Mirror To The Soul

This is about 30 min into the process. It looks as if the cat has applied war paint... . The color of the board is actually red and not as orange as this photo shows.

Close ups

Oil on 7x5 hardboard. This is my contribution to the WDE at Wet Canvas. The image was supplied by Sharron.
The first photo is to give you an idea about how my paintings usually start. This time I pre toned the support with red acrylic. I tried to achieve texture and active brushwork.
Hope you enjoy!!

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My Etsy

Psalm 100:3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Kreative Blogger Award!

Kreative Blogger Award

I've been honored with the Kreative Blogger Award!! The gracious giver is a highly talented artist and friend, Bunny Griffeth. Please check out her blog for some fantastic watercolor work!


To comply with the rules, here are seven things about myself. I decided to state it as seven things I love.

My 7 Loves!

1...I love the early dawn quiet...the birds and nature noises... before the world gets cranked up and running.

2...My faithful companion through it all...my toy poodle, Dolly.

3... Painting to music...makes the painting flow better.

4....Painting...It seems the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.

5...Friends

6...The United States of America...I've always been patriotic...what we're facing today as a country is very troubling.

7...I love God's Word...All of the above would not mean a thing without the Bible as the base.

And now I pass the Kreative Blogger Award onto 7 very talented artists. Make sure you check out their work and say "Hi"!
1 Qiang Huang

2 Miro Sinovcic

3 Lesley Spanos Art

4 Saundra Lane Galloway

5 Jane Hunt

6 Dominique Eichi

7 Connie Tom

Thankful (Happy Thanksgiving)

Oil on a 7X5 hardboard. To quote my chicken: " I'm thankful I ain't a turkey!" Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

This is my contribution to the WDE at Wet Canvas. The reference photo was graciously provided by Gail.

I reverted back to my favorite thing...pre toning the board with red acrylic. I like how it peeks through and activates the painting. Hope you all like it!

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My Etsy

1Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Shop Till Ya Drop

Close ups

Oil on 5x7 hardboard.

This is my submission to the Weekend Drawing Event at Wet Canvas. The reference photo was provided by the gracious hostess, Maureen. These shoppers are actually in Oxford England, but they could be from Anywheresville, USA.

I had to fight off a little trepidation to finally pick the Oxford shoppers. But, as it turned out, I'm glad I pushed myself and did this one. It was a lot of fun. I must give some credit to Karin Jurick and her DSFDF for nudging me into doing more figuratives.

I first used black gesso with a touch of pthalo blue thrown in to make it darker.

Available
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My Etsy

Psalm 86:5 You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Featured Artist

I am deeply honored to have been selected as featured artist by a wonderful lady named Julie who runs the Happy Catholic blog! Thank you, Julie!

Julie's blog is a wonderful experience. The articles are uplifting and educational. Faith and art are expertly blended. Check it out. It will most likely wind up in your favorites!

Cool Cardinal

Close ups

Oil on 7x5 hardboard.
The ref photo for this painting was generously supplied by Alain for the WDE at Wet Canvas.
I haven't done a bird for awhile...one of my favorite subjects...so I just had to try the beautiful cardinal. Just having fun with colors and textures.
The gesso was left textured with brush strokes. I then toned the surface with purple acrylic.
What I really enjoyed with this one was how the paint application broke to show the texture of the support especially around the outer periphery.

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Proverbs 27:8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

Hurry Up And Wait

Close ups

Oil on 5x7 board.

These airport travelers were Karin Jurick's challenge for DSFDF. A wonderful blog which demonstrates how one reference photo painted by many artists winds up with great diversified and creative solutions.

The original photo was very dark as above. I lightened the image and saw a lot more detail, but then decided that would actually detract from the interest. The mind likes to play detective and try to decipher what is what...So a dark mysterious painting is an invitation saying,"Come on in...look around ...stay awhile".

I first used black gesso on the board which makes the colors pop from the start. But after I had all the painting completed, I decided the black gesso wasn't dark enough to do the job. I darkened the black even further by using a thinned layer of ultra. blue, alizarin crimson, and burnt umber.
I hope you like it!

