Eagle Ranch Show Ongoing

Remember that the "Small Works Exhibit" at Eagle Ranch Art Gallery is on display until March 31.  We have several bids already on the silent auction piece.  You can bid for it online at the Eagle Ranch Art Gallery website. Here is an image of the painting.



Use this link to learn how to place your bid:  http://www.heartofthedesert.com/gallery.asp 

Here is a hint of what one of the walls in the show looks like:

Eagle Ranch Gallery Small Works Exhibit

I am really excited about my "Small Works Exhibit" that is opening TODAY at Eagle Ranch Art Gallery, 7288 Hwy 54/70, just north of La Luz.  I took LOTS of small paintings and they look FABULOUS hanging in the Eagle Ranch Art Gallery!!  Thank you, Marianne Schweers and Eagle Ranch, for this opportunity to share my artwork.

The opening reception is this Friday, March 2, 6-8 p.m.  We will have art, live music, refreshments and FUN!  Indian Plains Flute musician Ed Pias is playing for our event.  His beautiful melodies make a great backdrop for the art and conversation.

I will give away a mini oil painting at 7 p.m. as a bonus for some lucky attendee at the reception. I am also offering a 5% discount for art purchases made at the reception.  What a deal!

For the entire month of March, I am featuring a silent auction for one of my 14"x11" (small work) pastels.  The subject is yellow irises that I painted at the Hondo Iris Farm last May.  This is also an example of what we will paint during my "Painting Irises" class on May 11 at the Hondo Iris Farm.  If you want to paint irises, sign up today!  I am offering free shipping for the painting, if you live out of town.  So you have no excuses not to bid!  The opening bid is only $335 for a painting that retails for $635--what a deal!

Come see the show, 8 to 6 Mon.-Sat., 9-6 Sundays, until March 31. 

Worthy of Attention

Here is a link to an interesting inspirational article for artists, deceptively titled "Pigeons," by artist and marketer Jack White: http://faso.com/fineartviews/39213/pigeons  Even if you don't agree with White, you can learn much from his observations.  His wife is Mikke Senkarik, an excellent colorful, prolific artist who shares her insights into painting on her blog by the same name.

I learn much from sharing other artists' ideas and information and love to pass on some of the resources.

Yesterday's painting was informed by a conversation I had with a good friend and artist about warm and cool used to create depth in a painting. I was really thinking about that when I was painting this little floral oil painting (buy it $120 pp).

Zentangles

Because I am so attracted to patterning and texture, I have become intrigued and been "playing" with a process called "Zentangles," doodling in pattern in a meditative way.  See information here and here.  There are some pretty cool videos on YouTube also. This is one of my earlier pieces:

I have since, tried to incorporate some realistic drawing that employs the doodling/patterning.  The flicker is my first effort.  What a lot of fun, while thinking about design, composition, variety and repetition!

Remember my upcoming classes!  Sign up early as space is limited.  Also, remember to come to Artisan Santa Fe on Feb. 4 to see me paint in oil sticks.

Class Schedule 2012:

March 24, 2012  Painting Floral Landscapes   SpiritBird Studio, High Rolls, NM

April 14, 2012    Small Jewels (3”x4” to 6”x6” paintings) SpiritBird Studio, High Rolls, NM

April 18-20         Brush-free Oil Painting     SpiritBird Studio, High Rolls, NM

May 11, 2012     Paintings Irises (on location)   Hondo Iris Farm, Hondo, NM

June 18-22, 2012 Creative Composition    SpiritBird Studio, High Rolls, NM

Demo at Artisan Santa Fe

I feel like I've been off the planet, instead of on vacation--with Christmas coming on the heels of our two-week Caribbean cruise!

I am busy creating pieces in preparation for my free oil stick demonstration, "Oil Sticks: The Secret to Brushless Oil Paintings,"at Artisan Santa Fe on Feb. 4th (1:30 p.m.).  I do hope lots of artists will check out this lesser-known approach to oil.

I will also be offering a three-day class on using oil sticks at my SpiritBird Studio in High Rolls, April 18-20.  Cost is only $200 for the three days, and includes some supplies.  Space is limited, so register early!

This is my latest piece, "Canyon Maple," 12x12.  I love how the oil stick and palette knife application work together to bring different textures to the piece!

Class Schedule 2012:

March 24, 2012  Painting Floral Landscapes   SpiritBird Studio, High Rolls, NM

April 14, 2012    Small Jewels (3”x4” to 6”x6” paintings) SpiritBird Studio, High Rolls, NM

April 18-20         Brush-free Oil Painting     SpiritBird Studio, High Rolls, NM

May 11, 2012     Paintings Irises (on location)   Hondo Iris Farm, Hondo, NM

June 18-22, 2012 Creative Composition    SpiritBird Studio, High Rolls, NM

Upcoming Oil Stick Demo at Artisan Santa Fe

Great news!  I have been invited by Artisan of Santa Fe to do a free art demonstration of my oil stick painting technique.  The demo will be on Saturday, February 4th, 2012, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at their Santa Fe store, 2601 Cerrillos Rd.  I hope lots of people come to share in this fun textural approach to creating almost brush-less oil paintings.

"A Day Like Today" was created with the oil sticks that I use, including some from three brands--Sennelier, Winsor-Newton, and Shiva.  I also added some touches of palette knife applied oil to give added dimension and texture.  The chamisas in the foreground almost glow in low light!

Gala Fun

We had a really fun time at the SpiritBird Studio Holiday Gala Event!  Over 90 people came to enjoy the artwork, wine, food, music and fun!  I now have at least 14 new collectors, some with multiple pieces.  Hooray!  Unfortunately, no one remembered to take pictures (!!) so all I have is a couple of pics of the walls as they were ready for the event.

These are two of my helpers, celebrating our progress!