I'm New to eBay

It seems so many bloggers are going through changes this year, in many ways, shapes and forms. I've been going through many changes of my own. Kind of like a whirlwind. That's what it feels like, anyway.

After much back and forth and soul searching, I've decided to take the plunge and open an eBay store. I want my work to go out into the world and I decided that it will reach the maximum amount of viewers. After all, buying art is a very personal thing. Each painting may or may not speak to a particular viewer depending on that person.

And I want my art to be truly affordable. It's not the right route for every artist, but I it just feels right for me.

Abundance

Abundance

24x30

oil on linen

Here is my latest large painting done in Tonalist style.  It was completed about five weeks ago and since then I've put it in a black frame.  I think the black sets it off nicely.  

The thing I've noticed about paintings done in this style is that they seem to glow on the walls.  Unlike some of my Impressionist work, one notices the many layers of opaque paint, translucent paint and transparent passages.  I've fallen head over heels in love with this style.  Although the learning curve has been extremely steep for me, I think it's been worth the many months of study.  

Very soon my new on-line class starts with Deborah Paris.  It's called Magic Hours.  I'm so grateful to her for showing the way.

Library Exhibit and Too Many Tomatoes

Whew!  My paintings are finally all framed and hung at the Glen Ellyn Library for the month of September.  As most artists know, getting one's work ready for a show is usually more work than actually painting.  I'm one of those artists who would rather be in the studio, happily creating, than anything else.  
I like how my husband hung my paintings.  He cleverly separated my Impressionist work from my Tonalist work.  I think he did a great job.
We had some extra space at the end, near the wall.  So I thought I'd bring in some of my older pastel work.  Of course, soft pastels need to be under glass, so all you see is glare in some of these.
Here's a sample of just a few of the tomatoes we have on hand right now.  There are many more bags in the downstairs refrigerator.  There's always a  HUGE influx of tomatoes at this time of year.  These are too small to make tomato sauce.  I was thinking of making batches of salsa and freezing them.  Does anyone have any more ideas on what to do with all these tomatoes?

Facing West

Facing West

16x20

Oil on Linen

This painting is finally completed after lots of layers of glaze and opaque paint.  It requires many, many sessions of back and forth with the layers, examining the effects between drying times.  This is the painting I did from a photograph taken right outside my front door as the sun was going down.  That is to say - it was inspired by the photograph.  You can check it out here.

I'm gearing up for my solo exhibition at the Glen Ellyn Public Library for the month of September.  I have quite a bit of wall space to fill up and I wish I had more tonalist work done at this point.  But it looks like it's going to be half of my tonalist work and half of my impressionism work.  Hmmm.  I hope it doesn't look too strange!

Last Light, Low Light

Last Light

16x20

This painting has been on and off my easel for the last two weeks.  Every time I think I'm done with it, I change my mind.  I actually signed it yesterday.  I think I just wanted to stop the questioning.  

The odd thing about this painting is that it looks good from a distance.  But if I stand close to it and really observe all the details, the doubts come flooding in.  One evening I was talking about this painting with my husband.  I usually talk to him about things like this when I simply can't gain perspective.  It's amazing what he comes up with from his non-artistic background.  He said, "It should be hung in a place where there's low light".  

I think he's right.  Shouldn't the lighting be taken into consideration when hanging certain paintings?  

Searching for Zen

"Zen"  24x30  Oil on Canvas

I must admit that I'm new to this whole blogging thing.  Even though I've always loved to write my thoughts down on paper, the blog  is somewhat of a foreign concept.  Is it like a journal?  A letter? It seems that it's a little of both.  I get to write my thoughts and you get to read mine. And it's out there for everyone to see.  

Painting has been my passion for a number of years now.  I love holding the brush and and scooping up globs of oil paint.   Applying the paint to canvas, as any artist knows, can seem almost like a religious experience when you are in the zone.  Time flies by and I'm not even aware of how hot or cold I might be feeling.  It doesn't seem to matter.  Painting can become so engrossing.  I've heard it said that every painting requires two thousand decisions for the artist to make.  I believe it.

"Zen" was just such a painting for me.  I enjoyed every moment of creating this piece because I felt at peace with the subject matter and color combinations.