Nude #4... Charcoal drawing

9 by 11 charcoal sketch

Greta, a nude for today, a quick sketch from life

SOLD

I love having the opportunity to draw from life and do so for several hours per week. Most of my sketches are pretty fast... less than 20 minutes. This teaches me to see and grasp the big shapes quickly to block in the movement and not get bogged down with small details. Sometimes I go back in and touch up some of the details but as in this piece this is exactly as it was drawn.

If you would like to purchase this nude, it is for sale for $25.00 the size is 11 by 9.
shantmarie@aol.com ....email me

A painting A day - "Red Roses"

This is painted wet into wet. The background is painted first then allowed to dry. After it is dry, you paint the roses wet into wet. This means you paint one petal at a time and introduce very dry paint into the wet paint ( Say the dark red into the lighter red to form the interior of the rose,) then this is allowed to bleed. You pull out the lights and your done. Its mostly stoke work, another way would be to double load your brush and form the petals with the dark side forming the interior and the light side of the brush forming the edge. You can add leaves or whatever when everything has dried.

Red roses is $40.00 6 inches by 9 inches shantmarie@aol.com

Calmness a painting a day

Shantmarie@aol.com

In looking back over the last several paintings I can see that I'm painting from a different place. I don't mean a physical place but a mindset. I'm distilling scenes and not literally painting them. As a daily painter with more than 200 dailies painted so far, I can see trends and attitudes reflect back to me from my work. Its interesting to see the subtle changes taking place. Every once in a while, I do a commission and then it seems like its all technique. These little daily paintings allow me the freedom to paint anything, really anything can be worthy of being the focus for the day. This freedom to paint anything also allow you to explore various things you may not in larger works. You are more adventurous and less predictable. Its as if we have been trained(even as artists) to do what you know works. With the dailies its a bit different, you don't really loose anything, the supplies are minimal, the time only an hour or two, so you might explore the way light recedes thru the woods or you may try to push texture, hue or chroma. You may push it too far and figure out whats too much, all the same your work doesn't suffer because its just a wee little painting and there is someone out there who will love it. This need to explore and test is an important element into developing your style. You'll know when it speaks to you, you'll respond to it, & then, you'll know this is also your voice. An artist's journey isn't much different from others, it just takes a few more twists and turns, that's all. "Calmness" is a small painting and will be for sale for $40.00. size is 10.5 by 5 inches.

City Streets - a painting a day

This may look familiar to you... it should, its the other half to "evening newstand" the painting I painted on Tuesday. I wasn't sure about the piece all together so I cut it in half and put in some focal areas to each side and now I think it can stand on its own.

I'm calling this "City Streets". The size on this is a little smaller then my regular 6 by 9. its 4.5 by 3 inches

Hiker - a painting a day

This painting is 15 by 22 and is for sale for $250.00. It's a half sheet watercolor and will shipped anywhere in the USA for an additional $7.50. Email me if interested shantmarie@aol.com

A painting A day - Pastel fields

After yesterday's hard edged bright painting, I did a three sixty and painted this soft edged very light landscape.
There are so many different ways to paint something, I 've found I have a very distint style and yet I still like to try on other types of painting styles and techniques for a change. My personal style actually is very bright with lots of darks for contrast. To paint this little 6 by 9 inch painting, in the wet in to wet style is about as far away from my personal style as I can go.

I hope you like it. I will put it on auction tomorrow. Starting bid at $20.00

Waiting for spring - a painting a day

The name of this painting says it all. I love the grays of winter, but like most artists, I love color. I have always loved spring. Since the colors of spring are always so bright or so they appear after the long winter months this painting reminds me of flower gardening and a early spring. flower gardening has always been one of my hobbies and the last few years I haven't gardened as much as I used too. So when I was trying to decide what to paint, I looked back at all the snow paintings and decided I would paint something colorful.

I painted these from my imagination as I do so many of my paintings, so don't ask what they are.... OK, if they must have a name.... their " shawntees".

I know, I know, kinda lacking in the name department, but I have never been very good at naming things.

