A Creek Runs Through It

50" x 40", oil on canvas

A recent commission for a really nice couple who wanted a scene from the creek on their ranch.  I really enjoyed painting this one. 

All she wrote . . .

Untitled, 42" x 42"

oil on canvas

Here it is, number four, the final of the four-painting campus life commission. As my daddy would have said, "that's all she wrote." The four pieces have been framed and installed in the brand new UAC building at Texas State University in San Marcos. I haven't visited the building yet but have received positive feedback on the paintings. 

Now for some nice simple landscapes!

Number three . . .

Untitled, 42" x 42"

This is the third in the four-painting campus series -- and another that almost rendered me goofy. I had eye strain from trying to sort out all those bicycle parts.

Second of the big four . . .

Untitled, 50" x 40"

Here's another of that four-painting commission. I happened upon these guys just after they'd settled in for a guitar session in the campus Quad. 

I Got Some 'Splainin' to Do . . .

Untitled,  50" x 40"

I'm still around in case you were wondering. Just been totally absorbed with a four-painting commission for a Texas University. They're large pieces (two 50"x40" and two 42"x42") with lots of figures and detail work, and they took over my life for the last few months. Did I mention there was lots of detail?

Above  is the first painting. The scene has 21 figures and nine thousand steps in case you were wondering. I painted this one first, because I figured it would be the biggest challenge to my sanity. But there's another one that was equally challenging in terms of hair-pulling detail; I'll get to it in another post.

A job of this magnitude can be tricky, especially when there's  a short timeline on top of multiple trips to meet with a committee and to get plenty of photo references. I was in the studio seven days a week for most of that time, sometimes till 8 or 9 at night. (Okay, it's true I don't start painting till around midday, after I've put in several hours with the business side of my career -- and other, uh, business.  Still.) 

AND there's a chance I may have emerged from the project as a total wino. But maybe that will turn out to  be a good thing. We'll see.

Anway, I DID emerge -- with most of my brain cells intact. So I'm celebrating. The paintings have been hung, and the reviews are all good. Doing the happy dance here. 

Much work in progress . . .

Thank goodness we have periodic openings at Winter Street Studios! Otherwise, I'd never clean up my space. Next thing you know, I'd be featured on Hoarders, and my studio would be quarantined, if not condemned. Right now, I'm busily getting ready for the upcoming Spring Open Studios -- cleaning, framing, re-hanging, and re-considering the whole process. Meanwhile, I've put aside commission pieces until the dust settles and the show's over.

Just three days away, (Saturday, April 28th from 3 to 9 p.m.) this show will feature all the Winter Street and Spring Street artists in their native habitat.  Visitors will be free to roam among us, wander the studios, sip some wine, and take in a huge array of spectacular art. 

So, if you're in Houston, come on down to Winter Street Studios and check us out. I'm in C-5 on the east end of the building, and I'll be looking for you. For a map and directions, look here: 

http://www.winterstreetstudios.info/directions.html

Going to the dogs . . .

"Noche"

Gouache, 7"x7"

See? I can paint something besides cats! This fine pooch is Noche, a Portugese Water Dog (just like the one in the White House) who belongs to my friends Cookie and Ric Ashton. Cookie is another great artist friend and has a studio right down the hall from mine at Winter Street Studios.

Polyptychs

"Lazy Afternoon"

Oil on canvas

Tetraptych, 32" x 32" overall,

each canvas is 16" square.

The big problem with painting polyptychs (multiple paneled paintings) is not how to keep them all balanced on your easel -- it's what to call the complete piece. Yeah, we've all painted diptychs; that's a no-brainer. Even knocked out a triptych or two. But what about four or five or six panel pieces??? And, if you don't remember that bit of trivia from school days, that, my friends, is what Wikipedia is for. Once I'd conquered the balancing act and finished this one, I thought I'd better figure out what it was in "tych" speak before someone asked. At least, I want to give the appearance of knowing everything about something I've produced. (No, that doesn't carry over to the subject of my kids.)

So here's the rundown on multiples: Diptych = 2; Triptych = 3; Tetraptych = 4; Pentaptych = 5; Hexaptych = 6; Heptaptych = 7; Octaptych = 8.  If you're working on nine or more, you're on your own.

Way Out West

"Way Out West"

14" x 56", oil on canvas

A road that wanders through the vast land known as Big Bend.

A Place to Lose Your Heart?

"Cafe de la Presse"

12" x 12", oil on canvas - Sold

There's much to love about that city on the Bay; for instance, its fine eateries and casual bistros. Its cool summers. July in San Francisco is downright cold. About as cold as January in Houston.

Himself

"Himself"

(Denny Crane)

36" x 36" oil on canvas

As the title suggests, this is one very important cat. His name is Denny Crane, and he belongs to my artist friend, Mary K. Forshagen. Isn't he a fine fellow? 

In my last post, I mentioned my grandkitty, Zoe, who's visiting while her mom is out of the country. I referred to her as sweet and petite. I may have to amend the sweet part; she's kind of on my list right now -- and not the sweet one. I went to a great deal of trouble and expense to install a piece of plexiglass over our wrought iron patio gate so sweet little Zoe could get outside and enjoy the sun. Since we have a seven foot  wooden fence around the patio that should cover any possibility of escape. Right?

Wrong. 

After studying the situation at length, while I was inside the house, Zoe found a way to get to the TOP of the fence. When I heard all the scrambling, I did dash out in time to drag her back down before she could make her get-away. How did she do it? I haven't a clue. Obviously, she's able to leap tall buildings. Did I mention she's now grounded?

New Beginnings

"Pictures at an Exhibition"

(a San Francisco street fair)

oil on canvas - 24" x 48"

Happy New Year! Wow. It's been a while since I've posted. While I can blame a heavy workload for my dereliction of duty, it hasn't all been work at the easel. A couple of studio shows, plus some field research for a commission, plus all that holiday busy-ness has interfered with my computer time -- and my easel time. Oh, and one more little thing: my grandkitty, Zoe, has moved in for an extended visit while her mother (my daughter Carrie) is in other parts of the world. Zoe is a sweet, petite all-black kitty who demands lots of affection, and I am putty in her paws.

Now it's time for new resolve. 2012 is going to be a good year. I'm going to make sure of it. You do the same.