Monday, November 19, 2007

Nuts!

Walnut, hazel and pecan.
Bought these nuts before halloween, they keep. Walnuts are fun to paint, the hazelnut so simple it was difficult and the pecan required alzirian crimson which is rather transparent but dryed well. There were two sets of shadows which I thought were interesting. The blue is from the shoe box I set them on to get them closer to me.

This is Priscilla taking out her favorite toy which is a decapitated lime green teddy bear sans stuffing. She sticks her nose in the neck opening, where it gets stuck and can look pretty funny.
Below: Happy Rufus running.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Purple flower & the Yorkies

So it took three weeks to get around to finishing this one. Did not do much to the flower itself as it is now a dried up flower. Did choose a non-existent blue/green for background, still life is set up on cardboard.
Priscilla looking like a stuffed toy.

Rufus being a sweetie.
The next two are for contrast, after hours of chasing and tumbling, they do get tired.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Catalina State Park

TPAPS and OPA had a joint paint-out at Catalina State Park on Saturday.
This is my result..It's alright, nothing glaring wrong.
The Saguaros cactus are not cigar-o-s.
There is a bank of shrubs casting shadows on the left that I painted a tree over..opps!
Here is the setting for reference. You have to paint the shadows at the time and then let it go; they are going to be different by the time you finish the painting.


Here is handsome Rufus!

Here is silly Priscilla!

Here is the two of them acting like a married couple!
(She started it.)


Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Honey Bee Painting

After the colorless one last week, I did not put brown on the palette and had to make it myself.
I wish there were more than 8 colors. This one did turn out more vivid. 8 inches x 10 inches.
Very windy day, 30 and 40 mph gusts, so we went under the bridge and up the slot canyon.
Just around the bend from the first painting of the season (horizontal painting way below).
A few times I had to hang on to the umbrella but I was looking into the sun so I was glad I had it with me. Beautiful day to be out upsetting the birds.
Mister Rufus! He is looking for Priscilla whom he is fascinated with. They play well together. He can overwhelm her with his speed, size and tenacity but she gives him what-for and provokes him by biting his nose.

After a good bout of growling at Rufus, Priscilla is pooped.


Sunday, October 21, 2007

Miss Priscilla Arrives!

We bought Rufus an expensive toy.
Here she is! That pink thing on the left side is a thumb.

Rufus is 8 months old now and Priscilla will be 9 weeks tomorrow!
Breeder said she will get to 6 lbs, Rufus is 7 lbs now but a string bean.
Somehow I suspect living in the Dinardi household they will both be pleasantly plump in no time.


Rufus is a bit miffed. Claudia came over and he went berserk, like we ignore him.
Priscilla hadn't been in the house a full 24 hours yet.
Who needs children with babies like these?

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

HoneyBee

This is honey bee canyon, looking south towards Tucson. My usual graphic style but an attempt at poetic brush stroke. No inventive colors, going for the truth. The canvas is 8 inches by 10 inches and took about 3 hours to paint. (After one hour of wandering around with all the gear, looking at one inspiring view after another.)

My mother claims Rufus looks bored. So here is an action shot with ears flapping.

I started, but did not complete a still life so a bonus Rufus the Yorkie pic for my sister. He is intent on a lizard. A little tired out, panting, a cute butt shot.



Monday, October 1, 2007

Honeybee Canyon Salt N pepper

Sunday night painting of Salt and Pepper shakers. The canvas is 4 X 4 inches.

Below is Honeybee canyon, was overcast this morning so light did not change and it was a comfortable temperature. Sat on a rock on the side of a cliff to see this view. I like the focal point of the tree on the edge and the path leading up to it. But I got lazy on the right hand side rocks. I may go back in to develop those. In person it is an overwhelming mass of cracks.

And Rufus the Yorkie! He sleeps!



Monday, September 24, 2007

Catalina State Park


Here is my painting from this morning. Those are gnats stuck on it.
The grasshoppers and buzzy things were nuts!
Trying the techniques from "Alla Prima, All I Know About Painting " by Schmid
This turned out OK... in other words I don't hate it!
This is pic of our painting spot, that's Gale painting there.
Really needed the umbrella since the sun was in front of us.


