The Long and Short of it

I bought 2 of these wide format deep cradled canvases for some reason. I like the size and shape, however the cradle is 2" deep.  The canvas feels strange because it is so deep and it is very heavy.  It will sit securely on a shelf or a mantle without a frame.  I will paint the sides dark, either black or dark brown stain.
I painted this from a photo I took last summer in the University of Memphis area.  It is a neighborhood very much like the one where I grew up, not very far away. It will soon have a companion piece painted from a photo taken in the same area.

"Old East Memphis"
Oil on cradled canvas panel
6" x 18"
$150

Slice of Light

I painted this in Leiper's Fork, Tn last fall while attending the Tim Horn workshop (timhornart.com).  We painted outside all week. This window caught my eye between two buildings right on the main street through town.  It needed a little work back in the studio because the light was changing so quickly.

"Slice"
6" x 8"
Oil on Panel
$60

Ste. Geniviève Again

I love this little town.  It has so much history.  This is from a photo I took from my window at the Main Street B&B.

"Dropping In"

10" x 18"

Oil on cradled canvas

SOLD

To purchase:
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/janis--mccarty/dropping-inn/309993

Rainy Day Saturday

I love rainy weekends!   I stayed in and painted.  I have been wanting to paint this little scene for several years.  I don't know why I loved this photo so much. I snapped this picture  on a girlfriend trip to St Genevieve, Missouri about 5 years ago. I liked that the car was in the bottom corner - not where you would usually place a car in a photo.  But somehow the utility pole made it all work.  Here is the crazy little photo:

And here is my little painting:

Lonely Road
6" 8"
Oil on Panel
$75

Another Plein Air

Last Friday the hubby and I went to Herb Parsons Lake, about 15 minutes from the house. It is one of our favorite outdoor places.  My dad used to take our family there to fish and to picnic.  When my husband was a senior in high school he caught his biggest fish ever there.  The fish still hangs on our wall (in a back bedroom on a remote wall.  Hey, the fish is old.) Anyway, hubby fished, and I practiced painting outdoors in a hurry before the light changes techniques. It was a unusually cool morning for July in the south.  I added the kayaks at home from photos I took.  I'm not sure I got those right.

"Fisherville"

6" x 8"

Oil on Panel

NFS

When I was a child we called the lake Fisherville Lake. I don't know when or why the name was changed.  Maybe we just called it the wrong name. I love the place.  It  has a 7 mile hiking trail around the lake that my husband and I enjoy, especially in the fall. 

Plein Air!

Today was a magnificent day.  I should have been outside painting today!
Here is the finished plein air from a few days ago.  I did most of it outside, but had to finish up the flowers inside, because the weather would not cooperate!  I really enjoyed the experience.  I went out today and tried to scout out some areas for my next plein air attempt. Driving around takes up so much time, and I kept thinking that I could be home painting.  Oh well. . . . found a few promising places.

Morning Garden

8" x 10"

Oil on panel

NFS

Finally, painting again!!!

I was beginning to think I would never get back to my easel.  I have been trying to be courageous and disciplined to be a "plein air" painter, but it is not easy in the heat of summer.  I started something a few days ago but could not finish before the sun moved too much.  I was going to go back to it yesterday, but the sun and clouds would not cooperate.

It was hot and very buggy.  The flies would not leave me alone!  However, I stuck with it and enjoyed it.  I will try to finish this next week, I hope.

So I decided to paint inside yesterday and finish something I had started earlier in the week.  When I try to jump start my painting experiences, I alway go to a car - especially a red and shiny car.

Beemer Princess

8" x 10"

Oil on Canvas

$150

This was from a car show I happened across last year.  There were lots of old beautifully restored cars, but this little Beemer princess was sitting alone worshipping the sun!  Love her. 

If you wish to purchase this painting go to

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/janis--mccarty/princess-beemer/243979