Above Abiquiu

Above Abiquiu, New Mexico__16x20__available at Act I Gallery, Taos, NM
This area of New Mexico is where Georgia O'Keefe lived and worked. It is still a remote and beautiful place. I started this one last summer and just got around to finishing it....Happy Thanksgiving, y'all! No matter what you are going through, there is SOMETHING to be thankful for...even good old memories :)

Alfie on Avocado

Alfie on Avocado__8x10 oil on panel____SOLD...a commission for J and J
Alfie was a beloved pet for my friend J in Arizona. Her favorite "shot" of him was a small black and white snapshot of him on his favorite couch. J gave me this photo and a few color snapshots to work from....I have a little more work to do on Alfie, (now that I can see him here, I see some "atmosphere" things I want to adjust). I painted Alfie in color, using those few faded photos. I am not REAL sure about his coloring but from the look of the couch in black and white, and the setting of the photos which looked like the 1970's, I guessed that the couch was that famous pigment called "avocado green"....

Strider

Strider__8x10 oil on linen panel___commission for Strider's family
So at Christmas time I finish up all the year's commission's and this week has been "dog week"! Strider , here was "compiled" from several of his family photos: use this one for his smile, this one for his bandana, this one for his "pose"....which means I did a preliminary sketch first, for approval. I really enjoy that kind of "art direction"...one of my favorite things when I was a "commercial artist", (aka graphic designer) was sitting with a client and hearing their "vision" which, if they could illustrate it, they WOULD! I enjoyed the challenge of FIRST hearing them correctly, then creating whatever it was that they had in mind. ...Strider
is gone, now, so this painting will be a memory forever. I think it's so important to "bless" the family with a meaningful painting.
I LOVE dogs...our new little Junor (aka Puppypuppypuppy) is in my lap as I type this, and Maria is at my feet!! Here is a really neat youtube video that PERFECTLY describes WHY we love dogs :) (thanks Pam!).....as soon as Strider dries, I will ship him "home"....

Luna

Luna___10x8 oil on linen panel for Tina
Here is another painting for Tina, whom I mentioned yesterday. This one is Luna, her other beloved Chow...I am still making a few minor little "oil changes" on Luna, but...here ya go!

Mars Dog

Mars___10 x 8 oil on linen panel____for Tina
I met Tina at the Easton Waterfowl Festival in Maryland. She owns a couple of the prettiest chow dogs EVER, and I am lucky enough that Tina let me paint them for her! Here is her big boy Mars...great name!...I have a few "Ear-justments" to make, but will ship Mars off later in the week...
For you artists looking in: Thick fur can seem like a scary thing to try to paint...the secret is to see BIG SHAPES, rather than long individual hairs....each shape has its own color and value...if you mix color carefully, and draw the shapes well, you'll get it!

Our Lady at La Bahia

Our Lady of Loreto__at La Bahia___see framed version below...for Whistle Pik Miniatures Show
This is the final miniature for my grouping of paintings for the Whistle Pik Miniatures Show, opening next week in Fredericksburg, TX. The canvas I used is a small piece of linen and it is hand cut and a little bit "rustic" looking...goes well with the frame :)
There is a niche in the front of the chapel at La Bahia (you can see it indicated in the painting I posted a few days ago...click here to see it below the cross on the right...here is a detail and some info from the La Bahia web site....

Located in the niche above the chapel entrance is the statue of Our Lady of Loreto sculpted by Lincoln Borglum, of Mt. Rushmore fame. This centuries-old chapel was where Fannin's men were held during part of their captivity before being massacred. The First Declaration of Texas Independence was signed inside the chapel

El Presidio La Bahia

El Presidio La Bahia___4x8 oil on linen framed for Whistle Pik Christmas Miniatures Show (click blog image to enlarge)

I have a grouping of 4 small works for this year's Miniature Show at Whistle Pik Galleries in Fredericksburg, TX. The small canvases are all mounted and framed the same way (see below, and see yesterday's post). I have been doing a lot of work at the Presidio in Goliad, Texas. This is the site of one of Texas' most important events, and this place brings a deep sense of awe when you are there. I want my paintings to remind viewers of that...I wish you could see them all together!

