"Florida Palm" - Auction Starts Today On eBay at 6 PM PT

"Florida Palm"   - 8" x 6"  - Oil

"Strong sunlight and a shadowed background always catch my eye. I tell my students, 'To find a plein air subject, look for light against dark or dark against light.'."  --- SFG 

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: Nothing insures a successful painting than a subject that is in strong light against a dark background or vice versa. The subject is almost incidental. 

A Week in Coolidge AZ

My husband and I just spent a... I can't think of the right word... remarkable, tremendous, unbelievable, great, whatever ... week in Coolidge, AZ, with my painting buddy Chuck Prudhome.

He took us to overwhelmingly beautiful painting spots, historically interesting sites, and on purely fun explorations.

I took only 270 photos - I tried to conserve my camera battery to cover everything.

His "little sister" Roberta Stone, also from Redding, baked mouth-watering cran-raisin oatmeal cookies for us and joined us to paint when she could.

Another great painting buddy Geri Acosta joined us to paint and, on "girls day out" went with Roberta and me to Scottsdale for a gallery tour. THANKS TO ALL.

In Tubac

On location

Oh, that food!

THANKS TO ALL

"The Red Mailbox" - Auction Starts Today On eBay at 6 PM PT

"The Red Mailbox"   - 9" x 12"  - Oil

"Sometimes I wonder why I have not been stopped by a cop as I drive through neighborhoods very slowly, looking at each house carefully. Of course, I'm looking for something to paint, but, were I the house's occupant, I'd think it very suspicious behavior. This day, I ventured to an unfamiliar part of town and found, not a house, but this mailbox and the nearby shrubs in bloom."  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: Since my son is a cop, I have license to call them "cops". ;)

"Saucy Monday" - Auction Starts Today On eBay at 6 PM PT

"Saucy Monday"   - 24" x 24"  - Oil

"This studio painting was based on a series of photographs I took years ago in a workshop. We had colorful models and the line of waving laundry that caught the sunlight leaking through the tree canopies. I love the gesture of this spirited 'laundress'."  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: I am so glad that I took numerous photos of the models this day as well as paint. I have painted several paintings from them and never cease to be inspired by the photos. Ideally, I could have the models in front of me throughout the process, but larger works are usually best done in the studio from studies and what I call "photo sketches". The studies remind me of the color and the photos offer details that I've forgotten.

"Pacific Energy" - Auction Starts Today On eBay at 6 PM PT

"Pacific Energy"   - 12" x 12"  - Oil

"Here is another southern California scene painted on location - plein air - just north of Cambria, California. In this limited area, the cliffs are orangey-yellow and beautifully counter the blue-green of the blooming vegetation. It was a sun-drenched day that made painting a special pleasure."  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: Within a small area, as is this park at the north end of Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California, are many choices of subject matter. I could have chosen the dramatic dark-colored formations at the point, the people in the park, the birds swooping over guano-painted outcroppings, the wind-sculpted pines, and so on. Thoroughly investigate your site before setting up your easel. If I have time to paint only one subject, I choose the most dramatic. If I have all day, I choose most obvious first, the one that I will not have to re-design and seems to "paint itself". While I'm painting that one, my subconscious must be working because when it's time to move on, I have usually figured out how to handle the more challenging view.

"Surf and Sediment, Montana de Oro" - Auction Starts Today On eBay at 6 PM PT

"Surf and Sediment, Montana de Oro"   - 9" x 12"  - Oil

 "I return almost yearly to the San Luis Obispo, Moro Bay, Los Osos, Cambria, Cayucos area in southern California to paint with friends. The surroundings offer a wealth of subjects. This day, we went to Montana de Oro State Park where the sedimentary layers are intriguing and become an interesting counterpoint to the ever-surging waves."  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: Painting moving water is always a challenge. In scenes like these where the focal point is a stationary object, I determine what action of the water will reinforce the main idea and then watch for it to be repeated as the waves come in. It is impossible to "see" everything that happens at once since you can focus on only one area at a time. Therefore, you must be selective. It can work in your favor.

