Four more little master painting reproductions for Christmas....one already SOLD and one from Saturday SOLD, and I still have someone waiting to see them...

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Painted today!  Four....count them......4 miniature masterpieces for The ART of Christmas Tree at The ART Lounge Gallery.....unless they are sold before I hang them.  These have been selling as fast as we can paint them.  I have one prospective buyer, but email if you are interested.  I am so excited with the way these turned out.  Each is oil on 2"X3" canvas paper and they have just been jewels to paint.  So, so, so much fun!  I love painting...does it show???

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The Masters as Teachers is hung in Mook Gallery at Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Assn. for the month of December.  The reception is on Thursday night and I am ......tired?  LOL  I am off and running again, continuing the 2"X3" masterpiece reproductions for The ART of Christmas tree decorations at The ART Lounge Gallery.  These little gems, lovingly painted by all our artists will be for sale at the gallery.  This is Monet's "Haystack, Snow Effect" 1891.

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I am posting 2 miniatures for The ART Lounge Gallery's "The ART of Christmas" tree, which will be competing with 19 other local businesses in the Plant City Chamber of Commerce contest.  I decided to paint some masterpieces and some originals as my contribution.  Today I have Bierstadt and Degas.  Most of our artists are painting 2"X3" paintings to hang on the tree.  I am very excited to see what everyone comes up with.  Hopefully, with all the great art out there, there won't be any duplicates!  We have a pretty diverse group of fantastic artists!

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George Inness reproduction 2"X3" for "The ART of Christmas" tree at The ART Lounge Gallery!

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This little 2X3 painting will be one of the Christmas Tree ornaments for the local business Christmas Tree Contest.  The ART Lounge Gallery will have a tree featuring miniature masterpieces, old and new, with our theme of "The ART of Christmas".  All our artists are painting small reproductions or original works for this competition.  There will be Degas, Dali, Bierstadt, Innes, Monet, and others.  One of our extremely talented artists, Bohdonna Blay, will be decorating with her Ukranian hand embellished eggs to round it out...a lot of tradition for the Holiday.  There is always something exciting going on with our artists and I am proud to be counted among them!

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WIP Still working on my Dad.....  It will take a bit of work yet, but I can see some progress.  It always seems more difficult when you paint familiar people, and this pose is so HIM! 

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WIP  Yesterday and today I have been working on a portrait of my Dad.  I have wanted to paint this for a long time, just was never sure how I wanted to handle it...still not quite sure.  I have seen him in this familiar pose my entire life, chin in hand, holding a book, thinking, reminiscing, listening.  I am including items personal to him.....his prayer books, the aircraft he flew on, his recliner, a cherry table, since his hobby was woodworking, and the great outdoors.  I am still thinking about this one.....

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Portrait de Gabrielle Cot, after Wm. Adolphe Bouguereau.  This is all the time I can spend on her, and I am not sure I could do any better anyway.  So I will move along.  There is a little glare in the darks, but it is still very wet.

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WIP still of Bouguereau's "Portrait de Gabrielle Cot" that I worked on this afternoon.  The morning was taken with The ART Lounge Gallery updates, news, correspondence, phone calls and a class, so not much progress was made.  That's ok.  I like to start fresh in the early morning anyway, and hopefully I will finish Miss Gabrielle tomorrow!  There is hair and lace and final touches to the ear and face.  I do love Bouguereau, and reproducing his work is like a ballet or a symphony (be aware that I can neither dance, nor sing!).  There is a certain rhythm to his use of cool/warm in the flesh that I find so appealing, and it is becoming more familiar to me.  I deliberately left this larger than I normally do, so the colors will hopefully show to better advantage.

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This WIP is a reproduction of Wm. Adolphe Bouguereau's "Portrait de Gabrielle Cot", which will be exhibited at Center Place for the Arts for the month of December.  This has been my favorite "Master" artist since "discovering" portraiture in my second year of oil painting.  His fleshtones are luscious, irridescent, delights for the eye!  I never tire of studying them....

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My verdaccio underpainting for daVinci's Lady with Ermine, soon to be exhibited in a show titled, "The Masters as Teachers".  Time seems to be ticking away this week, and I should be painting up storms here getting ready for my show at Center Place for the Arts, in Brandon, Fl., but my family has taken a blow from the passing of a dear friend, Jack, more of a brother, in so many ways, and so I am just going in circles.  I did manage some adrenalin work, cleaned out my frame stock, and trying to get the studio back to working condition, but I have lots of cooking to do for the luncheon tomorrow and I just am not motivated to organize.  So, I will kick into high gear again this coming week.  I want to get at least 7 new paintings done for that exhibition.  I am excited about it particularly because it will be seen by so many people throughout the bookings for the month of December.  Center Place hosts a lot of civic functions and private parties in the main ballroom where the paintings will be seen, with exhibits changing monthly. 

