Blog
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
Park City Barn
5/26/2014 6:02:16 PM | By Nancy Paris Pruden | Comment on this
Don't Give Up!
Since January I have had a really hard time trying not to get discouraged. Don't believe any creative type who says they are not racked with self-doubt most of the time! They're Lying! Starting in January is the time to enter the Big National Shows and I missed the deadlines left and right because I didn't think I had painted anything really good enough. "Well, it's OK but it will Never Win...Sigh. I have entered the Oil Painters of America Show for 5 years and have never gotten accepted so even though I got 1st place in that Regional show I guess I'm just not ready for Prime Time."
Any way, at the last minute I did make the deadline to enter NOAPS with this little painting of the Park City Barn, but when I got the email saying, "Congratulations NOAPS Winners" I didn't even open it. (Good for them, I thought) THEN, I got a certificate in the mail that said, "Award of Excellence" Nancy Paris Pruden ...WOW! Do they mean me? So, Today, I'm going back to my studio and try again to make the best painting I can! And to You; I have noticed as a teacher that my best students are those who are never satisfied...BUT, Don't Give Up!!!
Sunset with Bluebonnets
5/26/2014 5:58:02 PM | By Nancy Paris Pruden | Comment on this
Last of the Bluebonnets
Maybe there are a few fields of Bluebonnets left in Northern Texas but with a sign I have to say goodby to fields of Blue for another year. This Spring, after painting all day at Hollee's Farm, the Painting Class was still anxious to get just one more field immortalized before the day was done. Therefore we decided to postpone cocktail hour until we finished, which was a major sacrifice! I was tired and sunburned so decided to set up my painting gear underneath an oak tree. What I didn't remember (being a City Slicker) is that Poison Ivy also grows under shade trees, SO... be forewarned to Not become so enchanted with what is in front of you that you forget to LOOK DOWN!
Black-eye Susans
5/10/2014 2:26:23 PM | By Nancy Paris Pruden | Comment on this
Besides Bluebonnets
This has been a BLOCKBUSTER year for wildflowers and particularly Bluebonnets! And I love Bluebonnets as much as the next Texan, "Our State Flower" and all that; but have you considered Blackeyed Susans? First of all, I like the name. Both my mother and sister were named Susan and it's a very friendly name. There's something appealing about dark eyes, more Texan somehow, don't you think? Blue is more delicate as colors go but Brown and Yellow, now That's just made for Texas fields! So it's not surprising that once this riot of Blue we see in the Spring fades we can count on good old Blackeyed Susans to bloom the rest of the summer. There's a great deal of pleasure and comfort in being consistent.
On a similar vein, I just got back from our 50th High School Reunion and I must say it was it was a smashing success! It's nice to see hundreds of old people you barely remember do so well with their lives. Really, I mean it! It's nice to know that most of us, scattered across the fields of the world, bloom with beauty and dignity. Well done!
World's Smallest Catholic Church
5/1/2014 1:03:15 PM | By Nancy Paris Pruden | Comment on this
St. Martin's Catholic Church
Driving North of Brenham on 290 you will come to FM 237 toward Round Top, Texas. If you go just a little ways down 237 you will see this darling little church with a marker that says, "The World's Smallest Catholic Church"! Only in Texas do people brag about The Biggest and The Smallest in the same breath! However; do stop and take a minute to look inside. You will probably not run across a cuter one as well. We were on our way to Hollee's Farm and stopped to paint this charming church and while we were there one of the "Good Ladies of the Church" came and unlock the door to encourage visitors. They have services there every Sunday and welcome neighbors and strangers alike.
This painting is another example of our on-going painting lessons on understanding Values. Leave it to Silicon Valley to come up with an App for your IPhone called "Value Viewer". You can take a photo of your subject and turn it into Grey values which illustrates again that... the Value of Bluebonnets in the Sun is Lighter than a White church in the Shade!!! Some people really get excited about this.
Traveling Pallet
5/1/2014 1:00:10 PM | By Nancy Paris Pruden | Comment on this
Traveling Pallet
It's that time of year when "The Painting Class" takes off to paint Bluebonnets at Hollee's Farm! Bless Hollee's heart to have 8 of us there for a sleep-over and painting extravaganza once again! We left Wednesday morning and stopped to paint and take pictures along the way. This year the wildflowers are magnificent; whole fields of Indian Paint Brush and Bluebonnets. This is the 2nd painting I did that day of the road leading up to Hollee's charming 100 year old Texas farmhouse. It is quite difficult to judge just how light Bluebonnets are in the sun so my trusty red tinted view finder was a big help. I bought my "Easyl" on-line from Artworkesentials.com for $7.95. Heck of a deal and really makes judging values so much easier. And, just so you know... Bluebonnets in the sun are lighter than a white farm house in the shade. Just a little known fact you might drop into your conversation at the next cocktail party.
By the way, just a reminder that "The Art Class" is having their annual Art Show and Sale at Thornwood Gallery, 2643 Colquitt in Houston this Thursday night, the 24TH from 5:30- 8:00. Please stop by!
Topics
Archives
Recent Works |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
