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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Fall Day

Fall Day

As the summer slips away and fall begins
barns all over Kentucky are filling up with Burley tobacco as it dries.

This commission was done of a barn here in Carroll County, KY.,

a place once known as home to a dozen or so tobacco warehouses,
where wagon after wagon of tobacco was seen going from the field to the barn
and then from the barn to the warehouse.



This commission was finished and will be delivered today.

The client ordered it as a gift.

It's an 11 x 14 acrylic on a canvas panel.

Please contact me at slgraves6@gmail.com
if you'd like information about a commissioned painting of your tobacco barn.  



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Sunday, September 23, 2012


Ever been to an art show and wanted to buy something but didn't know what or why.

Here is a great top 10 list about collecting art.

I like the first and last items the best.

Find something you like, that stirs something in you or speaks to you
and then buy it.  

Voila'.

You're an art collector.

But the other items are a little more intellectual.

But I'd go with buy what you love.



art-collecting.com logo




TIPS ON ART COLLECTING

Ten things to remember when starting to collect art!

Tips for beginning art collectors as well as for experienced art collectors.
Good reminders for anyone interested in art or already collecting art.
  • Buy art because you like it and because it moves you, and because it will
    enhance your life.
  • Visit as many art galleries as you can, gallery staff can be helpful guides in
    your art education.
  • Get on gallery mailing lists so you'll be invited to openings and special events.
  • Visit and join your local art museums and non profit art centers.
    Curators sometimes give lectures on collecting art.
  • Attend National and International Art Fairs and Art Expos whenever possible.
  • If you know art collectors, talk to them and find out what they know and what
    they've learned about collecting art.
  • Read books on art history and books about collecting art.
  • Subscribe to a few art magazines.
  • Read reviews by local and national art critics, keeping in mind that reviews
    usually just reflect one persons opinion.
  • Working with a professional art advisor / art consultant is a good way to learn
    about art collecting, and they will guide you through the process of purchasing art.
  • Once you've educated yourself and have fallen in love with a work of art,
    buy it, take it home and enjoy it.



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Saturday, September 22, 2012

See What you Missed at Quad's tonight!


This is what you missed tonight at the Quad's Classic Car show in LaGrange, KY.


A new sculpture by Robbie Mueller he was working on at Gallery 104.

This guy is sculpted onto a crock jug.  

He's entirely too creative.

I painted out on the sidewalk.

I'll post a photo of that painting maybe Monday.


Tom and Mary Kinney's studio down the street

He makes some fabulous jewelry and awesome photography.

Mary is a very creative painter and writer.


Isn't this the cutest studio.


This is Tom in his jewelry studio.


Here in Angie Campbell's studio a little further down the street.
Amy Wellborn and Pam Tillman are on the left side of the table.
Mary Kinney and Angie Campbell are on the right.

They were working on collages.


There are 5 galleries on Main Street and during the Quad's car show they are open for a gallery walk.

And I walked and visited the three that were open.

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Plein Air Painting at Christy's Candles


This is a plein air painting I did today at Christy's Candles in Madison, IN.

It's the shop.

I stood out in the yard and painted this.  

It's now behind the desk at the shop.  

This was lots of fun.


I moved closer to the house to find something else to paint.
I spied this bicycle covered over in ivy.

Yep, that's a painting screaming to be painted.



Here's the finished piece.


You can't see the painting very well , but you can see the bike in the ivy again.
Now to come up with a name.

Any suggestions?
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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Progression of Sunset Bay

Sunset Bay

I read a post in a blog  recently, but I can't remember who wrote it.

But he had a really interesting idea for painting.

As he paints, he keeps a blank canvas nearby and cleans his brush on it.
Then he uses that canvas for his next painting.  

I remember him saying it helps to loosen him up and that's my problem,
so I gave it a try.

With every painting I've done lately I've cleaned my brush out on canvas panels.  
I've filled up two so far.
Then I decided to paint one of them.
When I cleaned out my brush I sort of put colors in areas I thought might be sky, sunrise, sunset, grass, trees.

Tonight I worked on it.,
It's not completely done, but it's close.


I didn't decide to take photos until I put the clouds in, but you can see what it looked like before the clouds went in.


I added distant tree and blocked in the rocks in the foreground.


I'm starting to work on the water here.


I put the highlights on the rocks


More rock highlights and shadows.


Starting to mellow out the water


Put in some rougher waves.

It's darkly bright.
Does that make sense.
It looks like a sunrise or sunset with lots of color bouncing everywhere.

This was lots of fun to do.
Trying to see where I might go with it was the tough part of the task.

But it was fun.  

Still not exactly satisfied with the clouds or the rocks,
but I had a great time doing the whole process.


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Friday, September 14, 2012

Showing at Christy's Candles In Madison


Check Out Christy's Candles in Madison, IN.


I just placed a lot of my art at Christy's Candles in Madison, IN.

Their gallery will be upstairs and it isn't opened yet but will be soon.


Christy, on the right and daughter Regina on the left have a beautiful shop and they are adding a gallery upstairs, and I will be one of the first artists invited in.,


They make most of the candles they sell and they also do fundraisers for schools.
I have one of their candles I bought from a school child.

Delish.



They have some gorgeous jewelry. . .


and some great country home decor.

I feel very honored to be invited into this shop and hope you will give them a look.

