Two English Plums by Felicity House – Pastel

Felicity House. A wonderful artist from Dorset (UK) – Fabulous paintings! So different. Felicity uses pastel in most of her paintings and she has a way of giving these paintings so much life! Each one is fresh and different. She has amazing drawing skills, which is so necessary to a good painting. There is an innate classiness to her paintings. They are airy and not heavy.  They make you smile.

View more of Felicity’s work via these links:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram

Read a bit about Felicity, from the Bio on her website:

As a young child, paper was in short supply and there was never sufficient for my prolific graphite output. I clearly recall making pencil drawings on the insides of unfolded food cartons, the plain end papers of books and surreptitiously behind curtains on the wonderful surface of painted wall.

I was fortunate to benefit from a post-war education that gave time and status to Art and this encouraged and developed my visual skills.

Following a career school teaching I worked as an illustrator and as a tutor of life drawing and short art courses. Such flexibility gave me the opportunity to travel and fill numerous sketchbooks.

I discovered the versatility and immediacy of pastels and was elected a Member of the Pastel Society in 2003. As Archivist for the Society I regularly research the archives for information in response to requests from the public.

Active member and Former Chairman Bournemouth Arts Club, a meeting point for Artists in the region which regularly holds selected Exhibitions. Continue reading HERE…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

All images via Felicityhouse.eu, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Adopt 171 by Katya Minkina  8×5″ Watercolor (Sold)

Katya Minkina. A wonderful artist with beautiful paintings. Be sure to check out her paintings of Maui as well as her figure drawings! I first ran across one of Katya’s pet paintings and let me tell you, this girl has a way of capturing the soul of the animal. It’s wonderful, be sure to check out the many other paintings!

What a sweet painting – Katya captures the eyes so well. You can feel this dogs gentle spirit. So sweet…

Adopt 216 by Katya Minkina 8×6″ Watercolor

So many wonderful paintings of Katya’s to choose from – the animals grabbed me – but be sure to check out her website! I love a dog with a scruffy look (like my dog). So much character. Beautiful!

See more of Katya’s work from these links:

Website  |  Facebook | Daily Paintworks

Read a bit about Katya, from her website:

 I fell in love with Hana, Maui at first sight and instantly knew it would nurture my artistic soul for many years to come. A slow-paced life at the backdrop of the spectacular ocean, rainforest and vast green pastures relaxes the soul and opens it up for deep breaths of inspiration.
It was not until 2015 that I really discovered this magical piece of paradise. After the first visit to Hana, the rest of the year was spent in shuttling between Seattle and Hana for gasps of fresh air and a much-needed connection with the magic ‘āina (land). I am blessed to call heavenly Hana my home now – a place of many living paintings that I can’t wait to manifest on my canvas.

My life before Hana embraced several other special places with which I will always keep a strong bond: Moscow where I was born and raised, Hyderabad (India) where I spent the early years of my adulthood, Seattle, a point of big transitions, and Hana, a place I chose with my heart.

I was born in Moscow, Russia in 1981. Growing up among my mom’s paintings, art books and inexhaustible stack of typewriter paper, I thought drawing was the most natural way of being. At the age of 7, I got enrolled into an evening art school for children where, after a regular day in my other school, I was initiated in the fundamentals of drawing, painting and composition. For the next 9 years my life revolved around methodical still life painting in class, field trips to art museums and the zoo, art history lectures and painting homework that filled my weekends and summer holidays. 
In later years after completing my studies in linguistic and foreign languages, I settled in Hyderabad, India, where for five years I taught French in an international school. Painting and drawing took a back-seat, but the longing never quite went away. In 2008, life took me to Seattle, WA and the circumstances arranged themselves perfectly for me to return to drawing and painting. I discovered life drawing at Gage Academy of Art, and the open studio provided me with a much-needed practice to reanimate and hone my drawing skills. In the course of the next few years, I stuck to the disciplined schedule of a studio monitor to be able to attend as many figure drawing sessions as I could. Slowly, drawing yielded a transition to painting.