La Bahia Thermals

La Bahia Thermals___small oil on linen panel, framed for the Whistle Pik Miniatures Show___December

Whistle Pik Galleries in Fredericksburg, TX was one of the first galleries in the country to feature "miniatures" in a big art sale. I posted the one below a few weeks ago, and above is the second one in my small group of four miniatures on display. La Bahia is the subject. Below is the bell at the presidio, and above is the tower with the usual buzzards circling overhead, riding the thermals above the San Antonio River. My paintings are all framed similarly, with the canvas being mounted on a backing that is framed. I like the look! You'll have to go to the show to see them all together, but I will post them individually over the next couple of days.
Whistle Pik's Christmas Miniatures Show is about 10 years old now and a real treat for art lovers! First, just being in Fredericksburg during the holidays gets you in the Christmas spirit! Seeing HUNDREDS of small works by the best artists in the country is fun, too, and a good place to start or add to your art collection without spending a whole lot of money!

Tonito Dulce____for the Whistle Pik Galleries Christmas Miniatures Show___December

Junior

Junior___a sketch of our new "baby"___see real guy below
A lot has happened since my high school senior son's first football game at the end of August! On that night my daughter's dog had puppies....6....Here is what has happened since then, which explains why I have not posted much!...Wedding showers for older son, company came, football game, puppies eyes opened, booster club meetings every Monday, plan rehearsal dinner, newspaper announcements, invitations to various, two out of town football games in a row, then a wedding the next day, start ebay auction of sketchbook, return wedding stuff, homecoming parade, puppies are almost paper trained, but need to go outside and play a lot, ...so fun!!...feed football player great volumes of food, gather videos for football recruiting highlight film, ship art to Nebraska for Plains Artist show (I won 3rd!), deliver art to Parade of homes, drive to Dallas area for art show, I back out when I got there because of tornado threat, spent day at the art museum, football injury!...is it broken?, deliver big box of art to Taos,... no, just sprained...whew!...reply to all those recruiting e-mails, to college in New York ? no thank you!, California?, no thank you...got anything in Texas, please? Shots for 6 puppies, then homes for 5...how did we end up with the runt?, he was the cutest! Decided that daughter is a better salesman than I thought, as she steered the interested parties to the other puppies...now we are "stuck" with the runt....which brings me to today's sketch. Meet JUNIOR! I sketched him while on the phone to Amanda in Nebraska, today....usually he has one ear up! ...I am teaching him to fetch...between football games....Thank you to those who have asked "where are you???"...I will be back to the easel regularly THIS WEEK...after the football game!

ARUN

ARUN__sketch for my friend!
I hope my friend is in bed, but she is a late night person like me...we walk together every morning, so I will give this to her, then....it is a sketch of her son, Arun (rhymes with "maroon", the color of our football team)....Last time we played, 2 weeks ago, Arun caught a couple of my son's passes for touchdowns! Since then, we have had a "bye week", and now our team is all healthy for the big game tomorrow!...there is nothing quite like Texas 5A High School Football! It includes more than just the game: big bands, we have a state champion drum line that plays the whole game...drill team, dances, cheerleaders, mascots, color guard, HUGE inflated mascot that the football guys run through...It is a great time for the communities...and, of course the young people LOVE IT!
My son is the quarterback...here is his "highlight film"...it's a work in progress!
My upcoming schedule is below...
Oct. 32...THIS SATURDAY The Texas Country Reporter Festival in Waxahachie, TX...come see me!
Nov. 17-18 (Wed.- Thus)….Bryan/College Station, TX vvaughan8@yahoo.com for info
Jan. 27-29 or so…..Rockport, TX ***This one is for ART TEACHERS. It would count as “in service”…continuing education credits and all that. You would sign up for several different workshops and your school ought to be able to pay for it …I am not sure of the dates, but sign up for it is right now, I think! See Rockport Art Center for details! . I am just one of MANY instructors!
June 13-15, 2011…info at Fredericksburg Artists School

October 4-6, 2011 David City, Nebraska in conjunction with the opening of my exhibit on October 7, 2011
"Passing America: The Great Plains"

I also offer PERSONALIZED workshops…if you can round up a group of 10 - 15 , I provide all the literature and info, you just collect the money and organize locations and you get to come FREE!...If I have to travel, the fees would include travel expenses…It works well, and I do this all over the country!

Tonito

Tonito___oil on panel__5x5 mini ____for Whistle Pik Christmas Miniatures Show

I have a small grouping of miniatures for the annual Whistle Pik Miniatures Show next month. Here is the first one.
Tomorrow is the last day of the ebay OFFERING of my Colorado Sketchbook. It is pricey, but a genuine work of art that spanned several weeks in Colorado. Below is my upcoming schedule for the next few weeks and a couple of important things beyond that. My WHOLE SCHEDULE is on my web site...

