The Art of ❉ Jennifer ❉ Lommers ❉

The Art of the Image Transfer

2013-02-12T12:43:00.001-08:00

I have been using Image Transfers in my paintings more frequently of late. As such, I am often asked about this technique. While I have blogged about it in the past, I will try to be more comprehensive in my post today.

The Art of Image Transfer - a tutorial:

Step 1 - Choose / Create an Image

In this case, I have chosen a recent drawing of a sea anemone. I created the drawing in my sketchbook, photocopied it, and then cut out the portion I wanted to use for the image transfer. Any image can be used (newspaper clippings, photographs, etc.) and even the original drawing could be used if a photocopier is not available and I didn't wish to keep the original drawing. I prefer images with plenty of white areas since I like to add color to those areas during the application process. An inkjet print will not work (the ink will bleed), but a laser print will.

Step 2 - Tape Image Cut-out to Suitable Work Table

I have recently added the taping step as I found it easier to coat the images with gel if they weren't susceptible to moving during the process. Any tape will do. In this case I just looped regular clear tape to create the double-sticky surface. It is also wise to choose an appropriate table. I like using my plastic folding table (shown here), but I have also used formica countertops (much to my family's dismay) and coated metal pans (aka, my palette pan). I do not recommend plexiglass. I would think glass would work too, but I haven't tried it.

Step 3 - Coating Paper Image with Acrylic Soft Gel, Semi-Gloss

I coat my paper images with a thick application of gel using a paintbrush. I prefer my paintings to be textured, showing all those lovely ridges and bumps of the process. If you prefer a smoother surface for your work, you may want to either use a palette knife for gel application or several thin coats of gel using a paintbrush, waiting for each coat to dry before adding another layer. I have also unsuccessfully tried the gloss soft gel when I ran out of the semi-gloss. I may be missing some technique to using the gloss vs. the semi-gloss. If you find success with it, please share!

freshly applied acrylic gel on several images

after gel has dried

Step 4 - Removing Gel Coated Image from Surface

After the gel has COMPLETELY dried (you can use a hair dryer to speed it up), remove the gel coated image from your work surface. The gel should not have any cloudy (aka still wet) areas when being removed.

(note, I'm holding the camera with my left hand while I remove the image with my right)

Step 5 - Trimming Image

While you certainly don't have to trim the image (and sometimes I don't), I usually prefer trimming off the excess gel. This can be done either before or after soaking off the paper. I prefer before (pictured here).

No, I'm not a lefty usually

Step 6 - Soaking the Paper off the Image Transfer

After letting the image sit in a dish of water (a pie plate is my preferred dish) for at least 15 minutes (the longer the soak, the easier to remove the paper), remove the paper by rubbing it off the gel image. Try to remove as much as possible. Let it dry if you want to make sure all the paper has been removed. Spots of white will indicate paper is still attached.

(I wisely found my son's music stand to help video the process this time)

Step 7 - Image Transfer Application to Artwork

This step can work in a variety of ways. I prefer to apply a thin layer of paint to the back of my image (the side where the paper was attached) with my color of choice and then paint some more of the gel to the desired location on my artwork. I then press the image (paint side down) onto the artwork and smooth out any extra paint/bubbles starting from the center and working my way out. I add another layer of gel over the top and along the edges to make sure it adheres well. It's easier is you are applying to a surface where you can easily press down (wood, paper), but if you are using stretched canvas, you will just need to reach around and apply pressure from the back while placing your image. Today I've chosen a round cradled birch board on which I've painted a coat of raw umber (dark brown) and then gold. You can also paint over the image (preferably after the gel has dried), but I would recommend an isolation coat (2:1 gloss gel and water, as recommended by Golden) and then possibly a top coat varnish to finish off the painting and ensure good adhesion of the paint to the gel image transfer.

"Finished" Image after "dried" - needs a bit more work and a little more drying time, but here you go!

