Wolf painting in progress

Sharon and I finally got back to the wolf painting. We are still in the underpainting stage, but you can already see the wolf coming alive. I can hardly wait to get to the overpainting and the finishing touches. When we are done I will post the finished paintings along with the photo of the actual wolf we are doing a portrait of. Sharon's painting is the top one and mine is below her's.

Christmas Puppy

I don't know why it is that every holiday I have problems with my computer, and this Christmas has been no exception. However, I have finally gotten the problem straightened out and can start posting again -- Ye-a-a-a-h!!!

Here is one of the small paintings I taught the girls in my Monday night paint class. I meant to post this for Christmas, but as I stated above, my computer decided to take the holiday off!

I wish I had taken pictures of the progress of this one too, but just didn't have the forsight to do so at the time. Sharon had Christmas cards made of her's, and also of her painting of the bluebird in snow. They really did turn out great. I was very pleased with everyone's finished paintings. The original was a picture that Sharon found in a catalog and asked if they could learn to paint it. The background of the original was white. I decided it needed to be red for the holidays. We also added a few other features that were not in the original picture. This was quite a challenge for them, and Sharon and Debbie both did a wonderful job with this subject. Happy Holidays!!!!

Finished Santa paintings

Last night we finished the Santa paintings in oil painting class. The ladies were happy with the results they obtained and I think they learned alot with this one. I will probably add a few more details on mine before I call it completely finished. Sharon's painting is listed first, then Debbie's, and mine is last.

MERRY CHRISTMAS YA'LL!

Latest Santa class

We still have much to do on these Santas, but the ladies are progressing along nicely. It is my hope that we finish them in the next class. I would love to post the finished paintings before Christmas. Pictured first is Debbie's, then Sharon's, and mine is pictured last.

Third Step

Here we are over- painting the face, the hat and beginning the overstroking of white on the beard and eyebrows. First is Debbie's painting and then mine. Sharon was not at this class, but I got her caught up a few days later.

Second Step

This was the next step in painting the Santas. Unfortunately, I only got a picture of Sharon's painting in this phase, but you can still get the idea. And yes, they do look ugly in the early stages of painting!

Monday Night Painting Class for the Holidays

We painted two small canvases with a bluebird in the snow and a puppy in a wreath in our Monday night class during Sept. and Oct. (Sharon had her's made into Christmas cards that turned out beautiful). When we finished the puppy painting I asked if the ladies wanted to paint a Santa for our next project and they said yes, but could it be a cowboy Santa. So here is the beginning of the underpainting of those Santas. Here is how they are listed on the blog: Mine shows up first, then Sharon's, then Debbie's. All are on 16" x 20" canvas painted in oil.

Painting Class

At class yesterday Terry and I did a little more work on our white horses. Terry's is on the top and mine is below her's.

Alpha Wolf

This is a painting lesson in progress with my private student Sharon. I have a photo of the alpha male wolf , Komats, that Jim and Jamie Dutcher were studying in the Saw Tooth Mountians several years ago. He had such presence about him in this picture that I decided to do a painting of him, and Sharon wanted to learn to paint this wolf also.

I first did a large drawing and then we each transferred the drawing to a 30" x 40" gallery wrapped canvas. We went over all of the lines of the drawing with light gray oil paint. In our next lesson we added the background color and painted the eyes, and then started to add some of the dark markings. This is as far as we have gotten with this painting, as Sharon is recovering from a little surgery she had done. We should get back to it in the next week or so. I will post the progress of this painting as we go along. Mine is on the left and Sharon's is on the right.

I am very pleased with how well Sharon is progressing with her painting skills. It is so exciting to take a talented person and show them how to use that talent to create beautiful artwork. This painting is quite a challenge, but Sharon is loving every minute we get to work on it, and so am I.