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My Etsy

Proverbs 7:2 Keep my commands and you will live;guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

Sunspot

Close ups

Acrylic on 5x7 hardboard.

The reference photo for this painting came from Mary for the WDE at Wet Canvas.

I first painted this work in standard acrylic. I felt the whole thing was way too dark. I reworked it with Golden Open Acrylics and widened the value range. It at least feels more sunny now. I maintained a lot of dark for a deep woods feel. Hope ya like it!

Available
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My Etsy

psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

The Quartet...Pear-A-Tone Singer

Close ups.

Golden Open Acrylics on 5x7 hardboard.

These pears reminded me of performers due to their positioning and dramatic stage lighting. The one in front must be the "pear-a-tone" being featured in this number ;).

This is my contribution to the WDE at Wet Canvas. Kay graciously supplied the photos to choose from.

I first coated the support with black gesso. I then used a white Prismacolor pencil to sketch in the placement of the pears.
I'm still having a time trying to achieve the brushstrokes like I can get with oils. But this came out better than my previous attempts with the open acrylics. Maybe I'll catch on after a few more.

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My Etsy

1 John 3:18 NRSV:
Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.

Pumpkin Patch Escapee

Close ups

Oil on 5x7 hardboard.
I felt I should do something to say Happy Halloween to all you spooky celebration devotees.
I had fun with this one. I concentrated on giving this pumpkin the appearance of emerging from the darkness by keeping close values on the dark side and using soft edges. This helps with both depth and mystery.

Hope you enjoy it!

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My Etsy

Job 34:3
The ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.

San Fran Rooftops

Close ups

Oil on 5x7 hardboard.

This painting is my submission to Karin Jurick's DSFDF.

The hard, straight lines of cityscapes have made me shy away from this genre. For this challenge I decided to really loosen up-go with invented color-to use many small dabs of paint similar to a rough pointillism. I wanted to get away from the up-tight "painting within the lines" feel.
It was a fun challenge...although intimidating at first.

Available
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My Etsy

Psalm 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Caring/Sharing

Close ups

Oil on 7x5 hardboard.
The reference photo for this painting was graciously supplied by Connie for the WDE at Wet Canvas.
This lovely couple really appealed to me...all they've been through...the many stories they could tell.

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Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Sitting Pretty

Close ups.

Oil on 5x7 hardboard.

The reference photo for this painting was supplied by Kat for this week's WDE.
All the design elements in this picture appealed to me. The background color, chairs, cat, flowers and foliage all seemed to work together.

The support was first coated with black gesso. It then received a thin layer of acrylic pthalo blue to darken it further. I tried to maintain as much freshness in the brush work as possible. To finish up, the thickest, most textured strokes were placed in and around the area of the center of interest...the cat's face.

I enjoyed doing this one. Perhaps all the more because I felt had overworked the previous painting posted.

Available
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My Etsy

Psalm 50:15 and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me.

Redo of Memory Makers

Close ups.

Oil on 7x5 hardboard.

Some of you may recall this is one I posted on Sept. 19th. It has been reworked. The reaction to it was less than stellar on eBay. I decided the original was a bit on the drab/dark side for a sunny beach scene ( even though I did like the deep color). So I went back in and added warmth to the sky and generally reworked and brightened everything a bit.
The original is here.
Right now the touch up is so fresh in my mind, I don't know if I've helped or hurt it.

Available
This painting has been placed on Etsy. Click here to view or purchase.

See my art on eBay

My Etsy

1 John 3:18 NRSV:
Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.

Cow Portrait

Close ups.

Oil on 7x5 hardboard.

I've enjoyed doing cattle in the not too distant past. Here's another. This is the Murray Grey breed. I've pushed the color to give it the appearance of standing in a still moonlit night.
I started this composition by first applying black gesso to the support. I then applied a thin coat of pthalo blue acrylic which made it even darker.

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Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Unseen Rajasthan Award

I would like to thank Megha Chhatbar
for honoring me with the Unseen Rajasthan Award. Her work is delightful in style and color. Please check her out! At this time, due to time constraints, I won't list artist's names because I just did that a little earlier. Please check out my sidebar...a bunch of very talented folks!
Thank you Megha!