Painting Small

Them That Dance
mixed media on paper
6 x 6 inch

I am painting a lot more now that the flower planting is done.  My routine lately has been to work on one or two "major" paintings with small works on paper in between.

Six on Blue Checks
oil on acrylic primed paper
8 x 8 inch

Working on small paper feels the same as working in sketchbooks to me. It is so free and I can just let go and paint with no expectations...no worry of wasting a canvas.

Gail in Gingham and Green
oil on acrylic primed paper
6 x 6 inch

 If I like it, it can be sold for a small price in my Etsy shop...and if I don't...I can chuck it, stomp on it, tear it, burn it, or make paper airplanes for my cat.

The Bohemian Decoy Hiker
mixed media on paper
4 x 6 inch

These did not go to the cat.

Have a great weekend!

It's Riverfest time here in Wichita and we can walk there this year!

♥ Lisa

On the Way to Afternoon Tea

On the Way to Afternoon Tea
mixed media on cradled board 16 x 20 inch

The background and foreground took much longer than they should have.  I just could not get them right in my eyes.  I set it a side two days, came back to finish and realized it was finished after all.  Stepping away works every time.  Why can't I remember these simple things?

This painting was delivered to Tessera Fine Art Gallery today where it will hopefully find a home soon.

the sketch

Ammi

Ammi
acrylic on paper 4 x 6 inch
$25 plus shipping
available here

Ammi was inspired by a love for folk art and Victorian clothing. The name Ammi is originally a Hebrew boys' name meaning "my people", however people today are naming their girls Ammi. I think the name is so beautiful.

I am still working on the 16 x 20 oil portrait.  Actually, I have not touched it since the last post as I have been working on another piece and projects around the house. I hope to finish it this weekend.

I hope you have a really good one.  Thank you as always for visiting!

What Frederick Leighton Inspired and Scenes from Yard and Studio

in progress
oil on paper 16 x 20 inch

Last week I wrote about a visit to the Kendall Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.  I was so inspired by Frederick Leighton's work I checked out some books at the library to learn more.  I then found  this image  online of a portrait called Biondina, also by Leighton.  The urge to paint a portrait was strong, so I am using Biondina as my guide.  

This is still in progress, but these photos are the most current. 

detail of work in progress

I added the checks to her clothing just this morning which was inspired by Edouard Vuillard's painting called Interior: Mother and Sister of the Artist in the image is below.

Edouard Vuillard
Interior:  Mother and Sister of the Artist

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Look!  Morning Glories have sprouted!  Fingers crossed there will be blooms this summer.  I am worried though because the spot I planted the seeds in is a bit shady with dappled light.  Hopefully those little dapples will be enough.

Above is the absolute best place to sit on the back patio. 

This is part of the flowerbed I put in with the bench my son made.  My dream is to have it FULL of flowers and all kinds of pretty.  This year I put in a few perennials, but mostly seeds for Wildflowers, Sunflowers, Morning Glories and Hollyhocks for this year.  If it doesn't take, then shade-loving plants it is. 

When you're settling into a new place, it's all about creating spaces you want to BE in.  The hammock makes a great spot to read...or nap.  We had it at our old house and I was thrilled when my husband found a place to hang it at our new house.  Our old property had 20 trees on it, this one has three, which makes it a bit challenging to hang a hammock.

Lastly, a shot of the studio the other day.  The shelf on the desk is actually a CD shelf.  The smallness of it and the multiple shelves make it awesomely useful.  I use it to store supplies, or as an area to get things out of the way quickly, or to dry small works. It looks odd on the table, but it would have blocked a window on the floor.  Plus it only cost $5 at an estate sale. :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Wearing Kisses and the Art I Saw in Texas

Wearing Kisses
mixed media on paper 6 x 6 inch
available here

Kisses can be pretty sweet.  Ever wish you could wear them?

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 I spent Mother's Day in Texas visiting my youngest son.  It was a great trip and we visited the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and also Kimbell Art Museum.  

Most interesting at the Modern was Jenny Holzer's Kind of Blue.  I'm not sure I understood it, but I have to say it kept our attention for a while as the words rolled by, and even caused me to look her up and read up on the installment.  

Jenny Holzer
Kind of Blue
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas

Probably the most exciting and most promoted work was at the Kendall Museum.  Allegedly the only Michaelangelo painting in the USA, The Torment of St. Anthony c.1487-1488, was a sight to behold. Michaelangelo painted it when he was 11 or 12 years old and he had a terrifying imagination if you ask me.

Michaelangelo
The Torment of St. Anthony
Kendall Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas

My favorite was this gorgeous piece, also at the Kendall,  Portrait of Mary Sartoris, by Frederic Leighton c. 1860.  As many would say here in the Midwest, "ain't she pretty"?  But seriously, such a gorgeous portrait.  I love her tenderness.

Frederic Leighton
Portrait of Mary Sartoris
Kendall Art Museum Fort Worth, Texas

My son's favorite was this monster piece called Vortex by Richard Serra.  Does a man just wake up one day and decide to make something this big?  It was amazing and the echo inside of it was so spooky sounding.  

Vortex by Richard Serra
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

We saw so much and I wish there was time to show all of it to you.  If you ever go to Texas, these museums are worth the time.  

Hope you are all having a great week.

Something About Blue and Purple

Pansies in a Blue Pot
oil on paper 6 x 6 inch
available here

 I have really been loving blue and purple lately, especially together.  Years ago I bought a blue flower pot that I love, and there has been an array of different colored flowers in it each spring and summer.  This year I went with blue pansies in most of the flower pots, including the favorite blue pot.  I have purple pansies sprinkled in the mix of blues which makes the pots look so beautiful.  They provided a source of inspiration this past weekend for painting.  

Blue Pot on a Purple Table
oil on paper 6 x 6 inch
available here

I did some painting on the patio one evening.  You can see my sweet blue flower pot there on the table in the photo below.  Also notice the teeny tiny backyard.  Did I mention it only takes 15 minutes to mow instead of 2 hours?  :)

Painting on the patio in the backyard

I think the inspiration for adding purple into the flower pots came after seeing this gorgeous lilac bush a few weeks ago on a walk in our neighborhood.  I plan to take a printed copy of this photo to the person who lives in that house which is just around the corner from us.  They have a beautiful yard and I feel inspired every time I walk past it.

lilac bush during neighborhood walk
photo editing with distressedfx

The photo led to some sketching too.

sketchbook sweetie
graphite, water-soluble pencils in tiny moleskin

I recently bought a few blue glass things from antique stores and thrift shops...like this blue drinking glass with the yellow flowers.   There is a cobalt blue bud vase that makes an appearance twice in the movie Under the Tuscan Sun,  and I have been on a search for one just like it for years.  Haven't found the bud vase yet, but the movie sure is good.

Blue drinking glass in the kitchen window
photo editing with distressedfx

Speaking of blue...our skies are stormy tonight and this evening after one storm passed, the blue in the sky looked so soft you could wear it.

Stormy Kansas skies and the Arkansas River
no filter used

What colors are you into lately?