AnnMarie Writing

SOLD
Finished this one today. I will post some pictures of my set up and daily painting easel on my other blog so you can see how fortunate I am to be so portable that I can paint in such comfortable surroundings. Now that I use walnut oil, there are no fumes so no need for ventilation. For me, the walnut oil has freed me to paint almost anywhere...in my car, in homes without the hazards of mineral spirits. So nice!

This painting is no longer available.

AnnMarie in Prose - Underpainting

I am on vacation in Michigan with my sister, AnnMarie. She is taking a course on Writing Essentials and as she did her homework, I took the opportunity to paint her. I will tell you that I have relaxed more than I have in a long time since I have been here. Her home is peaceful and full of clocks that make all kinds of bird calls and chimes and bells! It is great! It is like stepping back in time! While I painted she also read to me some excerpts from If You Want to Write - A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit by Brenda Ueland. I think any artist would love this book. It was first published in 1938 but it so current; as AnnMarie says, "It is timeless."

A Little Break

This is a little watercolor that I painted of my Martini Brahmin Handbag that is hanging on my wall. It is not for sale for two reasons, first it is in my notebook and second, I painted it with my left hand because my right hand and back are very tired so I am giving them a rest. Not too bad for my left hand!



This is a picture of all the paintings in the Fresca Grill Series so far. I like the way they look all together but, alas, there was interest shown in one so it looks like the set will be broken.




Here I am on the left with my sister, AnnMarie on the right. We are at Fresca Grill and since she is the one to get me painting again after a 14 year lapse, I had to include her on this blog. It is dedicated to her after all! What a great time we had there Tuesday night! She goes back home half way across the United States in less than a week. I will spend as much time with her as I can. I want her to be my model for a painting. :-)

Little Woman "A"

5.9" x 5.9"/ Oil on Panel / 15cm x 15cm

Happy Birthday, AnnMarie!

This is my first official daily blog posting. I have finally gotten all of the materials ready that I need to make this a daily practice. During the next days I will go public via e mail, press etc. It is my intention to daily paint the things that make life worth living. Painting with this in mind is for me a meditation on gratitude, leaving me happier and maybe even a bit wiser to have had taken the time to absorb what gives life value to me. Speaking of which, I must paint my sister, AnnMarie! Today is also AnnMarie’s birthday! I have chosen to start the daily painting on this day in her honor for it is a fact that without her encouragement I would not have developed the confidence to become a professional portrait artist. She had all the faith in me that I did not. She helped talk me through the daunting fear of my first commissions. She helped me gain confidence and as a result, she has single handedly help to change my life into something that I truly look forward to every morning.

Today’s painting, Little Woman “A” was made as a complement to the previous post, Little Girl “A” that I painted 14 years ago. The two are both of my daughter who will be 17 years old in a few weeks! She has lost her blond hair and has grown to be so beautiful inside and out. Even her brother felt I nailed her image.

Oh my God. Finally it looks like her…I really love how it looks close up.
--James
(so I included a close up)

Today’s post is a dedication to my family but the entire blog itself is dedicated to the one person who made it possible, my sister AnnMarie. Happy birthday, Ann!