"Side by Side" Part 8

So Dave and I are participating in an artists' market this coming weekend. (We'd love for you all to come, by the way.) I want our house to look festive, of course, so I went out to our shed in the back yard to get a few strings of lights to liven up the joint. I pulled out the box, raised the lid, and saw the most perfect rat's nest ever. It was practically cute, I swear! I raise the lid the rest of the way and the resident of that cute little nest jumped out of the box directly at me, and, well, I discovered that not only do I scream when surprised in this particular way, but I can also run like the dickens.

I went right back in the shed. I was startled, but not deterred. I took the now vacated box to our deck to inspect the contents. All of our lights had been chewed so much that they were a total loss.

Later that night...


Me: " I should put the box back in the shed so that rat will have a warm place to sleep tonight."

Dave: "No." And then he gave me a look that could only mean that the only warm place he wanted that rat to sleep tonight was in one of our cats' tummies.


I continued working on these paintings. It's down to the details and I just want to rework, rework, rework.

I continued working on details of the figures and
I added the graffiti-like art on the bench behind them.

More details on the figures.

I painted over her dress. I'm liking the one on the left more
than the one on the right. I'll probably working to make them
more similar. I also worked some on the wood of the bench,
aging it in some places and reshaping it in others.

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"Side by Side" Part 7

The little guy and I visited my mom yesterday and she revealed to us the most wonderful thing. Whenever someone has something nice to say to her (particularly about how she looks so much younger than she is...and it's true!) she asks them to write it down. And she has a cupboard lined with these lovely comments. How delightful it must be to reread those on days she's feeling "less than" in any way. Love it!


And I continued working on these paintings. I'm noticing that I'm entering the "ugly" stage. So...be patient and expect them to get worse before they get better. I actually love this stage!

I added color to the flowers on her dress. I'm just playing with
that. I know that I'll likely totally paint over it sometime soon.
I also added a pink tint to their skin.

I sketched in their facial features so I'd have a better idea
of where I'm going. I also added a lot of details to his shirt.

I began weathering the wood of the bench.

I added color to their hair and details throughout.

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"Side by Side" Part 6

I was in the car with the little guy today and he decided to do one of his favorite car games. It's not one of my favorite, however, because I'm typically just so darn awful at it. He pulled out his phone, typed in what must have been "Current Top Hit Music". He always wants me to state the artist and the title. And while I recognized pretty much everything he played I had a really hard time coming up with the artist/song name even though I could sing along with most every chorus. Next, out of pity, wanting to give me a fighting chance, he pulled up "The Top 100 Punk Songs of All Time". This was much more in my wheelhouse and I did quite well. (By the way...Green Day...who knew they were "punk"?) And then after we'd done some shopping he put on "Top Hits of the 80s and 90s". I did pretty well there, too. Happily my brain cells are still rocking' in the past.

And let me just take a moment here to thank Tony Hawk for apparently teaching my kid as many punk songs as I know.


I continued working on this painting. Here's what I've gotten done today.

I combined three colors to create the blue for her dress
and a couple of colors for his shorts.

I painted his shirt white and did another layer of
skin tone on both of them.

I began working on her shoes and I used white to map out
where elements on her dress will be as well as both of their hair.

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"Side by Side" Part 5

I took our big dog, Hazel, to the vet the other day. She was due for all sorts of stuff. And, my goodness, she has the best attitude ever!


Hazel: "Oh, you're gonna poke stuff in all the most awkward places! I LOVE YOU!!!!!"

Hazel: "Oh, you're gonna pull up my gums and look at my teeth! I LOVE YOU!!!!!"

Hazel: "Oh, you're gonna give me three shots on my back and one snort of stuff up my nose! I LOVE YOU!!!!!"

Hazel: "Oh, you're gonna give me two dog biscuits! I LOVE YOU!!!!!"


For my next annual exam I'm going to do my best to bring my Hazel attitude.



I didn't get much done today as I was happily enjoying a family gathering, but I was able to do just a bit.

I applied a second coat of watered down
white paint to the figures.
(Sorry the photo is a little blurry.)

I began filling in the first layer of flesh tone.

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"Side by Side" Part 4

So a while back I got new glasses frames. Not one person noticed. I know I've blogged about that before, but I had to bring it up again because today they were finally noticed. I was FaceTiming my brother and his family and within a second of first seeing my face he noticed! My wonderful, amazing, and clearly intensely observant brother...for the win, dude!


I only had a little time to work on this today, but I got a very important step done. Sketching out people in my paintings is something I want to be really careful about and it takes me quite a bit of time. And doing two...well, that takes almost twice as long. It's a super exciting stage because I know something wonderful is about to come into being. Love!

It's really, really, really hard to see in this photo, but I
sketched the brother and sister.

I did a very watered down layer of white paint on the figures.
These sweet little ghosts are soon to become lovely children.
I can't wait!!

