Since I am almost finished with the miniatures I decided to try to wrap up this birthday image too. Since the whole painting is about the candle glow, I am concentrating on all the chiaroscuro effects to heighten the bright light. This is a great challenge. If you have never done this, just keep in mind that the light will not look bright if there is no contrast. I begin with the basic image, then I use darker colors to darken areas that are opposite the light. Now, in places that are really dark, I do not choose black. Instead, I mix shades that will darken without killing the reality of the factual color. For instance, the purple icing is facing us but is opposite the candle light. Our brain must know the purple is still there and in reality, the ambient light would let us perceive this. I will go darker and darker till it seems right. When painting darkened Caucasian skin it can be quite difficult to darken it without making it look like the skin has changed color. Just know that our brain will over ride that dirty blotchiness. It will read as shadowed skin. I’m also having trouble with darkening the side of the cake with white icing. Paying attention to shadows and candle brightness reflecting on it will help. I’ll show this again when it is finished. This is two days in a row where I have experienced loss of vision because of brief migraines ( one to two hours). That makes portrait features tough to paint. But, I consider myself blessed because I don’t get these often and they don’t make me sick. Blessings to all of you who have those things to deal with. Shalom, Diana

This is a quick photo of Too Soon Gone. She is an allegory depicting the loss of innocence of our most vulnerable of society. Our children, both male and female, fall victim to predators even when we think they are protected. We read of three hundred school children being kidnapped and human trafficking all over the world but with Covid, our closest loved ones fall victim to the pressures of this plague. We must be more aware and more vigilant. We cannot think of this as a vague and distant problem.
Too Soon Gone was entered in the 2020 SAMA Biennial at Loretto, Pa. The museum is on the campus there at St. Francis. No reception was held because of the pandemic but the museum had their doors open for casual viewers. The art displayed was phenomenal. Any artist should be happy just to be included in this show. I have received awards here in the past and it was easy to see that almost any of these pieces could have been chosen for special recognition. I brought my painting home after the closing date and a few weeks later I received a phone call from Jess Campbell. She was calling to give me the news that my painting had been chosen for the special honor of People’s Choice! My work has gotten this award in many shows but I was truly amazed for this particular time. The show was packed full of good, really good work. There were three pieces that were getting most of the votes and mine inched forward. I send a special thank you to all who honored her with your appreciation and vote.
I am almost finished with the seven miniatures. The first one I painted did not meet my standards for likeness so I began a replacement. Soon I will post a comparison and update you on the final work. I have the birthday candle painting close to complete but I want to be sure it has the deep, dark and shadowy atmosphere of the candlelight. I don’t want to rush it forward. There are four or five incomplete paintings that I must concentrate on. I don’t like having them unfinished but they each have quandaries that have stopped progress. The biggest problem for me is that there are also at least that many more subjects waiting for my attention!!! I always abandon a painting for another of higher quality or subject interest. These miniatures were started five years ago. I am glad I went back to them.
My health problems have been put on ‘delay’ both by my doctors and my body. I was able to get the pain stopped by a two week liquid diet and my doctors passed me off to a new one because they have no idea what to check next. This new DR gave me an appointment for a quarter year away!!! What amount of concern does that show? Well, I’m about ready to do like my grandparents and forsake doctors altogether. They never went to doctors or took modern meds and lived to 100. Ok, I have presented too much so I should sign off. Have a good rest. Hugs and Shalom, Diana

I decided to take a break from a commissioned painting to do some last layers on one of the three and a half inch miniatures. Three or four of them still have some work to do. I signed it and took this photo but even now, I have removed the initials. It is just too obtrusive. I think for these I will sign in a unique way. I’ll show you later.
hugs and be well. Diana

I started this project in 2015 but so many paintings called me away. Just like now, I have a commissioned piece that I must devote time to. It cannot be neglected because I want my efforts for others to be the tops of my ability. Even so, I have always worked on several pieces at the same time, well, at least during the same general time frame. It keeps my interest peaked and my eagerness on edge so that my work does not get boring or stagnant. I had gotten these out again just before I started this work for a client. So, today, I figured I would use up the paint I have out so it won’t dry as I do this other piece. I also take tomorrow for an appointment in Pittsburgh. I sure hope it isn’t another wild goose chase like the last few times.
I am very happy with the images of my girls and my husband and even mine. It is fun to think that these may be around for hundreds of years. I hope they don’t get separated. Which ever of my descendants get the custody of them, please note that you are considered caretaker, not owner. Well, for now, I must go magically creat a culinary masterpiece for dinner. Yum.

