6"X6" Oil on Panel
Okay, so I have to play catch up. Day 10. Life got in the way. Sometimes it has a way of sneaking in and doing that.
Sep 10, 2016
Sep 5, 2016
Rose of Sharon
"Rose of Sharon" 5"X7" Pastel MFBruno
30 in 30
Day 5
I found this Rose of Sharon bush growing between the limbs of my butterfly bush. What a nice surprise since I did not plant it. Now my dilemma is how to remove and replant it without harming it.
Sep 4, 2016
Dusk - Pastel on canvas paper MFBruno
30 in 30 day 4
I was playing with some canvas paper I had in my flat file. I found I didn't really like the paper for painting with oils. So I was trying out how the pastel may work on it. It wasn't too bad, although a little slick. I had toned it a gray color. Overall I probably won't use it again, but you never know what results you may have unless you experiment.
Sep 2, 2016
Sep 1, 2016
Save
"Save The Monarch's Habitat" 7.5X15.5 Pastel with underpainting by MFBruno
The is my first painting in a 30 in 30 painting challenge sponsored by artist Leslie Saeta. It is also the GJWP monthly challenge- "Save". Now an explanation of the painting. The monarch butterfly population has decreased 90% over 20 years and their loss of habitat from herbicides, like Monsanto's Roundup, is a major factor. Learn how you can help at the Sierra Club.
Feb 2, 2016
The Golden Ratio
Crate by Margaret Farrell Bruno
The “Girls Just Wanna Paint” Challenge this month was The Golden Ratio or The Golden Means.
Here is a somewhat easy description of The Golden Ratio. Historically it is believed that many artists, including Leonardo Da Vinci and Michaelangelo employed the Golden Ratio in their compositions.
I often wonder how many artists intuitively use the practice without realizing it. I often purposely use a simpler form, the rule of thirds, when designing my compositions. And out of curiosity, I did look at some of my past paintings to see if they fell within the rules and was surprised at how many did or came close.
Although I didn’t think I would enjoy this challenge, it was good practice to plot out my composition to the max. And it ended up being fun. I have to admit, I did not use a ruler to take exact mathematical measurements.
Above is one Golden Ratio template. Also, if you look at the wine glass and bottle of wine, the liquids within are in approximate thirds and the smallest book is tipped at a height down from the tallest book in approximately 1/3.
Jan 24, 2016
Home Made Brush Carrier
Home Made Brush Carrier
When Plein Air painting, at the end of the session because I keep all my brushes in one holder in my backpack, I sometimes cannot recall which are the clean and which are the dirty brushes since they have become mixed up. I know I end up cleaning brushes that are actually clean. I have tried taking the dirty brushes and putting them in the tube of my paper towels for the ride home, but they sometimes become loose and the hairs of the brush can end up bent.
This prompted me to make a simple, very inexpensive, lightweight carrier that fits in my backpack to place the dirty brushes. I bought all the materials at Lowes.
Materials Needed:
1) 16" PVC Double Ended Extension Tube Kit - $4.19
They also make a 12" Tube kit, but I like the longer size as some of my larger bigger brushes are long handled.
(the kit comes with washers, but I did not use them)
2) Rubber Packing Sheet - $1.99 (Also found in plumbing aisle)
3) Glue - I used Gorilla Glue, but you can use any glue that works on plastic and rubber. If you don't have it on hand, get the tiniest bottle you can.
4) Scissors
Step 1 - I am creating a top and bottom solid cap with the "Nuts". (There are no solid caps that I could find in the plumbing section that go over the ends of the tubing and this makes sense as in plumbing they want open ends for water to flow.) I used a sharpie and the Extension Tube Nut to make a guide to cut the rubber sheet. I added about 3/16" outside of the guide all around so the rubber goes to the edge of the the inside of the nut. Scissors easily cut through the rubber and there is plenty of left over. (If you happen to own a compass that has an exacto-knife attachment, you can use it to easily make your circle cut on the rubber to the exact size of the inside of the nut.)
Step 1
Step 2 - Using the Gorilla Glue, I placed a few dabs within the edge of the nut and then pushed the rubber circle down tight. The rubber circle does stay in tight without the glue, but placing the glue insures it won't fall out when on location. Make sure you do this step on newspaper as Gorilla Glue does stain. Let caps sit and allow glue to harden for around 2 hours before screwing on the top and bottom caps you created so any residual glue won't inadvertently glue your tube shut and not allow you to unscrew your caps. Once dry, easily place your new caps on the end of the tubes. I used a marker after and place a T on the top of one end, so I know which side to keep up when placing in my backpack so hairs of the brush do not end up getting bent. I like the rubber ends as there is some give when the carrier is in my backpack
Step 2
Final Lightweight Inexpensive Slim Wet Brush Carrier
Jul 31, 2015
Been in a fog lately
6"X8" River Fog-Pastel on pastel board
Our Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge this month- Fog. This is a little fog study from our local South River. BwaaaAaaaa.
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Sold
Jul 1, 2015
Bathing Beauties
Bathing Beauty Gulls 8"X8" Pastel
Our latest Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge this month is Bathing Beauties. There are times when it is just so peaceful to watch seagulls perform their aerial dance and gracefully touch down into the water. I found myself entranced with them while up in Maine recently. This piece will probably makes its way to Expressions, if you're interested in purchasing. Just needs some framing.
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