Rosa

Rosa
9 x 12" acrylic and gold leaf on canvas paper
mounted to panel
available on Etsy

One evening I was looking at an art book on Balthus (thank you Lynne Hoppe for telling me about him) and I saw this image.  I really wanted to try painting a figure in a very open space and this was the result. It was tempting to keep adding layers, but there was something so pleasing about her face I was afraid to go on...afraid to ruin it.

Rosa
scanned version

This was a difficult one to photograph...all the dark colors seem to just pull in light which made the background look brighter and more blotchy than it actually is.  I was able to capture the truest color by scanning it, but our scanner is not large enough to get the entire painting, plus scanning made her face more blurry. 

And did you know that "Rosa" means pink in Italian?  I am half Italian...my great grandparents were from Sicily, so this interests me. 

Hope all is well with you.  See you soon!  

Table For One

Table for One
9 x 12 inch mixed media on birch panel
available on Etsy

This was painted in October after a discussion with someone who lost her husband years ago when he was only in his 50's.  She would not mind my telling you that she has never gotten over that loss, and  now that she is 87, seeing him again is all she can think about.  As I painted this I thought of how many have gone through this and that this is also what divorce looks like...because divorce is like death for many.  These are bleak thoughts I know, but they are a reality of the world we live in.

detail of Table for One

I don't wish to spread a spirit of gloom, so let me point out that the chair next to her is empty...which leaves plenty of room for possibility. 

detail of Table for One

Hope prevails...always. 

Meridian Fields...the Finished Painting Revealed

detail of Meridian Fields while in progress

I am not sure if you remember this image or not...it was a WIP from several posts ago...an oil and cold wax painting.

It is finished now.  It seems to be taking forever to dry...I think it is because of the cold wax.  I can scratch paint off of it rather easily with my fingernail.  I have had to touch up the green grass three times to cover up my scratch marks.

Meridian Fields
oil and cold wax
on 9 x 12 inch gessoed panel
available here

It was inspired by this photo that I took close to home.  The lighting at sunset earlier this fall made these fields glow so beautifully.  

Kansas field
Lisa Graham

Below is some music to go with the art...Eva Cassidy's version of Fields of Gold.

It's a beautiful song that was originally written and performed by Sting.

Have a great start to your week!

♥ Lisa