(on another note, I'm also experimenting with crackle medium on this piece)

Examples of my Artwork using Image Transfers

"We'll Meet Again in the Old Ginkgo Tree"
various flower image transfers in tree branches

"Trilliums for Ruth"
Image transfers of the trillium flowers

"Possibilities"
Image transfers of some insects - butterfly, dragonfly, etc.

"The Running Tree"
Image Transfers from digitized photographs of running shoes

"Rainbow Tree, No 14"
bumblebee image transfer

"The Ride Home"
Corvallis Fall Festival Poster Art, 2011
bicycle image transfer and several transfers inside the tree

Drawing a Day No 3 & 4

2012-12-09T17:25:00.000-08:00

Drawing a Day No 4

"Kingfisher in Gold"

7.5 x 7.5 inch

Starting Bid only $.99 & FREE Shipping!

on eBay starting 7pm on 12/9/12

Drawing a Day No 3

"Octopus Legs"

7.5 x 7.5 inch

Staring Bid on $.99 & FREE Shipping

on ebay

What's this auction thing about? It's a holiday tradition! See more about this event on my blog HERE.
Why the switch to sea life? Where are your flowers and birds? Don't worry - I'll still be painting birds, flowers, and trees! I've just added some new imagery for a series I'm planning this winter. See more about this series on my blog HERE.
What techniques/materials are being used here? I'm using Derwent Water Soluble pencils on Arches Hot Press Watercolor paper. I've then created a rubber stamp of a Hermit Crab and printed in over the drawing using Speedball water soluble printing ink. Finally, I touched up the drawing with highlights of Golden acrylic Iridescent Bright Gold paint. FUN!

Drawing a Day 2012 - No 2 of 10

2012-12-05T12:17:00.001-08:00

I'm enjoying playing with some new techniques as well as subject matter during this year's Drawing a Day Auction event. Here I created a new Hermit Crab stamp to add to my sea life collection. I hope you enjoy!

"Travels of a Hermit Crab in Gold"

Drawing a Day 2012 - No 2 of 10

Available on EBAY

Starting price just $.99 - FREE shipping!

What's this auction thing about? It's a holiday tradition! See more about this event on my blog HERE.
Why the switch to sea life? Where are your flowers and birds? Don't worry - I'll still be painting birds, flowers, and trees! I've just added some new imagery for a series I'm planning this winter. See more about this series on my blog HERE.
What techniques/materials are being used here? I'm using Derwent Water Soluble pencils on Arches Hot Press Watercolor paper. I've then created a rubber stamp of a Hermit Crab and printed in over the drawing using Speedball water soluble printing ink. Finally, I touched up the drawing with highlights of Golden acrylic Iridescent Bright Gold paint. FUN!

Drawing a Day 2012 - Let's Begin!

2012-12-04T19:00:00.000-08:00

I have been contemplating a new body of work based on my favorite childhood place - Fragaria. I grew up spending my summers playing in this magical place on the puget sound making mud pies, fishing for flounder and rock cod, and playing marbles with my brother and cousins. My grandparents owned a summer home here and since my father was a high school teacher and my mother stayed home with us kids, we had the freedom to spend many summer days and nights enjoying this beautiful place. I have fond memories of my grandfather frying fish in the kitchen, floating around the bay in the little aluminum boat, and playing with the big dog, Bonnie, who lived down the road. I loved Fragaria!

It is this magic of a happy childhood and the memories of an adult now living a busier life of responsibility and obligations that I wish to merge in larger paintings over this winter in my studio. And so I begin my journey down memory lane by honing some new skills with new subject matter - jellyfish, kelp, rock cod, boats, water, shells, barnacles, crabs... the list will only grow, I'm sure. I have started a journal of small drawings and will continue to capture shapes and details of the new imagery here.

And so, I thought it fitting I would also work on a few more detailed drawings and offer them online for my 5th annual eBay art auction.

