Jammy Art

 

Karter and his horse

We were in our jammies in my studio painting a week or two ago when Karter and Lakyn stayed with us.

I drew the horse on Karter's paper and a butterfly on Lakyn's paper.

They did most of the painting.  I helped a little on each one, but very little.

Karter is 5 and loves horses.

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Lakyn is 3 and she painted this butter fly herself.

I helped a little bit on the body, but she the wings all by herself

Lets hear a little applause for their super duper great wonderful paintings.

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  Moonlight Sonata

 

My life's been a little crazy lately

and I haven't been able to paint much recently.

But today,

today was a different story

and I went to my studio and had an idea I wanted to pursue.

We've had a lot of snow lately.

I know, snow in March in Kentucky?

But, I digress.

We've had a lot of snow lately

and I wanted to try a moonlit snow scene.

So here it is.

This was so much fun to paint that moon.

We have scenes like this up here in the middle of no where

where you can see the haze around the moon and it lights up everything.

Anyway, even though we are still getting a lot of snow

this one's in the books.

Thanks for stopping in and please feel free to send it on to anyone

 you think would enjoy it.

6" x 6" acrylic on a canvas panel

$50 + $6 shipping

   

Iron Worker

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This was a fun painting to do.

I used a photo I took while Jim and I were on vacation in Charlestown, SC.

There were so many great iron gates in the city and I have many more examples to use.

Everything in Charlestown was so manicured and well taken care of.

The plantings behind this gate were beautiful and the wall of ivy was so cool looking.

You had to wonder how long that ivy had been growing on the wall and the post on the left.

I know there are many more paintings coming from that trip.

I hope you enjoy this one.  

8" x 10" acrylic on panel

$100 + $6 shipping  

Moonlight Sonata

 

Moonlight Sonata

I don't know what happened to this photo, but it didn't post with the first post.

So here it is.

I hadn't painted in a while, (life happened) 

so I was in my studio watching a painting video trying to get my mojo back,

when I got this idea.

I love nighttime landscapes, but I haven't painted very many.

This was a lot of fun, because I love the moon.

Trying to get that haze was interesting.

Gotta get most of the paint off your brush and keep building it up a little at a time.

Can't rush it.

Circle movements and just a little at a time.

Don't over work it.

      

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Do Over

 Do Over

 

I'm a sports nut as anyone who knows me knows,

and this is definitely a do over.

The more I looked at the original, above, the less I like it.

The shapes of the lily pads were not consistent.  I didn't like the flowers and I didn't like the colors.

So I just started over on the same canvas.  

New water, new lily pads and new flowers.  

New colors.

New attitude.

 

 

So, here's the do over.

I like the water much better

I like the lily pads better

and I like the flowers better.

I even like th color better.

The lily pads in the first one did not have good perspective. 

Some looked like elipses and some looked like circles.  

Either or Sharon but not both.

I like the green in the lily pads better.

Not signed yet, but it will be because

sticka fork in it,

it's done.

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Life is Art

 

Life is Art

My son Kirk and his wife Amanda had their third child last week.

Nothing is quite so sweet as a new baby.

Helps keep a person grounded.

To remember how precious and beautiful life is.

 With all the problems everyone has,

A new baby lets everyone remember that life if wonderful and is meant to be lived.

Even though I love painting,

I love them all more.

Each of my 9 grandchildren is beautiful and special.

 

 

Meet my new grandson, Ren.

He is beautiful.

 

 Lakyn is the big sister.

She's not happy with her new brother

Karter, Lakyn and Ren.

This should be interesting.

 

He is art!

 

Life is art!

This little guy is such a cutie!

I love painting and learning 

but how can anything top this little guy.

 

French Art Vendors

 

We've all seen photos of French art vendors on streets

with their paintings up against stone or iron fences or in painting racks on a sidewalk.

We don't have anything like that here in rural Kentucky,

but you can get a deal on original art just the same.

I just listed the five paintings above on eBay and they have an incredible starting price.