October 23.(THIS COMING SATURDAY!) Texas Country Reporter Festival in Waxahachie, TX. I'll be there!!
Nov. 17-18 (Wed.- Thus)….Bryan/College Station, TX vvaughan8@yahoo.com for info
Jan. 27-29 or so…..Rockport, TX ***This one is for ART TEACHERS. It would count as “in service”…continuing education credits and all that. You would sign up for several different workshops and your school ought to be able to pay for it …I am not sure of the dates, but sign up for it is right now, I think! See Rockport Art Center for details! . I am just one of MANY instructors!
June 13-15, 2011…info at Fredericksburg Artists School

October 4-6, 2011 David City, Nebraska in conjunction with the opening of my exhibit on October 7, 2011

"Passing America: The Great Plains"



I also offer PERSONALIZED workshops…if you can round up a group of 10 - 15 , I provide all the literature and info, you just collect the money and organize locations and you get to come FREE!...If I have to travel, the fees would include travel expenses…It works well, and I do this all over the country!

Tono Dulce

Tono Dulce___30x24 oil on linen___available> On display at Parade of Homes, in Rough Hollow at Lakeway, TX

Parade of Homes is going on now through October 31. The house can be seen HERE (My art is in the house at 301 Bisonet). I provided several paintings for the designer who is a dear NEW friend of mine! This one above, "Tono Dulce" was painted especially for this Mission-style home...maybe the style is more Italian, Tuscan...My friend selected several works to place in various rooms (including a SECRET HIDDEN ROOM!! COOL!!!) When I went to deliver the art, I saw a PERFECT PLACE, so I asked if I could paint this one which I had planned, but not finished!
I turned it out in a hurry, so if you look real hard at the one BELOW, you sill see IMPORTANT changes that I will do when I get it back in a week or so! For now it hangs as below, but FINIDHE, it will look more like the painting above...thank you, Photoshop!

Tono Dulce___State 1

My Schedule:

October 23.(THIS COMING SATURDAY!) Texas Country Reporter Festival in Waxahachie, TX. I'll be there!!

Nov. 17-18 Workshop...(Wed.- Thus)….Bryan/College Station, TX vvaughan8@yahoo.com for info
Jan. 27-29 or so…..Rockport, TX ***This one is for ART TEACHERS. It would cout as “in service”…continuing education credits and all that. You would sign up for several different workshops and your school ought to be able to pay for it …I am not sure of the dates, but sign up for it is right now, I think! See Rockport Art Center for details! . I am just one of MANY instructors!
June 13-15, 2011…info at Fredericksburg Artists School

October 4-6, 2011 David City, Nebraska in conjunction with the opening of my exhibit on October 7, 2011

"Passing America: The Great Plains"



I also offer PERSONALIZED workshops…if you can round up a group of 10 - 15 , I provide all the literature and info, you just collect the money and organize locations and you get to come FREE!...If I have to travel, the fees would include travel expenses…It works well, and I do this all over the country!

Tono Suave__mission bell, dove

Tono Suave__24x24 oil on linen___available



Goliad is a sacred place to Texans, the place where Col. James Fannin and over 300 of his men surrendered in good faith to General Santa Anna, who did not spare their lives as he said he would...it was a terrible massacre...the same month as the fall of the Alamo! You can read more about it here.
This is one of my favorite places to paint..when I am here EVERYTHING seems to "move" my spirit, from the quiet meadows nearby, to the presidio courtyards. The gentle cooing of the white-winged doves is constant, as is the soft sounds from the bell tower....so I titled this one "Tono Suave", which means "Gentle Sound"...



Oct. 21 (Thursday) ALL DAY…till moonrise…..Rockport, TX email quick if you can do this one vvaughan8@yahoo.com

Nov. 17-18 (Wed.- Thus)….Bryan/College Station, TX vvaughan8@yahoo.com for info
Jan. 27-29 or so…..Rockport, TX ***This one is for ART TEACHERS. It would cout as “in service”…continuing education credits and all that. You would sign up for several different workshops and your school ought to be able to pay for it …I am not sure of the dates, but sign up for it is right now, I think! See Rockport Art Center for details! . I am just one of MANY instructors!
June 13-15, 2011…info at Fredericksburg Artists School

October 4-6, 2011 David City, Nebraska in conjunction with the opening of my exhibit on October 7, 2011

"Passing America: The Great Plains"



I also offer PERSONALIZED workshops…if you can round up a group of 10 - 15 , I provide all the literature and info, you just collect the money and organize locations and you get to come FREE!...If I have to travel, the fees would include travel expenses…It works well, and I do this all over the country!