Evening Newsstand - A painting a day

Evening Newsstand

I painted this small watercolor today while in our new open studio group. An open studio is essentially a place where artists get together each working independently on their own projects . Our group is small right now only eight members, because we have only been taking on new members by invitation. We hope to build up the membership into a larger group as we see how things progress.

Open studios are a great way for artists to get together for fellowship and in some ways it can be a creative think tank. We bounce ideas off of one another and critique the work if asked. Its a non-competitive atmosphere where an artist can work with other artists while doing their own thing. Producing art is a solitary endeavor most of the time with artists working alone in their studios. An open studio gives you a chance to work side by side with other artists and to see how each person develops a piece of art work. Its great for all artists and I encourage you to attend an open studio if you have not done so. This piece is a bit smaller then most of my pieces and is for sale for $25.00 USD. Size is 4 by 5.75 inches.

Snow days... a painting a day

This painting is a 6 by 9 inch watercolor and will shipped to you for $40.00 + ( for shipping) 5.50 .

shantmarie@aol.com drop me a note in my email.

Approaching storm a painting a day

I always find weather interesting. I love it when I am driving out from a sunny spot right into a storm. Its so cool how everything can change in a matter of miles or minutes. There it is right in front of you and as you drive into it, the colors around you change as well as the temperature. This is 6 by 9 inches shantmarie@aol.com

Soft Roses- a painting a day

This painting is done in the wet into wet style. It is very impressionistic and nothing like some of my other realistic roses. I like the way each rose is definitely there but every detail is not. Size is 11 by 14.
My daughter is arriving tonight from California and I always think of her when I see pink roses.

California - A painting a day

This isn't a little daily painting but an 11 by 15 which can be framed in a 16 by 20 standard size frame. I will ship it to you anywhere with a mat for $200.00 email me at shantmarie@aol.com

I miss California at times and the variety of landscape you find. This little farm scene is very much still a part of California. Most people assume its all paved and glitz. It isn't. This is an area near the sierra pacific mountains where the high desert meets the foothills. You can find these sleepy little farms and it's very beautiful with the mountains so near.


Its Friday morning and I wake up at 5:30. am Still a little sleepy and not quite awake, I turn on the light to find Kitty paw prints leading down from my painting table to a chair and across the bigger work table, down onto the veneer floor and then trailing across the white tile floor to the cat food bowl. Some time during the night, the cat has stuck her foot into the indigo or Payne's grey paint and decided to do a little painting herself. Then I go looking for the cat. Her whole foot, leg and shoulder is a deep blue, apparently she stuck her foot into the paint then decided to get something to eat, became thirsty so went into the bathroom to the toilet. She must have had a bad night cause It looks like she slipped in a bit because thee water was blue, the toilet seat was decorated with paw prints. It looked like she must have touched the water in the toilet to that thick paint on her paw. Of course it spread, and she must of tried to get some off, She had it on her face too. Poor thing, When I found her it was dried hard and was caked on her fur. I had to wash her, not a cat's favorite thing and now she is a much calmer gentler blue but still one very blue cat.

I had just filled my paint tins yesterday and they were still juicy and moist ( I put a whole BIG tube in each)so it wouldn't have taken much to make such a mess. Any way.... that's how I started out this very cool day in February, hope yours wasn't so crazy.

I rented the third season of the " Sopranos", I never saw it when it was on HBO so now I'm behind. I wanted to go to the movies today but never really got around to it. The dvds will have to do.

Next Generation - a painting a day

I was rummaging thru my flat files looking for a mat for a painting I sold and this little painting was tucked in under the mats. It had a terribly bad dark passage where the little pine tree is and I decided I would try to save it. I could of gone the mixed media route but liking a challenge, I decided to see what I could do with watercolor. I painted the little tree over the dark passage and made it the focal point, darkened up the front and the sides and tried to pull some light areas here and there. I think it works! If you like this painting just email me and it can be shipped to your home. Its 25.00. quick lesson: The way to make the grass is very simple, you lay down a light color ( say gold orchre)on the paper where the grass is to be, then while the light color is wet you paint over it with an intense color,( dark brown say sepia) you let the intense color soak in but do not allow it to dry. When the dark color is almost dry, use the end of your paint brush or a pin knife or palette knife to pull out the grasses. You can get carried away with this, so catch yourself before you put grass everywhere, its kinda fun!

