Texas Sauce Art Life

Tulip Art in Watercolor

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Feb 2024 13:57:00 +0000

Here I am again!

One year I planted tulip bulbs ...

Tulip in watercolor on 140# wc paper

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V. Bridges Hoyt — painting the sauce of Texas™. If you'd like to receive the daily posts via email, there is a subscribe button in the sidebar at Texas Sauce Art Life. New paintings to follow soon.

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Restarting the Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 06:18:00 +0000

Today I have been thinking about restarting my TXsauce brand on the blog and on Etsy. To do so would push me into daily or frequent painting of small pieces again. I miss the daily painting. I think to restart with a few images of drawings from my sketchbook would be a good way to begin, especially to try out the blogger app and see if the app is feasible to utilize.

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noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 16:13:00 +0000

Life

Today is good. The boxer girl hasn't yet destroyed her new "for super chewers" stuffed toy. We'll see how long this one lasts. She looks so sweet here. She is sweet most of the time.

However, when really bored and not getting enough exercise she takes her stress out on the old dog chair and pulls the stuffings out. As long as she stays with the dog chair, I don't mind. It could be worse. It could have been one of my good chairs.

The temperature is too high in southeast Texas for a long walk unless taken at daybreak, but I am headed outside to give the dog a short change of scenery from backyard to front.

I hope to stay in touch with you on a more regular basis.

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Life is Changing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 19:31:00 +0000

I have no idea how December and January got away from me, only that they did. Today is January 28. The month is almost gone. How does time travel so quickly? All my plans for January were good plans. I accomplished some of my goals but not all. Here I am today trying to cram what's left of the task list into today and tomorrow. The 30th and 31st are Saturday and Sunday, and marking another task off the list is a moot point by the weekend. Saturday I work at Spring Cottage Gallery in Old Town Spring, Texas. Sunday is my one day of rest. December was filled with Christmas. January was filled with inauguration and more division.

Life is changing in America. Keep your faith. Ultimately, God is in control.

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Keep Plugging Away at Paintings

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 18:47:00 +0000

Hello. Sometimes I feel like I keep plugging away and wonder when the fantastic results might be coming my way.

The still life on the left is titled Grandma's Camera and was painted several years back and was sort of a breakthrough painting for me and is one of my favorites I ever painted. This old box camera belonged to my maternal grandmother. I had at one point shown the painting to be sold. It was purchased by a dear friend Miss Dot who returned the painting to me a few year's later before her death. How sweet was that! She knew how much personal connection was in the painting.

Grandma's Camera

oil paint on linen

24x20 inches

NFS, in the Artist's personal collection

The still life on the right was painted since the one above but still several years ago. This one simply titled Dogwood Crockery and is another of my favorites I ever painted. This painting pictures dogwood flowers on branches off my late mother's dogwood tree. Since Mom was already gone, I gave it to my Aunt Mollie. One of my cousins now has the painting. I think she loves it as much as I do.

Dogwood Crockery

oil paint on linen

20x16 inches

Sold, in a private collection

My goal for the month of November is to keep plugging away.

Until next time,

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A Time for Everything

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 31 Oct 2020 03:39:00 +0000

Time has a way of slipping away quickly as Simon & Garfunkel understood. I recently noticed that fact when I realized my little Boxer girl had been with me for three years already. She was two when she arrived as a rescue on October 29, 2017, and now she is five years old. We have been good for each other. Other signs of time passing are when I look at my grandsons and realize they have grown into young men. Then there is that mirror image face with the wrinkles and the turkey neck I see every morning and every night. Ah well ... this is the way of time.

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

New International Version

Wake up in the morning to appreciate and enjoy each day.

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Confidence and the Facts of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 02:19:00 +0000

After being away from the blog for some time, I'm not confident about who is still following or if any of you are. If you're reading and you want to subscribe, please use the subscribe field in the upper right side bar of the blog web view. The sidebar will not show on your smart phone unless you click on web view at the bottom of this column.