Artist: Susan F. Greaves, KA, API

Title: 

"Fascination" - Auction Starts Today On eBay at 6 PM PT

"Fascination"   - 5" x 5"  - Oil

"This one always makes me smile. Daisies never fail to cheer me. The uniform petals - and the not-so-uniform ones, give dimension and life to this 5" x 5" performance. Just add a frame of your choice that matches your decor.   Happy. Happy." -- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: These small, simple studies are a real kick to do and offer another style and point of view from the many other daily painters. Trying to duplicate someone else's idea or style often ends with less than satisfying results. You may learn something - like how accomplished the other artist is - but it's better to find your own way to say it.

"Springtime in the Vineyard" - Auction Starts Today On eBay at 6 PM PT

"Springtime in the Vineyard"   - 11" x 14"  - Oil

"The area around Paso Robles, California, has become a prime area of vineyards and wine production. Many older farms and ranches have been converted. This one was established in the early 1900s as a cattle ranch, but gracefully accepts its new role. The older barns and pens exist alongside more recent additions for the vineyard. I spent a day there with Alla Prima International painting its hills and trellises.)"  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: This painting went through several re-works. I had a good start on the buildings, but the color on the hills didn't seem to work. I eventually had to go to a greener, more spring-like color to express the image I had observed.

"Shasta Lennies" - Auction Starts Today On eBay at 6 PM PT

"Shasta Lennies"  - Oil - 24" x30"

"Snow-capped Mt. Shasta can be seen for over a 100 miles in northern California and, in my mind, is the queen of the Sierras. This summer evening image shows the shadowed forest at her feet while the red-hued base and sunlit snow glow behind. Since my husband is a pilot, I couldn't help notice the lens-shaped clouds trailing to the northwest as the mountain wave condensed the moisture on the far side.(It can be quite thrilling to unexpectedly encounter that wave in flight.)"  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: This painting is a studio painting based on photos and my firsthand observations. Don't be afraid to experiment with lighting. Lighting, more than almost any other element in a landscape describes the feeling of the artist when he saw the subject. "Pushing it" a bit will intensify the effect. 

"Santa Fe Garden" - Auction Starts Today On eBay at 6 PM PT

"Santa Fe Garden"   - 8" x 6"  - Oil

"Adobe walls are everywhere in Santa Fe and they glow with color whether they are in sun or in shadow. While visiting friends there, I set up my easel on the patio and painted this portion of their garden framed by the patio wall. The contrast of light and shadow enhanced the bits of color sprinkled through the beds."  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: It's difficult to paint when you are traveling. Usually, I don't want to miss any of the fun the others are having, or I'm tempted to read or nap, or I don't want to interupt our sightseeing, but I'm never sorry that I made the effort. Not only do I have a painting to show for it and skills are reinforced, but I have a bit of a diary of the trip. I may forget other things we have seen, but I never forget a painting location.

"Silo Outside St. Paul, Oregon" - New eBay Auction

"Silo Outside St. Paul, Oregon"   - 8" x 10"  - Oil

"The historic town of St. Paul, Oregon sits on French Prarie south of Portland. The economy is definitely agricultural, as this scene shows. The quick sketch was done from our son's house and shows a nearby diary. It was a cool day with soft lighting as evidenced by the light, nearly colorless sky."  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: Sometimes quick sketches have more life and "air" than a longer, labored piece. Learn to stop when you have the essence of the subject.

Announcement: New Website Direct to eBay Auctions

For those of you unfamiliar with eBay and for those of you who would just like to see my listings more quickly and easily, I have a new website URL that goes directly to my eBay listings. It is GreavesArteBay.com. I hope you will visit frequently!

"Morning Light Near Tucson" - Oil - 9" x 12" $85

7-Day eBay Auction - Starts Today at 6 PM PDT

"Morning Light Near Tucson" - Oil - 9" x 12"

"I am lucky to have artist friends across the US and visiting and painting plein air with them is not only fun, but inspiring. This day, I went out with friend Geri Acosta and we painted the mountains near her Tucson home. I enjoyed designing the diagonals to represent the intricate planes before us."  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: Be conscious of where you are leading the eye. Many of my landscapes are orchestrated diagonals for this purpose. Here, the diagonal at the base of the near hill in shadow on the right is countered by the long diagonal that leads the eye across and up to the right. The triangular outcropping stops the eye and leads back down to a similar triangle to the left. And so on....

