jubilation

I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays. I'm having a very Merry Christmas with dear friends and delicious food. Have you ever experienced Cherries Jubilee?! It was a first for me. The dish was brought to the dinner table and lit on fire - blue flames fleetingly dancing over the cherries and served over ice cream - absolutely divine.

How wonderful it is to enjoy your friend's family's Christmas traditions? Among the lovely holiday decorations was the Santa hat on Rowdy Girl, a painting I had given to my friends after she passed on a few years ago. Our little angel with her Christmas spirit. precious. 

After the flurry of exchanging presents and blessings of the feast, out came the musical instruments - another family tradition. It was a joy to behold. So much so that I've been inspired to dust off my guitar...maybe a resolution in the coming year is in order.

(did I just say the R word?!)

Wishing All a Lovely Christmas and Happy Holiday

bounty

treat face

rousted

lulled

adrift

remedy

basset love | 8"x 8" charcoal on paper | Flanegan

Our area braced for the flash-flooding predicted last Friday through Sunday from Hurricane Patricia. Instead we received a glorious slow and steady soaker of a rain, 7 plus inches.

I love how the weather forces us to slow down to appreciate the simple pleasures.

:)

happy birthday

white on white | 6"x 6" oil on panel | Flanegan

"Yeah we all shine on, like the moon, the stars and the sun." 
John Lennon

Barton's Portal

Barton's Portal | 13" x 13" oil on panel with angle iron floating frame | Flanegan | sold

At Bar Ten Creek Ranch, the early morning sun peaks over a bluff and onto a tree-lined fence. A window of highlights frame Barton Creek flowing below and it is a stunning sight to witness. 

The 2015 Plein Air Austin Exhibit is showing at the Corridor of Art at 700 Lavaca Street, downtown Austin. 'Barton's Portal' and 'Mystic', along with 50 other works painted on location, will be exhibited through 2 November. Our opening is 24 September, 4-6p - swing by if you're in town!

Dappled Dreams

Mystic | 13" x 13" oil on panel with angle iron floating frame | Flanegan |  $550

Lady Kerbey taking an another afternoon nap.

Spirit

Spirit, detail | 8" x 8" oil on linen | Flanegan | commission

Unfortunately, the photo of the entire painting had a glare, but here's a detail.

For this commission, I only had a photo reference. When I'm not able to meet the subject, hearing the family's stories makes all the difference. What a joy.

Spirit was a stray who was initially looked after by a kind-hearted rancher. When Spirit became pregnant she chose to leave the ranch, crossing a four-lane highway to nest. The safe haven she chose was under the porch of our church's original gathering place. My friends adopted mama Spirit and one of her pups.

What an amazing dog, I would have loved to have met her. And what wonderful friends - thank you Barbara and Jim!

orange you happy?

Zinnia with Gomphrena | 6" x 6" oil on panel | Flanegan | nfs

I was asked to look after a friend's home and cat while they were on vacation recently. What a joy it is to explore another's garden, especially those of my creative friends. Zinnias have always been one of my favorite flowers. They're a festive little firecracker of a bloom.

Zinnia's make you smile and so do good friends.

: ) 

Umlauf's Pond

Umlauf's Pond | 11" x 7" oil on panel | Flanegan | sold

I began painting this outdoors and finished it in the studio yesterday, a year and a half later.  A friend's comment had given me pause, rightfully so. It's good and necessary to periodically discern what we're trying to say with our work.

Some say water lilies have already been done. This may be true, but I learn so much while painting them. And I'm not competing with the Masters anyway - what if we all gave up painting subjects that have already been painted? What a loss that would be.

Hopefully we learn from the Masters, but make each composition our own. I love that the sound of rippling water from the fish surfacing for food still lingers with this painting. 

Here's her twin {I chose to split the panel} posted in January of last year.  In my painting above I used a reference photo with the sun behind the clouds as you can see with the tighter range of values as compared to the sunny skies with the linked painting.