My most recent paintings have been small watercolor studies. The Etsy shop, TXsauceStudio.etsy.com, has always been tied to this blog but the shop also has been on vacation for some time. The Etsy shop will re-open with some of the small watercolor paintings. Watch for an announcement.

Today my watercolor class students and I met online through Zoom. They were with me when all the small shops were first closed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. We will continue to paint together through an online class. Our first intro meeting went well. We enjoyed chatting and seeing each other again, albeit online.

One thing to remember is, "Confidence ... is directness and courage in meeting the facts of life." --John Dewey

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++++++++++

Image shown above is a 7x5 inch watercolor painting, "Tropicana Rose," and was awarded to Linda Sandland Wright in my monthly Top Fan Competition at Art Talk with Vernita.

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noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 16:58:00 +0000

Good morning, Cousin and Friends!

I have been AWOL from this blog for too long. Since 2016 I have involved myself with the gallery management side of art. Although I have painted a few small pieces since, mostly watercolor sketches, I have really missed the making of Art.

If good for nothing else, the Year of 2020 Pandemic forced me to think about where my passions lie and what my purpose is. I've done a lot of soul searching and praying. In thinking back through the last 20 years, I recognized what continuously popped up in my life: caregiving, supporting those grieving a loss, and sharing the love through art and design. I feel I was on track with this from 2000 through 2012.

For the last eight years, I have wandered. There have been times when I said "no" to the Call. I was depleted of energy after 2015-2017 floods and hurricanes, while I was simultaneously director at DaVinci Artists Gallery, Tomball, and Artists of Texas organization. In January 2018 I moved from DaVinci's to co-founding Spring Cottage Gallery in Old Town Spring. From 2016 to 2018, I moved my art studio three times. In January 2020 I made the emotional decision to resign from the directorship at Artists of Texas, an organization I co-founded in 2009. All this while managing another small business from my home, the added volunteer responsibilities depleted my energy to answer the Call. Currently, I have been, as sole shop owner, managing Spring Cottage Gallery since 2018. In 2020, Spring Cottage's third year of business, the COVID19 Pandemic has had the gallery closed more than open. That has been frustrating, to say the least, for me and the 16 other artists who are showing art there. Something has to change. 2021, where are you?

My goal for 2021 and the balance of 2020 is to get back to listening and recognizing what God puts in front of me as the path I am to follow. The message I continue to hear is "Simplify."

__________

Image shown above is a 7x5 inch watercolor painting, "Sunflowers on My Desk," and was awarded to Lillian Mercado in my monthly Top Fan Competition at Art Talk with Vernita.

Artists of Texas organization was co-founded Spring 2009 by Laurie Justus Pace, Debbie Grayson Lincoln and Vernita Bridges Hoyt.

Spring Cottage Gallery was established January 2018 by Judy Mackey and Vernita Bridges Hoyt. In June 2018 the ownership changed from a partnership to sole ownership by Vernita Bridges Hoyt.

__________

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noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 14:14:00 +0000

Click here to contact me through my website. Thank you for following my blog.

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Green Apples and Bread, Still Life Oil Painting

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 14:21:00 +0000

Green Apples and Bread

oil painting on canvas, 20" H x 16" W

in a private collection

I painted this still life at the 2009 Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival. The still life was set up for about a dozen artists who were painting in different media. I was one of only two oil painters in the group. The others painted watercolor or pastels. It was really great to be painting plein air (outdoors) in an art festival setting, and the Woodlands Waterway is the perfect environment for it. People milled all around and stopped to ask questions as I painted. That interaction itself inspires an artist, or at least it does me.

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Double Dog Dare, Border Collie and Boxer, Oil Painting

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:50:00 +0000

I did keep this painting for myself. So glad I did.

