Outdoor Light and Skin Tones

This post is way overdue, but I thought I would share it anyway. Since we currently have over ten inches of snow on the ground, it seems like an appropriate time to finish this blog post, which I started writing almost two months ago. We were gifted with a gorgeous summer and fall. As a result, many of my recent paintings feature the figure outdoors. In general, this is a subject I'd like to paint MUCH more of now that I live in Colorado (I foresee more mountains and waterfalls in future works!). I've found that my palette has had to evolve as I move away from artificial studio light to sunlight. This is especially true of subjects that are outdoors on a cloudy or slightly overcast day. The biggest change was moving from a generally warm palette to a much cooler one, even in the f… Read more »

Outdoor Light and Skin Tones

In the Christmas Spirit

As an adult I have struggled to get excited about the holidays, maybe because of the hefty credit card bills once Christmas presents have been purchased, or maybe because traveling to see family can be exhausting, or maybe because in the midst of "adulting" I forgot what the anticipation  used to feel like. This year, it's all changed. I have a toddler in my midst, and she brings joy and excitement to my life every single day. On top of that, I've taken on a new challenge - to paint a couple of still lives that are aesthetically pleasing but also have some holiday appeal. Not only are they paintings of poinsettias (the most festive plant I can think of), but I made a point of listening to all my favorite Christmas music as I painted them, while sipping red wine and snacki… Read more »

In the Christmas Spirit

Photoshop Tutorial - Cropping & Adjusting Images of Your Artwork

Once upon a time, I had great ambitions of writing a book on Photoshop just for artists. Then life got crazy! Still, I find that in this day and age, too many artists are ill-equipped for the demands of our web-centered world. We have to be able to present quality images of our artwork for our websites, competitions, publications, and digital portfolios, otherwise we look ignorant and unprofessional. That is why I think it's imperative that artists learn a couple things about Photoshop. Today I'm going to share with you how I take a photo of a finished painting and prep it for my digital archives and web use. I am using Photoshop CS5, but any version of Photoshop will work for this, as the tools I use really haven't changed much over the years. I don't use Photoshop Elemen… Read more »

Photoshop Tutorial - Cropping & Adjusting Images of Your Artwork

The Search for Inspiration (New Self Portrait)

I completed this self portrait back in July, but thought I should share the story behind it. The inspiration behind this painting was lack of inspiration. I'm still new at this whole motherhood thing. Some days, like when Cece is teething, I know I'll never step foot in my studio, because those days are hard... In the trenches. All about her. And of course, just four months ago, we packed up our lives and made the move from Texas to Colorado. These huge changes brought about a struggle for me -- I hit a giant creative block. Finally, I decided to stretch and prime about a dozen new canvases of various sizes, hoping they would motivate me to start some new paintings. The strategy worked. I had this idea of doing a self portrait that showed my frustration over having no ideas. The b… Read more »

The Search for Inspiration (New Self Portrait)

New York, Sargent, and Max Ginsburg

It is now officially autumn, and as much as I love summer, I am ready for the change. This morning the air felt different. It was crisp, and smelled of earth. I closed my eyes and drank it in. It was a welcome breath after my big trip to the city a couple weeks ago. Yes, I was in New York! And it still felt like summer there. Normally I try to avoid big crowds, horrible traffic, and polluted air... but I wanted to see the John Singer Sargent show, "Portraits of Artists and Friends," at the Met. This is a must-see for every figurative artist (the show ends on October 4).  It is sooooo worth the hassle! So before I get off my computer and escape back to the fresh air of fall (hiking this weekend, anyone?), I'll give you a brief recap of my New York trip. First thing's firs… Read more »

New York, Sargent, and Max Ginsburg