Here is the work I did today.  I will say that I have spent a lot of time with technical problems today.  First I sent a message on e-mail and just as I was ready to send it, it disappeared.  Now as I am trying to blog, somehow I touched the wrong thing and my computer totally shut down.  So now I am trying to communicate with you all and I hope I am not sounding too frustrated.  I will download the work I did today.  Look at the child on the right.  Doesn’t it look odd with only her ear in a more developed condition.  I really enjoy watching things turn from flat to alive almost.  There is still a lot to be done.  I am going to publish this and then try one more post.

This has been a business day, you know, writing notes, balancing books, depositing funds, sending my brother a birthday card that should have been in the mail two days ago. The rain came in around one o’clock and justified my misery. I did not sleep until after two last night and today has been, well, I’m whining so I’ll stop. Only meant to say I didn’t get any painting done. Even so, a lot of other things got done that have been waiting for me and those things are an accomplishment. Bruce is going to build a fire where I will snuggle up and soak up its healing and restorative energy after we have eaten our dinner. I have homemade Salisbury steaks in the oven and they smell so good that when Mollie stopped by on her way home to Meadville, I gave her one for her supper.Bruce  and I will add garlic Rosemary roasted potatoes to that with a veggie and afterward I wills pull a fresh blueberry apple pie from the oven and top it with vanilla ice cream for desert. Why should I complain about anything? God blesses us daily, no matter how bountifully, it is all blessing. May you all count your blessings as well.Shabbat Shalom, Diana

If you compare the last image with this you can see the changes and deepening flesh, even though we have not yet added any color. People ask me how I get the flesh to look so real and not like plastic. The directional brush work, the layers and the sensivity to light are the things that lead to the correct result. When I teach my methods, one of the things a student must develop by natural instinct is the touch. I can demonstrate, I can explain, but the technique is something one must come by naturally. It is such a joy to experience the emergence of the attitude and personality in a portrait.

I don’t know if you will  be able to see this well but today I spent some time refining the likenesses. I look at the preliminary work and make a lot of visual measurements, especially if something seems off. It may seem easy or it may look as though it was easy, but when an eye or a smile line or any shape at all is off by just a little bit, it just doesn’t add up right. This is especially important with the character and expression or what I call the spirit of the sitter. These two little girls are both cuties but they each have a special personality and this image shows it. I want this work to be wonderful, an image that everyone will enjoy looking at.

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

Time goes by so quickly. My husband has had trouble getting around because of a bad knee so he finally got a knee replacement early in November. It is surprising how much time it takes when one person doubles up on chores and tries to do the work that two people usually do. When Bruce retired he took over a lot of household duties in order to allow me time to dedicate to my painting. That has been a real blessing. Now that he needs to mend and do therapy, I have gone back to a busy schedule of household chores which leaves little time or energy for my art. This old/new schedule takes a lot of time and energy but part of that is caused by all the going up and down the stairs double or triple the amount of times as I am used to. This week I have managed to put in a few hours on my latest effort, a portrait of my nephew and his grand father. I don’t plan on downloading the in progress shots because I hope to present the finished portrait soon. The gallery is waiting for it and I would like to finish it before the end of the month. I thought I would let all my friends on this blog know what I have been doing and why I have not made entries here recently. When this work is finished I have two great preliminary ideas I want to work on. I may even set them up to work on them simultaneously. Also, I have wanted to develope my skills on landscape. I went out into the wilds of our local area this fall and risked life and limb to stomp around in creeks trying to get some good reference photos to use through the winter. Later I will download a shot of a small landscape I finished lately. I have several other projects in the pipeline encluding a portrait class that I may begin after the first of the year. If anyone is interested, use my contact page on this blog to let me know. Till then, shalom. Diana

Yesterday I was the featured speaker at the Ligonier luncheon. Attending were a lovely group of thirty or so women who identify with the arts as artists themselves or supporters and appreciators of the arts. We all enjoyed a delicious menu of stuffed pepper soup and cheese sandwich made with Monterey Jack cheese combined with spinach and artichoke hearts. Desert was yummy apple crisp. All was provided by Lauries Sweet Dreams catering. After enjoying the good company and delicious meal I made a short presentation entitled “Don’t Give Up”. I drew attention to the fact that we as artists must constantly be aware that failure or at least rejection is lurking around the corner. It is important for us to maintain our own artistic vision even if our work does not meet the mark in someone else’s opinion. Encourage others as we would like to be encouraged was a theme as well. I then proceeded to describe my painting methods in brief, answering as many questions as possible. It was an exciting and fun afternoon and I was welcomed warm heartedly by all. Thank you so much and thanks to the site coordinator, Emma Noonan, for extending the invitation.

