Minstrel painting progression and tips on inspiration

Minstrel

9x12 oil on board

I had alot of fun painting this one. I even remembered to take photos along the

way so I made a progression video you can see

here:

Why did I have so much fun?  

I'd like to share something special with you because I 

don't think you can ever have too much encouragement or inspiration

no matter where you are on your artistic journey.

Whether you're just beginning, somewhere in the middle or a tad bit

over-seasoned.  I'm a big Dreama Tolle Perry fan and she has developed

an online course that offers something for everyone.

  It's loaded with great tips and

techniques that are fun to experiment with and add to your routine if you like.

It's about much more than how to paint.

For me it's about learning to LOVE to paint again and the 

simple joy of the creative process.

She's starting another year long course in September and you can read about it here:

You can even win a free course so check it out!

I think she's going someplace fabulous next year and you can too without even taking out your passport;))))

My version of the exercise in week two.

Dreama's Cupcake

I find these exercises to be a great warm up and then you can bake your own cupcakes 

just the way you like. 

I had an attitude adjustment about my approach to painting and was able

to release my judgement and attachment to outcome.

(just one painting at a time;)

And THAT is why I had so much fun painting the Minstrel.

Happy painting and thanks for following along!

Alive and Well

Tracks Less Traveled

9x12  oil

painted plein air in the Adirondacks

I am so thrilled and honored to have been accepted into the

OPA Salon with this painting.

Such a delightful surprise and I'm feeling really fortunate.

I know! I could hardly believe it myself:)))))

But here's proof: click here

and you can see the acceptance list.

Pinch me please:)

I've really missed blogging and sharing with you, just been so busy painting! If you missed my

last newsletter you can check it out by clicking here.

It's all about the trip organized by Eric Rhoads to the Adirondacks called Publishers Invitational

which was one of my ultimate painting experiences.  

I can't say enough about these trips I've been on.  Having the time to really

focus on just painting in a beautiful environment with other artists is wonderful.

My first trip was to Fall Color Week when I only knew one other person.

Since them I'm hooked and have met lots of great people. The next one is

this fall and you can find the info here if you're interested.

Hope to see you there!

Plein Air on a Texas Dude Ranch

Deerly Beloved

12 x 12

oil on museum board

I went on a painting trip to the Silver Spur Ranch in 

Bandares, Texas.

They had tons of things to paint and I'd love to go back.

I'll share some more of my plein air paintings that I did there when I get back from the 

Plein Air Convention in Tuscon.

But right now I'm off to paint some cacti there.  Can't wait!

I have to give credit for this painting's clever title to my

friend Robin Cheers.

I was looking for something that combined the cow skulls

with the well worn John Deer tractor

and Robin said it perfectly- thanks!

You can see Robin's work here.

Thanks for letting me share my artwork with you!

Joie de peindre en plein air!

Cuban Mariachi

12 x 9

oil on museum board

This was a painting I started in Cuba.

I seem to paint alot of musicians

because I'm attracted to the energy and the feeling of celebration.

They move like crazy and eventually leave.

I know, you'd like I'd catch on.

They left in about 15 minutes and I didn't even get a photo of them!

So I decided to carry on with the background.

After about 20 minutes they closed the curtain to the arcade!

Plein air, French for outdoors, has it's own special challenges.

That's why I named this post:

Joie de peindre en plein air!

My friend Brenda Boylan who went on the trip too Cuba too

painted this same scene from the other side of the arcade.

It's so interesting to me to see different artist's

interpretation of the same place.

Check out her version http://brendaboylan.com/here:

http://brendaboylan.com/

Thanks for letting me share my art/life with you.

You're invited to sign up for my newsletter by clicking here.

Mistaken Identity

58 Cuban Caddy

24 x 30

oil on canvas

This painting started as 56 Chevy.

That's what I thought anyway.

Thanks to my neighbors for the correction:)

It turned into a 58 Cuban Caddy.

Who knew?

Obviously not me...

This is my first car painting from my visit to Cuba.

There will be more.

Lots of fun:)

Thanks for letting me share my art/life with you.

Please sign up for my newsletter by clicking here.

Cuba Painting with friends!

Smokin' Cuban

16 x 20 oil on museum board

available through McBride Gallery

Annapolis, Md,

Cuba Today Show Opening May 1st

If you read my last Newsletter ( different from the blog)

you'll know that I got lost on day one, by 10:30 a.m.

I was taking a photo of this beautiful Cuban woman and waiting

for change from a 10 cucs bill. 

(cucs are the Cuban currency equivalent to about one euro).

It took about four Cubans to come up with 7 cucs change

and by the time I turned around my group was gone!

They actually did miss me I'm happy to say!

I thought I saw them go in one direction but

wandered down the wrong street when it started to drizzle.

I kept wandering and it kept raining harder and harder.

Finally it was a full on monsoon and I was completely soaked,

so I started weighing my options.

I opted to try to find my bus instead of cab it back to the hotel

and ruin my day. So I blindly headed in what I thought was the

direction of the port and where the bus had dropped us off.

Fortunately I was right, the only problem being that there were about

100 buses.  I was getting blown down the street, empty bus after

empty bus (apparently they take a nap when on break).

Finally two bus drivers were visiting in a bus cab and

saw me coming, felt sorry for me because I was looking pretty pathetic,

and let me in and out of the rain. Whew!

I explained in my terrible Spanish that I was lost (obviously)

 and looking for bus #3918. 

All the Cuban's I met were so kind, he just started up his bus and 

drove me around the other 100 buses until we found mine.

Home sweet home!

I gave him a twenty cucs tip for saving my day and giving my

little side adventure a happy ending.

He declined at first but I insisted and his eyes were misty with delight!

The moral is- the photo was worth it!

I painted alot with my new friend Michele Byrne on the trip.

She wields a wicked palette knife. 

If you'd aren't familiar with her work you can check it out here.

Pic of Michele and I painting and she's alot happier with 

her painting than it looks like I am!

Like I told the group standing around watching us paint-

Ella es muys famosa en Estados Unidos!

Check out the link to her site above.

Thanks for following along and allowing me to share my art/life with you!

You can sign up for my newsletter by clicking here.

Where I was last January.

I'd like to share my experience in the Antarctic with you.

Our 2015 trip was in two phases- the first half was visiting the actual 

South Pole that you can read about by clicking here.

The second leg of our journey was a small cruise ship from Ushuaia, Argentina

across the Drake Passage to the coast of the Antarctic Continent.
Once we arrived we kaycked with just 12 other people.
It was amazing!

Did I mention three days in twenty foot seas (one way) to get there?

Yes, it was worth it!

Unlike the actual South Pole this area is filled with wildlife,

whales, penquin, leopard seals, birds and more.

Close encounters!

Snow Angel

And what's on the horizon for 2016?

I'm in!

Thanks for following my blog and letting me share my at/life with you!