Book coming soon: small regional landscape paintings

I just finished uploading the file to the publisher for my book Gems from the Edge of the Earth. This book shows many of my petite paintings of north Idaho. After I proof a printed copy and make sure it looks good, I'll offer it online. 

You'll be able to get it soon at the introductory price. Stay tuned for a link if you'd like to own one. (Maybe I'll even do a giveaway of a signed copy!)

And if you want to put together your own book and use one of the print-on-demand online publishing companies, it's not too difficult. I just wrote an article about doing just that. The piece appears in the current issue of Art Calendar Magazine, now available at newstands.

I'll be taking a little more time off from Daily Painting to finish up some portrait orders, but will be back soon posting to this blog with my latest little 'uns. Contact me if you'd like info yourself about a commission of that special someone or unique place.

©2008 Diana Moses Botkin

"Plum Study" Still Life Daily Painting

Original unframed pastel on grey Canson paper, approx. 5"x9"
Loose Impressionistic sketch of purple plums on a pale green background.

This is a live demo I did recently to show my students how to block in shapes and shadows.

©2008 Diana Moses Botkin

"Plum Fun" Still Life Daily Painting

Original still life oil painting, 5"x5"
Fresh purple plums against an orange background, painted from life 
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin 

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Yes, this was plum fun to paint! Enjoy the serotonin boost. I sure did.

Plum Still Life Daily Painting and Art Instruction

Original still life oil painting, 5"x7" unframed
Fresh plums on a dark blue plate, painted from life

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We've not had the abundant fruit harvest this year as we did last year. I figured I'd better get outside today and pick whatever plums are left before the bears totally break the branches to get fruit (which they did to several last year). Dodging the piles of bear and deer droppings, I risked life and limb on the fruit ladder to harvest what I could reach.

I liked the way several had broken off with a short piece of the branch and thought they'd make an interesting still life. Here's a demo of the way I approached this loosely painted study which I painted live in low directional light.

First, I blocked in the shapes on a grey-tinted panel with dark oil paint (a mixture here of ultramarine blue and burnt umber).

I didn't bother to sketch this out because the composition and shapes were pretty simple and I knew where I wanted to go with it. (For a more complicated arrangement, I might draw things out first to decide what goes where. A sketch is especially handy in landscape painting en plein air, because there is frequently so much visual information it's good to decide in advance what shapes will be dominant and what might be good to leave out.)

Next I laid in greens for leaves (mixes of thalo green, cad green pale, yellow ochre and white) and then began painting in those fun pinks and reds (mixes of perm. aliz, white and thio violet).The sticks were sketched in (burnt umber and white mixes, also yellow ochre). More color (a little cad red scarlet and more aliz) was added to the plums and that purplish haze that makes plums look like plums was painted in by dragging some violet paint (mixes of thio violet, thalo blue and white) onto the surface.
 
I then painted in more blues on the background (mostly ultramarine with a touch of burnt umber and white, and a little thalo blue in the brighter spots) and the dark shadows (ultramarine, thalo green and aliz). On the plums I brushed in some warm glowing orange (cad scarlet and white) and then a very small highlight glow (white and cad yellow med).
 
I suggested the reflections under the plums and then added finishing touches to the sticks, plum stems and leaf stems. (See finished painting above.) Even though it's pretty loose, I decided this is enough to portray these blushing beauties.

©2008 Diana Moses Botkin

"Solitude" Figurative/Landscape Daily Painting

Original oil painting, figure in landscape, 5"x7"
Beach scene of young woman on colorful towel on the sand, in bright midday sunlight  
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin

This larger figure in the 5x7" format was a little easier than painting the girl so small as in the previous work. Simplifying the sand and cropping in close put the focus on her rather than all her surroundings. You can tell she's at the beach but it's more background than subject. She's the main focus instead of the setting.

So... what do suppose she's thinking?

