Rush of Yellow Lupine

8x10 oil on linen

I went out last week one day on a photo shoot and the wildflowers in this spot were spectacular. Spring was slow to arrive this year...actually I think it skipped us completely and now we are in our summer season. We are the lucky ones without the extreme heat, enjoying the 80 degree temperatures, LOVE this kind of summer.

Thank you for stopping by!  Yes, training the puppy has slowed me down a bit but I am sure enjoying her and the kitten. A whole lot of laughter at our place. :-)

Winter Symphony

Palette Knife on gessoed hardwood panel 13x18x1 1/2

Spring/Summer is slow to come to us this year. Strange weather indeed, so instead of waiting for the fall/winter to post this painting I decided to go ahead and post it now. A very lovely painting with lots of paint but there are some areas with very little if any paint that gives it the sparkle of sunshine glinting off the snow.

Meet my new assistants!

Bailey the pup

Jake the kitty

Bailey 6 weeks old

Jake 5 weeks old

When the work day is done the fun begins! 

Have a nice day! Thank you for stopping by.

Setting Sun

12x16 Oil on linen panel

 An appropriate post today, my prayers go out to those who have been ravished by the storms, the sun will shine again.

This is the scene from my back windows, a previous post was from the front porch. I don't mind so much doing the dinner dishes while I watch the sunsets unfold.

Hope you have a great day, thank you for stopping by.

Pretty White Orchid

16x8 oil on Linen Panel

I bought this pretty white orchid to paint a few months ago, it's gorgeous blooms have amazed me with how long they have lasted. I have procrastinated so long that it really is almost done now and I'm afraid with my indoor gardening skills it may never bloom again, poor thing. I think the painting turned out nice though and now I've saved the last blooms forever!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day.

Arroyo Vista View

8x12 oil on Linen panel

One of the views from my front porch, nice isn't it? Last year at this time I painted this scene and it was a disaster and is in the "burn me" box. After I finished this painting I dug out last years just for fun to see my progress. I had a wonderful laugh and gave myself a pat on the back, got one from my husband and daughter-n-law too!  Now I'm going out to Burn that Box! LOL

Here are a couple of paintings from the last 2 classes, I know some of you are interested in seeing what is pushing me outside of MY Box. Stacks of chairs and rusty wheels...stuff I would not choose to paint on my own but has helped in my growth.

 Have a great day! Thanks for Visiting!

Early Morning Shadows

10x12 Oil on Linen

On this spot of the road if you look the opposite way is a gorgeous breathtaking view of the glaciers in the Ruby Mountains, however, the little aspen grove behind me with the sun peaking through is what really grabbed me and begged me to be painted.

Here's to simple pleasures in unexpected places, especially here in the high deserts of Nevada!

Thanks for visiting!

Spring Forsythia

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16x20 Oil on linen

I am pleased with this painting,  but I am toying with the idea of cropping it down.  I'm still debating if I have too much empty foreground, so the size could change. I had a lot of challenges in this painting, one is when it was time to start painting the forsythia branches that I would be able to put them in without making them look too heavy for the painting, the goal was to make it light and airy with a natural feel and the second challenge, making sure my glass vessels don't fall over!

I feel I need a whole lot of practice with this sort of painting but oh, I do enjoy the challenge!

The cool, wet, windy weather is hanging on this spring, but I am feeling the desperate need to get out of doors to paint....hang on to your hat because I don't think I can wait much longer   :)

Thank you for visiting!

Class Room Studies II & New Studio Work

Here are some more class room studies from the Ron Arthaud class I'm taking. It is so fun and very different for me to explore the simple shapes and passages of colors set out before us. I am always intrigued from the moment I get to class, seeing what kind of STUFF gets tossed in the middle of the room to paint from all angles so that everyone can find something interesting. I am still working with a limited palette and really I have no desire to expand on it at this moment. Part of the fun for me is to see if I can mix the huge range of colors I see with only the basics.

9x12 Oil on Linen   "Let's take a break"

I'm considering doing a series of "BREAK TIME paintings" What do you think? I loved the hats that one of the ladies brought in and of course adding the cup tells a story!

9x12 Oil on panel

A rusty oil can, cloth and the frightening part for me a white hand cast.I am glad I pushed past my fear to get those fingers in there! I would like to do some more studies with the casts.

8x10 Oil on panel

Bags, bags and more bags! Oh and a rusty can smack in the middle to break up all that paper....here I was concerned about the red, as red commands your attention! I really enjoyed painting the bags so much that I've worked on some more in my studio.

WHAT'S Happening in the STUDIO?

16x20 Oil on Linen

 A very nice still life is started while the wind is raging outside - hopefully I won't "Ru in it"!

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Thanks for visiting! :)

Aspen Glow - Large Palette Knife

24x171/2 Oil on gessoed hardboard
no framing needed 
- Palette Knife Painting -
SOLD - Thank you!

FUN, FUN, FUN!!! If you asked me what I love the most about palette knife painting it would be hard to pinpoint one simple answer. I seem to just go to another place in time. I am not so serious and don't usually over think the process because I know that I'm not trying to get little details right or exactly this or that line right. I do think a lot about the values and whether to use thick or thin paint, if I don't get those right you wouldn't be able to tell what is what from a distance. Ohhh, and don't even get me started on how much fun it is to layer on the THICK paint! 

This painting turned out even better than I'd hoped for. 

If your interested in this painting please contact me
Kathryn@anaturalframe.com

Here are a couple of photo's showing the process.

Gorgeous Thick Details

 

original small study

 

 Sketches for the larger painting

Mixing and applying paint

Thanks so much for visiting!

Classroom Studies

12x16 oil on canvas - Simple Shapes study

10x12 Oil on linen - Paper Bag Study

8x10 Oil on Linen - Plein air study, just gathering information

Here are couple of really fun studies from the class I'm taking with Ron Arthaud. This class is very laid back and fun. Most definitely making me think outside of my Box! The last is a quick plein air study from earlier this week when I was able to get out in MY classroom in the snow for painting and a little cross country skiing before the weather took a turn for the worst.

 

Below is the beginning of a larger palette knife painting.

For this painting I work on a section and let it setup (dry) for a few days so when I start putting on the next layer of thick paint it won't muddy up my sky and distant mountains. I am sure praying this painting turns out...love it so far!

Palette Knife Oil on chessoed hardboard

Hope you enjoy today's post, comments and emails are always welcome.

 Thanks for stopping by!