New paintings make me happy.

Day One:

I think these would make for a fun flip book.

Framing and some studio shots

My bedroom/studio is slowly, but surely, becoming a studio with a bed in the corner. I prefer to work on multiple pieces simultaneously, which, obviously, means I need multiple places to work, and, well, every surface is fair game. Doesn't everyone's dresser have jars of paint brushes on it? Surely everyone's nightstand is in the process of being converted into a still life set up?

And, well, I can't say I'm sorry I have a bookshelf full of toys.

But here is the real mystery. Every time I order multiple frames at once, I somehow end up with one I can't account for ordering, one that has no painting to fill it. And while this obviously isn't a terrible problem, as I can merely paint a piece that size and use the frame, I'm at a loss to explain how this happens, as where painting business is concerned, I'm as fastidious as they come.

Duck soup

So, here we are, yet another in-progress image of the latest painting:

I don't know about you, but I have grown tired of seeing more pictures of it. So, to break the tedium, here are some arbitrary and silly sketches I found today in an old sketch book while looking for something else:

The second one is my favorite. The ducks are from a time when I was working on a farm in Ireland and spending a fair amount on time chasing the very silly ducks out of various gardens. To be perfectly honest, I don't care much for drawing, I'd rather be painting, so most of my drawings, excepting those done at school, are very quick sketches, like these.

Happiness, Continued...

Here are a few more in-progress images:

I've been having great fun with the boat, although the sails are proving more difficult than I anticipated. It has been wonderful to get back into painting at last.

And on a different, yet exciting, note, I've been invited to participate as a visiting artist at Principle Gallery in their Spring Still Life Show, opening April 15th. Those of you in the DC/Virginia area should visit!

Happiness

After much headache, I've finally a place to paint again! It's been quite the exercise in problem solving, as even after I found a place to live (which currently doubles as my place to paint), I had a white-walled, west-facing room, not quite the opposite, but far enough from the dark-walled, north-facing room ideal for painting. I won't bore you with my light manipulation solutions, which may or may not involve an upside down clothes rack sewn to a shower curtain, hung from the wall. Here's a picture of the finished product for the curious:

It works surprisingly well. I also have new roommates, including a very affectionate cat, who today decided that the ideal napping spot was behind me as I painted at the easel. Brilliant, as when I backed up I inevitably stepped on him, and in an effort to not hurt him, threw myself sideways, falling, palette first, onto my bed. Poor bed. Someday, I dream of owning things that don't have paint on them, but as long as my studio and my bedroom are the same room, I don't think I'll be that lucky. (The cat was fine, by the way).

The important part is, of course, that I'm painting again! As a curiosity for myself, I decided to take in progress photos of my current painting, and I thought I'd post them for fun. So here is a first day's block in, in seven stages:

Just a note

to say that the accepted entries for the Greenhouse Gallery Salon are now available to view on-line. They can even be purchased already. They're all here. Happy browsing!

Gallery Business

This is just a short note to say to keep an eye out for new Sebbie paintings arriving at Old Pueblo Gallery in Tucson, and the Gallery on Merchants Square in Williamsburg, VA. If you're in the area, you should visit!