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

Portraits - Do You Know These People?

By the Sea 9x11 oil on panel

I have been off on a tangent doing portraits. Portrait painting is exhilarating and terrifying. Painting a portrait is like playing with one of those tile puzzles where you get all the tiles in the right place on one side and you are SO excited- until you see what happened on the other side.

Safe 16x20 oil on panel

The portrait is more challenging than my flowers because I can’t change things. All the features must be in the right spot. I can pick at it for hours and everytime I pass by I think no, no that isn't quite right. Why didn’t I see that before? And the portrait must say something about the subject or you might as well just take a photo. One crazy brushstroke and your beautiful subject suddenly has no cheek bone. Or has your nose not hers! Or looks like an old man instead of a baby. And you must be careful about painting at night because with some bad lighting the lovely subject you painted last night may become a yellow alien in the morning light!

 And the hardest part is that your subject needs to like it too. My skill level is just so frustrating!

I found a few quotes by famous artists that give me hope and a chuckle:

“A portrait is a picture in which there is just a little something not quite right about the mouth. – John Singer Sargent

“You know, if one paints someone’s portrait, one should not know him if possible.” –Otto Dix

“ When I painted his portrait and offered it to him, he glanced at the canvas, then, looking at himself in the mirror, thought a moment and said: Well, no! Keep it! –Marc Chagall

So there you have it. Like most things in life I suppose this is going to take some time and practice. If you recognize these two let me know, if you want to volunteer to be a victim or if you have some tips for portrait painting let me hear from you. And don't forget to go to my Website: Lanabrowneart.com to see my other paintings.

One more quote-“Every time I paint a portrait I lose a friend” –John Singer Sargent

This is risky business. Till next time,

Lana

Have A New Experience

Napa Colors-12x24 $165

Hi All,
This is the first landscape I have done in years. I wanted to try something different and here it is. It's hard to get the edges right and to know what to edit out. The fall colors of Napa were fun to emulate. Just love those scarlet trees!
Lots of new experiences this week. I've been working on a commission with people in it which was quite a stretch for me, but very fun. I sold a couple of paintings to a friend in California and I have a painting in a The TVAA gallery at Plaza of Americas. I'm gallery sitting on the12th, if you are in the area come see me! And go look at my work at lanabrowneart.com!

Have a colorful day,

Lana

Things are Rosy and My New Webpage

Things are Rosy-12X16  $125

Hi Friends!

It's cloudy outside but warm on the palette!
Loving these colors and painting two of my favorite things, roses and majolica. The carnival glass was fun, too. I continue to learn what to leave in or out. The drape in the back surprisingly presented the biggest challenge. I also used more bristle brushes which carry more paint and leave more texture.

I've been trying to tackle some of my new year's resolutions. Attend a meeting of a local art group. Check. I attended a meeting of the Richardson Civic Art society and enjoyed a demo by watercolor artist, Michael Holter. Fantastic work. Next, take some classes. So I took a morning class with Judy Gelfert.  She is a great teacher, although she made me do a color mixing chart which I had been trying to avoid. Good for her! She also uses a limited palette which I tried and learned a lot about color mixing. I had a painting accepted into the TVAA Reflections show at the TVAA Downtown Gallery at Plaza of America. I'm trying to venture out and find places to show some work.

My other new adventure is my new website, lanabrowneart.com. I will have a gallery of all my stuff  together plus prices and contact info. I'm still refining it but go take a peek!

I've been off on a tangent, trying to paint people again. I really want to get off the tabletop and do more figures and faces and maybe a tree or two! So there you have it, thanks for following along with me on my paint splattered journey and please overlook the splats on my clothing, forearms and everywhere else!

Keep things colorful,

Lana

January Daydreaming

January  10x10 

Well it's January 2015.

The Christmas stuff is put away, the relatives have all gone home and now the house has that barren empty look. The new year is like a blank slate ready for new lessons.

The perfect time for daydreaming!

I've been considering what I want to happen with this art thing this year. And what art workshops I want to take to help me achieve my goals and where I want to be this time next year. My new website is almost ready and I'll be telling you more about that soon.

Now to the painting!

This was done on a stretched canvas. My family showered me with art gifts for Christmas. I have great new brushes, new paint colors and a new photo tent to use to photograph the art. My daughters like a cooler palette so I thought I would try to tone down the yellow this time and try my new thalo blue. And that was tough but I think I managed it. I tried to keep this more about shapes than details and left it a little more abstract. Daydreams aren't that detailed right?

Spend a little time daydreaming yourself,
Happy New Year!!
Lana