Hopefully you'll check them out, but if you wouldn't mind,

please share this with anyone you think might be interested.

Click here to view on eBay the painting in the bottom right corner.

You can get to the others from there by clicking on "see other items".

Thanks for reading about, checking out and spreading my art.

Have a great day.

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Spring, PLEASE Come

 

Spring Flower Catalog

It's funny, you can almost feel the warm weather when

the spring seed and bulb catalogs start showing up.

Here is my version of a spring catalog.

These paintings are all available on my website,

finenatureartbyslgraves.com

and you can have spring in your home every day.

Click here to go to view these paintings and more  

Have a great day and keep thinking Spring thoughts.   

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Spring is on the Way

 

Spring is on the way!

Finally!

I'm sick of winter,

and I can't wait to see my own grape hyacinths, crocuses and daffodils blooming.

Grape Hyacinths is 7" x 5" unframed water mixable oil on a panel.

Click here to purchase through my website.

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Water Lilies

Water Lilies

Wouldn't you just love to float along in life looking beautiful no matter what went on around you?

Sounds like a pretty good gig to me,

but, life as we know it is not like being a water lily.

There is work, work and more work,

sweat, pain, sickness, and stress.

But if those water lilies are experiencing any of those things,

you sure can't tell it.

Maybe that's the secret.

We all have things to go through and maybe we should try to make it look like there is no effort involved.

What do you think?

How do you cope with the stresses life has to offer?

You know what I do.

Paint.  

6" x 6" acrylic on canvas panel, unframed

$50 + $6 shipping

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What is Holding me Back?

What is Holding me Back?

Time for a little introspection here.

I just applied to win a scholarship for an online program

and one of the questions was

"What's holding you back from your dreams, goals, and best self?"

As I thought about that, I really had to do some soul searching.

I'm sort of a go-getter, even if a senior citizen go-getter. 

When I first began to paint I put it all out there, even when I didn't know where "out there" was.

I wish I'd started 40 years ago, but I'm making up for lost time.

But I am where I am in life, grandkids, illness and all, 

so I have to look forward and not backwards as I push forward. 

But what's holding me back? I ask myself again.

Fear!

Fear is the one thing that holds me back.

Afraid I'm not as good as everybody else.

Afraid I really can't do this.

Get thee behind me fear.

But I do go on, even if fearful of the outcome.

After all, it is just paint, not brain surgery.

I can always start over tomorrow.  And I do!

I'm also not the traditional artist, because I love the marketing end of being an artist.

I love learning about social media and how to use it, 

how to create and use a blog,

how to create and promote a website,

how to approach a gallery,

how to promote a show.

It's all fun to me!

I was in retail for a long time so I guess that's where that love comes from.

I've always been creative and have had several creative endeavors.

But NOTHING has eaten me up like painting.

I think about it all the time.

I work at it almost every day.

I enjoy even the bad days.

But sometimes I doubt myself and any ability I may or may not have.

I guess most artists struggle with the lizard.

But I keep making plans, practicing, and showing up everyday

in some form or fashion.

I am not a chicken!

But I can paint one.

"Watching You Watching Me"

is an acrylic on a 12" x 12" panel

$100 + $10 shipping

Click here to purchase

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Tropical Welcome

 

Color

I love the color in the tropics,

especially the color of the houses and businesses.

This entry door is no different.

I love the peachy pink of the outside and makes me want to know what's inside.

I took a photo I used as the reference for this painting while in Florida recently.

It actually was at a botanical garden, but I loved it anyway.

Hopefully you'll enjoy it also.

7" x 5" acrylic on a panel unframed

$50 + $6 shipping    

click here to purchase this painting   

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My home decor items listed on ebay

I have a series of coordinated home decor items listed on ebay at some pretty incredible prices.  

Click here to see the top left listing and you can ask to see the rest of my items from there.

I love painting, period.

and I love painting things that can be useful.

Check out these items I have listed on ebay if you're thinking about sprucing up your home this spring

or if you just want a new look.

Thanks for looking and sharing.

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