On Fire

I'm fond of back lighting though it's a challenge for me to capture. I was pleased with this one, especially the bit of back petal that shows through the front.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Shapely

I really enjoyed this one. Had fun with the colors and the graphic design of it with all the edges and shapes.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Ole!

Or I should say Ole! meets Aloha. I shot this photo years ago at the Common Ground Agricultural Fair. Sometimes I do better when I have a limited time to paint, but it's hard for me to contrive that. This time I had just over an hour at my easel before I had to leave. No time to fuss with anything. I don't know this sparsely bearded man, but I love his style.  How can you go wrong with a Mexican sombrero and a Hawaiian shirt?

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Psychedelic Single

Have I mentioned...I like color?

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

I Suppose You're Wondering Why I Called You Here

Okay. I've gotta admit...this is one of my favorites. Sometimes you get lucky...and it turns out just how you'd hoped. I wanted the green grapes to really shine, so I tried a little something different with the under painting. Most of it was Cad Red as usual, but I did a small section, approximately where the green grapes were to be painted, in Cad Yellow. I carefully wiped off both as usual...and proceeded with the painting. It seemed to do the trick.

Oil on panel, 6" x6"

SOLD

La Vie en Rose

I decided to try my second rose for the Daily Paintworks Challenge. This was the sort of background I had envisioned for the first one, but my plans changed as that painting progressed. You can see the earlier post below from February 16. La Vie en Rose means life in the pink. Sounds like a perfect way to live! 

Oil on panel, 6" x6"

SOLD

Happy Days

This one was a joy to paint. To read the story of this submission to my One Hundred Hands project please visit  

http://artofonehundredhands.blogspot.com/
SOLD

Red Red Rose

All it took was Valentine's Day (There were red roses in the house! My daughter's, not mine) and Qiang Huang's challenge to inspire this one. I've never painted roses before. Probably because I thought they'd be difficult...I was right. I intended a different background, but as I got going, it was fun to try and separate the two red shades, of the background and the rose itself, by adjusting one to be slightly cooler than the other. I'll save my other background plan for another rose...another day. I had a grand time with this one!

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Catching the Light

This one is all about shapes and light...and color. But aren't they all?

I'm delighted to have had some of my work selected for the online gallery Still Point. Their current exhibition is Still Life: Ordinary and Extraordinary. The artwork will be featured until April 19.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

The Other Half and mini pastel workshop

 

I began this pastel painting as a recent mini workshop demo and completed it later in my studio. I conduct two hour pastel experimentation sessions to allow exposure to the medium, various supports and techniques.

I thoroughly enjoyed my morning of painting with Cheryl and Dawn. They are eager and enthusiastic learners.

These were some of our studies.

 

I'm always amazed at how much we accomplish in a short time. I'm delighted that Cheryl and Dawn will be back for another session in March.

Pastel on Wallis sanded paper, 11" x 14" (framed dimensions), $135 + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Birds of a Feather

As promised, yesterday's posting of my bird story continues...but first today's painting. Knowing of our bird encounters, and having fed the chickadees here in my studio herself, my dear friend and fellow artist, Kathy Mallat  gifted me for the past couple of Christmases with some lovely handcrafted birds. One is a silver chickadee and the other a more rustic clay bird. I love them both and really enjoyed the challenge of trying to capture their very different materials and textures.

On to the bird story...the other day, things were heating up in my studio (it is that time of life, don't ya know) so I opened my window. Well, that must have appeared like an invitation because look who joined me.

Can you see him hiding behind the feathers attached to my lamp? 

There he is! After closing the studio door (so the cat didn't get any ideas)  I guarded the window (after all, his buddies wanted IN, too), and my daughter Molly coaxed him safely back outside. I don't think I stopped smiling all day.
Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Hand Out

This painting was done from a photo I snapped this morning. There's a bit of a story behind this piece. Several years ago my family and I discovered we could hand feed the chickadees that come to my second floor studio window. One cold winter day, I stuck my hand full of sunflower seeds out the window and waited patiently...for a very long time. Well, the wait paid off because eventually the chickadees tentatively got closer and closer, until one brave bird decided to land...in my hand and eat from it! I was hooked. That winter my family and I spent many hours by the window feeding these little creatures.  

We have every winter since. It's really quite magical.

They're not quite so timid anymore and sometimes come two at a time.

We've since also hand fed a barn swallow, nuthatches and countless chickadees.  The story continues with tomorrow's painting post...

SOLD

Up Close and Personal

 

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Simple

Sometimes my flowers are too darned heavy. I was pleased this time. The petals seem light... as they should be. Glass is another story...

Oil on panel, 6" x 6" 

SOLD

Beyond Blue

I love all the different colors found in blueberries in their various stages of ripeness...not to mention the nice highlights the bloom offers and those bright pops of green and yellow leaves! Ahhh...what can I say? Color is my passion! 

SOLD

Nestled

When our son was younger he discovered this nest, with eggs, safely hidden in a wood pile near our bon fire pit. I remember his excitement as he ran in to tell me. I took my camera out with me...and have painted it several times since. I painted nearly this entire painting with a large No. 12 bright brush.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Friends

What are we here for if not to lift each other up?

To read more about this painting and my interactive One Hundred Hands project, please click here.

SOLD

Come Inside

Always trying for that 'glow' from back lighting. I'm hoping this painting captured that.

On another creative note...my friend Bruce is, among other things, a poet. He penned this verse about my last three painting posts (see below). How lucky I am to have my art put to verse. Cool! Thanks, Brucie.

The Last Three
Bruce McMillan

After the oranges and blues
with milk spilled
into a pot of gold,
the potted oils brushed forth,
saying at first light,
"I see again."

Wonderful composition
with light play and pear orbs
stemming into conversation.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"
SOLD

At First Sight

I'm having fun experimenting with the black gessoed background.This was my second attempt. It makes getting the really strong dark shadows I like a bit easier. Still want to work with maintaining some of the dark edges around my objects.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com