Oil painting on hardboard 12 x 12'' painted from life over two short painting sessions.

These charcoal drawings were created during a great class at Sunbear Studio and Gallery called "Experimental Drawing". We focused on loosening up and developing our ability to self critique our work.

Two studies for a portrait that I would like to paint. I think it is more difficult to do a portrait of someone you know well!

This is an 11"x14" oil portrait painted from life. The likeness to the model is very close but not as close as I would like. I think trying to capture a likeness requires some real planning before painting. If there were time it would be great to do some drawings first to work on being true to the model's features. This painting was completed in two sessions between 2 and 2.5 hours each.

A pastel from the Figure Studies Studio at Sunbear Studio and Gallery. The pastel in on a piece of matteboard that I coated with pastel ground. I would like to experiment with some other surfaces coated with this ground...maybe masonite, plaster..stay tuned!

Oil on hardboard studies I did at a recent workshop offered by Debra Joyce Dawson. The workshop was terrific! We spent most of our time focusing on painting from life and working on value relationships.Value is an important tool in creating structure and unity in your paintings. By massing your dark values you create a solid design to build on. Color has value as well,which brings complexity and interest. 

"Regimental Stripes" oil on canvas, 11"x14". Painted at the Figure Studies Studio group at Sunbear - a an uninstructed group that meets to paint the figure/portrait.

"Sky Study" oil on primed canvas 6"x 8" plein air. I would like to improve my ability to paint the sky, so I plan on doing more of these studies.

"Meabh", oil on canvas 16"x20" portrait from life. This is a new painting from the figure painting studio group that I am helping to organize at Sunbear Studio.  It has been a real inspiration to paint this young woman - she has such style.

Sketchbook pages from this summer

 Infirmary Mound Park

 Columbus Cultural Arts Center model

Ohio State University

Green Apple and Silk, 9"x12" oil on canvas

Plein air painting at a nearby water tower, This was great fun although the scale differences in the two buildings was difficult to convey convincingly!

Portrait study from life, 11x14" oil painting on wood panel.

5"x7" pastel on water color paper that has been coated with a pastel ground. This barn is a mile from my house and is starting to sag and show a lot of wear, but I loved the color of the faded red paint in the morning light. I have been experimenting with working on different papers or boards coated with a purchased pastel ground. I like creating texture by diluting the ground a little and then applying it thickly to the surface to leave brushmarks. The texture comes through when applying pastel. The ground I use is Golden's pastel ground.

This is a work in progress photo - 11 x 14 " oil painting on canvas. The skull is from a deer. I am running out of fresh carnations - they keep wilting before I finish!

One of the series of portrait paintings done from life at CCAC. This did not photograph well, but just wanted to keep documenting my progress. Oil on canvas, 11" x 14"

This is a portrait study in oil on Blick's canvas paper. I liked the texture of the paper and the way the paint could be moved around for a long period. I learned to be careful not to stick my fingers on the painting checking to see if it was dry! 

Oil on canvas 11" x 14" "Braid" by Tonya Ramsey

"Curly" 6x6 inch oil painting on cradled hardboard panel. This is the first oil painting I have completed on a hard panel surface. It is great to move the paint around a little more and it is especially wonderful to not have the texture of the canvas fight for attention with the details of the painting.  "Curly" is available in my dailypaintworks gallery.

Another portrait painting from life. "Christina" oil on canvas 16"x 20"

 

I am attending some portrait model sessions at The Columbus Cultural Arts Center and have really enjoyed working from a live model. "Brooke" oil on canvas 18"x 24"

Updated this by painting a much better orange pepper and by taking a more accurate photo. What a difference getting the painting in focus made! I find photographing my art the most challenging aspect of sharing my paintings on this blog. You can find this painting on my dailypaintworks auction

Today's daily painting- 'Rise and Shine' featuring a great salt shaker that was found at a local flea market

Click to BidClementines 2  6x6  oil painting 

 -The sunshine has been peeking out of the clouds and with the warmer weather it almost feels like spring could be soon. These clementines captured a few rays of sun while sitting near my window.

A link to my Daily Paintworks Gallery

-This is one of several small still lifes that I have been working on lately. The reflective surface of the silver sugar dish was interesting to paint. I would like to try it again under brighter lighting conditions to bring out more color.