Flamingoes

18" x 24" ~ Oil on Stretched Canvas ~ $600.00

Melanie.....done.....

I don't know what came over me today, but I finished this portrait. Now I just have to find a mat that will work with it. I'm waiting to hear what her favorite color was....then I'll just go from that.

Thanks for you patience......

This belongs on the following post...

OK, so I can't do art of my own. Can't put my signature on anything...SO...I got this!!!!!

What I do not get or understand at all is how I, ME, could not notice that the "i" is NOT dotted!!!!! Next time, I'll have my tattoo man do it!!!!:)

I've done hurt myself....

I'm sorry for not posting in so long. I have injured my left knee. My docs are all in FL, so I have been staying at my Mom's. Do not have a clue why I didn't bring my pastels here, that is something I could do, sitting down, and it would sure help pass the time between Doc visits.

My knee is bending every which way but the right way. Friday, Oct. 8th, I am having an MRI done. Then back to the doc on Monday to see what is wrong with it.

I really want to go home to GA. I'm beyond ready. BUT, the brace I have on cuts off circulation to my leg while driving. I can't see me driving for 2-2 1/2 hours with 1/2 my leg asleep!!!!

Anyhow, I will try to get my pastels down here so I can finish "Melanie".....I miss her:)

.....Melanie.......

OK, so here I am working on "Melanie" again....She's getting there and starting to look more real. BUT,........This is hard. I need to add the color to her, the pinks. She's just so cute!!! I need to do her makeup and finish the mouth. Then I'll go in and do the loose strands of hair.

My camera fogged up a bit when I took this pic....I went outside for natural light. But, I think yall get the idea......at least I hope so!!!!!:)

I talk to her the whole time I'm working on her. I do feel that she is close by and helping me.

Melanie......

I am still working on this....I just get so frustrated....I'm using like 15 different pics of her to do this. I start...Nothing looks right, so I put it away. Not really away...I put her on my easel, then I can look at her everytime I walk thru the house. I've been trying today and feel MUCH closer. It's not like a regular portrait...I'm SO feeling pressure for this one. I WILL get it right, and I will post it once I'm done!! Thanks for hangin' in there w/ me for this.....
Pegi

Portrait of Melanie.....

I've just started this....and all I had to go by were some very pixelated sepia photos. One close up of her eyes. I finally got into one of her relatives FaceBook pages and printed out 8 photos, so I have something to go by for "skin tone"....she's not quite there yet, but I think she likes having a bit of a tan.

While going thur these photos, I realized how much she loved life. She was also an artist. So, as I'm drawing her, and as always, I talk to my portraits...I feel like she is w/ me on this one. I think it will turn out ok. It will be MELANIE!!! Happy, captive eyes, w/ a twinkle in them, for her love of life. It is very sad to do something like this, but, I think she would have liked it. I hope so. And I will do my VERY BEST to make her happy.

Sorry it's taken so long to start it, but I just needed to know MELANIE. Looking at her pictures has so brought me there.

I'm almost there....

Well, I'm starting to feel the need to paint. Even if I have to rearrange this house to do it...I need a REAL studio. That tiny dining room may just not work for me. I have room outside.....

I have a new portrait to do. Of a girl that was killed in a car accident while TEXTING!! OMG!!! That scares me so bad. My daughter is so bad about that!!!!!! Anyhow, I only have copies of a pic of her, very pixilated??? Pixilized??? There is no real detail. And she has glasses on in the pic. I have to do this w/out the glasses. Somehow, maybe thru FaceBook, I have to find a clearer pic of her. I need to see the detail, I have to see her eyes. The eyes are what make the person, their soul. I know I'll figure something out, and I really want to do this for her family. I love doing portraits, but this one feels like something I HAVE to do.

I hope I can start it tomorrow. I'll share it here.

Thank you to my "Followers"....you kinda keep me going:)

Pegi

I'm sorry.....

I just want to try to explain why I've posted NOTHING on here in SO long. We moved, it's kinda been a hard thing for me. My whole fam, including children are still in FL. I am happy here with my George. And my kids come here a lot. But I think all artists can relate to "feeling down = bad painting"......I am starting to feel a bit better about everything....and I know I will be painting again soon. I have to finish the "Flamingos"...all that's left are the eyes. OK, that's like WHAT??? 15 mins. of painting????????? SOON!!!! I promise. I think if I post this on here, I know I HAVE to do it. That is actually why I started this blog. So that I would HAVE to do things. I do NOT want this to just go stagnant. How totally uncool would that be??????