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This is my reproduction of a detail area of The Pieta by Wm. Adolphe Bouguereau, 20X24 oil. This week I am trying to clean up the studio from all the chaos of the past weeks; organizing and putting away frames I had scattered throughout the entire workspace. I packed 3 little paintings for shipment and have been preparing for a show in December, called "The Masters as Teachers" It is lots of fun for me to be painting anything, but the Masters have a special place in my heart. I will be showing work by da Vinci, Sargeant, Bouguereau, Landseer, Cassat, Vermeer, and others in this month-long exhibit. I have been looking forward to it all year with much excitement!

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The Grand Opening for The ART Lounge Gallery was a smashing success, with about 420 attendees, and 26 pieces of artwork sold.....19 of which were mine!  I sold one large piece and the others were in the 50 Under $50, which was a one night special.  All our artists stepped up and exhibited some phenomenal work, which will remain on exhibit for the entire month.  If you are in the area, come by and see what's new.  We are proud of our growing membership, adding two new members this week.  I have another new piece, also in the exhibit, "Sunglory" which is 8X10, oil, and a personal favorite of mine.

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One more finished for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery TOMORROW NIGHT!!!  Finally it is here!  ...an believe it or not, I have one more to finish.  Any bets on that???  This is 14X18 oil.

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The Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery is tomorrow night!!!  The hanging went well; there are still a few pieces undone but promised to be ready tomorrow for hanging before the show.  I have two to complete, myself.  A few of the 50 Under $50 as they are seen in the gallery........we kinda liked the staggered placement.

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DONE!!!  The Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6 has 50 Paintings Under $50.....all from my easel.  What a draw!!!  I still have 3 larger paintings to finish, two more I want to get painted and postcards and notecards still to print.  I just might slide in under the wire with this...  I have got to say, setting myself a challenge to get 50 paintings done in such a short time (Oct. 2 - Nov. 2) has been an awesome experience.  We had the hanging tonight, and the little ones look so good grouped together on the wall......kinda think I need a blue light for the special!  Coasting from here on in, at any rate.  If the others don't get done, I will not be too upset...only a little bit.

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Work, work, work......cross off one thing, add two more! This painting is NOT one of 50 Under $50, but will actually be my DOOR PRIZE at the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6th. I just had to have something for Fall in this exhibit. Well, I guess I could count the apples as a Fall painting, but this one prepares me for the coming holiday...

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One of 50 Paintings Under $50 for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6th.  I am off to celebrate Trunk or Treat with family and friends, so I am posting this now.  Have fun and keep safe all you little goblins and witches!  

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After going out and buying a new camera card, and taking my photos, I find that the computer won't read the card!  I have tried it until I am ready to scream!!!  So.........this is a painting that I am putting in the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6th.  It is NOT one of the 50 Paintings Under $50, but since I can't seem to make the computer bend to my will (and I am strong-willed!), it looks like I will have to send you this one instead.  Nearly all my framing and labeling is done...I still have those two portraits to finish, one of which I worked on today.  Except for the camera card, I am happy.....

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This is NOT a 50 Under $50 painting for The ART Lounge Gallery Grand Opening, but, since my camera card says "unreadable" and I can't get another picture to post......what you see is what you get!  This is already hanging in the Gallery and is 14X18 in oil.  I will replace that card tomorrow for another post.  

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50 Paintings Under $50 for The ART Lounge Gallery Grand Opening on Nov. 6th are mostly stacked and ready for framing.  This is a companion piece for the one posted last night.  It is a joy to paint every day, and a blessing to have an understanding family....thanks guys.  You make my life easier.  There is still lots to do, but it is manageable now.

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The ART Lounge Gallery Grand Opening planning meeting was tonight.  I checked off everything on my list and added new items to the agenda.  The plan is coming together.........we are the A-team!!!  Love it!  Time to relax now and coast...

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One of the paintings for the 50 Under $50 going to the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6.  I guess I will go with it........  I am still working on the little portrait commission, but mostly I have been working on literature today for the exhibit, so I have not made much progress on that one.  Maybe I can make more headway on it tomorrow.

