AUDIBLE SHADOWS

6x8"

oil on canvas

$125

Himself recently hooked me up with GarageBand on our Mac and I couldn't be happier. Used to be, I'd have to wait until the mood to jam overtook his distaste for setting up assorted  microphones, digital recorder, drum machine etc, sometimes only to have a great session missed because of a simple misstep. Now I've got a jam band at my fingertips and keep everything at the ready, including these headphones that are within easy reach at all times. I loved the way the shadows played on the wall, but again grew impatient and critical of myself. It's not going away, I just need to ignore it. Maybe I should regard my impatience as a sign from my higher self that I'm finished with the painting!

Alas, the magic interval of time has passed for yet another year. The day before, the day of and the day after, those are the magical days. After that it's business as usual, except that we get to do a repeat this coming weekend. But, then the stark reality of another shiny new year, another chance to start anew has arrived, hasn't it? The wondering whether or not you're going to stick to your promised goals and planned achievements begins and the inevitable darkness of doubt descends. Thinking I'm far too cool to write a list of New Year's resolutions I'll never keep, I begin making one almost immediately after that thought leaves my awareness. The usual and first for most of us...lose weight, work out regularly, then, for me, stay on schedule in the studio, keep easy to find and decipher records, be more patient with myself and everyone around me and blah, blah, blah.

It all comes down to foolishly expecting I'll wake up on January 2nd a completely different person! A person who, finally, after all these years of making lists one day and ignoring them the next, woke up, looked in the mirror and saw a combination of Martha Stewart, John Singer Sargent, Angelina Jolie, Cesar Millan and George St. Pierre. These folks are germane only to my particular list of personality defects that I'd like to miraculously change the day after New Years. Feel free to insert your own.

Basically, I think I'll decide on 3 very manageable changes I'd like to make in the areas that vex the most, commit to keeping them, be compassionate, require a tad more of myself than I usually do and move on. We'll see.

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. Turkish Pistachio Nuts and Tanqueray Rangpur Gin and Tonics. I'll say no more.

Audible Shadows
8" x 6" (20.4cm x 15.3cm)
oil on canvas
$125 plus $12.95 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A HEART FELT THANK YOU!

Blu and Raz Berry, Christmas Eve - 2009

NFDP

Thank you from the bottom of my little angst-ridden heart for following my work and my whining this year. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement, support and advice. They have helped me more than you'll ever know. I've learned so much and look forward to sharing my work and my progress with you all in the New Year.

The fact that you do in fact follow my work is one of the most incredible gifts I've ever received. I remember a time when I excitedly ran downstairs with a completed painting to show a relative what I'd done. I was met with... "You know, we are not here to serve as an audience for your art!" Turns out I don't need them!

It's that time of year again. Happiness is expected. And somehow it always arrives. The sheer excitement of the Christmas Season has stayed with me since I was a little girl, practicing the Christmas morning stair descent with my big bro, weeks before the big day. We thought Christmas was magical and I guess I still do.

This year I've learned so much and I'm so grateful for every lesson. Learning lessons isn't always fun but what would life be without them? Blissful ignorance only works for infants. It's been quite a ride, but in the last decade:

1. I’ve found my spiritual path—or it found me, or it’s always been there and I didn’t remember it, or all of the above—and as a result, every daunting, overwhelming, lingering question I’ve ever had about life, the universe and reality has been, for me, most satisfactorily  answered. Yeah...I know....a bold statement. Nevertheless.

2. More often than not, I veer off that path because I think I know better. Happily, the capacity for pain in human beings is high, but it does have its limits. When I’m ready, that path is right there for me and guilt for turning away isn't the price of admission.

3. Liquin is my closest friend right now. After himself and the kids that is.

4. Beginning work on a black canvas is the most significant change I’ve made to date. I’d read it so many places, heard if from so many artists, but never tried it. Obviously, I’m a tad stubborn.

5. The support and generosity of everyone I’ve met online is staggering to me. I’m an isolator. Even more so now that I’m working from home. I will admit to consecutive days in jammies, although not the same pair. That said, in the last five years I have met more people, made more new friends and produced more work than I have in my entire life.