I remain fascinated with my primary source of inspiration, which is figurative art. On occasion, I turn to still life painting for its immediate availability, challenges of composition and practice of color palette. The real challenge of the recent years has been plein air painting. Meeting and observing the work of contemporary masters of this genre at Maui Plein Air Invitational events has instilled in me a true admiration of their craft and dedication.
Painting on location in Hana is always an adventure. Juggling the ever-changing natural elements, keeping up with the changing light, trying to block out the distractions has all been a steep learning curve.  Continue reading HERE…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

All images via katyaminkina.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Red Geraniums, Sunny Window by Janette Jones  20×20″  Oil

Janette Jones. I ran across her work on Instagram. What a treat! I love the loose brush strokes. It’s fabulous that these pots have no perfect edges, it’s so much more interesting to me. She strategically places bits of light where it matters most, maximizing the WOW – be sure check out her work!

Really, is there anything happier than a beautiful geranium? I have always adored them!

See more of Janette’s work via these links:

Website  |  Instagram  |  Facebook

Read a bit about Janette, from her website:

The comments heard most often about her paintings are “they make me feel joyful”, “lift my spirits”, and “they are filled with a sense of light and lightness”. As an artist who is constantly looking for the beauty of light in every subject, this is music to her ears. As a person who is wildly optimistic about life and positive about the future, she is thrilled her paintings reflect this “joie de vivre” attitude and bring joy to her collector. Janette uses a strong sense of design, personal color mixes and an intimate point of view to create her distinct style.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

All images via JanetteJones.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Pawley’s Creek Sunset by Greg Barnes  10×10″  Soft Pastel

What a fabulous painting – and such a cool photo! I think it’s great when you can see where an artist paints – I love how artists all interpret scenes differently, its so interesting!

Greg has a wonderful style that has some abstractness to it which makes each painting so interesting! That sky! The wonderful colors reflected into the water and then to top it off that wonderful marsh grass. This painting will not be around long!

Check out links to Greg’s work on the following links:

WEBSITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM

Read a bit about Greg, from his website:

Greg Barnes got his formal training at Wake Forest University receiving a BFA in 1985. Under the instruction of many fine teachers he learned painting, printmaking, sculpture, and figure drawing.

Following college, Greg entered a career path that included technical illustration, computer graphics, computer-based training, and multimedia programming. Throughout those years, Greg always kept his brushes and charcoal close at hand.

After 911, he and his wife Janet decided to take a leap of faith, pursuing a fine art career full time. Greg quickly found portrait work, which eventually led him to pastels. A few week-long plein air workshops set him in on his current course.

Landscapes are Greg’s love. He enjoys painting on location, and as a result of working quickly, leans towards impressionism. A mix of realistic and impressionistic elements give his pieces a life of their own, while a free and creative use of color punctuates his style.

Greg currently splits his time between painting in his studio/gallery in Charlotte, NC, selling at national art shows around the country, and teaching.

All images via BarnesStudios.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Ab6 by William McLure  48×48″

William McLure. Designer, artist, and creative genius with #hashtags on Instagram! His work is (mostly) large abstracts that make a bold statement. William’s Instagram is stunning with images of his loft space, designed so beautifully! You will quickly notice his sense of humor, especially with his hashtags! #️⃣ #williamisthekingofhashtags #goseeforyourself – You will also notice the newest addition to his life… Rankin Bayne McLure, also known as “Ran”, a beautiful Weimaraner puppy that is quickly teaching William the ways of the world…

I love how everyone sees/feels something different in regard to abstract paintings. William’s abstracts are quite wonderful and fit so well into his designs, which I also adore!

Abstract by William McLure  60″ x 60″ Black and white commissioned for Atlanta Symphony Showhouse.

I love the look and feel of this room, and this abstract, while simple, makes a grand statement that just pulls the room together!

Check out more of William’s paintings – Wow!