This Week's Dollar Auction

Have some fun! This 8" x 8" painting has a starting bid of $1. 

"Southwest Color" ---- 8" x 8"
Happy Bidding!
VIEW EBAY AUCTIONS

Do you know that you can "share" auctions from the item page? Look for the Facebook, etc., icon near the top right of the item page.

UPCOMING AUCTIONS

"Silo Outside St. Paul, OR"

7-Day eBay Auction Starts Wednesday, April 3, at 6 PM

"Silo Outside St. Paul, OR" - Oil - 8" x 10"

"The historic town of St. Paul, Oregon sits on French Prarie south of Portland. The economy is definitely agricultural, as this scene shows. The quick sketch was done from our son's house and shows a nearby diary. It was a cool day with soft lighting as evidenced by the light, nearly colorless sky."  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: I often use a "story line" like the line of buildings and trees in this work. Variety and balance are essential and I arrange the other elements in the painting to lead the eye back to this crucial grouping that defines the work.

"Lilacs Plein Air" - Oil - 14" x 18" Starting Bid $175

Available On eBay Now

"Lilacs Plein Air" - Oil - 14" x 18" Starting Bid $175

"Painting lilacs every year is a special pleasure. I usually place the arrangement in my studio and paint in a haze, drunk with the intoxicating aroma. For this painting, however, I set the blooms outside and enjoyed the perfect spring weather. I was pleased to have captured my bouyant spirit."  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: Have you ever noticed that your paintings often reflect your comfort as you are painting? There is nothing wrong with looking for a shady or, if it's cold, a sunny spot to set up your easel. On this day, I timed my painting session for early afternoon when the shadow begins to creep across our deck. I put my easel in the shade and the still life was in sun. That's why I titled the other painting of this setup "A Perfect Day."

"Cool Day Near Cambria" - Oil - 30" x 24" $395 Starting Bid

"Cool Day Near Cambria" - Oil - 30" x 24"


"This studio painting is based on a beautiful scene near Cambria, California. The drama of the eucalyptus drew me in as we approached so I placed the horizon line low to emphasize their majesty. Please let me know if you like seeing the photos of the painting-in-progress."  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: Where you place your horizon line helps to communicate the idea you are conveying. A low horizon line will emphasize height and the sky. A high one will make the foreground or the human point -of-view - think "Christina's World by Wyeth) more important.

PASSING THE SAVINGS ON TO YOU - eBay reduced listing cost for sellers for a few days, so I have listed more than usual. Some are LARGE PAINTINGS AT SPECIALLY REDUCED STARTING BIDS. All large works are $199. 

100% DONATIONS TO CHARITY 

THIS EBAY AUCTIONS ENDS Thursday, Mar 21, 2013 10:49:57 PDT

"I love doing these simple florals. With a dark background and intense color they have a powerful impact. It feels so good to load the brush and see the effect of new color on top of w...See More

SUSAN GREAVES EXPRESSIONIST LISTED ARTIST SIGNED FLOWERS OIL PAINTING ON CANVAS

www.ebay.com

SUSAN GREAVES EXPRESSIONIST LISTED ARTIST SIGNED FLOWERS OIL PAINTING ON CANVAS in Art , Art from Dea

THIS WEEK'S SURPRISE - $1 STARTING BIDS

Select paintings on eBay will have a starting bid of only $1. These are 7-day auctions and are for THIS WEEK ONLY. There are several paintings being listed each day. Have fun bidding!

Here are just a few of the works included:

"Sacramento River Shine" 24" x 30" Oil on Canvas Panel

"Sacramento River Shine" - Oil - 24" x 30"

You may have seen this painting before. Now it is on auction on eBay as a benefit auction for the local mission in my area. Last December, they experienced a fire that damaged a large part of one facility, damage to their van/bus, and more misfortune. I have supported the work of the mission for many years. They have an exceptional record of rehabilitation and education, as well as providing meals and other services for the homeless throughout the year. Best of all, Good News Rescue Mission, Redding, CA, does not take government funding, so they are free to do what works!