Without further ado - here is Drawing No 1 of 10

"Jellfyfish II, Golden Tentacles"

7.5 x 7.5 inches

Colored Pencil and Acrylic on Paper

on EBAY

5th Annual Art Auction!

2012-11-08T09:46:00.002-08:00

"Garden Joy in Red"
from my 4th Annual Art Auction

It's that time of year again (well, based on my previous auctions, it's PAST that time of year) where I sell original art for auction on eBay! THIS YEAR (my 5th year - wow!), it will be a little different...

Mark your calendars! Starting DEC. 3 - I will create and then auction on eBay 1 DRAWING (sorry, no paintings this year - but I still draw like a painter!) I will create a drawing DAILY for 10 days (excluding the weekend), ending with my last drawing on Friday, DEC. 14.

Why the change?

Well, as many of you who have followed my auctions in the past, it's CRAZY to paint 30 paintings in 40 days! I'm usually exhausted by the end of the auction, and often can't get the energy to paint again for several weeks - when I should be painting and preparing for the coming show season. SO... this year I'll be using the auction event as an opportunity to prepare by drawing out and thinking thru some ideas for my NEW COLLECTION of work the following Spring - fun!

AND... well, my kids are getting older! No better time than the present to cherish some holiday time and memories together with a little less craziness!

So, it's not the same, but I DO HOPE you ENJOY and have some fun! The countdown begins...
25 days until my 5th Annual ART Auction!

The NeverEnding Story Continues...

2012-11-02T11:25:00.002-07:00

Hello? Hello out there?

I know, I've been away from my blog for quite awhile! Summer was fast and furious and unfortunately for my blog fans, facebook became my tool for quick updates. I have finally, MOSTLY, recovered from the insanity of life as a full time traveling festival artist, booking the most miles yet during my career - Yea! And so... as those of you who saw me over the summer know...
the NeverEnding Story lives on!

To recap: My plan for this series is to create a set of 128 blocks connecting together to form 1 tree - and not just 1 set of blocks! As blocks have been sold (even before I came anywhere near completing the first set of 128), I have been filling in the blocks with new subject matter (within the same tree). Confusing, huh?

In the End I will have painted...

128 blocks of birds in a tree
128 blocks of fruit in a tree (or vegetables, edibles...etc.)
128 "critters" in a tree (mostly bugs/butterflies)
128 teacups in a tree
and lastly - another round of 128 birds in a tree!

It's kinda like the game we played as kids where you sit in a circle and whisper in the ear of the person to your left some sentence and then wait for it to be whispered around the room until it comes back as something completely different in your right ear. FUN, right?!

So, how is this little project coming along? Let's see!

Here's the current state of affairs...

74 blocks painted * 45 blocks sold * 566 blocks to go

And here are the various completed blocks by subject matter.

I think this "little" project will take MORE THAN 1 year! We'll see where the winter takes me...

Kicking off the SUMMER Show Season!

2012-06-05T14:19:00.000-07:00

While I've had a few festivals already this year, mid June (Edmonds Arts Festival) is the true kick-off of my crazy summer show season with 11 shows between now and the end of September. BEFORE I head out the door and take my work on the road, however, I thought I would offer up my originals to my online fans NOW - at a 25% discount - woohoo! I am always more productive if I need to paint to fill up my show booth anyway.

SO, without further delay, please enjoy this online special - THIS WEEK ONLY - at my Etsy shop here:

ETSYONSALE

Otherwise - see you on the road!

The Never Ending Story Begins - Series Art No 4

2012-05-07T13:30:00.000-07:00

Even though I have plenty of projects in the works (10x10 paintings for a book illustration, a shoe tree painting, a musical instrument painting, another triptych in progress, and of course, the prime number painting I started last year), I can't help but also continue down the path of my series art paintings which have been so much fun to create as well as share with all my followers and fans.

Series No 1: "51 Birds"
Series No 2: "24 Pieces of Gold"
Series No 3: "Wish Upon a Rainbow Tree"

And now introducing my next series idea...

