I love the fair. We live within walking distance of our local county fair. Everything about it engages me; the smell, the sound, the color. We're still rural enough to have heavy 4H activity. I have plans for lots of fair images. But then, I had plans to be taller, thinner, smarter etc. Only time will tell.

"One More Time Around"

click on image to bid

I don't know if it was the subject or the party residuals but this was a challenge today. Hopefully doing all of these plates "with" on the small format will work out some of the bugs for when they hit the big canvas. If not I'll need some serious counseling.

"Ripe"

click on image to bid

Thank goodness we gained an hour! The Halloween Party was a big success. I won a Voodoo Doll made by artist Chris Bivins for best costume.
Now I guess I need to rent X Men and see who the heck I was.
Oh yeah! the reason I'm writing this is WE'RE ON THE SLOW BOAT TODAY. The next painting will be coming this afternoon.

We have a jam packed Halloween kind of day today so I was in the studio at 5:30AM painting these little devils. Seattle weather has turned to chilling fall and my studio floor is concrete. I'm not sure but it may have encouraged rapid fire painting! However, I'm very please with the outcome. These two little jewels sit in my kitchen, quizically looking at me every day. I think they're charming (that might give some insight to my interior decor). Boo!

"Condiments with That?" SOLD

This is another one of the plate images that will eventually be part of a series of larger pieces. I'm guessing they will each be about 20x30.
Off to shop for a Halloween party. Hope everyone has a goulishly fine time.

"Zinnias"

click on image to bid

Wow! I'd have to say at this point I'm very impressed with all the painters that have been doing this a while. The painting is easy, plugging it into your daily life isn't.
That said, this piece had me conflicted. I hate the idea of doing things that seem to follow other artists. However, I've been wanting to do this image for a long time so I'm discounting anyone else's impression and marching on.
The little love seat sits in our also little living room. There are 3, count them, 3 lap blankets. I'm not even sure how that happened. However, someone is always grabbing one so I can't seem to change the dynamic. The life of a confirmed pack rat.

"YOUR BLANKET OF CHOICE" SOLD

click on image to bid

I didn't even realize until the painting was finished that everyone was wearing white shirts. Our climate isn't even that hot!
As for the man with the crow, this is a segment of a "doll" that I commissioned for my husband. The link for the artist is on this blog. He does amazing stuff! Take the time to look. It's well worth it.

"A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS" SOLD

"UNIFORM OF THE DAY"

original oil on masonite, 4x5"
click on image to bid

"Watermelon"

oil on masonite, 6x6"
click on image to bid

Every year we host an outdoor party commemorating my son and his wonderful wife's marriage. This woman and her husband always attend. I'd be hard pressed to say how many photographs we have of her in EXACTLY this pose. I'd paint her over and over again if I didn't think folks would find it a bit strange. The hat and the napkin are always there.

"The Napkin"

oil on masonite, 4x5"
click on image to bid

Remember the cows from yesterday? well these big fellows live on the other side of me. I think the cows are smarter.

"Lazy Days" SOLD

oil on masonite, 8x10"
click on image to bid

These bad boys are typical of what surrounds my daily life. My husband and I moved from downtown Seattle, living in a warehouse to a small dairy/logging community 50 miles south. It allowed us to put in our own foundry but boy, did the subject matter change.

"Fraternal?"

oil on masonite, 4x5"
click on image to bid

It's interesting trying to accomplish this each day. Painting is okay, but getting the technical items attended to on the SAME day is just not in the cards. I'm impressed with anyone that manages it.
The plates/fabric/flower combinations continue to intrigue me. There will certainly be more to come.

MOM'S FIRST CHINA

oil on fabric over masonite, 4x6"
click on image to bid

CROSSED WIRES SOLD

oil on fabric over masonite, 3x4"
SOLD

I don't even know what these little fruit are! They grow on plant that can't decide if it wants to be at tree or a shrub. They're everywhere on the bush and the color is amazing. Our property is full of these little mysteries. We aren't really gardeners but we buy a lot of plants. Great soil levels the playing field.

CENTER STAGE

"Center Stage", oil on fabric over masonite, 3.75x4.75"

October 16, 2006

My son is a competitive Bass Fisherman. Whenever possible we attend his tournaments. It's not like other sports. You don't see "the game" start (unless you go with them at 4AM for blast off) and you see none of their moves during the day. The supporters linger on the shore, waiting for the appointed weigh-in time of their champion. Each two man team totes their days bounty to the scales as the onlookers hold their breath. It's over in a blink. Quiet moments like the one in this vinette surround the day. I live for these moments.

IN THE BAG

oil on fabric over masonite, 3x4"
October 15, 2006

It's a new day and there's a new painting. I've taken a break from trying to solve computer issues. There has been one very generous artist that already displays her work in this manner. My gratitude is endless. Her work is also quite wonderul. I'll name names only if she okays it.
The only problem I see with the small images is how many I want to paint. I may not get anything else done for a while. So much fun!

It's been a long day and I haven't solved the more complicated problems. However, I decided to post the images I've done. The two plates are the beginning of a series I've started here at the studios. The first in the series was 20x30 but these are both 3.75x4.75. I'm not particularly attached to any one subject matter. People, plates, posie or penguins; it doesn't matter as long as LOTS of color is available. The third image is the neighborhood dog. I say neighborhood because his owners see him less than anyone. He's the nicest dog ever and his name is Dozer. He even runs from our cats.
Enough of this crazy techno world for one weary woman. I'm off to PAINT.

First Pick - oil on fabric over masonite

Click on photo to bid

Dozer - oil on fabric over masonite

Gingham Goes With Everything - oil on fabric over masonite

It's Friday the 13th. How appropriate! I've spent several days trying to figure out the next step in this crazy process. Do you see any paintings? NO. They're in my studio, waiting for their coming out party. Until I figure out how to link to Ebay they are destine to stay there.

Today is the 8th day of October, 2006. I really haven't been living in a cave, but I've just heard about "A Painting A Day".
My husband and I are both artists. He's primarily 3D with and occassional jaunt over to 2D. I'm the exact flop. Together we own and operate Owings/Brown Studios in Enumclaw, Washington. We are lucky enough to have two sculpture studios, a foundry and a painting studio. We also produce custom, one of a kind, cast bronze door and cabinet hardware as the two person company, Roknob. If all goes as planned, July of 2007 we will host our third outdoor sculpture show here on our 5 acres under the shadow of Mt. Rainier. In 2006 we had 23 artists. If you're curious about any of that you can visit our website at www.owingsbrownstudio.com
As if that didn't keep us busy enough, I've decide to join this crazy, "painting a day" party. First I have to negotiate my way through how to set up the bidding, paying etc. We are two major techno zeros. Stay tuned!