Elephant Vase

Elephant Vase

8" x 10" Acrylic. $125.

Hello. Elephant Vase is another painting of my vintage bronze vase. I posted a miniature earlier under "Small Asian Vase." The vase and the painting are not as blue as it looks on the post. Capturing a metal patina is so difficult. When I went back to look at the 4" x 4", I realized that I am not happy with the patina or the shape. I was so pleased with the Elephant ears that I didn't finish the vase in a way I am happy with. One of the values of blogging, is that you can see your work in a completely different format. The colors may not be accurate, but the values, shapes, composition, etc. are. Also, as I recently mentioned, I can enlarge pictures of my work to a very large size and really take a look. Although in some ways, it may not be fair to the artist, as paintings are meant to be viewed from six feet away, and it can turn up some surprising results, especially on a miniature painting, I am finding the enlargements really helpful. I do enter my work in various juried art shows, most of which, require a photo of each work submitted either by CD or online. It helps me to see what the judges see. I know I can enlarge my own pictures, but there is something about this that I like. Thanks for looking!

Penelope

African Bowl With Handle

African Bowl With Handle

11 x 14 Acrylic. $225.

This is another of my old African bowls. I really like how the patina came out in this piece. I also think the tattered rim looks good. Thanks for looking.

Penelope

Who Knew?

I was surprised to find out yesterday that if you click on a posted image, it comes up REALLY BIG! It doesn't work on Renee's New Brush, but it works on the daily postings. It amazes me just how tech un-savvy I am. I especially liked seeing the brushes in the 4" x 4" Studio Pose painting. Very interesting.

Penelope

Chickadee On Berry Branch

Chickadee On Berry Branch

8" x 10" Acrylic. SOLD

Who doesn't love a chickadee! Chickadees are very social and often called the "clowns" of the back yard birds. There is something about the look in their eyes that I find irresistible. In this painting, the way the blue sky background makes the red berries really sing was a surprise to me. Normally, I use colors that are opposite on the color wheel, to set off the focal point, as in Cardinal on Branch, where I used a green background to enhance the reds of the bird. I was surprised and happy to see how effective the blue background was. I know that cool colors recede and warm colors advance, but I didn't see just how much until Chickadee On Berry Branch. Thanks for looking!

Penelope

Snake

Snake

22" x 28" Acrylic, $350.

Snake is one of my larger paintings. One of my goals here was to move from the expressionism of the background, to the blending of expressionism and realism in the branch and nest, to the realism of the eggs.

Penelope

Another Day, Another Decoy

Small Ice Fishing Decoy

5" x 7 " Acrylic on canvas. $95.00

This is the third Ice fishing decoy I have painted and posted. It is the smallest decoy in my collection. I love the way the spiky metal dorsal fin looks like a mohawk. I am always happy when I complete a painting. My happy dance is usually a bit short-lived as I slide across the floor to greet the familiar--problem #1: What do I paint next? Two decoys? My black teapot? No, Oh, I know, toddlers cowboy boots. Wait, what about the...

Penelope

Cookies Inside

"Cookies Inside"

8" x 10" Acrylic on canvas. $125.

Hello. Cookies Inside is the larger version of the mini I posted Jan 3. It is a painting of my ceramic cookie jar that was manufactured by Hull around 1940. I have a lot of these jars, and the shakers that match them. They always make me smile to look at them. I really liked using all three primaries and the challenge of having the cool greens come forward while the warm yellows and reds receded a bit. The warm colors do not always play nicely, as they usually demand center stage, but I was pleased to see the green out front. I plan to start the 8 x 10 version of the matching shakers when I am done with the fishing decoy I am working on. Thanks for looking.

Penelope

Is It Done Yet?

"Alliance"

"11 x 14" Acrylic on canvas. $225.