I Double Dog Dare You

7"x5" oil on panel
unframed
Artist's Collection

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Border Collie Soccer, oil painting

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 24 Mar 2019 06:01:00 +0000

... and then there was the Dog, the rescued border collie who came to me at the age of 8 years. Border Collie Brooke shared my life for six years. She continually brought me that wet, slime and dirt covered soccer ball from the back flower bed and with her eyes said, "Let's Play Soccer." I finally realized, "Hey! This is a soccer ball. I can kick it. I don't have to touch it with my hands." Brooke was even happier playing soccer the real way ... with feet. The ball would go rolling across the yard. She would run after and retrieve it, dropping it at my feet so I would kick it again.

Border Collie Soccer is an oil painting on 5x7 inch panel. It was painted with brushes in my representational style. This painting began with a quick sketch (brush dipped in thinned paint) and continued with strokes of tone laid deliberately to build the image. These small daily oil paintings typically take 2 - 3 hours from start to finish.

This painting sold quickly to another border collie owner. After Brooke crossed over the rainbow bridge, I wished I had kept the painting. I miss Border Collie Brooke. She was a sweet girl. Just look at the love in her eyes.

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The Chicken Ranch in Texas

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 23 Mar 2019 05:45:00 +0000

ART. The chickens are done, at least this first painting of chickens is done. Meet Hercules in pursuit of his favorite hen(s). Isn't that just the way of things? The Chicken Ranch was painted with a palette knife on 8x10 inch hardboard/masonite. The oil paint is thick and textured. Another chicken painting will come. I don't know how soon or how late.

Thanks, Mollie Jones, for use of your chickens as inspiration for this painting. Thank you, Gwen Aldridge, for purchasing the painting!

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Caribbean Flash

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 23 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

"Caribbean Flash"

14x11 inch oil on canvas

Available at Spring Cottage Gallery

Quoted from a draft post dated 2009:

I thought I would paint a rose, but the book I am currently reading (Life, Paint and Passion) has me thinking subliminally, "What would I paint if I were not afraid to be free?" That is one of the questions asked by authors Cassou and Cubley, questions designed to find the passion deep in an artist's soul. At the end of this day I still had not rendered accurately the rose image in my mind. The author's question came back to me. I tossed the rose image aside and started to paint freely and passionately without a vision. My end result was "Caribbean Flash" in colors of the Caribbean Sea.

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Not Monet

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 05:22:00 +0000

Another painting that I want to finish was in this draft post from 2008. It does contain a dog (which you do not yet see), but currently my focus is on the water lilies. This is a 24 x 20 inch painting that I want to complete.

Work-in-Progress (for a long time)

Not Monet

Artist's Collection

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About Rasta, the Homeless Hobo Poodle Dog

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 04:45:00 +0000

I ran across this postcard painting the other day. I wasn't sure I still had it. In the past three years I've moved my studio three times which caused some files to be out of order. I need to take a day or two to make them orderly again. Tonight I accidentally jammed a staple (from the spine of a neighborhood newsletter) into my left index finger, all because I was hurriedly decluttering some junk mail of the paper variety. I'm feeling a little bit like Rasta tonight, not knowing which direction I'm headed.

original painting by Vernita Bridges Hoyt
6"x4" watercolor and ink on paper
unframed postcard painting

with rounded corners

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V. Bridges Hoyt — painting the sauce of Texas™.

If you'd like to receive the daily posts via email, there is a subscribe button in the sidebar at Texas Sauce Art Life. New paintings to follow soon.

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Home Alone

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 14:35:00 +0000

Thanks to Melinda Dalke for permission to use her photograph as reference.

I am sitting home this Saturday morning, and I am thinking about all the orphaned wildlife whose parents have been maimed or killed. I remember taking my young children to see the movie Bambi many years ago. It must have been their first movie. When my first grandson was about 10 years old, we visited a wildlife rehabilitation center near Magnolia, Texas. He was allowed to bottle feed an orphaned fawn and raccoon kit. What a joyful experience that was for both of us.

The ink and pastel drawing above was sold many years ago. You can see a few samples of my available paintings at VernitaHoyt.com and I do hope you will take a look as I add images as new paintings come off the easel.

