Angel Baby

Here is the latest change--it is now 7/29/12---i have tried and tried to get this to look more like my sweet granddaughter--I have put a closeup of this change--it does look a little like her and I hope I am finally finished--that took what? 1 or 2 years? oh, I guess you could say I don't give up! lol from here on down the conversation is from loooong ago! :-)


I have changed this so many times--I wish I could get a picture that looked more like the painting--It all started when I decided the background and her dress were not to my liking--i wanted to paint it looser. My daughter told me to go to another painting and leave this alone--lol--as i have changed this several times. I have never changed a painting as much as i have this--aargh

 You can see the earlier version in July or Aug on this blog.

Ok this may be the last change--if not it is going in the trash-brought the dress more in focus--it is now not so loose but also not as tight--and I changed the background--I may post again after it drys and is varnished. I'm exhausted. ... Happy New Year!!

Janies Wildflowers

Is this the 3rd or 4th try? This is one that sat a long while till I had time to work on it--The picture is not quite true to the colors--especially the lillys--they are more of a coral orange.
Hope everyone is all ready for Christmas--we are going to do Christmas Saturday with my daughter and her family cause last year I got them on Christmas day so this year its her in-laws turn. I hope that made sense!
Well Merry Christmas and blessings in the year to come.
Oil 9x12
This is available $150 (Unframed)

Old St. Nick

I wanted to have this on my blog during  the wonderful season we are in--How fast it came this year. 

This is not an orginal painting but one that I painted in class several years ago. It makes everyone smile.

This painting is in  my collection and is not for sale, however, I would paint it again (it was fun) for $350 (18x24) unframed if someone should so desire.

As Tiny Tim would say, "God bless us everyone"

Janies Wildflowers

This is the just the beginning, you might say "first or second pass". I just can't seem to find the time to work on this--it is small--I think 8 1/2 x11. It is from photos of my neices' little bouquet of wildflowers mixed in with lilies and "whatya call it" --I love flowers (don't always know the names)--we will see if this turns out to be the vision that I have in my mind..........sigh I just don't know why they always start out soooooo ugly--it always scares me..;-)

House Blessing With Sunflowers (framed)

Just found the frame for the sunflower painting--I finally varnished -I wanted the thick paint to dry--so today I had it framed--Love how paintings look framed, don't you? I hope my collector will like what I picked--(he trusts me!  I think..)
I wish you could see this in real life--it looks soo much better-(the colors I mean on the painting and the frame.) I will take it to him Monday-or Tuesday-sometimes paintings are harder than others to let go, you know they are part of us.
Here's a good quote:
‎"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do." ~ Helen Keller

Holidays are a-coming!

Remember--ART makes the best Christmas gifts ever. Visit all the artists you admire and see all the beauty you can purchase for your loved ones..
You can view paintings of mine that are available for sale by clicking on the July archive--most are there.
 I can be contacted to answer any questions at my e-mail: charannevans@aol.com
Would love to hear from you.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, a Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year. xxxoo

Lost & Found

This post is not about art or edges! But I have to share--bare with me!

I love my copper-like necklace, bracelet, ring, and most important my copper earrings. I bought them separately but they look so good together---& before I found my earrings at an art show that had jewelry that people fashioned - I never liked any of my earrings to wear with the ensemble--but then I found the earrings---PERFECT!

Then one day over a month ago I wore my simply wonderful ensemble of jewelry (that I love) and all of a sudden I realized one earring was missing---I was sooo upset-- I looked under my desk--in the bathroom--i went downstairs to the good friend that everything is turned in to--earrings and important things like that. I took off my one earring and sadly put it in my purse-- I was heart sick --I always lose the favorite earring--I have a collection of the one earring without its mate. (I am very dramatic, I know.)
Then about 2 weeks ago, I came to work and THERE IT WAS laying on my desk--I assumed the cleaning people found it--I was soo happy---So I looked for the one in my purse---oh no --it wasn't there --it must have fallen out of my purse and wasn't the lost one...oh bummer.
Then this morning I got my ensemble out and was looking in my jewelry box for earrings to go with it , knowing than none would and OH MY GOSH--there was the one earring in among the other earrings--i got so excited --and then I stopped and thought I must have thrown it in there when I found it a couple of weeks ago...but to just be sure I looked in my purse again.......................OH MY GOODNESS-- there it was--by some miracle  I have both ----happy dance--see doesn't take much to make me happy!!!!! lol

