Finished 30"x40" Original Oil Painting "#480 Cumbres Toltec Old Fashioned View of New Mexico"

I started this painting quite a little while ago and thought I was finished.  Every few days or whenever I felt unsettled by it I found myself redoing parts of it.  I did the last of the revisions this morning, I THINK (haha).  I'm calling this finished as I need to now move onto to other things and I do feel like it is more to my liking now.  I would love to see this displayed at the Oshier Station of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Rail Road though I have plenty of time to figure out the best options in talking to them and of seeing my vision fulfilled.

Small Drawings and Painting Painted a Few Days Ago

Doodling the other day with Sharpie pens I made this little postcard size (4"x6") drawing.  This saying is something I paint onto the birdhouses I paint for friends sometimes.

This is also postcard size on Strathmore Watercolor Postcard with Sharpie pen used to highlight the floral. I painted the watercolor after being invited to participate in the #twitterartexhibit as practice as you are to submit a postcard size original work of art.

In updating this on November 9th, I will add that I did submit this postcard sized watercolor to the #twitterartexhibit along with one other entry I will post above on the 9th of November as this was the date I sent them via mail to Los Angeles for the exhibit.

Beginnings of "San Antonio Church, Placitas, New Mexico" Original Oil on 5"x7" Wood Panel

I have had a package with grids in it for quite a few years and had not used it.  We came to New Mexico, I think it was twelve years ago, rented a car and drove all over the state but particularly loved Placitas and this little church in the picture to the left.  Last night I decided to finally try using the grid system so sketched the grid and this morning began this little oil painting below the picture about 6 a.m.  I only had about forty minutes to paint before getting ready and going to the dentist to have a crown put on.  I'm so excited now at this new process and can't wait to get on with this painting, however, I have a full day today and only time this morning to post this picture before spending time with dear friends.  I hope to return to this maybe this evening or tomorrow afternoon.  It feels like a new phase for me ... how exciting!

This little painting started out beautifully and then somehow along the line when I thought it was looking wonderful I invited someone to look at it and got some suggestions ... my first mistake was my invitation.  I thought I would have learned by now that I should trust my own gut feelings about my artwork more than midstream suggestions.  So, I redid it and then was so upset with myself that it was not the beautiful little painting I was inspired to paint.  I have to say it's okay and I know that not everything is going to look wonderful.  I have learned a lesson AGAIN and hope I don't make that mistake anymore.  Here is the finished little painting.  I had to just let go of all the expectations I had had and finish and move on to something else.  

When I planted cosmos and wildflower seeds three or four different times in early spring I was hoping for a burst of color but have been pleasantly surprised by the variety and abundance of blooms we've been enjoying in my backyard.  Cold weather is upon us, I think, so am enjoying this last blast of color, so inspiring for me!

"Underwater Calm" Original Oil Painting on 5"x7" Wood Panel

Painting quite a bit yesterday and the picture to the right just somewhat came out of my thoughts as I sat down in front of the small wood panel.  I named it "Underwater Calm" as I find the colors and feeling of calm I had while painting it came through rather nicely.

Two Drawings/Paintings Done Last Couple of Days

The drawing to the right is oil pastels on Strathmore Art Papers and just a way of getting my creative juices flowing as the concept came from my head.  Sometimes I like to paint from a still set up in my studio, others from photos, and then these from my thoughts.

This small painting I did this morning. It is a watercolor with Sharpie Pen on Canson Watercolor Greeting Cards paper.  Have not thought of the name for this one.  I am happy to return to brighter colors and lightness of strokes and look forward to playing around in all different kinds of mediums in expressing myself the next few months while confined more to my studio and being inside.

Reworked "Red Bouquet" from 2005 on 11x14" Canvas Panel & "Time to Open the Boxes" Acrylic with Pen on 5x7" Wood Board - 7 Oct 2012

Funny that one of my fellow artists tweeted me yesterday to "paint, paint, paint" and that was exactly what I did.  I started out in the afternoon around 3:00 and the last time I looked at the clock early this morning when finished I think it may have read 3:30 (and YES, that's a.m.).

The first painting is an original oil painting I painted in 2005 on 11x14" canvas panel that I happened to see yesterday afternoon and decided I would redo the background.  This one I named "Red Bouquet".

The second is an original acrylic embellished with pen on 5x7" wood panel which I've named "Time to Open the Boxes".  If you look closely you'll notice the box on the left has written on it "Hopes and Dreams" and the one on the right "Gifts and Blessings".  Tho small all of the fine detail was time consuming and yet I feel very good at the final result and thank my friend who suggested yesterday morning that I paint, paint, paint!