Sailboat

With the crazy Texas weather that we are having today, a summer scene is refreshing. Todaoy is cold and windy. Yesterday was warm and sunny. You know it is July or August in this painting...

A note from Virginia

Today I am not posting a painting...but rather an email that I recieved from Virginia Robertson. I met Virginia at the Carol Marine Workshop, and she bought two of my paintings. I asked her where the painting were, and here is her response: (I love it!) Above is a photo of the students at the Carol Marinei Workshop in Salado, Texas.

The paintings are in my home near Jewett, in Leon County, TX. My husband and I live in the old "George Washington Carver" school, a black-only school built in 1940. It was a 6 classroom school, 1st-12th grade (2 grades per classroom), with additional buildings for a cafeteria and workshop. A gymnasium/auditorium was added to the school complex in 1953. The school remained in operation through 1967, being closed 1-year prior to forced integration. The old school property was completely abandoned by the early 1970's. My husband noticed the property in 1980 and researched its history and ownership. It was public school land still owned by the State of Texas. He eventually convinced the State to offer the property for public sale to the highest bidder. Although the sealed bid sale was advertised throughout the country (even in the Wall Street Journal), we were the only bidder. In 1982, we bought the old school property for a potential business site. My husband was hired as science teacher for the local school and he began renovation of the gymnasium for our "new" home. I moved to the gym in early 1983 with our 2 children (ages 2 mos. and 18 mos.) The boys and girls locker rooms, located under the gym bleachers, were converted to standard living quarters (3 bdm.,2 bath, kitchen and living room). The gymnasium, with original hardwood floor, basketball court boundary lines and 1 basketball hoop, remained unchanged and served as a giant playroom for adults and kids. The school rooms were renovated for my husband's part-time (and eventually full-time) businesses, including an exotic edible mushroom farm, scientific laboratory and environmental consulting company. We later added a second floor to our living quarters by enclosing the elevated level where the bleachers were formerly located, and enclosed the auditorium stage area across from the gym. We expanding our home to a 5 bdm., 4.5 bath, with 2 kitchens, living room and game room, still with a regulation-sized gymnasium in the middle. After adding a swimming pool and 7-hole, 3-par golf course in the yard, our home was likened to a resort. We jokingly call it "Club Rob", a take-off of "Club Med", and referencing our last name of "Robertson". In 1998, we were featured on "Extreme Homes" on HGTV. The program director said our home "qualified" as "extreme" because we lived in a gym, had a yard golf course, and a large salt-water aquarium built in the master shower. One of my husband's hobbys is guitar/music - we added a home concert hall to the gym last year for him. He is currently building an art studio for me in the school, where your 2 paintings will be displayed.

Elsie, cow

This is my cow painting, I named her Elsie...very bold colors and brushstrokes. Vivid colors and light hitting the darks make this painting one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy Elsie!

Dash of Red

Dash of Red was a commission for a friend in Prosper, Texas. It was quite a challenge for me since abstracts are pretty much out of my comfort zone. I was asked to create something abstract, and given certain colors to work off of. It would be placed on a plain and boring wall, so I knew that the art had to have some pizazz and energy. It took me three days to paint, which is longer than usual for me to crank out a painting. When I borrowed the painting back from the owners to photograph it, my friend said that she and her husband truly missed it on the wall. I am glad it has found the perfect home.

Lamb Chops

Lamb Chops is a bit whimsical with some vibrant colors. I used wide brush strokes and did not over paint her. If Lamb Chops could talk, I think she would have a lot to say and have a very charming personality. This painting is sold.

I started a mule painting last week after visiting Fuel City Gas Station in Dallas, and realized that mules are not as interesting as lambs. Or at least it seemed that way. I took pictures of a mule and longhorns....right in the in downtown area of Dallas. It is an amazing place to visit--- a person can fill up on gas, look at the livestock and eat the best tacos in Texas!

Pink Cottage

Here is a painting that was painted several years ago. I loved the fresh colors. My favorite part of the painting to actually paint was the roof. I used a knife and it is very thick and textured. If I can get my pictures taken today, I have some new pieces that are smaller, on board. Hope to work on that!

Red Pepper

Here is another workshop painting...and the colors are not quite right in the photo. It probably should of been a wiper (code for not good enough to keep) but I did keep it because I learned alot on this one.