Lazy Day

Here it is right before Halloween--where does the TIME go?
I have started a new painting--it is a small one--I will probably decide if it is going to be a keeper today--I did a 1st pass last week and it didn't excite me at all. But...... we will see after today if i can give it life.
It seems I paint and create  more in my mind more than I do in real life---I am soooo lazy!
It has turned cold here in Kansas--but we are in the fall thing where its winter-like one day then the next day it is breezy 70's --lots of people are getting sick. They say these sharp changes don't make people sick but I believe it does!
Any way, back to my new painting--I need to get excited about it and make magic--hmmmmm where did I put my magic wand???I keep losing that thing! lol

COLORS OF SUMMER (SOLD)

Here it is finished --remember before I felt the right side needed something? I took artist privilege and added a loose painted flower and some "sort of" leaves, and debris on the table. See how each step it gets more refined---you can't do that all at once (or least, I can't)
This is one painting that got the most comments (besides the painting of my mom) But my favorite comment on this painting was the following "What a delicate painting and wonderful movement too, like notes breaking free from from a bar-line." I cherish that compliment.

Nearly done --

Here I have made a first pass on everything but the foreground--I still am uneasy about the right lower side--it really needs something....

COMING IN FOCUS

Can you see how I am putting a little more detail in? It is coming along---I remember at this point I was already thinking about the right side--I felt it needed more but had to get further along before I could tell. I like this one, cause it shows some parts further along the the rest--I have even put some background in.  I still am in love with this painting. You know our paintings are part of us-- we are very very excited to see the final painting and hope it will be what we have envisioned.

Ugly Ugly beginnings

I found these pictures I took (while looking for something else)--i forgot I took them --it has been so long. But thought I would post them on my blog, because I think it is interesting. I paint from photos as u can see (I paint slow so it works best to paint from photos)
This is the very start of this painting--Look how ugly---I have looked at step  by step of other artists and they don't start this ugly! I was really excited about painting this--this was one of several set-ups that I arranged  from peony's that I picked out of my yard) And, as I said , I  was very pleased with the composition--sometimes they feel more pleasing than other times. you can see the photo  that I am painting from.

THOUGHTS.........

Woke this morning to a very chilly morning---I like this weather where we don't have to have the air or heat on. My daughter & family are coming for a visit today---well, all of them but my oldest grandson (7th grader). He is going to a friends house---they are having a bonfire--can you imagine Andrew wanting to do that rather than see his grandma? lol--Oh, I know it will get worse when they get older, they won't want to visit with old granny--that's the sad part of grand kids growing up, they grow away from the family---sniff--now I know that is the normal rite of passage but I am not looking forward to it.
I remember when my own kids were little---then they were teenagers and I thought it was so much easier when they were little and tucked in bed and I knew where they were rather than out somewhere where I had no control. What is it that makes you feel like this--Is it the weather, or is it just realizing that time goes on, kids grow up, we grow old. (but we have our memories) Oh i just read this--hope I didn't depress anyone.... But it is a happy and a sad feeling about our grands growing up. Don't ya love them??

KANSAS

Oil 18x24 canvas
 I reworked this again--I need to start on a new drawing and quit reworking these paintings--I think i am going thru a phase of dissatisfaction--hope it passes. Although I could be a sign of growth (positive thought) lol This still has a few twiks but that will be later I'm tired tonite and need to clean brushes. $375 Contact artist for purchace.    Paypal accepted.



STILL ON THE EASEL~KANSAS

Getting close, I think--maybe one or two more days--I painted all day--really longer than I should have--made alot of changes I think I need to wait and paint with a fresh eye--i am staring at it in here (front room) and it is prettier than the photo shows but not done--aargh I still need to wash my brushes and get things ready for work tomorrow---waaaaa--poor me. lol Already, I am staring at the painting and see where i need to make lots of stuff different--why do we see but don't see--I do think you can see clearer when you photo and it seems you have to post --then & only then do you see your mistakes. But still each step gets better than the last, I think.... Next morning---i think i am gonna change the bkrd again--i will change till i am satisfied--i need to work on lots of things. It is good i am at work as i am at the point to scrub everything out! lol
Here it is Friday (9-9) and have not been able to go back to my painting---many changes are in my mind--itching to work on it-wondering if i will make it worse...Just read this on another wonderful blog and I think it applies to painting too, as well as life....
"Strange how that it is — that sometimes something has to fall apart — for something better to fall together."   Wow, I needed to read that!

