Comfort Zone

Comfort Zone

6x6, soft pastel

In these crazy times we all need to find our "comfort zone" while being as careful as we can regarding the pandemic that is COVID-19.  

Today I'm honoring all the pets around the world who are in isolation with us, providing more comfort than ever before. Jack, the Jack Russell terrier is currently hunkering down in Verona, Italy with his family. You can find Jack on his Instagram page: Beautiful Jack Alfonso. That's where I recently found his photo which inspired this painting.  I reached out to his "mom" and have instantly found a new virtual friend. Someone who is by now well versed in what it's like being in isolation in a country besieged by this virus.

We have been messaging each other during the past few days and she has provided me a glimpse into her world...the world we are beginning to experience here in the United States, an uncertain world indeed! 

So, my message would be: find your comfort zone, take care of yourself and your loved ones, reach out to a stranger and connect...social media can provide some scary information but it also can provide us hope and a way to connect with others around the world.  We can pray, connect, protect ourselves and continue to have hope that one day, we WILL dance again!

God Bless you, 

Cindy G.

A Piece of Cake

A Piece of Cake

6x6, oil on board

Despite the title...this little piece wasn't necessarily "a piece of cake"...but on some level it was fun to paint.  I did it a couple years ago from an early morning still life on my kitchen table in soft pastels.  I liked it so I tried painting it in oils.  I still prefer the pastel version below.  Eventually I'll know how to mix (and apply) colors better...assuming I stick to experimenting with oils.

Sweet Treat

Sweet Treat

6x6, soft pastel

Most artists paint fruit.  I suppose it's because we typically have fruit in the house and they provide great color for a still life piece.  With just the right lighting, a piece (or pieces) of fruit can glow.  These seedless green grapes were doing just that...glowing from the sunlight.  I'm not particularly proficient at painting fruit...but they sure are fun to try. 

Top Shelf

Top Shelf

6x6, Soft Pastel

This is a painting I've been wanting to do for quite awhile...and I'm not sure it turned out as well as I'd like...but, that's the way it goes sometimes.  Painting it larger might help...or giving myself more time than I did (this one was done on the same day as the green grapes...so I was a bit pooped by the end of the day).  I continue to paint things halfway between Impressionism and Realism (not really sure what to call that...Cindyism I guess). 

Plump and Juicy

Plump and Juicy

6x6, soft pastel

What is it about a simple little peeled orange that seems so irresistible?  I set this still life up just like a photo I saw a couple years ago with dramatic lighting to emphasize the translucent qualities of the orange.  I knew while painting this little guy that I would eat it for breakfast...but since it was my first attempt at painting an orange, breakfast time turned into lunchtime.  It took several hours so I was very hungry the whole time. But, I knew I was finally on the right track when the painting began to be as mouthwatering as the real orange.  

Jumped Ship

Jumped Ship

6x6, soft pastel

Day 2 of the 30in30 Challenge is a still life with three of my garden tomatoes.  My tomatoes are typically imperfect in appearance but otherwise delicious.  The larger one kept falling out of the too small bowl I selected and dropped to the floor on more than one occasion.   So I left it on the tabletop (which proved to be a better composition anyway) and then thought "jumped ship" would be just the right title for this one.

Rufus

Rufus

6x6, soft pastel 

Rufus is a dear sweet Westie who lived in Ireland with his family for the past 17 yrs.   This is a painting of him in his honor and is on its way overseas.  Knowing the heartbreak of losing a family pet, I hope they will enjoy it for years to come.  

Morning Roadtrip

Morning Roadtrip

6x6, soft pastel

Day 2 of 30 and I'm feeling a bit more colorful.  I think it must be the right brain taking charge.  Or, maybe too much coffee!!!

Along The Way

Along The Way

6x6, soft pastel

Today kicks off the 30in30 painting challenge and I have to admit I wasn't quite prepared.  I arrived home last night from a three day workshop taught by my favorite landscape artist, Barbara Jaenicke.  She is an outstanding teacher and artist...I highly recommend her workshop!  

While the workshop far exceeded my expectations, dashed were my hopes of having all the reference materials lined up; papers selected and cut to size; pastels cleaned, organized and set up; and the studio tidy and ready for 30 days of painting.  This is SO ME!  Basically organized...but a bit unorganized too.  My right brain and left brain are constantly at war with each other.

Today's painting was from a photo taken as we drove down the highway this summer (in Utah I believe) at 75 mph.  Its amazing that any photos turned out at all...but this one had a beautifully simple composition and gorgeous roadside flowers along the shoulder.  I like this composition so much, I think I'm going to paint it again!!!

The First Dance

The First Dance

6x6, acrylic

An abstract underpainting and then a spin-off into a fantasy world.  I imagine these two are on their first date together, a bit shy yet attracted to each other.  Oh, what delicious tension.

Fall Is Just Around The Corner

Fall Is Just Around The Corner

6x6, soft pastel

Today marks the halfway mark for the 30in30 challenge...so I practiced on this tree...trying to defy that little voice inside that says "...but you're not a landscape artist!".   In any event, this is my little study of a tree showing a little fall color. An exercise in a Liz Haywood Sullivan book...unfortunately, it wasn't very successful.

The Last Berry

The Last Berry

6x6, soft pastel

Well summer is surely coming to an end...I've picked my last strawberry.  What a great summer.  I'm looking forward to a gorgeous fall.  This is a quick study.