Remenicing with Acrylics!

 Well, I do love these paintings but my renewed interest in oils have been great. As soon as I get back to my home painting studio I will be painting larger with oils.

Comparisons

 Well, I took the below piece apart and redesigned it...I'm still not finished. Since I did away with the tube at the top and replaced it with a gentle curve of an 8 gauge round wire, I plan to solder posts from each end and place a beautiful faceted onyx bead to hang a hand made chain intertwined with more faceted beads both silver and onyx.

 I do think the simplicity of the new design allows the whole piece to work together.

I know some of you liked the "branches" however I think as some others suggested- the branches distracted from the stone. In any case this is what I've decided to do and once I've added the chain and cleaned the piece up I will add the final picture, so stay tuned in and please comment because I do consider and love your ideas and thoughts. Thanks.

OILS

 Still plugging away at my oil connection. I thought I'd try the figure since that's where my beginnings are. Not quite sure how I feel about them so far. I think I'm getting too trapped by detail once more. Part of my issue is that I'm not able to stay with the act of painting long enough to deal with ongoing elements because of my commitments at the moment. I think once I'm finished with these two paintings that I will return to "fruit and flower" subjects until I return to my home studio where I can work with less interruptions and more concentration.  As always, please send your comments because I really do value your thoughts. Thanks.

 The lampwork beads were made by an Etsy artist called Beatle Baby. I really like her work and this series of beads she makes have tiny sterling silver dots embedded in the beads which work well with my silver work. I used a very strong sterling magnetic closure for the necklace. Makes for a wonderful easy time putting it on. The earrings match with sterling shepard hooks that I also make by hand. The rubber stoppers keep the hooks from sliding out, especially if you have long hair.

New split moving bead bracelet

 For this new bracelet, I used peridot crystal beads for color. All beads turn and rotate.

The wire holding the beads are wrapped between two soldered silver balls on either side

The back side is smooth and comfortable

IT'S A PROCESS!

 Well, this is part of the process:to decide if I'm really happy with the almost finished results. Apparently, I'm not or I would be posting the finished product! I don't know if you can see the etched Heron on this black onyx (not my work) but the cab is not yet set because I'm not sure of the tube bail and I'm not real pleased with the branches either. I do like the cut out I did on the back which I guess makes this piece reversible.
Another option would be the chain or cord used. This commercial chain is obviously too delicate to use but I wanted to see how it hung. It has been suggested to me that a black leather cord might be an option. The other option I've been contemplating is to remove the tube and replace it with a reticulated branch, similar to the two vertical branches. If I do that I will be obligated to the design to solder a ring from both ends and
attach a handmade chain. This will require much more
time and effort to the piece which has already sent me
over the top! Ugh, what to do, what to do!

Tufted Tit Mouse Earrings!

Spring is coming and I wanted to post these little guys. They are the size of a nickel and for anyone working in metals, you will appreciate the time these earrings took to make. There are three layers here. I cut the back rings from discs and cut the birds out separately, stamping all their details with various chisels and center punches. For the branches I fused and reticulated 20 gauge round wire (of course, everything is sterling). Once I completed all the parts, I then soldered them together. I finally put them on Etsy. Sometimes it takes me a while to post my work because I just like keeping them for awhile and enjoying them before they leave!!! Is that silly?

Revlon

Here's another small oil. I'm loving the speed in which I'm able to paint these little 3x4 blocks.
I've sanded them smooth, prepared them with gesso, sanded smooth again and they're ready to
paint. Saw tooth hanger on back. I think my next one will be a bottle of nail polish....what a fun series that would make. Imagine the colors I could use and the different bottle forms I could paint. Sooo happy I returned to oils.

Osceola Cafe

Just took paintings down from the Osceola and would love to find another venue for them. This group of paintings are large but I will soon have a series of smaller Oil paintings to exhibit so stay tuned for those!

