DOLLAR AUCTION WEEK: "Variation on a Theme #6"

DOLLAR AUCTION WEEK -- 1 NEW WORK, 2 AUCTIONS DAILY

Comment: "When my winter-weary rose bushes break into their springtime flourish, I often paint several paintings of the arrangement, changing the angle and composition each time. As I entered the photo of this work, I noticed that I had photos of the set up of vases and a shot of my palette. The series is included in my book Wet Paint, the Painting Classroom and was featured on my blog, as well."  --- SFG Title: "Variation on a Theme #6"                   Size: 11" x 14"

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DOLLAR AUCTION WEEK: "Shasta Lennies"

DOLLAR AUCTION WEEK -- 1 NEW WORK, 2 AUCTIONS DAILY

Comment: "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 Title: "Shasta Lennies"                   Size: 24" x 30"

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DOLLAR AUCTION WEEK: "Thin Ice"

DOLLAR AUCTION WEEK -- 1 NEW WORK, 2 AUCTIONS DAILY

"This icy day called for cool tones that contrasted with the lemon sky. The sky, in turn, reflected off the snow in the foreground. The scene is in the Sierras in northeastern California."  --- SFG

Title: "Thin Ice"                  

Size: 24" x 30" 

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DOLLAR AUCTION WEEK: Ann's Table

DOLLAR AUCTION WEEK -- 1 NEW WORK, 2 AUCTIONS DAILY

"I loved the lively colors of this patio setting at the home of fellow artist Ann Laddon. The dappled light and reflections from the wine glass brought the scene to life. (The food was outstanding, too.) The image was used for the local event's promotions. (Wish I could remember which one.)"  --- SFG

Title: "Ann's Table"                  

Size: 16" x 20" 

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DOLLAR AUCTION WEEK: "Red and Blue"

DOLLAR AUCTION WEEK -- 1 NEW WORK, 2 AUCTIONS DAILY

"Red and Blue" 

Comment: "Painting still life is as exciting to me as the most challenging landscape or figure. I love to work the paint and play with color. Here, I kept the color range simple, depending on the value changes to describe the objects." --- SFG

                 

Size: 14" x 18" 

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"Cassis Harbor"

DOLLAR AUCTION WEEK -- 1 NEW WORK, 2 AUCTIONS DAILY

"Cassis Harbor" - Oil - 18" x 24"

"There is nothing I love doing more than painting and traveling! One of my trips to France included a stop in Cassis, right on the Mediterranean. The clear light and pastel colors make every scene sparkle. These buildings, right on the waterfront, hosted many boats, work boats and pleasure boats, alike." --- SFG

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"Jumble of Roses"

"Jumble of Roses" - Oil - 18" x 24"

"I don't mind if people select a painting 'to match the sofa'. Since I was an interior designer originally, I am sensitive to the environment where a work is hung and need harmony within my own space. This one could be used in a dining room, living, family, or great room, or a bedroom. The correct frame can stretch its use from informal to classic." --- SFG

                 

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"Sunset at Moonstone Beach"

"Sunset at Moonstone Beach" - Oil - 11" x 14"

"Dramatic sunsets are treasures and I was entranced by this one. Artists watch for cloud formations well before sunset to know whether it is worth setting up the easel and painting with both hands to get it before it disappears ... or do what I did for this one, take a picture. ;)" --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: Use photos, but paint the real thing often enough to educate your eye to the subject and the limitations of photographs.

"Ghost Ranch Icon"

"Ghost Ranch Icon" - Oil - 11" x 14"

"I felt the weight of responsibility to produce a good painting when I stood where Georgia O'Keeffe painted one of her more famous works. Ghost Ranch is a wondrous setting and these spires are typical of the region's geology. Sunshine and deep blue skies enforced the vivid colors." --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: This piece evolved into a more experimental application of paint as I worked. If you see something good happening in a work, go with it!

