Category Archives: Figurative

Touching Up an Oldie-but-Goodie ~~ a Favorite Painting from a Long Ago Workshop

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Some years ago I took a workshop from nationally known artist Carolyn Anderson.  One of our tasks was to paint an interpretation based on one of her stash of photos that she uses for inspiration.  I selected the one I liked and did a nice start, I thought.  I’ve always liked that old painting and decided to finish it up last week.  It only took a few minutes.  Ahhhhh.  That felt good! Here it is and below that, its state before the touch-up, as well as the reference photo.

Painting #6 – Get Me Outta Shepherdstown (For Now)! Sick of Mixing Greens! Give Me Koi!!

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My plan to overdose on Shepherdstown scenes must pause.  I’m tired of the greens there — and the extreme difficulty of mixing them from my limited palette.  I need to do some off-painting experimentation to see if I can develop some better mixes.

In the meantime, here are some koi, which I’ve been wanting to try for years. I like it, though the composition is too lopsided to the left, isn’t it?  I didn’t want to include the reference’s departing duck sailing at lower right.  Should I add a baby koi down there?  Or would that be too ‘coy’?  Should I preserve the area as the tranquil spot where the eyes can rest??  And dang – more green issues!  A problem for the future.

#6 Koi Without Duck. Oil on Paper. 10″x8″.

Koi with Duck.

Painting #3 – Resting at Shepherdstown

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Here’s my third of the 100 painting project — still on the Shepherdstown WV subject matter.  This one was simple compared to those other two!

The painting & the reference.

Shepherdstown boaters, resting. Oil on Paper. 8″x10″. 2018.

Photo of Shepherdstown boaters.

My iPad art has been getting lots of ‘likes’ lately!!

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Marc Hanson post of Maureen’s iPad sketch of him. ArtRage. 2018.

After a recent workshop down in Ocean Springs, MS, I sent teacher Marc Hanson a quick little iPad sketch of himself as a thank you for a wonderful experience.  He promptly posted it on his Instagram account – surprising me greatly.  I was tickled to see it and was especially delighted when it gathered 550 likes and a number of comments and questions.  Wow.  Thanks, Marc, for the exposure!

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Performance Anxiety in a Portrait Painter!

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I spent a helluva lot of hours on this grandmother/grandson portrait.  It took me over a year and a half(!!) — though most of that time was spent dreading painting, rather than putting brush to linen.  It was commissioned by a friend and based on her photos from years earlier, rather than observation — never a great thing.

Grandmother and grandson, with hydrangeas. Oil on linen.

My next post will show a portrait that I did in a weekend  ~~ things work (and look) much better without anxiety!

Africa: Motherland, not S***hole.

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I’ve been busy on our Gallery B exhibit, which kicked off last night with a public reception.  The weather cooperated and a number of folks came by to enjoy chocolates and art.

I woke up today with different thoughts on my mind ~~ recent denigrations of people based on their home country (and skin color??).  I love the phrase ‘out of Africa’ for its pithy recognition that all of us are children of Africa.  We have a common lineage.  Where we settled ~~ hot equator or cooler clime ~~ determined whether our skins darkened or not.  I’m sensing T-shirts, mugs and other swag for this one!

happy figure bursting out of the motherland, Africa

Out of Africa. Original iPad Painting. 2018. 1:1 aspect ratio.

 

Fifth New Oil Painting ~~ Fishing in Cream

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Today’s painting is decidedly different from the others you’ve seen so far.  It’s one of two that have a different color palette and strike a very dreamy mood (in my opinion).  We happened on this scene while zipping along on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.  It reminded me of a life very different from my own.  Fortunately, folks on the Eastern Shore and in my own Biloxi, Mississippi, still take the time for such contemplation.

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Fishing in Cream. Oil on Arches Oil Paper. 2018. 12×16.

Doodles While Traveling

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We flew to California for Christmas this year and, as usual, I occupied myself at the airports and in-air by some iPad doodling.  Thought it would be fun to share some of those from this and earlier flights with you.

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New Paintings Over the Holidays

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I squeezed in a few iPad paintings over the Christmas holiday.  My favorite is this sketch of son Sam and grandson Max relaxing over a new book.  I shared on Facebook & will add again below the little scribble I did of Max’s lego creation made from a complex (5 bag) set on Christmas Day.  He only called for adult help once or twice in the multi-hour endeavor.  Way to go, Max!

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Sam & Max Reading. Original iPad Painting. 2017

Max’s Christmas Production

Max’s Christmas Production. Original iPad painting. 2017.

 

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