My biggest and boldest series block art idea yet will be a continuing story of 128 blocks that will fit together to form 1 vibrant tree filled first with birds, then fruit, bugs, teacups and more as blocks are sold and I paint new blocks to fill the design again.

The story will continue for a minimum of a year of rotating art. I will make blocks available for sale as I go, hoping to showcase a complete set at most of my art festivals this Summer and Fall. I will record the progress and changes over the year, at the end of which I will provide a video showing the series as it evolved over time.

And to start off this new project, here is a sweet little chickadee perched in branches of Spring flowers for "The Never Ending Story No 1". Enjoy!

Painting In Process: 24 Pieces of Gold

2012-02-22T08:00:00.016-08:00

Since my debut of "51 Birds" at the Wild Arts Festival in Portland in November, I have been conjuring up all kinds of ideas of how to continue these type of block series paintings.

I love the idea of having a broader homogenous background coupled with an individual object as the focus of each block. And seeing the reactions of arts supporters in Portland (as well as the positive reactions I had with a couple of my smaller precursors on paper, "16 Birds" & "17 Fish" made me realize that other people do too!

"17 Fish"

"16 Birds"

As a result, I am currently in the middle of a fun garden series featuring a drawn image in gold on each block titled "24 Pieces of Gold". For an extra challenge, I am attempting to have a complete floral garden image that can stand on its own before adding the little gold pieces of butterflies, dragonflies, birds, bugs and such... So far I'm LOVING the results, so much so that I had to share a blog post before they are even done!

So.. let's take a look at the progression of this piece thus far.

Step 1: Prep each birch board panel with gesso and tape the edges to prevent the inevitable spill.

Step 2: Draw out the basic composition with India Ink Pens.

Step 3: Add color!

Step 4: Start to work each block individually as a floral piece, but with a landscape in the background.

Step 5: Draw the images to be used as image transfers for the "gold pieces".

Step 6: Create the Image Transfers using photocopies of the drawings and soft gel semi-gloss medium.

Step 7: Apply gold paint to the back of the image transfer, apply more gel to the block where the image will be placed, and press the transfer onto the block. Apply additional gel as needed for secure adhesion or added texture.

Step 8: Paint more gold highlights on the block.

Step 9: Finish with a coat of Polymer Varnish

I LOVE them so far, and look forward to many more similar series: goldfish (as suggested by my clever daughter), coffee cups, woodland animals, more birds of course, fruit, trees, fruit trees... what fun! My goal this year is to finish a series before each show I attend so that I can show off a complete set. I will try to offer the complete sets online briefly before each show to give anyone interested a chance at purchasing the whole thing before I start to sell the blocks individually at a show.

Now - off to FINISH this latest series in progress!

Fundraising Ideas Take Shape

2012-01-13T08:37:00.001-08:00

I have two specific causes I like to support with our local schools - physical activity and music. Being a painter, I wanted to find a way to have my artwork help in some small way fund programs related to these subjects. A couple years ago I painted two paintings specific to a running program at Adams Elementary in Corvallis called, "Adams in Motion", or AIM, and was thrilled to sell the originals (and a few prints & cards) and give the proceeds to this program. This time I'm hoping to create more general paintings themed along running and music that can appeal to a broader audience and make more print sales possible too, providing funding over a longer period of time. In order to create these paintings, however, I need some HELP!

These paintings will be evolving much as the 2011 Corvallis Fall Festival painting, "The Ride Home", where I will have images imbedded into a tree using the technique of image transfer. I've decided to use a slightly different and publicly interactive process for capturing the images this time. I plan to take photos of shoes and band instruments provided by my fans (or fans of Corvallis schools) and include a written first name, location, and possible quote from the person providing the photo. Instead of tracing the photos like I did for The Ride Home, I'll be using Photoshop to manipulate them into a black & white image and then type the text along with it (as shown with my shoe above).

