December 29, 2015~ "Sophie"

Wow!  It's been too long again-  dang, this being an adult thing takes a lot of time, doesn't it?  I taught a class at Wet Paint yesterday and again this morning-  I really love talking to people about art and painting and what I do and it is so great to be able to share that with people who are sincerely interested.  That said, I've posted my next Painting Lesson sessions on this blog, here is a link, let me know if you are interested!  I'm always learning new things and love sharing what I learn with you!

Here is another commission that I really loved painting~  it is amazing how many colors you can make from a limited palette~

"Sophie" 9x12 acrylic on panel, SOLD

December 13, Yes, Another One...

It's been a month now- I like to think of dad with all our loved dogs, especially Rusty and Bingo-  Bingo was my black lab mutt that taught me to paint black dogs...

Though this isn't Bingo, he's got that same glow~

8x8 acrylic on panel, $170 SOLD

December 11, Another Commission

This one was a darn fun one to do-  those wonderful dusty colored dogs with big eyes always make me smile....

8x8 acrylic on panel, sold

December 9, "Dad's Poles"

The hard thing about someone dying is that it is the end.  That's it.  No more chance to take a better photo, all done.  And that time continues to recede into the past.  That's what I don't like... each day moves us farther away from the time when dad was still alive.  I suppose that's the acceptance part of it- and the "time heals all" part, and the awareness of our own mortality part too.

This is a tiny but long painting, of a few power poles that my dad wired with his dad, back when my dad was a kid and just learning the electrical ropes, so to say...  and they are still standing, somewhere in Rosemount, MN.

.

Maybe more power poles are in the works....

December 8, Another Commission~

It is the practice that keeps me going when I don't want to, and it is the challenge of a commission that keeps the painting going as well.  It isn't always easy, by any means. But it is that lovely challenge that distracts the brain and allows the heart to play.

8x8 acrylic on panel, sold

December 7, "Play Cafe' Pup"

I think I may have painted another version of this fellow, but I don't have the energy to look for it right now-  that tilt to the head, and the earnest look on his face with those ears fully cocked were too much to resist-

8x8 acrylic on panel, $130 click here to purchase!

December 4, "Coffe from Cafe Maude"

We went to Cafe Maude after church, the sunday after the funeral, and it was good coffee, and good food, and so good to do something together and normal.
We'll have to go again.  I liked it.  And I think they hang local art on the walls too....

This one is painted on a clear gessoed panel, so it has that brown tone of the wood showing through.  It was fun to have to create my darks instead of using the black gesso peeping through....

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click HERE to purchase!

And I'll be posting the upcoming class dates for next year's Painting Lessons soon!

Stay tuned-

And come to the Ivy Building this weekend!!!!!

Come to Studio #210 for the Winter Frolic at the Ivy this Weekend!

It's time for the Seward Winter Frolic at the Ivy Building!  We're putting on our own WING SHOW!!!  We've got a whole pile of artists who are excited to hang out together, and we have so much great art, we can't keep it all in Studio #210 so we'll be hanging  in the hallway too! DETAILS: WHEN: Saturday Dec 5th, 10 to 5 and Sunday Dec 6th, Noon to 5 WHERE: the Ivy Building, 2637 27th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55406 Come up to the SECOND Floor!  Follow the signs!  Studio #210! Duane has a lovely pile of birds for those crazy bird lovers you know, as well as some more of his unusual and wickedly creative wood sculptures! My mom Rita Corrigan is coming too, with some of her newest Sunset paintings for you! I'll have paintings and prints and a smile for you!  We'll also have some snacks and treats for your browsing pleasure~  come on out and hang with us this weekend! Other artists are my studio mates, Steph Guidera, Garrett Bergemann, Connie Lanphear and Kat Lange, as well as guest artists Shelly Thrall and Ila Duntemann!  LOTS of great stuff! Wow, Holidays can be tough!  Come see us and give us a hug!

December 3, Another Commission~

Yes, they keep me going, these paintings.  I must have pigment in my blood...

Do come see us at the Ivy this weekend, if you are in or near Minneapolis and feel like frolicking!  We'll be in Studio #210 Sat from 10 to 5 and Sunday from noon to 5!
Wahoo!

