Daily Painters "Summer Stroll"

 

My mind was back on "the vine" yesterday. Painting scenes of  warm summer walks through the dusty rows of a scenic vineyard makes a girl thirsty. I'll probably be vineyard painting again today, then off to the casino to celebrate my birthday! Now where did I leave that little pointed hat....? 

This piece is painted in soft pastel on sandpaper and measures 12" x 16". Framed in wide dark wood with UV/non-glare museum glass, it is ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it now $375 + $40 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada. Thanks for stopping by. Updated 10/16/11: Sold!

Daily Painters "Summer Faces #3"

Hot off the easel, this piece was a request from a family I met at the La Jolla Festival of the Arts. Painted as a companion piece to Summer Faces #1 and #2, they plan on hanging all three pieces together instead of using just one large painting. Hopefully I can post a photo of the finished installation.

I've received several requests for large pastel paintings (24" x 36" and larger), but I've been suggesting the use of two or three framed pieces together to achieve the "grand" effect. I'm finding that I am physically unable to wrestle these jumbo pieces around, since glass and frame of that size can get pretty heavy, and pieces of this size are also difficult to transport and display at outdoor shows.

Typical sizes I offer are: 8" x 8", 12" x 12", 12" x 16", 11" x 17", 14" x 18", 16" x 20", and 18" x 24".
As always, I invite your comments and suggestions.

"Perch of Wisdom and Good Humor"

Whew...it's taken an entire day to recover from my weekend at the La Jolla Festival of the Arts. Pictured above is my "Perch of Wisdom and Good Humor."  I'm jokingly calling it that, since I've never answered so many unique questions about my art. Questions from other artists, casual observers, art critics, and eager collectors had me on my toes all weekend. I figured it would be fun to share a few of the more creative comments here: 

• "Look Johnny, these are just like your cray pas drawings on the refrigerator at home..."
• "If these are like chalk, why don't they smear?" (as she vigorously rubbed her hands over the glass)
• "Aren't these toxic...did you take vaccinations to work with pastels?"
• "I've never hear the first name M., what nationality is that?" (referring to my signature M. Straub)
• "These paintings are great...are you a little...you know...?
• "I love them...I'll take three!" (and this was my favorite :)

So you see, the life of an artist isn't always solitary and boring. You never know what may be coming next.

I would like to sincerely thank those of you that subscribe to my blog or have come into the studio, for stopping by my booth to meet me in person and say hello. It was a great weekend, and I look forward to doing it again next year.

Daily Painters "Summer Faces #2"

Here is the second sunflower painting, and my final piece before the La Jolla Festival of the Arts this weekend. I'm off to load the van and set up my tent and panels today. The weather is forecast to be light overcast and about 68 degrees...perfect for me!

This piece is painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, framed in wide dark wood with thin gold liner, and UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang alone or as a set with Summer Faces #1. Priced at $295 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada. Buy it now, or save shipping and come to the show early to see this set "live." See you soon... Updated 6/19/11: Sold this morning along with "Summer Faces #1, to a cute family from Los Angeles, visiting the La Jolla Festival of the Arts.

Daily Painters "Summer Faces #1"

Ahh.... this is the second to last painting I'm preparing for my show this weekend in La Jolla. I'll post the companion piece to this tomorrow, but for now I'm off to my framing bench. I received so many positive comments about the sunflower painting on my new business cards, that I thought a few more original sunflower paintings were in order.

Painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, this painting measures 12" x 12" and is framed in wide dark wood with thin gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Buy it here on-line before the show this weekend... $295 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada, or save the shipping and pick it up in the studio or at the show. Thanks for stopping by. Updated 6/19/11: Sold this morning, along with Summer Faces #2, to a cute family from Los Angeles, visiting the La Jolla Festival of the Arts.

Daily Painters "Warm Paradise"

This piece is a "revisit" of the Birds of Paradise painting I posted a few days ago. My "warm tones" collector asked to see this painting done with a warmer overall palette. I think I like them both, but this one does seem to have a more tropical "San Diego" feel. I'm ready to break out the Pina Coladas...what do you think?

Painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, this piece measures 14" x 18" and is framed in wide dark wood with thin gold liner and UV/non-glare museum glass. Buy it now price $475 + $40 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada. Thanks for stopping  by. Updated 6/12/11: Sold...yipee...she liked it! Thank you :)

Daily Painters "Back Yard Sunrise"

Summer time and the painting is easy. I'm just back from a wonderful trip to Sonoma wine country with ideas, sketches and images galore. But there's no place like home...with so many beautiful scenes all around me, it's a breeze to notice something interesting right here in my own back yard. I took artistic license with this piece and combined the land scenery looking west, with the sky scenery looking east, and here you have it.

Painted in soft pastel on sandpaper, this piece measures 14" x 18" and is framed in wide dark wood with thin gold liner, and UV/non-glare museum glass. Ready to hang and enjoy. Buy it now price $475 + $40 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada. Thanks for looking.