Different Strokes, Too Late!

This is a small piece I did last week. It was done from a photograph provided on the blog Different Strokes From Different Folks, where artists are encouraged to paint or draw their own interpretations. Waited too long and missed the deadline but it's still a nice piece. I'll try to get the next one in in more timely fashion.

Chicago Street Scene

Here's a piece done recently from a photo taken on our last trip to Chicago.
Every time I looked through my reference pics, remembering this little guy just got me.
Had to get it out. Titled it "Walk On By".

Wedding Pics at Linda's Art Studio

Hi again,
Okay so the 1 hr daily paintings didn't last very long...I'll get back to doing them when my life slows down.
In the meantime...last week my freinds had a beautiful wedding in the Grand Hall of the Foundry Art Centre, where I also have my studio upstairs. They asked me months ago if they could take some photos in my studio the night of the wedding. I said "Sure", thinking that they were a little crazy. But the photographer came up and so did the wedding party and both families. The real pictures should be great. Here are a couple of shots I took through the window. Looks like it wasn't a crazy idea after all.

1 hr. Paintings

Hi all,
This week I decided to start each day in my studio with a 1 hour still life exercise. I'm not going to commit to this forever and set myself up for failure. But for a while, we'll see how it goes. It really seems to get me going. Here are the first two.

Painting of Renaissance Fair

Either ya love it or you hate it! But this is the Renaissance Fair as I saw it. Bold, Old and Fun. What an event! As I was painting I felt like I just couldn't give it too much energy so I kept adding more bold colors and big brushstrokes and then a palette knife with tons of paint for maximum texture and movement.

New Still Life

When I was in Augusta last April I walked through a wonderful antique shop. Everywhere I looked there was a still life all set up, waiting for me. I was rushed so just pulled out my trusty little camera, and shot away. These bottles were lined up on a window transom above a door.
Light Thru Glass and Time • Pastel • 24 X 12

Okay, So I Forgot!

I've been pre-occupied with my new website...not to mention summer events and family stuff. So I forgot to post the other still lives. I was recently at a bridal shower for my beautiful niece. The shower theme was "The Perfect Pair". Everything there was Hot pink and Lime Green. We had "Peartinies" and there were pears all over the tables. So I pulled out my trusty camera as I had visions of pear paintings everywhere I looked. Here's the result. The frames are ordered and I'm anxious to see them up on my studio wall.
Pear Dancing • Pastel • 12 X 12 • $400

Pear Lineup • Pastel • 12 X 12 • $400

Yeah! I finally have a website going! Just click here!

It's ArtbyLindaSmith.com. And it's been taking all my evenings for 2 weeks to figure it out and get things loaded. Did get a lot accomplished at my studio this week, finishing 4 paintings. But this one was a big surprise, even to me. I love it when playing in thick paint is totally productive! Tell me, what do you see in this painting? No one sees what I do.
Red Hot Flash Momma • Oil • 22 X 28

The others were 3 still lives, but I'll save them for next time.
See ya!

Good Week...a Figure, a Still Life and a Landscape!

Well, this is a perfect example of the way I work. These pieces are from this week..
The figure sketch is from Tuesday figure group.

This still life is from a photo I took at an antique shop while in Augusta last April. I'm trying to loosen up the background.

This landscape was a Pastel Demonstration I did at the Foundry Luncheon on Thursday.

Thursday's Pastel Demo

As always they are all still works in progress. As I post I can see areas I want to fix in each piece. Busy, Busy! Taking the day off tomorrow for Father's Day, boating with our family. Hopefully I can get in some sketching on the river.
Thanks.

Working This Out!

Still Evolving... I keep working while trying not to overwork, its a fine line. I'm not quite there yet. I think I'll title it "Cups of Time".