"Monday's Clouds"

"Monday's Clouds" - Oil - 14" x 11"

"The drama and contrast of brilliantly lit clouds is a wonderful subject. I took advantage of the the trees' dark sillouettes to set them off.." --- SFG

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"Su Casa"

"Su Casa" - Oil - 9" x 12"

"Brilliant southern California sun washes over every tile roof and whitewashed fence to the delight of a painter's eye. This one, near Santa Ynez had lovely tones in the shadows and was balanced by the dense trees around it." --- SFG

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"Convict Lake in Autumn"

"Convict Lake in Autumn" - Oil - 6" x 6"

"Here is another small work depicting the area around Convict Lake near Mammouth, California. Its contrasting hues in autumn are wonderful for quick sketches." --- SFG

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"Change"

"Change" - Oil - 6" x 6"

"Vivid yellows and oranges of the cottonwood trees of autumn are wonderful contrasts to the distant mountains near Bishop, California. That year, snow was early and added its accent." --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: Quick, small works should be approached as simple shapes used to create the composition. John Clymer, whose enormous murals are breathtakingly displayed at the Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, said that he was somewhat surprised that the larger the painting, the more detail he had to put in. I have found that the opposite is true for small works. Though some artists are willing to pass out magnifying glasses so viewers can see the detail in their small works, I am not so inclined.

"Double Down"

"Double Down" - Oil on Canvas Panel - 12" x 12"

 "Lilies are always classic."  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: I love color, but light against dark or dark against light is essential. This simple floral illustrates the principle beautifully.

Signed It!

"I don't have a title for this piece yet, but it was such a delight to paint. In Igo, a tiny hamlet near our home, my husband and I found this lilac bush on a Sunday drive. It was in unusual profusion this year. Two days later, I returned and painted it with enthusiastic brush strokes." --- SFG

NOTE TO ARTISTS: Whether I paint on location or in the studio, I usually leave the painting sitting in view for a while. Though this one was almost perfect, I saw a few minor adjustments to make. The only time I'd sign it right away would be if a buyer was writing the check. ;)

"Bygone"

"Bygone" - Oil - 12" x 16"

"Almost yearly, I paint with other members of Alla Prima International, a group of professional artists and friends who have known each other since the early 80's. A couple of years ago, we met in Cambria, California, for two weeks and painted the coast. One of our members is from Paso Robles and guided us to vineyards and wineries in the area. This one had an old truck, reduced to a skeleton and listing, in its workyard that gave character to the buildings and old silo." --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: White buildings aren't just white. You can see in this painting the warmth of the sun and the reflected light on the shadow side. Note that the shadow under the eve and the top of the shadowed wall is warmer because of the reflected light bouncing off the ground. Fun to paint!

"Three Whites and a Red" - DOLLAR FEATURED AUCTION - Starts 6 PM PDT

"Three Whites and a Red"    6" x 8"     Oil

"I wonder how many times I have painted that apple. I have a variety of the most realistic artificial fruit I can find in my collection of still life objects. I can throw together a large still life for a class or for my own use in minutes. Looking back at my paintings over 35 years, I see my old, faithful 'friends'."  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: Small, daily paintings are now the rage. Once the standard rite of passage of the beginning artist, these are still a wonderful exercise. Just watch the growth of the daily painters who show their work online and you will confirm their value.

"Saturday in the Studio"- Auction Starts Today On eBay at 6 PM PT

"Saturday in the Studio"   - 24" x 24"  - Oil

"My teacher, Sergei Bongart, was one of the best floral painters ever. I love to set up large arrangements, usually below eye level as he did, so the blossoms are more visible and splash the color around. These roses are from our garden and the teacup was my mother's china. Funny how I hardly noticed it as a kid and now that she's gone, I can see its grace."  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: If you are not familiar with Sergei and his work, please look him up. He was an extraordinary teacher and produced powerful work. There are at least two books available and are well worth the price.

"Forest Floor" - Auction Starts Today On eBay at 6 PM PT

"Forest Floor"   - 12" x 16"  - Oil

"For many years this painting has been one of my favorites and it was in my personal collection. It was painted in the Trinity National Wilderness Area here in northern California. Friends had invited me to their cabin which is on the last privately-owned section within a wilderness area in the country. I enjoyed the shade and the magnificent trees while the others climbed to 'Horse Heaven'."  --- SFG

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NOTE TO ARTISTS: The answer to most compositional problems is 2/3 to 1/3. Here, I extended the group of tall trees 2/3 of the way across the canvas and left the rest more open. That allows the eye to move through the painting with comfort. The ratio, of course, is based on the Golden Mean. If you are not familiar with it, it will be worth your effort to read about it. Those ancients knew what they were talking about and the truth is still true today.

"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.