Donna's Apple A Day Works - akin to an apple a day helps to keep us in good health; a work a day helps me stay aware of the color, design and shape of my art.




Today's work was scheduled to include an early morning paint out in Marietta, Georgia. They sun wasn't shining right away so I made a trip down to the water early. There were plenty of ducks around feeding and the pale sky on the water was nice. I did a small sketch to try and capture some of the activity and solitude. These guys don't move too quickly, but I admit it was easy to get lost in the moment. This is the best I got...and since I made the decision to skip the paint out this morning, I call this Ducking Responsibility. :) Our forecast calls for sun tomorrow, a much better morning to paint out in Marietta.

11 x 14 charcoal on paper, Ducking Responsibility

I did post my painting to Leslie Saeta's blog this morning, bright and early....here's today's work for that challenge - a sunset by the lake last night. You can find all artist posts for this challenge, 30 paintings in 30 days, at http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/

That's all for now - thanks very much for stopping by. Enjoy the evening.
Peace and Health all...

Summer Sunset, 6 x 8 oil on cradled canvas

Donna's Apple A Day Works - akin to an apple a day helps to keep us in good health; a work a day helps me stay aware of the color, design and shape of my art.




This set up features very dark grapes with a clementine. By the time I took the photo here there was some pretty bright light streaming in...apologies for the glare.
I find blue and orange fascinating colors, and just wanted to play with the theory of the subject matter here using a flat brush, my finger and painting knife. Always an education and with these hour or so still life paintings, I not only get to work from life in the comfort of a climate controlled room :) I don't have to fret about the result; no expectations with these works...just a learning process.

Morning set up at my window

Here is the painting in full detail. My husband returns from 10 days overseas this afternoon, so I'm headed upstairs to do some framing and clean up before going out to fetch him from the International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. It takes about an hour to get there so I'm off...thanks so much for stopping by. Have a great Friday and a better weekend. Peace and Health -

Blue and Orange, 10 x 8 oil on canvas

I invite you to visit me at http://www.donnashiver.com/

Donna's Apple a Day Works - akin to an apple a day helps to keep us in good health; a work a day helps me stay aware of the color, design and shape of my art.


This morning I went out early to paint. We had a hard rain last evening so I thought there might be a bright sky today. Supplies included my box, three 6 x 8 canvas panels - easy to transport - and a limited palette of cad red, cad yellow, ultramarine and pthalo blue, plus raw umber, white and black. I use black sparingly, but it works so nicely with yellow to create greens that seem in tune with local color. Painting knives or palette knives are a great tool for me, but I work with larger brushes too. The attached photo shows a scene from the lake. I love it here.

Lake Allatoona in Northwest Georgia 

And here's my first painting from this morning, and my post for Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge -  http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/ will direct you to the posted works by all the artists participating.
The rocks in my painting are downstream and to the right of the photo. They offer grounding for the image, and I enjoy the exploration involved with rocks; shape, color, values - always such an education. Structures in the background introduce other local color, and work to break up the tree line. Red against green, mmmm......and then I worked to translate those red tones into color for the rocks in the foreground. Overall, a fun quick raw study - no expectations with these - just learning and exploring the landscape. As I look at this one, I believe the second study offers a more blue green cast on the water in the foreground. That might be the way I would lean when making this into a larger painting.
Quick paintings invest little of my time, and they help me learn. In these moments I work through color and composition so when I meet a group at the lake for a paint session, I know more. As I approach a painting, I may understand what I mean to convey - ideas of composition, edge quality or color, but trying to put those thoughts into words that translate clearly to a group is such a learned skill. I practice this each time I go out, so when I demonstrate and talk - another learned skill :) - my goal is use language that will make clear those things that make a work fresh, economic in terms of brushstrokes, and structurally sound. Economy of brushstrokes is important to me and finding that essence of a scene, portrait or figure without overworking is key. We only have a short while to capture those inner qualities - light shifts, figures from life shift into a pose, so I try to react to what is before me as quickly as possible, and pass that idea along to others.

Early Morning, 6 x 8 oil on canvas panel

Last evening before bed, I checked email and learned that two of my works were accepted in the Northwest Georgia Juried Competition. This is their eighth year doing this and the folks there are always so supportive and professional. The show runs from 1 October through 12 October 2015 at the Ben Robertson Community Center. Artist reception will be held from 7 to 9 on the evening of 3 October. M. Camille Day is juror for the show. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to exhibit with this group once again. Thanks so much -

Here are the two accepted works -  that's all for now. Have a great and productive day. Thanks so much for stopping by...Peace and Health

Citrus with Metal, 8 x 10 oil on canvas

Focus, a study - oil on 18 x 24 wood panel

Donna's Apple A Day Works - akin to an apple a day helps to keep us in good health; a work a day helps me stay aware of the color, design and shape of my art.


Today's painting for Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge includes one of my favorite snack items. Olives...I love em! More than this though, the red on this little jar was so eye catching and attractive - just quite lush with the light streaming in from my window. See for yourself...

