Desert Glory

Here we have a 16 X 20 canvas painted with acrylics of a lovely desert scene. I learned to create depth in a painting by using value changes. This one is a Jerry Yarnell design. I have one more painting to finish out book one.

Christmas Cards

I've been doing a few Christmas cards with acrylics on the Strathmore canvas cards. I have hopes of painting more and using my own this year as a special Christmas card. Here are the first two. Both are designs by Gisele Grenier.

Evening Shade

Moving along with the Yarnell book challenge. This is from book one and is called Evening Shade. I painted this in acrlics on a 16 X 20 canvas. Yarnell's original was with whiteface cows, but I wanted this for my brother for Christmas because it looks so much like his farm with his Angus cattle. I really enjoyed painting this one and love my little baby under the tree.

Another Day, Another Sunset

This John Heinrich design was so enjoyable to paint. I loved every minute that went into this painting. There was many challenges, lots of vibrant colors, and just an enjoyable subject. The perspective of the wharf was a bit of a struggle, but every stroke of the water was so pleasing. This is a 12 X 16 canvas and I used acrylic paints.

Peaceful Mountain

This is a Gisele Grenier design that I painted in oils on an 11 X 14 canvas board.

The Pathway

This one proved to be quite a challenge with the perspective on the bridge and the path. I really would have liked to have a little boy and his dog on the path, but that was not to be. This is done on a 20 X 16 canvas on acrylics. It's a Jerry Yarnell design from his book one.

The Shrimper

This is a 16 X 20 canvas that I painted in acrylics. Inspired by Jerry Yarnell, this was quite challenging to do all the little details. I kept finding myself looking to see if I missed anything. Even with all of the details, it's interesting to see that the main focus is still the shrimp boat. I really enjoyed doing this painting and learned how frustrating it is to do waves and water. Forest Gump named his boat Jenny. I have a painting friend named Jennie that has been painting Yarnell's paintings along with me and so I thought I would get her going by naming my boat after her.

Autumn Memories

This is painting #5 in Jerry Yarnell's 1st book Painting Basics. I painted Autumn Memories in acrylics on a piece of wood that has a bark edge on the top and bottom.

Winter Delight

This Winter Delight was no delight to paint! Snow is hard! I had more than my share of troubles with this snow. I'm still not happy with the snow, but after spending over 50 hours trying to get it right I gave it up so that I can move on. I do like the sky and how the house turned out. This a a Jerry Yarnell project painted with acrylics on a 20 X 16 canvas.

Evening Flight

Inspired by Jerry Yarnell, this painting is called Evening Flight. I'm still barely keeping up in the Yarnell Painting Blitz. This is from book 1 painting #3. I did this in acrylic paints on a 16 X 20 canvas. Those geese were quite a challenge. I even free-handed them. I've been taking a sketching class, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. Seems I must be learning something because I wasn't even intimidated when I got out the charcoal to skethc them in. I think I'm pretty happy how this turned out.

High Country Majesty

This is painting number 2 in the Jerry Yarnell book one. This is a 12 X 16 canvas and I painted it with acrylics. I liked the way the rocks turned out. I feel like I am learning alot by doing each of the paintings in the books. I'm not so sure I like the fall, but over-all I am happy with this one.

Chuurch in the Wildwood

Here's a nice painting that I did inspired by Jerry Yarnell. Gisele challenged me to paint every painting in every Yarnell book. This is the first one. I enjoyed learning the glazing of the water in this one, as well as, all of the reflections in the water. This is 16 X 20 canvas and painted in acrylics.

Patty's Dogs

This was one of the most fun paintings I have ever done. These are my little girls and they turned out just so cute! Sissy is the laying down dog and Sasha is sitting. Sasha's eyes were so hard to do because she has a beady pupil and piercing eyes that really distracted from the whole painting so I had to tone them down alot. I did this in acrylics which is a first for me. Normally, I will always grab the oils. I really enjoyed the acrylics and may have to do more with them.

Jerry Yarnell Workshop

I've wanted to attend a Jerry Yarnell workshop for a long time now, but never could afford the cost. This year I decided I was going to do it.
Last week I attended and will never forget the experience. Jerry is such a magical painter and an inspiration. I learned allot and plan to paint and paint and paint.
Here is the painting we did in the workshop. I love it!

Waterfall Contest Entry

Darrell Crow is sponsoring a contest for original waterfall paintings. I always love a challenge and decided to enter. I always have a vision running around in my head. I just have trouble getting it on the canvas. This painting took me many trial and errors to get it to my liking. Just as I expected, it turned out nothing like the vision in my head. Maybe I will have time to complete another before the contest ends.

Went To the Fair

I decided to take a few paintings and scratch art items to the fair this year. I wanst' expecting much but I did get a few blue ribbons. At least that told me I was doing ok.
What made me the happiest though was that I took a painting that my mom did. She never entered any of her paintings in shows and she was a very accomplished painter. Her barn painting won a first place ribbon. She would have been very proud.
This is her blue riboon painting.

