Pink Scarf and Pigtails - Michelle Burnett

Pink Scarf and Pigtails

colored pencil

This is for the wonderful Liz Holm for her theme: "portraits". I was at the rodeo several years ago and had my camera ready to take action shots of the bull and bronco riders for art reference photos, but I saw this girl working at the concessions. I admired her pigtails and scarf and thought that would make a more interesting subject for a painting. (By the way, every year the rodeo has one day dedicated to breast cancer awareness called "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" and everyone is supposed to wear pink, thus the reason for the pink scarf.)

I chose to draw this time because I've had a lot of "hurry up and wait" moments lately that are better for drawing. I drew the initial sketch while I was sitting in the waiting room at Jiffy Lube while my car got serviced!

I would like to spend more time on this because I love to work on portraits and I see a few things that need tweaking, but I will fuss with it forever if I don't stop so I think I'm going to send it on its way to Camille just in case she's got nothing else to do :) . Then I can get to work on her sketchbook next!

Testing the Water by Edward Burton

oil

This is for Irit Bourla's book. A father a bit cautious about entering the water and his son who can't wait to have some fun!

Your book is finally heading home to you after it's long journey, Irit.

A NEW DAY ! - Dominique Eichi

                                                    8  x  10  Acrylic

This is for Camille' moleskin- her theme is Peace or anything we wanted.
So I wanted something that brings me the "hope of peace" and a sunrise is what did it for me.
For with each new day is a fresh start.
I worked on those clouds a while, you would think they're easy but I had a dickens of a time with them.
As surely as the sun rises, he will appear. Hosea 6:3

Light Lunch

I finally got a bit of time to finish Dana Cooper's moleskin painting. It's Remembrance Day in Canada, and here in Manitoba it's a day off which I am very thankful for, in that we have time to reflect upon, and remember our soldiers who have, and so bravely now serve our country. Dana's son as I recall is in their armed forces, so I did think about her and her family's contribution as I worked on this piece. The freedom to enjoy a beautiful, peaceful summer afternoon is one of the things our countries have always fought for, so it is my honor to try and depict this privilege which we enjoy on this amazing continent. To all of our servicemen and women, thank you.
oil on paper 16" x 5 1/2"

Help

Here is my contribution to Adebanji Alade's book on homelessness. I saw this man beside Highway 71 on our way to Houston a few weeks ago. He looked like anyone I might see in Austin listening to live music at Threadgill's. I wondered what his story was; times are hard for a lot of people. 8 x 10 oil.

"Autumn Lights" - Michelle Burnett

Autumn Lights

oil on gessoed paper

10.5"x8.5"

Here is my contribution to Angela Elledge's sketchbook for her theme of "places".  This place is just up the road from my home and I wanted the capture the great fall colors (which have mostly faded away here now). I tried to paint with mostly thick, quick brushstrokes to try to add light and movement to the trees and the stream.

Dolly for Dean

Earlier this year, Dean lost his sweet little Dolly, a tiny poodle who brought him unconditional love for 17 years. I attempted to work from the photo Dean posted of her on his blog, but it was too difficult to see the necessary detail. Dean, I hope this happy girl brings you fond memories of your Dolly.

James - The Birth of "Rock" Music & 3 Faves

If authors can have "Writer's Block", then artists can probably get "Paint Blahs" or something. I've been absent a while and I explained it sort of on my current blog on James Parker Art.
I'm sorry....I found both Ed and Vern's Journal staring at me, and woke up and started in motion again. Ed's theme is music...artists, images, ...anything to do with music. Going back a few eons, I have depicted the birth of "rock"music with the band "The Rolling Fossils" performing "The Wooly Mammoth Stomp". This was illustrated just moments before a real wooly mammoth came along and did, indeed, stomp them into fossils.


On the second page of Ed's Journal I did crude attempts at three of my favorite artists, The Moody Blues, Yanni, and Enya. And my apologies to all three of them.