6. Even though we can’t be who our families need us to be or they can’t be who we need them to be, I believe there is a love that prevails and survives everything. Even not interacting.

7. There’s always room in your heart for more love, no matter what you say after your 12-year old Chocolate Lab focused only on the non-physical.

8. I’ve finally accepted that it really isn’t himself’s responsibility to make me happy, successful, safe and secure. That’s my job. Ironically, believing that has enabled him to make me happier than I ever thought possible.

9. I’m hoping something incredibly clever will spring to mind for number nine, but so far it hasn’t.

10. If I don’t respect my work, my work ethic, myself or my environment, nothing much is gonna happen. I am who I believe I am. I accomplish what I believe I can. I’m as successful as I allow myself to be. My reaction to everything I experience is my responsibility and blaming what’s outside for what’s happening inside is an exhaustive waste of time.

Peace, Happy Holidays and again thank you all.

LIEZEN

12 X 16"
oil on canvas
sold

Another Christmas commission done! Whew. Hope this makes it safely through the coming storm. We actually have blizzard warnings for tomorrow. Love these storms when himself is home and we're all cozy and warm. Back to work.

MOSES-BOTKIN CHALLENGE - December

9.5 x 7.5"
oil on board
SOLD

I was going to forgo the usual "I cannot believe how quickly the time is passing," but... too late! I feel like I just posted the last challenge painting! This is so good for me on so many levels. If I work on a somewhat daily basis, the fear portion of the program begins to diminish. No so much hemming and hawing, just sit down at the easel and have at it. Not enough time to procrastinate. This is a good thing.

The Challenge this month is hot and cold or fire and ice. I had the idea to position an ice cube near a candle but no go. I used a black board for the background and the cube just disappeared into the darkness. So I put several cubes in a wine glass and snapped away. I liked the shots but they looked really slick, like a product shot. Plus, the cubes were all warm and glowing hot. No fire and ice, just fire. Enter Photoshop. I played with the color balance bringing in more blue and cyan and ended up with some wonderful mauves, limes, olives, pinks and white hots. I think the finished piece is a tad too cool, but I'm happy with it. Who said that?

We all had very different concepts and that's what makes it exciting! I love what everyone did and am again very grateful for being included.



I inadvertently deleted the other participant work when I tried to delete the PayPal button. Ooops! I'll put them back in a bit, sorry Challenge members.

TANK

 10x10"

oil on canvas

sold

Another Christmas commission. Seem as though... there will be dogs. At least for the next few posts anyway. Can I get an amen for Liquin?

Simply cannot believe this year is coming to an end! It feels as though I just decided to make '09 go slower and all that seemed to do was speed it up.

Another Moses-Botkin Challenge is coming around again. Wow, that was quick! I'm behind, as usual, however it's not due any partying in the pity-pot on my part. I've been working!! Woo-hoo!

PUGS

I thought it appropriate to re-post these two paintings o' pugs as we are now raising two of them. It's been a interesting process. I'm a classic, majestic lines kinda gal...did I just say gal? I love Labs, Shepherds. Himself is the pug guy. I was against the Lab but seein as how that turned out to be the second best decision he ever made I figured I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and see what happened.  I never thought I'd fall as deeply in love with these faces as I have but it's a fact. Himself was right again. I think they are the most beautiful faces ever. Next to Devlin the Wonder Dog of course.

PERSIMMONS

6x8"

oil on canvas

SOLD

I know nothing about these fruits?, veggies?, except they have one of the most vibrant shades of orange skin I've ever seen. It just occurred to me that I might have investigated them further after using them but I got lost in details and the next time I touched them was to dispatch them to the trash. What a waste. Shame too because I could be saying so much more about them right now.

Persimmons
8" x 6" (20.4cm x 15.3cm)
oil on canvas
$125 plus $12.95 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

LULU, Again

11x14"

oil on canvas

nfs

I posted this yesterday and had to delete it. There was a surprise factor involved I wasn't sure about. So here again is that post.