American Summer

I've been working on this for a long time. I've completely started over several times. We've recently had several very moveing ceremonies at the military base where I work and the magnificent flag blowing in the breeze was the final inspiration to finish this off.
American Summer is an original oil painting 12 X 16 canvas.

Gone Fishing

Here is a Blue Heron pen and ink design with oil rouging. This is a Gisele Grenier (Art by Nature) design. I added in the cattails because I see alot of them around here in the places where a Blue Heron would be at home. These are pretty magnificent birds, don't you think?
This piece was done on a 11 X 14 plexiglass. Some of the background is actually on a masonite board.

New Day Gold Finch

I finally got this Gold Finch done. This is a small canvas 8 X 10. I painted our feathered friend in oils. This frame, I picked up at a yard sale for 50 cents and it was just made for this painting.
Insruction for this painting was done by Gisele Genier, Art By Nature.

Sweet Hummer

Doesn't everyone just love to watch these amazing little birds? Each of God's creations is a miracle in itself, a humming bird certainly is a fine example of this nature's extraordinary beauty.
This scratch art piece was done on a 5 X 7 clayboard with acrylic washes of paint for color. Our little hummer here proved to be a challenge to get the eye looking natural.
I was inspired to complete this piece through an Art By Nature class with Gisele Grenier.

Daisy Scratch Art

Here's another scratch art piece. This was done in an free online class with Gisele Grenier, instructor. The color was added with watercolors.

Cardinal Scratch Art

This is a scratch art piece with acrylic wash for color. This class was offered by Gisele Genier on her Art by Nature website. These are 5 X 7 size and are fun to do.

Only the Lonely

Doesn't this wolf look lonely? Maybe he's calling his mate.

Looking for a real challenge? Try this feather painting!

After repairing and prepping this white turkey feather with glue and gesso, I painted a howling wolf with acrylic paints. I learned quite alot to get detail on such a small area. The entire wolf was pretty much dry-brushed. Now, isn't it too bad that I wasn't able to sign this one?

Art By Nature online class with Gisele, instructor.

Grey Wolf

Grey Wolf was done with Pen and Ink and chalk pastels. I really enjoyed doing this one. There was lots of inking and the chalk pastels really brought the wolf to life. I love the blue shadows in his face.

Art By Nature online class with Gisele, instructor.

You Can't See Me

This was a fun little project. It's done in Pen and Ink with Pastel Chalks on 11 x 14 pen and ink paper. I just love the blending with the finger technique! It really allows you to "get into the project". You can just play and play. What a forgiving medium! You don't like it...just erase it out of there!

Art By Nature online class with Gisele, instructor.

End of Day

End of Day is Pen and Ink with oil rouging on a mirror. This is a Gisele Grenier online class. I finally finished this one. It's taken quite awhile. This turned into quite a challenge because of the light reflections in the mirror. While I was painting I could see two images at times; the one I was painting and the reflected one. It was hard to tell where to place the strokes. I got into trouble with the pinecones, had to wipe them out and then couldn't find the time to make it right. This was also very hard to photograph, by the way.

Thistle Visitor

This is called Thistle Visitor. It's a Mary Owen's design, Gisele Genier online class. I started this on canvas paper. The design was first inked and then color added with oil paints.

Watching You Now

This was an all day job to get the feathers painted. It's very tedious work to do each feather individually because each has to be shaded with three colors and then blended. I'm pretty happy with the eagles. They are such beautiful, powerful birds. The background on this one was also done on masonite board. This is a Gisele Grenier design. Gisele's website is Art By Nature in the links section of my blog.

Bald Eagle on Glass

This is a pen and ink Bald Eagle on Glass, Design by Sherry Nelson. I did this in an Art By Nature online class with Gisele Grenier, instructor. The piece is reverse painted. The inking was very tedious work. There sure are alot of feathers on this guy! I'm using a Staedtler pen for the inking on a 16 X 20 Plexiglass sheet. Color was added with oil paints. The background was done on masonite board. I got it matted and framed today and am delighted with the results. My hubby said "You are not selling that one!"

Spring Daffodils

I was playing a little last night after a spending trip to Michael's. I had bought some pastel pencils and a sketch book. So, thought I would try them out even though I didn't have the right colors or any know how to do anything. Here's what I came up with. Next time I will try it on a black surface.

Another Beautiful Slideshow

Springtime and Chihuly Glass in the Garden

Andy's Color of Seasons/Spring Album

Color of Seasons /Spring/

Inspiring Photographer

Banf National Park and Glacier National Park

This is one of my favorite Webshots member. He really has an eye for capturing some outstanding shots.

Black Spruce Study

Last night I did a pen and ink online study with Gisele. This was an exercise in negative space. Negative space makes your art more appealing to the eye.

Here's my final study piece. This was done with pencil and by not lifting the pencil from the paper. I still need to do some practice.