Grinch Hands

What fun I had painting these!  I made 5 to sell at our Holiday Arts Festival held on McDonough Square each November. The Grinch always makes a grand entrance to take pictures with the kids, so I thought it would be a great addition to make a photo mat for those cute photos! It is painted on suede mat board and the circle was cut out by the gentleman that does my matting and framing.  I hope the Grinch does not carry you away this Christmas!

Peaches Day 24

Peaches

6" x 6"  Oil on Gesso Board

$30

Peaches or apples?  It is a little hard to tell from here.  I think I am failing from trying too hard.  I think with the small format, I need to stick to a simpler picture.  Like one peach. In any case, the bowl was very fun!  I bought it at a local antique shop. It is metal with this wonderful green/gray patina that just begged for the peachy colors to go with it.  Have you ever noticed how many colors are all blended into peaches?  You will definitely see these appear in my pictures again. 

Simple Times Day 23

Simple Times 

6" x 6"   Oil on Gesso Board

$30

This is my sweet corn husk figure that is set out with my Thanksgiving decorations each year.  I don't think that I captured the essence of her petite frame and her gentle spirit, but she may appear in a grouping later.

Thanksgiving Gatherings Day 20

Thanksgiving Gatherings

11x14   Oil on Gesso Board

I'm Back!  After a ten day halt to my paintings as Benny and I cared for his Mom over her last few days and we spent time with family and friends to honor her, I am glad to be back to my painting.  These pieces are favorites around Thanksgiving at my house.  I love and collect copper pieces and this teapot is one of my favorites.  It seems to go with everything fall and it is very, very fun to paint. One must have plenty of Transparent Red Oxide.  The only way to go!  I was also happy with the Indian corn.  I feel like I finally managed to capture the different colors.

Three Amigos Day 8

Three Amigos

5" x 7"   Oil on Gesso Board

$30

Today I decided to go back and tackle the Indian corn.  I learned a lot and immediately after posting the picture, see some things I would like to change.  I guess that is what learning is.  I definitely love the smaller formats.  

Yes, you must have Indian corn for it to be fall.  I love using paint to create the fall colors. I used to think that orange was a terrible color, but lately, I love it's many different hues. The only time orange is a terrible, even despicable color is when it is on any football team.  Oh, that gives me even more ideas of favorite things to paint.  GO DAWGS! 

Fall Favorites Day 7

Fall Favorites

11"x 14"  Oil on Gesso Board

$75

Well, they say the Thirty Paintings in 30 Days Challenge was not about always doing you best work. So, here it is.  Maybe I just need to say that this one is not finished. Read, "It needs a lot of work." However, it does look better in person than in the photograph. Neither photography or composition is my strong suit.  I am looking forward to learning more about these in Leslie Saeta's workshop online.  

These are a few of my favorite fall things.  I love copper!  This part I like and it was fun to paint.  Couldn't do it with a palette knife so I had to go back to a brush.  There is nothing like Transparent Red Oxide for the perfect color!

Wheat is another one of my fall loves.  My Dad passed away in November, and one of the flower displays from his funeral had a spray of wheat.  This is in honor of his memory.  I'll have to get some Black-eyed Susans for another painting.  That was his favorite flower.

This cornucopia is a standard display around my house each fall.  It has had a variety of things inside over the years, but it would not seem like Thanksgiving without it.

Indian corn is also a common part of my fall decorations and a request from a friend to paint, but what a challenge!  I didn't capture its color at all!

Oh, well!  All in a fun evening of painting and a time of reminiscing and learning as well.  Thanks for looking!

Elaine

Geraniums Day 4, 5, 6

Geraniums  Day 4, 5, 6 

Geraniums  

6" x 6"Oil on Gesso Board

$30

McDonough, Georgia, where I now live, is called the Geranium City.  McDonough is a fabulous little city just south of Atlanta where there is an iconic square complete with stately oak trees, park benches, and a statue for the Confederate soldiers in Henry County.  Throughout the year there are various festivals and events which bring tents and vendors, families and youngsters, blankets and Frisbees, as well as photographers for weddings or prom pictures. There are always red geraniums planted all around the square each year, but I have not found the history behind being  named The Geranium City.

In any case, I have always been a great fan of geraniums.  They come in a variety of colors, they are extremely hardy, and look lovely from spring through late fall. I am not sure I have captured the depth of their color in this series, but I sure do love working on them!

Thank you for enjoying!

Elaine Ford 

Sweets Day 3

Sweets    Day 3

Oil on Gesso Board

$30

Oh!  How I love my sweets.  Cupcakes are just full of celebration and lusciousness.  I painted a series of these a while back and gave some to sweet friends with whom I just love to celebrate life! I love each and every kind of sweet, but cupcakes are the only that I have tried to paint.  Maybe I will have to give that a little more thought and try for some of the other goodies that so often call my name.

 The oil paints and palette knife act just like the icing on the cupcake except that I have learned that white icing isn't just white, but can move from pinks to lavenders to sometimes downright purple!

