Latest Painting

Although these are latest paintings they are not completely new. I have some others to show you too, but since it's been a while since I posted I thought I would spread it out a bit. I promised myself when I set up this blog there would never be any apologies for not posting or taking breaks so- no mysterious reason for the quiet, just life.

 Above is a small recession buster painting (sold unframed) that I rather like-you can see the wood grain.

 This well-shoed guy was a bit of a struggle for me for some reason. I finished it for Spring Open house and as is often the case it sold.- Confirming my understanding that my favorites/least favorites are not always everyone elses. I've got some of my favorite paintings still here with me as they just haven't sold over the years. My consolation is I still get to be with them - and when I feel unsure about a piece even though it looks finished there is a home out there for it somewhere.

 This charachter came from a paper napkin sketch. I loved his face. Sometimes the balance of an expression feels just right to me. This guy seems sweet to me but neutral enough for you to want to know a bit more.

 These bottom three are all little unframed pieces with gold leaf to keep up a selection of smaller affordable paintings. It's also fun to be able to make them in almost one or two sittings.

          Hope everyone is enjoying the summer and remembering to just be- and make no excuses.

'Enormous Tiny Art' Show Returns To New Hampshire

I've participated in this show before and even got to go to the opening in Portsmouth New Hampshire (just happened to be on the road back in that part of the country). They find a lot of fun 'tiny' art that I think is ALL way to cheap but there you have it. Even I couldn't resist and bought something and may find myself supporting the arts again if I find that piece I have to have.
 Anyhow these are all there now along with a few other nifties. You can do that fun shopping cart thing were you just press buttons and wammo it's yours!
 The link is: http://www.enormoustinyart.com/Artists/a-c/Brennan,-Christine.aspx

 This little guy with the gold halo and polka dots is the only one that opted out at the last minute. He formed a bit of a crack down the front when I hammered in the hanger. (I didn't even flip out- how's that for personal growth)

                                              Happy Surfing. (Tell them Chris sent you)

New Paintings

Seems like I'm using a lot more gold leaf lately. I guess I was tired and too lazy with the process there for a while but now I'm back to it. It takes an extra bit of balance when painting. The gold leaf has such a brightness it's like putting your composition in front of a bright window. -It takes a bit of fineness to make it not seem to dark and back lit. (think of taking a portrait photo in front of a bright window)

          These bottom two pieces are recent commission pieces that were both easy and fun.

Some New(ish) Paintings

It's been some time since I've posted, but way back when I started posting I promised myself I would never make excuses or feel bad for not posting often enough. I have been successful with the first part but I'm always fighting a bit of guilt.

Anyhow here are some paintings completed in the fall that are either here or in nearby galleries. Hope this finds friends and fans happy and healthy with something to be grateful for in the new year. Cheers

Latest Paintings

It has been a while (if anyone out there is looking) since I last posted some paintings. So here is the latest batch. Finished a week ago or so. I got them ready for the show near the Mission in Santa Barbara. I sold the second down and the fourth down. (Thank you kind buyers). I have decided I am not so good at sitting at shows. I'm not thick skinned enough or something. Anyhow at least during Studio shows I am in the comfort of my own little nest, people have at least come to see me, and there is usually lots to keep people around a bit. (Gardens, koi pond, chickens, etc.)

And when you need that extra special love there are always our animal friends who will understand.

                                                         Happy Summertime friends.

New Collaboration on View This Saturday

As a past workshop student at the Beatrice Wood Center For the Arts I was invited to participate in a group show with the theme of Transformation. Having just done a couple small collaborative pieces with Jim I decided to use it as an opportunity to do another. Jim was eager to something together again so we came up with this triptych type piece. It is an oil and gold leaf painting with the woodwork done in mahogany, koa and small areas of gold leaf.
The show is this Saturday (so no I can't be there as I have a solo show to be at in Idaho!)

 Jim was mostly done with the frame before we left for our trip, but I had only just started painting the panels. When we returned I had one week to ship 15 paintings to Boise for the solo show and complete the three panels for this painting. It was a slight crunch but luckily the paint didn't have to be dry, I just needed to have a photo of it.

Thank you Kevin Wallace at The Beatrice Wood Center for the opportunity to show there (at one of the most beautiful places in the valley- always make the trip if you need to be inspired by both nature, and art all in one place) For more info visit their website at: http://www.beatricewood.com/index.html

Some Jim McCarthy Beauty

I hadn't done any collaborations with Jim in a while and some sweet customers who purchased one in the past were saying we should do some more. We are working on a small tryptich for a show in June but in the mean time we did a couple of small landscapes for my upcoming shows. They came out pretty nice I think. The paintings are 8"x8".

A Few Gold Leaf Guys- All Still Available Somewhere

I had a customer recently interested in seeing what was currently available with gold leaf. -So I went through my records of what galleries have what and sent him off a visual list. Since I had them all on my desktop I thought I'd share some of them with you.  I'm currently working on a few larger pieces that are taking longer plus the usual distractions of working at home, taxes etc.   

And of course taking time to sit and enjoy the blooming things in the garden as they come. For me the trick is simply appreciate it for what it is and not look at it and think- 'I have to fertilize these here, trim this tree here, move this pot here, plant this one here etc. etc.'
  I do love it when I have at least a few blooming things I can make an arrangement with for the house.
Happy Springtime everyone!

Gold Leaf Demo

I thought I would take all the mystery out of the gold leaf here with a few photos of the first stages of a small painting. The material I use is actually a metal alloy that looks just like gold leaf, but is a bit easier to apply. I have used 24k gold leaf and found it more tricky and although more authentic not tremendously more gold to my eye. At least for just a flat application. 

My paintings on board always start with a reddish color gesso which just happens to perfectly mimick the red clay bole traditionally used with real gold leaf. In places where the thin sheets may reveal the color underneath it is the same color one would see in the old masters paintings using gold leaf.

So here is a quick pencil sketch. (yes sorry hard to see) This was just a top of my head character that I didn't have in mind much other than I wanted a sort of dandy top guy who may be dancing.

                                                                                                     

So I decide where I want the gold leaf and all those area would get a layer of white glue. This stuff dries within an hour. When buying the imitation gold leaf you basically buy a small container of glue and a bunch of very thin gold sheets.

Here (top left) is the little glue bottle, and I just went ahead and used a whole sheet right over the top of image (so you get an idea the size of the sheets) Once you lay a sheet over glue you need to gently burnish it. I use the thin liner sheets that come with the leaf, then use the back of my fingernails. You just need to keep your skin oils off the gold as that can tarnish the leafing.  I often cut the sheets and piecemeal them together to save on the leafing- but it takes a lot longer.

                                                    


















I have a Japanese paintbrush I find just perfect for the task of removing the loose gold. You have to be gentle so don't scrub too much over the same spot but essentially brush the loose stuff and pay special attention to get little scruffs from all edges.

Then take a break and pet the dog who has been begging for attention for a while now.

At this point (very important) you will need to seal the gold areas with a clear sealer. If you don't do this  the metal will tarnish (unlike the real gold). The sealer is sold along with glue. (I use a acrylic clear sealer I have in bulk though)                     

And then the other part.  You can also paint on the gold leaf once the sealer is completely dry. I often will blend a background from a darker color to the brightest gold so it's not as flat a background.