Now I will try to post my latest orchid in bloom. It is a catleya by name of Brown Eyes and it inserted above. Well, I’m too sleepy so I must rest. Good night and Shabbat Shalom, Diana

I’m sorry I don’t have a really good image.  I forgot to photograph the painting before I entered it into the show. I snapped this at the event before all the people arrived.  I loved working on this simple painting of my grand daughter because she is always so natural.  She doesn’t do posed faces.  Since I still do not have a body of work ready for this years final shows, I decided to use this portrait I had worked on this summer just so I could enter something and participate in the show.  Latrobe Art League and Latrobe Art Gallery have what I consider to be the best organized shows around.  The people are so nice and encouraging and the shows are just plain fun, besides having a fabulous group of great artists who put there best work out there.  I’m sure it is a challenge being a juror. This juror did us all a favor, she included a lot of instructional remarks about her choices.  I heard many people voicing how much that was appreciated.  The juror was Patricia Childs who is owner of G Squared Gallery of Ligonier and has had a career as gallery director and coordinator in different venues since 1978. I was indeed honored to take home Best of Show for “Sarah, Age Eleven”

I don’t have photos yet of my new work in progress but I will try to do that soon.  I have a speaking engagement next week so I must put in a lot of preparation for that.  I spent some quality painting time today even though I had a lot of organizational things for the luncheon.  Since the sun is shining for the first time in a week I want to go outside before the sun goes beyond the horizon.  Right now I wanted to alert you  that I’m going to try to upload one or two new images of some recent work you have seen on this blog but I had not yet downloaded to the gallery. Life is blessed but very busy. Talk to you soon.  Shabbat shalom. Diana

Hi to all you blog followers, artists and friends.  It has been an exhausting time for me.  The two biggest shows of the year have come back to back as usual.  I barely have enough energy for them.  I have never been super social but I love people.  My problem is that I stress about missing someone or forgetting a name so of course that means I always forget names and miss someone.  Forgive me if you find me frazzled at one of these events.  I do my best.  Even when I do not receive an award, as on Thursday evening, even so, many people want to know about my work. I spend a glorious evening speaking with the wonderful people telling them about how I came to design the composition, how long it took me to paint the piece and even how many trips up and down to my studio or back and forth to check my perspective did it take.  It may seem hard to believe, but if I am answering questions about the art, I am happy. In the past two evenings I have enjoyed the company of my dearest friends as we traveled to the show, I’ve been blessed to hear great music and wonderful food, I’ve reacquainted with people I have not seen for ten or more years and I’ve recorded in my heart the sincerely enjoyment expressed to me about my work. That is the true award.  The Friday evening show brought recognition for the Degas piece that I have already posted here.  People really love her and I must admit that I have a special fondness for her too.  Having used someone else’s creative results as inspiration for my piece did not take away from my own creative input and it only served to add heightened appreciation for the beauty of the Light, Shadow, Texture and Form of the work.  Usually I am very familiar with the features of my portraits as I paint the faces of my grandchildren and friends.  But with this piece the only features were exactly what the title tells you.  That somehow made this work very gratifying, maybe because I did not have to make the work look like someone.  I just wanted it to be beautiful in its own right.  That also may be the reason why people were so drawn to her; she was not someone’s grandchild.

This blog is about me and my work but I must mention another work that was part of the show on Thursday evening.  I don’t feel it is a good idea to include names or photos of someone else’s work but I will make mention of this piece by description.  This one piece stood out among all the art in the studio.  If you were there you will remember the painting  that portrayed a formally dressed Daddy standing in the bright light of a sunny window with the most beautiful little girl in a frilly dress with a string of pearls around her neck.  This painting was perfectly executed in an impressionist manor.  The features on both the father and daughter were crisp and soft at the same time.  The composition was spot on and I’ve never seen light captured so well in an oil.  Best of show could not even bring as much recognition as this painting and this artist deserves.  I hope someone passes on my congratulations to you and I hope you continue to paint and enter such art as this!

I will not post a photo yet of the piece from Thursday’s show since he may be in some other local venues.  I just do not like to take the spotlight off the event. It is a little bit like spoiling a surprise.  I’ll show you later.  Right now I am hurrying to do a subject for another local gallery that is coming up soon.  It may turn out to be somewhat abstract, a real divergence for me.  The theme for the show is a challenge but I have the perfect material if I can pull it off.  We’ll see.  I’ll keep you guessing till I see if I can manage it.  Till then, Shabbat Shalom, dear friends,  Diana

Sorry, friends, that I forgot to post this image of the orchid when it bloomed.  I was just so busy getting ready for the shows.  This orchid has lost its tag so I am not sure what its name is.  Another, called BROWN EYES is getting ready to bloom.  It is a beauty and I will try to show it to you as soon as it opens.

our artist group has an assignment this time.  We are challenged to do a pastel.  I have never used pastels and never really wanted to but it is always good to stretch our limits.  I bought a small set of pastels when I was in my teens and still have them but yesterday I bought a few other things so that I can refine what I have started.  The only paper I could find at home was black.  I chose a really cute image and began.  OOOh, not so good.  But I am still working on it and if it is presentable, I will post an image later.