About the painting lesson

One of my private students, Terry, wanted to learn to paint this white horse on a 36" x 36" canvas. This is a painting in progress --just the under-painting at this point. I am very pleased with her progrees so far. Terry has never painted anything this large before, so it is quite a challenge for her. She was hoping to do this painting in time for the Holidays, but because we only have two to three hours a week for her lessons, and this painting is so big with so much that she must learn, I am afraid it will take several more weeks to finish. Her painting is on top and mine is below her's.

White Horse Lesson in Progress

Bluebird In Snow

11" x 14" oil on gallery wrapped canvas. $250

Quahadi Stallion

This painting was done as an instruction piece for the Monday night painting class I teach. I had been reading through some interesting historical material about the Commanche Indians. One of their tribe families was called the Quahadi of which Quanah Parker was a member. The Commanche were well known for their horsemanship across the plains of the American West. The ladies in my class were wanting to paint a horse, so I decided that an Indian stallion would be the perfect subject for the class. Of course, each student's painting came out a little different from mine and from the drawing I did for them to use as reference, but that is the beauty of art. Each person has their own unique way of seeing and creating what they see.

Quahadi Stallion is a 16" X 20" oil on canvas panel. Available for purchase at $475.00. Contact me thru email at pyrmom@yahoo.com using "Painting" in the subject title of your email.

Fountain Cherub

I am afraid that I have been so overwhelmed for the past couple of months that I haven't posted anything on this blog. My sister and I just went through the unfortunate loss of our father to a sudden and very unexpected death. Dealing with his loss and everything that goes with it has taken me away from producing much in the way of art. In my sadness I have just not been inspired to do anything creative. I have a few paintings that I had done prior to his death, but have not taken pictures of any of them. And I have a commission for two scultpures that are only partially done that I must now get back to work on.

It will take some time, I am sure, before the tears stop welling up in my eyes when some one mentions his death or happens to ask how I am doing since his passing. Right now it still hurts to the point that tears are rolling down my face as I type this. Daddy will be greatly missed by so many people. The one thing that helps is the fact that he is now reunited with Mother (who was his first and greatest love) who passed from this life some 34 years ago. So today I am posting a picture of a cherub (that I sculpted to go on a bronze fountain several years ago) as a small tribute to my now departed parents. I do not have the clay piece as it was destroyed during the mold making process, but I do have pictures. And one day, when I get over this awful heartache I plan to do a sculpture of both of my parents, as well as paint portraits of them. But for now this cherub is a symbol of my love for my father and my mother. I miss you both so much.

Under painting of horse

Under painting of horse head I am working on in the new painting style. This is on an 18" x 18" gallery wrapped canvas. I will post the finished painting in a few days. To purchase any of my paintings contact me directly at pyrmom@yahoo.com or sassyfrasinn@yahoo.com.

Hereford Cow

This is a 16" x 20" oil on canvas panel. This is a different style of painting that I saw at a gallery recently and decided to try my hand at it. I might have gotten a little carried away with the background color, but I like more color. I feel it brightens it up. I used this as a lesson for two of my advanced students and I wish I had pictures of their paintings to post. I must get them to email a picture of their paintings so I can post them for everyone to see. My painting is for sale for $320.00 without the frame, or $375.00 with the frame. I am working on other paintings of cows and horses in this style and will be posting them soon.

Russell's Painting

My niece, Kim, recently had a baby boy that she named Russell. This is a special painting I did for him which now hangs over his crib. It is an acryllic painting on a 14" x 14" gallery wrapped canvas. If you would like to have a special painting done like this one contact me at pyrmom@yahoo.com with "baby painting" in the subject line. I have several designs for boys and girls. The price of one this size is $125.00.

Cabin Retreat

Cabin Retreat is my latest 11" x 14" oil on canvas. With the frame it sells for $225.00 and without the frame it sells for $175.00. The photos really don't do it justice. Some day I will invest in a better digital camera so that the wonderful color in a painting like this one will show up better. If you are interested in purchasing this painting email me at pyrmom@yahoo.com with "Painting" in the subjuect line.

King's Landing

King's Landing is on an 11" x 14" canvas panel priced at $100. You can purchase this directly from me by emailing me at pyrmom@yahoo.com with "PAINTING" in the subject line.

