Back to the Birds!

I'm back to the bird paintings today. This one was from a photo I took on my birdbath. It was one of my favorites. I just loved the unusual pose that lent itself perfectly to this composition. www.jfrederickart.com

Don't forget to stop by Austin Java on Barton Springs to see all the paintings I have showing there this month.

PAINTING A FEELING...

I'm not sure that this painting really expresses my feelings, but I know I was feeling loss when I painted this one. I took the photo reference at a lovely little lake in Denver near the home of my sister-in-law and her beloved husband, Ron.  We took a nature walk around the lake in Ron's honor, the morning after he passed away from cancer (a year ago next week). It was one of his favorite places. They had become avid bird watchers and this lake provides a huge variety of birds to watch including this American avocet. Ron was a very sweet and gentle soul and he is deeply missed by everyone who loved him. www.jfrederickart.com

NEW SHOW AT AUSTIN JAVA - BARTON SPRINGS

If you get the chance, please stop by Austin Java, 1608 Barton Springs, Ausin, TX to see 40 of my latest paintings on exhibit through May. The collection includes landscape, still life, wildlife, figurative and floral. It's a little bit of everything I've been painting lately. They are mostly oil paintings, but I've even included a few of my best pastel paintings for variety. Purchases can be made directly through Austin Java. www.jfrederickart.com

Off On Another Direction...

I know I promised to put together a series of Arizona paintings (can a series be two?)...but I took a four day workshop with Nancy Tankersley a couple of weeks ago and have moved off in another direction. Now I'm having fun painting figures. Nancy's workshop is all about painting figures from photos. This is the second time I've taken her workshop and each time I feel like I've progressed so far. Besides all the paintings I did in the workshop, I've started painting from photos I've taken with figures in them instead of avoiding them. I'm just not scared of figures any more and I'm actually enjoying painting them. Here are a few of my most recent ones. I also tried a new painting surface. The Tijuana woman is painted on Arches Oil Paper - my first painting using that paper. I knew a lot of artists are using it and talking about it, I finally decided to try it myself. I did like it. It's really a nice surface to work on.

"Finally Got It" 6x6 oil on panel click here for more info.

"Tijuana Woman Walking" 8x4.75 oil on paper
click here for more info.

"Harvesting at Boggy Creek Farm" 10x8 oil on panel
click here for more info.

"Shell Collector" Chosen for Daily Paintwork's Facebook Pick of the Day

My painting "Shell Collector" which I posted on Daily Paintworks last night was chosen by DPW to be featured on their Facebook page as one of their picks of the day. I'm honored!

As I mentioned in the write up about this painting on DPW... Those who have taken a workshop with Nancy Tankersley may recognize the photo this was taken from. I painted it in Nancy's workshop and she gave me permission to use her photo and to sell the painting if I chose. I really liked the way this one turned out. The photo I used was simply black and white. I had to make up the colors. I made it a beach rather than grass. It could have been either from the photo. The woman's bending over posture created an appealing shape.

I really feel like I learned a lot in Nancy's workshop. If you get the opportunity to attend one of her workshops, I can definitely recommend them.

Thank you for viewing my art. If you would like to see more of my paintings please visit www.jfrederickart.com

New Arizona Series of Paintings

My painting has just become revitalized after a rather long dry spell. I'm using photos taken on our recent trip from Texas through New Mexico, Arizona, California to Tijuana Mexico and back. It was a lot of driving, but since I never get to drive I got to take a lot of photos out the windows as we sped down the highways. A lot of the photos were awful. It never fails, you frame, shoot and where did that road sign or billboard come from? Oh well. I guess if you take enough photos at least a few of them will pan out. Here are the first two paintings from photos taken on the trip. Both available on Daily Paintworks

"Sun Kissed Rocks" 6x6 oil on panel

"Saguaro Skyline" 6x6 oil on panel

Back in the Groove

It's not that I haven't been painting, it's just that I haven't been painting as much for the past few weeks. I actually worked full time for a friend for a week and a half. I was not used to working like that and it really took it out of me. Before that we were traveling. I did get some paintings done on the trip but not as many as I'd hoped. Life just kept getting in the way.

During the time since I last posted, I completed what I consider my best still life to date "White Roses"

I also painted what I consider my best ever version of Mount Sopris. This one will be in the Plein Air Austin Annual show at the Corridor of Art Downtown in September and October.

Among the other paintings I've done in the past month or so, is one for the Central Texas Pastel Society Annual show at the Cultural Activity Center in Temple September and October. That one was a peg legged grackle stealing food from plates left on the table at Julios. 

It's been a busy month or so even if I haven't been painting every day. I'll try to post more soon.

Happy painting!