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"Side by Side" Part 3

Dave and I took the kid out to lunch today. While we were all eating apparently I was going on and on as supposedly I have the tendency to do. (I'm not convinced.) After they expressed their slight annoyance here's how the conversation went.


Me: "Haters gonna hate."

Dave: "Eaters gonna eat."

Little guy: "Idiots gonna idiot."


I think the kid got the last word...and apparently I wasn't the only annoying one.



I kept working on these paintings. I'm almost finished with the background and soon I'll be adding the brother and sister. Yay!

I added some red elements to the background.

There was some lettering in the photo I'm
working from so I added it as well.

I used watered down black to give the background
a more "messy" and aged look. 

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"Side by Side" Part 2

Tonight as I drove through a parking lot I could see a car that kept trying to pull out of its spot, but rather than letting the car out, drivers just got irritated about it and kept blocking it in. As I got closer I found myself saying, "Gosh, just let them out, what's the big deal, people?" So when I got to where that car was I stopped so they could pull out...and guess what...it was my husband! Yay!


I continued working on these paintings. It's really fun to give the impression of wood with paint. Fun and challenging.

I used two different colors to create the wood. I did small
dollops of each color side-by-side on my palette and picked
up the paint from right in the middle getting both colors on
the paintbrush at once. At the tips of the wood pieces I
indicated where the top of the wood pieces were.
I also added a horizontal piece on the bench and added
a second color to the hay bales.

I repainted much of the background so now the bench really
stands out. 

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"Side by Side" Part 1

Our cat, Tommy, went all 70s poster style today. He was on the bar and he leapt off toward our kitchen table, missed his mark, and ended up hanging by his paws-n-claws from one of our chairs. He  was an awkward dead ringer for all those cute "Hang in there, Baby" posters I had as a kid.

And while the humans got a bit of a chuckle out of it, Tommy was not amused.


I started work on a couple of commissioned pieces today. These are part of a series and I've been doing two of each of them. You can find the others in my gallery. Just look for the ones that have a near twin. I've loved working on these and while I want them to look similar to each other, I definitely don't try to do exact matches. They each have their own personalities and that's fun.

I've got the paper taped onto a big piece of cardboard. I did
a basic background and did a dark area where the focus
of the painting will be.

I laid down white paint where the bench and hay bale will be.

I began adding color to the bench and hay bale.

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Springtime Dream - Part 4

Late last night I realized that my family was looking at me pretty funny. As I said in yesterday's post, it was quite a busy day...and apparently my outfit reflected that busyness.

It all started out pretty normally, outfit wise. I had sneakers, gray capri leggings, and a coral tank top. Then I decided I was a tad chilly so I added a purple hoodie. A while later I put on a brown winter hat. Then I received a call from Dave that a customer was going to stop by so I switched to a black baseball cap. I wanted to look presentable, you know. A while later I cut up an old skirt and made two scarves, one purple, and the other a tie dye/batik looking thing. I put them on, of course.

When Dave got home from exhibiting his photography he just looked at me. Up and down and then away. I think it was simply too much to take in.

P.S. I never made it out of the house except to take some recycling to the bin and to feed the chickens, so no other humans were harmed by my outfit.


I finished this painting. She definitely turned into a bride. I love when the painting takes over and tells me what to do.

"Springtime Dream"

I added color to her hair and a second
coat to the top of her dress.

I decided where her arms would go and
gave her face some features.

I gave her pink highlights and started
working on her bouquet.

I decided I didn't like the colors I'd chosen
so I painted over it with green. I'd decided
that I wanted greenery to show behind
the flowers I painted.

I created a bouquet of white flowers
and baby's breath.

I decided that the painting needed more
flowers. I also created a neckline
on her dress.

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Springtime Dream - Part 3

It's 6:30 at night and I'm just now realizing that I haven't sat down at all today. Well, except for visits to the little girl's room and when I put on my shoes, of course. It's just been one of those super amazingly productive days! I've been kind of obsessed with winter wear lately what with the cold weather finally starting to show up. After many, many years without new (or new-to-me) sweaters, I've been busily replacing them. One new-to-me sweater didn't make the cut, however...or, rather, I should say that it did because out my scissors came. I went all winter crazy and cut the sleeves off to make leg warmers (my first...I never gave into the craze before) and an infinity scarf. I feel cozier just knowing that they're there.


And I continued working on this decidedly non-winter painting.

I added more flowers and increased
the size of the bigger flowers.

I added stripes to the bigger flowers.

I painted leaves on the flower stems and
began working on the figure.

I did the first layer of flesh tone, painted
her shirt, and added details to her skirt.
This lovely girl is starting to look a lot like
 a bride. I think I will go in that direction.

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Springtime Dream - Part 2

So Dave and I decided to go out tonight and I invited the kiddo to join us.


Me: "We're going out for macrobiotic food tonight. Want to join us?"

Little guy: "Why would they call it that?"

Me: "I have no idea."

Little guy: "Sounds like something you'd catch or have to study."


I took that as a "no".



