Goals; it's that time again!

It is that time of year again; the time for setting goals for the year ahead. It is also time for evaluating the progress of the goals that were set for this year. I am very pleased to report that all but one have been achieved and the final one is on schedule for completion before the year is out. I am equally pleased to have found that, as a result of the goals that have been met, more opportunities have presented themselves.

Below is an excerpt of a post I made around this time last year. I encourage you to give it a try. Be sure to write down your goals and keep them where you can refer to them throughout the year. Doing so will greatly help keep you on track. It’s the first step in that thousand mile journey that makes and keeps you accountable to yourself.

Some suggest sharing your goals with someone who will keep you accountable. Others believe it is better to keep them to yourself to avoid the naysayers. You are the only one who knows which approach is best for you but, whichever you choose, write your goals down. Even if you have a support group, you are ultimately accountable only to yourself and your list will help you do just that. There is something almost magical about it, too! Don’t believe me? I challenge you to try it and report back to me a year from now. I’m telling you, it’s magic!

Here is the excerpt from one year ago:

S.M.A.R.T.

Make sure that your goals are:

S-specific
M-measurable
A-attainable
R-realistic
T-timely

It is a wonderful and wise way to set and accomplish your goals. Write them out and review them periodically throughout the year to keep yourself on track. Being able to check them off your list will create even more momentum.

Now, go forth and set your goals!

Gaye

ARToberfest Award

Please accept my apology for taking so long to let you know which painting won an award in the ARToberfest Regional Juried Exhibit. It was, as I had hoped, the portrait of my husband. It is entitled "Jakob" in the exhibit, which is his middle name in Polish.
Although a third generation Texan, he is 100% Polish. Our ancestors came to Texas in the mid 1850's. About 15 years ago, we discovered that our ancestors lived within miles of each other and even attended the same church. We felt it was a sign that we had been destined to be together!
The cap he is wearing in this portrait is one we bought while in Poland. I think he looks so dapper! To me, this portrait embodies all that I feel about him and our common Polish heritage. I love them both beyond words! Thanks for allowing me to share a little of our history.
Oops, I almost forgot to mention that it took Honorable Mention in the Oil/Acrylic category. SOLD

 

ARToberfest

You are invited!

Artoberfest is now open and on exhibit at the Art League in New Braunfels, Texas. This is an annual, juried show held each October. The reception is Friday, October 7 from 5pm to 8pm and is open to the public. Awards will be announced at 6:30pm.

I am so excited to share that I have won an award! Unfortunately, I will have to wait until the awards ceremony to find out which painting and which award. It is either for painting from the Medina paint out and the portrait of my husband, which is entitled Jakob. Needless to say, I am on pins and needles! I hope you can attend.

Meanwhile, the show is open and can be viewed during regular business hours which are Monday - Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from Noon until 5pm. If you can't make the reception, please do try to see the exhibit.

Paint Out in Medina

This is from a paint out with the Texas Paint Slingers last fall. It was on a ranch near Medina, Texas. Much thanks to Susan Tracy for allowing us to come out and paint her corner of heaven. 6"x8", original, oil on panel SOLD

Big Stuff

This painting will also be in the upcoming ASBA show being held at Cactus Jack's in Gruene, Texas. If there is a more elegant breed of cattle than the Brahman, I don't know what it is! I love these gorgeous animals!


6"x"6, original, oil on linen

Plein Air at Warbler Woods

This was painted at Warbler Woods, just outside of San Antonio. What a peaceful and beautiful wild bird sanctuary! I must confess that I have now been bitten by the bird watching bug. So many interests, so little time!!!
6"x8", original, oil on linen

Plein Air at Live Oak City Park Lake

Several of the Texas Paint Slingers went to Live Oak City Park last week. There was a threat of rain but it did not keep us away. We've been needing rain so badly I think we would have happily painted while dancing in it!
It was overcast, making the light flat but, the air was cool. It was so nice getting back outside after our long, hot summer!
8"x6", original, oil on linen

Oil Portrait

I painted this portrait of my husband in pastels in April. Here it is again in oils. This painting looks much more like him. He is very pleased so that makes me even happier. He was so patient when I asked him to pose for a photo shoot. This was my favorite of the day.
5"x7", original, oil on linen SOLD

Fundraiser for Carol Marine

As you all probably know by now, Texas is in the worst drought since the 50's and is experiencing the worst fires ever on record. I wanted to wait until Carol Marine posted an update herself, as rumors have a way if running rampant. Sadly, her post today verified that she and David lost their home in the Bastrop fire, which is still zero percent contained. I am posting a link that further explains what all has happened, a video is included.
Please click here, Fundraiser for Carol and David Marine, if you would like to help them get back on their feet.

Cutie Pie

A couple of weekends ago we went to a birthday party for my niece's son, Josiah. It was held at the playground at Zilker Park in Austin. There were kids on swings, slides, kids in wagons....kids, kids everywhere! I took almost 200 photos that day.

