Miniature Paintings of Lucerne Valley, California

First Lucerne Valley Painting
I think this one is my favorite.

Creosote Sunset

I worked on my first paintings at my new house today. Unfortunately the sun went down before I had time to finish but I'll show you what I did anyway.  I haven't been to the store to buy oil paints or masonite yet, so all of these are done on watercolor paper with acrylic paint.  If you want me to set one aside for purchase please let me know.

I'm using someone elses computer so I can't crop these perfectly.  Some of the margins have a slice of the painting next to it that won't be there when these are cut apart for framing. And as always, monitor colors may vary. Each painting is approximately 4" x 3".

Joshua Tree Sunset

One of them was of my Halloween pumpkin, since this is Halloween after all.

Turquoise House
 

Warty Pumpkin

Vespertine Hills

Miniature Oil Painting

For a long time I've wanted to get back into oil painting but the cost of new supplies was prohibitive. But I just got a book at the library by a lady that paints on canvas that is 2 7/8 x 3 1/4". Since the canvas is so small, it's easy on the wallet. Plus they take up less storage space, and galleries are more likely to have room for them. They are cheaper to frame and ship. And since you can finish the painting in one sitting, you don't lose the mood of the painting or the lighting if you are doing en plein aire or alla prima. I can even get by with the smaller set of oil paints instead of buying the large tubes like I did in college.  Now I just hope Guy will be willing to drive the 30 miles to Michael's or JoAnne's soon so I can get supplies. Or maybe I should just order them from Art Supply Warehouse. The book that inspired me is called Big Art Small Canvas by Joyce Washor. Even if you still prefer normal sized paintings the book is full of advice that applies to all paintings.

A Little Peace and Quiet Makes All the Difference

When some friends ask me to house sit, I realized that if I got away from the daily grind, I might actually have time to paint. I worked with egg tempera, and after two days of that I switched to opaque watercolor.
I know noise pollution affects me, but I was acutely aware of how much it's harmed my productivity ever since I moved to Anaheim. Once I was out in the country away from gardeners, noisy neighbors, screaming children, helicopters, sirens, and non-stop air conditioners, I could relax and concentrate.

Working with egg tempera on illumination.

Roses from the garden

Roses from a different angle.

Painting Jewelry Gourds

After going to the Laguna Beach Sawdust Festival yesterday, I think I've gotten my painting mojo back. I set up my paints first thing this morning outside on the patio. Then I took a break to eat breakfast. When I went back the table was in the full sun and I was roasting in minutes. But in about an hour it will be in the shade again. I already did a base coat on some jewelry gourds and also on a small 4x4 canvas. I know I have some more small canvases around here somewhere but so far I can't seem to find them. But I will start where I can and keep my eyes peeled for more things to paint on.

Gourd Folk Art Painting

Today was Sat. and I was determined to paint or else. I didn't have any canvases left so I painted on gourds. That is why I bought the gourds after all. I was going to paint 3 small bottle gourds but one of them had cracks so I painted the other two and a bigger roundish gourd. The minute I started to paint it was just one interruption after another. The phone kept ringing, the garden needed water, my bf needed help fixing a knob on the washer, the cat needed attention. And then my bf needed attention.

I did manage to get all 3 gourds painted. I'll let them dry overnight and hopefully put a clear protective spray over them tomorrow.

The desert scene was inspired by my trip to Quartzsite AZ.

Fruit Painting

I ran across a photo of a painting of mine, and then I wondered why I never finished it. All I can think is it must be stored in the garage somewhere. Pity, I rather like it and would love to hang it in the dining room. I'll probably find it when I move again. As I recall all I had left to paint were the candles.