This is the adorable pup that will be featured on Fox TV’s Good Day New York on Wednesday, December 9th at 9:20am EST. It was a timely and well needed opportunity that forced me out of my funk and into focused painting mode. A real tight deadline, I actually began painting on Thursday last. Without artist Linda Apple’s suggestion that I try Liquin I would have been in it up to my knees. Still can’t believe it never occurred to me to research a speed-drying medium. Oh well.

GRRRRRR!

11x14"

graphite on paper

$75

I had a cat once. I was in my twenties and living in my very first apartment. Her name would reveal a lot more than I think necessary about myself, so, suffice it to say she was a tad erratic but at the same time very, very mellow. She didn't like people...at all. She was fiercely loyal and completely a one person feline. She loved to play fetch with the little plastic top that adorned her open can of cat food for hours. She delighted in allowing me to hold her like an infant while she nursed on my finger and would even pull it back to her mouth with her paws when I pulled it away. Strange cat. And, in her defense, I guess the argument could be made that she had a strange owner.

I had a party once, soon after I'd discovered the delightful euphoria one experienced from downing a few shots of tequila. I decided I wanted to duplicate that feeling and proceeded to dig deeply into a bottle of Jose...far too deeply. Euphoria quickly turned to nausea, and while I was in the process of being violently ill for an extended period of time, she took up residence at the door of the loo and literally growled at anyone wanting to check on my progress.

Her growl was formidable. She would attack if provoked. But her hiss, now there was something very special. She'd eye her intended prey for a minute or two, bring her lean body into itself, hunch her shoulders, draw in a breath, straighten up, hesitate and then... hissssssss. I always thought she looked alarmingly like Bette Davis in Jezabelle. Lots of shoulders, very 40's film femme fatale. Classic.

Grrrr!
11" x 14" (28.0cm x 35.6cm)
graphite on paper
$75 plus $12.95 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

EXPRESSIVE TEES

They say that a dry creative period is usually followed by torrents of ideas and inspiration. Today, I've decided that is going to be true. Sitting in the studio staring out the window over a hot cup of tea last week, I again was in dire need of some sweet inspiration. I haven't really done anything to break out of my creative funk—no museums, shows, classes, although I have been spotted lurking around my favorite art blogs.  I let out the usual heavy sigh and decided to check my email for that $20,000 commission that still hasn't arrived and found something almost a good!

Barbara Peterson, an artist whose work I greatly admire, had taken time to write me an email suggesting I market my artwork in alternative forms. She gave me a few websites to visit and shared some information about each. I'd been thinking about doing something like that, I'd even received more than a few suggestions in that direction from other artists and the a few of the wonderfully kind people who follow my blog—and thank you all so very much for doing so. I thought the bugs and floating faces might lend themselves to tee shirts, greeting cards etc. Barbara's email was the spark I needed.

Himself and I have had quite the day working out just how to create my storefront. And I must admit all of it wasn't fun, geeks can be such snobs sometimes. Anyway, we pushed through with the help of few glasses of wine and some great music. So far I've got two items in my store and plan to incorporate the Bug Series and the Floating Faces or Expressions in Graphite, depending on how sophisticated I'm feeling at the time, into whatever I think might suit them. I'm very excited.

Things always seem to pick up just when you're ready to carry them. I got a call from Lisa Ferraro, whose working with Micah Condon to give DailyPainters some visibility in the marketplace. She told me she had a great opportunity for me. And so it was! Turns out I'm doing a portrait of a pup that belongs to a local news reporter that's going to be featured in a TV spot for pet gifts!

I'm in the middle of a few Christmas commissions and certificate paintings, but the buzz of being busy, even with the pups as a distraction, really feels wonderful. I also think that committing to an actual painting a day, again, is on order. I've gotten timid, again. "Canvas Dread" I call it. When I first started at DP it was like making a speech every day. You were nauseous before you did it, nervous during the deed and thrilled when it was over. I need that again. 

I'm very excited about all this and very grateful for the kind words and suggestions. The community online, if one could call it that, has been so incredibly supportive, helpful, illuminating and inspiring. The mind fairly boggles at the thought of...horrors... the loss of electricity!

OCTOBER REFRESHED

5x5"

oil on canvas

sold

This painting recently sold and I thought it needed a little refreshing. I've haven't been in front of the easel for almost a week. Holiday crazies, cleaning, reorganizing. A little vaycay I think I needed.

