"Artist Reference Photo Challenge - May"

Oil on museum quality Ampersand Gessobord panel - 8" x 8"

Not much back story on this guy.  I stumbled upon an artist challenge on facebook and thought this looked like fun.  The facebook page is called "Artists reference photos."  It's a site that shares imagery  - very cool.

"Penny"

Oil on museum quality Ampersand Gessobord panel - 8" x 8"

I'm finally getting back into the swing of things and what better way than with a hound?  We had a beagle named Emily when I was growing up.  She was a sweetheart and certainly earned her keep.  Not that anyone had an alarm system back then but it would have been redundant with Emily guarding the fort. Her Ahooo, Ahooo alerted us (and the neighbors) to impending visitors, both wanted and unwanted.  

This little girl is Penny.  She and her cohort Chloe, who I painted back in  March of '09, happily accompany her owner to work most days.  Since he owns the company, no one seems to mind, with the exception that Penny has a penchant to abscond the lunch off anyone's desk who is foolish enough to turn their back or go off to get a soda.  Her malfeasance is so notorious that the head of the company has vouchers for the local deli just in case she is successful.  With a face like that and those soulful eyes, who could stay mad for long?

"Dogwood and Azeleas" - The May Diana Moses Botkin Artist's challenge

Oil on museum quality Ampersand Gessobord panel - 8" x 10"

THINK that I shall never see 

A painting lovely as a tree.

 

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

 

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

 

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

 

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

 

Paintings are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree. 

 

 

Forgive me Joyce (Kilmer) for taking liberties with your poem.   This month's artist challenge was to paint a tree indigenous to your area.  Perhaps I'm not a big picture guy or maybe I just like the intimacy of these dogwood blossoms set against a backdrop of crimson azaleas.  They remind me of Andy Warhol's "Flowers" circa 1964.




I don't know if there were dogwoods in the forest of Arden, but there should have been.  This artist's life, my studio nestled in bucolic woods, pleases me well.  [My] life, exempt from public haunt,  finds tongues in trees, books in the running brook, sermons in stones, and good in everything.  ~ William Shakespeare




As for my fellow challengers, some have acquainted me with their woodland endeavors but alas, not all.  There is an slight abatement of imagery.  I fear this forest is but a glade.




 

                    "Reaching for the Sky"
                    Original oil on hardboard 11.5"x6"
                    ©2012 Diana Moses Botkin

 

 



 "West of Healing Springs"
11x14" Oil on Linen Panel
© Vicki Ross

 

 

 



 

 "Palo Verde Sunset"

14"x18" oil

 Becky Joy Fine Art