Here's where YOU come in - I need your HELP! I'm hoping to acquire 30-40 images for each of these paintings. If you have a passion for RUNNING, HIKING, WALKING, MUSIC, PUBLIC SCHOOLS (40% of ALL sales including the original art will go to programs in the Corvallis School District), or just would like to be a part of ORIGINAL ART - PLEASE Email Me your image with the information to include in the text of the image or post it to my Facebook page.

And as always - THANK YOU for all your support!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-07T09:44:00.000-08:00

We're only 7 days in, but I'm thoroughly enjoying 2012 thus far and looking forward to creating in the new year! Towards the end of 2011 I had all these plans of posting a wrap-up review of the year, but now that 2012 is upon us and the ideas for new work keep coming, I'm pressing forward. With that in mind, here's what's coming for what I expect to be a productive and positive year ahead!

1) Tubas - yes, you heard me - a tuba painting is in the works! Why, you may ask? Well, we recently became the proud owners of a tuba for my awesome 7th grade band student. He's in his second year of tuba, and we are so happy for this musically inclined kid to have found an instrument that he likes to play. I was a piano player many years ago (and still have the same said piano in our house) and have recently tinkered with guitar playing, so having another musician in the house is such a treat. I'm hoping to have a series of paintings related to various band instruments, starting with our Tuba. I also plan to donate part of the proceeds to our local school music programs. Can't wait to get started!

2) A Running Tree! Last summer as I was traveling for shows I had the opportunity to take the kids with me on an extended trip and go out to the John Day Fossil Beds. We had such a great time,and during our trip found this great big dead-ish looking tree along the main hwy filled with used tennis shoes. Since my son had on his running shoes from the last cross-country season which we were soon to replace for the upcoming season, he decided to add his shoe to the tree. Fun! And since I like to support the local running programs as much as possible, I thought I would commemorate this experience in a painted tree of shoes. (I'm thinking this could lead to bicycles too, as inspired by the bicycle decorated Christmas tree in China I saw online over the holidays.) Again, I plan to donate part of the proceeds to local running programs.

3) More blocks! My "16 Birds", "17 Fish", and "51 Birds" series have been my biggest inspiration coming out of 2011. I have more thoughts coming to me every day on how to create similar series, including woodland animals, poppies, bugs (yes, bugs), butterflies, fruit, coffee cups, more birds, and back to my music and sports themes. I already have a new series prepped for 24 blocks and plan to order more blocks as soon as that one is finished. I'm hoping to have 1 new complete series for every show I attend in 2012 - not sure I can keep up that pace, but we'll see how it goes...

4) A Book of Birds - It's not what you think. I am going on a bird watch, but not out in the wild, but in my paintings. I'm planning to name and classify the birds I find and turn it into a complete book of bird art. This is one of my larger, may take several years, projects, but I'm excited about the concept (inspired by those inquiring Audobon Society folks from my Portland show). What Fun!

5) And those pesky Unfinished ideas that are still milling around in my head...

painted series of Prime Numbers - yes, to my winners of my prime number contest last year, I'm still working on it!
Rocks and Minerals series - I'm planning another trip to the Portland area rock and gem museum to sketch out some abstracted landscape ideas that I had from my first trip there last year from looking at multi-colored the rock slices - so cool!
Image Transfer - I plan to slowly continue a series of image transfer paintings to represent various cities that have some meaning for me. From 2011 I have Edmonds, WA and Corvallis, OR. I'm hoping to add Seattle and Portland to the list this year. I also may use this technique for some of my music and running themed pieces.

Finally - I know I said I wasn't looking back, but some ideas just have moved forward with me into 2012! And, I do want to learn a few things from last year...