I missed going to the studio yesterday, so maybe after church I will get to spend the afternoon painting. I think I am going to take some dishes out of the cabinet and paint some of one of my favorite things....blue and white dishes.

Here is another workshop painting, although the color in the photograph is darker than the actual painting. I need to work on photographing the paintings. Carol Marine explained the best way to photograph your work outside, about four o'clock in the afternoon in complete shade. Karen Rike has been my photographer, and she found a place out on our deck that works pretty well. She is an experience photographer, and I hope to learn alot from her. Actually, Karen is also my webmaster. Besides doing her own her art, she keeps busy --- keeping everyone at Studio Art and Soul updated on websites and blogs. We are all very, very grateful for her assistance!

An Apple A Day

This painting was an exercise on color at the Carol Marine Workshop, and I loved painting it. Each brushstroke had to have a different color loaded on it before it hit the canvas. And of course, it was a fast painting. Virginia Robertson bought this painting also. It is probably hanging with the peppers somewhere in Virginia's home.

Virginia's Peppers

This was my first small painting at Carol Marine's workshop. Although it was a fast and loose painting, I did learn alot from it. It was a still life (not from a photograph.) Thanks to Virginia Robertson, two of my paintings went home with her. Virginia was a neat artist at the workshop...we all had a great time together.

I worked on a new fast and loose still life yesterday, and will try to post it tomorrow. The great thing about these smaller paintings is that ordinary, simple, everyday objects around the house seem to work well on the 6" x 8" panels.

Texas Wildflowers

I thought I would post this painting today since it is a gorgeous Texas morning. Although it is too early in the year for the Texas wildflowers, I attempted to capture the beautiful field in this painting. I liked the colors in this painting....I probably need to tackle another wildflower painting.

I had a full day at the studio yesterday, and finished up numerous paintings, signed them and put on the shelf to dry. I hope to be back in the studio today!

"Finish Line" is at Texas Visual Arts Association Gallery in the Plaza of the Americas, located in downtown Dallas. I wanted to capture the movement and speed in a horse race. I am not a horsey person, but found painting horses to be a challenge. Belinda (a fellow studio artist) gave me alot of input on these horses, as she is a horsey person and knows them well! As usual, I put in alot of color to jazz up the painting.

This is a fun portrait of my neighbor, Tootsie Belle. I wanted to capture her fun and spunky spirit, all dressed up in her swimsuit. She loves to pose for the camera. Tootsie came to visit yesterday, so I thought I would post her painting. Tootsie's owner, Jamie does a very fine job of dressing Tootsie in the latest fashions. I like the colors and brushstrokes in this oil painting. Hope you enjoy Tootsie Belle!

Nest of Three

This painting has a new home...it is being shipped to Connecticut tomorrow. When I began to paint, it started out as a nest, and then I decided that some branches and leaves would give it some interest. It is oil on gallery wrap, 18" x 18".

Happy Trails

Here is a mixed media piece that I did in a workshop. I had fun with it, using paper, fabric, rubber stamps, paint, and crayon. I should probably work some more mixed media, but like my oils too much. Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

Charlie's Red Ford

This painting was inspired by a photograph that was taken in Illinois in 1961. This is my Dad's 1960 Ford, which I remember very well. Seeing that photograph brought back many childhood memories. It was my first truck to paint, and I had a good time painting it. It is 9" x 11" oil on canvas.

I enjoyed painting it so much that I started another truck painting at the studio yesterday. It is a good-looking, rusty old wrecker that we saw in Salado. Hope to finish it up soon.

Empty Nest

Empty Nest. That is what we have at our house. I thought I would post this painting today, feeling that it is appropriate on our daughter's 23rd birthday. So Happy Birthday Lindsay!

Teapot

Here is a quick study on Grandma's play teaset. I did this at Carol Marine's workshop in Salado. Sheryl, a fellow student told me this teaset was called Fostoria. I don't know my antiques very well. It was quick and fun.

Eleven Eggs

Here is a painting that was inspired by a wonderful nest full of eggs. The colors are not realistic, but vibrant and fun, and I thought they were great for the nest. Currently, it is hanging in the Texas Visual Arts Association Gallery in The Plaza of the Americas in downtown Dallas. Although I hope to post all of my small works of art here on the blog, I am posting this one today.

Labels: 18 x 18 Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas