UPdate

Well, I am not off to a very good start with my new painting schedule. After being hit with a Shingles Virus two weeks ago, I had just recovered enough to start painting again. Then yesterday it was confirmed the virus was now in my right eye and I should use my eyes as little as possible for the next two weeks. Fortunately it was caught fairly early and there should be no permanent damage or loss of vision. I plan to recover and to be painting faster than expected!

Ubran Light-No Longer Available

Click image to enlarge; title for more information or to purchase.
Size 36 x 36 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on Canvas



This abstract is another in the Urban series. It went through a number of color and compositional changes before it became what it is now. To begin with it was very dark with blues and grays and a more pronounced arrangement of shapes. I was not happy with that version and put on a new layer of paint, worked with that for a few days and was not happy with it either. Reworked the composition and put on more layers of paint and arrived here, nowhere near where I started. Adding layers is almost always a good thing. So is knowing how much of them to remove...

Going forward, at least for now, I will experiment with painting two pieces per month rather than four. This means the blog will be published two times per month rather than four. I want to see whether I paint differently if I allow myself more time or whether I really prefer spending no more than one week on a painting. You'll be the first to know!

Special thanks to Ron for his input and Barb for her insights.

In the Beginning SOLD

This week I learned something new to consider when shopping for pre-stretched canvases. Before purchasing, measure them with a right angle ruler.

The painting I just completed on a pre-stretched 30 x 40 canvas is 3/8" out of square. When I finished it I quite liked it. That's always nice, because there are also those times when I finish a piece and don't like it at all.

But once it was able to be transferred to a wall to dry (which is when I finally get enough distance to actually see what a painting really looks like), I noticed the problem. I tried to adjust the frame, handling it ever so carefully since it is still wet, but with no success.

In desperation I called Aaron Brothers, where I had purchased the pre-stretched canvas. They said to bring it in and they would surely be able to solve the problem somehow. I will have to wait a few weeks until it is dry enough to withstand that type of handling. So, for now, it is being posted but is not on auction.

No paintings today

No paintings today. Most of the past week was occupied with the daily and administrative aspects of selling my paintings; rephotographing past pieces and creating 10 new auction listings. It always takes time but sometimes it really takes time!

This was one of those times. This week I had camera problems (it died as I was shooting and was sent back to Canon and exchanged for another one which arrived with a memory card that would allow me only 3 photographs per shoot!) browser problems (eBay's recommended browser for auction listings, Mozilla, kept crashing during the listing process leaving me no choice but to start all over again, and again, and again, until my brain felt fried.

It also crashed in PayPal and UPS as I was scheduling the shipping and so, of course I had to start over again and again and again...and the rates were not matching up either. Oh, sigh....And, my special ergonomic back chair had to be returned too as it became increasingly uncomfortable.

And finally, I could not get my external DVD player to work with my computer. I had a travel DVD I wanted to watch at my computer to study for a painting. Spent lots of time troubleshooting but it still doesn't work.

This afternoon I finally laid down the background colors for a new, large abstract. Perhaps I will have it finished for next Thursday's art blog. And then again...

Little Folk Art Dublin. SOLD

Click image to enlarge or title for more information or to purchase.
Size: 10" x 10" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas.


Painting this cool scene of Dublin, Ireland on the River Liffey as its cool waters flow past green and shady tree-lined streets, was most enjoyable during these warm summer days. Actually, my tree-top canyon home has stayed remarkably cool this summer. And setting up and painting on my balcony has been one of the summer's greatest joys.

Loft #5 SOLD

Click on image to enlarge, and title for more views or to purchase.
Size: 30 x 40 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on Canvas


Have you watched The Stagers yet on HGTV Tuesday nights? It is new this season and I have truly enjoyed and been inspired by one of the stagers in particular named Matthew Finlason. So far he has been assigned 2 urban lofts to stage for sale. Both underwent uplifting transformations under his creative eye and sold very quickly. A properly staged home, it is said, should make the potential buyer want the lifestyle represented by the home. One of Matthew's favorite elements in achieving this effect in staging is artwork. And when you see how it effects the spaces he stages, it is easy to see why. He usually chooses large abstracts and places them for maximum impact. If you are interested in decorating, art, style or real estate, treat yourself to The Stagers and especially to one of Matthew Finlason's episodes.

Loft #4 SOLD

Click image to enlarge or title for more information.
Size 24" x 24" x 1.5"
Medium: Oils on Canvas


In a rush today so no time for text. But the anniversary I mentioned last week marks two years of listing paintings on eBay! More later. Barb, I challenge you to name the location of the backdrop for this painting!

Loft 3 SOLD

Click image to enlarge. Click title for more information.
Medium: Oils on Canvas
Size: 24" x 24" x 1.5"


Today is something of an anniversary. This is my 100th blog posting! Next week I will mention another anniversary, but you will have to wait until then for it.

I have a special collector in Seattle who has bought quite a few of my paintings. She plans to sell them, along with other artist's works, at a fundraiser she is holding on the 18th of August to help raise money for Team Diane. Diane is her friend and was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer. The money raised will be used to benefit breast cancer programs. Let's hope the fundraiser is a great success and benefits Diane and others in similar circumstances.

Firmament - No longer available

Click image to enlarge or title for information or to purchase.
Size: 36 x 40 x 1.5
Medium: Oils on Canvas


It seemed to take forever to create both the eBay and the Yessy listing today. Each one had problems necessitating starting over. It is probably related to my getting up at 3:15 this morning, leaving me too tired for those kinds of problems!

Raw Urban Light - no longer available

Click image to enlarge. This painting is no longer available.
Size: 30" x 40"
Medium: Oils on Canvas


Where does the time go?! This last week has been so full I have hardly painted at all, and tomorrow is already Friday again. By Monday we will already be into August. Next week is set aside for painting! Well, actually, ONE reason it has been extra busy is that I have had 28 eBay auctions going in the last week. It takes time to photograph each item and create the listings. Then I need to answer customer questions, prepare and ship packages and it does take time. If you would like to see the other items I am selling (mostly decorator fabric remnants), click the title of this week's painting and once there click "Seller's Other Items" and the list will appear.