Check out William’s work via these links:

[  W E B S I T E  |  I N S T A G R A M  ]

Read a bit about William, from his website:

William Rankin McLure IV was born an artist.  William was creative since he was a very young child thru his God-given talent of art and design.  Born in Louisiana, he and his family soon moved back to Alabama to be close to a large and loving family and to live on a family farm.  William’s kindergarten teacher recognized his talent and wrote his mother a note when William was 4 years old for her to recognize, support, encourage and nurture William in his creativity and said that one day he would be a famous artist.  His talents have grown from there, to him now being a self-employed artist and interior designer.  William graduated from The Southern Institute of Design, where he was active in the American Society of Interior Designers as a student.   His artwork can evolve from realism, to drawings, to sketches, to abstract at any given moment, and many times being created in literal hours during long evenings at home.  His design work and art were highlighted in the 2013 Cathedral Antique’s Show House in Atlanta. His latest exhibit was a literal one-day sell out, and his work has been featured on many design and art blogs, including Lonny Magazine, La Dolce Vita, Southern Living, Mark D. Sikes, and Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Magazine.  Continue reading HERE…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

All images via WilliamMcLure.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Early Morning Marsh by David Williams  24 x 24″  Oil

David Williams. So many beautiful paintings – David’s landscape paintings show his love of the outdoors. His still life’s… ooooh! Fabulous! I think David’s use of color and his brush strokes really stand out. Early Morning Marsh has such a sense of peace – that wonderful violet color in the background really shows the distance and plays beautifully with the green in the marsh grass. Those little bits of light are perfection!

Check out David’s work from these links:

Website   | Pinterest  |  Instagram

 For those of you looking for weekly art instruction (Still Life) David teaches near The Plains and Stone Ridge, VA  – what an amazing opportunity!

Read a bit about David, from his website:

David was born in Washington, DC and grew up in the Virginia countryside. His love for the outdoors was instilled early on, growing from childhood explorations of field and forest, river and bay. Influences collected during youth color his work to this day, forming the foundation of a lifetime interest in nature and art.

David began art classes around the age of ten, which led to art foundation at VCU and classical figure drawing at the Los Angeles Academy as well as portrait and landscape painting with Jove Wang, Sunny Apinchapong-Yang, Sherrie McGraw, Gay Faulkenberry and Camille Przewodek.

David’s paintings have been awarded numerous prizes, including artist’s choice, collector’s choice and best of show. His paintings have been featured in newspaper and magazine articles and are included in collections throughout the United States. Continue reading HERE…

All images via williamsart.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

SUNSET ON HURRICANE RIDGE by Melanie Thompson Oil 20 x 24

Melanie Thompson – Sunset on Hurricane Ridge. Stars will get me every time. There is something magical about a painting with stars in it, and those trees! They’re fabulous! Especially with the dark color around that stunning orange of the sunset. The purples are get-outta-here wonderful, especially with the orange!

The cherry on top? The signature – love it in red! It’s not overwhelming, it’s perfect, but in red stands out a wee bit, in a very classy way! Check out more of Melanie’s paintings via these links:

MELANIE THOMPSON

Website   |  Facebook  |  Instagram

Read a bit about Melanie (from her website):

Trained as a graphic designer but always an artist at heart, I was first inspired to paint the landscape after working three seasons as a wildland firefighter. Never having spent much time outdoors, I worked weeks at a time with my crew digging fireline, monitoring fire behavior, hiking, and sleeping under the stars. I was deeply moved by the stunning vistas and by the fierce beauty of nature. In each painting I use my training as a designer to intuitively construct simple yet powerful designs reflecting the pure wonder I feel when outdoors.

The most important practice in my development as an artist has been extensively painting on location, or en plein air. Through direct observation I capture the effects of light that often are lost in photographs and use the studies to create a more beautiful and compelling work in the studio. In my mind a painting is not complete, whether created in the studio or on location, until it conveys both the appearance of a place and the feel of a specific moment: the smell of dust, the hot sun, or the cooling shade of a passing cloud.

