Turn on the light!

So yesterday I was inspired.
I have been wanting to do a pen and ink on a lampshade for awhile but have had a hard time finding a reasonably priced lampshade. Yesterday, while picking up an xmas gift, I stumbled upon a super nice lampshade on sale. So I picked it up. Then I hit Value Village and found a neat vintage lamp base for cheap! I sanded and painted the lamp base a nice golden yellow color. Then I free hand drew the bird on a little branch. And there you have it! My creation. It was so fun. Seeing that etsy didn't have anything similar to this, I am actually interested in making a whole line of different lampshades. So now to find more deals!

Painted cat rocks

These are two of my friends cats. She asked me to paint them on rocks for her. Pretty fun task! ...and I added a picture of our own kitty, Pan. Hiding in his bag he loves so much ha ha!

"Hot Artichokes!"

Grew some artichokes this summer in my garden. Decided to make a memory before I devour them. So I painted two of them. Tasted as good as they looked! 11x14 Oil.
CJ

"Otherside"

Painting of a wave under water. 16x20 Oil. Hanging at the Seaside Cafe near my work now. Was really fun to paint. I am going to try more ocean paintings.

Find Some Shade

This is an 8x10 I did for the lovely lady Jen who asked to throw my Bridal Shower. I was so very thankful that she offered to do so. If not then I would've ended up planning the whole thing myself probably. Instead she has made me feel very special by taking care of it for me :) A week after the wedding Jen and her husband are moving to Korea for 1 yr for her to teach school. She cannot bring her best friend with her however; her dog Mulder. I was hoping in place she could bring this painting I did with her to put up in their apartment. It's just a little thank you from me. I have a nice barn wood style frame to go with it too.

Peaches come from a can...

This is the latest painting I've finished. An 8x10.
Did it for a buddy of mine who is helping me out a lot with something. I realized I really like painting fruit. Trying to get the right colors for peaches was interesting! Took me quite awhile but I think I nailed it.
My new technique for painting I'm trying is to paint the hardest section first. That way I am looking forward to the end because it will be easy! Started up another painting I'm doing for a second friend. Hoping they dont read this cause they will then know my surprise for them LOL!

Frustration and Adjustments

I posted a picture of the painting on my facebook artists group page for some suggestions. I got more suggestions then expected and then realized how much more I had to work on it. Thinking I was finished this was rather upsetting. After a small panic attack and the urge to run a knife through the center of the painting I got some help from my dad and was able to go back to work on it. These are the adjustments I have made. I consider it finished. Mostly because I want it to be. I'm sure there is more that could be done if I was willing to continue to work on it.

Art Show Painting

I've recently joined an art group in White Rock. They are very well organized and have two art shows a year, amongst other opportunities to display art. The May show lets you enter up to 4 paintings. Too many for me to get done so I just did this one. It has to be finished today so if there are any pointers that do not require a huge amount of work I'm all ears ;)
This is from a picture my friend took on a road trip through Canada one summer. Probably the fastest I've finished a 16x20 painting. Only because I had to really lol. So I am not sure if the quality is very good. That's why I am asking for tips.
Here is a link to the art group I joined. http://www.artsociety.ca/aboutus.html
CJ

Sunset in Thailand

Here is a painting I have been working on for a friend. It is off a picture he took on his trip to Thailand this year. It is a 19X40 I think, largest I have done yet. I have to go back and darken the sand once it has dried a little. Then I'm saying done with this painting. Each time I adjusted anything in the sky I ended up doing the whole thing pretty much over because color matching was so hard. Phew! So glad it's over. Skies and clouds are really really hard!

Pongo again..

So here is a 95% done version of the painting I did for my mom for xmas. Just have to add more to the back ground then varnish. Looks pretty good. Think I should start doing more animal paintings for sure. It seems to come easier for me. So let me know what ya think.
CJ