I’m going to enter a photo of the recent painting I have started. I am excited about it because of the two cousins, their expressions and the lighting especially. Of course, this transfer of the drawing is in its early stages. As I work on it I will continually refine the likenesses and all the finer points of the composition. I love the turn of their faces and the way they are looking off to the side and not directly at the viewer as if their attention was drawn when someone called to them, which is what actually happened. They are both somewhat aloof, interested in their own activities but polite little girls to respond as they are called. I hope to work on it tomorrow but as the days go by, a lot is happening. I begin a class which has increased to five students! They just materialized almost out of the blue. The stars aligned and there they were, all ready to begin just when I knew it was time to organize this. I am so grateful. And five is a good group. I don’t have room for more right now. I’m looking forward to this mix of students. Now let me see if I can download the photo. I’ll put up another as I progress. Diana

I will put up an image whenever I get it on the canvas. The two little girls are cousins and have very similar features. This is part of the reason why this is coming together as a good composition. As you artists know, there are some things that usually add up to a good portrait. Of course an interesting subject is one of those things. Another is lighting. I will completely discard a better picture for one that has better lighting.   The subjects and the lighting are the reasons why this jumped ahead of the others in my plan. I am truly in love with the possibilities in this double portrait. I can hardly wait to see it developing. There will be a lot of family gatherings over the next several days so it will be on hold. I will get back to you in a few days. Blessings.

Oh, my goodness!  If any of you have never gotten a painting by graphing a photo, don’t ever try to convince me there is no drawing involved.  This is the image I told you about that just begs to be a painting.  God makes His forms so beautiful and I absolutely love to use His work to make paintings.  That means that the way a curl falls or the way a child’s expression presents itself, or even just the light on a subject, those things are what I want to capture for others to see.  Of course there is a special merit in being able to capture a scene, a mood or an emotion with quick painterly style. YES, but , I have always had a special fascination for what is true and real or the perception I have in front of me.  That is what I capture and I think that is why these paintings lock people into them.   People become part of what is happening.  They feel the experience I am recording.  Oh, you cannot know how happy it makes me to be in this developing stage, or any other of the stages.  Yes, sometimes there is a dark moment, with doubt and mistakes, but I am on a journey with each one and I don’t stop, usually, until I get to the destination. Just had to tell you.

A few weeks ago I decided to make the arrangements for a class. Several people have been asking about it and I decided to just set it up and see what happened.  Sometimes we truly feel guided, this was one of those times.

I notified two people, another heard me talking and the fourth was at a gathering where I heard her say she would like to learn how to paint a portrait!  Each of these people arrived at noon on Wednesday and we started by covering all the questions people have about my work, viewing my paintings and seeing my humble studio.  Then we went to my four season heated and sunny back porch where we ate Cranberry Lemon Scones that I had made,(because they are my favorite) and had coffee and chocolates and cheese and fruit.  For the next two hours we talked shop about how this class will proceed. And we laughed and enjoyed each other’s company too.  This has to be the best match up of personalities.  I am saying my thank you prayers.

Just when I have made a firm decision about my next two paintings, another subject jumps in and usurps the first spot!!!  This happened with Plimoth Wife, a Best of Show Winner, and it has happened at other times, all leading to good recognitions.  I haven’t even gotten back to the work I was doing when Plimoth Wife intervened.  Others just kept saying, me first, me first.

So, I’m heading toward some personal shows this spring and summer and I have wanted to get some really good examples of my most recently fine tuned abilities.  I chose two subjects that I really want to be included and I was getting ready to begin the sketches when this other image started drawing my attention.  I can’t avoid it.  It has to be done.  Do you all experience this; a subject calling you?

Well, as soon as I get the sketch done I will up load it here so you can see it.  Of course I am excited and I will probably loose sleep over it.  These next two weeks have a lot of family gatherings to draw me happily away and I will use that time to solidify the final ‘masterpiece’ in my mind.  Till then, enjoy your families and friends while we can.  Shalom, Diana

Here is a detail of the newest painting I’ve been working on.  I didn’t have time to blog about it much because the gallery hoped to have it hanging over the holidays so I was concentrating on getting it ready for them.  Now I will put up an image of the final presentation.

This is a portrait of my great nephew and his grandfather.  The family has not seen it yet. They might view it here but if not, it will be a surprise for them to see on the new year.  It will help to round out my portfolio because I am expecting to do my first one person show soon.

I will begin a portrait class after the first of the year.  I am accepting only four students.  There may still be room for one more.  Contact me if you are interested.  There is going to be a get acquainted meeting on Dec. 16 at my house beginning at 12:15.  I’m looking forward to this since my last class was a delightful experience.

I am also hoping to complete at least two or perhaps three paintings that I have planned before the timing for the show. Two of them will be typical projects for me but very complicated compositions.  The third is a landscape.  I have been experimenting with this recently and would like to create some really nice compositions that I have in mind, if I can do them successfully.

That is all for now.  I hope Bruce and I will stay well and that I will have a good painting time this winter, absent any unexpected delays.  I am itching to get started on the new project.  Hugs, Diana

I’ve been busy taking care of my husband of course since his knee surgery but also trying to finish a painting for the gallery. I took some photos but they are not sharp so I thought I would just tell you that I am working on it and hope to get an image up soon.  I have a couple of small projects to get finished for our gathering of artists so I keep trying to fit that in.  After this is finished I have plans for two really demanding and hopefully rewarding paintings that I would like to accomplish during the winter.  We haven’t had much winter so far.  Right now the sun is shining.  So I must go make art while the sun is shining, (not so good at puns or jokes).  Hugs, Diana