Tuesday, June 30, 2020

6/30 OFFICIAL LIST for "30 Dogs in 30 Days!" Wahoo!

So sorry people!  We've had a bit of a crisis, with an infected tooth and some emergency surgery, and things are better now but I wasn't feeling like posting...
But NOW I do!
See below for the OFFICIAL LIST which is always capable of changing!

And follow along because the first dog will be tomorrow!!!
Wahoo!
8x8 acrylic on wood
Special! $150

YAY!!!!

7-1 Mary S- Eloise
7-2 Julie P- Mojo
7-3 Alison H- Monkey
7-4. Tracy Y - Peabody 
7-5 Penny T - Moxie 
7-6 Becky S-
7-7 Grace G - the black dog
7-8  Valerie - Boss 9x12
7-9  Lucy B- Lila 12x12
7-10 Jodi W-  Jasper 8x8
7-11 Joyce L-  Ruby Dee  8x8
7-12 Sandra H- Lou 8x8
7-13 Jill S- Aimee 8x8
7-14.  Kimberly M - Emmett  8x8
7-15 Karyl R- Shiloh
7-16 Laurie A- Skye 8x8 
7-17 Rachel H- Phyllis
7-18 Tanya S- Tully 8x8
7-19 Rosemary H- Harvey and Hudson
7-20 Kelly E-   Maggie, 8x8
7-21 Kelly E-  Charlie  8x8
7-22 Beth B- 9x12 
7-23 Becky A- 
7-24 Jeremy B- two Goldens
7-25 Heidi K- 8x8
7-26 Kris M- Bella the Bloodhound
7-27 Anita B- Max
7-28 Barbara E-  Leopold 
7-29 Liz Greenbaum
7-30 Jay R- pup puppy!

Thursday, June 25, 2020

6/25 Yoda-Baby Kitten

As I was sketching this little blue-eyed baby, I was struck by how much she looks like baby Yoda!  it's gotta be the ears, and those big eyes, and that sweet little mouth~
So fun!
I'm so lucky!
And I'm looking forward to painting DOGS starting NEXT WEEK!  Still time to send them to me!  More info HERE!

Hope you are well!
6x6 acrylic on wood
$75
including shipping!

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

6/23 Mama Love

We were out of town for a couple days there, and what with one thing and another, it was tricky to get a post in! So here is a smaller version of a larger painting I've exhibited widely and only just got back into my possession. I've retitled it "Mamma Love" to differentiate from the larger "A Mother's Touch".  When we were out of town, I ran out of my yellow and we had to run around, in masks and with hand sanitizer, to see if we could find some but nowhere was any Golden Acrylic to be found!   The moral of the story is-  make sure you pack your paints!!!

I am pleased with this version of this painting- the main focal point where their sweet faces touch was  tricky to pull off, but I liked my solution of pushing the background further back and allowing their faces to be sharper.
So fun!

And I also have a winner of the grapefruit painting! Liana Kiff, your name was pulled out of the hat!  Congratulations!  I'll be contacting you and sending it off~
Wahoo!

9x12 acrylic on wood
$216



Sunday, June 21, 2020

6/21 Lola for Katie!

Happy SUMMER!
Hope you've had a good day!  We are all a bit exhausted at the moment, having spent the day busily social distancing at the beach... Max just LOVES the water and he'd been hoping to catch some crayfish but only minnows in this lake~
And this is a commission!
And I haven't had a chance to do the drawing for the grapefruit painting yet but I'll let you know tomorrow!

And send me your DOGS!  YAY!
8x8 acrylic on wood
sold!

Saturday, June 20, 2020

6/20 Oh THAT Apple...

I am suddenly very well aware of the fact that we are NOT up in Grand Marais, celebrating the Summer Solstice... with lots of people we love and usually a few people we didn't know who are quickly amongst our favorites ever... sleeping in our 1991 pop-up camper in the Municipal Campground, skipping rocks and watching waves...
AAAAAAGH!
Here's a link to past Solstice Pageants because I can't STAND that we aren't there and you may not know what I'm talking about!

We've been in all the last four shows, and LOVED it!!!
And I'm compelled to tell you I'm listening/wathcing "To Be or Not To BE" which Betsy Bowen starts out narrating, and calling out to people to take care of bees, but also a call to keep Philando Castille in our thoughts and prayers....

And so, here is an apple, who wants to perform, but isn't quite sure what its role should be....
6x8 acrylic on canvas
$87
no Shipping!