Yes, today I put in more than three hours on this tiny portrait and it is no where near finished! I am very glad I am making progress on these. I wouldn’t want to leave the group incomplete! It is very satisfying to see the progress and be assured of the likenesses. I will be happy to have them finished and hanging in my home. Happy painting to all of you new followers who keep popping on to study my work I hope what I post is helpful. This indirect method helps me because of my health and time constrictions. The other ways of painting always just frustrated me. I stumbled onto this method and have adapted many things to suit my needs. I try to blog about my ways and make it as clear as I can. Enjoy! Diana

I began my day making more medical appointments, still trying to diagnose this problem. Then, after coffee and something to eat I fought with some contact-like backsplash material. I was so exhausted after that so I doubted I could accomplish any successful art work but I tried. It was three when I started and 6 :10 now. I did some refinement on a small commission, then moved on to one of the miniatures. It is a long way from finished. You can see how small they are.

Today I worked on the three and one half inch high portrait of my youngest daughter. I developed a three dimensional effect on the skin, modified the hair, reset the position of the eyes and teeth and buffed lightly. It is much more difficult to keep the skin tones smooth in tiny portraits than in the larger ones. My doctor prescribed a mild med to help with my tremor but I forgot to take it so I was trying to compensate for that as I worked. Even so, the likeness is exciting. I went into this project with only moderate expectations but I am very pleased with the way they are turning out. My attitude is, ‘If you want to do something you have never done before, just pray, and then try it! You may be pleasantly surprised!’

Well, one thing for sure is this, if you want time to go quickly, oil paint seven portraits at one time! I worked on all but one of these today. That one needed to dry. It is fun to see these tiny miniatures of my family sort of take on life as the days go by. I just never get to the other things because I am drawn to this. Well, I don’t need a new outfit sewn anyway because this virus keeps me from socializing. I did water my orchids and I did go to the doctor yesterday.now I will go try to miraculously whip up a delicious supper. Hugs to you all, Shalom, DIANA

I’m sorry my posts are so short but it is six twenty and I have not begun our dinner. I worked on this most of the day and can’t believe it is so late. The likeness is good, I’m happy with it, hope Mollie likes it. I must still modify the skin tones some. Tomorrow I may show you the magnifying glasses I bought after I started these. They are fabulous! Blessings to all.

I needed a break from the birthday painting so I brought out these miniatures that I started at least five years ago. They are my husband and myself and our five daughters. I have wanted to do these for longer than I have been painting. I bought the first set of frames before I had ever lifted a brush and found the second set at an antique store. After I chose the images and began the work, it proved to be too difficult because of the tiny work and my tremor. About a year ago I ordered a gadget I saw on line that works like binocular glasses. The vision is wonderful. My doctor prescribed a medicine to aid in calming my tremor. I don’t use it for regular work but for this, it really helps. There is something about these images as a group that makes me really happy. I hope I can complete them each with a good likeness and artistic skill. The hours fly by when I work but more so with this miniature challenge. It must be some sort of time warp. Enjoy your painting. Diana

Yes, it is time to begin supper so I must stop my work in the studio. I am thankful I can still get upstairs to the studio, that I can enjoy a full afternoon allowing my brain to float around in this zone of creative wonder and that I still have food to prepare for a nourishing and yummy dinner with my husband. HalleluYah! Now if I can just get this photo to publish. Blessings to you all. Diana

I’m sitting in my chair studying this painting from across the room, about six feet.I have darkened all but have not finished this layering. This dark chiaroscuro type surface is just like the last one; in person, the darks are obscure and solid but the camera seems to look right through them. I do enjoy a painting with atmosphere and this one certainly has it. There is still a lot of work to do yet. The table will get color, detail and shadow, there are birthday cards on the corner and candle reflections. I am satisfied with the shape and proportions of the plate but those details are still to be added. Then the colorful candles, the icing and the candle light. There are layers of skin tone, color glazing and highlights and also color and detail in the hair. I forgot to mention adjusting the layers of the dresses. So, even though this is looking close to being finished, it is far from it.