Like the celery I did the night before better!





And a Rufus pic!

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

First Plein Air of Season


First Painting of the 2007-2008 season. Poured rain the night before and left a rare sliver of water on the floor of the wash to reflect the sky. It was drying up by the time I finished painting. You can feel fall in the air, a cool breeze brought in beautiful clouds. Of course I could not paint them in. Painters can chase shadows all day and end up with a mud painting. You learn that one quick but the temptation is always there. Used the Water Mixable oils and a limited palette.
If you click on pic you get the huge version, there are grains of sand on the lower left. Have to wait til it drys to brush them off!

Here is Rufus cooling off on the top step of the pool where I put bricks for him. He loves to run like a horse after getting out, sometimes through the house and onto your lap.




Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Old Wallet


The switch to working Mon - Fri gave me the day after Labor Day off.
I cleaned my room like I had been meaning to all summer when I started a full time job.
Found my old wallets while cleaning. Girls do not throw out their old wallets, I had two red ones and this one had the hinged change area. So it is not a statement about being broke and having an empty wallet although my Ball & Chain suggested I put it over my check book as inspiration.
Spent about 4 hours total over the day (had to stop for a nap). Panel is 8 X 10. Used water mixable oils and a limited palette. Warm and cool of each primary, black and white. Trying to get in gear for the upcoming plein air season. The water mixable oils act a little differently than the Alkyds I use. I needed soft brushes to blend and not leave bristle marks. A clean brush blends wonderfully and a little dampness would "revive" an area.
Wish I had moved the subject up a little and had just the panels behind it for compositional horizon lines but now I know. Was in such a hurry to DO IT!


Joy is a puppy on your lap while you paint! Here is a Rufus Pic!

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Grand Puppy Pics


Here is a pic of Rufus the yorkie and me on a trip to Mount Lemmon.
That is a twig on his side, he collects those where ever he goes.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Grisaille painting

Did this painting on 3 lunch hours (back in 2004!) using ivory black and titanium white with water mixable oils. Glazed the color at home when it was done and dry. All are 6 by 4 inches.

This was my attempt at going commercial; creating a series for print. Topic: comfort food. To be sold to coffee shops and restaurants. The subjects and imagery are straight from my imagination, no still life or reference. I just made it up. The Cup N Spoon is the finished grisaille. The other two are not finished.



Monday, June 11, 2007

Rufus !



Here is my new Yorkshire terrier pup named Rufus.
He is 12 weeks old and weighs about 3 lbs.

Now I get get up early.
Easy to do when a very rambunctious fuzz ball is biting your nose at 5:30 am and the threat of a stink deposit occurs to you.

Spent Sunday at work with me, was well behaved.
Slept on the wacom tablet while I made the graphics and on my lap during the show.
Only heard him bark once, when the lizard he cornered wouldn't play any more.

Monday, May 7, 2007

Anger, Take Two...

Postcard "back"
Postcard Front Poster



Here is a concept I have been working on for a sermon series.

The images have been adjusted for display on the blog, the originals will be printed.

Design is open to adjustments and changes, this is the first draft.




Tuesday, May 1, 2007

IF: Remember


Have you ever been transported back a few decades to a specific place by a smell or the quality of light? The smell of a grade school disenfectant, crayons, old wood...BAM I'm back in kindergarten in a split second. AZ's creosote bushes in the rain is just as powerful.

So the new job is making me lazy. First I have not participated in a while. Second, this is a composite of 4 pilfered images with a photoshop brush filter applied. The chick I drew. Found a site: www.posemaniacs.com that provided a skinned image that inspired me. Skinned as in- no flesh, all muscles and tendons depicted; sorta takes the lust element out of it. Site has a 30 second pose feature that limbers up the ole hand/eye coordination.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Agave Death Shoot




At the request of my Dad....
An agave death shoot. This one is now 3 feet taller and sending out flower shoots.
Another in the yard joining it, the shoot just starting. We counted 7 in the neighborhood!
A friend wants to the shoots when they are done to paint!