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Dear Art Friends,

This is an introduction to my art blog. I have wanted to do this for a long time because between commissions and large gallery paintings I do little oil sketches of ideas for future paintings or just small things of beauty that strike me at odd moments. Because I paint every day, after a while, these little canvases add up. So I thought I would share them with you. I will be sending them out about every week or two. If you enjoy them, please forward them to friends on your email list. If you do not want to be bothered, no problem just cancel the blog.

So, please consider joining my weekly newsletter (see link below).

Thanks, Nancy Paris Pruden

Old and Twisted

5/19/2015 9:45:20 AM | By Nancy Paris Pruden | Comment on this

From Plein Aire to Studio

Once again my inspiration comes from Hollee's Farm during the Annual Spring Student Sleepover near Brenham. As already reported, the Bluebonnets were magnificent and we all did many oil sketches of wildflowers during our visit, but the 2nd day my eyes couldn't resist the opulence of Hollee's Garden. In the corner of the yard surrounded by roses, irises, and daisies, is a very old and twisted pear tree which Hollee assures us can not make it another year. Surely it needs to be immortalized before it goes, don't you think? So, I did one more plein air painting of this gnarled and twisted tree, which after some thought became the subject for the larger painting below. I wonder if Fairies live in that tree...

Canyon light

5/12/2015 8:50:43 AM | By Nancy Paris Pruden | Comment on this

Mothers' Day Garden

5/12/2015 8:41:09 AM | By Nancy Paris Pruden | Comment on this

Mother's Day Garden

I hope every mother out there had a wonderful Mother's Day last weekend! I was thinking that raising children to become happy, healthy and responsible adults is something like raising a garden filled with beautiful flowers. Everyone just needs some space to grown with good food, lots of sunshine, enough attention to guard against weeds and plenty of encouragement! Thank you to my mother, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, daughters, teachers and all the wonderful women who help every day. Well done!

This painting was almost completely repainted from one I did a few years ago. I had way too many colors and the composition looked too busy, so I grouped the white flowers so the yellow and orange flowers lead you to them and simplified the background. Hope you think it works.

Road to Hollee's Farm

5/5/2015 9:51:40 AM | By Nancy Paris Pruden | Comment on this

Just Show Up

Woody Allen once said, "Most of the successes in life happen if you Just Show Up." So many people say, "I would love to create, but I don't think I have any Talent." Well, I think Woody is right...Talent is greatly over-rated... Just Show Up. If you google "quotes on Talent" you find some wonderful thoughts on the subject. Natalie Goldberg said," I don't believe in Talent. Talent is like a water table under the earth. You tap into it with your effort and it comes through you from the bottom of the earth." Eric Hoffer said," We are told Talent creates its own opportunities. But it sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only its own opportunities, but its own talent." I went to Fluorescence (a Garden Club Flower Show at the MFAH) last week and saw many Garden Club members display a dazzling amount of talent and creativity. A lot of people showed up to make that so special!

With those thoughts in mind, the painting above, "Road to Hollee's Farm" was painted the first day of The Art Classes' Annual Trip to paint bluebonnets a few weeks ago. Once again, many lovely paintings were produced by the students who were there. The road to success can start at any time and anyplace with any medium, but you do have to commit to Show Up.

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Old and Twisted

Canyon light

Mothers' Day Garden

Road to Hollee's Farm

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