8x8 acrylic on panel, $170 SOLD

December 2, "Bebe" A Commission~

We find those things that hold us in place, keep our heads on straight, make us feel a bit more normal, and for me right now that is painting, and since I can't quite settle on what I want to paint, I am very happy painting what I love, which is other people's dogs.  And cats.  So keep 'em coming.
Seriously, it really helps me get out of my head. It truly is like yoga for my brain...

I'm figuring out dates for the next session of Painting Lessons- probably mid January into March, Sat mornings...

This is Bebe~  ain't he a riot?  I LOVE those ears!!!!!

10x10 acrylic on panel, $260  sold~

November 29, My Dad...

I haven't posted for a couple weeks because my attention has been focused on my family.  My dad died incredibly suddenly on Friday the 13th of November, after seeing my nephew in a play at his school.  Dad had a good time with my mom and nephew and sister-in-law, and then headed out to the parking lot and got in the car and started it, and by the time my mom came around her side and got in, he'd fallen back in his seat, eyes closed, mouth open, not breathing-  paramedics came, took him to the ER, but they weren't able to keep him with us.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/twincities/obituary.aspx?n=donald-joseph-corrigan&pid=176527571&fhid=30081

http://www.startribune.com/obituaries/detail/110340/?fullname=donald-joseph-corrigan

SO I've been a bit out of it.  Painting helps a lot, and so do all the wonderful, supportive, loving people we've been fortunate enough to surround ourselves with, including you all~  so thank you~

I'm working on commissions, because I have to keep painting, and I've been teaching and working with my adult painting students, who are also a beautiful bunch who help me stay focused on what I love doing...  wow, I am so lucky...

And there are mugs hanging at Diamond's too, for the Mug Shots Show, through January, I think.

 6x6 acrylic on panel, $65 click here to purchase~

And this weekend we have the Seward Winter Frolic and our studio (#210 at the Ivy Building!) will be open on Sat Dec 5 from 10 to 5, and Sun Dec 6 from noon to 5-  Duane will have a bunch of his crazy wooded critters there too, and we'll have a number of jewelers and painters and stained glass and music, so come on over, it would be great to see you!

November 13, Double Gingko

Yeah, and now I can't get enough of the gingkoes....  but I am painting dogs too!  More of those later, or come over to our 9th Annual Fine Craft Sale tomorrow, from 10 to 5 and say hi!  I'll be there with lots of great stuff!  And lots of great people!  And maybe I'll even paint, too!

"Double Gingko Leaf" 4x13 acrylic on panel, $98 click HERE to purchase!

November 11, Gingko #2

This one is a bit bigger, 8x8.  And I'm not sure whether I like it this way, which is how I painted it, or if it looks better upside down....
Opinions?
Tricky stuff, these monochromatic things~  I think I need to paint another dog...

8x8 acrylic on panel, $130 click here to purchase!

OR upside down?

same price!

November 10, Gingko Leaf #1

Seems these leaves are always a bit behind the others, which works out great for me!  Now they are yellow and on the ground with those interesting shadow bits under them, twisted and contorted...

4x13 acrylic on wood, $98 click HERE to purchase!

hanging system included~

November 8, Koto!

White dogs can be as much fun to paint as a black one, because there are those incredible mixes of value and shade in that foaming white coat!  This one is no exception!  And I loved this goofy up-close version of this sweet dog as well, rather than the standard Head Shot...  personality abounds!

8x8 acrylic on panel, $170, SOLD

November 6, Zeus!

Another lovely dog for you!  LOVE that face!  Wowzers-  and I am eating a careful apple, chewing mostly on my left side of my mouth, gingerly taking care not to jog my newly root-canalled tooth... is that a word?  So soon I'll have another gold tooth...  I can be a pirate artist, can't I? 

8x10 acrylic on panel, SOLD

November 5, "Oscar"

This is a third commission for this client, and is interesting to me because what she wanted was another version of the second painting I had done for her of Oscar, five years ago.  I'll post the originals later, because I can't quite cotton onto my photos at the moment, but I DO have this one to show you!  The fun thing for me was to try to match my five-years-ago style to my current style, which I didn't think was that different but it really IS!  It was an interesting challenge to have to pay attention to what has changed in my work.
The other challenge was in finding the same size and depth of canvas for these paintings!  The originals are on 2inch deep 9 by 9 inch stretched canvases, and I couldn't find any anywhere.  These were probably a set of four as a project from Michals, some time ago.   I did find my own groundhog paintings that I had done on the other two of the set of four, and gessoed out one groundhog so I could paint the new Oscar without having to pull the other Oscar off the other canvas...

