No way to Post Pictures :(

I am in Rapid City helping my friend make it through a court proceeding. I have been painting but have no way to post my pictures. I will post when I get home. As a preview: The sun was setting as the moon was rising on my way to Rapid. I couldn't help but stop to paint.

Laura

Hot Chocolate Snowman

“Hot Chocolate Snowman”
8”x6”
Oil on Linen in Wood Panel
Laura Marie Anderson © December 1, 2006

December, the time for Christmas. I hope this put you all in the mood. What a fun painting.

Shannon Creek at Sunrise

“Shannon Creek at Sunrise”
10” x8”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Available at $200.
Laura Marie Anderson © November 30, 2006

What a beautiful spot this is. No matter what time of day I go by it seems there is a painting there, just waiting to be painted.

Sculpture in Progress - Day 2

“Sculpture in Progress – Day 2
32”x11”x 9”
Unfired clay
Laura Marie Anderson © November 30, 2006

I’m just trying to build this form up without adding too much clay at once. There is only one pipe in this piece that goes up about 4/5 of the way. The neck and head will be the most endangered part during this process. I add clay then wait a few days for the clay to stabilize. The fresh clay becomes drier, and the old and the new equalize, leaving me with, hopefully, a wonderful clay body to work with. I store this sculpture with towel damp with water wrapped around it and then put a huge garbage bag over it.
My little sister, Mary wins the contest on guessing what it is. It is a skeleton sitting on it’s hunches. It will be more of a person, but since I work from the inside out, good guess Mary.

Gala

“Gala”
5” x 7”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Available at $100.
Laura Marie Anderson © November 29, 2006

The cold has moved into my chest and some days are just very busy and no matter how one tries there doesn’t seem to be time for doing the one thing that I love, so after dinner and a day spend bookkeeping and doing office work, I sit down to paint. Might I say my enthusiasm was less than desirable? I looked at this apple turned it round and stopped in this position and began to paint. Self doubts creeping in and got pushed out. Van Gogh said something like - Paint every day to silence the negative voices. So I continued, committed to portraying the beauty that God has placed before me. When I was finished and came out of my zone, I was brought almost to tears by the beauty on this little piece of wood. There are days when I am so amazed, and feel so pleased with what “I” little ole’ me, has been able to do, blessed with this ability to share God’s beauty, that I feel these tears of joy and appreciation for such a wonderful gift.

Orange, Day 2

“Orange, Day 2”
6” x 8”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Available at $100.
Laura Marie Anderson © November 28, 2006

This is the same orange I painted on the 25th, now it has begun losing it’s skin. What a fun day, making art all day.

Sculpture in Progress

Side

Front
Sculpture in Progress – Day 1
32”x11”x 6”
Unfired clay
Laura Marie Anderson © November 28, 2006

Finally, after a long wait, I am ready to sculpt again. I started this today. Some of you have heard me talk about what this is going to be, all others are free to guess along the way. Hint: It belongs with my Dark Night of the Soul Series. If you are unfamiliar with this series check out in my Dark Night gallery on my website. The first one to guess the correctly wins. Wins what? I don’t know, I’ll think of something.

The Sun That Thought It Could

“The Sun That Thought It Could”
11” x 14”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Not for Sale
Laura Marie Anderson © November 27, 2006

When I first saw this scene I thought, “Wow, what an easy, colorful thing to paint.” Not!

I started with a bad support. Some time back I had been experimenting with different gessoes, (the coating that covers the surface that you are painting, so that the oil in the paint won’t hurt the surface and so that the surface acids, for example, won’t hurt the paint.)

This batch turn out extremely slick and with deep grooves in the paint from the brush I used to apply it. After sanding it was still a problem.

I decided not to fight it and to use a stand oil medium (it is self-leveling) and goes with the slick surface. After two rounds with the paintbrush, I decided to use the palette knife for round number three and see if I could actually get some paint to stick. Round four and I was back to the brush and knife. After the boxing match, this is what I came up with. I’m not sure about this painting. But it is the painting of the day.

I got some disappointing news today. My show at the Toad n Willow in Billings, Friday night, December 1st, is for only one night. I am thinking to make the best of it and try inviting as many people as I can think of. It is at 2202 1st Ave N, in Billings, next to CTA Architects. The reception is from 5-9pm. The last show they had there had a great turn out, so I am hoping for the best.

Shannon Creek

“Shannon Creek”
12” x 9”
Unframed - Oil on prepared Masonite
Available at $150.
Laura Marie Anderson © November 26, 2006

This is one of my favorite spots when walking the rounds in the morning. Everyday it looks different.
My cold is better, I think. It seems to have dropped back down in to my throat.