The depression comes and goes, taking with it my confidence. I'm ignoring it and continuing on. Silly. This is what I do and I'm not going to stop, so have at it voice. I found a portrait, while tidying the storage room, that I'd started at least ten years ago.  It was of my former neighbor's two daughters. I remember calling her, ashamed and regretful, explaining the photo wasn't optimal, I'd need to take another, the painting wasn't coming out well. When I found it and examined it, I was stunned! It was fine, nice in fact. It gave me needed insight into my "seeing" problem. Is that a pun? Anyway, I'm keeping it by my easel to remind me how I sabotage myself with spurious negative feedback.

I'm rededicating myself, creating a new schedule and sticking to it. I realized yesterday that any progress or success I've experienced only comes if I'm working. Um...duh. A new schedule, a new attitude, a new acceptance of my need to continually pour that perfect glass of wine and then knock it over. I think we all suffer from this syndrome in some way or another, in different degrees of intensity, depending upon what level of success we allow ourselves in life. I got some great suggestions from artists who suffer from the same setbacks and am going to try each one. A class is a great idea. There's so much I don't know.

It's obviously part of my makeup. I'm accepting being a tad koo-koo. Fighting anything never conquers it. It only makes it more real.

KENS...AGAIN

 8x10"

oil on linen/board

sold

My client wanted me to touch up the copy on the label and finish it. I of course, being crazy, decided to do it over. I've learned two valuable lessons from this commission. I'm really not at all good at painting objects on demand. And by that I mean the experience, not the result. I thought I'd enjoy it and it would be easy for me. It turned out to be the opposite. I'm proud to present this to my client, but the experience wasn't what I'd expected. I'm finding my painting career isn't static, it will change and it will grow, but only if I accept that I have limitations and that I should paint what inspires me. That said, I am grateful for the commission, the experience and all I've learned from it.

BUMMER!

11x14"

pencil on paper

$75

In search of new subject matter, a concept, a theme, something that I simply can't wait to sit down and paint. Until then, I guess it's floating faces.

We've settled on names for the pups. Raz and Blu. It was Red and Blu, because we couldn't decide on final names so we started identifying them by the color or their collars. I wasn't a big fan of either name until sometime yesterday afternoon I realized how well they worked with our last name! Nothin' gets by me. So Red became Raz. However, we're in talks now to possibly change Blu to Dingle.

Bummer!
11" x 14" (28.0cm x 35.6cm)
pencil on paper
$75 plus $12.95 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

LINKS LIST DELETED!

I admit it. A geek I am not. I got used to using creative programs at work, but now, I'm overwhelmed with list, links, posts, forums, adding gadgets, editing groups and on and on. Apparently during one of my ill conceived attempts to add something I inadvertently deleted my link list! A million apologies to everyone. Please let me know if you'd like to be included again. I'm going through my old posts and retrieving some names but please contact me if I've left you out or you'd like to be included. Thanks!

MOSES-BOTKIN CHALLENGE - November

The Diana Moses Botkin Challenge for November is "the view outside my studio," chosen this month by Michael Naples. A great choice of subject matter, but I was stumped. My proper studio, a studio I spent lots of time and money renovating, is downstairs, on the first floor. An ideal location for raising young pups and logging long hours on paintings in progress wouldn't one think? However, I've chosen to remain upstairs, dealing with stairs, a bad knee, two pups and paint on everything, including our quilt and my face. It just feels better up there right now and little Suzanne has acted up quite enough this month, I thought it best to just give her what she wants right now.

Anyway, I found some really nice bushes outside, underneath the bedroom window that caught my eye. And technically, if I open the window, stick my head out and look down, there they are!

I absolutely love the different views from the group's studios this month! So varied and so well done. I'm honored to be a member and I might have done everything correctly this month! Yea!

