Golden field

                                                   8"x10" Oil on linen panel
                                                 Click here to bid on this painting

I just returned from a week in Nashville Tenn.  Got to meet and paint with Anne Blair Brown, an artist I admire, in a three day workshop setting.  Just what I needed to get my art juices flowing again..   Anne is very likable and fun to be with. Got to be around a lot of other artists, who were also nice people.  The area is replete with beautiful scenery and varied painting subjects, and I can't wait to go back again for a week or two, possibly in the fall.  The little sketch above is one I did of a field almost covered with small yellow flowers.  I did about six paintings, with decent results, but the last, a larger work from inside a barn looking out into the bright sunlight would have been the best.  Unfortunately when I pulled it from my wet canvas carrier later, it slipped, scraped down across another painting, and was badly damaged.  Had so much fun that week, it hardly upset me.

Talk

Today, I am starting a series of quick sketches in pastel and watercolor, similar to a couple I posted some while back.  This spring was a riot of color in my home area, trees and shrubs blossomed early.  The weather has been erratic, to say the least.  When I lived full time in California, I marveled at the fact that weather men and women were actually paid to say " fair skies, no precipitation" for six or seven months at a time.  Here, my heart goes out to the brave souls who do the meteorological equivalent of  predicting Kim K's next husband.  Well, enough about art.  Mike

Yellow house in Landrum

12"x16" Oil on linen panel

I  think I've finally finished a keeper.  I actually blocked in this work some time ago while painting in South Carolina with my friend Jane.  It is a nice old house overlooking a public park there, and we were having a great day complete with lunch out in a good restaurant.   Didn't finish the painting and thought I might wipe it off.  Now I"m glad I didn't.  I am over my slump in a way.  I finished another painting Saturday and sold it at a paint out that day, then came home and realized I had not photographed it!  Not the first time.  I never said I was smart.   Mike 

Absence explanation

Just in case anyone is still following this narrative, I thought I should make an effort to explain the lack of art on this "art works " blog.  I'll try.  I have done everything in the last couple of weeks but produce art.  I have seven paintings in process, but none finished.  I finished two small ones, but they were terrible and were scraped off, to provide nice working surfaces for art that will, hopefully, be keepers.   In the old days, eons ago, I'd have plugged away and eventually turned it around; now I just put off working and do something else,   Will the election propaganda calls never end!!!!     Mike

Last gasp

                                                      9"x12" Oil on linen panel

                                                              Sold

This is the last picture I have in my existing photo base.   I am going to shoot some of my recent paintings when I can find a little time.  The above small work was done (as usual) with my Cal Wednesday group on a day when there was a lot of mustard in the distance.  As I am sometimes wont to do, I spread it even more with my brush.  What I remember most about that day is a line of fence posts near me with a large San Simeon buzzard perched atop each one, motionless, with wings outspread.  The sight was a little awe inspiring.  It gave the appearance of a Roman legion approaching with banners uplifted.  More soon, I hope.   Mike

Just talk

This past week I encountered a problem with my air conditioner/heating unit.  It started blowing cold air when it was actually turned off.  This coincided with the return of freezing weather to my neck of the woods. Unfortunately the problem was intermittent, and only occurred  when the repairman was not present.  Eventually, after three days of frustration, the problem and the repairman were both present at the same time and it was resolved.  Yeech!!!  Hope all is well with everyone else.  Maybe I will paint tomorrow.    Mike

Study for Pat

                                                    12"x16" Oil on linen
                                                          Gift to friend                              
I frequently use small  paintings I have done on location  to scale up for for larger studio works.   This was the case with this one.   The larger version was posted some time ago in this blog.   I did this one on a beautiful spring day about two years ago.   A good friend saw and admired it a while back, and since she and her husband are warm, unselfish, people, who helped me a lot when I first moved into their community, I happily gave it to her.  Actually, I say happily, but I wish I were a better artist so I could have given a better painting.  Heading out to paint now, have a good day!            Mike

Just talk

Another fill in "talk" post with no art displayed.  I should have one or two more works to post in the next few days.  Again,  I want to thank all those who have sent such nice comments to me over the last months.  Most have come from other artists and they are really appreciated.  Artists, in my experience are good people.   In  all these years, I have only encountered one fairly well known artist who is almost universarilly disliked, indeed detested.  I won't provide his name.  (Providing a little interest in this post, hopefully, and also avoiding a lawsuit or worse.)     Hee Hee!         Mike

Mustard

                                                     8"x10" Oil on linen panel
                                                               Sold

This is a small quick sketch done in the California spring, when mustard plant began to cover the landscape.  It was the second of two small paintings I did that day.  I believe it was another attempt on my part to experiment with landscape color aside from green.  If I ever write a book, I'm going to title it  " If it weren't for green-I'd be famous".  ( Richard Schmid, who was already famous, thought of  "Do you think it's too green?", so I can't use that).  Today's painting wasn't too bad, might post it later.         Mike

Just talk

I've been in a slump, three straight scrape offs!   I took a couple of days away from my studio, but I have commitments and I have to produce or else.  As I constantly declare, art is mostly fun for me, but it hasn't been much fun lately.  Back to the treadmill.    Mike