Valentine Abstract a painting a day

Happy Valentine's Day, I have a thing for Chocolate and I ate my share today. I'm supposed to be on a diet but I figure there is always tomorrow. I hope you enjoy your day and the art.

Magenta snow, a painting a day

I was very busy today, but I did get a chance to paint this morning with my new art group. I'm calling it magenta snow because when I woke up this morning, it wasn't snowing but there was a beautiful magenta sky and it lit the trees and everything in sight. I knew I would use that color in my next painting and here it is. This is only $25.00 as is . The size of the art is 6 by 9 inches and will fit into an 11 by 14 frame with mat. I can make a custom mat if interested for $5.00, email me if interested. Shantmarie@aol.com

Abstract Koi - a liquid lanscape painting a day

This painting is still wet, I just finished it minutes ago.
This small 6 by 9 inch painting was painted in a more abstract way. Yet the fish still have a realistic quality. I love the way the background could look like so many things. That's the beauty of a playful abstract background such as this, You can decide what you see.
This is for sale for $25.00. It would frame nicely in an 11 by 14 inch frame.
My email is
shantmarie@aol.com , I take pay pal and checks. email if interested.

Snow Bliss- a painting a day

This little painting is 5.5 by 9 inches, it was painted today in basically the same style as my other snow paintings. This one uses a few more hard edges and has lots of color. It is for sale for $25.00 and can be purchased by emailing me at shantmarie@aol.com I take pay pal or checks.

Early Snow ll - not a painting a day

I painted this painting yesterday. I am working on some BIG paintings and I have several series in mind, one will be landscapes with Lake Wylie as one of the main focal area of interest, the other will be a water series, including some of my Koi but I'm going to investigate some other areas. I can't say more now because I don't want to over plan. I like to be open and allow my intuitive side to dictate where each painting is going. I start out with an idea, usually a color concept and that's it. I'll use photos sometimes but its usually for detail reference and not for a slavishly done replica of the photo. With watercolor its in the mediums nature to be independent and I find by allowing it the freedom to move and adjusting to whats happening on paper as I go along, gives the piece its own voice.
This piece is 22 by 30 and will not be for sale just yet, as I keep these larger paintings to show in a grouping. If you interested, I could let you know when it will be available. email me at shantmarie@aol.com.

Snowbank ll A painting a day

I painted this painting the other day and wanted to make a few changes. Look back and see the original. It isn't as colorful and has lots of soft edges. I love soft edges but I thought it would be fun to try it with the hard edges. I find it interesting how you can change a few things and get a whole new look.

This painting is not for sale.

Pacific Northwest - a painting a day

I was very busy today, I'm working on two larger paintings and of course doing all the usual stuff everyone has to do everyday. I painted this little painting just minutes ago, I used to live on the west coast and I love the way the rocks look like totems as they sit in the water.
This is for sale for $25.00, the size is 6 by 9 email if interested shantmarie@ao.com

Fire Flower - A Painting a day

This piece was painted several weeks ago for my daily painting....and I wasn't happy with it, so it was stuck in the flat file . I pulled it out today and decided to pump up both the color and the value and now like it! It painted it in the same wet style as my Koi are painted. Lots of putting in the paint then pulling out the paint, putting it back in again... a constant push and pull which gives a certain life to the piece.
This is 7 inches by 11 inches or a 1/8 th of a sheet of watercolor paper.
This is for sale for $45.00 USD plus $5.00 for shipping. if interested please email me shantmarie@aol.com

Snow bank - a painting a day

SOLD
Here is a 6 by 9 inch painting of a snow bank. I like to put some warmth in every snow painting I paint. I find that paintings of only snow with all the blues and greys are very cold and uninviting. By putting a little warmth somewhere in the painting, it gives the viewer a sense of being able to enjoy the scene. Email me if interesting in buying this painting it's for sale for $25.00. shantmarie@aol.com I take Pay pal and checks.

