Double Trouble

Birthday Girl | oil on Belgian linen panel | 6" x 12" |  Flanegan |  commission

Last week a friend and I were talking about projects we've worked on together and about plotting ventures in the future. Then I thought about this painting she commissioned last year and realized I hadn't posted it.

My tendency is to amp up the saturation so this was a welcomed exercise in muting the scene, tightening the values on this cloudy day. The reference photo depicts a race at the Heart of Texas Regatta. The red buoys mark the last 250 meters of the course where many a race is decided, merciless in revealing the fitness of the athletes.

Austin's Lady Bird Lake is a rower's paradise. I was a competitive rower in what seems like a lifetime ago and I miss my crewmates. :)

howdy!

Howdy - detail of a work in progress | oil on wood panel | Flanegan

Howdy - work in progress | 16" x 8" oil on wood panel | Flanegan

The Nutty Brown Cafe and Amphitheater is one of my favorite places in Austin and I've wanted to paint their sign for years. It turned out to be a rainy day - which is wonderful in Texas - but not so great if you're painting outside. The piece became a partial wiper and I drained the charge in my truck's battery while trying to keep my windows from fogging up...yes, I know what you're thinking.

But the good news far outweighed the bad news! My friend, who is an awesome mechanic and owner of Todd's Automotive, was nearby and kindly charged my battery. And though I need to revisit my cowboy's boots {they look a bit like ruby slippers at this point} I actually prefer the more abstracted background.

So it's a work-in-progress, but then again - aren't we all?

: )

30th World Wide SketchCrawl

 

china marker and pastel on paper

Founded by Enrico Casarosa, the World Wide SketchCrawl is about getting out there and drawing to your heart's content and, if you so desire, sharing your sketches with others all over the planet. How cool is that?

Saturday morning was cold, but sunny and gorgeous for my first crawl. I met up with the Plein Air Austin group at the Little City Espresso Bar and Cafe on Congress Avenue for a warmer-upper before heading out.

Surprised by an awkwardness of drawing in the city, I chose the lawn of the State Capitol building. I was more at ease with the horses' sniff and snort critique than with strangers' comments. And it was loud.

I know. How pathetic. So pathetic and silly that I started laughing at myself!

After sketching a couple of 20 to 90 minute sessions with a few comical chats from kids passing by, I was so happy that I ventured out of my comfort zone. I had forgotten how beautiful Austin is...how many lovely trees we have shading downtown...the stunning and historic architecture...the laughter and the energy.

love this town.