Great Fun . . .

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

One afternoon this last week a quartet from the Seattle Dickens Carolers came by to serenade us. They are Wonderful! I highly recommend them.

painting a little more . . .

A little more paint has been added to the figures. I am standing on a box so I can reach the top hat on the tallest figure. I hope to post the rest of the images in a day or two.

Painting the Dickens Carolers

Several months ago I sketched four figures on 4 x 8' sheets of plywood. (Parts of two panels are shown in "A fun project . . . " posted on December 17, 2009)

When the figures were finished, they became part of a display used by the Seattle Dickens Carolers in late October and mid November this year. When I receive a photo of their final use, I will post it. I have put together a series of images showing the figures in the shop during the painting process and will post after they are turned into a short video.

I have just received word that my painting of "Rustler" has been accepted into this year's 2009 Oil Painters of America's National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils. The exhibition will be held at Sage Creek Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, May 1 - May 31, 2009. 

Click here to see the painting.

Howard/Mandville Gallery's 18th Annual Invitational Small Works Show

6 x 8 inches

oil on wooden panel

"Liquid Sunshine" and "Setting Up Shop" join my last post in Howard/Mandville Gallery's 18th Annual Invitational Small Works Show in Kirkland, Washington. The exhibition features almost 200 paintings 11 x 14 or smaller by the gallery's impressive roster of artists plus invited guest artists.  The exhibition is now up for viewing in the gallery and on line. 

I will be at the Reception & Sale on Saturday, November 22nd from 5:30-8 p.m. Stop by and say hello if you are in the area. 

To see the list of artists, images of their paintings and more information, click here.

"Frye Cafe"

14 x 10 inches

oil on panel

The sunlight and shadows on Seattle's Frye Museum Cafe diners, the trees and building wall were simply wonderful! I just stood there a moment to enjoy the view. I knew I had to paint them. This is the second in the series. The first, “Lunch at the Frye” won an award earlier this year. It was posted on May 21, 2008.

Click on images to enlarge and see color more like the painting.

This painting will be in Howard/Mandville Gallery’s 18th Annual Invitational Small Works Show. "Liquid Sunshine" (posted April 24) and "Setting Up Shop" (posted February 15) are also in this exhibition. Preview Days: November 13-22nd  

I will attend the Reception & Sale: Saturday, November 22nd 5:30-8pm  Please stop by if you are in the area. 

"Brenna"

7 x 10 inches

oil on wooden panel

I went to Fishermen’s Terminal in Seattle this morning to paint. So many wonderful subjects there! The weather was perfect - sunlight shimmering on the water, light breeze, very pleasant. Two painters were already at work when I arrived so I stopped to visit. They had been here the day before and so enjoyed the experience that they were back again . . . I think the same thing is going to happen for me! 

Next time I will pack my Titanium White. Used Ice Blue instead today and mixed it into almost everything - because it was the lightest color I had with me. The proportions of my subject in are a bit strange, color too, but the day was so wonderful I am posting my painting anyway. 

"Sweet Lips"

8 x 6

oil on wooden panel

These maidens are getting ready for the stage - making sweet lips for the Mikado. This little painting was so much fun, I may use it as reference for a larger painting.

Click image to enlarge and see the brighter color of the actual painting.

Crane Vase almost finished

Tomorrow this will be "antiqued" and made to look like porcelain when on stage.

Act II in progress

I have been at the shop again helping Nathan paint the backdrop for Act II in the Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s 2008 production of “The Mikado”. The panels shown in the first image are on the shop floor, shot from a high ladder. It is almost 18’ from the lower edge to the top of the mountain.

The second image shows some of the lower section of the backdrop. These 4x8' panels are being mounted on wooden framing. When they arrive at the theater, the sections will all be bolted together forming a drop 32’ wide and just under 18’ high.

Click on image to enlarge.

Act I in progress

Now some color is being added. This shows part of the center panel. The raised section is 8’ wide. The panel on the floor to the right is 4’ wide. When finished, these will all be level. The upper left shows two panels out of sequence.

You will have to wait to see the rest of this until July when it hangs in the Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s production of “The Mikado.”

Click image to enlarge.

Act I in progress

I have been working in the Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s shop with Nathan Rodda, the society’s set designer. This will become part of the backdrop for act I of their July production of “The Mikado.”

We worked together on the final design for this 18 x 32’ backdrop and began sketching it in chalk yesterday. Today the chalk drawing was finished and we began painting the outlines. I will post more photos as the painting progresses.

Click image to enlarge.

"Lunch at the Frye"

14 x 10"

oil on wooden panel

I just received word that this painting has won an award in the Women Painters of Washington Membership Show at the Kaewyn Gallery, 10101 Main, Bothell WA. The gallery reception is Friday evening May 23rd from 5-8 p.m. Please stop by if you are in the area.

The inspiration for this painting came from a visit to the Frye Museum in Seattle. From the museum’s parking lot across the street, I saw these people having lunch in the cafe. The sunlight and shadow patterns on the trees, the walls and the people in the window took my breath away. I new I had to paint it!

"Namaste"

36 x 18 inches

oil on canvas

These ladies were sharing joy in a little village in Maharastra, India. The people were so beautiful. I have been painting some of them.

The painting is in the WPW Rotating Exhibition at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. I have just posted it on my website and thought I would add it here as well.

"Liquid Sunshine"

6 x 8"

oil on gessoed wooden panel

The rain brings so many refreshing painting possibilities. One of them is open umbrellas. This one cast a warm glow on the owner’s face and gave new colors to her coat. 

When the bus came to a stop at the curb, reflections of people waiting under cover on the other side of the sidewalk suddenly appeared before me. Great fun to paint!

Click image to enlarge. This will also give color closer to the actual painting.

"Waiting For The 4:45"

8 x 6"

oil on gessoed wooden panel

I spotted this man as I was walking up 4th Avenue in downtown Seattle. Waiting for the bus, reading the news, bright sunlight catching long shadows of people walking by, this was just too good to pass up! Instantly I knew I had to paint him.

Click on image to enlarge.

"On the Way to 500"

8 x 6"

oil on wooden panel

This lounge area is just outside WPW Gallery at the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle. As I was going to the gallery last week, I just had to stop a moment to enjoy the light falling on this reader and the tops of the chairs. Some chairs caught the blue cast from the terrace and some caught the orange from the painting on the wall.

Click on image to enlarge. 

"Morning Walk"

6 x 8"

oil on 1/8" gessoed wooden panel

This is a popular walking path in Seattle. It has skaters, joggers, walkers and bikers in almost any weather. Sun is best and I love the long shadows of early morning and late afternoon.

Click on image to enlarge.

Click here for the auction page and a chance to place your bid.

"Another Delivery"

8 x 6"

oil on wood panel

This was just too good to pass up. The dog’s focus was totally on his master, who was making an early morning delivery to Pike Place Market in Seattle.

"Morning Delivery"

6 x 8"

oil on wood panel

Just across the alley from my February 15th posting, a produce delivery was on its way to the proper stand. People were starting to arrive for morning shopping. Pike Place Marked, Seattle.