Daily Landscape Painting, "Blue Ridge Switchback" 6x8 SOLD

Today's daily painting is one of my favorites.  We decided to take a drive to Water Rock Knob, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in beautiful North Carolina.

SOLD

It was a beautiful, clear October day and I tried hard to capture the clear skies and gorgeous fall foliage.

Living in Florida for 40 years, I miss the fall colors and smells I remember from my childhood in Ohio.  It is  the best part of my visits to North Carolina and I try to get there in mid-October every year.

As a child I loved to rake the leaves into a pile and take a running jump right into the middle.  In those days we would rake the yard and then burn the leaves.  There was nothing better than walking to school on a sidewalk covered with leaves, crackling under my feet as I shuffled along.  Evenings conjure up memories of hay rides followed by warm donuts and cider.  That's before the days of Dunkin Donuts, these were home made and covered in sugar and cinnamon.

I am sorry my grandchildren will never have those memories, but I know when they think back on their childhoods they will find something equally as pleasing to remember.

Daily Landscape Painting, "Off the Parkway" 16x20

If you follow my blog, you know I spend lots of time in the mountains of North Carolina.  We have a little house just outside Smoky Mountains National Park.  We travel  back and forth between the mountains and the beaches of Florida several times a year.

NFS

This is not a new piece, but I realized that I have not posted it before.  I painted it several years ago and it hangs in our mountain house.  I was a less experienced artist at the time and I took some artistic license to achieve, what I thought, was an interesting composition.

Now, when I look at it, all I can see is the inconsistent light patterns.  I could easily "fix" it, and maybe someday I will.  But for the time being, it will stay the same.

I remember going to a museum to see a exhibit of VanGogh and Monet once.  None of the paintings were ones that I recognized.  They were all earlier works that somehow survived the years.  They were also less than perfect.

How do you treat your earlier works?  Do you ever re-work them?

On another note, yesterday the wonderful artist, Julie Ford Oliver ( who ironically was also blogging about reworking a painting) mentioned that she had taken word verification off her blog to make commenting easier.  I loved that idea and implemented it quickly.  Thanks, Julie!

FLASH SALE TODAY and TUESDAY!

If you read my blog on a regular basis, you know I have been waiting for this day!  Today is the "Flash Sale" at One King's Lane  where they will be showing and selling nine of my paintings made into wooden signs.

They chose a mix of representative and abstract pieces.  Check out the sale and you will see a much better image, with the wood grain showing through as well as the other  pieces they are offering.  

  So what are flash sales? Simply put, flash sales are a time-limited offer of high discounts.

The offers are ‘abrupt’ and lasts for a tiny window period – a brief time. It is also one of the safest deal takings. In other words you have to avail the opportunity as soon as you are offered the services. 

 These limited-time deals offer attractive discounts averaging 50% off retail prices.

At the One King's Lane site, find the sale listed as wood wall decor signs.  The sale is on through August 29th.

This is all new to me, but those in the know tell me flash sales are the hottest thing around.

Wood Sign by Artehouse LLC

I am happy to announce a new and exciting project with my artwork.  I recently entered into a licensing agreement with Artehouse LLC.  They make wood signs in different styles, many with a retro feel.

Purchase here

They have chosen six of my works to market in an upcoming "Flash Sale" at One Kings Lane scheduled on Monday the 27th.

Purchase here

I hope you will stop bye  One King's Lane and check out this fun sale.  Go to the site and find the sale listed on the sidebar on Monday.  They will tell you when the "Flash Sale" starts and even send you a reminder.   There is a chance the sale will be delayed a few days.....I will keep you updated.

Have a great weekend!

Still Life Daily Painting "Country Style" 6x8 SOLD

This daily painting contains some of my favorite items from my home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

SOLD

A vintage FiestaWare pitcher, a lantern given to me my a dear friend, a hydrangea from my garden, and an old  rusty iron star.

To me, it speaks of a slower way of life.  My blood pressure drops and I am happy spending my days reading novels and baking cookies.

When I come home to Florida, I am refreshed and ready for real life again.

Daily Mixed Media Abstract Painting, "Tiny Bubbles", 10x8"

Time for an abstract!

Purchase here
119

I had so much fun working on this one.  I included all my favorite colors, worked hard on a center of interest, did a little stamping and scratching through for movement.  But now, I cannot decide if it is a vertical composition............

or horizontal.  So far, I have not signed it.  Which format do you prefer?