SOLD

The View 4x6” Original oil on hardboard

©2009 Diana Moses Botkin
http://dianamosesbotkin.blogspot.com/

Green Belt  8x8” watercolor on paper

©2009 Robin Cheers
http://robincheers.blogspot.com/

Studio View  8x8.5”  oil on canvas

©2009 Silvina Day
http://studio280.blogspot.com/

Studio View 24x18” oil on canvas

©2009 Marie Fox
http://mariefoxpaintingaday.blogspot.com/

Electric Highway 8x8” oil on board
©2009 Michael Naples
http://michaelnaples.blogspot.com/

View from my Studio 8x10” oil on panel
©2009 Vicki Ross
http://vickiandrandyrossart.blogspot.com/

NOVEMBER CHALLANGE TOMORROW

The Moses-Botkin Challenge for November will be posted tomorrow. Please stop by and check out the group's answer to this month's challenge. This is great fun, I think I've got a shot at doing everything right this month! We'll see.

WHOOPS!

11x14"

pencil on paper

$75

I made this face in an effort to spell the sound my mouth produced. It wasn't Whoops! Really, just how would one spell that sound?

The depression has lifted. Himself gave me a pup break all weekend past and I was back to my old, marginally cranky self in no time! Seeing the impact not working has on my fragile hold on peace, I took the pups by the horn and reclaimed my days this week! They now revolve around my schedule. I'm still judging and critical of myself, but am not taking it seriously. I keep thinking of what Crash Davis said to Ebbie Calvin "Nuke" Laloush in Bull Durham..."don't think, it'll only hurt the team!"

Whoops!
11" x 14" (28.0cm x 35.6cm)
pencil on paper
$75 plus $12.5 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

OOoo, I'm Tellin!

11x14"

pencil on paper

$75

It was always me, directing this dire warning to my big brother, but he never seemed to mind getting in trouble. Off to work on another painting.

Ooo, I'm Tellin!
11" x 14" (28.0cm x 35.6cm)
pencil on paper
$75 plus $12.5 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

EWOOOO!

11x14"

pencil on paper

$75

This should have accompanied yesterday's post. I love doing these, they're fun and quick and satisfying. I feel so much better. Thanks again.

Ewoooo
11" x 14" (28.0cm x 35.6cm)
pencil on paper
$75 plus $12.5 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

THANK YOU!

First, I'd like to apologize for my ravings yesterday. Never post in a mood like that. Thank you all so very much for the comments of support and gentle admonishment. I needed both! I have the uncanny ability to behave like a ten year old brat from time to time. I have so very much to be grateful for, especially art.  No more whining. Just more painting.

THAT FREAKIN' APPLE!

6x6"

oil on board

NFS

You're sitting in front of the easel thinking, let me just dash off an apple. Simple enough. At least you'll have a painting to post. The pups just went out, so they should brawl in their little playpen and give you at least one hour, uninterrupted. This'll be good. It'll get you outta that funky mood, the one that covers you in doubt like a thin transparent film of filth, dulling your vision and sealing up your ears to any sanity that might try to squeak through and knock you upside the head and out of the pity pot.

Well here it is. That freakin' apple! Been working on it for 3 weeks on and off. And it sucks. I need to get this out. I know it seems ridiculous. It's a painting of an apple. Surely not your best Suz, but hey, it's ok. If you are an artist I'm guessing you know what I'm talking about. If you've read my blog at all you know I'm a walking poster child for insecurity and doubt, always lamenting the loss of my mojo. I even received a very passionate email from someone admonishing me, albeit gently, for even uttering the words "I can't paint anymore!" This person's mother was a gifted artist until surgery went dreadfully wrong and made it impossible for her to work— ever again. That definitely gave me pause and made me even more guilty about this latest session of nonsense and waste 'o time.

I felt stupid trying to explain to her that those feelings of dread, of the seeming loss of one's ability, however false they might be in reality, feel very real. Stupid? Yes. I know I'm responsible for what I think and feel. Thoughts cannot just show up. And they all have a purpose. And if I don't take steps to curtail this flight of fancy into the dark place, I'm really going to be extremely unhappy, not to mention hopelessly behind.

So I'm posting this freakin apple. I'm not going to melt, disappear, or spontaneously combust if I post work that I think isn't good. I should make it a point of posting everything I do, good, bad or indifferent. I need to laugh at this stuff. These standards I'm holding myself to are ridiculously high, not to mention arrogant and methinks I'm not the only one sick and tired of my constant whining. I'm so very tired of this dance, obviously I can paint.

