I received the Daniel Keys DVD yesterday

Nice, just in time for xmas--Daniel's 2-hour video of the painting and taping day at Regis College last summer. It comes in a nice package, a booklet more or less, that shows the colors he uses and the brushes (Rosemary & Co.). 

Fallen Fairy at Glue Hospital

My model fairy fell off my easel today and is in the glue hospital.  The frog's arm and a couple of the frog's fingers broke off and they are very tiny so I haven't found them yet.  The fairy's wings broke off, one in two places, and they are being stubborn about staying on after I glued them.
I've found a couple of references that I plan to try to use for the background--water lilies.
This accident happened because I'm not in my usual studio where I have appropriate stands, but in my gallery space where I work with students.  I didn't take the time to set myself up properly and even taped the fairy to the easel, I don't know how the tape broke.
We are having a snow storm as I write this.  It's accumulating fast.  I shoveled once, came in to glue, and a couple of inches fell in about 1/2 hour.  A couple of days ago we had about a foot of snow.
If the fairy doesn't need a lot of physical therapy, I'll put her to work tomorrow.

Thursday--fairy progression

Latest version

third day

second day

first day

So this is one of the paintings I'm working on for a show about flowers scheduled for the spring. I bought this little statue in Florida years ago and love it from every angle.  I might do more views of it.  I never paid much attention to frogs before now and I'm having some trouble painting this little guy.

Video studies today

I did a little research today (several hours actually) on various portrait artists' work, looking at different palettes, Zorn, Henshey, Robert Liberace.  I'm impressed by the Liberace demo here Liberace demo. This video is the third part which is near the finish line of the work.  I like the way he talks about the colors he's using as he goes along.
This is not on the video but an example of his work.

So this is the study for that painting I told you about of my husband.  (kidding)

Helpful information

Everyone has their favorite stuff for cleaning brushes, clothes, etc.  Dreama has recommended this product for getting paint out of clothes.  Get the paint out, and all kinds of other dirt or stains. with this dandy product.   I usually don't have problems getting paint out of my clothes as long as I tend to it right away.  My go-to product is my dish soap.

She also posted some tips for painters who travel by plane:   http://dreamatolleperry.com/traveling-with-paints-and-other-things-your-mother-told-you-not-to-do/ I have flown with my paints and put them in my checked luggage.  I don't wrap them in bubble wrap, although it's probably a good idea.  I don't want to change my luck, but I haven't had any problems with the inspectors.

Today I had my art student and she was celebrating her one-year anniversary by completing a painting from a photo.  She did a painting of this photo before she started her lessons, and next week, I'll post her before and after photos.  I am proud of her accomplishments, she is a good student who listens and is cooperative, and she is diligent.

Today I also painted and tried the Zorn palette.  Wow, hard to get colors from only black, white, red and ocher.  I used a student grade black, so I'm going now to look through my stuff and try to find a professional quality Ivory Black as it might make the difference in trying to get blues and greens.

Visit to PEM

VIDEO-Installing "Nana" for Impressionists on the Water show.  I can't believe it, this video (this gig is gorgeous) has only been viewed 278 times as of today with my capture. 
This adventure to the art museum in Salem, MA last Thursday was exciting because I saw some actual boats that are not, for whatever reason, made much of in their advertising; along with a life-sized model of a painting boat--great fun--I'd love to do that.  See more at my adventures blog.

David Curtis and Stage Fort Park

This photo does represent the design of the painting that I am working on.  I finished the plein air "sketch" and David suggested that I now do a studio painting from my sketch.  It's an idea I want to pursue.  I was happy to be able to be there on a day that very accurately represented the season, lighting, colors, etc. of when I was there years ago.

oil sketch on site of Stage Fort Park in November

More at Stage Fort Park

OK, so these photos were taken this year and the bottom photo represents the design of  a painting that I had done years ago that I was not satisfied with.  The photo above looks to me to be a better composition.  I'll work on both of them and see what I can do to improve the bottom one and maybe the top one will be an improvement.  I'll keep you posted. 

Brussle Sprouts

I've never seen Brussel Sprouts on the stock.  This is exciting.  Daniel Keys--eat your heart out.  I can't assemble a full array of vegetables and fruits to do a big painting right now with Holidays coming along but maybe in the near future. 
I have taken the pictures and cut them off the stock (taking more pictures as I went)  and now I have to eat them.

Digital Art

I haven't had the time or inclination to experiment with digital art as of yet, but I enjoyed reading   Michael Chesley Johnson's Blog today about it.  The price of the
Autodesk's Sketchbook Pro for Android app is $4.99 so it's certainly an affordable experiment and something you can do in bed before you go to sleep. 

Genn's daughter Sara

I'm a big fan of Robert Genn's Twice Weekly Newsletters and was deeply saddened by his announcement that he doesn't have long to live; and, subsequently, his daughter, Sara, has taken up his mantle to continue some of his work.  Happily, it looks like she is up to the task when it comes to his newsletter: 
Today's Genn Newsletter from Sara