The auction runs from today at 6 PM PT and ends February 17 at 6 PM PT. Please do your part!

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OR enter "Susan Greaves" in the eBay search box.

"Early Spring" - Oil on Raymar Canvas Panel - 20" x 24"

"Early Spring" - Oil - 20" x 24"

"This scene had everything California has to offer. The majestic eucalyptus trees, brilliant sunshine, and grassy springtime hills. Irresistable." --- SFG

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"Awash in Tulips" - Oil on Raymar Canvas Panel - 6" x 6"

"Awash in Tulips" - Oil - 6" x 6"

"While visiting Amsterdam, The Netherlands, we visited the famed Keukenhof Gardens. Thousands of tulips were at their peak and I was left breathless. You must put this site on your bucket list!" --- SFG

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"Before Twilight" - Oil - 24" x 24"

"Clouds and colors are wonderful to paint. The subject becomes color and shape." --- SFG

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"Bowing to Nature"

"Near the Shed" - Oil - 11" x 14"

"I toured the south island of New Zealand a few years ago and loved the braided rivers there. My group generously stopped long enough for me to put this one on canvas." --- SFG

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"Another Morro"

"Another Morro" - Oil - 12" x 16"

"The San Luis Obispo area is famous for its string of morros, distinctive mountains, that culminate at Morro Bay. These make wonderful subjects and enjoy interesting changes in lighting and shape, depending on the time of day and angle of observation." --- SFG

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"Feel the Romance" - Oil - 12" x 12"

"Pastel roses can express both tenderness and vitality. The softened edges contrast with the deeper tones in the depths of the blossoms. Such contrasts make a painting easy and pure joy." --- SFG

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"Hot Evening"

"Hot Evening" - Oil on Raymar Canvas Panel - 12" x 16" - $150

"As a fellow artist and I were returning to Cayucos from a day of painting, we took a different route and found this scene as the sun drifted down. With the promise of dazzling red-orange light, we began our paintings and added the effect at its height." --- SFG

NOTE TO ARTISTS:
For short-lived lighting effects, you must anticipate the change and have the painting developed enough to concentrate on the change when it comes. This is difficult because you often don't know whether it will get better or will fade, but with practice, it becomes a rewarding effort.

"Afternoon on the Coast" -- 12" x 16" Oil on Canvas -- $110

"Afternoon on the Coast" - Oil - 12" x 16"

"The intense light and color of the California coast is always attractive to artists. This location near Morro Bay had an array of docks and boats on the narrow beach. I got there in time to paint the slightly reddened light of afternoon." --- SFG

NOTE TO ARTISTS:
Square canvases offer new opportunities for unique compositions and the unexpected format attracts the attention of gallery-goers.

"Alight"

"Alight"  Oil on Raymar Board   5" x 5"    SOLD

"Just a few blooms on a table can inspire me as much as a full bouquet. Sunflowers and daisies are some of my favorites." --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS:
Small, simple works are great fun and are a fine way to start a painting session. Doing so encourages me to focus on the big shapes, planes, and values. Composition is just as important in these pieces as in larger works

"The Green Scarf" 14" x 11" Portrait Oil on Canvas Panel

eBay Auction NOW  - Starting bid $95 -- Was $400

"The Green Scarf" -- Oil on Canvas Panel  -- 14" x 11"

"Following in the style of Carolyn Anderson, a fine teacher and finer artist, I was enamored with this model's red hair against the green scarf."  --- SFG

VIEW AUCTION NOW

FOR ARTISTS:
Choose your instructors carefully. If you take from many teachers that have too diverse points of view, you will inevitably confuse yourself. There are many teachers who paint similarly and base their instruction on foundational principles. Their work will be similar in quality, if not in style.

Once you have determined that  an artist/teacher has similar views to those presented in your previous studies and are in class, follow his techniques and ideas. That's what you are paying for. Whether you later discard those you cannot use at this point in your development, you have benefited from the experiment. The purpose of a class is not to produce finished paintings!