Still On the Easel (Kansas)

Changed the bkrd. I couldn't  live with what I had --Got started on the sunflowers at the top--still will put something on the table--maybe sunflowers or something---I wanted to get to the vase but just got tired after eating so thought i would photo --I like to do that, I can see what is working and what isn't. One more day to paint-tomorrow, then back to work on Wednesday- Hope i can get it all painted then I can see where I am--aargh--its changing -changing changing--please know (I'm sure u do) this is not near finished. In real life my background looks more bluer purpler--not photographing like it really is.

KANSAS (On the Easel)

First pass --figuring out my colors--this can be changed as I kept everything soft--still is in the uglies, but what I have done today will make the next session easier as I can zero in on the details--I may still change the back ground--- I may put something on the table--I have yet to create my darkest dark and lightest lights--this is still at a very beginning stage--I am a long way from the "magic", and I know that if it doesn't work , I can delete and it will be like it never was here! lol -I really like having a blog--I  can think out loud --I still feel like sunflowers have such "personalities" like they are little ballerinas-they bow and twirl. Don't know if I  can paint tomorrow as we are having a family dinner at my nieces--that will be fun --so I will paint when I get home or Monday or Tuesday as I am off till Wednesday. Hope everyone has a great holiday!!

House Blessing with Sunflowers

THIS PAINTING IS SOLD
This is the latest painting posted on my blog--see the  few other paintings below showing how I got to this point---.This may or may not be done---I have to live with it a while before i know. :-)   I plan to paint more sunflowers as I have several set-ups to pick from.
I am taking off work tomorrow and starting a new sunflower painting.This one shall be sunflowers in a glass vase---then i think I'm going to paint some small paintings with wild flowers,

On The Easel, Still

Worked on it this afternoon --it is getting close to being finished--i will probably work on it more tomorrow. I really enjoyed this painting ( I will prob hate it tomorrow.  I am not going to post it on fb till I am sure I am really and truly done.  I have another set-up of the joyful sunflowers that I took pictures of in a glass vase--if I decide this is done I may re photo (this shot is crooked, I know) to get a better shot. I think I have changed my mind of what i am calling this--I was going to call it House Blessing with Sunflowers--a friend at work (Scott) said i should call it KANSAS.  I like that--what do you think????

Still On The Easel.....

Here is my painting a little further along---i am trying to post as it goes --I plan to paint again today and will post after that session. Note: nothing done on the sunflower laying on the table or for that matter the table itself except for a little work on the wheat. Hope you can see the changes as the painting comes further along. (If you can't--i guess that is why I still have my day job! ) lol

On The Easel.....

• Well. here is the under painting--I want to work on it today but I feel not so very good--allergies I think---So feeling like this, I felt like i would go ahead & post, knowing when I feel better, I can go ahead & delete if I want--may be a little delirious --It has been so long since I have posted, I really don't remember exactly how I did it.  I have so much to do on this painting so realize it is going to go thru changes but the foundation is there-sigh!



Sunflower Diary

Well the sunflowers are coming along--I have given them a first coat and am starting to get more details in --I am debating posting them as I go....but --then again-......I have a lot more to do ...I did take a picture and showed it to a few people at work and got a good response.

I wrote this earlier and thought i discarded it but here it was so decided to add to this post.

The sunflower painting is coming along--I am kinda excited but also leery--It is to the point where I am ready to put the "icing" on it, the fun part, but the part  when it can turn to magic or..........be ruined-- there is always that chance we face. I tend to take it to far, then I take it back then a little more---STOP! I love painting. I hate painting! grrrr

 I am going to order a book Marci Oleszkiewicz recommends--its called Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils ( and Rewards) of art making. She says we all feel like this--somehow that is good --like an artist of her caliber can have the same feelings as me---yep I am going to get that book!