I am pretty pleased with the little booger, and so were his new owners when they came by to pick him up earlier this week!
Yay!

9x9 acrylic on stretched canvas, $210 SOLD

November 4th, Double Yorkies...

You know, I seriously love painting dogs.
I can't help it-  and I've had people ask me what will I do when I stop loving painting dogs...  which seems a strange question, really.  Do you ask a basketball player when they'll stop loving to play the game, or a reader what they'll do when they stop wanting to read?  As if there's supposed to be an end-time to it?   Hmmm~  not sure why that becomes the question-  though I suppose it would be like asking me what I want to do when I am done with teaching, as if that's an option either...  when you are doing something that is really a part of you, that you really must do, then you don't really have an option. 
And it's been another of those weeks where I haven't had much time, what with getting ready for a few holiday shows-  I just put up a few things at Peggy's Boutique, which starts this Saturday and is on for a whole 9 day run...  I may (hopefully!) have to go restock around Tuesday.  Duane is putting up some awesome new bird sculptures he's been working on-  he's out in the garage right now varnishing them!  So come on by!  I hear it's a madhouse the first couple days, so you may as well wait because all the artists restock later in the week- it's at the Oval Skating Rink in Roseville~

And these are Claudia's yorkies, and I hope she doesn't mind me posting them~ 

10x10 acrylic on panel, sold~

November 2, "Northwoods Road" and MUG ACCEPTANCE EXTENSION!!!!

This is a 12x12 on a cradled panel that will be at the Edina Art Center for their "Up North" Holiday art show, starting this weekend!  Come pick it up there, or tell me you want it now and I'll pull it for you!  Ha!

AND I am extending the MUG SHOTS Show!  If you can get me your mugs by this Saturday, I'll hang them at Diamonds!  Well, Friday would be better, actually.... but get them to me!  It is Art Attack this weekend and I really NEED to have some paintings on the walls at Diamonds!

Wahoo!

12x12 acrylic on cradled panel, $275 click HERE to purchase!

November 1, Dusty Lilac Shadow

I didn't quite know how to describe this one... and my brain has been on half power for like a week due to too-muchness and colds and all that mucas that drains your sensible parts of your brain away...  so I think the shadow looks a bit lilac-y... not quite lavender-y...

so buy this one because it is REALLY nice!

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click HERE to purchase!

October 29, "Brown Diagonal With Yellow"

How's that for an abstract sounding title?  It is fun when I paint something like this and it appeals to me on several levels... There's something really exciting with this simple composition, with the angles and the overlapping and the colors.  I thought I'd want to paint another red leaf because I love the punch of that strong color, but I really like the calm soothing brown and the brilliance of the yellow~  I like looking at it!  Isn't that wild?  And these leaves are some I picked up last week... all the other leaves in Minneapolis are soaking wet...

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click HERE to purchase!

October 27, Zeus!

Not to be mistaken with the god, or the graffiti artist, no this is a dog!  And a dog worthy of the name, if the stories I've heard about him are any indication.  You've all known that kind of dog...  and I have to say I love German Shepards, and some of them I am a bit afraid of.  They are a dog that demands respect.  Though I do know a couple silly ones, now that I mention it...  those are probably my favorites, the ones who can be silly and noble at the same time.  Like the Buddha~

8x10 acrylic on archival black gessoed panel, $210 SOLD

October 26, "Handmade Cuppa"

Still looking for mugs, my people!  Send the word out, please!  I think I may start hanging mugs by Nov 10, and will continue to ask for them after that too~
So here's one to be going on!

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click here to purchase!

October 23, "Leaves Duet"

I'm having a great Friday eve, watching Monty Python's "The Holy Grail" while painting.... really, it's the 30th or is it the 40th? Anniversary... let me find a link...ah!  Here's a great one!  A wonderful shot of the boys at a celebration~  dang!  I mean really, how many times can you watch something like this that still makes you laugh?  Ah well.  Some of us anyway~
So here is another leaf- actually two leaves!  Max and I walked the dogs this evening before he went to bed and the leaves are all rained upon and shiny on the ground.  Not sure what they'll be like tomorrow-  maybe I'll have to paint some plein air....

