New Painting Of Irish Drafts... And The Studio Clean-Up Sale

My summer playtime memories are slowly becoming my fall subjects for paintings. I am back into my casein paints and I have finished a 12 x 9” painting of a handsome pair of driving Irish Drafts that were up at Wildwood Stables, enjoying the Rockefeller’s carriage roads like we were.

  

 "The Spotted Irish Drafts"  Casein on paper   12 x 9" 

My “Specially Priced Works -Or My Studio Clean –Up” Sale is going well. I have added some new works to the mix there, and hopefully everyone can find something to love and help me clean up my studio space. I am busy packing up work that has been bought…..and want to thank all those folks for their interest in my work, whatever the medium……casein , watercolor, or oil…..they are all good! Nell thanks you too!  

Now I need to get back to a commission painting!!

A Lot Of Crock

Cleaned up!




The studio had arrived at the point that it REALLY needed some help. I couldn't find paintings,  my supplies or any space to work in. So I took charge and went shopping. I bought a shelf to store framed paintings and supplies on. The building of the shelf  was a testament of how solid my husband's and my marriage is! Yes ,we got it up and working, through mutual agreement, and much holding of tongues....yes, a labor of love! It stands strong and  tall, and is already helping me to get my space back.

The Shelf of a thousand usages.

I moved some furniture around and gained some more space...I can actually get to my cupboard for supplies.What an novel concept! Brilliant!!

Space!

But I still have a huge sauerkraut crock, that my brother gifted me with, taking up space beside my  studio table...the spot where I like to sit and read...I am trying to come up with some constructive use for this mammoth pickling crock!! Ideas?!! No.. I will not be making sauerkraut.

Nellie and the "lotta crock!"

I am painting, in between other artist type chores and farm duty. My days are a bit easier, being down to the three horses now. And it is the season of more shows and changing out art works with galleries and shipping of new work.

AND I received the exciting news that the painting I sent to the National Society of Painters In Casein and Acrylic annual show was juried in! I am excited about this, as the painting will be hanging in their 57th annual show May 23 through June 10th , in New York City at the prestigious Salmagundi Club on Fifth Ave. The painting juried in is  "Shades Of Black # 9" , one of the paintings in my 'Shades of Black' series. I am so honored to be part of this show.

But I am painting....and here is one of my works in progress.....see? 

It is not a bunch of crock!!!    ;-)

Casein work in progress.

My Studio Space NOW

With three windows looking out onto my back garden, my new studio now affords me new views to distract me. I even placed my drawing board in front of one window to take advantage of the natural light and in the summer the fresh air! The door opens onto the back patio and a space where I can paint or draw out of the sun during warmer weather.A hop skip and jump outside the studio,birds sing,the brook bubbles and life on the farm goes on!

The back wall will contain my work tables,

room for my easel and also a wall space where I can actually hang a canvas that is too big for the easel!! Now I can really rock and roll [and not hit my head!] The black cupboard that houses my papers and supplies is now easy to get to ....without having to move furniture around to open the cupboard doors! I have paintings piled in the right corner of the room now, but that corner will soon be home to the flat-file [still needs painting ] and above that my small drawers that house all my paints [oil,casein,acrylic,tempera].

My charcoal and watercolors are housed in my taboret....and my pastels will soon be all spread out in a type-set drawer that I have....easy to grab and see the colors.The type-set drawer used to hang on the wall with nick nac's displayed in it....something to dust! Not anymore!

The wall that I am not showing here now, has the spiral staircase against it in one corner and will also be fitted with shelves where I can store finished unframed work and canvas to be used. Let me tell you....this has all been a dream for a long time.......... So see?!!! Dreams do come true!!! ;-)

Changes In The Making

  

This is a view of my studio as it was ...in my loft....cozy, but very cramped.The ceiling slanting down to a point that I had to go on my hands and knees [not a pretty sight] to get to my paints and papers stored. I can't count how many times I got up from my kneeling stool, that I sit on when working at my drawing board, only to bang my head on the ceiling above. My easel fit in the high side of the studio,where I could stand and look out the windows down onto the gardens below.... and down onto the fields with the barn and our horses. Lovely to look at, but I couldn't stand back and look at my painting in progress for fear of backing up and falling down the spiral stair case. [Not a pretty site either!]

So we are in the process of moving me and all that my studio entails, down the spiral staircases..down into the bowels of Cob Cottage ...where I will have a large...all on one floor studio with a ceiling high enough to stand up in and more....a room with a view onto my back gardens and the arbor.The room is darker for sure, but I can light it artificially. The added advantage is also the fact that I can use my oil paints here, far from our bedroom....and during warmer weather I will be able to work with the back door open ....or just step outside and paint plein air!!!

So soon I will be able to post some photos of the new space[ which is not a pretty sight ...at this point! ] And I so look forward to a positive change in studio space and artistic environs and atmosphere!

In the mean time....please take a look at my new page added on this blog with small 20 minute 'challenge' [or less] sketches done in pen and ink or pencil of any old subject that comes to my mind..... a change too of endeavors! [ Look up under my heading above to see the new pages added on my blog!! Look up!!! ]

P.S. This challenge was prompted by fellow artist, friend and blogger Michael Nobbs . I challenge you to follow him and his neat creative and thought provoking blog! Michael is a hoot!!

Two Paintings Done - Dog And A Horse

"Aiming For The Target" watercolor on paper 13 x 18"

This watercolor was finished this week, along with this small casein on board of the Jack Russell Terrier and her favourite outside toy, that is a bit chewed up and raggedy. I will have these two new paintings on my website,

"Play With Me" casein on board 5 x 5"

The past week , for the most part, has been sunny and warm.What a joy! The snow is melting and even though it is February I am thinking of my gardens and what needs to be moved, transplanted and pruned!

Speaking about moving........I am moving my studio out of my loft and into our walkout basement room that will afford me more room to work in, and direct access to the outside and gardens. I am thinking that this summer, I will be able to take my easel out and paint in the back patio near my arbor and gardens! I will miss my window on our world on the farm...my studio window where I can see all the fields, the barn and our horses. But the trade off will be I will be able to actually stand up anywhere in the new studio!!!... and can step back and look at a painting I am working on with out having to worry about falling down the spiral staircase! I am excited!

New studio.....New paintings!!