Anyway sunflowers are fun to paint--I like the bright glowing colors and how they are so joyful--well we will see how it all turns out. I'll keep you posted!

Beginnings....

I took off work Monday and shopped for Sunflowers!!!I found some beauties at the grocery store (that is where Nancy Medina finds them---thanks Nancy(Sunflower Queen) --I came home without stopping for the blue vase--I could not wait! Then I set up several possible paintings--i had sunflowers in a glass vase, I had sunflowers in a brass colored container--i had sunflowers laying, I had some in two vases----took scads of photos ---now I have to choose which one to paint from this weekend. I think it will be one in the brass thingy--it was a bucket like thing that they used to put ashes in from the fireplace---not sure but you cant see much of it. Wow sunflowers are BIG! Aren't they happy flowers? Even drooping, they are charming.--I was going to post my photos, but thought better---don't want anyone saying they like the photo better!!! I showed a co-worker my gaggle of photos and she said as she was half way thru them, Oh, you took these photos yourself?  I thought you found them on the Internet. I took that as a compliment ---Hey, you take them where you get em! lol

Painting In My Mind

I am dreaming of a painting with Sunflowers. It started when I went to an antique mall Saturday with my daughter Jaime and grandson Alec. I found a very pretty blue vase, I thought the imaginary sunflowers would look good in....I have a little wooden trunk that I could throw a cloth casually across with interesting folds....I think of a "House Blessing" that a student made for me years ago out of Kansas wheat that she picked herself (she said it was an old Indian tradition to make these and give to a friend and it was believed it would keep your house safe and blessed) that I still have hanging over my door.hmmmmmmm... now if the grocery store has Sunflowers, beautiful Sunflowers,  and the Antique Mall--would they still have that perfect blue vase? --or do I want to use a glass vase or jar--hmmmmm--or do I want a goldish, coppery or brass container? I am thinking a dark background behind the sunflowers--do i want the wheat house prayer blessing to be on the wall or laying on  the table. Or do I want the background to be a mid value with dark cast shadows??? hmmmm, its late &  I need to sleep on this............Let you know later if this is a dream or can I pull it off in the light of day? hmmmmmmmm

Diary of a Mad Painter (like "Diary of a Mad Housewife")

I paint only with oil paint- I paint from photos, I usually do my set-ups, then photograph them--I do this as I am slow painter and my flowers would wilt or my fruit would rot--I work full time so generally I paint on week-ends so photos work well. After I put in a wash,I get serious and paint everything the best I can,I think it looks good when I go to bed, then when I wake up the next day I usually hate it so I go over it again--always improving (I hope) but by unexplainable reasoning I can see it better so I know what to fix. This may go on for several painting sessions. That's when magic happens--it is sooo ugly, then all of a sudden it comes together! When I am finished, I never am--I always go back and enhance after it has set for a week or so. It seems like I have to live with it for a while to really see the thing. It's a struggle till it's over then it doesn't seem like a struggle. Painting is strange that way.

Alyssas' Roses (After Catherine Kline)

This was painted from a study of Catherine Klines' beautiful roses. I think everyone at one time or another has studied the roses of this wonderful woman-she was such an inspiration for all of us! Anyway I painted this for my granddaughter and I signed it Grammy. Can I say again I love roses? It is at this moment hanging in Alyssas' bedroom! Oh, Oh, Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, when Alyssa was really really little she called me (you won't believe this) Grammy Rose. Jaime told me she said one day "momma, can we go see Grammy Rose? She saw me painting roses and just put 2 & 2 together. Is that not adorable? I wonder if I should have named my blog .......... Art by Grammy Rose   or Grammy Roses Art Blog   or ....what do you think???