 6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click here to purchase~

October 22, Chloee~

This is a completed commission, more to come!  And last night was my last painting class with my Fall group-  I gotta admit, I probably get as much out of teaching these classes as my students do!  When someone comes into a class ready to learn and wanting to try, I am always so impressed by the honesty and uniqueness that comes out!  Everyone has an ability to paint, truly-  you just have to be willing to be a bit vulnerable and understand that it takes some work to find out what you are capable of!
And you can sign up for the next session here!

8x10 acrylic on hardboard panel, sold!

October 20, Crunchy

Here is another leaf~  a few more out there!  Send me your mugs, people!

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click here to purchase!

October 19, Empty Green Mug and CALL FOR MUG SHOTS!

Don't worry!  There's a few more leaves up my sleeve!  Just had to paint a mug here because I need to send out a call for mug and coffee cup and tea cup paintings!  I am having a show at Diamond's Coffee Shoppe from November 3 to January 4th of ALL MUGS!  Send me your paintings!
I have more info HERE so check it out and pass it on and get your mugs to me NOW!

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click HERE to purchase!

October 18, "Crinkle Leaf"

Does your smoke detector go off when you turn on your heat for the first time of the season?  Still loving the leaves!  And I'm noticing the light coming into our house again, that time of year when the light comes low and bright-  washing dishes in the afternoon can be blinding!

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click here to purchase!

October 17, "Squinting"

So here is a dog, instead of a leaf!  They've been loving sitting out on the back steps in the sunshine, our dogs.  Must be a basking kind of thing-

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click here to purchase!

October 16, Fallen

It is amazing when you think of all the people you've met in your life who've touched you without even realizing it.  You know, the guy in the toyota who sees you wanting to cross the street and who stops at the crosswalk so you and the dog can go...  and the woman in the wrap behind you on 94 who easily lets you in to the merge, you give a wave and a short quick thank you prayer...
and all those people you live with at points in your life- your family, your classmates, your teachers, as you move further into your life you have roomates and college friends... I still feel like my best friends happened after school.  And I'd have to say I am one of those nuts who really liked school...
So here's another leaf~

sometimes I'm not very good at transitions!

acrylic on panel, 4.75x7.5 inches, $70 click here to purchase~

October 15, Sugar Maple Leaf #4

Even I have no idea how many of these Sugar Maple Leaves I may be inclined to paint... it is that mystery that draws us artists back.  You have to be comfortable with the thought of not knowing the answer sometimes.  Though if you know me well, you'll know that I am very uncomfortable with new situations and with not being in control of a situation, to the point of extreme anxiety attacks.  Not that I am a control freak, or a helicopter parent (at least, I don't think I'm that bad...  I may hear otherwise after posting this...) but that I feel most confident when I think I know what's going on.  Not that I ever do.  Current post a definite case in point...

This one is a 5x7 because I haven't gessoed all my 6x6 panels yet- and I'm making it a bargain price, if you are interested!

5x7 acrylic on archival panel, $60 click HERE to purchase!

October 14, "Sugar Maple #3"

I've been wanting to paint something on these for a while but couldn't quite figure out what exactly it was that I wanted to paint on such an unusual format...
But, like I said yesterday, I am liking painting leaves much more than I thought!  I had so much fun defining the leaf's skeleton and figuring out how to make it look like it was somewhat lying there, but with some chilly breezes rushing in to lift it off...

4x13 inches, $100 click here to purchase!

October 13, "Yellow Leaf"

It is always fun to paint in series, I think...  you get to know the subject better by looking at it in a number of different ways, you get to practice looking closely at it and seeing it in a different light.  And leaves are such strange things because they are flat but not really. And they are something I would never have thought I would be interested in painting.  Ain't life funny?

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click here to purchase!

October 12, " Sugar Maple Leaf #2"

So I didn't post yesterday because I ended up getting caught up in the glories of the day and trying to catch up on a few commissions that I don't want to post yet because they haven't been delivered to their people!
I have posted the new Painting Lessons Session dates here if you are interested!
Loving these leaves!
The contrast of blue to the warmer tones is really fun to play with~  try it!

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click here to purchase!

October 10, "Sugar Maple Leaf #1"

Every year I look closely at the leaves when they fall, and every year I get completely transfixed at the variety of color and depth in them.  You should try painting one too!

