No Deposit, No Return - Oct 2012

Galveston, Texas summer 2012. In the long light of the late afternoon this little discarded jewel caught my eye.

Indian Lodge Rock - June 2012

It has been a while since I posted. I have been working and learning. This painting has taken some time. My mother may recognize this as the rock above the Indian Lodge where we stayed on her last visit.

I have just finished a 3-day Master Class on Color and Glazing taught be Edward Povey. It was an intense class. With fear and trepidation I included this new painting among my painting for review. I really didn't want him to choose it as THE one we would work with. On the other hand, I wanted to learn as much as I could possibly learn so I held my breath and took it with me. Of course, of the 6 options this is the one he picked. I guess it was the one he thought would be the best learning example and that it could be improved by glazing. So here is the "after" shot.

The class was very enthusiastic about the changes. In some ways I liked parts of the previous version but I believe that the painting is stronger overall. Here is what we changed. The cools are cooler and the warms are warmer. The light versus dark values are pushed out (more extreme) which makes the hill look more three-dimensional because of stronger values. In the actual painting the lighted face of the rock is not quite so yellow. (I struggle to learn how to photograph my paintings.) The painting has more impact and punch after the glazing. The stronger dark blue in the sky in the upper left with the addition of some warm glaze in the sky on the bottom right makes the fields behind the rock lay down and look more believable as well as making the sky more atmospheric, pushing the air further away.

Tangelos - March 2012

To get back in the swing of things Jean let me paint something simple after being away from painting for so long. I notice that I didn't remember to sign this.

I am working on another West Texas landscape. It is taking a loooong time. Tough project. Who knows when it will be ready to post here.

Costa Rica Summer - Jan & Feb 2012

Mike and I visit our home in Costa Rica typically some time from December to March. This year it was half of January through the end of February. I painted like crazy but not on canvas, on the exterior walls of our home there. I'll be back soon with some serious painting as soon as I get my Texas legs back.

Little Dragon - Jan 2012

In this Year of the Dragon the Wehmeyer and Purdue family is waiting for the arrival of Xiao-Long, Linh and Carl Wehmeyer's firstborn. He is also to be known as Collin and is due to arrive in March. This little crocheted dragon is getting the nursery ready for his arrival.

He is a bit of a show off displaying his back do you can admire his curvy spine.

Cobalt & Persimmon- Dec 2011

I might have to photograph this one again. The persimmon is much brighter than in the photo.

Little Pumpkin Little Painting - Dec 2011

This is indeed a little pumpkin, and an even smaller canvas - only 4x5 inches. This size is huge compared to Austin artist Felice House's http://www.tinylittlepaintings.com/ which are only 2 1/2 x3. She inspired me to give this tiny format a try. I learned that I am just as slow painting a tiny painting as I am at bigger ones.