Cottage Dresser, Nimrod Hall, Virginia (sold)

 

 10x8, oil on canvas panel, 100.00, Daily Paintworks  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/cottage-dresser-nimrod-hall-virginia/86962

 

 

When I had my first (and only) semester of painting in college, we used a brush.  I loved it.  I loved that feeling of picking up paint and depositing it on the stretched canvas with a springy brush.  To me, it just didn't get any better!

 

Fast forward a bunch of years, and I still love painting with a brush.

 

But the last 2 or 3 years I have been experimenting with the palette knife as I

delve into a slightly more contemporary look.

This painting was painted completely with a palette knife except for a simple block in.  I love how the colors sing!


Linked to Wow us Wednesday   http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
Linked to   http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/

Back!!

I'm back in town after a few weeks of visiting family and friends.  I will be posting a new
painting tomorrow.  Connie

Antioxidants in a Small Package (sold)

6x6, oil on Raymar panel, 50.00, on eBay

I didn't want to just name this painting Onion, and since I've recently read an article on antioxidants, I succumbed to the above title.  So eat your onions and you will have a long and happy life!

Red Barn

4x12, oil on stretched canvas

I had trouble getting the photo to show the colors correctly.  The roofs are more blue gray and not green.

When I taught elementary school art, I could always get a delighted look or sound when I gave out paper cut to different size than the standard.  High schoolers, who are not nearly so transparent, also liked it.  How did I know?  I taught high school for about 20 years, so I suppose it was intuition.

This was my chance to use a different format for a change.  There was a big sale on canvas several months ago and I bought, not exactly with abandon,  quite a few different sizes.

Deep Water, Number 3 (sold)

12x12, oil on canvas panel, 120.00, Daily Paintworks

The third one of the series..I'm trying to push myself to present the same scene in unique ways.  This one has quite a bit of palette knife work.  If you click on the Daily Paintwork site--see right hand column--you can run the mouse over the painting and see it magnified.  I think the next one will an experiment in pushing the color and using arbitrary color.   Or I may paint the entire canvas a dark transparent wash and then "pull" the images out of the darkness.  Stay tuned!

Bridge over Cowpasture River (sold)

11x14, oil on canvas panel, 140., Daily Paintworks

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/bridge-over-cowpasture-river/79389

This weekend I kept my daughter and son-in-law's dog, Olive.  Olive quickly became a studio
dog and kept me company while I painted.  I finished this one up this evening--another one of Cowpaster River in Virginia.

Linked to Wow us Wednesday at  http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Summer Haybales, Virginia (sold)

12x12, oil on canvas panel, Daily Paintworks

Haybales are a little tricky to paint.  We know they are light and warm on top because of the sun.  And we know they are dark and cool at the bottom when they turn away from the light.  But what about the inbetween space?  I use orange to make the transition and add warmth.  I also use blue which is reflected from the sky.  Soft edges keep the bale from looking like a cut out which is pasted on the landscape.

This post is linked to   http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Cottage, Nimrod Hall, Virginia

8x8, oil on canvas panel, 85.00, Daily Paintworks

This is one of the cottages that houses workshop participants at Nimrod Hall in Virginia.  The first building was build in the 1700's,  but others like this one were added later.  They all have porches--which is splendid since there is no air conditioning.  The rooms are sparse, but comfortable.  It's good to get away from our decorated, air conditioned, automated houses for a change.  These rooms with the boards instead of sheetrock reminded me of my grandparents' homes.

Oh, and the cottage is not pink--just the roof which is a pinkish red tin-I used artist's license on this one.  Just seemed more attractive in the painting to me.

Cowpasture River, Virginia (sold)

9x11, oil on canvas panel, Daily Paintworks, 125. 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/cowpasture-river-virginia/75968

This part of the river was close to Nimrod Hall, and I drove down there one morning to paint.  I was
told that Cowpasture (don't you love that name--conjures up quite an image!) is one of the cleanest and clearest river in Virginia.  You can see a few of the underwater rocks in the painting.

This post is linked to   http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2012/07/wow-us-wednesdays-73.html Savvy Southern Style Wow us Wednesday

Coastal Marsh

8x8, oil on canvas panel, 85.00,

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/coastal-marsh/76245

Kathy Collins named this painting for me!  We were actually at Squirrel Park in Matthews, NC with out Tuesday Plein Air group.  Squirrel Park has a little pond with trees in the back and hanging over the sides.  I set up and started painting, the sun moved, and I was no longer in the shade.  (Painting with the sun on your canvas makes for a "loser" painting every time.)  I moved to the shade and then had to make up the painting.  The colors and shapes changed some and Kathy thought it looked coastal, so we just relocated the location of the painting!  Moral of this little story:Paintings have a life of their own!

Linked to Wow us Wednesday at    http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Three Trees, Nimrod Hall, Virginia (sold)

10x10, oil on canvas panel

I returned home Friday night from a week at Nimrod Hall.  I found Nimrod Hall because I wanted to take a workshop from Sara Linda Poly and this location was drivable for me.  Little did I know, it is practically an institution and most certainly a tradition for many people.  Some have been coming for 25 years or more, and most have come at least several times.  I was a "newbie',  but was fortunate to be adopted by Ginger, who had been many times.  The first night she drove me around to all the great painting spots, and we painted together most mornings.

I've never been to a place so loaded with good painting sites.  Everywhere I turned, I wanted to paint the scene.  I took over 400 photos for future paintings

I"ve been to quite a few workshops and I must say, that this group was the easiest, most fun, and pleasant group I've encountered. 

