“Radiant Evening" Daily Painting Original Oil

Original oil painting
6"x9", in frame
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin
 
This is another one I've finished and framed. 

NOW SOLD

"Afternoon at the Flats" Daily Painting Original Oil

"Afternoon at the Flats" 3.5"x 10"
Original oil, framed
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

NOW SOLD

This small long painting is one of my favorite little studies of the area in north Idaho, the Pack River Flats, off Lake Pend Oreille, near Sandpoint.

My Article on Burnout Now Published

"Creativity Fatigue: 11 Ways to Deal with Burnout" appears in the September issue of Art Calendar Magazine.

In researching this piece I ran across this quote from author and burnout researcher Ayala Pines: "In order to burn out a person needs to have been on fire at one time."

In my article I explain more about creativity fatigue and remind readers to take time to enjoy family and the fruits of their labors, to get rest, and to give thanks. This is not an original idea. The Lord thought of it first and made the Sabbath for such.

August Painting Challenge: Yellow

Our August Challenge is to use only a yellow, plus black and white, to make a painting.

It was my turn to choose what we'd paint this month and since I'd been thinking a lot lately about that limited palette we used in the May Challenge, I wanted to take it a step further and see if I could make an interesting painting using only a yellow pigment plus black and white.

I chose a transparent warm yellow (Gamblin's Indian Yellow), Titanium White and Gamblin's Chromatic Black. I thought long about the possibilities for subject matter and how much I could push the color range and contrasts. I also considered painting on a toned board (such as light blue, or red) and letting some of that show through. Although that would've given me more color variety, I decided to simply use the limited paint colours on a white board and see if I could make it interesting.

And what to paint... a winter scene with mostly greys? I recognized that a bumblebee would be an excellent choice but finally landed on a sunny landscape for subject matter.

(left) "Sunny Back Light"
5"x7" Original oil on hardboard
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

The very limited palette gives this piece an interesting vintage lookwhich reminds me of duotones. In my commercial artist days, I often employed duotones to add photo emphasis in a layout using only one extra color. The greys have to stand for the cool tones and do look a bit blue compared with the warmer yellows. I did miss using a little ultramarine, though.... and a little red too.

It looks like the other Challenge Group members were able to get quite a range of hues. I am so impressed with everyone's work! I'm especially impressed that our new member, Elizabeth Blaylock, jumped right in with this month's challenge after she accepted my invitation to join and produced the lovely piece below, shown with the rest of the group's beautiful paintings.



(left above) "Yellow Man" (indian yellow, ivory black and titanium white)
12"x12" Oil on panel ©2010 Robin Cheers

(right above) "Grisaille in Yellow Ochre, Ivory Black & White"
11"x14" Oil on panel ©2010 Vicki Ross



(left above) "Behind This!" (indian yellow, ivory black and titanium white)
12"x12" Oil on canvas ©2010 Suzanne Berry

(center above) "Rose in Yellow Solo" (pale cad yellow, lamp black and titanium white)
5"x7" Oil on Raymar Panel ©2010 Elizabeth Blaylock (right above) "Waterlily in Evening Pond" 6"x6" Oil on panel ©2010 Jeanne Illenye

"Summer Sundown" Plein Air Daily Painting

Original Oil on hardboard, 4"x6"
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

It was a lovely glowing sunset this evening... I had to give it a try.

A friend and her 3 small children were watching me do this little study. As I was squinting against the bright light in the western sky, I kept seeing blue dots in my vision. It was challenging to see what I was painting! My onlookers cheered me on with comments like, "you better hurry... it's changing!"

"Dancer at Rest" Medium Sized Original Oil

14"x11"
Oil on hardboard
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

I just finished this piece for an upcoming exhibition.

It is based on the some smaller studies and a charcoal sketch.

Our July Painting Challenge: Yellow and Blue

Group member Vicki Ross chose the subject this month. Often these Challenge deadlines sneak up on me and this month was especially sneaky since I'd been out of town. I always have lots to do to catch up after being away, plus I have several art projects already in the works.