It's nothing but a smokescreen of doubt so that when the smoke does clear, there I'll be, on the bed, Pug on each shoulder — one eating my hair, the other still bent on extracting milk from my ear lobe, remote in one hand, bag of chips in the other and depression, solidly and "happily" in place. I think it would be a lot easier if I just put the brush down, laughed off the doubt and insecurity and watched the tube until I felt better, providing I felt better within the next hour that is.

Maybe I'll try that the next time.

HOW MUCH?

11x14"

pencil on paper

$75

I can't seem to finish a painting these days. It's impossible to jump up and down from the easel and keep some kind of flow creatively, so I'm going to commit to drawings...again...until I can finish some of the pieces I'm working on. This time I think I'll honor my commitment, I really need to post.

How Much?
11" x 14" (28.0cm x 35.6cm)
pencil on paper
$75 plus $12.5 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

ON THE EASEL - THE VASE

Strangeness. I'm all over the place. This is a painting in progress for Six by Six in NYC. Amazing setup, that. I read about it on another artist's blog and decided to send for the kit. I'm a big fan of packaging and the way this arrives is too cool! Beautifully designed and  just plain fun.  And the canvas surface is perfect. I'm going to take my time and do this right. Layers, stages, patience, remaining true to my reference color value etc. See what happens. I'll be posting the stages to see how it goes.

I've been very critical of myself...again. I really haven't been working enough. Graphic design jobs were coming in and I was grateful, but they were a rush, they dragged on with multiple revisions and compensation was far too slow. I was whining about not having enough time to paint and himself came up with an amazing  solution! He suggested I remove myself from the free-lance arena and concentrate on painting. All day! I was thrilled, I felt free and couldn't wait to start and end the day painting. Of course the first day I did that, I sat in front of the easel and did a lot of heaving sighing and not much else. Surprise!

Another dry spell. Whatever. Self imposed, like all my pain and frustration. Feel the poop and move on. Even I'm getting a tad weary of my all consuming artist angst. What's the big deal? Just paint.

The pups are really a handful. I'm following a schedule but they are taking up a lot more time than I anticipated. But they passed the button test, with flying colors, so that's cool. What is the button test you ask? Whenever I make a life-changing decision, and for me the pups were just that, I visualize a big button, not unlike the Staples big "easy" button. Each week that passes after the big change has taken place, I see the button in my minds eye and ask myself the simple question..."If I could push this button and -  fill in the blank -  would disappear from view and memory with no consequences, would I push it?" Absolutely not! I do ask myself at 5:30 in the morning, on a dark, dreary, rainy, nasty day...Ok, just what the hell were we thinking, but that's only because they think rain is kryptonite  for dogs and refuse to do their business. Not fun. Other than that they are pure joy.

NITE! NITE!

9x12'
graphite on paper
$50

I just opened this scan and yawned. Hope that's a good thing.

I'm feelin' good, got five paintings in the works at varying stages. The pups are wailin'. I'm off.

Nite! Nite!
11" x 14" (28.0cm x 35.6cm)
pencil on paper
$75 plus $12.5 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

TICKLED

9x12'
pencil on paper
sold

I'm down to posting once a week if I'm lucky! Himself has been ill and hasn't finished his painting so I lied again. We didn't post side by side yet, I cut him some slack. Until the end of the month. I haven't finished mine either. Can't use the pups as an excuse, work must go on. Just gotta be more disciplined....again.

I want to post at least five days a week. Yeah...I know... I've said that before.

THE BOYS

NFDP

It's been one whole week of puppy love and each time I look at them my heart just melts. It's a strange feeling though, as Devlin is never far from my thoughts. I no longer feel like I'm being unfaithful to his memory, but I think of him and our relationship every single day.

That said, these two little cartoon characters, two little muppets, whose thinly veiled Ewok disguise hasn't got me fooled one bit by the way, have taken over our home and hearts completely. We happily surrendered, after very little fighting, to their every wish. I've tried, countless times, to set eyes on them, without experiencing an intense and sudden need to express a loud, heartfelt, and very gushy AWWWWWW!