Hello. For me, one of the most difficult problems to solve is when to stop. I have heard many stories over the years about artists who could never really stop altering their canvas. My favorite is the instructor who would literally take one of her paintings down, during a show, paint on it, and then put it back up. I was too dumbfounded to ask at the time, but ever since I have wondered if she took all of her gear to each show, or maybe just a small touch-up kit. Still, it does speak to the angst I think most artists have when deciding when to put the brush down and back away slowly. I have heard, "when you think it is 85% done, then that is the time to stop." Okay, no, that has never worked for me. If I can't figure out when it is 100% done, how will I know when it is 85% done. I am bringing this up now, because I am not sure if "Unity" is done. I spent a lot of time and used a lot of paint, trying to capture the perfection of my vase. I ended up with a very overworked vase. Next, I mixed a lot more paint, grabbed a big brush, then repainted the entire vase very quickly. I liked it. I decided that once the vase dried, I would go back over the vase with the lightest tint of the color I had used, mixed with acrylic glazing liquid. Egad! It looked awful, as if I had glazed it with thin yogurt. I took it off immediately, remixed, then repainted. All I got was a more colorful tint of yogurt. Again, I wiped it off immediately. By now, my vase was starting to look really good to me with no glazing. So, I think it might be done, or at least 85% done. "Alliance" is actually more green than it shows on my post. The colors and values are accurate on my computer, but they just don't show the same on my blog, which is another problem. Thanks for listening.

Penelope

Dog Park Berries

Dog Park Berries

5" x 5", Acrylic on canvas. $55.

There is a wonderful dog park in Issaquah, WA where I take my mini-dachshund, Vienna. The entrance is flanked by evergreen trees that I have never seen before. In Fall, the most sensational berries appear on these trees in colors of apricot, coral, oranges and red. I could not resist liberating a small branch. This painting is a result of my lawlessness.

Penelope

Attraction

Attraction

8" x 10" Acrylic on canvas, $125.

I painted "Attraction" to see how small I could paint a hummingbird and still have a lot of detail. I was able to achieve the translucence of the wings I was looking for, (once again using zinc white, moonglow and acrylic glazing liquid), but what I really like are the feet. The bowl of shiny red cherries, with their come hither glow, would definitely attract a hummingbird.

I have to be careful about what I place on my dining table. Anything that catches a hummingbird's eye will draw them closer to investigate, which is great if there isn't glass between the hummingbird and the object of interest. I never put flowers on my table anymore. Most of the time these little birds will come close to the window and just hover there to see if there are any nectar possibilities, however, if the object they fancy is really red or really enticing due to shape, color, or sheen, they have been known to fly into the glass, which is really awful for the bird and the bird viewer. It has only happened once and the bird was okay, but now, for the most part, decorative objects are banned from the table. Thanks for looking!

Penelope

Many Happy Returns

Many Happy Returns

11" x 14", Acrylic on canvas. $145.

Hello, "Many Happy Returns" is about the terrific birdhouse that I found that was made by a young artist in Sequim putting himself through school. Chickadees love this house and return to it every year. The branch that the artist encircled the house with has always been a favorite perch and lookout for the chickadees. I have used quite a bit of artistic license here as the birdhouse is actually made of an aged unpainted barn wood. Some day I will paint it as it is, but for now, I paint it in the colors I feel, rather than the colors I see.

Penelope

Fall

"FALL"

8" x 24", Acrylic on canvas. $225.

Hello, "Fall" is one of my rare landscapes. For the most part, they are inner landscapes, as the color and form only exist in my imagination. I am happy with the curvilinear lines and the rich color. One of my goals here is balance. I am trying to balance the weight of the trees and shrubs on the left with the lightness and verticality of the three trees on the right. I think this painting may be done.
Another problem to solve is how to photograph paintings to post and/or enter shows. Lately, I have been doing well with the smaller pieces, but I am still having difficulty with the larger ones torquing. Any ideas?

Penelope

African Vessel

"African Vessel"

11" x 14", Acrylic on Canvas. SOLD

This old African vessel is the bottom of a hollowed out gourd used for storing liquids. It is very beat up which gives it a wonderful patina. I have painted it many times. This is one of my favorites.

Penelope

Chickadee on Pear

Chickadee on Pear

"8 x 10", Acrylic on canvas, $145.