We The People

This was painted with an undercoat of acrylic then detailed with oil over the top. It was done in class so it was a good way to be able to get it done in one day. This is available for sale. (18x24) $350 + S&H 

Summertime

What really says summertime more than tomatoes ripening in the kitchen window? I loooove tomatoes and I loved painting them--the light hitting the tomatoes caught my eye  --i liked the deep red of the tomatoes to paint as much as I liked them to eat. This painting is available. $550 + S&H  (14x18)

Rolling Wave

I think the first painting I ever did was a knife painting of a seascape with waves crashing against the rocks copying  from an old Walter Foster book--and here I am again painting waves crashing against rocks again in a class! I do like to paint the seascapes! Someone on fb asked how can a gal from Kansas paint waves like that and I said cause i like too! lol This painting is available. (18x24) $250 + S&H

Sarahs' Peonies

SOLD
Peonies painted before & after class. This painting was in my studio (studio = joke actually a small spare bedroom)  behind a bunch of stuff & I really forgot I had it. I put it on fb and named it "forgotten flowers". Sarah saw it and immediately contacted me and purchased it! (she has 2 other paintings of mine) So I have changed the name to Sarahs' Peonies! This is in the collection of Sarah Kilgore. Thank you Sarah! xxoo

Sandys' Angel

This is a painting of an angel my niece made for me--I put it out in the front yard every summer & bring it back in when it gets cold--I cherish it. I thought it would make a good painting--I liked how the light fell on her & caused interesting shadows with the bush behind. This painting is available. (size 16x20) $450 + S&H

Flower Girl (study after Harlamoff)

This is another painting that I repainted after class--I looked at a picture that Harlamoff painted--and painted from that--as I have said before--the study of the old masters opens the eyes to alot of things. She is currently hanging on a wall opposite me -I love this painting. This painting is available for purchase. $750 + S&H (size 18x24)

Play Misty For Me

I enjoyed painting this in class --I enjoyed painting the misty fog and great wave--sometimes things just come together--the colors used in this are some of my favorites. This painting is available! $450 + S&H
(18x24)

Summertime Blues

This was painted over a failed painting and was a painting out of my imagination--I had not ever attempted a painting from thin air but it was a good exercise--notice how I worked in my favorite blues?
 "Sometimes I wonder what I'm gonna do
'Cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues"
 Do you remember that old song by Eddie Cochran? It was running thru my head when I was painting this. whoops now I cant get it off my mind! lol
This fantasy painting is available..$450 + S&H (14x18)
(framed)

Roses with Crystal

I made this set-up with the same roses that are in the painting "Backward Glance" (We took pictures and painted from the photos). They were almost dying under the lights but were still beautiful, in that stage. How wondrous God made our world, with  beauty even in a dying flower. Anyway, the intricate crystal with the play of light bouncing here & there was almost enough to boggle the mind, I just had to simplify--same with the puzzle of the rose petals--it is so hard while doing but like child-birth the struggle is forgotten upon completion! lol This painting is available. (Custom Frame-11x19) $750 + S&H

Maine Lighthouse

SOLD
Another commission from a co-worker. Jim brought me pictures of his family's favorite vacation spot. I put this together from his picture with a little made up sky. They were pleased.Painting in the collection of the Hogan family..

Lots of Grapes

SOLD
This is another commission from my former boss Mike Hatfield (he has 3 paintings so far)He fell in love with my painting "Natures Jewels" which was not for sale so I found a old old painting with grapes in it and did this study after it (i cannot find the artist name anymore--but you can see it has an old world feel) As i said before you can learn so much from working from an old masters painting. Hat wanted grapes so this had lots & lots of them! :-) Painting in the collection of Mike & Susan Hatfield.

Fairy Park

SOLD
This was painted in an interesting class. We painted from a black & white photo of Central Park! The castle like building in the back was just imagination--after finishing this i thought it looked like fairy's could live there--This is in the collection of the Groll family.

Geisha Girl

SOLD
Enjoyed painting this pretty girl in class and after--the costume she wore was fun to paint, I liked the bright colors. This painting is SOLD.

Caught

Caught in the act --Bubba getting ready to destroy the pretty Christmas tree that I put in the bathroom--I painted this from a photo-- I enjoyed painting the different textures of the soft fur, the mirror and even the reflection took some thought---fun painting. I have had alot of people say this reminds them of their cat- so if this reminds you of your cat it is available! lol  (14x18) $450 + S&H

Flow Blue

What a joy this was to paint--I got to take a class with Elizabeth Robbins before she moved from Kansas --you know there are classes and then there are CLASSES. I felt like I was in heaven--what a wonderful teacher she is!. .. This is available.(11x14) Framed-$450 + S&H

Mother & Daughter

Another class project---I was so happy with this as it reminded me of my daughter & granddaughter--so naturally it went to their house to live



Tuesdays' Child

Mondays' child fair of face, Tuesdays' child full of grace---This painting is SOLD

Hide & Seek

I love to watch people look at this painting as it takes a while for them to notice the doll peaking from behind the flowers and when they spot her they always laugh because they are surprised. So then the title of the painting makes sense. This painting is available. $950 + S&H (customed framed)

Kristis' Flowers

SOLD
My friend loved daisys and I love sunflowers so Kristis' flowers was born. This painting is in Kristis' collection.