If anything could take our minds off of missing Devlin without making the inevitable comparisons, it's these two. They appear to have come from central casting, two characters straight out of a Disney cartoon, with hastily planned sequels no less. When I'm trying to get some work done and I hear their little squeaks, or look to the left of my foot by my easel and see those two sets of saucer eyes set precariously far apart upon a snout that seems to have met head on, full speed with an unforgiving wall, the thought of limping (I twisted my knee by simply walking...hello) downstairs out into the cold rain to let them relieve themselves is pure heaven. Of course it's not nearly that simple, but it sure feels that way. And now, a very deep felt, happy, love-filled heavy sigh!

OCTOBER CHALLENGE - Water

That was a quick month! This month the topic of our challenge is water. My first chance to choose. I had so many ideas, water is pretty universal, but when I sat my huge honking bottle of H2O on my painting ledge and saw the sun shine through it, the choice was made for me. I thought if I carried around a gallon plus bottle, I'd drink my quota for the day. All that resulted in was a collection of half-finished gallons of warm water with lots of backwash. I'm back to smaller ones. Here they are!


Water Bottle
16x20"
oil on canvas
$350

Waterbottle
20" x 16" (50.8cm x 40.7cm)
oil on canvas
$350 plus $15.95 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Fish Tale oil on hardboard 8x6"
© 2009 Diana Moses Botkin





Sprinkler Park 11x6" oil on linen
© 2009 Robin Cheers






Ocean Waves oil on canvas 18x24"
Marie Fox





Half Full 8x8" oil on board
Michael Naples





Cool, Cool Water 8x8" oil on panel
© 2009 Vicki Ross

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW 1&2 again

These two were done some time ago, but have recently been purchased, so I did a little freshening up on them before shipping. Thank you so much for the tips on Liquin and the use of alternate support surfaces. When I say I know very little about oil painting, it's not false modesty. I know the salad dressing would have been so much easier to do if I'd done some investigating instead of diving right in. Oh well, nothing like on the job training and the generosity of my fellow artists.

The pups are simply amazing! Their names change every hour. I think Taz, formerly Little Richard, aka Dignon, has finally gotten the hint that my earlobe is not going to express mother's milk. I spent two weeks listening to Cesar Milan's book while working, I've downloaded all manner of instructions on being a strong pack leader and was determined to do it right this time. However, it didn't take long before I surrendered to the little tykes completely. They're crawling on our heads, nibbling on our fingers and are already spending far too much time in bed with us. Devlin ran the house and was kind enough to let us stay, provided we paid the mortgage. Seems like old times and we couldn't be happier.

THE PUPS ARE HOME!

These are now my favorite photos on the planet! Well these and any others we take from this point on. We picked the critters up this morning! We are now parental units again! We were playing on with them on the bed after lunch and a potty run. I set up the camera as they were literally attacking Tim's face with kisses. These shots are the result. It took about five minutes for the three of them to fall asleep. And Devlin is present and accounted for, in the form of Arfrod, under himself's hand.

We just keep looking at them. They're just too cute to comprehend and I just cannot stop smiling.

KEN'S

8x10"
oil on linen
sold

Oh my did I have a time with this commission! Great story behind it but I'm not sure I'm at liberty to share. I hate when people say that. Anyway, I searched high and low for a nice smooth,small linen surface and ended up with nubblies and imperfections everywhere. The lettering has been the bain of my existence for weeks now. Plus the drying time was ridiculous!

Lessons learned: patiently look for the right support, use acrylic or add something to the oil to make it dry faster when doing a job with lettering. Arrrrgh!

Also, I was so busy working on our challenge here at home, I thought I had weeks until the next Moses Botkin Challenge. Not!

PINK CURLERS STEP 4

16x20"
oil on canvas
in progress

This is as far as I can take it without some drying time involved. This is a great experience, sharing progress of the painting with himself, coupled with his own interpretation of the same image, the house is fairly alive with creativity! There's also the buzz of new babies bouncin' off the walls. I've been working upstairs for awhile, but will have to move downstairs so the I can keep their schedule solid which will speed up their potty training. So excited!

