Oil Painting of an Asian "Happiness" Jar with Magnolias, 8" x 10" Oil on Stretched Canvas

"The Happiness Jar"
SOLD



A recent foray to an antique shop brought me this fabulous Asian Jar. It's over 100 years old and the symbol on the front is for "Happiness" - or so I'm told. I did this small piece as a study for a larger one that is going in my upcoming show. I'm quite happy with the way it came out, but the photo doesn't do it justice. It's still quite wet and no matter how I set the lights, I got glare :-(. But it's really quite lovely and has great detail and depth for a small piece. Check out the detail shot below.
This painting was done on gallery wrap canvas with carefully painted edges so there is no need to frame - it's ready to hang as is. Please note that all my work is now being shipped in boxes.

Oil Painting of a Silver Ewer and Yellow Roses, 11" x 14" on Linen Panel

"The Silver Ewer"
Private Collection






This is the left side of a diptych I completed for a commission. I really enjoyed painting the lace on this and it's mate (to be viewed tomorrow). Painting lace or fabric is not really as hard as it's perceived. You need a lite touch and a good command of shadows. The rest is just feeling out the pattern and repeating it. There's actually a tiny ladybug on one of the leaves which was requested by the customer. Now THAT was hard!
I'm still finishing up some paintings for my show but will be back to selling by the end of the week - hopefully. Stay tuned. - Oh...a note to my friend, Rosa. Rosa...I can't believe I actually signed up for that workshop!!! David Leffel...oh still my beating heart! Thanks girlfriend. I owe you.

"Purple Haze"Private Commission






I'm back! A bit more rested, but still under a lot of pressure to complete work for an upcoming show in September. Despite the extra work, however, I have managed to complete a couple of commissions over the past few weeks. Here's one that someone requested (names withheld to insure privacy. The couple wanted grapes to go with the Hydrangeas. The setup was requested because it brings up feelings of a very special place to the couple.

I'll be moving my blog sometime during the next couple of months to Wordpress.com because of the options they offer on design. But don't worry...you'll continue to receive posts without interruption and I'll notify you of the new address, should you want to browse the new site once it's up and running.

Asian Still Life Oil Painting with Flowers, 12" x 14", Oil on Canvas Panel

"Asian Still Life with Flowers"SOLD



To see how this painting was done, click here.

I've been busy preparing for a show, getting ready for a festival and trying to work with contractors to prepare for the expansion of my studio so there's been little time to work on my blog or EBay stuff. Phew. I started off with the intention of this one being for EBay but I liked it so much, I waffled on whether I should sell it or save it for my show. Then I decided that I would just do a larger version for the show and give this one to you folks. Enjoy.

I will be publishing infrequently during the months of June and July due to other obligations. Thanks for checking in.

Rhododendron Oil Painting, 9" x 12" on Canvas Panel

"Rhodie and Persian Rug"SOLD










There's a Rhododendron bush on the walking path I take about every other day and it's been calling my name. I pictured it against my red Persian run that sits in my entry hall. The rug is 15 feet long. It was a real chore to drag that thing into my studio, roll it up and drape about five feet of it over the backdrop I use in my set ups. But it was worth it. What'cha think?

"Sunlit"Click here to bid.




Well...I thought I'd be taking today to do other things but one of my students brought me these beauties on Wedneday and I just couldn't let them go to waste. See the detail shot below.
Tomorrow starts my official sabatical from http://www.dailypainters.com/ so I'll be painting less often for sale until after July.

Asian Still Life of Dragon Tea Pot and fruit, 12" x 14" Oil on Canvas Panel

"The Dragon Pot"SOLD

First off - to see how this painting was created, click here.

A recent trip to Victoria, BC netted me this lovely Dragon teapot from China Town. I just love the light on this pot and the way the peaches just glow. I'm tempted to just hold on to it for my upcoming show in September but as I still have a few days until my official vacation from dailypainters.com, I thought I'd go out with a bang. See the detailed photo below.


As summer has arrived - in most of the country, anyway - I will be painting less of my "almost daily" works due to the demands of local tourists and upcoming festivals.


I'll still be posting to EBay, but dailypainters.com requires a "leave of absence" when painters take more than a couple of days off at a go. As I'll be needing extra time for my show and other demands, I'll be taking from May 30th to July 31st off from DP but will continue to post to this blog and EBay a couple of times a week.


I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all my regular customers and my new ones as well for all the support they have given me this past year. Here's to wishing you all a magnificient summer and a restful vacation.