On the minus side, it was unbearably hot with wasps, bees, and most hateful of all to me--gnats that flew around my face.  I used copious amounts of Off and sunscreen.  Other than that, it was a blissful adventure.

The above painting was sold to someone at the workshop.

After the Storm (sold)

8x10, oil on canvas panel, Daily Paintworks

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/after-the-storm/74348

Have you ever noticed that right before or after a storm, the colors on the ground seem so much lighter and brighter?  I tried to capture that when painting After the Storm.

Flag Day, June 14

oil on canvas panel, 8x8

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/flag-day/74160

 

Well, I was almost a day late and a dollar short with this painting-a favorite saying of my mother's.  I love Flag Day and wanted to get this one on last night, but, like many things I plan, it didn't happen. 

Vacation House, Isle of Palms

6x8, oil on canvas panel, Daily Paintworks

My family rented a house for us last December as a birthday get-to-gether.  This was the house next door to ours.  We had a great time and beautiful weather.
.

At the End of the Road

8x10, oil on canvas panel, on auction at Daily Paintworks

This is another little street from one of my favorite towns in the world, Bay St. Louis, MS, where my sister lives.  Bay St. Louis was hit really hit hard by Katrina, and some of the beautiful old houses by the ocean were destroyed.   Otherwise that small town has built itself back up, and it is charming.

I believe the building at the end of the road was at one time a service station.

Still Water (sold)

9x12, oil on canvas panel, http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/still-water/72527

I saw this photo while cleaning the studio and wondered why I hadn't painted it.  I have no idea when I took it or the location.  I really should start labeling!

The Creek at Belmont Abbey (sold)

11x14, oil on canvas panel, 125.00, Daily Paintworks


On a cool, clear morning last Tuesday, I painted this scene with the Plein Air Buds.  The campus was almost deserted, so we pretty much had the run of the place.  School was out, so no college students, but I did see a few monks in their "habits"--did not know what to call there garb.  Does anyone know?

The White Farm House

10x10, oil on canvas panel, 85.00, auction on Daily Paintworks

White farm houses were the norm for so many years.  They were ubiquitous in rural areas, but I have noticed that I don't see as many, and if I do they are often in a state of decline.  I always think of American Gothic as the perfect farm house--plain except for a little gingerbread.  I regret that so many are gone and resolve to paint all that I see.

June 5--This was chosen as one of the picks of the day at Daily Paintworks Facebook.

On the Lake

8x8, oil on canvas panel, 85.00, Daily Paintworks 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/on-the-lake/70935

This is a location not too far from me, and I have painted it before.  I changed so many things that the owner would probably not recognize it. 

Tomorrow I painting in Belmont at the college there.  Can't wait to see what it offers.

French Village

12x12, oil on canvas panel, damar varnish,  on auction at Daily Paintworks, Mary 6

Once in while I paint a picture that I like, but am not quite satisfied with.  Oh, and sometimes I paint a picture that I am definitely not satisfied with and will never be.  But, back to the subject.  I loved the subject and composition of this painting, but I felt the colors were too "sweet".  So I whipped out my trusty non-sweet colors and made some changes.  Ah, much better.

This is obviously painted from a photo, since I have not lately journeyed to France.  However, I was there about 15 years ago and have saved this photo, among many others from that trip.

Peaches with Silver

9x12, oil on stretched canvas, 95.00,

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/peaches-on-silver/70179

 

This is an older still life that I neglected to ever post--who knows what's lurking in my studio???

Red Clay Path, Beatty Park, Charlotte,NC

9x11, oil on canvas panel, 100.00, http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/connie-snipes-1841

On Tuesday mornings I paint with a group we call Plein Air Buds.  One person plans the

location, and anywhere from 8 to 14 of us meet.  We paint until around 12:30 and then go to

lunch, our reward for our rigorous hours of painting!

This painting was chosen to appear on Daily Paintworks Facebook page.

This meeting was at Beatty Park here in Charlotte.  You can see my easel set up

here in the shade.  Getting in the shade is usually more comfortable, but it is most important

for painting.  If a painting is done in the sun, the colors will look beautiful and

brilliant--then when out of the sun, the colors just die.

Been there and done that one!

Garlic for Cooking (sold)

5x5, oil on canvas panel

I just got back from a week's visit with two girlfriends.  We all went to elementary school, jr. high, and high school together.  I took lots of photos for painting, and although I had a most wonderful time, I am also glad to be at the easel again.

I painted this before I left, but didn't get it posted.  I WILL do better with posting this week.

Displaying Small Paintings

Susan M. has been buying my paintings for several years now. She began with eBay and moved on to dailypaintworks. We have exchanged emails, and I consider her a friend. She graciously allowed me to share some of her display ideas.

Recently she sent me some photos of how she displays the paintings, and I fell in love with her style.  Since they are small, I think they look better as a group rather than all by their lonesome.  The overlapping of the paintings provides unity--they are all landscapes and they all have a similar color palettes.  Some are framed and some are not, and that's OK!  It all adds up to a unified display with enough differences to keep it interesting.

This second photo shows only one painting, along with other collectibles.  (This is a beach house.)  Now why does this work so well when I just said to display small paintings in groups?  OK--this works because it is a small painting in a small space.  It's all about scale.  Never put a small painting on a large wall, large table, etc....it will make you unhappy every time you look at it!

Thank you, Susan.  I know my readers will like these display ideas.

linking with      http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/



Farm Buildings, Union County, NC (sold)

9x11, oil on canvas panel, dailypaintworks.com

This is a site I have painted before. This time I made quite a few changes and made copious use of the palette knife.