Thank you to all those who weighed in on Pink Curlers progress! Your words are very much appreciated and inspiring. I had a comment on Lemon Thru a Drinking Glass and it made me think. The comment stated that ..."I have so much trouble with glass...." So do I actually, at least when I think of what I'm painting as what it actually is, I bump up against my very own predetermined, self-inflicted limits which are, on the whole, completely untrue. I didn't paint glass. I painted a series of tonal values of varying temperatures arranged in a predetermined pattern by a light source or more simply stated, I painted what's behind the glass and then painted a lighter value of the that color coupled with with the bright highlights and tints of the glass itself. I think. You get my point.

I just stubbed my toe on the folds of the coat this morning. I always have such a hard time with folds, I thought. No, actually I don't. Not when I break them down to large shapes and then pick out some of the smaller shapes, paying careful attention to angles and temperature.

Himself is starting his canvas today! This is going to be fun! October 20th, I'll be posting both side by side. No pressure Northport!

A NEW APPROACH

NFDP

As I worked on our challenge today, the challenge himself and I set that is, Tim would step in when I took a break and take some snaps of my progress. Of course there was the usual, "Stop now! I'll buy it!" and " Leave the jacket unfinished, with the chalk line showing!" All good suggestions, but alas, his is due the 20th so he'll have an opportunity to do just that on his canvas. Still, he's got a point. I'm deeply moved by unfinished art and yet always feel I need to make neat, make nice. But perhaps in time that will come. I can see my style changing with each new painting.

I'm feeling free again. I suddenly realize I don't have to stop painting the paper studies altogether, I can simply wait until I'm moved to do so again. Same with the bugs. I can have casual relationships with my subject matter, don't have to marry and then divorce them.

My reference for this painting comes from a photo album I've had around the house for years. A friend, who I've since lost touch with, wanted me to do some paintings from some of his shots, mostly taken around NYC. He had an incredible eye and finding this album was like finding buried treasure. I hope to do many more from this book of gems, I'd forgotten he'd never taken it back.

It's going well and I might be done by Monday. We'll see. I thought I'd wait and post with Tim's but I'll probably do some work on it between now and then and re-post. I like the way he's grouped the shots, they make a nice graphic I think.

Later.

LEMON THRU THE DRINKING GLASS

LEMON THRU THE DRINKING GLASS
20" x 20" (50.8cm x 50.8cm)
oil on linen
$450 plus $29.95 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

It's not done, but I'm impatient, again. I'll let it dry for a bit and then see. I had put it away for a while and saw it yesterday and thought, take it out, see what happens. Himself thinks it works. Of course the voice doesn't. Whatever. I'm painting again. It feels great.

It's been a wonderful day. Birthday Boy has a few days off and it's time to laugh!
The Puppy Fairy is probably somewhere over Europe right now.

THANK YOU!

A huge THANK YOU! to Leslie Ervin for awarding me the Kreative Blogger Award! Thank you so very much and I apologize for taking so long to keep the good feelins' goin'! I'm still not sure how to get everything linked the right way but I'll certainly give it a try. I, being completely self-centered, have indeed put this off until I have the time to do it right and I do hope you will forgive me.

Leslie's blog: http://dragonflyseye.blogspot.com/, is just a joy to visit. She takes the most amazingly beautiful photographs of "scenes a dragonfly might bump across in her travels here and there upon this earth!" Deeelightful!

JAZZMAN

9X12"
pencil on paper
$75

Finally! Just emerging from a very intense "I can't draw anymore!" period. So strange. It's not like it goes away and then comes back again, it's more like I get lazy and don't want to finish. In my defense, I have been distracted by other duties. Thanks to himself, I pushed through. And then there's the pending visit from the puppy fairy. She's comin' heavy so I gotta be ready.

Starting a relationship with new pets is always an exciting time for me. I bought my second Shepherd when I was going through a divorce. Poor baby was a neurotic mess. But now, in hindsight, I think Dev was so extraordinary because he was raised in a loving home, with a medium amount of drama. I'm very focused on the quality of my energy and feel like I'm becoming more aware of the unavoidable human tendency to go to the dark place. It's realizing it's a choice. There's the rub!