"Surfing"

8 x 10 by Ann Rogers

oil on stretched canvas

One last Summer post before we leave the month of July. There's "surfing" and then there's "surfing the internet"! This is from the beaches of Hilton Head.

As Time Goes By - Geranium Still Life by Nancy Medina

As Time Goes By
Geraniums by Nancy Medina
12X10
Oil on Linen Board
Available in My Daily Painters Gallery

Nancy Medina Web Site
Nancy Medina Art Blog

As Time Goes By, Geraniums, is a new oil painting drying on the easel this evening in Flower Mound Studio of one of my favorite Texas flowers. I received a note from a client this evening who had purchased one of my large sunflower paintings for his wife for their 40th wedding anniversary. They received the framed painting in the mail today and were delighted with it, and said at first they were a bit nervous buying art online, because they had never done so before. Now, he said, they were very glad they did. What an honor that a painting I created will commemorate such an important event in their lives. I hope it gives them years of smiles.

Bella Blanco - Geranium Still Life by Nancy Medina

Bella Blanco - Geraniums by Nancy Medina
8X10
Oil on Canvas
Available in My Daily Painters Gallery

Nancy Medina Web Site
Nancy Medina Art Blog

It's been a busy weekend in Flower Mound Studio, celebrating the hubby's birthday and coming home to a neighborhood with no electricity last night. It was an interesting way to learn that we could not get into the house, because we had no key to the storm door or the back door, and the garage opened only with the use of electricity. After a few hours in the dark getting acquainted with the mosquitoes, the CoServ folks were there to save the day, or the eve.

The pugs were quite glad we had decided to stop all that pointless puttering around outside instead of being indoors with them, where we belonged. Hats off to all those hard working people who come out in the heat, cold, and awful weather and at any time of the day, just because it's their job. They sure are tougher than I am!

Take a peek at my art blog today to see the flowers that inspired Bella Blanco!

Happy Trails...by Kay Wyne

Happy Trails
Mixed Media
12" x 12"
SOLD
This mixed media piece is sold, but I was browsing through some of my work, and getting ready to work on some new pieces. I am getting ready for a new series of Mixed Media...need to map out the direction I am headed.
Yesterday I was interviewed by Jeff Mosier of the Dallas Morning News. Click on this link for his article on Taste of the NFL/Superbowl 2011...or Page B3 if you have the paper. Exciting things are happening in North Texas!
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/arlington/stories/DN-stadiumscoop.State.Edition1.4d7ce44.html
Thanks for viewing this blog....Kay
(I know that this is more of a western/Texas theme than a summer time theme, but I had to post since it isn't everyday that I am mentioned in the Dallas Morning News!!!)

SITTING PRETTY

8x8 oil on canvas board
by Angela Elledge

As I was looking for my daughter and nephew at a local water park, I discovered these two young ladies enjoying the cool water and the hot sun.

A WALK TO THE PARK by Linda Popple

6X6 Oil on Apersand Gessobord

by Linda Popple

I painted this from a photograph I took in New York City. This lady was crossing the street with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I liked the dark shadows of a sunny, summer day in the city and the dog's bright white tail wagging with excitement. She was walking in the direction of Central Park, as was I, and I think the dog knew exactly where they were headed.

Chalk It Up - A Collaborative Canvas Creation

Chalk It Up
48" x 48" Collaborative Mixed Media on Gallery Wrap Canvas

I am posting this painting because the summertime theme seems to work with this subject matter...a bucket of chalk on the sidewalk. Can't you just see the neighborhood kids sitting on the sidewalk talking, playing and creating? This painting was for a membership show at the McKinney Aveue Contemporary. The theme was "Fifteen". The artists are Charles William (Faciall) and myself. I met Charles through the Stewpot Art Program where I volunteer, and we thought it would be fun to work on a piece together...from start to finish.

We discussed several different ideas, and one day Charles found a plastic bucket of fifteen colorful chalks. We took them outside on blistering day, and had a photograph session and played with the chalk on the hot concrete in the 105 degree Texas heat. So we had our inspiration and a reference photograph to work from.We wanted to create something that was fun and exciting. Charles is a very talented artist who works in acrylics...and I needed to adapt to the acrylics since it had been years since I painted in acrylics. I love my oils. Anyway, we got a 48" x 48" canvas and started painting...we had to talk about it all...usually Charles and I sit down in front of the canvas and the art just pours out. We really didn't discuss it...but we both needed to make sure that what we were dong was alright with the other. Soon the piece became mixed media and we added chalk and pastels to the paint to give it a chalky effect.

