Rectangles

A very fun challenge this week, painting only rectangles and using a different color for each rectangle. Available in my gallery on Daily Paintworks and My Etsy shop. This is an OOAK oil painting on a 5 x 7 canvas panel.

Nevermore

"Quoth the Raven, Nevermore" 

This 8 inch by 8 inch oil painting was based on Manet's uncopyrighted drawing. The story behind the painting, "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe, starts with a sad man on a dreary night. He is reading books to distract himself from his depression, when he hears a knock on his door. He opens his door and there sits a raven, who says "Nevermore" at him ominously. The man soon loses his wits as he asks the raven many questions, only to get the answer "Nevermore". The raven then settles in on the top of his door, and he is tormented by the raven, who he believes knows about his beloved Lenore who has passed. 

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil – prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us – by that God we both adore –
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore –
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."

-Edgar Allan Poe

Superstitious Daily Painting Challenge

This uncopyrighted drawing by Manet was the inspiration for a new painting. Daily Paintworks asked for us to paint a scene of superstition. I chose to base mine on Ravens. As you may have noticed, this drawing is based on the superstitious poem, "The Raven" by the great Edgar Allan Poe. I think Manet did an excellent job with shading to create a moody feel. My version is to follow this post.

Gull Point Presque Isle

Houseboats

I spent the day today at Gull Point with a special friend. The water temperature of Lake Erie is warm this time of year, we sat talking and not talking on fallen trees while the waves came crashing. It was so relaxing and calming, I could live out there. Maybe not in November. A nice place to read, paint or just take photographs. I'm going to try and upload a video from my iPhone. This painting is of the Houseboats on HorseShoe Pond, they are at Presque Isle near the Coast Guard and Lighthouse. Love this place.

Puddle Jumper

I really felt in the mood yesterday to paint something fun and reminiscent of childhood. You remember, when even a rain soaked day could be magical. I loved these brightly colored rain slickers, my children had them in red, yellow and green. Don't forget your wellies. I called this painting Puddle Jumper.

Ireland

This a painting of a quaint street in County Cork, Ireland, just outside the Blarney Castle. All of my ancestors, both my Fathers and my Mums side of the family came from County Mayo and County Sligo. Recently my daughter went to Ireland and gave me and my paints a lot to work on and think about. A country so colorful and rich in people, poets, writers and artists. Someday soon....
Painted on a 6 x 6 panel, this painting is available on DailyPaintWorks.com.

Happy Birthday!

Guest Blogger Teri from Yeasty: For the Exuberantly Creative

One of my favorite bloggers is Teri from Yeasty. She is a great writer and has a wonderful blog with many creative tips. I asked if I could share one of my favorites of hers on my blog and she agreed. Please take some time to read it, it's about Smash notebooks and is very creative and crafty. To read more of Teri's work, visit her blog.

 Teri's Post:

Go Ahead: Smash Your Memories!

There's a new product being offered to scrapbooking afficionados. It's called Smash, and it is exactly what it says. You take a notebook and then glue in all of the small memorabilia that we all generate every day, but which is often not accompanied by great photos. So instead of throwing out the goodies because they are not scrapbook-worthy, you Smash! them into a notebook and keep them all in one place.

There's a great video on Smash at this website, where you will also see the product line, although it is very easy to use things from your existing stash.

I couldn't find the actual Smash notebook so I bought a sketchbook at an office supply store that I can use to smash my stuff into (It has sturdy pages which is all that is required.)

I think this is a great idea for all of us who hate to throw some things away like the latest baby pictures, business cards for local restaurants, a color palette for a potential dining room paint job.

This new trend allows for all sorts of Yeasty creativity. Jot down your ideas for projects or gifts or new books or anything you are interested in. It's your book, and if it gets too big, that's exactly the point. Enjoy it.

Check back often. I will post some photos of my best Smashed pages, once I get some of them done!

Finished product: 

As promised, here are two pages I recently completed in my new Smash notebook (really an artist's sketchbook with heavy duty pages).

As you can see, the items I smashed into the book are ones that I probalby wouldn't have scrapbooked, but still were items I didn't want to just throw away.

I added some scrapping supplies to the pages to jazz them up a little (the sun, FUN sign) and think this may be the most fun of all: Using up some of my stash.

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Thank you Teri for the excellent, informative blog post. I can't wait to try this and make my own Smash notebook. What do you think? Are you going to make a Smash notebook?

Purple Geraniums

I have never seen purple geraniums. Yet, visiting a relatives home there they were, on her front walkway. Purchased at a well known mart store. I chose these for the outdoor challenge from DPW. Limited color palet, time limit, value range, and specific brush sizes, this was a difficult one. Purple Geraniums.

My Vincent Mug

Challenge for this week. Paint your mug.... It is sinful the amount of coffee I need in the morning. I am a mug collector, but this is my favorite. Years ago my daughter, Cait, brought this home from a Museum trip. My favorite, my Vincent mug.

Black & White to Color Challenge

Decided today was the day to get off my duff and do the weekly challenge on the DailyPaintWorks site. Since I love the beauty of roses, this seemed like the one to start with. Taking this image from black and white to color being ever mindful of value. I enjoyed this and look forward to the mug and backyard challenge. You can clink the link on this blog to DPW site to see all the entries.

Pansy Purple

Did a quick study of my purple pansy pot. They are still hanging on through the staggering heat of this past July. Go pansy! The rest of my flowers not so good, but they are preserved in photos. Thoughts are starting to lean towards Fall and I spent the better part of today sketching some ideas for paintings. Apples and pumpkins, crisp cool air and vibrant blue skies accompanied by a mildly warm breeze. Ahhhhhh.......

This oil painting is painted on a 5 x 7 canvas panel and is for sale on Daily Paintworks and My Etsy shop. Links found to the left.

Spring Next Year

This is a photo of the tree across the street from my home. Of course, it was last spring and I painted it in Sketch book on my iPad. I know when this tree blooms again my life will be forever changed. Wishing away the summer and upcoming winter for a much anticipated event. This is my tree of life.