Snow trees - a painting a day

I painted this on clay board, the size is 3 by 5 and is for sale for 25.00 It would frame really well in an 8 by 10 frame or even an 11 by 14 frame if matted. Or it could be framed without a mat and keep its small size.

I love the way trees look after a freeze. Did you see the photo on the front page of the New York Times today? Wow what a great photo. The mist rising in the background and the snow on the ground a light blue gray with a sky that had a yellow glow. Two silhouette figures and one tall black tree for interest and you have a beautiful scene and I wish I had been there. Shantmarie@aol.com

Beach fisherman- A painting a day

SOLD

This small 6 by 9 inch painting is painted on a page from a arches watercolor travel book.

Its for taking with you for plien aire, to capture watercolor sketches. I wanted to try it before I take it tomorrow to paint. Its our second meeting with a new art group. In fact, I am helping to start it up. Its called " The Tega Cay fine arts association" We 're putting together a group of fine artists that would like to paint together once a week in the Lake Wylie area. There are only three of us founding members so far as we are getting the By-laws and such written up. Then we'll send out press releases and invitations to other local artist. Its kinda exciting. We already got a local coffee shop to put up our paintings and reserve a wall for our group.

If your interested in this painting just email me, its $25.00. Shantmarie@aol.com

Early Light a painting a day

This little gem was painted yesterday on a new (for me) ground. It is called AMPERSAND or GESSOBORD. I thought I would try out a small piece ( 3 by 5) Compared to watercolor paper, Its almost too easy to paint on, I could get used to this. It wipes out completely back to white, it didn't glaze so well ( tends to pick up the last layer of paint,) but it takes very wet washes as well as thick dry paint. The transparency of the paint is actually helped by the super whiteness of the ground. Because it isn't as absorbent as paper, the color stays wet and workable for a long time. I painted this little piece quickly and easily without any problems. I just painted it from my imagination started with the background. I painted the flowers negatively as I would do in watercolor. I'm sure it lends itself to mixed media and can be varnished or sprayed to fix the color.

If it isn't too expensive I may buy some larger pieces of the stuff because you don't have to use glass which would save some money and looks like watercolor without the framing costs. I wouldn't need mats either which get expensive.

If you are familiar with this product let me know what to expect, I don't want to make an investment in more art supplies only to find something isn't working till I've already made the commitment.

The price on this little piece is $25.00 USD and can be shipped to you for an additional $3.00 ASAP.

Deer creek - a painting a day

The snow was almost melted in this shady spot in the woods, when I saw it on Thursday, I'm sure it all gone now. This painting is 6 by 9 and is for sale for $45.00 write me at shantmarie@aol.com

Snow drifts a painting a day

The snow has melted here in Lake Wylie. When I walked the dogs this morning, you could still find plenty in the woods but out on the streets its back to normal. Grey skies and cool weather is in the forecast. Who knows maybe we'll get more.

For today I painted this snow painting and it's for sale for $45.00 The size is 6 by 9 and will be shipped USPS.

I'm calling it Snow drifts.

Lake Mist- a painting a day

I painted a painting the other day and I wanted to develop it a little more. This is the same spot on the lake but changed a few tings and painted it on larger paper. Living near the lake its hard not to be influenced by the daily barrage of visual stimulus. I stand and stare out at certain areas of the lake trying to build a memory of colors, lines, shapes and of course values. When I get home I usually paint them a bit bolder and brighter but that's OK because that's how memory works isn't it. Also it's part of my style. This is a 15 by 22 and is painted like all of my work on artist grade paper with only the best paint. If your interested in buying this painting please go to shantmarie@aol.com. Without mat or frame it's $200.00 If it doesn't sell right away, it will be hung in a few weeks at a local coffee shop.

It snowed here today for the first time in a long time. Now I think a snow scene is in your future. Check back with me to see what I've painted.

I'm off to make some chili and have a cup of tea. Just be glad I don't paint food!