'Cutie Pie' is the result of the inspiration of that day. There WILL be more!!!

6"x6", original, oil on linen SOLD

Rose

I am having so much fun doing these small portraits. I've been interested in portraits and figures for a while but using such vibrant colors is a new thing for me. I will probably eventually tone things back down a bit and start painting in more realistic colors but, for now, I am having a blast!

6"x6", oil on linen

SOLD

Day Dreaming

I am quite fond of this one and learned a lot painting her. Instead of intense shadows, planes were depicted more by temperature changes and varying colors. I love the soft dreaminess and romantic feel. It summarizes what impressionism is to me.

6"x6", oil on linen, private collection

Pensive

More and more I am finding myself drawn, no pun intended, to painting portraits and figures. Capturing a person's emotions on canvas, or at least trying to, is such a rewarding challenge.

I have been following Karin Jurick's blog for quite some time now and have loved her series called "Mug Shots". Another artist I have been watching for several years is Kim Roberti. Both paint quite small and yet their paintings are very dynamic. So, inspired by both, I have decided to try my hand at some of my own. Learning is the objective.

I haven't settled on which title best fits this painting. She is obviously feeling some emotion quite intensely. Naming a painting is a very important consideration. In a word or two, it tells a short story that can either create a positive or negative reaction in the viewer.

I am curious, what emotion do you think she is feeling?

6"x6", oil on linen

The Valentine Rose Revisited

Several months ago I painted a rose in response to the Daily Paintworks Challenge presented by Qiang Huang. Soon after posting it on my blog, I received an email from Mike Hasler of Wooden Knot Art. To make a long story short, he bought the painting. Yesterday he sent this photo of the painting in the frame he custom made just for it. Please take a close look at the craftsmanship. Notice how he carved a stem that transitions perfectly into the stem of the rose. And the buds, the thorns, the leaves...I just love it! He says he found out that he wasn't a frame maker but, I think it is absolutely beautiful!

"Patience"

I am still walking on clouds since the workshop with master, Zhaoming Wu. I wish I were more articulate so that I could better share how profound and life changing that workshop was for me. If I ever find the words to express it, I promise to share them with you.

This is the first painting I have done since the workshop. Although I am pleased with the result, I sure do miss painting from life. It is entitled "Patience".

9"x12", oil on linen

Workshop Painting #4

This was the last pose of Zhaoming Wu's workshop. As usual, numbers were drawn and we all took our places. As luck would have it, I chose the worst possible spot. No, really. It was the worst spot! I determined that it was a learning experience and that I just had to make do. Zhaoming asked if I wanted to move since several of our group left earlier in the day. So, move I did but, it took forever to get started because I knew we had precious little time remaining. I wiped the drawing off four times. I just couldn't let my last painting be the worst and decided better no painting than a bad one. Once we returned from break we had a little over 2 hours to paint. So, as you can see, it needed more refining but, I will leave it as is. A workshop is a place to learn and, over all, I am very pleased with the result.

This sweet model is Amy, the daughter of one of the other artists in the workshop. She did a great job!

11"x14", oil, not for sale

Workshop Painting #3

We had two models each day of the workshop. To keep things orderly, we were divided into groups A and B and then were assigned individual numbers. Whichever letter we were initially assigned stayed the same throughout the workshop but, the numbers were drawn daily to decide where we would be positioned around each model. Sometimes the draw was lucky and sometimes not so lucky but, it was a very fair system.

For this model, I could not have been more pleased. I was so happy that she was going to be our group's model for the day and, when I drew this particular spot, I was over the moon! This was one of those days when everything falls into place and the painting almost paints itself. This beautiful model is Michele.

11"x 14", oil, private collection

Workshop Painting #2

This is the second painting I did in Zhaoming Wu's workshop. No, you didn't miss the first one. It is not fit to see the light of day.

We were told to bring five canvases, one for each day of the workshop, and, depending on the lecture, we had 1/2 a day to a full day to work on a pose. Most important was to get the gesture correct. If not, the painting had no chance of success. I feel I captured the model's gesture, thanks to many weeks of gestural life drawing classes. Which, I must add, was time and money well spent.

You can see much of the underpainting still showing through. The combination of too much medium and a slippery oil primed canvas made painting quite a challenge. Because time was of the essence, the medium did not dry enough to keep the painting from getting a bit muddy. One lesson learned, use less medium on an oil primed canvas!

Over all, I was very pleased with how the painting came out and determined to do better on the next one. Stay tuned. I think you will agree that much progress was made on the ones that follow.

11"x14", oil, not for sale

Workshop with Zhaoming Wu

There are no words to describe how honored I feel to have been able to study with modern master, Zhaoming Wu. Many thanks to Qiang Huang for coordinating this workshop and to his wife, Song, for helping everything run so smoothly. There are so many things I would like to share but simply cannot find the words. It was a week in artist Heaven, to say the least.

