When in doubt, paint lavender!

Here is another example of 'reworking' a piece until it works. I've decided sunflower fields are just not my thing! I tried to make it work...but it wasn't happening. For 2 years, I had the first version, then the second, sit in several of my Galleries--and it wouldn't sell! The first piece, I think we'll agree, had too much of that 'weird' green in the distant mountains. That's just the sort of green that will never sell--because who on earth has that color in their home? And the yellow/green combo isn't good--especially when that's the entire painting! The second version is much better. I brought in some more colors like oranges and nice browns. I made the distant hill more interesting. But sunflowers are a tough sell these days. Maybe 10 years ago this wasn't the case! So when in doubt, make it a lavender field, and it will be fantastic! I brightened up the yellows, and the house, and painted a lavender field right over the sunflowers! Paintings are all about layers, afterall. This particular piece is quite heavy with all the paint I keep adding to it! Both new lavender fields were snatched up immediately by my Laguna Beach Gallery. Hopefully now they will find a loving home! :)

Same Painting...New Look!

What many people don't know, is that we artists sometimes re-work a painting several times until we get it right! This one, for example, started off as a poppy field...then turned into a vineyard, and just last week it became a lavender field! Which version do you like best? I think you will agree that the last rendition is by far the strongest. When I get a painting that just doesn't sell, after sending it through my Gallery circuit, I request the painting come back to me, and I then evaluate what the problem is. In most cases, it is due to color. If a painting is too green...or too yellow, it will sit. People love color! Anything with reds, purples, blues with accents of yellows and greens sells immediately. Those are the colors in which most people decorate their homes. It is true, that the second painting has lots of red, but it just wasn't exciting enough. The background was faded and "blah". The sky, boring. With the third piece, I "brightened" everything up. I made the yellows "pop", and added some interesting clouds to the sky. I even changed the sky color from a weird blue to a wonderful cobalt. I felt it needed more depth, so I added mountains. And the purple against the yellow is always a winning color combo! Using complimentary colors always makes a piece into a WOW!

New Aspen Commission - 'Symphony of Color IV'

Symphony of Color IV
acrylic on canvas
48" x 30"
SOLD


(close-up of texture)

Happy Memorial Day!

We celebrated the day at a 'ground breaking' gathering for the new "Oregon Fallen War Heroes Memorial" going up in Central Point. What a neat addition to our small town! The project was headed up by my Dad, Dennis Richardson--Oregon State Representative and Vietnam Veteran. Pictured above is U.S. Senator Gordon Smith, State Representative Dennis Richardson and State Senator Jason Atkins.

"Winter and Summer"

These paintings were commissioned by a couple who wished to complement the "Autumn" painting they already own with a "Winter" and "Summer" scene. They discovered my work through Royal Street Gallery in Aspen, Colorado.

"Yellow Canopy" 48 x 48

Just completed this new piece...

Birthday in Cabo!

So...after my sisters left, my husband Matt and our three boys, joined me in Cabo to finish off the vacation. It was one of our most fun vacations we've ever taken as a family (well, minus our 2 yr old, Addie). Matt and I both speak Spanish, so it was great speaking to all the locals and especially came in handy when negotiating good prices for the different activities and with beach vendors. One of the activities we did was the 3 hour ATV ride on the beach! By the end, our boys were driving us around. For my birthday (May 7th), Matt took me to "Edith's," a beach-front restaurant renowned for their amazing seafood. It was fun being serenaded by a Mariachi band! Our waiter, not realizing that I don't drink, brought me out tequila and almost poured it down my throat before I could wave him off! Oopsy. The chocolate torte was pretty incredible though.

Here's a video clip of that little incident:

Sisters Trip to Cabo!

Okay! There's a reason why I haven't posted anything on my blog for a couple of weeks. I've been in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico! What an amazing vacation! I did a trade with a client (a painting for their beach house in Cabo) three years ago...and finally, after much persuasion from my 7 sisters, decided to use it up!! All but two sisters were able to make it. Leaving behind all kids and hubbies, we met in Cabo for a much needed 'sisters trip!' Even Mom came. It was an incredibly fun vacation. I think we did it all...parasailing...wave-runners...snorkeling...horse back riding...dancing...eating on the beach...latin baby shower (that's a whole story by itself!)...and lots of care-free laughter! It was truly a trip we'll never forget. Hopefully my clients need more paintings, because we're coming back next year! :)

"Seasons"

These are four 12 x 12 paintings of the Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn. What a novel idea! And they loook great hanging together. I did these as a commission...but I plan to do more "Seasons" paintings in the future. Perhaps in a 48 x 48 size, next...

