A River Runs Through It

8x8, oil on canvas panel

I believe this river is in New Hampshire. I have hundreds of photos and sketches that I work from in the winter, and I neglected to put the location in my notes. I loved the book, A River Runs Through It, and decided it was a splendid title for this painting.

A November Morning

8x8, oil on canvas panel

In Progress......

Suddenly I have way too much to do, as I'm sure many of you are also saying. I have 2 sets of company coming, house to clean, food to buy, paintings to enter into shows, and paintings to paint. I shall post whenever I can and will paint whenever I can. Best wishes to you all!

Carousel Horses

The painting I had planned to post today needs some more work on it, so I dug around and found another piece I did quite a few years ago as an example when I taught high school art. This technique is called tempera batik, involving tempera paint and india ink. After the painting is complete, india ink is brushed completely over the painting. After a day of drying, the ink is washed off leaving lines and a lovely texture on the paint. It always produced some strong student work.

For those of you who don't know me, in my former life I taught high school at The Walker School in Marietta, Ga for 28 years. It's a fabulous school with a rigorous curriculum, great students, faculty, staff, and parents. If you live near Marietta and are looking for a school for your children, please investigate it. Walker starts at pre-school and goes through high school.

Holiday Sale

5x7, oil on canvas panel

Want to give original art for a holiday gift?

I've created a separate blog site for a sale of small paintings just for the

holidays. Go to http://5x7andmore.blogspot.com/ to see the paintings and prices. I'll be posting there for the next several days.

Turkey and Dressing

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. My family is coming to my house, and I am so looking forward to having us all together. I'll be posting after Sunday.

Kezar Lake, Lovell,Maine (sold)

5x7, oil on canvas panel

Kezar Lake was described by National Geographic as "one of the three most beautiful lakes in the world." Nine miles long, one side faces the White Mountains in New Hampshire. I took a boat ride with friends who pointed out Stephen King's home, barely visible for the trees and high above the lake. It is said he can often be seen strolling around Lovell.

This is a small painting, but I think it manages to show quite a bit of space.

Reflections of a Favorite Tree, Union County, NC

6x6, oil on canvas panel

This one did not photograph very well. We have had rain, cloudy days, and extremely dim light. I did what I could on photo shop, but am still not satisfied with it, and the light is still not adequate outside. Hey, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

The Solitary Calf

8x10, oil on canvas panel

95.00

Cows are such interesting animals. I see a herd in a pasture, jump out of the car, camera in hand, rush to the barbed wire fence, and get a quick snap. The cows are in a wonderful configuration: facing different directions, clumped and unclumped, and I quickly start snapping again. They notice me and start coming to the fence, staring at me and no longer grouped for a good painting.

Cool Clear Water

8x10, oil on canvas panel

Tuscan Hills

5x7, oil on canvas panel

Lakeside

5x7, oil on canvas panel

A Distant View, Italy

5x7, oil on canvas panel

I had this photo in my collection for several years, and I actually painted on site when I was there. I procrastinated on trying the photo, thinking it would be hard to make a good painting from it. However, I love it. Just another example of pushing yourself to do something you think you're not ready for, skill-wise. Even if it's a "wiper", something is learned. So-o-o....go do something hard today!

A Stonescape, Maine

8x10, oil on canvas panel

To Bid: http://cgi.ebay.com/connie-snipes-oil-painting-landscape-stonescape-rocks_W0QQitemZ190348870893QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Paintings?hash=item2c51ad44ed

Since I have painted so many paintings and thought of so many titles, I asked Pam, English teacher, vocabulary whiz, and literary aficionado, for some help. Without hesition, she pronounced it A Stonescape, a good name I never would have thought of in a million years. I think I'll ask for her help with every title while I'm here.

We were deluged with rain yesterday and still have a little this morning. Thank you, Ida. You will notice there are rain drops at the lower part of the painting. I didn't realize it 'till everything else was done on the post, so please ignore.

Autumn Experience

6x8, oil on canvas panel

85.00

Studio

My friend of 30 years, Pam, is having surgery and I'll be helping her during the recovery period. I'll be painting and posting whenever I have a chance.

Meanwhile here's a photo of my delightful-where-it-all-happens-and-messy room I call my studio....where I spend most of my time. I do straighten it up from time to time, but the studio gremlins come regularily and pull things out of place. Regardless, it's a great place to work and I love it. At one time I painted in my bedroom, so I am happy to have a "room of my own."