Galleries do work for me as a venue when I choose the right ones! Thanks to the good work of the Art Study in Seattle, WA and the Currents Gallery in McMinnville, OR, they have made me realize that I need to be more proactive getting them work and supporting them, and also expand my efforts to 1 or 2 more galleries. I'm already working on adding the Schack Art Center in Everett, WA to that list as they have been a huge supporter of mine over the years and helped me get my start.
Let someone else do the framing! I have always enjoyed painting on paper all the way to the lovely deckled edge. These paintings definitely look best when float framed so that it shows off the entire image and paper. I have also always hated framing them. I have FINALLY come to the conclusion to leave this job to the professionals! There will be a LOT less cursing in my house if I stick to this rule (yea!) So, I'm happy to report I found the perfect local framer to help me out - he does a great job for a reasonable price and can even build my stretchers for me too! If you're in the Corvallis area and need someone to frame your work, let me know and I'll send you his way.
Don't do more shows than I can support - I'll hoping to do a better job preparing in my off-season (Jan/Feb) with surplus inventory so that I can stock a fuller booth over my show season as well as weed out unproductive shows. I had too many shows this past year where I felt like my booth was sparse and missed selling opportunities because I didn't have enough options for my buyesr. Along these lines - I had many people who were looking for my note cards, but I never had enough time/funds to properly keep them stocked. Not in 2012 - I plan to have a full booth every show!
Organize my Print-shop. I moved my print-shop area a couple times over the year and filled it with such clutter during other show-prep times that it was difficult to process and package my prints efficiently. For 2012 I have a whole new set-up and am planning to purchase some shelving next week to help keep in organized.
Buy a new Printer! I plan to purchase a larger format printer during my off-season - so look for larger print as I hit the shows this year. I will then migrate my current printer to full time card production. Yea!
Be more visible. I'm often asked why I'm not a member of various local art groups. I don't think I could have said it any better than when a fellow artist (and art show director) said, "Jennifer's not really a joiner." Yes, it's true. I'm a bit of a solitary person for the most part. This year, however, I'm going to find other ways to become more artistically social - step 1 - dropping in on the local weekly life drawing class! I'm sure this will inspire a whole other line of work to boot!

Well, it's looks like I'm off to an inspired year full of creating. Hooray! I hope 2012 brings you all much inspiration as well. Happy New Year!

SALEs at my Etsy Shop!

2011-12-13T18:31:00.000-08:00

Don't miss the great deals over at my Etsy shop - thru Thursday only! Save on originals, prints, and more! Priority Mail shipping will get your gift to you in plenty of time for the holidays! Can't decide what that special someone would like - how about an Etsy GIFT CERTIFICATE for my shop!

Purchase PayPal Gift Certificates for my ETSY STORE here!

* As of Friday, my Etsy shop will be closed for the holidays, re-opening Jan. 3. *

Painting a Day 2011 - The Wrap up!

2011-12-11T08:23:00.000-08:00

The last of the paintings to go up on ebay... Enjoy!

"Tuning Up"

Acrylic on Canvas

8 x 8 x 1.5 inch

Painting a Day 2011

No 28

Available on eBay

"A Pansy Pair"

Acrylic on Canvas

8 x 8 x 1.5 inch

Painting a Day 2011

No 29

Available on eBay

"Summer Showers"

Acrylic on Canvas

20 x 20 x 1.5 inch

Painting a Day 2011

No 30

Available on eBay

Painting a Day 2011 - Triptych!

2011-12-08T12:26:00.000-08:00

Catching up on my "Painting a Day 2011" event with this peaceful little landscape triptych. Enjoy!

"A Quiet Afternoon" no 1, 2, and 3

Painting a Day 2011

No 25, 26, & 27

available on eBay

December 7, 2011

Painting a Day No 24

2011-12-05T20:26:00.001-08:00

We have a new coffee shop in town - Imagine Coffee. They are very arts oriented and you can often find people drawing, spinning (yarn, that is), and performing in this delightfully cozy little venue just off the main drag of Hwy 34 (aka Philomath Blvd) on the way to the coast in Corvallis, OR. They also have some yummy treats to go with their coffee (in these festive holiday mugs). Today I chose the cherry pie! And to make it an even sweeter deal, they're a not-for-profit! Find out more about their founding in a recent article in the local paper (the Gazette Times) HERE.