"Autumn's Reflection" 60 x 48

This is the third time I've painted this particular scene...but in my opinion, this is the best rendition yet. The texture on the tree in the foreground is extremely thick--the black knobs literally jutting out of the canvas three-dimensionally. I did this piece as a commission, and am waiting to hear back if all is approved. I hope they like it!!

In the Press!

I just wanted to pass along some exciting news! In this month's publication of Art Business News (a top magazine for the art world) I was quoted several times in their article, "Time Honored Appeal". Also, I was delighted to find that Art Business News spotlighted me in an online exclusive, where I talk all about my painting technique, "Textures of Life".

I must say it is pretty exciting for a little girl from Southern Oregon to be getting some national attention! I just wanted to share the news with you...

"Fall Breeze"

This a 24 x 36 autumn scene that I intend to make into a "Season" series. I will do 3 more of this size; Winter, Spring and Summer!

The Final Result!

This is "Lavender Summer II" hanging up in Wade and Karen's master bath. What a gorgeous bathroom! Karen says she loves looking up at the lavender as she relaxes in the tub. She 'gets lost in the field!' It's a real treat for me to see the final result of project that took weeks of collaboration! This is the end result to Wade and Karen's vision...

Grandma's Funeral

On Friday, April 4th 2008 Dorothy Sophie Kreutzer Vranes, 85, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones. Here is a link to read her obituary. Grandma "Dotie" will be deeply missed!

"Lavender Summer II"

This piece was commissioned by Wade and Karen Watson. I met them at the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale, where they commissioned this lavender painting for their gorgeous custom master bathroom. They wanted it similar to the first "Lavender Summer" but in a smaller size (36 x 48). They also requested that I add "puffy white clouds" to the blue sky. Karen and Wade sent me pictures of their bathroom to give me an idea of color scheme, and I saw that they had a beautiful stained glass window above their spa tub. I decided to surprise them, and added the window to the painting. You can see it in the small structure (the "bath house") to the left of the house. They approved the piece, so I'll be shipping it off tomorrow!

Gallery 1870

On the way up to Oregon, we wound our way through Napa Valley, CA, stopping in Yountville to visit Gallery 1870 and to give them more work. It is a beautiful Gallery located in the heart of Northern California's wine country. Gallery 1870 does very well with my vineyards and poppy fields! Pictured here is Paul Thoren (owner) and his daughter Cassia holding my latest poppy field painting.

Hollywood Baby!

While Linda was away "putting out fires" (as Charles calls it) at NBC, Charles took us around his neighborhood, pointing out the homes of various movie stars like Jennifer Love Hewitt (top picture), Kirsten Dunst (second picture), and Jason Alexander. I tried to be inconspicuous as I played the role of paparazzi! Charles also showed us a house that was used on the hit T.V. series, "Desperate Housewives"(third picture). What a neighborhood! For dinner, we ate at the famous Hollywood diner, "Bob's Big Boy". Charles is a very interesting conversationalist and we enjoyed very much listening to all his fascinating stories!

The Sullivans!

We next stopped in Hollywood to visit Charles and Linda Sullivan. Linda is the President of NBC-LA, and is a dear collector. Last Christmas, Charles decided to surprise Linda with a 48 x 48 painting to hang above the mantel. The whole operation was done completely in secret, and on Christmas morning, Linda opened a huge, square box containing the painting. She was very surprised!

"Sherwood Gallery"

To break up the long, 26 hour trip back to Oregon from Scottsdale, we made a few stops along the way. Our first stop was to the Sherwood Gallery in Laguna Beach, which is a beautiful Gallery located right on the main street near the ocean. I really wanted to see where they had hung my 108" x 48" triptych! I was pleased to find it hanging on a prominent wall in the front of the Gallery. I was surprised to discover that my work is the most representational work in the Gallery! Everything else is very abstract and super contemporary. I think it's my extreme use of texture, and bold color, that enables my work to cross over into the contemporary realm. My paintings are an interesting combination of impressionism and modernism. Pictured here with me is the Gallery owner, Donna Gourley, who first discovered my work in Las Vegas at ArtExpo 2007. She is very well known in the art world and I was pleased to join her gallery last year.

Packing up!

Welp, the show is all over! It was an exciting adventure...but now it's time to pack up and move out. Unfortunately, they're going to have to kick me out! Here I am STILL working on finishing up a painting! It's sick. Though, in the 10 weeks of the show, I was able to do 40 paintings! This has definitely been a working show for me. The show ended daily at six, and after everyone cleared out, I would work distraction-free until midnight! My best time has always been in the evening. I feel my energy level start to rise as the sun begins to set. Plus, I figured since my family was back home in Oregon, I might as well make the time away really count. Here's a shot of me still at it--putting the final touches on a painting before it got shipped out. I brought nothing home. What I didn't sell at the show, I shipped off to various Galleries.