Happy to see that I've loosened up a bit, with a little help from my friends.

: )

happy independence!

dog gone these pie tins that flex! Incidents and all - Jeannie's apple pie will still be delicious! I hope you, too, will be gathering with family and friends this holiday weekend.

enjoy!

Pretty's pasture

Where's Pretty Girl? | charcoal study | Flanegan 

Today was my birthday and it was wonnnderful.

: )

sleeping beauty

slumber girl | 6" x 6" oil on panel | Flanegan

My dainty little napper.

: )

Dutch

Dutch | 10" x 8" oil on linen panel | Flanegan | commission

Dutch, a work in progress

This painting was a gift for Barbara, a dear friend and mentor to many. Her companion, Dutch, is a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. He's a precious soul and was a joy to paint.

As artists, once the composition and values of the painting are determined, we're taught to block in the dominant hues before addressing further details. But for me, I can't seem to complete the eyes soon enough. When I'm able to look into the eyes of the subject, it allows for a dialogue and the painting becomes a more collaborative effort. i love painting animals. They're delightfully authentic spirits who greatly enrich our lives.

It was truly an honor to have been commissioned by my generous buds and fellow classmates. Many thanks.

: )

charming gardeners

love note #33 | 7" x 7" mixed media on blended panel | Flanegan | sold

Our scenic Hays County was devastated by recent flooding over Memorial Day weekend. A record 44' wall of water surged down the Blanco River claiming 12 lives, over 320 homes and damaging over 1,150 residences. Times like these reveal a community's strength and inspire acts of kindness and generosity to others - warms my heart.

'Love Notes' is an ongoing series of wooden constructs reclaimed to send a message. A third of the purchase price benefits the Flood Relief Fund at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and School in Wimberley.

peculiar

peculiar | 6" x 6" oil on panel | Flanegan | nfs

Golden

Beaux | 12" x 9" oil on linen | Flanegan | commission

Three Buds

three buds | 4.5" x 6" oil on panel | Flanegan | nfs

handsome Beaux

study of handsome Beaux | 6" x 6" oil on panel | Flanegan | commission 

Have you ever awoken to someone staring at you? 

This study of Beaux was a warm-up of an in-progress 12x9 commission.

He's a delightful soul who stays with Kerbey and me when his

humans are traveling - pure joy.

Rolex

Rolex (detail) | 9" x 12" oil on Belgian linen | Flanegan | commission

A while back, Rolex lost his front left leg to cancer.  How fitting that he would give me a pose with such confidence and resolve.
Here he is at a dashing 15 years {105 for you and me} thanks to his loving humans.
: )
This is a detail as all subtleties were lost in the larger shot. I hope to post a shot of Rolex with a tighter res.

congregation

congregation | 8" x 13" oil on panel | Flanegan | sold

Last year I donated this painting to a fundraising silent auction and my friend won the bid. I love this view of the rolling hills in Dripping Springs, especially during the last hours of the day, and plan to paint it again soon.

I had forgotten to get a shot of the painting until last night, thank you Kristi!

Dante

Dante | 16" x 20" oil on linen-faced panel | Flanegan | commission

Dante is a charming Springer Spaniel who loves to hunt...and model too it seems.
: )
We had two photo sessions - never before has a dog given me one sequential pose after another. It was a sight to behold. Spaniels are eager to please and Dante did not disappoint. He was so handsome in the afternoon light. Thank you Elizabeth.

Chase

Chase | 8" x 8" oil on cradled wood panel | Flanegan | commission

We have the pleasure of Chase's company while his humans {my friend Angie and her son, Jack} are on vacation. This painting referenced a photo I took of Chase while he was on the front porch during one of his visits. I couldn't resist the pairing of his handsomely mottled coat with the dappled morning light. It was glorious. The light was dancing around him as if he was beaming from within. How lucky am I?
: )
Thank you Silvia.