My Balloon

My Balloon, 20 x 20

Well, MY balloon is floating right now - last weekend was just great -- first I taught THE most fun workshop ever at Chattanooga Art Works (sponsored by Lisa Seago).  We had a wonderful time, painting from life, laughing, sipping a bit of wine (!), and just connecting.  There were 15 people from as far away as Indiana and Ohio, and of course, Georgia and Tennessee; Lisa's studio is beautiful (see below, in a photo supplied by my friend, Kathy Cousart), and we rocked it out.  Everyone painted well and they sent me off to Huntsville, Alabama on Saturday afternoon.  I put on some under-eye concealer and a fancy dress and attended the Museum Gala at the wonderful Huntsville Art Museum; the people of Huntsville are amazingly gracious and they welcomed me and Michael to the max!  It was a beautiful party, a successful and magical evening;  I was very honored to have been chosen as the featured artist, and basically, blown away by it all...

CHATTANOOGA:  Workshop Day One/ Rounding up the troops for a petite demo

 CHATTANOOGA:  Day Two/ Doing a morning demo before everyone did 3 paintings that day (!)

HUNTSVILLE:  Entrance to the "Nancy Franke" room...

HUNTSVILLE:  Front-on view of the featured artist area; all of my work was beautifully placed...

HUNTSVILLE:  Here's the corner with "My Balloon," which floated high that night!!

p.s.  there are three spaces left for the April 5 and 6th Chattanooga workshop if you'd like to join us...

Leap Ahead

It's time for a fresh leap in my painting! Tomorrow I leave for Chattanooga to teach a two-day workshop at Chattanooga Artworks, then Michael and I head to Huntsville AL for the Museum Gala on Saturday evening.  I am excited about doing these things and excited for a fresh start this spring in my painting.  Just ordered some new panels today with a more textured linen, ordered lots of big tubes of paint, and my intent is to change it up, paint more freely, and pile on the paint.  I guess Leap Year is a good time to leap into new territory... this painting, done last month, is called Tulip Patterns, 24 x 12; I like the vertical format!  

Subtle Color, Past and Present

Simply Roses, 2012, 30 x 24

Back to the white roses again (I asked Michael for some white ones for Valentines' Day)!  I still really enjoy playing with pale tones on pale backgrounds -- think I'll try some stacked creamware next and then maybe some really pale skies and sand (am at the beach right now, so that's all around).

Over the past few years, I have been experimenting with pales.  By nature I tend to be a colorist, and after checking out the 32 little paintings pictured in my last post, one could see the colors abounding in most of them.  So the subtleties are a challenge for moi!  

The first group of three pales, done in 2011, are below:

Don't Tell, 2011, 36 x 36

Winter Roses, 16 x 12, 2011

Petite Surprise, 16 x 12, 2011

Looking through the 2010 painting files, I could only find one of the subtle ones.  On this dress, I resorted to outlines in various places to establish directional lines and for definition (you can see why, since there surely isn't much value range here; that's when a dark background comes in handy). When doing floral subject matter on pale ground, as above, the stems in clear vases add direction and the darker leaves help define form.

Tiny Dress, 2010, 30 x 24

In the 2009 files, I found this floral with pears to be among the palest, yet it has more color than those above.  I like it -- perhaps the underpainting of dark red unifies the background and defines the left flower, making a harmonious whole.

Table for Three, 2009, 24 x 24

Back in 2008, I did my first white roses, and there were LOTS of leaves, which are more clearly defined than recent ones.  Below the roses is my first white box with white ribbon from 2008.  It's fun to see old and new takes on a similar theme ... 

Camellia Leaves and Roses, 2008, 20 x 16

Surprise Me, 2008, 12 x 12

That Would be 32!

More Radishes, 6 x 6, painted February 12th  -- part of the group!

I kept counting and re-counting, but here are the 32 small paintings -- all 6 x 6 -- for the patrons of the Huntsville Museum Gala in March of this year

Yes, I was going to have absolutely NO problem doing the small patron gifts for the gala event in Huntsville, AL the first weekend in March. I was just going to breeze through these warm-up paintings last November and December and easily have the number requested by the co-chairs (two charming gals from Huntsville who donate tons of time and inspiration to the museum gala, at which I am this year's featured artist).  Need I say that last Tuesday I had far short of the required number?? Having sold or given away some of the intended pieces, I still at NO time had anywhere close to 32. So for the last week, I have been steadily at the easel.  Again, I am reminded of and truly appreciate the steady output of the daily painters, who create 300 + each year with skill and aplomb!

Meanwhile, the boxes were sent off today, with 32 little artworks between glassine paper and bubble wrap, all done and gone and --yippee-- we leave to visit dear friends in Florida tomorrow!

Radishes

Radishes, on my counter, leaves already wilting

Well, I just love radishes:  the crispiness, the taste with salt (though I haven't tried them with butter too, which is a popular way to serve them), the contrast of the red and green, the firm round shapes with the messy leaves.   Guess I am in a bit of a radish phase.

Radishes, in the market at Coustellet (love the white tips on these French ones)

Radish Rhythm, 16 x 20, first painting I did of radishes, 2008

Radishes and White Roses, Oil Sketch, 16 x 12, done in 2010 

Set Up of Radishes with Hydrangeas in a Tin Can (2011)

My block-in of same, having changed tin can to glass jar; meanwhile, entire painting was soon 

wiped off and forgotten!

 Radishes at Rest, 6 x 6, done in 2011, now it lives in Paris : )

Radish Study, 2011, very few leaves, really free and sketchy

I think as far as painting them goes, I have a way to go -- But I am still enjoying them almost every day in salads or alone with some fleur de sel purchased in St. Remy last September!

Long Time, No Blog!

Tulips in Mercury Glass, 18 x 14, Oil Sketch

I've been accomplishing things, and having fun too... all paintings for the Huntsville Museum Gala this March are actually in Huntsville, I have been painting with less investment and more freedom, I taught THE most fun workshop last Sunday at Huff Harrington, and we leave tomorrow to see the kids in Alaska (not one's fave destination for January, but oh well)!  So things are good, perking along -- I am stretching my wings and hoping to sail this year on positive energy, and on appreciation for all of my new and old friends in this art life!

Reunion Provencal!

Hillside Memories, 20 x 20

Fun evening last night...some of the wonderful Provence travelers from last September joined me and Michael at our home for a petite reunion.  Everyone brought champagne, wine, hors d'oeuvres, various spices, dips, cheeses, and even some paintings!  We remembered our delightful 3 hour (oui!) lunches at some of the most charming restaurants in the countryside, as well as beautiful evenings at Les Murets, overlooking the Luberon.  

Luberon Vista, 20 x 20

New experiences and friends await as we anticipate this September's version of L'essence de Provence! Love it.