My goal is to post a blog daily (or at least weekly). If you'd like to receive the daily posts via email, there is a subscribe button in the sidebar at Texas Sauce Art Life. New paintings to follow soon.

V. Bridges Hoyt — painting the sauce of Texas™.

For less frequency, subscribe to "Studio Notes" to receive no more than twice-monthly studio news by email.

Grandma's Camera

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 14:59:00 +0000

Detail of Grandma's Painting

I paint stories. This painting titled "Grandma's Camera" featured items with memories for me: the old box camera that belonged to my maternal grandmother, aloe vera plant from my mother, and eucalyptus leaves saved from a Pier I visit in an earlier life of mine. The original painting hangs on a wall in my home.

Going through each draft post is like walking down memory lane. Following is the draft post dated 12/02/06 which offered a professionally printed giclee of the painting on eBay. The giclee is no longer available.

__________

Unpublished draft post from December 2006

Grandma's Camera
professionally printed giclee of original oil painting
copyright Vernita Bridges Hoyt 2006
original 20" x 24" not available

10" x 12" giclee print on enhanced matte paper
image is 8" x 10" with 1" white border

FREE SHIPPING, expect up to 7-10 days in transit
frame as is or with mat to larger standard size
signed V. Bridges Hoyt, certificate of authenticity included, COLLECTIBLE
original was painted in oil paints from the artist's personal still life set up
__________

My goal is to post a blog daily (or at least weekly). If you want to receive the daily posts via email, there is a subscribe button in the sidebar at Texas Sauce Art Life. New paintings to follow soon.

V. Bridges Hoyt — painting the sauce of Texas™.

For less frequency, subscribe to "Studio Notes" to receive no more than twice-monthly studio news by email.

It's been a Long, Long Time

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 01:29:00 +0000

Hello ...

It's been awhile, a long while, since I blogged here at TXsauce Art Life or anywhere. Facebook, and other life happenings, absorbed me. My first blog post, more than 14 years ago on January 27, 2005, began this blog as a journal of my art life. I have strayed. When I tried to come back, I ran into a solid Google wall that took awhile to climb. Finally, I was able to jump the wall and find my way back.

My last post was titled Every Day in May on July 28, 2018, and featured a sketchbook image of blue and red cowgirl boots. I don't really know where to begin so will take the easy way out and post some of the draft posts that never were published. Maybe somewhere along the way, I will say something that grabs or helps a reader. If so, please let me know. I'm 14 years older, and a lot has changed ... yet I am still me, hopefully a bit wiser. Who knows?

Here goes the first draft share from February 9, 2006. This fine art poster print was planned to auction as a benefit for a Dalmatian rescue. I haven't seen this poster in a long, long time. I'm thinking it may have been sold in another post here or through another venue. If I come across the print, I will surely offer it up for sale for the benefit of Dalmatian rescue. If you purchased this print back when (or know who did), please let me know in the comments.

February 9, 2006 – Summer Medley

Poster Print
16"x20" Ready to Frame
Bid starts at $17.75
Summer Medley was painted in the Impressionist style from a still life setup. This poster print is a reproduction of the original painting that was given to my mother a couple of years ago. A percentage of this sale will benefit Save the Dalmatians and Others Canine Rescue, Inc.

__________

... and now back to the present day.

My mother was so happy to have the original painting in her house. She was always proud of her children and what they achieved, and she was proud of me for painting. She first introduced me to painting when I was a small child.

I've had the original in my house since her death. Here it is on my studio wall.

__________

My goal is to post a blog daily. Some may be very short. If you'd like to receive the daily posts via email, there is a subscribe button in the sidebar at Texas Sauce Art Life. New paintings to follow soon.

V. Bridges Hoyt — painting the sauce of Texas™.

For less frequency, subscribe to "Studio Notes" to receive never-more-than-twice-monthly studio news by email, or to the proposed weekly art blog Painting My Heart Out.