Sold Daily Paintings

"Ambition" Oil, 5"x7"
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Shadows in the Park" Oil, 5"x7"
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Boy's Best Friend" Oil, 7"x5"
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Longhorns Fan" Oil, 7"x5"
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Twins" Oil, 5"x3.5"
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Touching the Sky" Oil, 8"x6"
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Cool Reflections" Oil, 4"x6"
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Outdoor Hearts" Oil, 5.5"x10"
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Summer Evening" Oil, 4"x6"
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Cuddling Persimmons" Oil, 4"x6"
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Persimmon" Miniature Oil
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Orange and Purple" Miniature Oil
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"A Sky Like Opals" Miniature Oil
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Mini Cloud Study" Miniature Oil
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Color After the Rains" Miniature Oil
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Lone Persimmon" Oil 3.5"x 5"
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Flocked Trees" Miniature Oil
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Lombardy Poplars" Oil 5"x 3.5"
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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Daily Painting with my Little Paint Box

This is me working on the onion painting at the Art Faire, using my small cigar box pochade. It's small enough to fit in my briefcase along with a camera, sketch book and a few other essentials.

For the box, I've narrowed it down to 8 or 9 tiny tubes of paint, a small bottle of thinner and a sample size of Galkyd medium. There is also just enough room for some short handled brushes and a palette knife. Oh, and I use a disposable painting palette pad I cut to fit the box.

At the end of my painting session, I fold the top sheet with the paint, stick it in a plastic bag and deal with it at home later. Sometimes I'll add my dirty brushes to the baggie, as well. If there is leftover paint, I transfer it to my palette at home. Waste not, want not.

I do have bigger painting boxes I take sometimes when I go out for demos, on trips, or to paint out. But I love the simplicity, light weight, and compactness of this one and use it often.

©2008 Diana Moses Botkin

"Red Onion in Bowl" Still Life Daily Painting

Original oil painting on panel, 5"x7"
Red onion in white bowl on red background, painted from life

I painted most of this yesterday for a live demo at our Art Faire at Naples Gallery. Today I looked at the painting and noticed the elipse of the bowl wasn't quite right so I worked on it a little more and also added a few other touches. Those pesky elipses are awfully hard to get just so!

The lighting where I was showing my little paintings on the covered porch at the gallery was interesting. I had a reflector and bulb hung over my work space which lent a warm glow and made those nice yellow tones on the bottom of the bowl. The bluer outdoor light reflected off part of the onion and bowl, as well, making for some lively contrasts.

©2008 Diana Moses Botkin

Sold Daily Paintings

"Red, White, and Blue" Mini Oil ©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Afternoon Trees" Oil 5"x7" ©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Study of Katherine" Oil 10"x8" ©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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 "Three Apricots" Oil 4"x6" ©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Girls in Clover" Oil 7"x5" ©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Sunbathers" Oil 5"x7" ©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Scarlet Ribbons Oil 6"x8" ©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Ambition" Oil 5"x7" ©2008 Diana Moses Botkin
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"Foggy Night" Landscape/Nocturnal Painting

Original Pastel painting, 7"x10"
©1998 Diana Moses Botkin
Night scene in blues, greens, greys and warm lights

If you're wondering what's up with my infrequent posts lately, let me explain. Two weeks ago I traveled to McCall, Idaho, a long drive which I did in two days stints.

Four days of driving for a two day stay.. I must be crazy. The travel to McCall was for a gala art event at a botanical garden in McCall at Charlie's Garden. It was my first time at the show and although I had no idea what to expect for sales, I sold paintings. It was a lovely show with excellent attendance from locals and tourists in the area. Wine tasting and live music, the beautiful outdoor setting and lovely work exhibited by artists from all over the region contributed to the success of this show. I met some wonderful new people and supporters of my work and got to see artist friends too.

"Before the Wedding" Portrait Daily Painting

Original oil painting 9.5"x10"
Young woman in formal green dress with pink roses, highlighted by the glowing light of the nearby window.

Of course this took longer than a day to paint, but it is today's painting! I very much enjoyed the challenges of this portrait.

This beauty is the matron of honor. She waits on the stairs just ahead of her sister who is the beautiful bride, soon to walk down the aisle. The little white box holds the ring for the groom.

Please contact me if you'd like to commission a painting of someone special.

©2008 Diana Moses Botkin

"Iced Tea Reflections" Still Life Daily Painting

Oil, 7"x5" in Gold frame $155.
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin

I'm back to detail work.