I am still waiting to have last tests to clarify this rare genetic disorder that has caused me a lot of misery for longer than I care to think about. Then a relatively simple laparoscopic surgery should give me relief. I’ll keep you posted. Every thing seems to go so slowly. I’m just grateful to have some answers. I hope you are enjoying this portrait. Shalom, Diana

Last evening I spoke with a technician from WordPress, trying to unravel my frustrations with the site every time it is updated. I must say, this sweet woman was very helpful. I am not technologically savvy but she helped a lot and calmed my frustrations from far away in New Zealand! You will see that when you press blog, you will get a drop down that says Today’s Notes. I have also added a few images to the gallery. Maybe soon, I will be able to set up a way to browse through all the portraits I enter.

So for today’s notes, I will briefly tell you that I made a big adjustment to the scalloped cake plate in this birthday painting. I could not get it to look uniform and balanced. There will be a lot of correcting to do in order to cover what I had previously painted and return the table to a natural wood grain appearance. I try never to let mistakes throw me because this is all part of the process. This painting is beginning to get the glow and warmth of the candle light and the mood of the evening birthday celebration. The deep darks are a challenge. I will learn a lot from this experience if I am successful. I hope people feel joyful and content when viewing it. Shalom, Diana

I started this post two hours ago and then I got on the phone with my girls, reporting about the medical procedure I had yesterday. Still unable to identify the cause of the pain I was experiencing for months. The good thing is, I went on a liquid diet for two weeks and when I went back to solid foods, my pain level was way down. I have to see the greatest doctor in Pittsburg next week. If I said his name, I am sure many people would recognize it. He saved my daughter’s life two years ago. He did a stomach surgery on me so he has agreed to consult on this problem.
I am slowly proceeding with the work in progress. I hope to get back to the miniatures of my family this winter. But already it is almost the solstice and the summer sun will be on its way back. (In the middle of our first blizzard I am trying to think positive.)

I will now try to insert a new photo. Let’s see if it gives me any trouble. I’m not the best with technical stuff.

I actually think I got a new photo inserted. With this new program it does not show up until I publish it. With the old one i could see it right away. I will say about this image that it promises to be a special one. I have only painted one other painting with this type of effect. The lighting is very descriptive and shows the mood of a fun evening birthday celebration. I am concentrating to get the festive atmosphere with the brightly lit candles, the promise of a bright future with the extinguished ones and the lingering smoky swirls and the subdued excitement of two sisters sharing each other’s moment of joy. It is so important to get the candle light just right. These are things that we, as artists, do not necessarily know instinctively. We go at it slowly so as to really observe and learn as we go. Enjoy. Shalom, Diana

I am thankful I am working, thankful I am able to work. Everyone is staying confined to their homes except for rare and necessary outings. Bruce and I did not go anywhere for thanksgiving. Layer that week, two of our families began with covid symptoms. We believe both families were infected and tests will verify. One of the indicators is loss of smell and taste. Also my daughter and husband stayed in bed and slept most of the day. That certainly says something. They are doing ok but three of my grandchildren are now ill. They don’t live near us so we are not affected. I am facing a lot of medical tests so I don’t want to interrupt that schedule. I will fill you in as soon as results come in. That always takes a while. My pain was so intense and unbearable that I put myself on a liquid diet. I expected my doctors to have enough knowledge to relieve my pain. I asked repeatedly for help but when they had no suggestions, that is when I cut out solid foods. I went twelve days and then started with some mild, soft foods. I seem to be ok now, just slight discomfort. Anyway, I am painting when I am too tired dipping chocolate. I.ve been doing that about a week. I did not make any last year. Ummm, it is so good. I do not celebrate pagan holidays but winter is the only good time to make chocolate. It stays nice in the freezer. I’ll post a photo. Also I will get an image of the birthdate subject I am working on. Blessings to you all..

Here we go again. I cannot find a prompt to upload my photo. I guess I will write this paragraph and then see if I can find the edit for it. This image is of a scene I love. I chose this particular shot because of the lighting. When finished it will be lit only by candle glow. I like to have a good foundation and then layer glazes to obscure it. That way, the painting will retain the depth of dimension that you would perceive with your natural vision in a darkened room. Of course when light is reduced, so is vision. This is what I will try to portray. It is the lighting that will draw viewers into the work, into the subject and into the art.