Barn in Spring

Here is wishing a Happy Mother's Day to everyone. I just hope that the day is as beautiful where ever you are as it is here in Canton today. The sun is shining and there is a wonderful cool breeze lightly blowing. It is a wonderful break from the recent storms we have had. The painting I am posting today is one that we finished a couple of weeks ago in the Monday night class I teach. As always, mine looks a little out of kilter because I have to stand so far to the side of the painting so the students can see what it is that I want them to do. You can really tell the difference between my demo paintings and the ones I do alone in my studio. Still it is not a bad painting for a quickie. Barn in Spring is a 16" x 20" oil on canvas priced at $125.00.

Sunset Mist

Sunset Mist is a 16" x 20" oil on canvas priced at $125.00.

Blue Bonnet Creek

A real Texas scene , this is a 16" x 20" oil on canvas priced at $125.00. This was a class project for my Monday night painting students.

Deep Red Rose

Has it really been a month since I posted a painting? I have been so busy that I haven't had much time to take any photos of my paintings, but here is another deep red rose painting I just finished like the ones I posted a few months ago. It is a 10" x 10" oil on canvas for sale for $100. To purchase email me at pyrmom@yahoo.com with "painting" in the subject line.

I did not have time over the weekend to finish some of the paintings I have been working on, or take pictures of a couple of the ones that I did get finished. This was First Monday Trade Days weekend for April here in Canton and I had all of the rooms at The Sassyfras Inn (my Bed and Bath business) full from Thursday through Sunday, with a change out in three of the rooms for Saturday night. But please be sure to scroll down to the painting I posted just before I wrote this entry. This was also the weekend that Buffalo Girls Hotel sponsered the CASI Chili Cookoff that benefitted Citizens League for Animal Welfare. A good time was had by all, and the auction and chili cookoff went well. I don't know the totals as of yet, but was told that they raised more money for C.L.A.W. this year than last year, so that is great. There will be more funds to take care of the rescued dogs and cats while they are finding good forever homes for them. The painting of Hank that I donated to the auction was bought by one of the C.L.A.W. members which makes me happy. I plan to do more portraits of these rescue dogs and cats and donate a percentage of the proceeds to C.L.A.W. so be sure and watch for these paintings in the next few weeks to come. And I promise to be better about listing more of my small dailey paintings on a regullar basis, if not every day then at least three or four times a week. I still work in Dallas a few days a week, but I shouldn't let that keep me from listing these paintings. I also promised to get to that painting of Samson, but still have not been able to bring myself to start the painting, as his death still hurts me so. Perhaps painting all of the other rescue dogs will be the therapy I need to get me to the point that I can finally paint a portrait of this magnificent animal that I got to share thirteen years with. And here I am crying again so I'll publish this post now and go. To leave this on a lighter note I must tell you about the saying I saw on the side of one of the trailers behind a pickup at the 1st Monday flea market this weekend. It said on the back of the trailer "Like A Band od Gypsys We Go Down The Highway!" and on the side it said "Women On A Mission!" These ladies are some serious shoppers! I'll bet that they filled up that trailer with all kinds of things that they bought at this flea market and had a ball doing it!

Spring Vinyette

Here is another lesson I taught my Monday night class on painting vinyettes. Of all the things I thought they might have trouble with, like the flowers around the outside of the oval or the ruts in the road, the thing they had the most trouble trying to paint was the puddle in the middle of the road! It was, however, a fun class with alot of laughter! this painting is a 16" x 20" oil on canvas for $125.00. If you would like to purchase this one please email me at pyrmom@yahoo.com with "painting" in the subject line of your email.

Hank

Hank is one of the rescue dogs from C.L.A.W (Citizens League for Animal Welfare) that has been living with a foster family here in Canton, Texas. I did this portrait of Hank as a donation to be auctioned at this years 9th Annual CASI Chili Cookoff on Saturday April 5th presented by Buffalo Girls Hotel on the Mountain in Canton. All proceeds go to benefit C.L.A.W.