I may have to make a weekly habit of this pie still life thing...

Eat up and Enjoy!

"Imagine Cherry Pie"

Acrylic on Canvas

8 x 8 x 1.5 inch

Available on eBay

December 5, 2011

Painting a Day 21, 22, & 23!

2011-12-04T11:51:00.000-08:00

Notes: These paintings were created during the OSU Holiday Marketplace in Corvallis, OR on Dec 2 & 3, 2011. Since I'm behind on my "Painting a Day" promotion I decided to demo and catch-up while at the show.

All 3 paintings will go up on eBay today, December 4, 2011, between 4-7 pm. I hope you enjoy!

Only 7 Paintings to go!

"Looking for Blue Skies"

Acrylic on Canvas

8 x 8 x 1.5 inch

"Immersed No 2"

Acrylic on Canvas

20 x 20 x 1.5 inch

"Dragonfly"

Acrylic on Canvas

8 x 8 x 1.5 inch

Painting a Day 18, 19, & 20!

2011-12-04T11:43:00.001-08:00

"Poppies Along the Pasture"

Acrylic on Canvas

8 x 8 x 1.5 inch

Available on eBay

"PEACE"

Acrylic on Canvas

8 x 8 x 1.5 inch

50% of sale to be donated to the Heartland Humane Society

available on eBay

"Spring Rain"

Acrylic on Canvas

8 x 8 x 1.5 inch

available on eBay

Painting a Day 2011 - No 16 & 17

2011-11-27T08:29:00.001-08:00

Notes from the studio come first today...

Yes, it's true, I've made a squirrel painting. Isn't he cute?! I have always had a soft spot for those little woodland creatures ever since going to the University of Washington and spending my time between classes sitting on a bench and feeding them. At least when I was there, the squirrels expected people to feed them, and would come right up and demand what was rightly theirs. If I was ever having a bad day, they could always cheer me up.

I am also planning a new woodland animal series (similar to "51 birds") and I needed to see if painting a squirrel was something I could do. I now need to practice a bunny, a mouse, and maybe a chipmunk or two.

More notes - I forgot to bring my lights back from the garage (where I unloaded after my show in Portland) to my studio, so I had to move things around a bit to get more light from the window. Unfortunately, that means in the video that the light keeps changing as I move in front of the window. Also, since I had the misfortune of video-taping myself knocking my easel over (not to worry, no canvas was harmed in the act), I thought I would slow down that section of the video for everyone to enjoy! Oops.

Without further ado - here are paintings No 16 & 17 from "Painting a Day 2011". I hope you enjoy!

"Blue Autumn"

Acrylic on Canvas

12 x 24 x 1.5 inch

starting bid: $27.00

available on eBay

"Squirrel Picking Daisies"

Acrylic on Canvas

8 x 8 x 1.5 inch

starting bid: $12.00

available on eBay at 4pm

Nov. 27, 2011

Painting a Day 2011 - No 14 & 15

2011-11-26T21:32:00.001-08:00

"Black, No Cream, No Sugar"

8 x 8 x 1.5 in

Painting a Day 2011

No 14

Available on eBay

"Garden Joy in Red"

20 x 20 x 1.5 in

Painting a Day 2011

No 15

available on eBay

Painting a Day 2011 - No 11, 12, & 13

2011-11-26T16:57:00.000-08:00

"Sunflower Bouquet"

Painting a Day 2011

No 11

Prints available at my

Imagekind shop HERE

"Green Apple"

Painting a Day 2011

No 12

Prints available at my

Imagekind shop HERE

"An Autumn Walk"

Painting a Day 2011

No 13

Prints available at my

Imagekind shop HERE

Painting a Day 2011 - No 8, 9, & 10

2011-11-12T12:17:00.000-08:00

"One Cloudy Day"

Painting a Day 2011

No 10

Gallery Price: $185

Auction Opening Bid: $12

Sunday Nov 13, 2011

on EBAY

"Ode to the Ritual of Morning"

Painting a Day 2011

No 9

Gallery Price: $165

Auction Opening Bid: $12

Thursday Nov 10, 2011

on EBAY

"Dining on Brussel Sprouts"

Painting a Day 2011

No 8

Gallery Price: $400

Auction Opening Bid: $27

Wednesday Nov 9, 2011

on EBAY

Notes from these painting days...