This collaboration was a great experience for both of us. I think we learned alot about art and about ourselves. We exchanged our views on painting methods and techniques, and exchanged conversation about our daily lives. Charles is a an extremely gifted artist, and unique individual. It was an honor to paint with Charles on this canvas. A portion of the sale will go to Stewpot and then to Charles....It is for sale, and if you would like to purchase, please contact me at: kay@kwyne.com. Currently, it is hanging at Studio Art and Soul down in The Cedars, south of downtown Dallas. I would encourage you to visit the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas Stewpot website: http://thestewpot.org/art.asp. The Open Art Studio is a community outreach serving the at-risk populations of Dallas. It is open to all people looking for an environment to express and create through the medium of art. Thanks for viewing this blog, and have an artful day!

"Beach Play"

11 x 14

oil on hardboard

by Ann Rogers

Nothing says "summer" like a day at the beach!

Apple by Kay Wyne

This 8" x 6" oil painting is sold.

It was fun painting this study...

Happy painting to all!

kay@kwyne.com

Flying Moleskins

I'm part of a group of 14 artists who each have a moleskin journal circulating receiving artwork from each...Angela's a "Moley" too. This month I had Irit Bourla's Journal, her theme being places. I painted the 4 places I have lived...Texas, Louisiana, Costa Rica and Florida. I thought I'd put the Texas scene here, and you can see the rest by clicking HERE. The summer theme is illustrated here by the blooming yucca, the sweatdrops on the painting, and, if you look closely....the thermometer just inside the barn reads 100+.

Oh, and I hope y'all will forgive me, but I'd like to invite you to my two month long challenge, Pooch Portrait Exchange on Windows to the Words (click HERE). Should be a lot of fun.

Croquet Balls by Kay Wyne

This little painting is a companion to the croquet mallet and balls that I posted earlier this week. I pulled out three colorful croquet balls from the arrangement on my coffee table. This 6" x 8" oil painting was fun to do...it is colorful, simple and fun. Thanks for viewing this blog....Have an artful weekend!

Summer Slumber

8x8 oil on canvas

Early last summer we spent a weekend at a friend's lake house in East Texas plein air painting. Let me explain, plein air painting in E. Tx in the summertime does not happen, it's just too hot! However, if you set up right on the edge of the lake and your sweet husband serves you iced tea, it's not that bad.

This particular area is a dry county so we came prepared with a few bottles of wine for our evening dinner. At some point David (one of the painters) decided we needed beer, so he and Jay (my husband) took off for the 45 minute round trip beer run. My husband is not much of a drinker, but he was up for the drive and probably was tired of waiting on me and ready for a change of scenery. They came back and were enjoying their new refreshments, which means my husband was drinking his normal 1/2 of a beer, my friends and I were on our 3rd painting of the afternoon and after a little while we realized Jay was missing. Away from all of us, nestled in the shade, we found Jay enjoying a perfect summer afternoon in East Texas.

I enjoyed painting the hammock, the light and shadow and the weight of the hammock was a joy to paint.

www.angelaelledge.com
www.angelaelledge.blogspot.com

The Dallas Lunch Ladies!

From left to right, Gwen, Ann, Angela (me), and Nancy had lunch at an awesome Vietnamese restaurant. Even with my GPS I could not find the restaurant, thanks to Nancy for the detailed step by step directions or else I'd still be driving around Addison looking and searching for these 3 very talented artists. After lunch, Ann suggested we visit Southwest Gallery and off we went on an incredible adventure. You could hear us oohing and aahhing over and over, and you might as well know we had to be pried away from several paintings. Please check out SW's site and make sure you look at John Cook and Xiang Zhang's incredible paintings (my personal favorites), I promise you will not be disappointed!

It was a great afternoon filled with a lot of joy and laughter; thank you lunch ladies! We are planning on doing it again soon, and hope Kay and Linda can join us next time.

