No Closer

I was just informed  that this painting "Kookaburra" sold at the national juried Southern Water Show held in Texas!!

"No Closer"/ 7 x 13/ oil on canvas on board/ Low Country Gallery HH

 This is today's study. I am working on small discrete strokes.

Royal Terns

Royal Terns/ watercolor on aquabord/ 6 x 6/SOLD

This is another small watercolor on aquabord. I love having the background on these the bright white of the board.  Because my favorite part of these birds is their bright orange beak, I elected to add that as a design element to the background. It might also brighten a sun room.

Spring Tulip Study #2

Spring Tulip Study #2/ oil on board/ 7 x5/ $125

I have been interested in high key backgrounds. Perhaps this is inspired by the wonderful spring light.
This is the last of my sidewalk tulips....peonies and irises are coming....

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sue-churchgrant/spring-tulip-study-2/217192

Rabbit Study

Rabbit Study/ oil on board/ 5 x5/ Low Country Gallery HH

A small painting done for an upcoming spring show/sale....details soon.
The underpainting had the earth tone background which camouflaged the rabbit in my yard, and didn't set the rabbit up in the painting......
I love the blue instead.

Chicken Study #4

Chicken #4/ oil on board/ 4 x 4/ SOLD

Another chicken (rooster) study. Again, this was painted on a black background so some of the black shows through.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sue-churchgrant/chicken-4/216567



A dear friend bought a different chicken and framed it in a simple black frame. It looked wonderful in her neutral kitchen with other beautiful small paintings.
You can see it below.

Revised "Digs"

Revised "Digs"/ watercolor on aquabord/ 6 x 6/ $75

Here is the same painting as yesterday with small changes in color, value and edges.

You can see below the effect of sharp lines (hard edges) around the dog's left eye. On the revised painting, the edges of this eye are lost, the highlight is painted out, all by adding a brown wash.
The sharp -edged white patches on the dog's face are overpainted with a light warm value wash. The snout is elongated by more defined values (strengthening the darks and lightening the lights).

A special person commented that the original version should have been titled "Where is my Prosac?" This anxious effect is amplified by the repeated strong orange/red colors and all the hard edges. Hope this has been helpful. Happy Easter!


http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sue-churchgrant/revised-digs/216325

Digs

This cute dog visited me yesterday. He is elderly and deaf and needs a new home so my dog friend took him in.
I wanted to paint him on aquabord to allow the white of the background to become the white of the dog.

Spring Tulip Study #1

Spring Tulip Study #1/ oil on board/ 6 x 6/ $100

I wanted a high key painting for these beautiful spring tulips. Next, I wanted thick paint and here is the result. Now I will paint some red and yellow ones.....

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sue-churchgrant/spring-tulip-study-1/216011

Version 2

Fishing: Version 2/ oil on canvas board/ 12 x 9/ Low Country Gallery HH

Sometimes, you see a painting in your mind that doesn't show up on the canvas. This is that painting. I love this image. I also love this painted version as much or more (depends on my mood) as version #1. I know, however, that I will paint this again.

I was interested to discover recently that many of the past masters executed many versions of their finest paintings. (Please remember I am in my art training, I did not study art. All that I know is being learned late in my life) When I look as the many versions of the masters' works together, I love each one.  I feel in good company.

Poppies and Daisies

Poppies and Daisies/ oil on canvas board/ 6 x 8/ $135

This was painted from a photograph from last spring. My poppies and daisies this year are up and trying to stay warm as this last front comes through. However, I can't wait.

The little pig from yesterday was named a DPW Painting of the Day!!

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sue-churchgrant/poppies-and-daisies/215258

Wilber

Wilbur/ watercolor on aquabord/ 6 x6/ SOLD

This is a watercolor on aquabord which means that after it is sealed or fixed, it will not need to be under glass but can be framed like an oil. I have used a spray fixative on other paintings like this. This painting, however, I think I will try a wax finish.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sue-churchgrant/wilber/215007

Spring Daffodil

Spring Daffodil/ watercolor/ 5.75 x 5.75/ $75

This is a study of the light. The blues are a combination of indanthrone, cobalt and iridescent electric blue.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sue-churchgrant/spring-daffodil/214400

Silk painting using seta colors

Silk anemone/ fabric paint on silk/ 12 x 12

I remain fascinated by textiles. I have experimented with patchwork, quilting, and thread painting. I started with traditional silk painting more than 20 years ago. I loved the vibrancy of the silk dyes but I disliked the "flatness" created by the resist lines. I have tried using soy milk, and sizing to work without lines. Today, I tried seta color paint and water soluble resist. In my hands, the resist is a little thin and drips. The paints mix fairly well. I think it is worth another try.

Summer Flowers/ oil on board 6 x 6/ $100

This was a fun painting. I wanted to try the "landscape white" from Gamblin that I recently received. Landscape white is a fast-drying paint that can be used plein aire to put in a background sky and then paint the trees etc without fighting lots of wet paint. I used a variety of yellows and greens mixed with landscape white to quickly put in the green background. I then painted the flowers with thick paint marks.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sue-churchgrant/summer-flowers/213835

Sunshine

Sunshine/ oil on board/ 6 x 6/ $100

It rained almost all of today so I found a jar lit by sunshine and altered the colors to make the entire little painting glow. This brightened my day. The irises are up.The tulips are almost open...the Chinese peonies have beautiful buds......spring (including the showers) is finally here!

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sue-churchgrant/sunshine/213658

Chance to Win

Bantum/ oil on board/ 4x4/ $75
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sue-churchgrant/bantum/212811

I spent another fabulous day at Sylvan Heights yesterday. Just before you turn into the entrance drive, there is a "herd" of free range hungry chickens (and a couple of strutting turkeys). The cars that passed me photographing probably wanted me to know that the "good" birds were down the road. However, the sunshine was glorious and I couldn't resist taking some early shots. This is one of the guys.

I have not posted lately. I have been researching about blog/newsletter content, (possible usefulness), marketing (should I host a sale: with local artists, when; etc) and how to grow as a better painter. (new books, articles).
I would be most interested in your thoughts and ideas on any of the above.
If you have read this far here is what is in it for you:
1.  I will enter anyone's name who sends me a suggestion or idea into a drawing for a painting.
2. I will enter a person's name 2 times if they send me a suggestion AND suggest a friend sign up for my blog (honor system)
3. and I will enter your name 10 times if you send me a suggestion and have a friend actually verify on the feed burner sign up (send me an e mail address to watch for since no names are given in the stats, please)

Also, I have agreed to paint a pet portrait (6 x 6 or 5 x 7)  a one of the raffle prizes for Nash General. You can look for a good well lit photograph and I will let you know how to enter as soon as I know the details.

Thanks, as always for reading this. Hope you win.