Friday, June 19, 2020

6/19 From the Campground

I took this photo last summer when we were staying at the Municipal Campground in Grand Marais, MN, which we LOOOVE, and probably won't be going to this summer but maybe in the fall, because it seems people aren't wearing masks as much as I would like them to- and I'm not sure what a campground full of people will be sharing with one another but I'd rather stay out of it for now, thank you very much...
Anyway, Duane and Max and I think at least one of our dogs went further out on these rocks than I did-  I'm realizing the scale may not be apparant, but most of those rocks are as big as a car...
I'm particularly pleased with the sky and the water, and all those lovely diagonal bits~

9x12 acrylic on wood
usually $216 but NOW $195 and FREE SHIPPING!
Yay!

Thursday, June 18, 2020

6/18 Free Grapefruit!

Hi everyone!
I'm teaching an online class to some of my school students for a summer camp, and this is the demo I painted for them the other day, and I figured it's time to give away ANOTHER painting!
This time, I'll draw a name from a hat of everyone who makes a comment on Facebook or Dailypaintworks or Instagram!

Seeing as how these things happen, like breaking a glass in our house, there will probably be another one next week too~
So Duane broke one of my wine glasses on Tuesday, I broke my favorite Dia Des Los Muertes glass yesterday, and Max just broke a water glass after supper tonight... so you know, that saying that things happen in threes...

SO I'm saying there'll be another freebie soon!
OH and I'm working really hard on something I'm hoping to launch by my birthday!  HEE!

6x6 acrylic
FREE!

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

6/17 Murphy and Felix

This is a commission from a fantastic patron and Sheltie lover, and I was so happy to paint a pair of pups.  Those sweet faces and postures and the shading and fluffiness and all, SO fun!

Do remember, I am gearing up for this July's "30 Dogs in 30 Days" Daily Painting Project and I need more photos of dogs!  Please send them to me!  More info HERE!
Wahoo!

12x12 acrylic on wood
Spoken For!

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

6/16 Shadows on the Water

This is one I've wanted to paint for a bit too, and I wasn't sure how to crop it either and knew I wanted to include the wonderful dark patches of shadow on the surface of the water. And I also love the spiky green of the rushes as well~
I also loved trying to figure out the colors in the water, how to see deeper under and what is above.
So fun!
6x18 acrylic on canvas
usually $216 but 
because it's my Birthday month 
this one is $195!
And FREE SHIPPING!

Monday, June 15, 2020

6/15 Long Tall Hiawatha

I have been trying to paint Lake Hiawatha again, since the fun light filled spring ones and finally think I managed. I admit I am also loving these long format canvases... they are unusual and make me look hard at a composition to see if it works.

I think this one works!
And it's a great piece for that between-the-windows spot, or that near-the-door-but-needs-some-color spot, or that area behind you in your Zoom meetings that would look more interesting with something THERE!

6x18 acrylic on canvas
usually would be $216 
but right now $195! 
FREE SHIPPING!

Sunday, June 14, 2020

6/14 Peony Attempt #1

SOOOOOOO.....
I am not great at painting flowers.
This is supposed to be a peony.  It looks like a bunch of fluff to me.  Which I suppose is what a peony is, isn't it?  I liked the challenge of trying it anyway, of looking closely and choosing where to put light and where to put dark, and how to make the bits and pieces move and flow.

Just not sure it reads as FLOWER.

If you like it, you can be the first to send me an email and I'll give it to you!
6x6 acrylic on wood
FREE!

Saturday, June 13, 2020

6/13 Morning at the Creek

I've got a couple more from Minnehaha Creek, painting outside- it's really been great weather here in Minneapolis, cool and breezy, great nights for sleeping. I'm starting an Online Painting Class next week through Breck for some of my kids, and it goes for two weeks from 9-10 am every morning.  I'm a bit nervous because I'm not sure how it will work for the kids, and I'm concerned about their getting frustrated and me not being able to show them in person how to correct something, you know what I mean?
SO we'll see how it rolls!
And I'm planning some adult on-line classes as well- stay tuned!
Oh and SEND ME YOUR DOG PHOTOS!!!
9x12 acrylic on wood
usually $216,  but now $195!
FREE SHIPPING!

Friday, June 12, 2020

6/12 Creek Weeds

And here is another one I painted sitting by the creek yesterday~ water is so interesting to paint. I need to do it more often!
6x9 acrylic on wood
$108 FREE SHIPPING!

