Monday, December 31, 2012

Love Life

Love Life/ oil on board/ 6" x 6"/ available at Low Country Gallery (HH)
She just looks so happy, enjoying life and a beautiful day at the beach. Seemed like a perfect little painting for the end of 2012 and a new beginning. Wishing you joy this year and many days of dancing on the beach!

Sunday, December 30, 2012

For Beth

Beth's Hand/oil on board/ 4" x 4"
A thank you for allowing me to borrow back a painting to exhibit in the gallery at Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem for the last three months. I have both to give to you. Happy New Year!!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Concentration

Concentration/ oil on board/ 6" x 6"/$125

I knew when I saw the beautiful aqua and lime greens reflected into the sand puddle that I would love painting this little person. This is under painted pink which seems to add dimension to her little body.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sue-churchgrant/concentration/110240

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Link for Featured Artist for Daily Paintworks


I am so honored to have been chosen as the featured artist for the Daily Paintworks (DPW) Artist Spotlight and Giveaway this Friday, Dec 28. For this, the featured artist is interviewed, some of their paintings are highlighted during the interview and this is promoted on the DPW site and DPW Facebook page. The featured artist gives away one of their best paintings to previous DPW buyers from within the past 30 days. Winners are chosen at random.
Link is available tonight: Thursday, December 27, 10 PM Pacific Time

Come on in: Another Painting for the Beach

"Come On In"/ oil on board/5" x 7"/ sold
This painting was painted with an under layer of thin transparent colors. Then, the thicker layers of paint defined the details. Finally, some white was knifed on top for the waves (layering thicker paint catches the light so it appears brighter). I wanted the dog to be moving so many of the edges are softened or lost.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

HH Reflections: A Painting for the Beach

HH Reflections/ oil on board/ 6" x 6"/sold
This royal tern was one I saw while at Karin Jurick's workshop at Hilton Head. It is hard to believe that the workshop was two months ago. I under painted my board with pink instead of black for this painting and I worked to place warm colors next to cool ones to create form.






Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Maybe something will drop...

Patience/ oil on gesso board/4" x 4"/sold
This dog sat patiently waiting for "snack morsels" from nearby children. I made up the background.  I love the way the blues set off the dog's warm orange coat.


Sunday, December 23, 2012

Remember what it did to the cat....

Remember.../ oil on board/ 5" x 7"/sold

This adorable, curious puppy has a beautiful shiny coat and wonderful eyes that I wanted to paint today before the Christmas rush happens (and my painting table gets put way).




Saturday, December 22, 2012

Watching and Waiting

Waiting for Your Return/ oil on board/ 4" x 4"/ $75/available at Suttons Gallery

I wanted to use loose brush work and still capture the form of the dog on this tiny painting.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Not a Creature was Stirring...

Not a Creature was stirring/ oil on board/ 6" x 6" /

"not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there."

Only three days until Christmas. This cat is ready.
Are you?

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sue-churchgrant/not-a-creature-was-stirring/109224

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Puppy's Sisters

Puppy's Sisters/ oil on board/ 4" x 4"

The studies for a large painting of puppy (click for link) and his sisters continue. This tiny painting was done to test for the colors of the white rabbit and bear fur. In addition, some of the blues for the background were explored. Although there is texture in this painting, I didn't use a knife because of its tiny size. Tomorrow, I start the  large one......

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Christmas Donkey

Christmas Donkey/ oil on board/ 4" x 4"/ SOLD
This miniature donkey was also at Christmas at the Farm in Castalia, NC last weekend. As the background evolved in Christmas reds, the little guy seemed to require a seasonal necklace.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Watchful Waiting

Watchful Waiting/ oil on board/ 4" x 4"/ SOLD
This hopeful pup was waiting for a child to drop something at "Christmas at the Farm" in Castalia, NC.





Sunday, December 16, 2012

Christmas Clydesdales

Christmas Clydesdales/ watercolor/ 6" x 8"

These beautiful gentle horses were decorated for their Holiday Parade at Christmas at the Farm in Castalia, NC.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sue-churchgrant/christmas-clydesdales/108347

Friday, December 14, 2012

Christmas Amaryllis

Christmas Amaryllis/ 5"x6"/$75

Beautiful blooms just ahead of the holidays. The background is the visual compliment of the bright red to "push" the red further.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sue-churchgrant/christmas-amaryllis/108086


Thursday, December 13, 2012

Playing in Puddles

Playing in Puddles/ oil on gesso board/ 6" x 6"/ gifted

I am still learning how to apply paint with a knife. I love the texture  and the edges that a knife creates.


