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