What is it about a bird on a pear that I find so compelling? It is another image that demands to be painted, different sizes, different birds, same insistence. I really like the look in this chickadee's eye. It feels to me like the canary who ate the canary, only different. I started a new painting yesterday. I had decided to paint my African flute juxtaposed to a mini Acoma pot, but after staring at the still life set up for two days I realized it wasn't going to happen. So---back to the still life set up dance. After seeing the color of my jade vase, that I recently posted, I decided I had to paint it again. In my goal to paint more than one big thing in the middle, I placed a small nest next to it. The balance looks good, and the colors are intriguing. I am about half way there. Thanks for looking!

Penelope

Bird's Eye View

Bird's Eye View

"16 x 20" Acrylic on Canvas, $325.

Bird's Eye View is one of my larger nests. I like the freedom of the brush strokes and the "in your face" size. I have always been drawn to bird eggs for their color, shape, purity, and possibility.

Penelope

Open Window

Open Window

"16 x 20", Acrylic on Canvas, $325.

Hello. "Open Window" was my first attempt to paint hummingbird wings in flight. The wings appear translucent due to their incredible speed so I wasn't sure how to approach my goal. I decided to try Daniel Smith's Moonglow for its grayed deep violet and transparency, then I mixed it with Golden's acrylic glazing liquid to further reduce the opacity, added a bit of Mars Black, and a bit of Zinc White, and voila, hummingbird wings. I also wanted to paint another of my favorite objects, my jade vase, that I found at the old Gumps store in San Francisco many years ago. Finally, I added the lure of the single pink flower. The painting is actually lighter than it shows on the blog. Hope you like it!

Penelope

Where's the Eagle?

"Somewhere out there" Collection of Marci Wainhouse,

Kent Art Commissioner.

Every day, throughout the day, I sit at my dining table and stare at my bird feeders. I have a heart shaped garden that is filled with seasonal flowers and is the focal point of my yard. In the middle of the garden sits my ornate concrete birdbath, and my hanging thistle feeders. All sorts of wonderful birds come to the feeders, including the occasional Peregrine Falcon (although I don't think thistle is what he is after). Just outside my window, at the edge of my deck, is where the hummingbird feeder is. Two years ago, I discovered after living in the Pacific Northwest for many years, that there is a hummingbird, "Anna's Hummingbird," that does not migrate. Several days after taking down my feeder I was shocked to see a hummingbird peering into my window, just hovering there. Even though it was really cold, I quickly cleaned and filled the feeder and put it back out. Where do they sleep in 18 degree weather? The Anna's come every day, no matter how cold, no matter the snow, wind, or crushing rain. The Anna's began to insist to be painted. I had never tried to paint a bird before, I saw myself as a more "Figurative Expressionist" painter. Not only did this little bird demand to be painted, it demanded to be painted in a "Realistic" way. Since that first painting, I have painted many of the back yard birds that come to my feeders. Although I was surprised to discover that I identify with this gaggle of back yard birds, as opposed to say, an eagle, a falcon, or even a crow, it has made clear to me that the best subjects choose you.

Penelope

Frog Decoy

Frog Decoy

"5 x 7", Acrylic on canvas, $95.00.

Hello, here is the frog ice fishing decoy I have been working on. I just love how whimsical these decoys are. I picked up a 5" x 7" canvas that I had primed with Daniel Smith's yellow ochre gesso. I must have been priming in the dark because there were ridges on the canvas. As I went to put it in the "to be sanded" pile, I realized that the ridges might be the perfect texture to suggest old wood. I used yellow ochre, burnt sienna, raw sienna, burnt umber, and alizarin crimson hue (a wonderful Golden color), to allude to the striations in the wood. I used some of the same colors on the eye to try to capture the glassiness. None of my other decoys have glass eyes. All of my others have eyes that were either painted, made of nails, or of thumb tacks. I am moving on from decoys for a while, but they sure were fun to paint. Hope you like it!

Penelope

Small Asian Vase

Small Asian Vase

4" x 4" framed Acrylic on gessoboard. $100.