No 8 - I had a beetle crawling on my easel distracting me and had to really work to get brussel sprouts that looked interesting to me, being the first time I've ever painted this yummy (yes, I say yummy, although my kids weren't impressed) vegetable.

No 9 - I had a cold angry bee chasing me in the studio. I was very surprised when I viewed the video that he (or me dancing about wildly) did not get in the demonstration. I eventually coaxed him out the window, as I'm not big on squishing things.

No 10 - After drawing several birds onto blocks for a "50 Birds" painting I'm preparing for a show next weekend I felt like I could use some more practice at painting the actual wing and tail shapes and colors, so decided it was a good time to focus my painting a day on this lovely little, what is supposed to be a, Tanager.

Painting a Day 2011 - No 7

2011-11-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

"Winter Poppies"

Painting a Day 2011

No 7

Gallery Price: $350

Auction Opening Bid: $27

Tuesday Nov 8, 2011

on EBAY

Notes of the day: No time for notes today! Painting, painting, painting...

Painting a Day 2011 - No 6

2011-11-07T15:43:00.000-08:00

"A Gift of Thanks"

Painting a Day 2011

No 5

Gallery Price: $185

Auction Opening Bid: $12

Monday Nov 7, 2011 at 5:30pm PDT

on EBAY

Notes from the Day: It looks like Mondays will be my bouquet inspired day - and what a lovely way to get fresh flowers in my house/studio once a week! I finally figured out (I think) how to strip out the background noise. I'm still working on adding in my own music, but realized I need to record something a little longer (and maybe without so many mistakes!) Maybe tomorrow... In the meantime, I'm still working on loading up a video, but it should be ready by auction time. Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoy!

Painting a Day 2011 - No 5

2011-11-04T13:35:00.000-07:00

"Garden Blue"

Painting a Day 2011

No 5

Gallery Price: $585

Auction Opening Bid: $37

Sunday Nov 6, 2011 at 6:30pm PDT

on EBAY

Notes of the day: I love whimsical garden shapes falling in patterns across a canvas. This painting is not exception! I knew when I decided to paint bigger today that I needed to fall back on my favorite subject matter. I also noticed today that the studio light warms up the image a bit so the colors are actually cooler (as shown in final pic) than in the video. Live and learn, I suppose! And as for the continuing irritating background noise - I'm working on fixing that. I've recorded some piano music for the next video (also played by me). Yea!

Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoy Painting Day 5!

Painting a Day 2011 - No 4

2011-11-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

"Bird and Artichoke"

Painting a Day 2011

No 4

Gallery Price: $185

Auction Opening Bid: $12

Friday Nov 4, 2011 at 6:00pm PDT

on EBAY

Notes of the day: I woke up this morning thinking, "I need to paint a bird on an artichoke!" I have no idea where that came from, although I have been meaning to get a bird painting in the mix and I did notice the artichokes at the store the other day when I was picking out my pears for day 2. Hmmmm, maybe I do know where that idea came from! And now I get to enjoy some yummy artichoke dipped in butter. Too bad nobody else likes it in my family. Lucky me!

On another note - you'll see that the final painting (shown above) has a little more work to it than what was demonstrated. After I stopped the video I realized I wanted to work on the legs of the bird a bit more which caused more peachy-yellow to spill out onto the top left of the painting - oops! I love how it turned out, though, and hope you do too!