Susan

Lilac Oil Painting done in Old Master's Style, 12" x 14" on canvas panel

"Lilacs and Lace"SOLD







Had these left over from my last painting and thought since they smelled so heavenly that I could still pull another painting from them. I'm positively drunk with the scent. Take a look at the detail closeup below.Enjoy.

Oil Painting of Lilacs, 9" x 12" Oil on Canvas Panel

"Spring Lilacs"
SOLD

Spotted these on my morning walk today and ran back with my car and a bucket of water to grab them. I was toying with some color ideas for a larger piece. Not bad for a quick study. The yellow is a bit more pronounced here than in the actual painting. Lost my more expensive version of Photoshop and I'm afraid it will be awhile before I can spill $1,000 on a full version. But the rest of the colors ring pretty true. Of course, I can't guarantee your monitor's colors will be the same.

Pastel Landscape of sunny fields and oak trees, framed 13" x 10"

"Santa Rosa Morning"nfs







I love painting in pastels and it's been awhile since I've done so. I was helping out a friend by introducing them to the medium and knocked out this little one as a demo. I don't usually sell my pastels on EBay but this one is already framed and ready to go so I thought I'd post it.

Here's the image without the frame.

White Rose Oil Painting with Lemons on Linen Panel, 12" x 16"

"Light from Above"SOLD


The light was perfect today in the studio and after taking a few days off for some badly needed R&R, I was eager to get back in the studio. I've taken quite a few pictures of the process used to paint this beauty so if you get a chance, come by later and check for a a link to my teaching blog to see how it was painted. Or just go directly there later tonight to http://www.musensbysusan.blogspot.com. It takes awhile for me to write the lessons out and so they don't get published at the same time as the daily painting post.
This painting took me the better part of the day. I was pretty focused when I did it and it shows. I used a cool light from above. This is tricky in my studio because I don't have skylights. I do have north facing windows, but they're not high enough to give me the kind of light I wanted for this piece. The concept was to have light pooling from above. I rather like the way it came out. Some of the underpainting shows through here providing a lovely reddish hue around some of the blooms. There is a differentiation of light on the vase that is hard to see in the photos. I've tried adjusting this in photoshop but I makes the contrast too harsh on the other lights. This painting fairly glows. It's the aspect of using various tones of grayes contrasted with cools and warms that gives it that lovely glow. Photos just don't do it justice and you have to see this one up close and personal to know how it looks. If anyone wants additional photos, just e-mail me by clicking on the envelope below. I'll do my best to provide some other shots. You can see the detail in the photo below.

Peony Oil Painting, 9" x 12" on Canvas Panel

"Peonies ala Prima"
$65.00 USD.
$12.00 Shipping Priority Mail
Click here to purchase using Paypal.
Prefer EBay? Click here.

Detail on brush work.

Oil Paint of Brass Pitcher, Magnolias and Lemons, 12" x 16" on Linen Panel

The Brass Pitcher

Click here to Inquire about Purchase






I'm completely in love with linen! Having just purchased it, I feel all charged up and wanting to paint up a storm. I worked on this piece quite a bit, and feel pretty happy with it. I'm finding that a more deliberate and delicate touch is reuired when painting on this surface. This surprised me as I always thought that the surface would be similar to canvas. Perhaps it's the fact that it is primed with oil rather than acrylic gesso. In any case, I'm loving it and the work that comes off my brush. I'm still challenged by photographing linen however. It refracts light pretty easily - not something you notice with your eye but the camera really sees it. As a result, I've had to play in photoshop to get an accurate representation. I think this is close, however, there is a bit more orange in the larger photo on the lemons than there is in actuality. Here's a detail shot of this piece. The lemons look more accurate here. As I've taken more time with this larger piece, I'll be starting bidding at $85 with no reserve.



To see how this was painted, click here.

Original Oil Painting of White Roses and Cut Apples with a Green Glass Vase, 9" x 12"

"Roses with Cut Apples"SOLD





I just purchased some oil primed linen and couldn't resist using some for this small painting. I just love the way the paint lays on and the soft look you can get so easily. What surprised me, however, is how easily wet paint lifts off the linen! This made for some surpising effects also. There is a problem with photographing it, however, because it picks up and scatters light differently than canvas or straight board. I'll have to practice photographing the stuff. This was my fifth try! Best I could do under my limited light set up, though. Here's a detail shot. Oh...got myself a new green glass vase too!

Painting of Cherry Pitcher and Lemons, 12" x 14" Oil on Canvas Board

"The Cherry Pitcher"
SOLD










A very dear friend asked if I would paint a "portrait" of her mother's favorite pitcher. I just finished it. Wish I had some cherries to go in the painting, but it's just too early in the season. Hope she likes it.