I love this bronze vase for its wonderful patina and the amazing lines of the elephant head as it curves onto the throat of the vase. This beautiful piece has been in my collection for many years and I have painted it more than a few times. I love paintings with a single object as its focal point. Which brings me back to my "art as problem solving" point of view. From early childhood we are told to "paint out of the lines." That it is not only okay, but that it is highly desirable to break all of the rules where art is concerned. There are no rules! But just try it. At the beginning of most classes, workshops, demos, that I have taken, the instructor begins by reiterating the "no rules" rule. Yeah! And then the rules rush in. The rule of three: a single object is boring, two objects mundane, Ah three--perfect. Next, the "placement on the canvas" rule emerges. "Never in the center. Never in the center top to bottom. Never in the center left to right. You must offset the focal point to the right of the vertical center, then place it lower then the horizontal center line. There, now isn't that better? Uh, no, I like to place one big thing in the center, like "cookie jar." It's not that I am not teachable, I just take a while. I am going to start a painting of an old African flute, WITH, a very small Acoma pot next to it. Its still not the magic of three, but its a start. Thanks for listening.
Penelope

First Flight

First Flight

16" x 20", Acrylic on Canvas. Reserved for show.

"First Flight" resulted from a suggestion that I tell a story with my birds. It is a painting about risk taking. The baby Chickadee is being supported and encouraged to take that "leap of faith" into the unknown. I paint this bird house from time to time. I found it in Sequim at their farmers market. The artist who made it was putting himself through school by making the most wonderful birdhouses from old barn wood and found objects. Chickadees love this house. They come back to it every year and put on the most mesmerizing show. Thanks for looking.

Penelope

Turbulent Sky

Turbulent Sky

16" x 20", Acrylic on canvas. Collection of Loretta Spencer.

Hello. I rarely paint landscapes. So far, all of the landscapes I paint come from the same image. The results are always vastly different in terms of color and composition. I don't know why the particular photo I use evokes such emotion in me. The paintings that result from this image have been as small as 2" x 2" to the largest one to date, 18" x 24". I have a very large canvas that I have been looking at for about five years. Maybe a landscape.
I have heard it said recently that creating art is all about problem solving. Well, I really took issue with this. What about passion, technique, discovery, insight, joy, pain, etc. After much internal dialog I have to admit that I too think creating is all about problem solving. The first problem to arise is the classic, "What do I paint?" Although this process is a passionate one for me, given all of the hair-pulling, pacing, setting up (then rejecting), numerous still lifes, at its core it is about problem solving. On rare occasions, I get lucky and an idea will come to me on winged feet. It is always a great surprise when this happens and can result in numerous paintings, such as the landscape series. Turbulent Sky is one of my favorites.
Penelope

ps. I started the frog.

Decoy

Ice Fishing Decoy

8" x 10", Acrylic on canvas, $145.00.

Hello! I painted this Ice Fishing decoy yesterday. The fish is from one of my vintage collections. These decoys are a form of folk art that were used mainly in the icy states, particularly the state of Minnesota. They are attached by a string to a pole, then sunk into the water through a hole which has been dug into the ice. Then, the fisher person wiggles the decoy in a "come hither" way until a curious fish approaches. Then a spear happens and, well, you know. I love this art form. These decoys are carved wood, with all sorts of metal attachments, from thumb tacks, to forks, to whatever the artist felt would be the most enticing. They are painted in a realistic or crazy way. Most of the decoys in my collection date between the 1930's to 1960's. I might paint another tomorrow. Maybe a frog. I hope you like it!
Penelope

p.s. Thanks so much to my followers for your continued support! P.

Cardinal on Branch

Cardinal on Branch

8" x 10", Acrylic on canvas, $145.

In the past, one of my instructors painfully explained to me that all paintings must be painted using "one style", meaning that if you are going to paint abstractly then the entire painting must reflect that, or, if you are going to paint realistically, the entire painting should reflect that. Well, I thought a lot about that and I have to say, that while I love many styles of painting, I am unable to settle on just one. I love the color and expression in Helen Frankenthaler's work, I love the thick paint and intense realism of Wayne Thiebaud, oh, and Richard Diebenkorn is amazing, Franz Kline, Frida Kahlo, John Gould's birds, Georgia O'Keeffe, Jules Olitski, Abbey Ryan, Carol Marine, the Akan tribe of African women sculptors.....Okay, I could fill many pages with artists I feel are wonderful all for different reasons. My point is, I can't just choose a style, and then make it so. I indulge myself by painting my backgrounds in an expressionistic way, and my focal points as realistically as I can. I love the immediacy and the surprise of painting wildly and the "in the zone focus" of painting each bird feather and hummingbird toe.
"Cardinal on Branch" is a good example of what I am trying to achieve. I love the freeness in the green background, the looseness of the branch, and the precision with which the cardinal is painted. You may have noticed, I have a bit of a problem naming my work. While some paintings almost demand to be named making the choice easy, apparantly, others just don't want to be named, thats how you get "Cardinal on Branch". And so, naming my paintings is still a work in progress. Thanks for looking!