 "Kinky Boots"
34x44
Acrylic on Canvas

                                                "Summer" 48x48
                                                 Acrylic on Canvas

"Three Amigos" 18x24 Acrylic on Canvas

 "leopard skin Prelim"
Mixed Media
22x27

"Revlon" 22x50 Acrylic on Canvas

"Sojourn" 28x40 Acrylic on Canvas

Tete-a-tete Preliminary 19x23 Mixed Medium

"Magenta Heels with Circles"
18x22
Acrylic on Canvas

"You've Got the Key" 32x32, Acrylic on Canvas

Amethyst Polished Slices

 These two Druzy slices were so beautiful that I couldn't resist buying them. Once I got them I couldn't wait to set them. The stones have their crystals rising from the bottom part which, to me, looks like a land or water scape. Solving the bezel problem was a challenge but I believe I did a descent job of it. The trees and hills, I cut from heavier gauge sterling to give them some stability. Once again I found myself wanting to make my own chains for them. So I did! I just couldn't put a commercial chain on these pieces.

Shadow Frame by Ken Bryan

3x4 inch paintings

I forgot to post these two little guys I did last week! Trying to get a little of my "compliments" back with the orange slice but not really sure if it works. Still working out a lot of wrinkles but I am so enjoying the viscosity of oils that its just a joy to paint once again.  Thank you "Oil Gods"!

newest painting

Working on my seventh painting since I switched to oils. Still loving it. I'm trying to paint larger and
am discovering that with it comes some problems but also some benefits. Sorting it all out. I'm so happy to be able to use my original palette from session to session and not have to remix all my colors over again. FYI, the background color in this painting is actually more on the warm side. It
looks very purple on the screen. I will be posting the finished painting before the end of the week.
Thanks for looking!

Osceola Cafe in Stuart Florida

  This is the quaint little cafe that Bruce and I go to for breakfast most Sunday mornings. The two woman who own the cafe invite artists to exhibit their work on a monthly basis. My paintings here are clearly not those of a typical Floridian painter! Once Linc and Bruce finished hanging the paintings, I had a flash of silent fear that they wouldn't be well received. It's been over a week now and from the feedback the cafe has gotten, I believe that fear was unfounded.........thank goodness!!!

 It's always a treat for me to see my work hung all together. My paintings are generally large (with the present oils being an exception) so hanging them together doesn't happen unless its in a gallery or venue like this. Thanks Beth!

 ANOTHER NEW CHERRY PAINTING...HAVING SOOOO MUCH FUN WITH MY OILS!

Back to Oils Once More............

 4"x4" wood block     SOLD
   So here I go, I was anticipating many road blocks on the way and although I have many issues to resolve with composition and color and form-I'm just so darn happy to be able to push that wonderful paint around and smell the linseed and oil that I've just accepted the bumps in the road and kept going. Sheer joy!

 3"x4" wood block    SOLD
  So my thought here was to do a mini series of cherries with that luscious cadmium red.......I can't stop now!

10"x14" gallery wrapped canvas
  This was the first painting I did with oils. I kept debating with myself over subject matter and then decided to rely on my favorite subject of apples. If it was good for Cezanne it's good for me, right?

"Quince"

Its been a while since I picked up my brush and for no good reason except that I was emotionally spent with another part of my life. It felt good to lose myself once more in the canvas. This image
actually came from a friends Bed and Breakfast (see earlier post). While touring his beautiful Victorian home I spotted this row of quince on his kitchen sill. He quickly took the picture for me
and sent it for me to use. I'm happy with this piece although I know its not my strongest but it represents a coming home party in my head!!!

B and B Tour and Artisan Faire in Rome New York

What a great place. Can't wait to set up in this warm and cozy space. We're not usually interested in
doing faires but this year we've done both the South Trenton Falls and now this venue. I'm really excited to be a part of local activities and will post pictures of Fred's Italian Victorian B and B.
   Artisans include,  a weaver, sculptors, fiber artists, jewelers, potter, painters and much more.
Please come out and support a local business and in the process you may find the perfect place to celebrate someone's special day with a summer luncheon in the gardens or even a reception.  See you there!

Ock Hee Gallery Show

It's a lovely little gallery in Honeoye Falls, outside of Rochester, New York.
Ock Hee is a lovely woman with a very keen sense for beauty and spirit.
I met her through friends who live nearby and I knew this would be a gallery I could
call home for my work. I feel honored to have been selected for this show and can't
wait to see how she puts it all together.