Still In An Art Rut

Okay - so today I overworked a watercolor. Arrrg. Art ruts.

Scraping Paint

My last two paintings I have scraped the paint off the canvas. That is how unhappy I was with them. So, I am gardening and entertaining my cat. I am also salmon fishing this week. 
Either way, I will force myself out of this art slump especially since the sun has started shining. That darn fog. It doesn't just effect the weather.

Benjamin Is An Art Critique

Benjamin, the cat that knows it is good to be king,  is also an art critique.  Here he is with his painting and then he voiced his opinion.  Look at the expression on his face.  Priceless.

Overworked ...

Magical Megan - 9x12Oil on  Canvas

What's a pirate's favorite letter in the alphabet? Rrrr. That is the sound I am made after I  messed with this painting and overworked it. I know better, too.
I am still happy to be painting, though.

Don't Touch The Model's Nose

I had a successful painting and decided to touch the models nose. No. No. Not her real nose. The nose I painted. Then I changed another thing and pretty soon it was no longer successful.  So here is the first stage. You are just going to have to believe it was a successful painting.

Hanging Out at the Gold Beach Fair in Oregon

I have my work hanging at the Gold Beach Fair in Oregon this weekend with the Brookings Coastal Plein Air Artists. Hurray. Which means I spent the morning hanging paintings with Audi Staton and then off we went to Rollin In Dough Bakery Bistro. 
It was wonderful! If you want to treat yourself to a baked goods, fresh seafood, sandwiches or soup, this is the place.  The service is outstanding and they have a  chef with credentials  who graduated from a New York culinary school. (A REAL CHEF).
Yum. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rollin-In-Dough-BakeryBistro/154425603671

And you are not going to believe this but Claude Monet painted their restroom with his famous water lilies.  I saw his signature myself and it looked authentic as it is dated 1907. 
From the bakery there is a view of the Rogue River which I think could another top  place to plein air paint in Oregon.  You have the bridge, the port, boats, cottage style houses, the river, mountains and coastal pines. Plus you get to eat at a bistro where your food is prepared by a chef who can cook and bake. Did I mention the soup of the day was outstanding.  Next time, I am having the fresh salmon if it is still available and that espresso chocolate cake. Oh and I will paint, too.

Fogged In And Getting Ready For The Fair

I woke up at 4 o'clock this morning, made breakfast, cleaned my house and waited for the sun to rise. I was waiting so I could go paint the lily fields.  It didn't go as I planned since  everything was fogged in including the fields.  I took pictures along with some buildings  so I could go home and sketch.
So that is what I did today was sketch compositions and prepare for the sun.
Oh and I had to pack my art to show at the Gold Beach Fair in Oregon. That is the worst part of art for me. Having to price, label, package and prepare my work to show.  I know there are few artists out there that feel the same.  

Photo of the fields in fog.

Here Pup

I started two adult dog paintings today but was frustrated.  I put down the photos and created this pup instead.

"Here Pup"  6x6 Oil on Gallery Wrap

Park N' Paint

"In A Clam Shell" 8x10 linen

I was at the park, again, today with fellow plein air painters. Here is my piece of the Azalea Park clam shell.  If you are a local, you know this familiar site.  I painted the background with transparent washes to represent all those trees, bushes, plants, etc. I then described them with a few brush strokes.   I needed to be sure I had the ellipses correct on the statue.  It was a fun painting.

Guess What I Found

I was cleaning out a drawer and found a few of my watercolor and mixed mediums pieces from 2008.  See - I can be loose.

Painting in the Fog

It was a foggy day and I wanted to paint flower outdoors with some fellow painters. I set up this still life outdoors and tried to imagine what it would look like with sun.   It wasn't easy.
Here is my piece "Rosey Watering Can".

"Rosey Watering Can" 8x10 Oil On Canvas

Framing My Pictures

Instead of painting today, I had to frame my pictures for the upcoming Curry County Fair in Gold Beach in Oregon. I will have about 12 paintings on display for sale from July 26tth  - July 29th with friends from the  Brookings Coastal Plein Air Artists.

I have included all my original pieces of the Oregon coast and a few of my cat paintings.
Here is an example of what will be for sale.

Sweet Emily

I am so happy to be able to practice portraits. This was a lovely model named Emily. I painted it on a canvas sheet that was at the bottom of my art bag. The sheet was a little wrinkled so it the painting.

Let's Be Fair

I had to paint a dog to be fair to canine lovers.  I once was dog person only.  I thought cats were too pushy until one captured my heart and now I am hooked.  But, this doesn't mean I don't make room in my van for a dog.  Like most pooches, I  love a car ride, too.

"The Cat's Meow - SOLD

This was such a fun cat to paint with his orange and white colors.    I am focusing on a watercolor effect with oils and having a good time with the process more and more.
This is my cat painting for today.  Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this item. I take paypal. 

SOLD

Named and Framed

This is a named and framed piece from a previous painting I sold of Benjamin. I called it "It's Good to be the King".  His owner had a custom frame made for it. It is so wonderfully funny. 
It is also a reminder how precious people can be  in the way they see and love others and this is one very loved cat.
 

