Brave or Stupid?

I thought this would make such a great photo with
the ledge hanging out over the dramatic landscape. I had planned to get further out on the tip of the ledge but when I tried to go out further I felt like a cat that had been thrown into the water. I just could hardly scramble back out of there fast enough. I'm not really afraid of heights but this is really exactly what it looks like, really high up and no safety features other than my ear muffs!  My palms still perspire when I look at these photos! LOL!  I'm glad I got them though.  This is such a beautiful area to hike.

Colorado Monument

Its so strange how these paintings look pretty good to me until I see them on the blog. Then I want to change them.  I like the colors in this but I'm wondering about some of the marks now.  I have a pretty big mac monitor and I wonder how different monitors show the color and depth of layers.  I am particularly questioning the dark squiggle in the lower right.   I called this Colorado Monument because it reminds me of the view of the Monument I can see out the front door of my temporary home. Although I didn't have any such thing in mind while painting it. I guess I have a pretty good imagination! LOL!

The Monument

This is the painting progression  .

Changes on go fly a kite

After living with this painting I felt it was too busy so I changed it quite a bit.  It seems to work in every direction now.
Mixed media on Arches cold press  30"X 22".

Go fly a kite...

It started out like this... now it looks like this.  I really like this in person but am not liking the thumbnail version of it.  Seems like it should work well either way.  Hmm.... will have to ponder that.

     The other thing is I really liked the first version and let it sit for a week and then I got bored with it over the weekend and worked on it some more.  I'm thinking of Nick Simmon's words..."first do no harm"... I like both versions so don't know that I helped the painting any but I definitely removed the simplicity of the first, so did I do harm or did I make it better?

Polly Hammett And Virginia Cobb Show

Two of my favorite Artists and friends, Polly Hammett and Virginia Cobb are having a show of their work along with their daughters at the Jung Center of Houston.  If you are in the area be sure not to miss it! November 2-27 2009. Artist Reception Saturday November 7th 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Have several Abstracts in the works

Here is another small painting I have in the works.  Sometimes I sort of like the organized messiness.  I find if I try to clean them up too much, they lose the spontaneous parts and the nice textures.  I'm liking this one so far but it can always change when I live with it for a few days.
  I've been thinking of trying to incorporate some of my figures into the abstracts.

14 x17 Mixed media on Bristol plate

Get on with it already

This is the latest version of the little canvas from a few days ago. I think last you saw it sort of plaid looking.  I may still want to soften some areas.  The lower right corner is standing out a little too much maybe.  I'll let it stew a while and take another look.

14 x 11 Mixed Media on canvas

Some inspiration

The small man spends all day making cages for everyone he knows while the wise man, who must duck his head when the moon is low, spends all night dropping keys to free the beautiful rowdy prisoners.




I found this wonderful little tidbit on a great blog I just discovered www.jeane-artit.blogspot.com. This saying uplifted me from something I'm going through right now. Her work is wonderful as well! Check it out.

This painting found a home

I've been gone for two weeks taking care of some family business so haven't gotten to post anything new.  I did sell this painting just as I got it back from the Pearl Museum show of award winning paintings from the Watercolor Society of Houston's International show.  I guess "everyone loves a winner" isn't just a saying!  It made me very happy considering that I wasn't able to work for two weeks.

More on the Landscape

This is so painful! I am really not liking this painting yet, ... not unusual but I'm always hopeful that I will have that totally painless painting experience some day. LOL!  Anyway this is all I got done in class and the next one is tomorrow so will work on it more then.
  This is on 22X30 140lb cold pressed Arches watercolor paper.