"Another Still-life"

I was working on this painting at the same time I was working on the one in my previous post.   We have a new hanging in four days, and I wanted to have them both done.   Made it!  (18" X 24")

"Humanity's Greater Angel"

This painting is a bit of a departure for me, in that it's somewhat of a "statement" piece.   Previously I'd been concentrating on the effects of the specialty pigments - doing more fun subjects.   I wanted this one to be done for the next market hanging in two weeks.   However, I admit to being a bit nervous about showing it.  I usually keep my views to myself.
The title comes from an excerpt at end of the First Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln
"...We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."
At any rate, you decide what it means to you.   Oh, and I should mention this is rather large as well - 40" X 30".

"Smokebush"

This painting was finished a couple of weeks ago.   Normally I post new work right away.   Somehow I forgot this one until today.   The background is really a very dark green but looks black.   Too late to change that....

Paint Comparison

I've mentioned several times that I am using a lot of the (Golden) iridescent acrylics in my paintings lately.   And I've mentioned that they are a lot of fun because you can get some really cool effects -- but that they are very difficult to photograph.   I thought I would post a comparison shot - two versions of the same painting.   This is the latest work:  "Homage to Mucha" (18X24").   You can see how different the same painting looks under two different lighting conditions.  You can see this very obviously in the hair, but also in the top of the wing and the top petunia - also in the skin tone, which is done using iridescent gold mixed with burnt sienna.   Sometimes the skin looks gold - sometimes tanned.   This also makes it complicated when trying to make prints.   Maybe with a professional photographer...for a lot more money...

Distractions

Still trying to decide on my next subject.....other summer things taking up my time as well....garden, spring cleaning, also trying to get some touch-up painting done on the cabinets and interior doors.   Darling husband likes to tease and thinks he's cute, "Looks like you've finally found your calling as a painter."  <haha>

May already

Not much to say here.   The weather is finally getting really nice and there will be a lot of yardwork in my future.   However, I did want to post the newest art - acrylic. 
"Splashdown"

"Through A Child's Eyes"

Ha! - New art, finally.   This one is rather large again - 30 X 40 - so it's taken a while.   It is loosely modeled from our local community beach; and yes, there really was a piece of driftwood that looked a lot like a dragon.   Of course the driftwood is gone now.   This was many years ago.   The boy is my son when he was about five.   He's 31 now.   Time flies.  

Work Party

I'm still working on a rather large acrylic - about 3/4 of the way through.   Not ready to post it yet.

However, I wanted to mention the newest art league project.   For the longest time we have needed packaging material to transport members paintings to and from venues.   Of course, people bring their work to the meetings in their own packaging - but then it falls to the hanging committee to keep everyone's packaging straight and return them; and often the people don't show up to take their things home and someone has to store them. 

So...I had the idea to purchase (at league expense) foam to make a whole lot of packages that we can store at the art league meeting room.   This is sheet foam - 1/4 inch thick.   I wouldn't ship with it, but it should work well to transport things.   I didn't anticipate how large the roll was going to be, but we shouldn't need any more for....forever.   It's four foot tall and a yard diameter.   This cost us about $170 and $50 to have shipped.  Not too bad I think and our group has the funds.  

Now - we are planning on a work party this Wednesday to cut and tape a whole bunch of packages.   We will use duck-tape to close up the sides, leaving the tops open.   I am guessing we only need three or four full size envelopes - maybe 3 foot by 4 foot.   Most of our members don't paint that large.   Beyond that we will probably make a lot more medium size. 

It's been awhile...

Painting took a backseat for the first month and a half of the year - a couple of weeks of illness for first myself and then my husband - and several other issues as well.   Hopefully, things will fall back into place.  

I am uploading this small new piece in support of the "Safety Pin" Movement.  In short, it's a show of support and a reminder of what I stand for.  Attaching safety pins to lapels, shirts and dresses signifies willingness to stand up for the vulnerable in the aftermath of the election.
Links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/14/fashion/safety-pin-ally-activism.html?_r=1
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/11/11/safety-pins-brexit-donald-trump-election/93639074/

Last of the Year

December is a slow month for almost anything not related to the holidays.  We even take the month off from Art League meetings.  However, I did really want to get this painting finished before the end of the year.  Made it - yeah!
"Tanager"

I was working with the concept of depth and varying light conditions.  And believe it or not, it was inspired from a dream I had.  This is the "Western Tanager" - not the "Scarlet Tanager".
Oh, and I didn't manage to get accepted into the two shows I entered a couple of months ago.  Frustration abounds...

Xmas early

I'm going to post my holiday card early.   I don't think it will spoil things for anyone I will be sending it to later. 
Husband and I have used bubble lights for the holidays for our entire marriage.  We also remember them from our childhoods.   Nice nostalgia. 

Just a few comments...

     I don't have any new art to upload; but did want to add some information.   The library "artists in residence" event on October 20th was fun - if somewhat under-attended.  There were six of us there painting and talking to visitors.  I still think this is a good idea.  It could have been better advertised; and we were tucked away in a back room, so less visibility.  Not sure if we will be doing this again.
     We also hung new art in the conference room on October 28th.   That art will be up until some time in 2017.   Longer showings are better.
     Two other art league members and I put up artwork in the Clearwater Casino Angeline Spa today.   This is a new experience and not related to the art league.  The Spa will be taking 25%, but the exposure is potentially great.
     I have two entries in to a brand new ferry art show - art to be displayed on one of the new ferries.
     And finally, I've entered three pieces in the Collective Visions Gallery contest.   I won't know the outcome of either of these two shows for at least a couple of months.