In the next few days I will share some of my paintings from the workshop. Meanwhile, please enjoy this one by the Master, Zhaoming Wu!

Pastel Portrait

Pastels have long been luring me. I have had all the supplies needed to delve into them for years and, for as many years, they have seemingly been mocking me from their boxes. Well, I feel I have silenced their mocking once and for all. Not that I don't have much more to learn about this medium but, I am no longer intimidated by them! (A personal triumph-woo hoo!)

This is a portrait of my husband, wearing the cap he wore when we lived in Poland. I love the way he looks in it and the memories it evokes-the memories of being "home". But that's a tale for another time and place.

6"x 8", pastel

Two from Life Drawing Class

I feel I am finally starting to get it and it's only taken 42 class hours! Not that I am really a slow learner. It's just that I can try so hard that it creates a mental block sometimes. The good thing is, once I break through, I usually start making great strides so, I am encouraged.

Here are two, the last two , from last week's class.

Mountain Memories

Mountain Memories is my response to the second of Carol Marine's German Landscape Challenge. I am very fond of this one and would like to visit there one day.
7" x 5", oil on linen

Country Spring

Country Spring was done in response to Carol Marine's DPW Challenge.
5"x 7", oil on linen

Yella Umbrella

The Texas Paint Slingers were invited to paint at Cactus Jack's during Gruene Market Days in March. There were many wonderful vignettes to paint but the yellow umbrella won out. Here is my painting from the day Table for Two. 6"x8", oil on linen SOLD

Chapel Dulcinea

Spring has sprung for those of us in Central and South Texas! Our group, the Texas Paint Slingers, were itching to get outdoors and decided to meet at the beautiful Chapel Dulcinea. It was chilly and foggy early in the morning but soon gave way to a gorgeous day.
Here is the view I chose, along with my painting. I worked a little longer on it after the photo and then, with my signature, declared it complete. I am very pleased with how it came out.
This painting will soon be available at Cactus Jack's in Gruene.
9" x 12", oil on linen SOLD

Zippo

The subject for the challenge this week fell to Michael Naples. I liked him a lot more BEFORE he chose a cigarette lighter, of all things, but I got over it! What excited me was his challenge of painting it with only burnt sienna, ultramarine blue and white. I absolutely love using a limited palette so, cigarette lighter or not, I went for it! I like how it turned out.
6"x6", oil on polyflax linen

The Valentine Rose

This week, Carol Marine had her friend, Qiang Huang, select the painting challenge. Since it was the week of Valentine's Day, he chose a red rose. Here is my interpretation.
5"x 7", oil on linen SOLD

Imperial

I was considering starting a monthly painting challenge when I saw that Carol Marine had just started one. Since there is no sense in reinventing the wheel, I jumped right in! Her group is called "The DPW Challenge" and is open to anyone interested in participating.
Here is the first challenge, an old car that Carol saw in Florida. Check out the challenge link above. It is so much fun to see all the different artist's interpretations! THANKS CAROL!!!

6"x6", oil on linen

Drawing Study

I am getting used to the feel of charcoal and conte but remain convinced that I will never like the feel of a pencil. That may sound odd but, but a brush has a smooth and flowing feel to it and a pencil is hard and static...polar opposites to me. Charcoal and conte seem to bridge the gap a bit. It is all a great learning experience and one day I may even come to like pencils!
5" x 5 1/4", conte on newsprint

Emmie

My portrait studies continue and I am encouraged to be seeing progress! This portrait is of Emmie, a very strikingly beautiful woman that I have been wanting to paint for a long time. When the scheduled model didn't arrive, Emmie agree to sit for us. I was elated!
I feel so fortunate to have so many good artists as friends, teachers and mentors. It is so important to keep one another encouraged, motivated and challenged. I treasure each and every one of them and each and every one of YOU who share this journey with me!
9" x 12", oil on linen

Plein Air at Crane's Mill Marina

Our plein air group, the Texas Paint Slingers , went to Crane's Mill Marina for our first paint out of 2011. It was a beautiful day! The weather was supposed to be overcast and drizzling until noon but it was a picture perfect day. It is such a quiet and peaceful place. The only company we had were a few bass splashing and a family of ducks swimming in the lake. We didn't even mind the cedar! Sometimes you've just got to paint!
8"x 10", oil on linen SOLD

Plein Air in Austin

Another plein air painting done at the Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. I think a person could paint there every day of the year and never have to paint the same thing twice. The gardens are so beautiful, peaceful and serene.There is definitely something there for everyone!
8" x 10", oil on linen

San Antonio Botanical Gardens

This is a plein air painting done at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens last fall. It was such a lovely day that we ended up staying until it was almost dark. I did a second painting from the opposite side of the lake that turned out rather disappointing. Oh, well. You can't win 'em all!
8" x 10", oil on board