Bed & Breakfast

SOLD
This was another commission from a co-worker. He wanted a painting as a gift for his wife and brought me a photo of a bed & breakfast that they stayed at the year before. I'm a flower & still-life painter and the commissions made me interested in landscapes also!

Hydrangias

Another class painting--as i have said before, i leave my knowledge at the door and just let myself be led. Then I go home and repaint. I really enjoyed painting Hydrangias--they are one of my favorite flowers. I especially like the cool blues and lavenders. This painting is available. (18x24) $375 + S&H

Waiting

This was another painted in class ---this was a really fun one to paint. One of the guys at work said it had a spiritual feeling to it--i thought so too with the strong light in the sky, there is a peaceful feeling to this painting. This painting is for sale.
(24x30) $525 +S&h

China Doll

  This was painted in a class-a few years ago--I always go brain dead in class but love to go to classes as it is fun to be with other artists, and you can always learn something new. I came home from this one and almost totally repainted --I always seem to do that! Anyway, it was much fun to paint. This painting is SOLD!

Backward Glance

This was painted in a class several years ago--we would set them up and the teacher would critque and suggest things--I wanted to paint the roses reflected in the mirror with the gold frame, draping satin, gold vase--what more did it need? Well he insisted that I put in a nude he had a photo of and I was mortified! lol I carefully put her where the rose offered some coverage, enough so that I could live with it!. This painting is for sale. (custom framed) $850 + S&H

Lazy Hazy Plaza Days

This was painted from a photo Wil (a friend of Trudy's) took. The photo was taken at the Plaza Art Fair the same year my Moms painting was hanging at that fair. That was an exciting summer!Anyway back to my story about the painting, My friend Trudy showed me the picture and I loved it and I asked if I could borrow it to paint--Wil and Trudy were both delighted to let me. I loved the red lanterns and the bridge-I felt it had the mood of the plaza. I sent Trudy a photo of the  painting, and she forwarded it to Wil---his comment was "She has channeled Monet. It is beautiful." That was the best compliment I have ever had so I had to include it here---sorry i was thrilled!!!! This painting is available $650 + S&H

.

Roses with Ribbon

Loved painting this!  ( I love painting roses) SOLD

Hats' Girls

SOLD

This was another commissioned painting. My boss wanted me to paint a picture of his beloved Pugs--he gave me several photos of them. I found 2 that I liked, & made up the backround. Mike laughed when he saw the painting, as he said they would have torn up the pretty flowers in a second!  This is in the collection of Mike & Susan Hatfield.



Natures Jewels

When I set this up, I wanted a feeling of the paintings I admired from the old masters- they seemed to glorify the wonder of God's creation. I felt the fruit was like jewels and tried to paint them that way. My son & daughter are fighting over who gets it when I am gone (can u believe that?) It is in my possession at this time and will be kept in the family. lol

Grandmas Bowl

Here is the last one of the 3 that I painted from the 2010 Harvest! This little bowl was from my grandma (My dads mom) that i found in my china cabinet -it is in the FrontYard Peonies too. So I was busy there for a while! This painting is available for sale. (8x10) $450 + S&H (framed)

Colors Of Summer

Oh how I loved painting this one--this was No.2 from the 2010 harvest--what fun this was to paint. This was one that came together so easily-love when that happens! I was pleased how it turned out. This was also SOLD to the same lovely lady that bought Front Yard Peonies. WOO_HOO



Front Yard Peonies

Picked these wonderful flowers right out of my front yard. This was the summer of 2010. The flowers were so huge! I did 3 paintings from this harvest and had a wonderful time setting them up and painting them--This painting is SOLD.