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Reflections: Jam Jars #3

Reflections: Jam Jars #3/ oil on gesso board/ 5" x 7" / SOLD
The possible compositions with these little jars seem endless. Their tops can be viewed with just the rims. The jars can change positions. The colors can reflect onto or into the background. They can be back lit, or seen in different color tones depending on the time of day. This is #3 in the series.




Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Christmas #1

Christmas #1/ watercolor/ 6.75" x 8.5"/ 
I think that it is difficult to paint  poinsettias well.  This is my second attempt this year and I know I will try another.  In Robert Genn's Painters Keys art quotations, I found this quote from Michelangelo " Lord, grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish."


Monday, December 10, 2012

Practice Puppy

Practice Puppy, oil on gesso board/ 6" x 6"

This adorable puppy has lived a loved life. Once, he even flew across the country by himself to find his master. His tail is a tattered strip of worn, stroked velveteen. His right shoulder seam is open. He has two equally-loved rabbit sisters.  I am lucky to be painting all of them as soon as I have a large enough board.
Stay tuned!

Sunday, December 9, 2012

HH mug #4

HH mug #4/ oil on board/ 4" x 4"
The drawing makes the difference.

This is the first mug shot that I have done for our challenge that looks like the person (even as a sad, hardened "criminal").

I had help since I was late with mine. Maria Bennett Hock (link) had already helped with how to execute the glasses and Kat Coy(link) had suggested orange for the lipstick.

You can enjoy the wonderful descriptions that Wanda Rottenfusser has accompanying each "criminal" you can visit the link on the HH mug #3 post.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Kentucky Foal #5

Kentucky Foal #5/ watercolor/ 6" x 8.5"/ SOLD

I love painting these little horses. Each is a study in color. This one had cobalt purple legs and lots of green in the coat.




Friday, December 7, 2012

Okay, I'll Go For a Walk

"Okay, I'll go for a walk"/ oil on board/ 5" x 7"/ NFS

The dog's head is gently bowed.  The leash is slack and dragging on the ground as the "master" takes this kind animal on a walk.
I have painted this image three times and each time I love it more.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Zinnia Color Dots #2

Zinnia Color Dots#2/ oil on board/ 6" x 6"/sold

I like how the color dots create the texture and the form.



Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Jam Jars Study #2

Jam Jars Study #2/ oil on board/ 6" x 6"/ sold

This study was photographed with different light and formatted as a square. I wanted the sunlight to come through the jars. I love the bounced and reflected color.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Do You Want Some Milk With That?

Do you want some milk with that?/ oil on board/ 6" x 6"/ sold

Lots of knife-texture in this one.




Monday, December 3, 2012

Learning to paint a portrait

#3/ oil on board/4" x 4"
Recently I was lucky enough to attend a workshop by Karin Jurick. As I already mentioned, Karin taught herself to paint portraits by painting mug shots. In her workshop, she had all of us paint our own mug shot. In the tradition of last year's Hilton Head class, our class is painting each other, posed as felons (unhappy, scowling, "arrested" expressions). This is the third of our class series and the first one I am publishing here. I love the colors. However, the likeness is not correct. Therefore, I have something to work on next week! If you want to see all the descriptions and the other class mug shots you can click here.



Sunday, December 2, 2012

Jam Jars Study #1

Jam Jars Study #1/ oil on board/ 5" x 7"/sold

These beautiful jam jars are from Colonial Weekend in Enfield. Probably the jams taste wonderful but tasting will have to follow painting!



Saturday, December 1, 2012

Pansy Kindness

Pansy Kindness/ oil on board/ 6" x 6" /gifted


Earlier this fall, someone removed  pansies from my front porch. This was not a minor feat because these pansies were planted in large incredibly heavy blue stone pots. These pots had been replanted seasonally for the last almost 20 years. A truly kind friend left these beauties in their place.