"Purple and Gold" Headed to Museum of the Great Plains

I've been asked to send work to the museum for the 3rd Invitational Art Show, "Heart & Soul of the Great Plains" in Lawton, Oklahoma. They wanted one of my landscapes for the exhibit opening November 6.

The show will be at three venues at once and each location will feature different aspects. Contemporary work at one spot, American Indian exhibits at another and naturalistic work like my landscape (at left) at the Museum.

"Purple and Gold'
Original oil, 8x10"
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

Miniature Paintings, Framed or Unframed?

I took this photo for a buyer in Malaysia so she could see what the frames looked like on these two miniature oil paintings. The 25 cent piece and the house key in the picture are there for scale reference.

She decided she wanted to have these little jewels framed herself so I'm mailing them unframed. I'm glad to give her the choice; I want her to be pleased.

Framing is such an individual decision based on personal taste and often, decor. It's hard to guess what a future buyer might want. I'm a painter, not a framer.

So, sometimes a buyer wants the paintings ready to hang in the frames I've chosen and other times they prefer to have them framed themselves. Either way is fine with me.

October Painting Challenge: Use Only a 1/2" Brush

October's Challenge, named by new member Aaron Cordell Johnson, is to "create your entire painting using one brush 1/2 inch in size on a 6"x8" inch canvas."

I dreaded this one more than usual but knew it would be good for me to use a big brush to force me to simplify. Now, I often use bigger brushes for large areas, even on small paintings, but for detail I typically switch to a smaller brush for control.

A half inch brush turns out to be a number 6 bristle brush by my measurement. I must say I like using the bigger brush, if you don't count tool clumsiness and more paint to clean out.

I suppose I could get used to it. However, I'm not getting rid of my 2s or 4s anytime soon. I sure was tempted to use at least one on the hay bales, especially that smallest one in the distance. But I didn't.

(left) "Bright Bales"
Original oil on hardboard 6"x8"
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin
SOLD

I'm so impressed by what the rest of the Group did for this test of skill and patience. The freshness of those large brush strokes makes the paintings so interesting, don't you think?

(below left) "Facing the Morning Sun" Oil on panel, 6"x8" ©2010 Robin Cheers(below right) "Onion" Oil on canvas, 6"x8" ©2010 Aaron Cordell Johnson













(below left) "Bling Pouch" Oil on canvas, 6"x6" ©2010 Suzanne Berry(below right) "Still Life" Oil on canvas, 8"x6" ©2010 Vicki Ross

“Distant Peaks" Daily Painting Miniature Oil

Original oil painting on canvasboard
2.25"x2.25"
in dark miniature frame
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

SOLD

This is a tiny study from when I was in the Scotchman Peaks area doing the PaintOut.

"Luminous Lake Sunset" Daily Painting

Original oil painting, 5"x7"
in museum style decorative frame
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

NOW SOLD

After the Scotchman Peaks PaintOut reception at OutSkirts Gallery, most of the artists and collectors went home. I sat out in front of the gallery at the cafe with my little paint box to study the glowing sky and lake until it got too dark to work.

End of the day sunset color is often a source of wonder and inspiration for me, but it is a challenge to work fast enough to paint it before it's gone. The study has to be either very small and loose, or I finish it up later in the studio with added touches. This one was a result of the latter.

Speaking of challenges: look for my Challenge Group's Paintings later this week. This particular test is something I need to do but oh am I nervous!

Awards at the Palouse PaintOut Show

I happily participated in another plein air event September 30 through October 2. This one was in Moscow, Idaho, in the heart of the Palouse... very different geography from where I painted last week.

The Lord gave us amazing weather to paint outdoors: clear, colorful and warm. I managed to make four decent paintings and entered three of them in the event exhibit on Saturday. It is always quite amazing to see the volume of beautiful work from the different plein air painters at shows like this. To think that only a few days earlier, none of the paintings even existed!

(left) "Clear Palouse Afternoon"
Oil 10x10"
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

This took more than one day to paint, but since the weather was consistantly clear, it worked to revisit the same spot the next day at the same hour. The painting was voted by fellow artists at the show for the Artists' Choice award. (And no, I didn't vote for my own work.)

My personal favorite was by Jared Shear, who was painting in the same location where I was working on this piece, along with two other artists. We artists often work alone, so it is especially nice to be able to paint in close proximity to others, especially those whose work we admire. I love seeing the different approaches to the same scene.

(left) "Purple Palouse Morning" Oil 4x6"
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

SOLD

This little jewel was chosen by the judge for a second place award in the show which included a generous purchase from the City of Moscow. It is especially nice for me that my work will be enjoyed in a permanent public setting.

My Second Scotchman Peaks PaintOut Piece

"The Peak From Johnson Creek"
Oil. 8x10"
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

SOLD

This painting from the PaintOut sold to a fellow artist which made me very happy. I also purchased a piece from the show from one of the artists whose work I admire.

Scotchman Peaks PaintOut

"Reflections at the Flats"
Original oil, 4"x6"
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

SOLD

For the third year in a row, painters from around the Northwest participated in the Scotchman Peaks PaintOut. It is always an exciting challenge to see if we can paint something beautiful in rapidly changing conditions, hot or cold temps, rain or shine.

This was one of two pieces I was happy with from the weekend of painting outdoors on location. Both sold at the show on Sunday, which boasted dozens of beautiful works from 24 participating artists.

"Berry Slide" Miniature Abstract Daily Paintng

Original oil, 2"x3"
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

Here are more bright colors for you.

"Orange Crush" Miniature Abstract Daily Painting

Original oil, 2"x3"
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

Something like this in a large format would be really fun in these bright colors. Let me know if you are interested, or would like this little 'un for your desk.

"Glacier Melt" Miniature Abstract Daily Painting

I'm gathering up another handful of minis from the corners of my studio to keep you entertained while I'm busy with commissions.

Please tell me if you'd like to own any of them, or want information on ordering something similar in a large piece.

Original oil 3x3"
©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

"Sugar Swing" Miniature Abstract Daily Painting

Original oil, 3"x2"

©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

The image and title came from somewhere beyond the recesses of my mind... or maybe I'm simply sleep deprived.

Whatever the case, these playful little thoughts keep me moving along to new ideas.