Every Day in May - #8 Boots, Texas style

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 06:29:00 +0000

The boots are one of the sketches I did for the EDIM* 2016 challenge. I really enjoyed participating. Painting daily challenges an artist and sharpens her skills. I need more of that.

I wish I had a pair of cowgirl boots like these in soft red and blue leather.

Pet Portraits for Animal Rescue helping Homeless Dogs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Looking back to move forward.

The above image pictures nine boxers and boxer mixed breeds I painted prior to 2015. Looking back at some of the works I did for pet rescue or as commissioned paintings reminds me that my paintings brought aid to homeless dogs and joy to people.

To end a creative block, start being more aware of your good traits, talents, and experiences.

V. Bridges Hoyt — painting the sauce of Texas™.

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Empty Chairs, Red Chairs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Sometimes life gets in the way.

The Empty Chair, unfinished, not for sale

Life gets in the way of good intentions. This small watercolor sketch was begun after my daddy's death in 2012. Back then I had a difficult time finishing a painting. Subconsciously the empty ghosted chair was symbolic of his fading away. I can see that now. I couldn't see it then.

Shortly thereafter, I purchased a couple of red plastic lawn chairs in the same style as the one in the painting. Again, symbolically they represented both my parents who were no longer here. The red chairs faded quickly in the strong Texas sunlight. I can't help but think of the similarity to the ghosted empty chair in the unfinished sketch above.

Sometimes life gets in the way. When you experience loss or unexpected changes due to weather or other natural phenomena and your plans go awry, continue to move forward. Nothing lasts forever and what goes around comes around again. Be ready for the opportunity when it approaches.

My goal is to post a blog daily (or at least weekly). If you'd like to receive the daily posts via email, there is a subscribe button in the sidebar at Texas Sauce Art Life. New paintings to follow soon.

V. Bridges Hoyt — painting the sauce of Texas™.

Subscribe to "Studio Notes" to receive twice-monthly studio news by email.

Painterly Boxer Dog Portrait Commission

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Good intentions.

Painterly Boxer Dog Portrait
Work in Progress

There have been a few times when I wished I had stopped at the point in the pastel painting above. This boxer portrait has life in the eyes which is most important in a portrait. The portrait is at a painterly stage showing life and energy of the dog as well as the artist. Instead of stopping I continued on to end with a portrait that appeared more realistic (shown below). My customer loved the finished portrait, but I prefer the painterly stage above.

Boxer Dog Portrait Commission
SOLD

Contact me to commission a painterly pet portrait in the soft pastel medium.

V. Bridges Hoyt — painting the sauce of Texas™.

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Josianne on Blue Stool, mixed media work in progress

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 06:09:00 +0000

Josianne on a Blue Stool

Mixed media work in progress

I’ve been away from the blog and the studio too long for comfort. It’s time to get back to both painting and blogging.

Since the start of Josianne on a Blue Stool I have moved my studio twice. After trying two different studios away from home over the course of two years, I learned that I am most prolific and do my best work from home.

The home studio is where my heART is.

Eye Spy Cardinal Bird, pastel on Strathmore tinted paper

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 02:56:00 +0000

Eye Spy Cardinal 7, the esteemed redbird of your ❤️ in a lovely piece of art.

Go to https://www.etsy.com/listing/544151431/special-cardinal-7-one-of-a-kind-drawing or click on the Etsy preview window in the sidebar of this blog to learn about this artwork and more.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog.

The SPECIAL SALE price will be good on this piece and others in my Cardinal series "20/20 I Can See Clearly Now" until all 20 Cardinals have been completed. These are the lowest prices ever offered on an original VBHoyt artwork. This is not a print. It is an original one of a kind artwork.

Learn more about this piece at https://www.etsy.com/listing/544151431/special-cardinal-7-one-of-a-kind-drawing

#vbhoyt #pastelart #favoritebird #cardinal #redbird #txsauce #etsyshop #specialsale #etsyseller #txsaucestudio.etsy.com