I hope you are enjoying my series of 'Favorite Things' during this Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days challenge.  I do not have a website or store of any kind at this time, but you may comment or email me and we can certainly do business through a credit card or Paypal account.  Blessings to each and every one of you who take the time to look.

Elaine Ford

marela54@gmail.com

Fresh Pick Day 2

Fresh Pick

Oil on Gesso Board

$30

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days  Day 2

OK,  I am playing a little catch up (or ketchup) here for the challenge.

I am learning so much just by the process of writing, posting, and linking all of these things together. And what a thrill it is to paint a series of things.  The paints are all set, your subject is decided, and all you have to do is... paint! It makes my 'nesting time' (otherwise known as procrastination) much less.

I have always said that there is something very therapeutic about painting with a pallet knife.  There is freedom as well as forgiveness. Emotion is so easily expressed.  And yes, I find it quite fun to experience those 'happy accidents' that Bob Ross talked about.

Let me know what you think about the series.
Love,
elaine

Summer Tomatoes Day 1

Summer Tomatoes

6" x 6"

Oil on Gessoboard

Sold!

Day 1 of Thirty Paintings in 30 Days.  

This is a challenge from one of my favorite artists, Leslie Saeta.

My challenge is titled "My Favorite Things".  Of course my real challenge is to become a daily painter. The idea is to become disciplined, but have fun at the same time.  And not get too stressed. Because there are really no rules, and we had planned to be gone for the Labor Day weekend, I had painted this ahead of time. 

'Summer Tomatoes' is the first in a series of tomato paintings. Summers in Georgia bring wonderful, fat, juicy tomatoes. Their plump, fat cheeks make mine do the same thing with a big smile.  Tomato sandwiches, tomatoes and cucumbers, or just slice tomatoes along side any meal. Delicious! The best of any season can be bought at Thompson's market in McDonough.  

The colors are exquisite and the nice rounded shapes reflect a great light.  I had fun pairing the reds and oranges against the Phthalo Green. My intent is to paint in a very loose style.  The freedom of the pallet knife on gesso board gives just the right combination.  How fun!  Let me know how you like the paintings.  Hope you come back often to see them!

Ready, Set, Paint!

I am getting ready to participate in a 'Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days' challenge by Leslie Saeta.  I attended a pallet knife workshop in Atlanta with Leslie back in February. (See my previous post.)  Working with her changed a bit of my style, my colors, as well as the size and canvas material.  I don't think I will ever go back!


The challenge is to become a daily painter.  Working small (6" x 6") on gesso board makes for a quick painting.  If I plan well, I should be posting a painting each day on this blog and on Leslie's blog. http://30paintingsin30days.weebly.com/




See you back soon!

Workshop with Leslie Saeta

What a magnificent time I had working with 15 others at a Palette Knife Workshop with Leslie Saeta.  I have worked with a palette knife for some time, but not very often have I used it exclusively. Leslie teaches in a wonderfully positive, relaxed manner. She not only teaches palette knife techniques, but she teaches about values and color mixing. I learned so much!  See more of Leslie Saeta's work at  http://www.saetastudio.com/Leslie_Saeta_fine_Art/Home.html

Until I have my website done in April (something else Leslie will have a workshop on), I will be posting my completed paintings and prices here.  I hope you will enjoy coming to take a look, enjoy some of my musings, and purchase a picture or two.  In any case, comments are welcome and I hope you enjoy some of my musings.  Please pass along this blog site to others as I hope to get some continued traffic through here.

Side by Side    6x6 Oil     $60

Side by Side

Our first painting was a study in values. I have posted mine and then a collection of  those from the class.  I now have a better understanding of values but especially how to check to see if you have the right one. We all began with 5 colors - Alizarin Crimson,  Sap Green, Yellow Cadmium Medium, Ultramarine Blue and Titanium White.  Yep, that's all.   I am amazed about the variety of colors that were created to paint the same picture.  How fun!
(Yes, I need to fix the scraped side of my green apple.  This is the problem with transporting wet paintings!  Amazing what you see when you  post your own pictures!)

The second picture of the china cup and lemons I will have to post later.  Forgot to take a picture.   :(

Boat and Reflections

Boat with Reflections  11x 14   Oil     $350

Day 2 of the workshop continued with this practice in color mixing and blocking in values.  A few drawing lessons about boats was needed also.  Palette knife lends itself so easily to blocking in the colors, creating reflections, and especially the lines needed for the masts and rigging.  When you finish a painting like this, you know how to use your warm and cool colors effectively!

Peonies Posing

Our third day of the workshop was held after the snow and ice had melted and everyone could safely get into Atlanta.  Our task was a vase of flowers that Leslie had set near her studio window.  It was a challenge to say the least.  I finished it this past weekend and I am pleasantly pleased with it. Here are some of the 'in progress' photos.

Leslie mixes all of her colors on a gray palette paper before she begins to paint.

Leslie is a master at painting glass objects!

Complete!  Peonies Posing
12x12   Oil   $250

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