Recently I have been exploring my homeland, the landscapes of Eastern Washington and Oregon, painting iconic locations such as Hells Canyon and Dry Falls. When confronted with the unique geology of these areas I am reminded of the overwhelming sense of awe I felt as a wildland firefighter. When people see my work depicting these often overlooked landscapes I’d like them to taste the desert air, feel the sun on their skin, and see the splendor of the wild places around all of us. Continue reading HERE…

All images via MelanieThompsonArt.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Peach Bowl by Ingrid Christensen  24×20″  Oil

Ingrid Christensen, a wonderful artist from British Columbia, Canada. She has a wonderful looseness to her work. Beautifully portrayed subjects in wonderful color and light.

I think these peaches are stunning, I can almost smell them! Time to go find a peach cobbler recipe, hee hee.

Links to Ingrid Christensen’s work:

Website  |  Blog 

Read a bit about Ingrid, from her website:

Award winning artist, Ingrid Christensen, was born and raised in Golden, a small town in British Columbia, Canada.  She studied art and English at UBC in Vancouver and received an Education degree from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and, for a time, taught in the public school system. But art was always Ingrid’s primary passion, and she quit teaching in order to pursue it wholeheartedly.

After studying silversmithing in Thailand, and jewelry making and ceramics in Calgary, Ingrid finally settling on painting when she discovered that it was all that she had been searching for.  She taught herself to paint, first in watercolour, and then in oils, by reading artists’ biographies, art history books, and every how-to book in the library system. 

Ingrid is inspired by the Impressionists because of their fascination with the effect of light on colour.  Her favourite subjects are figures and  landscapes, with a special interest in images of figures in water.  This last subject allows her to explore the complexity of light, both direct and reflected, as well as the bravura brushwork that has become her signature.  Her bold and colourful paintings have won honours and awards in both international and national exhibitions.

Ingrid teaches oil painting at the Calgary School of Art in Calgary, Alberta and workshops in Alberta, British Columbia, and Mexico.  Continue reading HERE…

All images via IngridChristensen.visualserver.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Indigo and Yellow Nocturne by Christopher Burk   12×12″   Oil

Christopher Burk. Very cool paintings! Be sure to check out his website as well as his social media (links below). This painting is available at BrandtRobertsGalleries.com! Don’t you just love the sky? Christopher is a master with the power lines – they look amazing and give you a feel for the area – great light!

Read a bit about Christopher, from his website:

 The quest for something new, distinctive forms and compositions, found in our exterior environments are the themes that are consistently sought after as the major contributors to my work. The main emphasis showcases the mundane within the landscape, for example, the poetry that happens in the sweeping utility lines along the backdrop of a morning or evening sky with the pinnacles of structures, treetops, telephone poles, and how each interacts with one another within the composition. Taking something so utilitarian for example, like that of a telephone pole with all of its components, on average would be, and usually are, looked upon as something that is less than visually desirable, yet when presented in a unique way this provides one with the tools needed to visually tune into not only their personal environments but also that of the world — therefore, giving viewers the capabilities to find beauty in the simplest of things. Read more here…

Check out Christopher Burk via the following links:

Website  |  Instagram  |  Facebook

Images via BrandtRobertsGalleries.com – Info via ChristopherBurk.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Agave by Michelle Jung   30×30″   Oil

Michelle Jung. Wow. Her paintings take my breath away. They are incredible. The Sea Series is powerful and masterful. The Flora Series is stunning. For instance, this impressive agave painting – the vast majority of this painting is green, no easy feat! I find this painting so interesting! I was going to show one image of each series, but just go check them out… seriously!

California Eucalyptus by Michelle Jung 40×48″  Oil

The light in this eucalyptus tree is so beautiful! While looking through Michelle’s Instagram images I saw an image of this painting in a frame, hanging on a wall. It gave the feeling of looking out of a window and seeing something so stunning.

