Giggles--SOLD

I always liked this one.

Summer Days

Nymph     20x16 acrylic

I painted this image several years ago. It was inspired by a vintage photo. It reminds me of my Mother (I don't know why, but I gave her the red hair anyway). It has become one of my keepers and is going to be hung in the bath.

Swim sisters

Swim sisters   16x20 acrylic collage

Two strong sisters that look like they could easily swim the English channel. I added collage bits, corrected some of the skin tones, added the outline and a few shadows. I think this one is done.

Working from photos

Most people know that I collect and work from old snapshots. There comes a point where you have to stop looking at the photo and start working on the "painting". I have reached that point here. The photos are often tiny, blurry, and lacking in information. At some point I just have to let go and concentrate on trying to make it work as a painting. So...here I go!

If you get this message on the 24th, go check out the opening at Pynelogs tonight 7-9.

I lied!

 Lifeguards   16x20 acrylic

I went back in and toned down the background. That had the effect of making the figures pop out more dramatically.

Life Guards

Life Guards   16x20 acrylic

This is pretty much done. I am just keeping it around looking at it to see what i need to do to make it finished. I'm guessing PC stands for Prince Charles?

Starting a swimsuit painting

So I have my 16x20 canvas graphed off and I am working from an old photo. A proud pair of lifeguards...soon to be colorful!

Beach Buddies

Beach Buddies  24x24

This painting was based on an old photo. I was interested in the affection between the woman and girl. The girl's parents passed away and she was raised by her Aunt and Uncle. The girl appeared to be happy and outgoing in all the old photos, quite the apple of her adopted parents eye. I'm not sure if people understand that they are wearing old turn-of-the-century bathing outfits but I hope the affection comes across.

Struggling along

So, colors come and go. The woman's face pleases  me but the girl's is truly frustrating. She looks older than she should be. I had to photograph this in the basement and the colors are awful compared to what is there. Photographs lie but they can also help you see trouble spots. I added the dark bar because I thought it grounded the subjects. Oh well, more work.

Day 24 A beginning

OK, I think I have completely fallen off the wagon of the daily painting practice. But I do paint a lot--more than anyone I know. So I am documenting the evolution of a painting I am working on for a show this summer. This is a 24 inch by 24 inch painting, so it is not small! It will change a lot as I develop it. Some people really like to see how I get to point D from point A. So here goes.

Other people are sticking to the practice at: 
http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2013/01/30-in-30-day-twenty-four.html

30 in 30 Day 9

Beach brothers    12x16

A commission based on an old photo. Painting their pinched little faces was a real challenge (they were cold!). I find it really hard to make good photos of paintings when it is so grey outside. Must try again today.

More painters--more paintings: http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2013/01/30-in-30-day-nine.html

Canasta

 Canasta    24x24 acrylic collage

This might be done....I'm thinking about it. This is my new swimsuit favorite.

 Besides the photo, I was inspired by my Mom's canasta group. They would get together a couple of time a month and play cards. Children were excluded from this event, so naturally I was intrigued. Mom would always buy Brach's chocolate mix for the occasion, which neither Dad nor I were allowed to touch. She would dress up, put on her RED lipstick and her Tweed perfume. I thought she was terribly sophisticated and wonderful. I was seldom apart from her so this time of separation was very worrying and mysterious. I hope her and her cronies are having a ball in the afterlife.

Still chugging away

Ugh! That blue has to go. It demands far too much attention and breaks the picture plane in half. Paint and learn!

I'm in Black Star studio for Friday and Saturday. Drop by and see me.

Still tinkering

This one is taking longer than I ever suspected. Just realized last night I must be ready for my show at the end of the month!! Dang. Where did the time go?

Simone

 "End of the Day"

This is a painting that has been around a couple of years. I like it but it never seemed to garner much attention. Time for a makeover.

"Simone"  18x24

I lightened the background and her expression (just a little). It was "End of the Day". Now it is "Simone".

Plunge In

I don't always carefully think out where my paintings are going to go. Sometimes, I just plunge in and start painting. I already see that I want to raise the horizon line and alter the line of the beach blanket. How do you like my moccasin? I wish to hell it would quit almost snowing here!!

Bert

 Bert   12x24

I liked his authoritive stance and his shock of white hair. You wouldn't "cry wolf" around Bert but you knew he would fish you out of deep water if necessary. I would like to try this painting in a larger format.

Adjustments

You know, when you come out of the water and you need to "adjust" your swimsuit....

http://www.facebook.com/UniteWomen

Bather series

Agnes and Maude  

Still working away on a bather series for summer.

Another repaint

I painted this last August but have never been that happy with it. It is based on an old 1920's photo of a man and his chicken buddy. It was so dark, he just seemed to be lost in the painting. So, I lightened it.

Oh wait! In my list of Valentine loves I forgot to mention that I love the Canadian government. I went through tough times and had to live on welfare. I am thankful that I had welfare to fall back on. I hated the sense of inadequancy that went with it (like standing in line at the grocery check-out and having the lady in front of my quip--"You can tell it's Wednesday, that's when all the welfare people shop"...for the smug women who look down on divorcees, I want to remind them that they may be one husband away from welfare). But it was a hand-up when I needed it. I was also able to retrain (acad technician) through government programs. Now, when I have to pay taxes, I like to think I will be helping some other Mom and her kids to survive.