I continued working on this painting. I'm having fun with the whimsy!

I made circles around the flowers and changed
the center color in some of them.

I added marks here and there with white
and yellow paint.

I added the suggestion of some
grass here and there. I also added
some red flowers.

I added white centers to the red flowers, added
some yellow grass, and topped most of the grass
strands off with little pink or orange flowers.

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Springtime Dream - Part 1

When you're walking with a dog it gives free license to anyone who may want to talk to you. And since Hazel has her goofy new haircut the looks and the commentary have been on the increase. Tonight I heard something I'd not heard in my many years of dog walking.


Kind walking lady: "Nice boots!"


At first I thought she meant me...until I remembered that I'd shed my boots when I'd gotten home from work. Yup, Hazel is rockin' her furry boots. Love my stylin' girl!


I started on a new painting, this one inspired by the work of Mary Blair. Not sure the direction that it will go. I love that!

I started by creating a background.

I added a second layer.

I started what will become flowers.

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A Song Written Just for Her - Part 7

I've been thinking lately that I want to grow my hair out again. Not super long as that's just way too much trouble. I have some big Texas hair when it's long and I never seem to be able to manage it. Really I'm just thinking shoulder length or so. But then Dave ups his scaring me tactics. Boy, my guys so love doing that. And as my bangs are growing out I'm having more and more trouble seeing their sneaky approaches.

Lucky for me Hazel is on my team and she gives them away most of the time.


And I finished this painting! I can't believe it took a week, but I've been up to tons of other good stuff. This was super fun and I loved learning about Mary Blair. Super fun being inspired by her work!

"A Song Written Just for Her"

I painted the second tone on the guitar and
added some marks to the man's shirt. I also
added a second tone to the woman's face.

I worked on his hands, added hair color,
and sketched the features of their faces.

I began working on her hands, added color to
his hands, added a second tone to his face, used
red to create a bottom and side of the guitar,
and painted some of their facial features. I
also painted her hair white as the yellow
wasn't showing as brightly as I'd wanted.

I painted yellow on her hair. This time it really
shows well, so I decided to do the same with
his hair. You'll see in the finished painting that
I continued adding more elements.

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A Song Written Just for Her - Part 6

My family. They're always here for me if I ever get stuck.


Me: "Do something funny!" (I needed something to blog about.)


My little guy sat on the couch with a fork dangling from his mouth.


Dave: "Well, a little while ago XXXXXXXXXX" (I've decided that I cannot relay this story out of respect for one little guy in particular.)

Little guy: "Nope!" And then he waggled his head back and forth, the fork in his mouth waggling with him.


So, dangling/waggling fork for the win!



I continued working on this painting. I'm finding that there's a lot of dry time with this one which is slowing my pace. I don't mind, though, paces are meant to be slowed. Well, that and I made a week's worth of food. A stocked fridge = guys who leave me alone and let me paint. :-)

I painted the man's shirt and applied a second
layer to his legs and changed them a bit. I
also added a band and some dangling strands
to the hat.

I added details to the mans leg, put frets on the
guitar, and began the layering of the flesh
tones on their faces.

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A Song Written Just for Her - Part 5

My little guy always does his best to make me feel good about myself. Tonight at the gym after my Zumba class....


Little guy: "You still look like an idiot."

Me: "Me or everyone?"

Little guy: "Everyone, but especially you."

Me: "Gosh, thanks."

Little guy: "But it's OK, you're just a beginner."


Aw...now I feel better. Lovable little toot!



I kept plugging away at this painting. Turns out that when you work full time, come home and work on a commissioned piece, go to the gym for that Zumba class, and then come home to paint just a bit more, pretty much the whole evening has blissfully gone by. Wouldn't have it any other way.

I worked more on her dress. I'm really liking
the simplicity of the painting of her skirt
with the under layers showing through.

I painted what will become her hat and
painted his legs and part of the guitar.

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A Song Written Just for Her - Part 4

It's not easy being green.

So today I eradicated a bit of green in my life.

I've had these kelly green skinny jeans for a couple of years. I've worn them three times. Once around the holidays. That worked just fine. You know, festive and all. The second time was when I was in a Miracle Whip commercial and I was one of the "State College" fans wearing green. That worked great, too. The third time was last week when I wore them to work. Well, by golly, those pants are REALLY green!

So I picked up some brown fabric dye last night and today I died 'em. It didn't exactly go as I'd planned. They're more of a deep olive green than a brown and the stitching, which was apparently not cotton and therefore nonabsorbent, remained bright green. But I rather like them and I'm going to go with "I meant for them to turn out like that." Yup!


And I continued working on this painting. I had a really busy day and honestly didn't get much done on it. But I did spend a nice amount of time with my mom and I was able to do a lot of work on a secret commissioned piece. So I'm happy.

I added red centers to all of the
flowers I'd painted last night.

I sketched the figures with pencil (it may be
too light to see in this photo).

I went over the pencil with white paint.

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