simply because dailypaintworks has a challenge where you must paint something white on a multi-color surface.  I had put off doing it until I spied the white mug in my pantry yesterday and decided to give it a try.   

Cotton Fields Back Home

8 x 10 oil on canvas board - SOLD

The recent Japanese Challenge on the dailypaintworks site has had me stymied.  We were supposed to submit to the challenge by painting a picture of what comes to mind when we hear the word "home";  these are to be auctioned online and the proceeds go to the relief efforts in Japan.  When I think of home,  I immediately think of cotton fields and levees and I can't seem to capture the beauty of what I see and feel when I view them.    Go to the website:  dailypaintworks.com and see some of the entries, there must be close to 300 by now!

Red Pumps

5" x 7" oil on canvas board - SOLD

This was painted from a photo I took of some shiny, red pumps at a local department store.  Wish I could still wear heels this high!  I'm also attaching some photos of the Sweet Potato Queens Parade from last night.  The Queens were in fine style last night as you can see by the attached pics.

Not a very clear picture, but this is the original Sweet Potato Queen, Jill Conner Browne.  It's hard to get clear photos when they are going by so quickly.

Wannabe Queen

12 x 30 oil on canvas panel

This weekend all the Sweet Potato Queens and "Wannabes" are in town for their homecoming parade and festival - The Zippity Do Dah Parade and Million Queens' March.  The Sweet Potato Queens were "born" in Jackson, MS, the creation of Jill Conner Browne in her book, The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love. Wannabe Queens come from all over the country and as far away as Indonesia.  They dress up in outrageous attire, complete with big hair, tiaras and lots of beads and march Mardi Gras style, throwing beads to all who gather along the route.  It is quite a colorful sight and I painted this from a reference photo I took last year at the parade.  This is one of the tamer looking queens.  It's a fun time and I had fun with this painting.  I hope to get some more good pics tonight when they march at dusk for later painting.

San Antonio Girl

6 x 6 oil on canvas board

I took the reference photo for this when we were at the Alamo.  It went pretty smoothly until I got to the reflections in the sunglasses but overall I am fairly happy with it being looser than some of my other studies.

Polly

12" X 30" oil on canvas board - SOLD

For my initial blog post, I selected a painting I completed earlier this week.  I think it qualifies as a daily painting since I began it one afternoon and finished the next morning however in the future I hope to complete each one in a single session.  I have been struggling with getting my blog up and running this week and have had to get a LOT of help from Apple!   This is the first time I have painted a picture this size, 12 x 30,  and it was fun.  I had gotten a couple of canvasses cut for a special project and decided I would try painting the parrot since they are long and lean.   This one is oil on canvas board.