They are located at 2631 Michigan Rd., Madison, IN.
and are the only shop on top of the hill that sells these types of items and original art.

They will be having a 24th year anniversary Saturday Sept. 22 from 9-5 and Sunday Sept 23 from noon - 5 p.m.

They are graciously giving away 8 oz candles to all customers over 18.

Check out their facebook page at 


It should be a really fun weekend.

They will have their gallery open that weekend, if not before and I'll be there and hope to see you.

Thanks for checking out this great shop.


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Don't ya love hydrangeas?


I love the colors of the blossoms
and if you look closely you can see how the shading and highlights lightly go from blue to pink to purple to an off white all in one bloom.




This end table was screaming "Paint Me" when I bought it.

I began painting hydrangeas about the same time I brought the table home,
so it got its own version of my hydrangea craze.


Here's a close up of the top of the table.  
I can't really decide if they're purple or blue.
I used both colors plus a little touch of pink.

They are so fun to paint.


This is the bottom shelf.



Here is the detail on the drawer.

This fun little table would look great as a night stand or in the powder room or anywhere in a shabby chic or country French room or home.

I'm offering this one of a kind table for $125 locally.
I don't want to ship it so I will deliver it within a 20 mile radius of Carrollton, KY.

Contact me before purchase to make arrangements for delivery.

Thanks for looking and forward this to anyone you think might be interested.


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Wednesday, September 12, 2012



Monday I posted a plein air painting I did at Point Park in Carrollton.
After I finished that painting I turned my easel 90 degrees to the left and I was looking at the Prestonville bridge.

Yep, it's that blue.  
Kentucky Blue.

So you know I had to paint that too.



Here's the view.  
As I said Monday,
I can have a painting in focus or I can have the painting in focus.

It's a 5" x 7" acrylic on a Raymar panel.

Lots of fun.  

I know I want to paint both these paintings in a bigger format.

Keep ya posted.
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Monday, September 10, 2012

Plein Air Painting at the Point

Carrollton has what is known as The Point

The Ohio and Kentucky Rivers come together in Carrollton and this painting is of that confluence.

Carrollton has a lovely park there with a boat ramp, a band stand, several playgrounds,
a skate park, picnic areas and sand volleyball.

People fish and boat there and it is a quiet beautiful spot.

I had a great time painting there this morning after dropping grandson Aidan off at preschool.

On the left is the photo and on the right is the painting.  

I haven't done a ton of plein air paintings, but this was really fun.

I can see I need to improve my color, and I will make some corrections when I work on a bigger painting.

This one is 5" x 7" on a Raymar panel.



This is a pretty horrible pic of the painting and the scene,
but the sun was getting pretty high and washed out the painting.

Maybe that's why I had trouble getting the color right.



When I turned 90 degrees to my left I was looking at what was visible of the Prestonville Bridge. 

This quick study gave me lots of info to work with if I paint it larger.



This is  acrylic on a 5" x 7"  Raymar Panel


Here's the painting and the scene.  

If I get one in focus the other is out of focus.  

Love this weather.

thanks for visiting today and I hope you're having a great day.






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Sunday, September 9, 2012

Artist of the Month Display at Gallery 104, LaGrange, KY

If you didn't make it out, 
here's a little peek at what I displayed.

Thanks Gallery 104 for giving me the honor of artist of the month.
I sure appreciate a reason to throw a party.


Sold 2 paintings on the wall, the smallest framed painting on the wall and the one top left.  

Also sold one out of the basket on the left, plus lots of note cards.


These were the display shelves in the show room.  
I sold two of these also.


Summer Scent,
I gave this painting away and Heather Toombs was the winner.



I took some of my garden stones and sold 2 or 3 of them.


This was a display of my entries in the KY state fair and a basket of 8 x 10 and 5 x 7 unframed paintings.

I forgot to take pics of the food, which was delish, thanks to my daughter Kari, the chef.

I also gave the painting on the right away and one of our missionaries, Elder Lowe won this.
He was so tickled.

I think everyone had a good time.  

I did and I thank everyone for coming.
We had a great crowd of friends and family
and sometimes I can't who is what.

If you went, please post what you liked the best.

Thanks
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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Had such a wonderful night at Gallery 104 at my art reception.  Very many of my friends come and I hope they enjoyed themselves.  My daughter Kari helped with some pretty fabulous food.

I gave away two paintings and I can't really tell you who won because I haven't called one of the winners yet.

It was a wonderful evening and I thank you all so much.  



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Gallery Reception Tonight

I've been painting my fingers to the nubs,
getting ready for my art reception tonight.
I'm the featured artist for September at Gallery 104 
in LaGrange, KY.

I'm hosting a reception tonight from 6-8 p.m.
I'll be showing lots, 
and I mean lots of new work,
I'll be giving away at least one painting,
and if you know me
you know we'll have some pretty deeelishus
FOOD,
glorius food.

Here's a sneak preview of some of my newest work.

Thanks for stopping by today.






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About Me

My photo
Ghent, Kentucky, United States
I'm a nature artist and I love to paint old barns, rivers and lakes, trees and fence rows and flowers. I work almost daily. You can purchase paintings by contacting me at slgraves6@gmail.com and there is also a tab across the top of my blog for available paintings and one for small paintings with buy now buttons. You can also purchase through my Etsy shop using the name of Fine Nature Art. . Thank you so much for stopping by.