This is a 10" x 10" oil on canvas that retails for $100. If you would like one like it contact me at pyrmom@yahoo.com with pet protrait in the subject line of your email.

Tuscan Sunset

Tuscan Sunset is a 16" x 20" oil on canvas (frame not included). This is the painting I did as an example for my Monday night painting class. The ladies in class were wanting to paint something a little different than we have been painting. They really enjoyed this one. This painting can be purchased for $225.00 without the frame. To purchase email me at pyrmom@yahoo.com. Please put "Tuscan Sunset" in the subject line of your email.

Rocky Mountain Vinyette

A lesson in vinyettes for my Monday night class. 16" x 20" oil on canvas. I have a couple of things I want to add to this one, but you can still purchase it and I will add them before shipping. $125.00.

Katherine with Sassyfras

Boy have I been busy! I have not had time to post anything for a few weeks. I am still teaching painting class on Monday nights, and I am working a few days a week in Dallas on a project for another sculptor to help him get caught up. Dallas is an hour drive from Canton where I live so that has kept me away from the computer and unable to post anything new on my blog. I decided to post another picture of one of the sculptures I did. This is a lifesize portrait sculpture of an eighteen year old young lady named Katherine. She is holding my little miniature American Eskimo dog Sassyfras. This is in terracotta and sells for $10,000.00. If you are interested in getting a sculpture done of your teenager, wife, husband, or even a smaller child, or if you would like to purchase this sculpture email me at pyrmom@yahoo.com with "sculpture info" in the subject line.

Winter Cardinal

This was another Monday night painting class lesson. It was done before Christmas. 16" x20" oil on cnavas. $125.00

Red Stockings

One of my favorite daily painters is Jacqui Faye Michel. A friend of mine saw several of Jacqui's paintings and asked me to do an interpretation of a couple of them to hang in one of her bed and bath rooms she calls " The Saloon" as she could not afford to buy the original from Jacqui (I think the original were already sold anyway). This painting is my interprtation. I just hope I did it justice. And, of course, because it is a reproduction of Jacqui's work (and also done specifically for a friend) it is not for sale. It is oil on gessoed watercolor paper.

Cloud study

Here is another "monkey see monkey" do lesson. 16" x 20" oil on canvas. $125.00

Terry's Flowers

This was my painting that I did as a lesson along with a student that takes private lessons from me ( she calls these lessons "monkey see monkey do" because she sits right beside me and copies every motion I make with the brushes and paint). 16" x 20" gallery wrapped canvas. $325.00. The photo does not show the texture and vibrancy of color. This painting is much prettier than the camera can capture. To purchase email me at pyrmom@yahoo.com and be sure to put "painting" in the subject line.

Lone Hay Bale

One of my students kept after me every Monday night for about a month to teach how to paint a hay bale. I finally did a class on this subject, and would you believe that she didn't even come to class on that particular night! 16" x 20" oil on canvas. $125.00

English Tea House

16" x 20" oil on canvas. Price is $100.00.

Sunset Storm

16" x 20" oil on canvas. Price is $125.00.

Large Red Rose

This is a very sad time for me. My large furry companion of 13 years passed away in the wee hours of the morning yesterday. Samson was a Great Pyrenees Mountain Dog. He was absolutely the most elegant, gentle and loyal dog I have ever known. He was my constant companion from the time he was seven weeks old until his passing yesterday. I have a painting of him in the works and will post it as soon as it its finished. But right now my greif is so enormous that I can't bring myself to work on it until a few more days have passed. So today I post this Large Red Rose in his honor. Samson - April 28, 1995 to February 4, 2008. I miss you so!

Katie at the beach house

Commission pencil drawing. One of a kind. Sold.

Moonlit Falls

Here is the third waterfall study. I call this one moonlit falls. It was done on a white canvas instead of a black canvas that I used in the other two paintings. I also eliminated the vegetation. This painting oil on 11" x 14" canvas panel. The price is $75.00. To purchase email me at pyrmom@yahoo.com.