A New Venue

I don't know about you, but I sure enjoy waking up in the morning with a good cup of coffee in one of my favorite coffee cups.  I have several--most of them from someplace I have traveled.  Then there is my clear glass coffee cup--an all time favorite.  I just added one more, and possibly three.

I have put four of my paintings on a 11 oz. mug, ordered from ZAZZLE, at www.zazzle.com.  I LOVE THEM!!  They came out great.  I will be retailing them for only $20 (includes tax), plus shipping.  They will make great stocking stuffers for Christmas, and a good year round gift.  I personally think the Llama ones would be great for men.  Everybody likes unique coffee cups!  Just email me if interested.  Can you guess which one has become my new favorite?  "Paint What You Love".  I have already received orders for them--going to have to order more :)!

"Paint What You Love" 

"Worn Traveler"

"Llamacita"

"Llamacita Wants A Kiss"

I will probably be adding more designs on the mugs, plus some other products.  Stay tuned!!

"Moonpie"

"Moonpie", Pastel on pastelmat (buttercup), 10"x8"

An acquaintance/friend of mine, Molly White, from New Braunfels Art League and Facebook, posted a photo of Moonpie (a friend's goat).  Several of us asked if we could paint her and Molly said yes, and made it a challenge.  We were to post our finished paintings and see what everyone did.  THANKS, Molly!!  I really enjoyed painting her.

"Evening Grazin"

The minute I received the photos from my second cousin, Heath Crumley, I was inspired!  I loved the sunsets, but with the horses in them, really added a lot.  He took them out his back door.  Wouldn't you love to look out your back door and see that?!  WOW!!  Just had to do a painting!  What an inspiration!!  Thanks Heath, for generously sharing them with me.

I didn't take very many w.i.p. shots, so I'll tell my thinking process.  I decided on my composition, where I wanted the viewer to look first.  Then I studied the horses, ending up flipping two of them and resizing one(to show distance).  I added a windmill and the two trees.  I made up my own sunset by observing a lot of sunset photos, and I wanted the sun setting behind the horse to give a good contrast, to attract the viewer's eye.

This is my first sunset, and now have a couple of more ideas in mind.  Enjoy!!  Thanks for reading.

This painting is currently showing in the New Braunfels Art League Gallery's "Texas" show, from June 30th. to July 30th..

referance photo

referance photo

midway work in progress

"Evening Grazin", Pastel, 12"x16"

"Lamacita Wants A Kiss"

I enjoyed doing the first "Llmacita" so much, I had to do another one!  Photo ref. is one I took when we visited Linda and Jeff Mueller, last year.  (See previous post).

"Llamacita Wants A Kiss", Pastel, 8"x6"

Here are some work in progress shots:

referance photo

Thought my sky was too light, so blued it some.  Something was still bothering me about it, so put it in my colored pencil app. and darkened the sky.  That did make Llamacita stand out more.  So, I added trees in the app. and liked the effect.  

On the painting, I made the sky more turquoise (more complementary to the llama's color).  Then I added the trees.  The painting then said it was finished.

Thanks for looking!!

"Llamacita"

I would like to introduce you to "Llamacita".  It was love at first sight!!  This llama has personality!!  My husband and I visited his best friend, Skeet, last Oct., at Wallis, Texas.  Skeet is now living at his daughter(Linda) and husband's(Jeff) place and they have dogs, rabbits, cattle, chickens, etc., and "Llamacita".  We had a great time and I took a lot of referance photos.  If Jon and I had any acreage, I would definitely be tempted to have a llama.  They are so proud looking, the way they hold their head, and very protective.  Linda has sent me some more referance photos, and I am chopping at the bit to do another one, maybe even larger, and whole body.

Enjoy!!

"Llamacita", Pastel, 8"x6"

"Lunch in the Garden" award

I am happy to announce that "Lunch in the Garden" received a 2nd. place award, Pastel/Drawing category, in the current show, "Luck of the Irish", at New Braunfels Art Gallery.  A lot of beautiful paintings, with a lot of green.  The show is from Feb. 28 - Mar. 30, 2015.  Stop by and see it if you are in the area.

"Lunch in the Garden", Pastel on velour board

12"x24"

"Plumeria"

While working on some long term paintings, I wanted to do something smaller and faster.  So, I went to my computer and started browsing my photos to see if anything jumped out at me.  I love flowers, but wasn't quite sure how I wanted to do them, i.e. -- up close, groups, or what?  I've done some wildflowers up close and personal (which I posted in 2012), and liked.  However, I came across some pics of my plumeria, so decided on that.  Enjoy!!

"Plumeria", Pastel, 6"x8"