Angels

This video offers a sampling of a few of my favorite angel paintings.  All are done in acrylic on textured canvas. I love using bold brushstrokes with thick luscious paint to create these pieces.

Plein Aire Painting in Collierville TN

I love to have the chance to go outdoors and paint directly from life.  Last Friday, I visited the Old Town Square in Collierville Tennessee with several other local artists.  Our goal was to capture little pieces of the beauty we saw in front of us, on our canvases.  I was impressed by the lovely hanging baskets that adorned the light posts.  I knew immediately that I had found my composition. This 8x10 was the result of Fridays outing.  It is available for purchase directly from me for $85.00, and would make a lovely addition to anyones art collection, especially those who have a place in their heart for Collierville TN.

Step by Step~ "Lumiere"

Finished piece "Lumiere" 11x16 acrylic on canvas available at Tadporters Gallery

Creating "Kate" ~ Step By Step

Finished at last ~ "Kate" 12x16 acrylic on linen

"Kate"

There are some things that happen to us in this life that will change us forever!  When I decided to attend Dawn Whitelaw's workshop at the Artreach gallery in Germantown TN, I never realized that it would change my life.  Art is my life, so when my art experiences a change, it is indeed a life change.  Dawn has such an amazing heart for teaching, and she has impacted the lives of many artists.  When she approached my easel set-up, and began to mix some colors on my palette, it was as if she had handed me a key to a locked door in my mind.  Everything about colors and values suddenly made sense.  She was able to explain it in a way that I could understand.  After returning home from the workshop, I spent some time really digesting everything that I had learned.  I then started creating "Kate".  Immediately, I knew she was going to be different.  I am so pleased to present "Kate" 12x16 acrylic on linen.

Special Easter Event

Purchase one of these angel paintings between now and Easter, and receive an 8x10 nativity print as a bonus.  "Angel of the Garden" 12x16~ $145, or "Angel of Richness" (the richness of life, that is)12x12 ~$100.

Lest I Forget

"Heaven Meeting Earth"

"Heaven Meeting Earth"  58x30 acrylic on canvas. I am very excited to have finished this landscape!!!  I began by texturing the canvas.  I wanted to have lots of soft edges in this piece, along with beautiful mellow color, and plenty of texture. 

Detail of "Heaven Meeting Earth".  This gives an idea of the fabulous texture in this painting.

Creating "Reba" step by step

I begin by massing in the form

"Reba" 12x16 acrylic on linen canvas

Detail of "Reba"

Art now available through Tadporters

     Several of my paintings are now available through Tadporters Frame Studio and Art Gallery  www.tadporters.com

"On Eagles Wings" acrylic on canvas

 "Once Upon A Garden"

"Garden II"

"On Eagles Wings"

close your eyes and feel the wind caress your face......open your eyes and you will find you are soaring high above "On Eagles Wings"  58x13 acrylic on canvas

"Dear One I Came For You"

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!  May you be blessed in the coming year.  When I look over this selection of my Nativity paintings, a phrase that I love comes to mind "Dear One I Came For You"

Painting from life

I had the opportunity to paint this lovely model from life!  I am so excited with the way she turned out.  She has an old world feel, with a modern twist!!  "Untitled" 18x24 acrylic on canvas

"Nick" in stages

"Nativity at Night"

Out of all of the Nativity's that I have painted, this one has to be one of my favorites!!  I love how the paint looks on the textured canvas.  I also love the bright light next to the dark night.  But my favorite part is the hearts above baby Jesus.  I did not knowingly paint those, and I see them as a clear fingerprint of God. Prints of this painting are available through this blog, just scroll down the righthand column.

"The Art of Caregiving"

 "The Art of Caregiving" show runs through December 7th at the Wings Gallery inside of the West Clinic.  This is a fantastic show because if an artist sells a painting, 30% of the sale price is donated to the  Wings Cancer Foundation.

 I am honored to have four of my paintings featured in this show.  I hope that they will bring pleasure to those walking through the gallery in the coming weeks.

Never Let Fear Get In Your Way

I was thoroughly disgusted with the painting in front of me!  I was afraid to keep working on it, for fear of ruining it, and I was afraid to start all over.  All of a sudden it dawned on me that fear was getting in my way.  How many times had I encouraged my students not to let fear govern their brushstrokes, and here I was succumbing to the same thing.  It was time for a new mindset!  As quickly as I could, I grabbed a fresh canvas and looked through my photo's for a bit of inspiration.  I found one.  I knew this painting would be more of an impressionistic piece, so the photo would simply serve as a guide.  Inspiration was suddenly in the air. I squeezed out fresh paints as quickly as I could.  I was ready to start painting now and I didn't want anything to stand in my way.  The paint went on the canvas so quickly, I wasn't even sure it was my hand putting it on.  It made me think of something I had once read~ "You are God's paintbrush, God's pen and God's body to dance upon the earth and bring about the new."  Another thought came to mind.   I had read this one too~ "If we make a god of perfection, we risk pushing ourselves into a creative desert.  We are afraid to try because we are afraid we won't be good."  I was done with fear!  I knew I was short on time and I could not leave until this painting was done.  I might never get this inspiration again.  Faster and faster my brush went.  When I ran out of paint, I agitatedly squeezed more on the palette.  It was coming, I could see it now.  Finally I stepped back from the canvas and really looked at the painting for the first time.  Wow!  It was exactly what I had imagined it could be.  My studio no longer had an atmosphere of fear but of joy and accomplishment!