Windmills and Tulips

This month I had a request from a store, asking if I had any Spring flower prints on canvas they could sell on consignment. I thought I could paint for them and for the gallery at the same time and thus: Spring flowers, tulips, windmills, swans... this was my train of thought for what I decided to hang in the gallery this March. I finished two of the paintings but not the third so I guess I'll hang the swans in the gallery next month. I have a show in Santa Cruz tomorrow that I have to pack for, but I really want to get back to painting the swans (finished 6 but 9 more to go...) And by the way, the store decided they didn't want the Spring flowers after all, but now I have three paintings I'm glad to have brought into the world because of their request.

Painting projects day

Look at the colorful environment I get to paint in at Michaels. I had a prepared lesson plan for the demo, but see the silk tulips on the table next to me? I ditched the lesson plan and painted the tulips instead! The painting needs more work, but thought you'd like to see it.

Here's the update I promised you. While I demonstrated at Michaels, two parents at the high school painted the bars of the gates today. Thank you!!

Vineyard in Napa Valley

Ah, vineyards. I love the orderliness of their clean, straight lines that stretch on till you can't see them any more. I love how the vines change color with each of the seasons. I appreciate all the planning and hard work it takes to produce those grapes and the delicious things that come from them. When I was painting this I was also reminded that Jesus said He is the Vine and we are the Branches and if we abide in Him, we'll bear much fruit. So as I reflected on this truth I remembered that no matter what happens in my life (good or bad in my eyes) it's all going to help to produce good fruit when and since I abide in Him.
Here I've painted a large, 24x36 acrylic painting of a vineyard in Napa Valley in the fall. I got my inspiration from a photo of the Castello di Amorosa Vineyard taken by Rick Klau. The original painting is now hanging in Gallery Saratoga for the month of January. If you live in the area come on by to see it!

Painting Acrylics for Teaching Fine Art Classes at the Michael's Arts and Crafts Store in Cupertino

I'm starting to teach Fine Arts classes at a Michael's Store nearby! Here I'm practicing what I'll teach with small canvases that are 2 1/2" x 3". What fun it is to paint very small paintings. Each one takes me about 2 hours to do and so far I've painted 3 of these. You can call the Cupertino Michaels to sign up for classes too.

Wedding in Soquel Day 10- Complete

Presenting: The Wedding in Soquel.

After 10 days of blogging the step by step process (and more days before and in between), I have completed my assignment. There is a definite feeling of satisfaction and peace with knowing I tried my best at this job. I'm sure there is so much more I can learn, but for now this is the all I have and today I will rest. Till next time, God bless.

Wedding in Soquel Days 8 and 9- Flowers, Colors,Trees

Hello, changed my mind and I'm back blogging this step by step. You'll see lots of changes in two days of work. Hopefully today I'll get much more done since I stayed home this weekend to concentrate on finishing the painting. I did get slightly sidetracked so far with starting a new facebook group page for my business. I'm so busy with planning for new shows and classes coming up that I think it will be better if I told everyone from one page made for that.
The Group name is: Celio Arts and Friends on facebook.
and the email for it is:
celioarts@groups.facebook.com

Wedding in Soquel Day 7- Back to the drawing board

Here is the painting taken in the daylight. I like how the Ott light from last night showed me the way it will look with more whites on the gazebo and tent, so I'll definitely do that today. This will be my last photo in the step by step till I show you the completed painting. Don't know when that will be, but I'll have other posts from my exciting adventures in painting!

Couldn't wait to show you what I've done since the regrouping earlier (that was around 4:30 pm and I've been working till now, 11:00 pm) This was taken with an Ott light, so I'll have to take it again tomorrow. I'm happy with how the barrels are coming out and that the path is fitting in better. Tomorrow, flowers, flowers, flowers.

Sometimes I reach a point in a painting where I really don't know what to do next, and I hit that point today. I thought I needed to change this or that, but after I went back to my original idea, and after I asked a friend to help, I broke through and have a clear path ahead of me again. I am about half way there so it makes sense that I'd re-evaluate my direction in how to complete this painting in the best way. By the way, the friend I told you about, it's her birthday today!
Happy Birthday Barbra Joan! Thanks for being a good friend.

Wedding in Soquel Day 6- Adding more elements, highlighting and correcting

On to day 6 of this wedding painting. It's Saturday and I have the whole day to paint. I hope to get very far along with it. I love putting in the elements and even correcting things when they need it. Thanks to Rich for suggesting I measure the photos of the actual wine barrels with a ruler and then measure what I painted in to get the proportions right. Things are open to lots of change at this stage. You just don't know how some things will look till after you put in everything around it. I am liking the focal point though.

Wedding in Soquel Day 5- More Background

Today I painted at my house with Christine. It was drizzling off and on outside, so it was nice to stay inside and paint with a friend.

Wedding in Soquel Day 4-Background

Paint to canvas. It's a start. This painting will change so much from this, believe me and hang in there. Now I only want to paint constantly till I finish.

Wedding in Soquel Day 1- Reference Gathering

I'm starting a new wedding painting which I'll do in beautiful 'Golden' acrylic paints this time. As you can see I have plenty of reference materials and a lovely canvas. Now I just have to translate the photos into paint on a blank canvas! Again, I'll take you through the process step by step. Notice my doggie Caspian in the top photo? I had to get a closeup of that sleeping position. He makes me laugh.

Woodland Walk (Part 7-the Finished Product)

And I'm finished with the Woodland Walk!! I've learned so much about painting with acrylics from doing this painting. Thank you to Christine, Jonathan, Bethany, Rich and Barbra Joan for helping me along with great suggestions. I'm about 5 months early with this commission so woohoo, now I can play! Off to paint a watercolor next.

Woodland Walk (part 6)

The Walkers! I made a b&w copy of the original photo and the blew it up 200, 275, and 300%.
I chose the 200% size and taped it to carbon paper and then those to the painting. Then I outlined the figures with pencil on the photo. The carbon comes right off when you paint.

Woodland Walk (part 4)

Here's the Woodland Walk after 2&1/2 more hours of work. I defined more midground trees and then I got brave and started putting in a heavy fog rolling through the whole painting! Once I got started I couldn't stop! It's hard to feel like you're "messing up" all the previous work you took hours getting "just right", but changing the mood to what you want trumps being perfect!
(I cut off the tree on the left in this photo, but I had to show you Cozette begging to go out. She matches the color of the painting too!)

Woodland Walk (part 3)

Its now 11:45pm but really 12:45 with daylight savings. I went back to painting tonight and have been at it for about 4 more hours. I'm happy with the way it's turning out, but it still needs alot of work. I may try to get more of a misty feel again by glazing over it with grayish paint, maybe not. Some of the trees are transparent, so I'll have to give them some more paint. Then I put in the stars of the show, the walkers, and detail it, and then I'm done!

Jonathan's Paintings: Landscape with Gates from Frank Clarke's DVD

Here's a special treat for you. My son, Jonathan, is painting now and here's a landscape he did from the Simply Painting instructional DVD taught by the Irish artist, Frank Clarke. This DVD is called, Introduction to Acrylics, Landscapes. Frank is light-hearted and a great teacher. I'm looking forward to showing you more paintings from Jonathan in the future.