The Park Arbor

8x10, oil on canvas panel
To bid on Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/connie-snipes-oil-painting-landscape-garden-arbor-park_W0QQitemZ190347040794QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Paintings?hash=item2c5191581a



I took a photo of this scene in a park in Greensboro, NC. I like it because of the formal aspects contrasted with the casualness of the planting. When I had the photo developed, I found I had used black and white film. Oh well, an excellent challenge in painting color. It's always good for an artist to push in a new direction.

As you can see, I changed the format from vertical to a horzontal. No reason, I just liked it better that way. That left some extra space on the right side of the painting. With nothing to stop the eye, the viewer's eye just slides off MY painting onto the next one in the gallery. We certainly can't let that happen, so I put in some darker, but smaller shrubs on the right. This small accent stops the eye and sends it right back around for another view of the painting.

Mooresville Paint out

8x10, oil on canvas panel

This one placed 2nd at the Mooresville Paint Out in Sept.
For sale with or without the frame. gatlinsnipes@hotmail.com





5x7, oil on canvas panel

Honorable Mention on this one, also for sale with or without the frame.

Tall Grass

8x10, oil on canvas panel

The reference material for this painting was a sketch and photo from a zoo many years ago. Since I wasn't sure about the bird (crane, I think) I slacked off and used the grass for the title.

It was a hard photograph to take since the bird was so light and the grass so dark. In order to show the bird's form, I had to make the grass darker.

Shadows Across the Walls

5x7, oil on canvas panel

Tuscan Courtyard

8x10, oil on canvas panel

To Bid on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/connie-snipes-oil-painting-landscape-Tuscany courtyard_W0QQitemZ190345566818QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Paintings?hash=item2c517ada62

Twelve years ago I spent a summer in Italy. This was painted from a slide I took of a little courtyard at the end of an extremely narrow street. I can't remember the town, but think it may have been Sienna.

A Corner at the Plant Nursery

8x10, oil on canvas panel

I painted this en plein air a few weeks ago at a nursery on Monroe Road here in Charlotte. It seemed a little "busy" to me, so I never posted it. I got it out yesterday and reworked it, and am now quite happy with it. I find I always learn by reworking a painting.

Would you be interested in a painting trip to Tuscany? I'll write more later about a planned trip in June, organized by Jean Cauthen.

Vines on the Building, Macon, Mississippi

8x10, oil on canvas panel

To Bid on Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/connie-snipes-oil-painting-landscape-antique-store_W0QQitemZ190345123562QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Paintings?hash=item2c517416ea

I had several emails asking if I had dropped off the earth. I did so miss painting and posting, but I did have a delightful trip and some delightful company.

I have painted this old antique store more than once, just from different viewpoints. The first time I painted it I was on site, and many people stopped to see what I was doing, than came back to see the finished product. I love painting outdoors and having a chance to let people see me painting.

Girl with Bell Pull (sold)

8x10, oil on stretched canvas

This painting was done several years ago as a class assignment. I don't paint many abstractions, but I always enjoy it when I do.

I'll be out of town for a few days. I'm taking my paints, but I'm not sure I'll be able to post. Connie

The Yellow Flatbed Truck

8x10, oil on canvas panel

95.00

For this painting I used reference material (photo and sketches) made about 17 years ago, and the truck was old then! I would love to know the year it was made, and isn't that a grand color?

Two Barns, Sagegrass, and Dappled Light

8x10, oil on canvas panel

95.00

Fields of Yellow

8x10, oil on canvas panel

Actually the yellow in the fields is a soybean crop. Kind of takes the romance out of it! We can pretend to be Shelley and Keats and call them golden flowers.

By the way, this is the same pond that I mentioned on a recent post. The weather is so fine here, just perfect for plein air painting.

The Pond, 5:30 am

8x10, oil on canvas panel

95.00

I never tire of painting this pond. Turn 30 degrees or change the time of day, and it's a whole new composition. Some day I'd like to do a Kevin McPherson pond series. He painted, I believe, a hundred or more paintings of the same scene, just changing the season and the time of day. What a wonderful project!

Door to the Biker Bar

6x8, oil on canvas panel

85.00

Early Morning in Union County, NC (sold)

6x6, oil on canvas panel

Barn with Gothic Window, Sunset (sold)

9x12, oil on canvas panel

To Bid: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190337069225&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Since I've been well, I've had a brush attached to my hand just about all the time. This weekend I painted 6 pictures, but was out of town and could not post. This painting is slightly larger than my usual 8x10 and smaller. I am forcing myself to paint some larger ones each week since I want to look for some more galleries.