Thursday, June 11, 2020

6/11 Creek By Nokomis Street

I was FINALLY able to get up and go painting in the morning today! I met my friends Robin and Michele at Minnehaha Creek where it flows under the Nokomis Street Bridge, and it was a bit buggy but I loved it. Water is so interesting to try to see. What is it doing? How is it moving? Is it dark or light?  Lots of great thoughts to pull you out of your too-analytical brain!

6x6 acrylic on wood
$72 including shipping in the USA!

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

6/10 Light Breaks Through

It's much cooler here in Minneapolis today- I'm in one of those slumps I fall into occasionally, when I feel "at loose end" because I don't have every minute scheduled. I am often too busy, but I have found that being busy means I get things done. This week, I am finding stretches of time where I don't know what to do with myself. I don't mean that there aren't things I SHOULD be doing- there's always toilets to be cleaned and windows to be washed and cupboards to be cleared out, but I sit with this expanse of art-fair-less summer in front of me, and I'm slightly stunned.
I'm also trying to frame a new Advanced Painting Cohort/Buddy/Critique Series of Lessons, and I'm possibly procrastinating...
One thought I've had is to open an Etsy shop of some of my smaller work and post those at a bit of a discount since those are what I usually sell the most of at my events..
Anyway, this is from a swampy area outside of Duluth, and made me think of Tom Thomson...
14x18 acrylic on canvas
usually $504 but now
 $375!
FREE SHIPPING

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

6/9 Through the Trees

Yes, I can't stop painting this scene.  I swear I'm going to paint some Lake Hiawatha of Nokomis soon, but I'm just still a bit in need of that familiar grey/purple/pink pallet...

I am looking for dogs for my "30 Dogs in 30 Days" Daily Painting Project this July!  Send them in and spread the word, please!

And keep looking for volunteer opportunities in your area!  If you are in the twin cities, here is a list of things you can do to help-  I am planning on going over to the Greater Friendship Church today because we live up the block from them- it's been hard to feel connected with the Covid distance, and these ideas can help.
XO
6x9 acrylic on wood
$108

Monday, June 8, 2020

Cold Shoulder

When someone walks away from you, they do often take something with them.  This one is a bigger one, and in that long format that I've been loving.  I kinda wanna paint some peonys in this format...  not that peonys are anything like a wolf...
I have long said how much I appreciate the hind quarters of dogs, and wolves fall into that category as well. Tail, hocks, ankles, so many lovely angles!
12x36 acrylic on canvas
$864

Sunday, June 7, 2020

Sidewalk Chalk Blessings...

It's been a bit tricky trying to paint with feeling like I should be doing something bigger, like volunteering and donating and getting groceries to people. And it's also been a bit traumatic, waiting to see what else might happen.  I was honestly afraid this weekend would be like last weekend, with sirens and racing cars and fires and gunshots, but it's been amazingly peaceful, with a giant Rose moon.
I drew chalk hearts in front of our house and our neighbor's houses up and down our block on Friday. I needed to do someting creative and was having a hard time settling on anything, but these felt so good. They felt like a spell or a wish or a blessing... protection, of love...
And then I was able to paint during our FFPP Zoom meeting, which went longer than expectd and had participants from 4 different states- I love community, no matter what form it takes!
This is one of the paintings.



6x12 acrylic on wood
$145
click here to purchase~






Thursday, June 4, 2020

June 4th, We are Okay, and "Line Dance"

Hi everyone, from South Minneapolis!

I wanted to let you know that so far, my family and I are just fine, and my studio in the Ivy Building is also just fine. Thank you so much for all your concern and for reaching out to me. There is so much that needs to be done in our city and our nation and our world, I hope you are finding ways to feel connected and useful at this anxious time.

I want to have a First Friday Painting Party Zoom tomorrow evening, not that it is time for a party but it IS the First Friday and I need to paint.  I haven't been able to for over a week now, and I'm hoping to get some painting in tonight maybe, and tomorrow too...
here's the Zoom info-
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85896146718

Meeting ID: 858 9614 6718
Password: 485053

I'm reposting some of the paintings I've brought home from the studio because they are my favs and I wanted them to be safe.
Today's painting is "Line Dance"- it is 6x6 and acrylic and one of my otters!  It's a good one, and I'm pricing these at 20 percent off the original price of $75 (not including tax and shipping though I am happy to do curbside pick-up/drop-off!) so just $60!  
Wahoo!