"Putting On My Tux"

"Putting On My Tux" 6x6 Oil on gallery wrap canvas

Here is my cat painting of a tuxedo cat. I used a transparent wash throughout the paint and then when I was happy with it, I applied the mixed opaque paint. The washes were phalo blue, veridian, indian yellow and transparent red oxide to name a few. I am happy with the effects. I wish my camera could capture the color.

I will have the best of my cat show at the Curry County Fair in Gold Beach, OR with other of my artwork. I am showing with Brookings Coastal Plein Air Artists from July 26th to July 29th. 

Midnight Madness

Around midnight last night, I realized what was bothering me about yesterday's painting. The rock value was too dark. It is surrounded by light so it looks dark plus I was painting by a picture. I should know better.  Such madness. I worked on it, again, today.

Then, I went and sketched at the park while listening to a live country music band. What a treat. Verna Pooler, a wonderful watercolorists, was on the bench next to me. She created another masterpiece.
It was a good day.

Verna Pooler with her watercolor on her lap.

A Favorite Place To Paint

11x14 Oil on cavas with palette knife

I love to paint at Harris Beach in Brookings, OR and this  view is one of my favorites. I painted this piece from picture today. I am debating on how much detail I need to put in the rock. That rock formation that is off to the right in real life looks looks like a man's face with his arms behind is head so I usually edited it.
I will take another look tomorrow.

It's Friday the 13th

Since it is Friday the 13th, I painted this black cat.  I am not superstitious.

"Friday the 13th" 6x6 Oil painted on gallery wrap

Must Remember To Do Portraits

I haven't done a portrait in quite a few months.  I can't believe how much I forgot.  I must schedule to do one at least once a week or  else...

Fur Me?

Here is my cat painting today.  Sometimes these are a struggle and other times they are not. Now for whine... art is hard.  I am sure enjoying painting these cats despite the whining.

"Fur Me?  6x8 on gallery wrap canvas

The Honor Is All Mine

I received a thank you from Neola regarding her purchase of  "Introducing Oliver."  Here is part of the message. " I think Oliver loved the painting of himself. Tell Eva thank you so much for capturing the spirit of my boy! Everyone who has seen it has been duly impressed".
She sent pictures of Oliver's reaction. I laugh every time I see these. You can tell Oliver is brimming with personality.
And Neola, the honor is all mine. What a wonderful cat to have your life. Thank you for sharing him.

"Wow. Is that me?"

"Yup. It sure is."

"9 Lives"

Here is the 9 lives cat. She was drowned as a kitten by accident, given mouth to mouth  and lived. She survived when a car engine was turned on and she was sleeping on it at the time. Not a scratch on her. She learned to climb the garage ladder to the attic to stay safe at night. Don't worry. She is an indoor cat.
Smart cat and very, very bossy.

"9 Lives" 5x7 Oil on gallery wrap

Trees, Trees, Trees

Here is a study with a tree and more trees around it.  Practice makes more need to practice.

"Lumber Yard"  8x10 Oil on gesso board with palette knife

And I have said that a few times in this blog. I am running out of original material....

The Oregon Trail

This is a painting I did of Crissey Field Recreation Site. The wind was blowing strong that day and made it difficult to paint outdoors. I took a photo instead to paint later. The problem with painting with photos, you sometimes can't get the color quite right. This piece was created with a palette knife.

"The Oregon Trail" 8x10 Oil with palette knife on board

Painting with Friends

A few of us have been painting together for years and decided to form an informal group we call Brookings Coastal Plein Air Artists. Well, we were out in numbers at the Winchuck Garden and Nursery this week. Kathy Huxley, Verna Pooler, Audi Stanton and myself,  all got together for a paint out. Here are some  pictures  of us painting. You can always see more at brookingscoastalpleinairartists.blogspot.com.

Photo of potted flowers for sale taken by my husband, Gerald Klaas.

Verna Pooler is painting the passion vine with her watercolors.

Audi Stanton is a multi-media artist. She is painting geraniums in this photo.

Kathy Huxley is a working in oils in this photo.

Still Distracted

I had a wonderful day out painting with the Brookings Coastal Plein Air Artists but I am still distracted. That doesn't mean I am going to put down my paint brushes. It means I will just have to paint my way through it.

"Passion"  5x7 Oil on Linen

Introducing Oliver

Here is my cat painting today. I would like to introduce Oliver.

"Introducing Oliver" 5x7 Oil On Gallery Wrapped Canvas SOLD

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July to the greatest nation in the world.  God bless you all.

California Kennel Cough

I was down for a few days with the California Kennel Cough that is going around. I feel like a wimp though I did spend the last two days painting outdoors. I just couldn't stay in bed.  The paintings were not my best work  but I did paint. 
Here is my cat. I could paint him everyday. I named this piece "Walter Keane's Cat".

"Walter Keane's Cat" 8x10 Oil on Gessoboard