Penelope

Summer

Summer

16 x 20 Acrylic on canvas, $325.

Hello. Many times if I come up with a painting I like, I will paint it in several sizes. I really love to paint the American Goldfinch on a coneflower. The Goldfinch is Washington's state bird and, to me, the coneflower is the perfect representive of Summer.

Penelope

Favorite Branch

Favorite Branch SOLD

4" x 4" framed Acrylic on gessoboard. This painting is currently in the Parklane Gallery International Miniature Show in Kirkland WA. To see all of my work in the show, go to www.parklanegallery.com/miniatures2010/ Then choose page 37.

Hello again! Favorite Branch is the painting that was exhibited in the White River Valley Museum in Auburn, WA. in December 2009. It is the result of the "Small Studio Pose" painting posted yesterday. Ha! The Cardinal is the only bird I paint that is not native to the Pacific Northwest. I can not resist the colors. We have the wonderful Steller's Jay. I don't know why I haven't painted it yet. It has the same festive crest that I love and is beautiful shades of blue, black and deep violet. Although it seems that I only paint minis, I actually paint many sizes. I will post one tomorrow. Thanks for looking!

Penelope.

Small Studio Pose

Small Studio Pose

4" x 4" Acrylic on Board. $75.00

This is my studio. The painting is actually a little brighter than this, but I have not been able to figure out how to get the pictures on my postings as light and bright as those on my computer. I have taken artistic license here as I do not have wood floors, and I am not this neat. Most miniature competitions have very specific requirements. Many require that the entire piece, including the frame, not exceed 5" x 5".

Penelope

Shakers

Shakers

4" x 4" x 1/8". Acrylic on gessoboard. This painting has been accepted to the Parklane Gallery International Miniature Show in Kirkland, WA. To see all six paintings that have been accepted in the show, please go to www.parklanegallery.com/miniatures2010/ My work is on page 37.

These salt and pepper shakers were made in the 40's by "Hull", the same maker as the "Cookie Jar" painting shown below. I painted my first miniature for The Kaewyn Gallery in Bothell, WA. I was really surprised to discover how much I like painting miniatures. Usually after I paint a mini, I will paint a larger one of the same subject to loosen up my hand. I have not shown the "Hull" pieces yet, but I hope to this year.

Penelope

Vintage Cookie Jar

Cookie Jar

4" x 4" x 1/8" Acrylic on gessoboard. Reserved for show.

Hello, in addition to birds, I also like to paint objects that I have collected over the years. I love the intensity and the energy of the "Hull" ceramic pieces. I chose the blue/grey background so that I could use all three primaries. Tomorrow--the Shakers.

Penelope

Blue Speckled Eggs

Blue Speckled Eggs

5" x 7" Acrylic on canvas. $55.

I paint a lot of nests. My studio is full of them. I don't actually take them out of the trees, but if they blow into my yard, they are mine. Many are gifts from friends. I really like the particular blue in the eggs and background. I blended Titanium white, Mars black and Ultramarine blue to get just the right color which is actually a bit lighter than the photo shows.

Thanks Loretta and Sabrina for your supportive feedback.

Penelope

A New Year, A New Blog.

Hello! Welcome to my new blog. Until today, I have been showing my paintings exclusively in the Pacific Northwest. As of today, I have decided to show and sell my paintings online as well as in my Gallery: Kaewyn Gallery, Bothell, WA, my Public Art participation through EAFA, and Juried shows that interest me. My new blog is the first step of my goal. All feedback will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for looking. Penelope