Leaf and Berry

In the fall and the winter I usually make platters and serving pieces with a design I call
"Leaf and Berry". I do them in my usual tropical colors, but they seem more "northern". I am getting ready for a show in Vero Beach right before Thanksgiving and I think these might seem festive and Christmas-y. The bowls are $34 and the sets, which include a platter and a dip bowl with the spreader knife, are $74 for the oval ruffle set and $54 for the smaller round ruffle sets.

http://maggieruley.blogspot.com

NEW PAINTING - "EVERGLADES AFTERNOON"

This new painting is an oil on canvas. I usually paint in acrylics, but sometimes I just like the look and feel of oil paints. I also like some of the colors better. For example, in acrylic paint alizarin crimson is kind of muddy looking (in my opinion), but in oil paints I find it luminous. This painting "Everglades Afternoon" is 12 x 12 inches and framed in a black floater frame. It is hanging in 7 Artists Gallery and is $275.00

FREE E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION

Sorry, no photo today. I am trying out an e-mail subscription service and I have added the gaget to my home page. The preview is not the way I like it. Let's hope this works.

PAINTINGS WITH TEXTURE AND DIMENSION

A couple of weeks ago I was experimenting with some Golden products I had received in one of their educational workshops given at the Key West Art Center. I coated the canvas with light molding paste so that there was a texture on the canvas. When that was dry I started my grid based composition in the turquoise and red color scheme I seem to favor these days. I worked the background until I thought it was almost finished. Then I used a stencil to add a thick layer of molding paste in a palm shape. Then that had to dry overnight. Then I started to paint the palms and finish the background work. There are four of these in all and they make a nice grouping. I did a larger one but I forgot to texture the background and it isn't as interesting. I also think painting the edging strips works really well on these pieces.

OIL PAINTING SUNSET MARSH

I don't often paint in oils. It is a "hurry up and wait process" for me. There are some artists who can do it all at once, but not me. If I work too long on an oil painting it just gets muddy looking. This painting was started last October. After the first week of painting sessions I wasn't happy with it so I set it aside. The other day I looked at it and realized that I could probably finish it in one more session. And that is all it took. Now I am waiting for the final coat to dry. I used a lot of white in the last session and white takes a long time to dry. I used two photo references for this piece. One was from my trip to Hilton Head and the other was from a cloud photo I had taken somewhere in the Keys. It will still be awhile before this gets to the gallery. First it is going to the printer to be photographed. I think it will make some lovely prints on paper.

"Sunset Marsh"
16 x 20"
$525

WAITING

I wish I had taken before and after photos of this painting. This painting was started about 9 months ago. It is oil and I started it in my Jim Salem painting class. In the winter our painting spot has a large dock area that is a haven for Laughing Gulls. They make a lot of noise and demand your attention at times. I chose a composition of three and after the painting session I really wasn't very happy with what I had. So it had to go sit in a corner for awhile. I took a look at it the other day and decided that I just had to freshen some of the colors, change the width of the horizontal bands and add another layer of color to the birds. Now I am happy with the graphic black and white birds against the simple background. For some reason I find it a very calm painting. It has to dry and then I will take it in to the gallery.

"Waiting"

11 x 14" unframed

$325.

SNAIL MAIL PROJECT

I am participating in Kate Miller's Snail Mail Project with my friend Pam Hobbs. Art work is sent via US Postal service without an envelope from one artist to another. My work is above. I have taken two pear paintings that I started in my Bob Burridge workshop and re-worked them. After I reworked them I cut them and then re glued them so that each side of the art work has part of two pear paintings. Sounds more complicated than it is. The above photos show each side. Now, I am going to sent them on to Pam Hobbs, who is going to finish them and then send them on to Kate Miller. Kate has a number of artists participating and I think there are plans to show the finished pieces a year from now.

http://www.hobbsart.freeservers.com/

http://www.katepmiller.com/

HERB PLANTERS

I have been having camera software issues lately so getting my photos from my camera to my computer has put me through a "learning a new technique" head ache. I think I have it figured out now, but the new method is very time consuming. No more just push a button. Perhaps I should not have dropped the camera!

Anyway, enough fussing here are some herb pots with little saucers designed to fit on a kitchen window sill. My original intention was for these to be quick, fun items, but no, I had to pick a complicated design. Oh well, they are cute. I have put them in my stock pile of items I am taking to the Vero Beach show in November.

Flower pot and matching saucer $38