Grandmother's House by Roxanne Spradlin

When I was a girl, my sister and brother and I would spend a week with our grandmother who lived in East Texas. Life in the country was considerably different than the lifestyle we were accustomed to in Dallas. Friends were few and far between. Food was fresh out of the garden, not fast. Bath water was cold and rationed and we slept with the windows open, a box fan at our feet.
The highlights of the week were tree swings, counting the train cars, shelling peas on the porch and walking down the street to get an ice cold Coke. My favorite was called a Chocolate Soldier.

This painting reminds me of the pale, faded memories of my childhood. It's been 27 years since I last saw my grandmother. How I would love the opportunity to run up the steps, slam the screen door and give her a big hug!

16 x 20 watercolor...................................nfs

Dog days of summer by Roxanne Spradlin

Dixie, a 14 year old chocolate lab, is an adored family pet. She's been a wonderful friend for many years. She is still pretty spry for her age but is beginning to slow down. These days she spends more time resting than running. I'm amazed at how much she can sleep. Recently, I painted her portrait, in honor of a 'good ole dog' that reminds us that is okay to be a little lazy ever once in awhile!

11 x 14 acrylic.................................. nfs

Summer: First Ones on the Beach

Early Risers by Mitzi Easley

18x18, oil on panel

email for info

Please visit Mitzi's blog!

I loved watching this little family. I could almost hear them waking their mother and begging to play on the beach before breakfast.

Croquet by Kay Wyne

This is a 6" x 8" panel I painted soon after the Carol Marine Workshop. I liked the placement of the objects; a mallet, a post and a ball...all out of an old and worn croquet set that we have in the garage. We have some interesting and rather old croquet balls...most of them do no belong in a set, but ones that have been collected over the years. I have more croquet balls than mallets, so I display all the balls in a big bowl on a coffee table in the den. This painting reminds me of all the yard games we use to play when I was growing up in the midwest. Thanks for viewing! Have an artful day.

Texas Bloomin' by Nancy Medina

Texas Bloomin' by Nancy Medina
12X9
Oil on Panel
Available From the Artist

Nancy Medina Web Site
Nancy Medina Art Blog

Texas Bloomin' is based on my visits to Willow City Loop, the scenic area just outside of Fredericksburg, Texas, where the hills, cactus, and wildflowers abound. Even far away from Fredericksburg on the little East Texas organic farm where I grew up, the cactus blossoms were always the brightest for the short time they bloomed.

Sequanota Beach by Kay Wyne

Sequanota Beach
8" x 10" Oil on Linen
I am thinking about the beach today...it is hot in Dallas and wishing I was up north, sitting on the beach at Sequanota Club in Charlevoix, Michigan. This painting is hanging at The Dutch Art Gallery in Dallas, Texas. It is framed up in a gold plein aire frame. If you are interested in this painting, please contact me. I hope you are staying cool...have an artful day!
kay@kwyne.com
214-532-0325

Cardinal Nest by Kay Wyne

Cardinal Nest
Oil on 11" x 14" Canvas
Another Nest Series Painting....Very wet, should be ready to frame soon. I finished the Cardinal Nest yesterday. The little tiny eggs are down deep in the nest that was in a bush in our backyard. We are watching the mama and papa Cardinal, and we think that they might be making another nest in another bush. These eggs are not whole...they were broken open and empty when we found them...I had to turn them over and position them so the broken side did not show. Thanks for viewing my blog...have an artful day! To view more of my art, please visit: www.kwyne.com
http://kaywyne.blogspot.com/

Beach Time by Kay Wyne

Beach Time
9" x 12" Oil on Canvas
NSF - A Christmas gift for my in-laws.
I sent this painting to Ruth and Louie for a Christmas gift. It was a fun painting because of the shadows and the subject matter. My inspiration was a 1990's photograph and alot of memories from our summers in Charlevoix, Michigan. The beach at Sequanota Club was our afternoon hang-out. As my daugher pointed out, it was good that I put a few details in this painting...like the tennis shoes and laces, the bouys in the water, and Ruth's visor. I can feel the sun and sand when I look at this painting. I hope to go to the studio today and work on my bird nest. Happy Fourth of July to everyone...I must say that I wish I was sitting on the beach at Sequanota Club today----but, I will be at a fun BBQ and pool party for the Fourth!

"Summer Fun"

11 x 11

oil on gessoed hardboard

by Ann Rogers

Our new challenge this month is "summer". Wishing everyone a happy and safe 4th of July! Hope you are enjoying your summer!