NY Summer

This past year has been difficult due to a family illness and subsequent passing. I've been living between NY and Fl dealing with elder family care as well. I finally got back into the studio this summer and I'm building up my painting muscles. (I think they're coming along better than my actual ones.) I painted these two studies from a Vermeer book I had with me.

Ghost Rider

I found this image on line and had to paint it. Zorn palette.

Some new studies

Wednesday afternoons are open studio for portrait painting at the wonderful Southern Atelier in Sarasota, which is run by the kind and talented artist Charles Miano. I've been using the Zorn palette with those studies. I started using it for the convenience of traveling light, but I've really grown to love it. I like the challenge of trying to convey purples, or yellow with it. Green's a bit problematic and our model had green hair! Oh well. The bottom was painted at the Ringling museum on a beautiful spring day. Thanks for stopping by.

Blue Jay in Winter

I've been living in New York for the past few months instead of Florida, so this is apropos. Thanks to Kelly Strope from PMP for her inspiring photo. Thank you for stopping by.

Santa's Boots

This was a fun, yet challenging painting from a photo by Neil Empsall from paint my photo.
Merry Christmas and thanks for stopping by.

Chickens in the High Rent District

The window in this photo is uniquely European, which explains the title. I painted this from a paint my photo reference  https://pmp-art.com/shelley-hammerton/gallery/214529/mille-fleur-cockerel. I'm guessing French. Thanks for stopping by and happy holidays.

Golden Tomatoes

Tom the model - Zorn palette

This is my latest open studio painting of a fabulous model named Tom. This occurred right after Irma and the studio's power had just come back on and it was hot! But Tom posed standing, in full work man's regalia, down to the gloves. I feel bad I didn't try the full Monti, so to speak, but I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew. I'm lovin the Zorn palette and even managed to get a yellowish hat. Thanks for stopping by.

Flowers on the Windowsill

Head Studies - Zorn Palette

I've been painting portraits on Wednesday afternoons at the Southern Atelier's open studio. http://southernatelier.org/  It's been 3 or 4 years since I've painted from life and I'm really loving it. I started using the Zorn palette. I'm using it for simplicity, unity and the convenience of only carrying 4 tubes of paint. I have a great travel set up, which includes a sterilite plastic container that holds my paper palette, (It fits perfectly in the freezer) medium, towels and paint, and a separate plastic container for my brushes, mirror, knife, etc. That all fits in a bag, along with my smock. I have a drawing board on which I tape a sheet of Canson oil paper.  In my limited Zorn palette experience, I've already switched out my Windsor yellow ochre for M Graham's. The WN is too green and has no tinting power. The top painting is with MG. What a difference in color! Thanks for stopping by.

Polish

Unfortunately my 30 day challenge bit the dust. It was a hopeful idea, as I had to go back to work after having the summer off. I sing the teacher blues in the key of f flat. But we're back and one of my favorite parts of teaching is suddenly realizing that everyone is engaged and doing what I'm asking them to. It's amazing and rewarding. (I was teaching 1 and 2 point perspective.)

Dutch Egg Cup

We weren't "egg cup" people, so I wasn't sure what to do with the egg and the cup because the egg is so much smaller. Maybe it's a cup for ostrich eggs, or small dinosaur eggs. Although probably not. Thanks for stopping by. This is day 4 in the 30 day challenge.

Green Bag

I started packing this bag with paper goods to recycle and thought it looked like a still life, so I set it aside to paint. Guess I can recycle it now.:) Thanks for stopping bye. (Day 2 in 30 day challenge.)

Rainy Day Pool and Pond

I'm starting a new 30 day challenge. The goal is to paint a quick, small painting a day. This wasn't as quick as I planned, but hopefully I'll get faster as I go. I could also choose subjects that aren't so complicated. This is my living room view. I just love it.

Shed View

All this junk piled up in my father's shed spoke to me. there were Rose of Sharons and Hydrangeas nearby, but the junk - tools beckoned and I heeded the call. Thanks for stopping by.

Fixin the Lawnmower

I painted this odd still life in New York while visiting my parents. My dad was trying to fix the lawn mower and I guess this stuff was part of that process. Who can tell? Maybe it was purely decorative.

What's on the Easel?

Two portraits I've been working on for a while. The top is a selfie and the other is a little girl from paint my photo. I've just started one of her sister too. The first fairy has been an incredible challenge, for some reason and I'm still not finished with it. I think the lack of strong lighting could contribute to the difficulty. At any rate, I decided to do a better underpainting for the sister. (What cute sisters!) I think the second one is called Serious Fairy. The selfie is the first one I've done in about 20 years. I must have worked on it 5 times before today and today, I just started throwing paint at it. Whatever...

Peonies

This is a study I did this morning at a color lab workshop at the Southern Atelier in Sarasota run by Charlie Miano. He stressed thinking of the flowers as balls. First we did thumbnail sketches in pencil, then with color. Then we thinly painted the balls in local color, and added details/petals on top. This was a 2 and a 1/2 day workshop, but I was only able to attend a 1/2 day, really 2 1/2 days because I got to see his demo yesterday. Check out the Southern Atelier at southernatelier.org

Anna Maria

I took a series of photographs at Anna Maria Island a few years ago and have painted a bunch of pictures from them.  I"m always attracted to the little groups of people and the scenarios they compose. I also love how the beach walkers add to the scene. The beach is simply a voyeur's paradise. Thanks for stopping by.

Painting Portraits from Life

I am taking a portrait class with Charles Miano at the Southern Atelier and attending weekly open studios as well. I am so blessed to be able to study with Charles, as he's a wonderful, inspiring teacher and a fabulous artist. I'm painting with oil with walnut oil on Canson oil/acrylic paper. Painting with the walnut oil keeps the paint fluid while you work as opposed to gamsol, which drys rather quickly. There's a learning curve to be sure, but a I'm enjoying the medium and getting the hang of it. I also like the Canson paper. It has a nice feel and it's reasonably priced. Thanks for stopping by.