Olive Jar, 8 x 10 oil on canvas

This morning I'm headed out to pick up work from the Marietta/Cobb Museum in Marietta, Georgia. Their Metro Montage exhibition has come to a close. The opening show was packed with great people, even more so than in previous years. Here are a couple of photos that show walls of the exhibition, and the postcard with featured works. Very nice showing and I am grateful to have been included with such a skilled group of artists, three of which are good friends and Red Door Gallery artists. You can visit the museum at http://www.mariettacobbartmuseum.org/

When I return home today I'll be working on a few projects. The image below, a study in charcoal of a little one and dear friend of the family will be on that to do list. This initial work will help me figure out issues with facial structure and composition. My thought is go fairly large with this one, and explore all that lovely dark space. I will call the final work, Make A Wish. All for now, thanks very much for stopping by...Peace and Health

First Study for Make A Wish, charcoal on 11 x 14 newsprint

I invite you to visit me at http://www.donnashiver.com/
http://www.reddoor48.com/

Donna's Apple A Day Works - akin to an apple a day helps to keep us in good health; a work a day helps me stay aware of the color, design and shape of my art.


This morning I did get out early to sketch by the lake, but more more than anything, today has been an organization and paint day. Below is a photo that shows my oranges from yesterday, and it's my post for Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge; day 8 I believe. For anyone who doesn't know about this, but has an interest, here's the link http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/

And my 60 minute painting of oranges from yesterday.

Theory of Orange, 60 minute painting, 8 x 10 oil on canvas

When I returned from the lake this morning, I started a few things. About mid-morning I put a set up together that features a red olive jar I found while at the market one day. Now I love olives - a lot - but this jar is really red and kinda lush in appearance. It may sound peculiar, but the tones are beautiful under light. And did I mention I really like olives...anyway, you all can be the judge.
That's all for today. Thanks very much for stopping by - Peace and Health

Olive Jar, oil on 8 x 10 canvas

Donna's Apple A Day Works - akin to an apple a day helps to keep us in good health; a work a day helps me stay aware of the color, design and shape of my art.


This morning I began a set up of clementines in a glass dish for a 10 x 8 canvas. Here's a progress shot of a block in - playing with the study of the fruit and may wipe this one away to do a smaller composition. Apologies for the photo quality, just my iphone here. I'll post the finished work tomorrow.

Blocking in oranges shown to the left

My post for Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 paint challenge is shown below. My husband and I made a business trip to Toronto last month and painted by the pier on a couple of days. It's a lovely area with loads of people walking their dogs. Great area - do visit sometime soon.

Toronto Pier, 9 x 12 oil on canvas paper

In closing, here is a portrait study I recently did in one sitting. It's oil on an 18 x 24 size wood panel and is part of my dance series. All for now - for those celebrating Labor Day here in the states, be safe. Peace and Health everyone -

Focus and Exhale, 18 x 24 oil on wood panel

Donna's Apple A Day Works - akin to an apple a day helps to keep us in good health; a work a day helps me stay aware of the color, design and shape of my art.

Good day all -


Here is a 40 minute 8 x 10 painting on prepared paper. These give me time to react without having to think too much. I can just work with no expectations - something I consider a good thing before my second cup of coffee. :)

Morning Quick Study in oil, 8 x 10 prepared paper

   

Today's post for Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days is below. It shows a view of the water in South Carolina. Beautiful location with those gray, blue, green waters...and even now I'm drawn to the shape of this white barge. It was great fun to figure out the values here.

White Barge, oil on 6 x 8 canvas panel

In conjunction with this site for daily work, I decided to craft my first newsletter to share news that I recently received confirmation my portrait entitled Hillary was chosen for publication in North Light Books, Strokes of Genius 8. This was a surprise and I am extremely honored to have my work published alongside so many other skilled artists. My goal is to get a schedule going for monthly mailings of my newsletter by January of 2016. I'm posting a copy here as well.

Finally, sharing a sampling of photos from one of my 2015 summer camps with middle and high school students. We had a great time. The images here show mixed media works created during August camps at Big Shanty Art Station in Kennesaw, Georgia. We studied the work of American sculptor Louise Nevelson, who made assemblage works from found objects. Materials used include found objects, glue, sturdy cardboard and paint to unify works. You can find a quick listing of recent and upcoming classes, or workshops at the bottom of the page. Thank you for the internet love.

All for now - I appreciate you stopping by. Peace and Health -

Mixed Media Sculpture by one of my middle school students

Mixed Media Sculpture by one of my middle school students

Mixed Media Sculpture by one of my middle school students

Mixed Media Sculpture by one of my middle school students

Classes, Past and Upcoming
One day Paper making workshop
Saturday, August 22
Time: 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm at the Marietta/Cobb Museum, Marietta, Ga
http://www.mariettacobbartmuseum.org/adult-classes.html

Charcoal classes at the Marietta/Cobb Museum, Marietta, Ga
September 26 - October 24, 2015 (4 Saturdays - No Class on October 10)
Time: 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
http://www.mariettacobbartmuseum.org/adult-classes.html

Demonstration and artist chat
Northwest Georgia Artist's Guild in
Dallas, Georgia - 9 November at 6:30 pm
http://www.georgiaart.net/

I invite you to visit me at my personal website - http://www.donnashiver.com/

Red Door Gallery - http://www.reddoor48.com/ is a shared work space on the historic square in Marietta, Georgia