Back Soon

I have caught another bug, but should be posting again by the end of next week.
Connie

The Plant Nursery on Monroe

5x7, oil on canvas panel

75.00

My new painting friend, Jean, and I painted at a delightful little nursery and gift shop yesterday. I painted two, but have to touch up the other one. There was so much to paint that it was difficult to keep the subject matter organized.

I need to reorganize my darks and lights.

Jean is a wonderful painter. You can see her work at www.jeancauthen.blogspot.com

A Walk in the Park

8x10, oil on canvas panel

95.00

I painted this yesterday in one of our local parks in Charlotte. I had quite an audience some of the time. Almost everyone likes to watch someone paint...and sometimes give advice!

The Stand Alone Pear

6x6, oil on canvas panel

As much as I love painting landscapes, I have missed painting still lifes. I plan to paint one or two small still lifes each week for a while, as well as my plein air landscapes.

On Saturday I participated in a Paint Out sponsored by the Mooresville Artist Guild. I arrived around 8:30, registered, and had my blank canvases stamped. Mooresville is a charming town, and there was much to paint. I chose a house in town and drove out to the marina for a water landscape. Paintings were turned in by 5:00, and we were all treated to a buffet dinner. I made a new painting friend, and we are planning to go out in the morning for some plein air time. After dinner, awards were given. My marina landscape won honorable mention and my town painting won second place. So I went home with a smile on my face and money in my pocket. The paintings will be in the gallery for a month, so I do not have photos.

The Pink Roof

8x10, oil on canvas panel

99.00

Generally, when I begin a painting, I first decide on my focal point. The focal point is usually put off center on one of the cross hairs of an imaginary tic tac toe grid. It will be a little different from the rest of the painting...perhaps sharper edges, more contrast, or brighter color spots. The focal point for this painting is the bright pink roof surrounded by cooler colors.

Western Haybales

8x10, oil on canvas panel
To Bid: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190332712836


This was painted from another slide I took several years ago. It was the first time I had seen the round ones. Most of the farms in the south were still making the rectangular bales.

The Guard Cat

8x10, oil on canvas panel
99.00, to bid: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190332946246&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT


When I was teaching I took hundreds of slides to use in the classroom. Some are so faded now that they are practically unusable, but I still have some great ones, especially those taken in Europe and the American west. This painting was done from a slide I took in Metz, France. I saw the scene just as I turned the corner on one of those small winding roads and snapped it almost without stopping. I wish I had taken more that day.

European Farm Buildings

8x10, oil on canvas panel

The Old Train Depot

8x10, oil on canvas panel
95.00

Yellow Cottage

8x10, oil on canvas panel
95.00


Most neighborhoods boast a least one yellow house. I found this yellow cottage on my morning walk. It had many more flowers and other plants, but I don't like paintings that are too "sweet" and picturesque.

New England Barn

8x10, oil on canvas panel

$95.00

Several years ago I was invited to visit a friend in Lovell, Maine. It was lovely, so cool, while here in North Carolina it was hot and muggy. If I were a rich girl, I would certainly have a summer place in New England. I made many sketches and took plenty of photos (although I wish I had taken more), and I'm still using them for reference material. This barn and house was quite close to my friend's house.

I have been "under the weather", but am up and running again, so please check back regularly.

Watermelons and Tomatoes (sold)

5x7, oil on canvas panel

Four in a Row

8x10, oil on canvas panel

The Leaning Porch

8x10, oil on canvas panel

Although in real life we prefer our houses to be squared up, there is nothing like a disheveled building for an intriguing painting.

Fallen Trees at Red Top Mountain

6x8, oil on canvas panel

The Red House

8x10, oil on canvas panel
To Bid: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190328012895

Misty Morning at Camp

8x10, oil on canvas panel

Pond Reflections

8x10. oil on canvas panel

The family reunion was a wonderful adventure, and I managed to paint 3 paintings while I was there. All the children also painted, ranging in age from 5 to 19, as well as my sister and brother-in-law. The children were so confident and set right to it! They painted on canvas panels with my brushes and water soluble oils. My sister commented that it just shows that children should be exposed to painting while they are young and unafraid. Adults generally do not like to try things that they fear will not turn out well.