Iris's -A favorite of grandmas everywhere

Grandma Favorite-12x 24 $225

Hi!
Happy New Year!

Thought I would start off the year with a new canvas size.  I think I am going to challenge myself to work in a little bigger sizes than I have been.  This is going to require a little more drawing and patience on my part. I like whipping out an alla prima work in an afternoon, however this sometimes causes some rather haphazard results. Going to try to keep the color and feeling spontaneous while still taking time to get the drawing right.

Wish me luck.

Thanks for taking a minute for a little color!
Lana

Back to September

Back to September 12x16 oil on gesso panel $200

Hi Friends!

I just celebrated my birthday and I always feel as though I have hit restart when September rolls around.
I continue to try and and explore the many subjects and technique options that grab my attention.
These lovely flowers were a birthday gift.

I just couldn't waste the opportunity to make them last a little longer!

1. First, I toned my board with a background color. Then, using a grid on the laptop I began my drawing with a brush.  

2. Next, I washed in the local color for each area in transparent oil colors. I really hated to mess this up because I liked that watery look!

 3. Next I began to add opaque oil pigments to the darker areas first, because I know I have to stay dark to let those whites lilies go white.

                                                                                                                
4. There is always point in a paint where I feel like I am going to ruin it. At this point things got a little scary but colorful as I had to eliminate the green bowl on the right because it was distracting. Then, I had to make the silver creamer look like tarnished silver and straighten up my drawing. And get the reflections right, and keep that lily in front white.

5. Sometimes I wish I would paint tighter, but then I just can't resist having fun with the brush! The perfume from these lilies was intoxicating! They were not shy! My goal was to make them so vibrant you could almost smell them. I hope you enjoy seeing a bit of the process!

Thanks for looking!

Lana

Modern Madonna

Modern Madonna 9x12 oil on canvas panel $108

Hi Friends!

Isn’t Summer great? I love being outdoors in the sun, enjoying the more casual life in the park for an outdoor concert or dinner on a patio.

The sunlight inspires me to use those sun drenched colors and to try emulate their glow.

Here is a painting of a girl and her baby I sat behind at a concert at the Dallas arboretum. I really liked how the sunlight wrapped their heads. It made me think of the old style Madonnas with the halos. Here is my reference photo.

                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                          This is how I started.

                                                                                                                                      

 Here is a later photo. Curt and I decided the baby

 looked like a little animal.

 Very frustrating. >

 < The next morning I lowered his eye and made some other changes.

Then

Her face was too pale and didn’t stand out so I had to work on the edge by her hair.

And had to combat witch nose.

But in the end, I think it worked out!

  

I hope you enjoyed seeing a little of the process.

Have a fun weekend!

Lana

We All Need A Little Sunshine

 

A Little Sunshine-9x12 $108.00

Sunshine, Glorious Sunshine.

We all need it. 

Hi Friends,

I painted this one in the backyard. The morning light was so beautiful glowing through the petals.

I’ve been in a bit of a dark mood lately. It just seems like too much of the news I’m hearing is bad. And people aren’t treating my people right. And there is too much death and sickness and I hate to see my people sad. I keep thinking, I’m not Little Mary Sunshine.

God, would you please fix this?

 Where is the light in all this? 

Ephesians 5:8

“for you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Live as children of light.

Oh…

Matthew 5:14-16 The Message (MSG)

 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

Psalm 34:5 New International Version (NIV)

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

Isaiah 60:1 New International Version (NIV)

 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

We all need a little Sunshine. If we want the world to be a a better place we need to reflect our Creator. Don't hide it, live it.  So quit whining and be radiant!

(Yep, this was one of those preachy ones).

I love you friends,

Lana

Stay Little, Girls and Some Other Thoughts

Stay Little, Girls 11x14 Oil on gesso board  $150

Stay Little, Girls.

Little girls grow up too quickly, at least it seems that way to me.

 I took the reference photo for this painting at Cottonwood Park back in May. I loved the slightly awkward girl with her long thin legs and skinny shoulders. I loved the two girl’s curiosity and delight in the strange duck and the water. I thought, enjoy your delight in the little things, girls. Too soon you’ll be chasing boys and makeup. Stay little girls, while you can.

I have been working on more figurative work lately. I really enjoy it but  it does demand more time than my flowers. I like to paint both. The highlights in the water were very interesting to work on as well. Hopefully, I learn something about technique with each new work. I’ve been trying to use more paint and less medium too. I think I like the buttery, thick look better. I’m also trying to be more conscience of my composition.

I just finished reading Carol Marine’s book about painting small and often. I really enjoyed it. I also went to New York City and tried to take a lot of photo’s for painting references. People just look more interesting in NYC!

I also enjoyed being a part of the Dutch Art Gallery “It’s a Small World Show”.  My pieces are there till August, so if you are in the area go by and take a look. There is a lot of great art of all kinds there. Next, I’m off to El Paso to help my sweet in-laws move to Dallas and then it’s off to my high school reunion!

Hope your June is colorful!

Lana

A Little Entertainment

Here is a link to a video I did for my show this weekend!
https://youtu.be/-pQY_Cvgtbw

and you thought I didn't know how to do youtube!

Showing Off!

Sunny Showoffs- 24x36 -oil-$250

Hi All,
These Panhandle sunflowers were just showing off -big and sunny in a field last summer. It was fun to feel small under their heavy stalks. As an artist, I wanted you to feel the summer heat and  how tall these giants stood.
I'm back on the bright side. You can't keep me away from my cad.yellow light too long! I really enjoyed painting a big free canvas. Portraits are very intimidating and require such intense looking. When I paint flowers it is a completely different kind of experience with emotion and color. I like both painting experiences. The rainy weather here in Dallas has turned every vacant lot into a lush green paradise so now the wildflowers are tempting me!

I've been experimenting and trying different subjects. Not all of them make the cut but I learn something with each experiment.

I've been showing off a bit too! I had a painting accepted in the Plano Art Association 125 Juried Show that just ended. And I also will have 3 paintings in The Dutch Art Gallery "It's A Small World " Juried Spring Show! 
Go by between June 6- and August 8 and take a look. And don't forget I have most of my available paintings at lanabrowneart.com

Keep things colorful,
Lana