To participate or not participate; that is the question.

Actually, that is the question each month. I always have chores and projects...and I do the Challenge anyway. I'm always glad I did.

So, what to paint that fullfills Vicki's idea of something yellow and something blue? I managed to find Aquilegia blooming in one of my gardens (the one that hasn't been weeded in a long time.

The little blue glass in my kitchen cabinet was just the right size for a vase for the small blooms, and provided some straight lines to contrast with the curves of the flower and leaves. The bright colors together were especially enjoyable to paint. Summer sunshine is a wonderful gift!

(left) "Yellow Columbine"
6"x4" Oil on hardboard
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin
Several Challenge Group members told me they too thought they might not be able to participate this month. But they did. As the paintings came to my Inbox from each member I was so impressed and amazed and excited! Aren't they beautiful?!

(below left) "Yellow Lily on Spode Blue Italian Plate" 6x6" Oil on panel ©2010 Jeanne Illeyne(below right) "Summer Bouquet" 6x6" Oil on panel ©2010 Robin Cheers
















(below left) "Amber Waves" 16x20" Oil on canvas ©2010 Suzanne Berry
(below right) "Blue and Yellow" 9x12" Oil on panel ©2010 Vicki Ross

"Evening's Shadows" Original Oil Painting

Original oil on panel, 6"x8"
©2005 Diana Moses Botkin

I recently reworked this little piece, bumping up the contrast, intensifying the colors and making those hills in the distance recede more.

It works much better and those shadows in the foreground (the whole reason I wanted to paint this scene in the first place) show off better.

Summer Travels and Projects

I love summer, don't you? We're finally getting some warmer weather here in north Idaho and my garden is taking off, at last.

Longer days with sunshine give me ample opportunity to accomplish some house and yard projects I've been wanting to do.

I could spend all the daylight hours working on house repairs and remodels, landscaping and weeding. But of course, I have to find time, too, for plein air painting in this nice weather. So many great choices for artistic expression; so little time. It's a challenge to choose!

One of my recent projects was doing the flowers for a friend's outdoor wedding in Oregon. It was a lot of work, and also a lot of fun. This time of year there are abundant flowers blooming, and I had buckets and buckets of lilies, roses and other fragrant blossoms to work with for the many bouquets, table arrangements and the beautiful archway for the bride and groom.

Speaking of challenges, keep an eye on this blog for my Challenge Group's July paintings in two days. It's another "color" theme but I can't tell you any more right now. You'll have to wait and find out!

FREE S&H on red, white & blue painting to wish you a Happy 4th!

"Cherries and Blueberries"
Original oil, 5"x7"
©2007 Diana Moses Botkin

NOW SOLD

I reworked this piece recently to bump up contrast and intensify colors. Don't you just love those luscious red and blue fruits? Yum. Summer's finally here!

"Iced Tea with Cherry, Mint" Food Art

Original oil, 4"x4"
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin

Sometimes I go back to a painting and work on it after setting it aside for awhile.

This is one I looked at recently and decided I wanted a simple dark background instead of the lighter one I'd previously used. I like the contrast better now, of the reds against the almost black backdrop.

My Work Now at This Wonderful Gallery Space in Sandpoint

If you're in north Idaho in the coming weeks, I hope you'll drop in to see my work at the new Gallery on the Bridge, located at the Cedar Street Bridge in downtown Sandpoint.

This wonderful space with lovely natural light is perfect for an art gallery, the brainchild of gallery director Shery Meekings and others.

Co-director Steve Padgitt recently commented, "Things are going very well in our development of The Gallery. We are getting rave reviews: comments like 'This is the best gallery Sandpoint has ever had'. And, we are just getting rolling!"

Art lovers turned out for the Gallery's "soft" Opening at Sandpoint's ArtWalk 1 last week. And in the photo above right you can see some of my pieces on display, including figurative works and regional landscapes. I hope you'll drop by when you're in the area to see more!