Reflecting On The Future

Close ups

Oil on 5x7 hardboard.

Happy New Year, dear blogging buddies!! The title of this painting is in reference to the upcoming new year! I don't actually make resolutions but I do tend to reassess my goals and how to best achieve them. I do this only in general terms so that I can change directions without some sort of guilt hanging over me. Right now my art seems to fly off in too many directions...but then, I want to see where it all leads.
May your dreams come true in 2010!

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psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Cow-Expressive Strokes

Close ups

Oil on 5x7 hardboard.
This is for the WDE at Wet Canvas. The reference was supplied by Elizabeth.
Tried a new approach with this one...Keeping the paint unblended, I loaded the brush much like a palette knife-placed the paint with one or two strokes-went back and re loaded. This process hopefully produces a lot of beautiful color blends throughout the painting plus plenty of texture. One of my thoughts on this technique is to carefully observe what the paint does...What really counts is what's happening in the paint and the composition...subject matter is secondary.
Maybe I'm way off base with this, But I really enjoyed dabbling in the abstract a bit more than usual. Let me know your thoughts on this approach.

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psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Merry Christmas

I merely wanted to use this post to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May your fondest dreams come true in the coming year.
Thanks to all my blogger friends for all your kind support through the great trail of canvas and paint.
God bless you all.

Luke 2:13 14 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Portrait Challenge

Close ups

Oil on 5x7 hardboard.
This painting is for Karin Jurick's End Of Year Portrait Challenge which is happening on her great DSFDF blog.

I know not who this lady artist is. I hope she likes her colorful portrait. Her face was dark and lit by side lighting in the original photo. I had fun trying to show that effect. The side lights had a hint of blue to them. I thought .."what the heck...accent this pthalo look against the many warm facial tones". To be able to insert your own color choices in a work is to truly make it your own.The paint is thick and unblended which helped get the quality/effect I was after.

I hope you all like it!

Update: This very talented lady's name is Maria. Go check out the fine portrait she's done of me!
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Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Weezer

Close ups.

Acrylic on 11x14 archival canvas panel.

This is the commissioned Christmas painting I mentioned. It's for a good friend of mine who's buying it for her friend ( who happens to be another good friend of mine.)

It felt a little strange after working in 5x7 format for so long. This is done in standard acrylics using many layers to adjust and tune in. It went amazingly fast and easy for me...I think I'm just thrilled to get back to painting!!
Thanks to all for your warm,welcome, well wishes. They all found their mark and lifted my spirits.

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Matthew 2:2 Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

Reporting In

Close ups

Oil on 7x5 hardboard.
Actually this was listed in Jan. of this year. It didn't sell-it's one of my personal favorites-so I'm listing it again on eBay.
I re posted this because I felt the need to post something. I have been out of commission for awhile.

On Wed. Dec. 9th I underwent open surgery for inguinal hernia repair. This is a fairly common type of surgery, but it is the first time I have ever gone under the knife. I even told the hospital staff to take it easy 'cause I was a virgin. I don't think that remark earned me anything more than a few strange looks.
Anyhow, it's been vicodin for pain, ice pack for swelling...all of which works to better effect when cranked all the way back in the recliner. The swelling gets outrageous after about a half hour in my studio/computer chair.

But now I'm chomping at the bit to get going again as soon as possible. Hope to be putting out new work soon. Gotta get crackin'....I have one Christmas commission, plus a portrait for DSFDF.

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

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2corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me

Nature's Decorations

Detail

Acrylic on 5x7 hardboard.

The reference photo was provided by Beth for the WDE at Wet Canvas.

I see so much amazing art on the net that every once in a while I give myself the challenge to try something in their style. This is the case for this painting. I'm sure many of you are familiar with the fantastic artist, Robert Genn. I tried to emulate his way of interpreting a landscape and insert decorative color.

The red highlights on the scene reminded me of Christmas lights.

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Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.