Christmas 2013

"View of Bethlehem"

8" x 8"  Oil on Canvas Panel  

Isn't Christmas in out hearts wonderful! The story, the symbols, the colors bring quiet joy. Today is the day for putting Nativity Sets on display, for decorating a tree, and for contemplation.

Mt. Harrison Autumn

Mt Harrison Autumn  Oil on Canvas Panel     16" x 20"  

My grandmother lived about 9 miles from our home. The trip included crossing the Snake River which I always loved as a child. I loved seeing the river calm, like in this painting, wild, choppy.... whatever, The colors were always interesting in all seasons. We visited often, so I saw the river often. It still holds charms for me. I enjoy drawing and painting it in many seasons with or without a view of Mt. Harrison included.

 Raven

Oil in Gallery Wrapped Canvas Panel   24"x24"

Sold

 

 

 

Connor's Creek at the Bend

Oil on Canvas  24"x20

sold

 

Two commissions finished and approved!

 

That approval is always a wonderful event! Doing commissioned work always includes at least twice the pressure. I always want to make the best painting I can to please my own aesthetic sense. Add to that the desire to please someone else and their wishes for the work; to make it the best for them too.

 

Now on to other challenges! Happy Monday!



Salt Lake Temple

Salt Lake Temple 

Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas 48" x 16" sold

Salt Lake Temple

(detail)

I am so thrilled that this painting finally was delivered and seems to have been happily received! It took far longer to paint than I had thought....  They always do..... The dear clients were VERY patient and even visited the slowly progressing project a few times through the summer.

One day soon, I expect to be back at work....

Summer 2013....

"Lily of the Valley in Crystal"

Oil on Canvas Panel   14" x 11" 

"Pink Rose and Syringa in Mixed Bouquet"

Oil on Canvas Panel   14" x 11"

"Sunshine"

Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas    6" x 6" x 1 1/2"

Other than a commissioned piece which is almost finished, and one or two unfinished pantings, these three little paintings are my entire summer production of paintings.... A bit of a crisis of confidence..... Perhaps it is over, perhaps this is the end.... Or perhaps I am just getting started....

GREAT evening!

To begin the evening, at about 6:00p.m. thunder began rumbling. I have never experienced this sort of storm.... the thunder was an incessant, though distant, roar for about 40 minutes! It was accompanied by rain like I have only seen in the Orient (Hong Kong and Manila). I wish I could have watched it from above the clouds. It must have been a spectacular show! Now that we have enjoyed a good soaking, of course our Idaho wind has begun....

While it was still raining, I went out to the studio and stretched a small canvas. During the time that it took to listen to a recording of a Beethoven String Quartet, I was able to get it stretched and the first coat of gesso onto the canvas.

This is significant only because of the rough few weeks have have spent questioning if I, by painting, am adding anything to life or only adding to the world's piles of stuff. I remember suggesting to a friend whose wife was complaining about his time spent in studio work, that if he COULD quit, perhaps he should.... He continued, and so will I.

There is no possibility that I will be able to stop seeing the world through color relationships, shapes and visual ideas. My vision may be too ordinary, as I have been told several times in different situations. but I will continue to make what I hope is art....

Then to top it all off, as I walked back to the house a most wonderful red sunset met me!

Begining stretching

All stretched!

First coat of gesso applied! Ready to complete on Monday!

Wonderful red suset! Perfect evening!

Dark Red Rose 2

Oil on Cradled Canvas Panel    8" x 8"    

I can't think of a worse time for all this to happen.... (Google refusing to allow me to post my photos from the place I have them...). Many artists are right in the beginning of a great challenge, 30 Days, 30 Paintings, sponsored most generously by Leslie Saeta.

I really needed this because I have not worked consistently for months. I need this boost! I need the satisfaction to find out that that I can still swing a brush.

I have been contemplating a move of Blog for a while. The photo thing proved to be the last straw.

I considered just giving up. I cried.
Then I decided I must go forward with the Painting Challenge and I must be able to post on Leslie Saeta's blog with the other participants!

So...
Done!

Of course, in my ineptness, I put the wrong address here.... But I have changed that.

Moved to:

http://marilynrmillerstudio.wordpress.com/


I do hope you who have been so encouraging will come visit...
It is so much easier to leave a message for me at this new place, which is one major reason to move.
Come, help me feel at home in the new place!

Also, I can again, post my own photos of my paintings!

Good bye Google

Google, in its finite wisdom, no longer allows me to post new pictures. I no longer have access to Windows Photo Gallery on my computer. Therefore, unless this is changed back again, this is my last posting.

Is this corporate quarrelling?

Is this progress?

Am I missing something obvious? Am I too  e stupid????

I could get photos from a phone..... but that would not allow for sizing and editing or give adequate quality of photograph. And I do not have a smart phone nor can I afford to acquire one.

I could post from Picasa Web Albums, but there are only six images shown; all old ones; and no visible way to get to others.

I could get photos from this blog, but they are already on the blog. I need the blog to post new photos, not ones already here....
                       

Second Day ~ 30 in 30

Passage to Time ~ Persimmon and Feather

Oil on Panel with Gold    6"x6"    



Leslie Saeta Challenge Painting # 1 for Marilyn Miller

Persimmons, Pears, Pomegranate and Feather

Oil on Panel 6"x6"   

Thank you, Leslie Saeta! Here we go.... Painting # 1 .... 29 to go.... I can hardly wait to get out to my studio to make the next painting happen.