The Red Vase

I wanted to paint something red so I set up this still life in my studio. I love Cadmium Red Light and this vase is it!!!! You can see this painting at the Morris Graves Museum of Art now through the end of December. I entered it into the Humboldt Arts Council's member show and yesterday it was juried in :)

Nigerian Girl by Frances Kuta

I finally got around to painting this beautiful model from a photo I had taken of her a couple years ago. My impression of her was pure strength and a quiet serenity. I have to say...what an improvement from the sketch on cardboard below.
9" x 12" oil on linen
CLICK HERE if you would like to bid on this painting.

color sketch for Nigerian model

This is a quick color sketch I did...preparing for a larger version on canvas...it is on a torn piece of white cardboard. I always like my sketches better than the final piece...I guess because it is fresh, casual and loose. I also love the way the paint feels and moves around on cardboard...you have to really push it...like sculpture.

Tired Model

Last pose of the day! oil on linen 6" x 8"

Ferndale's Golden Hour

I know this painting looks different from my other landscapes but I like it much better. More pure color, a few more hard edges. As I was standing out there painting this...I just couldn't seem to get that bright warm green...finally I just "went for it" and laid on pure cad yellow & lemon...on top of the light green i had put down originally...aaaahhhhhhhh...it was so much fun to go that bold! This is Ferndale, Ca where the fairgrounds are. Evening.
6"x 8" on linen panel. You can CLICK TO BID on it if you would like to have it :)

Cool and Warm

Nectarines are so good this summer. I had one left in my fruit bowl and decided to put it into a painting before eating it!

Pink PJ's and a Good Book by Frances Kuta

I love how this little 5" x 7" sketch turned out. I think I need to paint fairies or dragons on the pages of her book. Children are impossible to paint in a pose...so if they can be captured in good light with a photograph it makes for a good painting.

Daydream

Originally this painting didn't turn out as planned..but now I like it. The setting is down the hall from my studio...over in my buddy Michelle's light and airy studio. I like the way it looks just sitting on the easel.

Cody by Frances Kuta

This model was so sweet. She had extensions in her hair with little blue beads. She'd brought her puppy with her that day. Next time I'll paint the little pup in there too.

The General

I finally finished "The General".

Wow...my painting made the top 15% competition in FASO

FAV 15%

Finalist

BoldBrush


Painting Contest

June 2010

Gabe again

Here is another portrait of Gabriel. This is just a portion of it...i'm still finalizing some of it...but I love this proud stance he took.

Blue Silk Kimono

Nicole in blue silk.

Portrait of Gabriel

Gabe is a yoga teacher and chef extraordinaire. I love the way this painting turned out. Gabe truly has a quiet peace and energy about him.

Early a.m. at Indian Creek

Desperate for some sun to bake our bones...Dave and I found a neat little place to stay called Indian Creek Lodge just outside of Weaverville. Looking around for something to paint I saw this broken fence and shed. The morning sun is warm and nice there. I was in heaven, just sitting there painting. The blue backdrop of the tree covered mountains was breathtaking.

Tim

This is my friend Tim. He pours an excellent glass of wine at Art of Wine in Eureka. He is also an expert on wine. Tim will never steer you wrong on selecting a nice wine!!

Art in the Garden, Fieldbrook Winery

Saturday I painted along with many other artists in the gardens of Fieldbrook Winery. It was a beautiful warm day. I was there all the previous week...with much of the same great weather. The pink roses along the wall caught my eye when the sun hit them just right. I like this little 5" x 7" painting. I'll put up a few more after I add some finishing touches.

pretty pic

Wow...I was at Fieldbrook Winery today (up here in HC) snapping some pics for foto reference. This weekend I'm in a paint-out there...27 artists paint the winery plein air. Anyway...i couldn't believe how pretty this pic of the lily pads was...the sky turning everything blu-ish. Upclose you don't see the blue...only when you stand back and look.

"Wanna Paint?"

This is a painting of my friend Rachel. The photo reference is a shot of her face...gazing thoughtfully...thinking "what to paint".....with that cig drooping out of her lip....i saw it as a tough gal saying " [hey] wanna paint?"

Rainy Day in Venice

Hey...wow...i just learned this little miniature Rainy Day...Venice won Best of Show at the Humboldt Arts Council show...very cool!!! Lora...I'm glad you and Joel have it ;-)

Fresh cut

I love this painting. At first I thought it was going to be a loser...but then I kept applying what I know..and eventually it turned into something I want to keep and hang on my walls.

sunflowers from farmers market

I am trying to really push the colors in my still life paintings...more color...less tonal...it is a lot of fun to do if it works out. This was a bunch of sunflowers and other from the farmers market last spring. I had started the painting then stopped. Recently I brought the painting out and worked on it...warming everything up. I like it.

Spring paintings

I've been working on several paintings that are all about pretty flowers and Spring.
This one was set up in my friend Les' beautiful, inspirational studio on a warm sunny day. It is so rare we have sunny day's up here that when we do...we're in heaven!!

Quicksketch portrait

Every Wednesday I have a model in my studio and I invite a few other artists to paint with me. This is a color sketch of Cynthia...this painting is only 5 x 7"....i am planning on painting a larger one of Cynthia...the pose, lighting and clothing and..of course...Cynthia's face...were pure inspiration!

setting up a still life

My friend Les and I were setting up a still life to paint...there she was again with one of her beautiful kimonos...we draped it behind this little teapot...i was thrown back by the beautiful colors...a delicate challenge to paint!! I have not done this scene justice in a painting yet...but it is on my to-do list!

Fran's new blog spot

Hey guys....can you believe how long it has taken me to set up a blog...but I've finally done it.
Here I can set it up so...if you like...you can subscribe to my daily ramblings as a new artist...but more importantly... see my new paintings as they come off the easel :)

This one I LOVE. The red cloth is actually a kimono that my artist buddy Leslie owns. She has many beautiful garments...she usually brings them to our painting sessions and we work them into the composition.