Check out Michelle’s work via these links:

Website  |  Instagram

Read a bit about Michelle’s Flora Series – and check out her paintings… I was in a quandary as to which images to use they are all just breathtaking…

Nature is a major influence in my new series, Flora. The initial inspiration comes from my experience outdoors painting and observing beauty. Plein air painting is a tool I use to capture color and atmosphere. It is also a place for exploration and a chance for all my senses to take in information. In the studio, I utilize my experience outdoors with critical thinking to construct a composition that conveys to the viewer: sight, sound and mood.

The main purpose in this series is to compose idyllic beauty in a natural setting. I believe the landscape is at its most powerful when two energies collide; for example heaven and earth or light and dark. Using elements of nature as metaphors, I am able to explore dualism through artistic practices. In my past work, I explored how water and earth interact with one another through seascape paintings. Cropping, viewpoint and incorporating the sounds of water enhanced the experience of how land succumbs to the power of water.  In this new exhibition, I continue the concept of dualistic thinking by analyzing chaos and order in woodland settings. I use intuitive reasoning and succumb to the rhythms of nature to make decisions in composition and to create harmony.  

To reach a much deeper region of the conscious of the viewer, I expanded the vocabulary of my painting process through pigment manipulation.  Along with brushes, I have added the palette knife and cold wax to build up paint on the canvas and enhance the surface and create another dimension of visual exploration. Also, I used a spatula and sandpaper to scrape and sand down to uncover and reveal the canvas and wood.  This continual process of taking apart and reconstructing creates an abstraction of movement. It also mirrors my concept of dualistic models in art expression.

In summary, my vision in Flora is to demonstrate through the artistic process that it is our selective path in life that can bring order and peace to chaos.  Most importantly, that a path of beauty is achievable if it is done with intention.  ~Michelle Jung

ALL IMAGES VIA Michellejungart.com, USED WITH PERMISSION…

IMAGES ARE NOT FOR REPRODUCTION, THEY ARE PROPERTY OF THE ARTIST.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Into the Light by Jessica Lee Ives  20×30″

Jessica Lee Ives. I am enthralled with her paintings. They capture something very different. Many of her paintings are scenes in and around water. People swimming, wading, fishing, etc. I love the light that you see, as in the men above how you see the light through their ears like you do with the sun is just right. How cool to capture that. I love the low down vantage point – I almost feel as if I’m in the boat with them.

Sea Level by Jessica Lee Ives 10×10

I was lucky enough to see this painting in person at the Lupine Gallery (Monhegan, Maine) – I LOVED IT! We always visit the gallery several times during the week and it was such fun seeing this in person. The colors are fabulous.

Check out links to Jessica’s work:

Website  |  Blog  | Instagram  |  Facebook

Read a bit about Jessica, from her website:

Jessica Lee Ives (né Jessica Stammen) uses paint to explore and experience her adventure-filled relationship with the landscape of her home state of Maine and beyond. “I paint out of love — love for the world and for the human capacity to know the world through movement, recreation, and adventure. Kinesthetic intelligence and imagination are very important to me; so is the sensation of wonder. That a small movement of paint can capture a large movement of body through water, and that we can know the world’s beauty through both these actions, is astounding. It’s time we start picturing ourselves in the landscape more.”

When not in the landscape herself, or in the studio, Jessica maintains an energetic online presence through her newsletter, Instagram, and almost-weekly small work sale. She contributes to Happier Outside, The American Guide, and is editor and curator of The Maine, an online publication devoted to “an artful dialogue about the wonders of the state — and the state of wonder.”

Jessica received her B.F.A. from The Cooper Union School of Art and was named one of Glamour Magazine’s Top Ten College Women of 2003. Her work as an artist-in-residence at Ground Zero in New York City after September 11, 2001 earned her the Clark Foundation Fellowship with which she pursued her M.A. at New York University, combining work in the fields of art, religion, and public service. View Jessica’s current CV here.

All images via JessicaLeeIves.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!