So, I shall paint soon!!!! And maybe I'll get a few sold!!!!!!:)

Thanks for your patience....I think.....LOL

I have moved......

Ok, so I am now living in GA. I have a room about 1/6th of the size of what my studio was. Interesting.... NOT!!!!!!!!!!!! But, I will soon get things set up and be able to paint again. I have to finish the Flamingo's and get some more started. Please don't give up on me, I'll be back at it soon!!!!:)

Moving.........

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything new. I'm working on the flamingos. BUT, we are moving to GA. So, I can't paint for a while. I need them to dry, be able to move them, then finish them once I get my studio set up. OH, BELIEVE ME, it's not a Mark Adam's studio. Just a little room in the new house. But, it will work. So.....

STAY TUNED!!!!

Soon I shall post new pics:)

I just want yall to see this like I see it.....

I am loving the depth...and the realism!!! Just thought I'd share that with you!!!:)

Flamingos growing feathers...LOL

This are starting to get some depth to it. More to come.....

Watch Me Paint...FLAMINGOS

These are FUN!!! Just starting the necks...MORE TO COME!!!!!:)

Flamingo Painted Started

So, this is the beginning. I truly hope I can NOT touch the background again...it will SO make the Flamingo heads just POP out!!!!! I'm going to let it dry for a while, so I don't drag any of that black into the birds!!!:)

More to come........

Tarpon Portrait..?..

I'm trying to make him look silver...I just don't know if I am accomplishing that!!!!! But, here it is.

OK, I just added another pic to this....the TOP pic is the finished painting, without a Liquin coat on yet. I had the "chin" wrong and the underside, so the shape wasn't right. What the heck, it's kept me busy today!!!:)

First Oil Painting ~ Tarpon Portrait

I got this far....now I need to let it dry a bit. THEN I will add more white to make it all look silver. I have another drawn out, FLAMINGOES, that I will start soon. I do believe that I LOVE oils!!!!!! Sorry about the light reflection on it....I'll get a better one once it's done!!:)

This is 18" x 24"....as are the Flamingoes. I do have some small, I think 8" x 10" Gesso Board w/ Canvas coming in the mail VERY SOON!!!! I wanna be Mark Adams when I grow up!!!LOL

Hope for Haiti Series

Group shot framed

Haitian Mother and Daughter

18" x 24"

Pastel ~ Matted and Framed

$425

Haitian Boy II

16" X 20"

Pastel ~ Matted and Framed

$350



Haitian Boy I

16" x 20"

Pastel ~ Matted and Framed

$350



Haitian Girl I

16" x 20"

Pastel ~ matted and framed

$350



Haitian Girl II

16" x 20"

Pastel ~ Matted and Framed

$350


I did this series of Haitian children at the end of 2009. These are the real faces of kids that live on the tiny island of Ile La Vache, off the South West edge of Haiti, in desperate need of a school and everyday things that we take for granted. A HUGE portion of the proceeds from the sale of this work WILL BE DONATED TO THE CHARITY to build this school that will also serve as a hurricane shelter and help the children. I do not know if these children, or all of the children from this area, are ok since the earthquake. But I do know that they need help. This is where these children are...

http://www.goodsamaritanofhaiti.com/school.htm

If you click on "The School" you will see what their school is. I'm pretty sure that since the earthquake they are in need of help....

I got the photos of these children with the hope to raise $$ for them from

http://www.windinmysails.com/

click on

"Heard About our recent mission to Haiti?" and you will see the work that they are doing. It's just FABULOUS!:)

If you are interested in My work or just helping...Please email me at

reefdreamergallery@yahoo.com

Sooooooon......

I have gotten some oil paints to start using. With the help of Mark Adams, I think I have everything that I need to start painting. VERY SOON I will start something. I'm thinking a "fish portrait"....it's rather bland, so I am thinking of getting creative and using different colors to do this. As I'm sure you are, I can't wait to see it!!LOL

I haven't used oils in probably 21 years. And then I only did 2 paintings. This should be very interesting:)