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I think I am about to wrap this thing up.  50 Paintings Under $50 Promotion for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6 is becoming a reality.  I am so confident of completion, that I took the day to compose and print a catalog and price list.  Yesterday I began a portrait on speculation and today I began a commission portrait as well.  I just know the details will trip me up, so I have a mountain of notes....to do list....and all sorts of art related STUFF scattered everywhere!  Bought more frames today and will be busy next week taking care of that job, no small task.  Challenges keep me creative!

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The ART Lounge Gallery Grand Opening on Nov. 6 from 6PM-10PM features artwork by 9 local artists, who founded the first co-op art gallery in Plant City, Fl.  Mark your calendars and join us for an evening of fine art, music, door prizes, and a painting offered for silent auction painted by Anna Alepin.  Light refreshments will be available.  Among the original new artwork exhibited will be 50 Paintings Under $50, including the 8X10 oil painting posted here.  Don't miss this event! 

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Sorry, I posted the wrong thumbnail photo earlier.  THIS is the other that is going in the 50 Under $50 exhibit at The ART Lounge Gallery Grand Opening on Nov. 6th.  I know.......blah, blah, blah.....LOL

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I am posting one little 4X4 oil painting and an 8X10 for the 50 Under $50 to be exhibited at the Grand Opening of The Art Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6th.  Most of today was taken up with email notifications for the Opening, creating a flyer and posters for distribution around town, creating a thumbnail listing of my 50 paintings, with price guide and, of course, a little bit of painting squeezed in.  I tweaked one that has been sitting here, nearly finished and the other was started last week and finished also today.  After counting, I realize that since Oct. 3rd (ONLY 20 days ago),when I realized this concept of 50 Under $50, I have painted 38 small paintings!  That is some achievement for me!  I feel safe to say, this CAN BE DONE on time.....possibly with time to spare!  I know this is pushing it, but there are two commissions I would like to finish for the Grand Opening as well.  Wish me luck!  Of course, I may have to sleep for a week afterward!  

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Three little paintings done today for the 50 Under $50 for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6th.  Bet you wish I was finished with all 50!  Sorry, not yet folks!  I wish it too.  I have commissions to get done!  One is 3X5 and the other two are 4X5; all are oils.   

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Just got back from a planning meeting for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery.  Things are cranking up to be an all-out bash on Nov 6th.  All our artists are working, working!  I have one new 4X6 oil painting tonight for the 50 under $50 promotion.  I have not had time to enjoy these little ones.....such a shame, but they are a great learning tool.  Craig Nelson knows what he is talking about, although I don't have it down to 60 minutes yet!(See his book "60 Minutes to Better Painting"-Northlight)  Learning, learning...

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Two new paintings finished today heading for the 50 Under $50 for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6. Both of these are oils, 8X8, and could work as a set of 4 with two paintings posted on Friday. All I can say is.....thank God and Florida for fresh fruit! And, of course, it makes a good snack afterward if you paint fast!

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Two paintings for the 50 Under $50 which will be on exhibit at The ART Lounge Gallery's Grand Opening on Nov. 6th completed today.  There is lots still to do to prepare for this show.....printed postcards go in the mail tomorrow, framing still needs to be done, notecards and postcards need to be packaged....the list gets longer instead of shorter.  What is going on here?  Art, of course!

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I am posting two paintings I finished today for the 50 Under $50 I am painting for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery on Nov. 6.  You are getting sick of reading that, I know?  I think I could type it in my sleep.....which I probably am, come to think of it!  God's Country is 5X7 and Irish Lace is 8X14.  I completed another, but forgot to photograph it, so I will upload it tomorrow.  I began 3 more today, so I think I might have a chance at reaching my goal after all!  I still need time to paint two portraits for the same exhibit.  Hope that works out.  There is nothing like seeing a portrait of your loved one on public exhibit at a gallery.  Crossing my fingers.....oh....no, I need them every second for painting!  Hope you enjoy these as much as I have.

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Tonight I am sharing the two paintings I did today for the Grand Opening of The ART Lounge Gallery, being held on November 6th. (See Micki, I told you I was going to get them both done!)  They are both 8X8 and are part of the 50 Paintings Under $50, that will be on exhibit for that show.  That date will be here soon!

Painting every day is getting to be a habit I really enjoy!  There have been times when, for months on end it was difficult to work in the time.  It had always been, for me, all day or nothing.  I am finding it easier and easier to go right back to focus when some other task calls me away from the easel.  It is a thrilling discovery, since I had never understood how one could paint for 10 minutes or even 3 hours ONLY at a time.  What a sense of freedom it has given me.    

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