I am honored to say that one of my blogger friends, Marla Laubisch, has chosen to feature me in an interview on her blog today!  How exciting is that?  Marla and I have been communicating through comments for some time.  Marla  is a landscape painter living in North Carolina. She usually paints in oils, both in the studio and plein air. Her favorite subjects involve the intersection of urban and rural life and I might add that she is a talented artist.  Be sure to check out her monochromatic truck as well as her water towers with sunset.  She wrote a very interesting interview which you can read here.

Daily Oil Painting "Manhattan Bridge" 6x12"

Today's daily painting is another view from my recent trip to Manhatten.

Purchase here
120

Just like the gecko in the commercial, I was walking the Brooklyn Bridge, dodging cyclist and falling in love with the fabulous scenery, when I saw this viewpoint of the Manhattan Bridge.

There is a whole society on the upper level of the Brooklyn Bridge.....who knew!  I saw a model doing a fashion shoot, a bridal party getting their official photos taken, the real New Yorkers who live and work the city, and fabulous views.

It's not a hard walk, I have done it on three occasions.  I highly recommend it on your next trip to Manhattan.  My fellow travelers have always rated this little journey as the "most enjoyable" activity of all our sightseeing in New York.

Pears on a Plate, 16x20, Original Oil

Summer is almost over....and what a summer it has been!  I'm afraid I have over scheduled myself, with trips every two to three weeks, family obligations, etc.  I still have two trips to the Blue Ridge Mountains  scheduled, one of which includes the most dreaded words in the English language.....bathroom renovation!

SOLD

My stash of paintings, ready to post, is no longer a stash....just a few images left to choose from.  So now I am in the studio, trying to paint, paint, paint before it's time to leave again.

One of those images, is this, a commission I did  in January.  The client loved a similar small piece and ordered two 16x20 still life paintings.  She was a joy to work with and did not even want to see an image of the completed works prior to receiving them.  She said it would be "more like Christmas" if she was completely surprised when she pulled them out of the shipping container.

She sent me several images of her home in San Diego, wanting me to get a feel for the space the paintings would reside.  I must have done something really good to be rewarded with the opportunity  to work with such a charming woman.

Cheers!

Oil Fruit Still Life, "Lemon, Granny and Blueberries" , SOLD 8x10"

It's been a while since I have done any still life.  Recently, I painted three that will be reproduced on bags of chocolate and fruit flavored candies.

SOLD

I have always been drawn to purples, blues and greens, so I wanted to paint this one again.  On the candy bags, there are a few changes, some leaves are added and the blueberries have been replaced with pieces of chocolate.

It was an exciting project to work on, as well as a real learning experience for me.

Hope your day is sunny!!

Daily Painting, "In A World of Her Own", 8x6", Oil SOLD

During a recent trip to New York City with friends, we spent a few hours at a lovely Manhattan rooftop bar.

SOLD

This young woman was sitting across the roof top.  I was taken by her pose and snapped a quick photo.

When I began painting, I quickly realized that the background, a brick wall, was not what I wanted.  I decided to keep it simple and put the full focus on the woman and her skirt.

I suggested the wall with a few quick strokes of terra cotta.

Daily Painting, "Manhattan Rooftop", 6x8" Oil

When in Manhattan, I cannot think of a better place to spend a few hours of a lazy Saturday afternoon than on a lovely garden rooftop.

Purchase here
100

This one was a real find, on the roof of the Hudson Hotel, a beautiful garden with comfortable seating.

Add the company of good friends and a glass or two of wine, and you have the perfect summer afternoon.

Daily Painting, "Catching Up" 6x8, Oil SOLD

I was strolling through a Brooklyn park, when I found this lady, someone's grandmother, catching up with the day's events.

SOLD

Her eyesight must not have been the best, as she was holding the paper very close to her face.

Her hair was unevenly cut and it reminded me of my childhood days when my mother would sit me in a chair and chop away at my hair with her old scissors.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEFF!!

Daily Painting, "On The Moor" 8x10, oil SOLD

The moors of northern England and Scotland are a wild and wooly place, often cold and windy and very rugged.

SOLD

I painted this using both brush and palette knife.

  I tried to get a variety of strokes and hues in this piece.  I wanted plenty of texture to suggest the ruggedness of the British landscape.

Thank you, Donna Vines, for allowing me to use your wonderful image of your recent trip.

Enjoy your weekend!