Jennifer Rides a Beast

Working from home today with the kittens underfoot was great. Warm and cozy, loud rock music playing and I got into my zone.

This is the first drawing of an idea I got from this photo of Jennifer. Jennifer frequently models for me and on a recent photo shoot, I ended up with this picture that just screamed for her to be riding a beast of some sort. Wooly mammoth was my first thought, but too overused. So I sat with my IMC sketchbook in front of the TV one evening and did a series of thumbnails of possible ideas. This beast is what I have ended up with. My thoughts were, he should be large but agile and able to scale rocky cliffs and mountains. He should be bug like in the face, but elephant or dinosaur in his body appearance. The first quick sketch had him more like a dinosaur with the plates down the back which she could hook a leg over. I quickly rejected it....too overdone. I will continue to develop the drawing over the next two days. OH, my husband says, Lots of long hair on Jennifer this time. She is always wearing her hair pulled back in the photoshoots. So I will use my imagination or call her for some hair shots. Tonight is pizza night and a movie. Awesome

Working At Home Today - No Toilet in Gallery

The weather is very slippery here today and cold. Since I have trouble with Lupus and need a restroom nearby frequently, I have opted to stay home today and work in more comfortable surroundings. There is no restroom at the gallery. Another disappointment in my business life.

My Latest Miniature

This is about three afternoons of work so far on my latest miniature. I am using my 16 x 20 painting, "Vanitas #3" as my subject, but I am editing some of the items out of this painting. This is on a 2 x 3 inch piece of Ivorine. I hope to get some time to work on it again this weekend.

Kitten Update

Hard to believe these are the same two starving kittens who wandered into our trap a few weeks back. Pitiful little Monet (black kitten) was the weakest and had been on his own for a week longer than Rockwell (Tuxedo kitten). Both are now sleak, fat and rambuncious. Yesterday, I let them back outside for the first time since coming to live with us. They were nervous at first, but quickly made friends with all the other cats here and came back inside after a half hour for reassurance that their food dish had not disappeared.

Still dealing with the mini show.....more art blogs to follow soon.

Good Karma Day

I got the solo show spot for 2013. AWESOME! 42 artists were in the running for the 8 show slots. The Art League Gallery is in the Torpedo Factory Art Center and it is considered one of the top 5 art centers on the east coast. And then to make my day even better I got to paint a mural tree on my granddaughter's bedroom wall today, which means I got to hang out with her. She turns a year old this week and is the apple of my eye. She is such a darling little Princess. A perfect art day!

Posting Comments on the Blog

I must be a real dummy.....for the life of me, I just can't figure out if I am responding to comments left for me and whether or not they are getting to their destinations. If you receive my response to your comments, let me know at sha45rps@starpower.net just once and then I will know for sure I am doing this right. I am not senile, just not good with machines or technology. HMMMM that could make a good short story.......machines kill old lady for not using them correctly. Maybe Stephen King has done that one already?

Bird in Gallery and Solo Show Jury

I drove in to Alexandria today with five of my Gods and Goddesses paintings to drop off at the Art League Gallery. I am trying to get a solo show spot for 2013 at The Art League Gallery in the Torpedo Factory facility. I am one of 42 artists going before the jury on Monday and there are only 8 spots available for the show schedule in 2013. Pretty tough odds here, so I won't be too disappointed if I don't get a show. I had a show back in 2006 and because of the stiff competition and overwhelming number of artists, you can only try every 5 years for a show. Soooooo, everyone out there in cyberspace, please think positive thoughts for me.

While I was away, my hubby watched the gallery today. With the wonderful weather we are having, he left the door open for the fresh air and a tiny Titmouse flew in, circled three times and then landed on a panel for a few minutes. Then he flew back outside. Is that a good or bad omen? I think all wildlife is good, its definitely a good omen.

Still No Place To Go

I drove over to the River District Arts Center that opened up in Sperryville recently, hoping to find a studio or gallery space there. Of course, they are booked full with a waiting list since Spring. Of course in Spring, I had no idea my landlord was not being honest with me about the sale of his little building and I had no reason to look elsewhere. Very depressing that people can't be honest with one another. I suppose I should toughen up and adopt the mindset that it's ok to screw someone over if it means making a dollar. That's ok, Karma will prevail. Or maybe the other higher being who is politically incorrect to mention these days. I still believe!

Gallery Closing

I have been putting off this blog post for as long as possible, but decided keeping quiet is counterproductive.

My landlords have sold their B & B along with the tiny building my gallery is in. What a shock. Especially since they told me,and the realtor told me no less than 3 times, that the building was not for sale back when they listed it in January. Of course, three other great sites were available in town at that time, but I let them slip away, after all I was secure. I hope Karma is paying attention.
And so, my life is in turmoil right now. Nothing reasonable or affordable is available in the area. I keep hoping each day, something will come my way, but it is now time for a new game plan.
I will keep searching until the last moment and keep all informed on new developments. Meanwhile, the Miniatures show is again, very successful, selling lots of the tiny little jewels and the Rappahannock Studio Tours is the weekend of November 5th and 6th. During the studio tours, I will offer jewelry and gift items at 20% off and all of my artwork at 30% off.

New Miniature

Since my regular easel is at home during the 3rd Annual Little Washinton Miniatures Show, I am working on some miniatures which take up no space in the gallery. This is the Sharp Shinned Hawk, "Daffy" who kept flying into my dinning room window last year. The painting measures 2" x 3" and is oil on ivorine.

Amazon Warrior Continues

I am working from my home studio this month, the gallery studio is tied up with the miniatures show. By the way, the show looks great....75 artists from all across America have submitted works and we sold four the night of the Private Collectors Preview.

I am please with the heavy doors and ironwork. May weather them a bit more as I progress through the painting. I am at the point of laying in a first layer (underpainting). Once all parts have this underpainting, I will move into the real detail and pump up the color work some. I like vivid color and rarely paint in dull or greyed down colors.

As I look at this image on the computer monitor, I realize I need to darken the value of the body shadow areas. Not enough value contrast so far.