Oil Painting of Daffodils and Lemons, 12" x 14" Oil on Canvas Board

"Daffodils for Patti"Click here to bid.











My sister(in law) asked me to paint some Daffodils because they were almost gone. This was a month or more ago in California. I live in Washington and they're barely out now. So, Patti, I didn't forget. I just didn't have a model.

This painting was done on a heavier canvas than I have been using. It's slightly rougher surface forced me to heavy up on the paint load, but I enjoyed it's softer look. I've ordered some medium grade linen and hope to be trying some new things on that.

My prices have changed somewhat recently due to inflation and demand. 9" x 12" pieces still start at $45. 11" x 14" will be starting at $55. Pieces larger such as 14" x 18" will start at $75 or $80 if they are completed in one session. However, if I take the extra time to work a piece over two days, I will likely start the auction at $25 but put a reserve of between $125 (for pieces 11" x 14") to $200 (for pieces 14" x 18") depending on the detail involved in the painting. I'll be posting these prices at the top of my blog soon, but you can e-mail me with any questions. I still reserve the right to mix things up occasionally as EBay is one huge experiment - sometimes. Thanks for looking.

Oil Painting of Orchids and Fruit on Canvas Panel, 12" x 14"

"Fruit and Flowers"Click here to bid.

This was supposed to be an ala prima piece...painted in just one sitting. However, I promised a racquetball game to my husband and so had to finish it a whole two days later as other committments kept me out of the studio the next day. The fact that the paint had an extra day to set up, allowed me a bit of glazing and scumbling to heighten contrast and color a bit. Enjoy.

Oil Painting of Pink Peonies and Tangerines, 9" x 12"

"Pink Passion"
SOLD










I've been out of town for the weekend sharing good food and gentle weather with my favorite cousins in California. Everything is blooming there. Sigh. It snowed here while we were gone. I couldn't bring the flowers home, so I chose the brightest flowers I could find from among my own collection and painted this. There's lots of thick paint on these beauties to make the petals stand out. See the detail closeup below. Enjoy.

Oil Painting of Hyacinth, 12" x 12" on Canvas Panel

"Hyacinth a la Creuset II"Private Collection
SOLD








I completed a small commission and decided to post it to my blog. Although sold, other paintings similar to this are available on commission. Check out my gallery at www.dailypainters.com.

Oil Paint of White Roses, Asian Pot, and Fruit, 14" x 18" on Canvas Panel

"Summer Repast"

SOLD


A bit more involved than one of my ala prima paintings, I took an extra sitting to complete this piece. It has multiple glazings and scumbling to heighten it's color and sense of drama. As much as I love ala prima painting, nothing excites more more than bringing a painting up to a polish. Hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed painting it. See the detail shots below. To see how it was painted, click here.

Oil Painting of Poppies and Yellow Vase, 9" x 12" on Canvas Panel

"Days to Come"
SOLD

One of my students forgot her reference material and asked if I would do a demonstration of how I paint my daily pieces. So here it is. Quick, but fun.

"White Roses for a Rainy Day"SOLD




Found this gem of a vase at a garage sale and scooped it up. It was perfect for these white roses today. It was rainy and the soft light coming in the windows really made the roses glow. Lots of thick paint on these. So thick, in fact, that I had to photograph the piece several times to get the light right. The paint is so high that the light reflecting off its ridges photographed with too high a contrast! See the detail below.

To see how this one was painted, click here after 8:00 PM tonight. If you haven't visited my teaching blog, Musens by Susan, just click here anyway!

Oil Painting of Roses and Silver Server, 8" x 10" on Canvas Panel

"'Thank You' Roses"
SOLD




I never talk politics on my blog and this isn't meant to be a speech or anything like one. I'm an independent and have mixed views on a load of subjects - our current war being one of them. But there's a story to these roses. They were part of a table centerpiece at an event sponsored by South Korean Government who regularly throws parties and dinners and parades and functions just to say "Thank You, you are not forgotten" to the Korean War Veterans of our country. The war is often referred to as the "Forgotten War". This grateful nation wants to reassure the veterans who gave of themselves to help win freedom for the South Koreans, that their sacrifices were not in vain.

My husband is a Korean Vet and has done a lot of work in Washington to recognize veterans of this war. The Korean Consulate General and numerous other Korean dignitaries and Korean/Americans frequently invite us and any Korean Veterans they can find to attend these functions as honored guests. There are always speeches and heartfelt thanks and testimonials given. All Korean War Veterans are invited to come and tour South Korean at the Korean Government's expense. A program that will end only when the last Korean War Veteran dies. It's a warm and welcome change from the way the U.S. is regarded by so many other countries these days. Our vets never leave with a dry eye. So this is just a note to say "Thank You" to the South Korean Government whose generous and grateful spirit has warmed the hearts and souls of so many older men and women, too, who are disappearing from our midst daily. I couldn't help but think of them as I painted these fading roses.