Shalom, Diana

Nothing goes the way we think it will.  Vertigo set in again for one thing and so I was down for three days and I’m still battling it.  My art group near here ask me to please be sure to enter the fall show. I hadn’t intended to do so because I had nothing ready.  So I went to my photo reference archive to see what I had set aside to paint in the future.  I decided on some shots I’d taken at the museums we visited this spring.  I chose a simple but elegant pose with great lighting.  The light in a subject can create the entire composition if you know what to look for.  This shot had drama and would catch people’s eye. Even so, it should be easy to paint.  (I wasn’t counting on the vertigo.).  Bruce cooked supper every night last week so that I could put in a marathon effort.  I got her finished the day before the jurying.  Often a show is juried by digital entries but this one must have the entries carried in personally.  You pick up your pieces the same day and then later you carry them to the college venue where the show will take place.  When I picked up my painting I was told that not only was she accepted, but she has won an award. I hope someone will purchase her.  I think she will be a beautiful addition to a special décor in someone’s home.  Hope you enjoy her as well. Diana

Here is Sarah, she is eleven.  Of course this portrait is not completed.  Her hair is blond and her skin has a lot of pinkish coral but it is still milky white.  I am hoping to finish it in the next week or two. Be sure to go back to earlier blogs to see the work in progress. Diana

I don’t know who all has checked my website but I welcome you with warm greetings. It is surprising to see so much action on this tiny insignificant post although I too really enjoy connecting with others who love art and all of natures beauty. I knew when I started this it would never be a fancy or elaborate communication. I only hoped to give others the opportunity to see and read about what I am doing. One of the things I have told you about since the beginning is the work I do to compete in local and regional shows. I have been very blessed to have been awarded often for my work. This is creating a dilemma for me now. The groups who host the shows are relying on me to always have an entry. That is flattering but sometimes I cannot finish something new in a timely manner. Also, since I love to paint large, most people do not have homes where these pieces would fit. That is OK for now since I am gathering enough of my work to have an individual show. But eventually I will run out of room to store all these paintings. My thought is that soon I should switch from doing shows to instead putting my time and creative effort into doing more commissioned work. It has always been rewarding and fulfilling to me whenever I can do a portrait for someone and see the joy they express when they are able to have the work of art for their home. Well, this is what I am thinking about doing in the next year or so. I want to continue my associations with the groups though because I have met and become friends with the most wonderful people. I would never want to lose contact with them. They are great artist and great people. They are interesting, fun and they inspire me. They make me happy too.

Hopefully, in a few days, I will take a photo of the portrait of my grand daughter. Also, I am waiting for my catleyes to bloom. I think there are three with inflorescences. Sometimes each stem holds several flowers. I will make another post when they bloom. Till then, good night. Shalom, Diana

My dear Granddaughter stayed with us for a week so we had several oil painting sessions.  She had never before used oils and she did a good job with this image of two sheep on a sunny hillside with clouds. She is better at freehand work than I am.  It was fun to hear her tell me that she was able to apply some things I taught her to her computer drawing and painting programs.  How wonderful it is to pass on skills to the younger ones and how great it is to watch them develop!

I have finished my works for two upcoming shows and I am working on a third.  Also, I have been finishing several portraits of my grandchildren.  Those have no prominent deadlines, (that sounds ominous!).  All previously mentioned projects are in the not quite done stage. For instance, the vintage/art clothing storage project, the gardening project, the cleaning my house project, etc.

I have several orchids that are getting ready to bloom.  I think they liked the tropical forest humidity we have had recently.  These are big Catleyas.. I will let you know and get a photo when they bloom.

I’ve spent a lot of hours cataloging my butterfly photos too.  I have large photo displays on our four season room walls and I have a small frame that I can use to put a few more in.  I have so many wonderful shots of butterflies that I just cannot let them go unappreciated.  I’ll pull one up and put it here.  Till later guys.  Shalom.  DianaThis is a Question Mark that was on our butterfly bush.  The tiny silver mark on the under wing actually has a little dot, along with other markings, that distinguishes it from a Comma. The butterflies in this part of the country have taken a hit because of weather and habitat destruction as is happening all around the country and the world. I do my butterfly collecting with my camera and I enjoy it so much. They are God’s jewels.