Oh and I've got the dates figured out for my next session of Painting Lessons!  Starting Saturday November 7th from 9:30-noon, we'll go for six (or maybe seven) weeks!  Sign up HERE!

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click here to purchase~

October 9, Curious Ears!

 Okay, yes I got a bit too busy yesterday again~ dang it!  I really do hate it when I don't find the time to post!  I am still figuring out the waking-up-at-6-O-clock thing, because I am used to having a couple hours of free time in the morning before I go to work, and honestly, six is hard enough without trying to get up at four... maybe when I get older and develop insomnia or something, but at this point I like sleep too much!
At least I AM painting every day- I have a lot of commissions I am working on at the moment, and I hope that doesn't stop for a while!
Here is another view of my beloved Bingo~  SUCH a shiny dog!  And he's the first one I ever took to obedience training.  Which I think formed a huge bond between us- he was such a good dog!

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click HERE to purchase!

October 7, "Ears Alert"

I am just so enjoying this fall weather!  It's a pity most of the leaves are turning color and falling off at the same time...  but the sunshine comes in at that certain slant and the days are lovely and crisp~
This is another one of that wonderful black dog of mine, whose seriously shiny black coat really did teach me about seeing black...

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click here to purchase~

October 6, "Green Collar"

Wow~  sorry!  Had a bit of a crazy weekend and too many commitments and somehow didn't get any blogging done this weekend!  That SO does not happen!  I apologize to all of you who were expecting and hoping for some bit of color in your inbox!  Dang!
Here is a good old dog for you, my Bingo, the dog who taught me how to paint black.

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click here to purchase!

October 2, Beaner's Sunflowers!

My sister lives in Brisbane at the moment, and I believe these are the sunflowers she raised from mere baby seeds~  and so she's sent the photo to my mom and me (and maybe my other sister too!) to challenge us to paint them so we can see what we all do-  so here is my contribution!

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click here to purchase!

October 1, "The Diver"

I do love working at painting water... it is abstract and real at the same time.  This is from a photo mom took of Max as he was showing off his diving skills in the Radisson's pool in Duluth when we were up for the Otters Underwater Opening.  He usually doesn't plug his nose, so this was odd but I loved the angle of his elbow and the diagonal line of his entire body underwater, except that bright warm foot kicking up above...

8x10 acrylic on panel, $160 click here to purchase!

September 30, "The Last Rose"

And here's another version of that lovely flower... they really don't last long~
I think I did a better job with the vase on this one, and I'm somewhat in love with the variety of subtle shades on the right side of the vase on the table...  though now I look at it, maybe the grey in the background is a bit flat...

Hmmm~

maybe I'll try auctioning this one~

6x6 acrylic on panel, $25 starting bid, click HERE to participate!

September 29, Mom's Yellow Rose

Mom brought these sweet baby roses up for the brunch on Sunday, and they are slowly fading but still smell gorgeous, so I thought I'd give flowers another try.  I think this one is a bit more successful than the peonies I did a couple months ago...
Hmm. Now that I'm looking at it at a distance, the petals look better!
I've been trying to get work together for the upcoming holiday shows, so stay tuned for all that nonsense coming up very soon!  And if you think you want a commission for someone for Christmas, best get moving on THAT nonsense as well!

6x6 acrylic on panel, $75 click here to purchase!

September 27th, More 10 MInute Paintings!

I thought I'd put up a few more of the paintings I did yesterday morning... of course, I didn't always remember to take a photo of the pieces when I was finished either- and then Max took off with my i-phone so he and his friend could play some dinosaur game on it, so I didn't have my camera....

Maybe you've seen this fella around!

Rosey is a wonderful pom-pom marionette!

Jerry is a VERY LARGE and quite handsome polar bear who took up an entire chair all by himself!

This is an actual dog!

And this bunny was SO realistic, I thought at first glimpse that it was real!

September 26th, The Blessing of the Animals

So we had a very busy morning, with a puppet show by Duane (with assistance from Max and me) at Breck for the Blessing of the Animals, and then my fellow artist and art teacher, Carol Grams and I sat with my fabulous upper school art students and sketched and drew and painted pets and people and stuffed animals for a couple hours!  Ten minute sketches~  funny how great it is to do these for the practice~
It was great!
Here's a couple lovely black dogs!

acrylic on 8x10 black stonehenge

8x10 acrylic on black stonehenge