Oil Painting of Irises and Tangerines, 9" x 12" on canvas panel

"Sunkissed II"

SOLD


Now here's something I haven't painted in a while.

Original Pastel Painting of Nude, 12" x 16", $45 Unframed, $85 Framed

"Angela with Child"
E-mail me to imquire about purchase through PayPal.

Angela, my favorite model, is vibrant with the blush of expectant motherhood. Today was her last modeling session for awhile and I caught her while I could with some pastels. I had to work quickly as I changed paper three separate times. This piece is available directly from me for $45 unframed or $85 framed. The framing makes it easier as there is no worry over smudging the work. Unframed pastels get shipped in their own special case that protects them until framing.

Oil Painting of Hyacinth and Tanagerines, 9" x 12" on canvas panel

"Up Close and Personal"
SOLD

My painting buddy recently told me that my backgrounds are too dark. Well, I didn't change my background here, (sorry buddy) but I brightened up things in the foreground a bit. I think it was the crummy weather. It snowed!!! Agh! So I brought out some bright color to cheer myself up. Lots of pretty thick paint here. My palette was a few hours old so the paint thickened and I didn't use any medium in the paint. I actually carved the whole thing. Enjoy.

"Sun Kissed"Available direct from Susan for $45.00
Use PayPal to purchase.



March. Wish it would just march right out of here. Oh well. Ultimately, I'm an optimist - you have to be in this line of work. So here's a touch of spring to cheer you and warm your day.

"Peonies and Lemons, Cool Light"SOLD



There are just some days when I can go into the studio and it's just a day job. But on other days, if I show up, the magic happens. Today was just such a day. I loaded the palette with lots of juicy paint and the stuff just flowed off of my brush. Perhaps the mostly painterly piece I done in awhile, it's now my most recent favorite. There's lots of generous paint on the blooms and the lemons are just luscious. I didn't bother waiting to glazing the vase, instead I just let the paint sculpt it today.
Enjoy.
Check out my notes on this piece on my painting blog.

Hyacinth Flower Oil Painting, 12" x 12" on Canvas Panel

"Hyacinth and Le Creuset"SOLD

Yellow and Purple/Violet are compliments on the colorwheel. That means that they enhance one another when placed side by side. If mixed together, they create a lovely gray. So Hyacinth were the ticket for this piece. Click here afternoon tomorrow to get a demo/lesson on how this painting was created. Thanks for looking.

Oil Painting of Lilies, Satin Cloth, Grapes and Rose, 12" x 17", Oil on Canvas Panel

"Rebirth"
SOLD







With Easter, Spring, and Passover just around the corner, I felt a painting that encompassed the symbolism of this season was called for. The whole season of spring and it's holidays makes me think of rebirth, freedom and celebration of life.

There's a few symbols in this painting. Some obvious, some not. See if you can find a couple. I used some cool colors in this painting to offset the beautiful green leaves and red tones in the fruit and flower at the base. Even the color of the cloth was chosen carefully. It has meaning too.
To see how this painting was done, click on the link below after 8:30 PM tonight.
Teaching/demo Blog.

Oil Painting of Yellow Crueset Pitcher with Magnolias and Cut Apples, 9" x 12" on Canvas Panel

"Le Creuset"SOLD














As you can imagine, a still life painter must ave a lot of nicknacks and "stuff" hanging around the studio or house. I often get bored with the things on hand and start looking about for standins. My walking buddy returned from her southern sojourn and the little brought this beautiful little Le Creuset pitcher back for me. I absolutely love it and it has quickly become my favorite thing.

I love it's rich yellow color and the way that the bright yellow moves into an orangey yellow toward the bottom. In this painting, I wanted to make the pitcher the cetral player and not have it upstaged by the flowers. I think it pulled it off. Or maybe the pitcher did all by itself. To see how this painting was done, click here to visit http://www.musensbysusan.blogspot.com/.

Oil painting of Asian statue and magnolia, 9" x 12"

SOLD
This is small commission I did upon request for a customer in Australia. It came together rather quickly. I think I'm getting to know the old man in this piece quite well.

Oil Floral Painting of Tiger Lilies in Pewter Vase, 9" x 12"

"The Pewter Vase"
SOLD








I'm not sure if "vase" is the right word for this little gift I received from my friend upon her return from the sunny south. It has a lovely patina that, unfortunately, translates to grays in paint so I included the Tiger Lilies to add some color.