Hi, everyone.  Life is a whirlwind!  My husband planned a special trip for me to New England.  We stayed in a lovely extended time hotel in Pittsfield, Massacchusetts and toured five museums which all house and display paintings by the French artist, William Adolphe Bouguereau.  Everything about this tour was great: our weather, little traffic, easy access to the museums and food! We arrived back into our area just barely in time to attend a reception given by the Allied Artists where I was awarded second place for a portrait I had entered.  I have just sorted out all the photos I took in the museums.  I am so grateful that photos are permitted because this is how I study and learn.  I will get back to painting as soon as I can and connect with you all to show what I am doing.  Keep in mind, now that summer is here there is gardening to do and I get to spend more time with my sweet grandchildren.  Also I have a big, no, huge project in the works.  I am cataloging and photographing and also washing and storing a lifetime’s worth of hand tailored clothing that I have sewn over the years for my family.  I gave away about half or two thirds of it but just could not let go of these things which I consider art pieces.  I would love to display them in a show of their own.  Maybe someday!  Till then, my youngest grand daughters will be happy to wear some of this vintage clothing. Talk to you soon.  Shalom, Diana

Sorry the last post was delayed.  I did that from my I-pad and did not realize I had made an error until a few days ago.  Spring has finally arrived and I am living with joy.  When everything is blooming and doing so well, it makes me happy.  My slightly improved health has allowed me to get outside and into the garden to plant and enjoy.  We had a hard, cold winter so the azealias  did not bloom well but everything else did.  I have done regular painting too.  I will post an updated image  of the projects. This is almost complete and ready for the show to be entered in July.Here I have begun a quick portrait of one of my granddaughters. It is very convenient to have so many good models available.  They are accustomed to Grandmother taking a lot of photos of them.  They are even becoming very artistic because of being exposed to all the art everywhere.  The older ones did not have that opportunity because I was still raising the younger of my children.  Well, for now, I will go to my studio and actually try to finish the painting that is the first on this blog.  Till next time, shalom, Diana

The Latrobe Art League had its reception for the annual show on the 14th of May.  I was not going to enter because I didn’t have anything ready.  But I looked around and decided to enter two portraits, the one of Andrea and the one of my grandson Ryan.  They are both in the gallery of this blog so you can see them.  I entered because I wanted to participate but these portraits are simple and I doubted they would get the judges attention.  There are a lot of wonderful artists in this gallery and the shows present stiff competition.  I was very pleased that the portrait of Andrea took second place honors. The judge told me there was only a whisper of difference between her selection and the other portrait.

I am working on a number of paintings at this time.. This one has a July deadline so I must get it finished.  I am happy with the subject, now if I can only get the proper interpretation. I’ve been doing a lot of gardening so I should concentrate on this.  My knees are not bothering me as long as the cortisone holds out.  I am feeling quite blessed to be able to get around again.  The gardens are looking so beautiful that I truly want to spend a lot of time there.  Unfortunately we discovered the growing tips of the roses in front of the house have either frozen or gotten wind damage.  They just aren’t there.  We must wait for new stalks or new growing tips before we get the roses.  Happy painting.  Shalom, Diana

This is the work so far on the duplicate.  (I have a blueberry apple pie in the oven and it should have been taken out fifteen minutes ago, so I’d better go check it.) I will just tell you quickly that there is an equal amount of work on both paintings and they look reasonably the same.  I had a lot of trouble at first because I did not stick to the grisaille under painting but instead tried to work with natural tones to preserve the sunny look.  It is now getting back to within workable limits though.  I will soon begin to strengthen the features and as I do, I will also strengthen the bright sunny light in the painting.  All the shadows are rich in color too.  Talk to you soon.  Diana

Here is the next step and soon I will post another.  It is challenging to work with a figure in shadow/backlit.  I am attempting to brighten it up without losing the quality of bright light.  I know that if you want brights you must have darks so I will darken the shadows carefully so they don’t jump out at you but still portray the sunshine well.  I want to diminish the importance of the background and so I am simplifying as many features there as possible.  The figure tells the story and is of utmost importance.  This child is eleven now and is an amazing artist already.  When she was two and three she would get so frustrated because her crayons would not do what she knew they should.  I would tell her, “Remember, you are fifteen or twenty in your brain but your hands are still only three years old!”  That did help her to be patient, at least it helped a little.  She now has more control and drawing ability than I do -seriously!”

I hope these painting examples are helping you with your portrait work.  I had no one to help me.  I worked for years doing everything wrong.  Even now I would like to solve some of my painting problems without so much trial and error but I can only do what I must because no one else has the same vision I do. No one can advise me on a way that would work with my methods. Most people do not understand how I work.

I am taking on a few  more commissions now that I am back to work again. When people ask me what I charge I usually direct them to the pricing of some other artists who have web sites.  They can compare the work, decide if my work is up to their standards and then make a fair offer for my time.  I usually try to keep the piece small and simple even though my own pieces are quite large and complicated.  I want to continue having clients who are pleased with their own private work of art.  My goal is to achieve a painting that portrays the spirit of the subject.  I will write more on this at a later date.