I'm still alive...

I'm still alive...
and I'm going to try to start posting here again!

I've always wanted to be a real painter, but have had a hard time in the past deciding what to paint.
I try this subject and then that subject, always with this underlying need/pressure to find my voice as a painter. I feel like I have made a little progress in the past, improving at painting, but when I don't get the results I see in my head, I get frustrated and stop painting.  Sometimes for years. I'm lucky that I get some creative fulfillment at my 9-5 job, but still the desire to become a competent oil painter is always there nagging at me.  So I'm picking up my brushes once more.  I feel like I'm starting from the very beginning. If there is anyone out there that reads this, please wish me luck...and stop back to view my failures and hopefully some successes as well.  I have set goals...

"Iron"

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here is my painting from this weekend. This one is 8X10 and took more than one sitting. I'm fairly happy with the results...I feel like I'm making some progress in my effort to remember how to paint.

"brushes in blue glass"

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These old blue glass mason jars are fun to paint. I haven't painted much glass before, it was fun, but I hope to get some better results next time.

I've got a SUPER FAN!

I just got a photo from a "super fan" who has bought a bunch of my paintings. She has just got them all framed and wanted me to see. Wow! This painting a day thing is sooo fun. Thank you so much for letting me see, it's very rewarding and also motivating.

I also got an email from another very nice lady who has bought a couple of my paintings. It's probably the single nicest letter I've ever received reguarding anything I've ever created...illustration or painting. Here is an excerpt I'll share.

"Oh Lael! I just received the painting and am completely blown away! It is absolutely gorgeous!! I bought it to hang in my home as a tribute to my dad who is a talented carpenter....
Anyway, I can't really describe in words what the painting of the planer means to me...it is truly a masterpiece. I just wanted you to know that you are amazingly talented and I am honored to own your work. Thank you so much."

No, thank you so much...really it's things like this picture and note that keep us "unknown" artists wanting to paint and create. Thank you both so much!

"Rusty Spur"

9X7 oil on masonite. You can bid by clicking here


I've haven't had the chance to paint for a while now, and this weekend I "stole" a few hours for myself and had fun painting this old spur. I hope you like it.

"Ball and Glove" finished

10x8 oil painting on masonite board

You can bid on this painting by clicking here.

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It's amazing what just an extra hour on something can do. I put in just a little more time on this painting tonight and am glad I did. I've been making a real effort to keep things "loose"...but for me there is a real fine live between loose and too loose. I think I tightened up on this just enough. Hope ya like it.

"Ball and Glove"

It sure feels good to be painting again after a few days off...had to take advantage of the nice weather this weekend and do a bunch of stuff around the house and yard. This piece marks another mini milestone...one month! This is the piece I painted tonight. I'll call it a work in progress, because I still want to add a little more detail...but I like the way it's comming. Had a lot of fun painting this old glove...it's been around a while! The signiture on the inside is Willie Stargell!

"Mending Time"

9X7 oil on masonite board.
You can bid on this painting here.

SOLD


Here is last night's effort...a pair of my Grandma's sewing scizzors. They are very new looking, but I'm told my Grandma won them by winning a sewing contest in middle school. That would make them about 80 years old! This painting was really fun to paint. I'm happy with the way it turned out. I hope you like it too.

"California"

It's funny how certian things can bring back floods of memories. For me, black California license plates bring back so many memories from "the good ol days"... and of course sun and cool cars!

"Double Stuff"

I've found that oreos are much better subjects to paint than vegtables...'cuz I actually enjoy eating them when I'm done painting them.

"white hat"

It's been a long time since I've tried to paint a face in oil....it's much more difficult than I remember. Practice, practice... I hope I can get it back.

"Santa"

A neighbor friend of mine has printed some Christmas cards (with my santa painting) as a way to raise money to help special needs children receive physical therapy. She is an owner of a very specialized physical therapy clinic and 100% of the proceeds will go to these special needs children's therapy. It's a great cause. If you need to buy some Christmas cards, you can find out more, and even order by clicking here. Just thought I'd try and help spread the word.

"Vintage Skate"

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You can click here to see the results of the auction.


here is a little sketch of an old skate from my mother's youth. skating must not have been as fun back then...what a rough ride!

"ABC Blocks"

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I finished this painting, so I thought I'd post it again with a link to the auction. I'm really happy with a few moments in this painting I really like the worn edge of the red B block, and the shadow side of the A block.
Painting is always fun, but it is the little successes within each painting that keep me going. I thought this might look good in a child's room or maybe given as a gift to a teacher....so I'm listing it on ebay. There is a link above. Thanks for looking.

"ABC blocks" W.I.P.

Well, I didn't finish this one tonight. I got it about 1/2 way. Halloween set me back and I forgot to gesso more boards, so I painted but didn't finish one today. Two straight weeks of daily painting...it's a good start. It feels good to be doing something again after so many years. Here is my work in progress...thought I'd at least post something

"saltine"

Here is a simple one. Never really looked at a saltine this closely before.

"Tennis Ball"

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I had a lot of fun painting this simple still life. This one was fast and I just let it out...and I like the results. That's rare!

"Grandma's Homemade"

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8X10 oil on masonite board.

There is nothing like my mom's homemade bread right out of the oven.

Garlic and Onion

Here is a little still life of some "home grown" stuff from my dad's garden. This onion is some exotic kind....much flatter than the normal white onions... I may come back to this and do a little more painting on it. I like the way is is looking...maybe I can push it just a little farther.

stanley #2 plane

SOLD
You can see the results of the auction by clicking here

here is a better scan. This is probably my favoite daily painting so far. I've added a link to the ebay auction above.