Geraniums Redone

Geraniums Re-Done___12 x 12 gallery wrap, ready to hang!___$450

I just got this one back from an event where it had been hanging a while. It is a "juicy" painting with lots of texture. "Gallery Wrap" means it is on a THICK (deep) canvas that wraps around the wooden framework support. It hangs on the wall like this...the edges are painted a dark warm black and is ready to hang!
REMEMBER the ebay sale of my Colorado sketchbook. It is pricey, but contains 30 original drawings, hardbound in an archival sketchbook. Just 5 days left to claim it!

I have some wokshops coming..see the details below!
Oct. 21 (Thursday) ALL DAY…till moonrise…..Rockport, TX email quick if you can do this one vvaughan8@yahoo.com
Nov. 17-18 (Wed.- Thus)….Bryan/College Station, TX vvaughan8@yahoo.com for info
Jan. 27-29 or so…..Rockport, TX ***This one is for ART TEACHERS. It would count as “in service”…continuing education credits and all that. You would sign up for several different workshops and your school ought to be able to pay for it …I am not sure of the dates, but sign up for it is right now, I think! See Rockport Art Center for details! . I am just one of MANY instructors!
June 13-15, 2011…info at Fredericksburg Artists School
October 4-6, 2011 David City, Nebraska in conjunction with the opening of my exhibit on October 7, 2011
"Passing America: The Great Plains"

I also offer PERSONALIZED workshops…if you can round up a group of 10 - 15 , I provide all the literature and info, you just collect the money and organize locations and you get to come FREE!...If I have to travel, the fees would include travel expenses…It works well, and I do this all over the country!

Mountain Chickadee

Mountain Chickadee__6x8 oil on linen panel__$190

This little bird was hopping along on the tops of the sage when I was in Taos...a sweet little bird singing a sweet little song in all the beautiful fall color! Here is a link to the GREATEST site about birds. If you want to drive your own cat or dog crazy, play some of the bird sounds here and laugh out loud when your pet tries to figure it out! heehee

Fall is a great time to paint! I have a few workshops coming up in the next couple weeks. Join us if you can!
SEE MY SCHEDULE for dates and details or E-mail for info vvaughan8@yahoo.com

ALSO, my Colorado Sketchbook is going to be sold this week! 6 days left and hundreds of people have asked about it. I think a few are watching the offering closely. Click the link to see all 30 sketches.
or click this ebay link to see a few sketches and watch the sale end on Thursday.

Strider_dog, sketch

Strider___a sketch for client approval

Strider's family gave me some photos so that I can paint him! Trouble is, there is no photo exactly like the pose they want, so I am combining elements from different photos and hoping that it looks like him! I like this kind of work, because it is more interesting than just copying a photo.

HERE IS SOME NEW NEWS!

-My entry in the American Plains Artists National Juried Show in Lincoln, Nebraska was awarded THIRD PLACE...

-There are still spots in my one day workshop in Rockport, TX, Thus. Oct. 21...a FULL day of "Studies and Sketching"

-My whole Colorado Sketchbook is being sold on ebay...Oct 23 is the end of the sale...GO SEE IT!

-For you football fans: the Round Rock Dragons play Leander Lions in Texas 5-A High School ball Friday night...please pray for the Dragon QB...my favorite player :)

Chamisa Shack

Chamisa Shack__16x20 oil on linen__available at Act I Gallery in Taos...next week

I have not sent this one to Taos, yet, so you are first to know about it!..If it looks familiar, scroll down and you might have seen this sketch which I posted a few weeks ago. I actually did the PAINTING FIRST! It was my field study and has been unfinished till I made some "oil changes" today...now I can call it "done" and will send it off to Taos....the sketch is in my Colorado sketchbook, and I did the sketch to solve some problems in the painting! Click Here to see the whole sketchbook on my web site. RIGHT NOW I am offering the sketchbook for sale. THE WHOLE SKETCHBOOK, with field notes, grocery lists and all! I have never done this before, so I am just going to see what happens. The sale is over on Oct. 23, unless someone does "Buy it Now".

WORKSHOP in Rockport, TX this month. Email me for details! vvaughan8@yahoo.com

click to see and Watch the Sketchbook Sale on Ebay

Geranium Lesson

Geranium Lesson___8x6 oil on linen panel___$190 if R does not want it
Ah, COLOR!...It has been a while since I posted something in COLOR!. I have been "showcasing" my sketches recently, but spent some time teaching last week and here is one that I taught from...
SPEAKING of that, I have a THREE DAY workshop at the Rockport Center for the Arts (on the Texas Coast) later this month. Please e-mail if you want info. vvaughan8@yahoo.com We will work out on location, in the studio, DRAWING and painting and talking about it a LOT! Please join us!
AHHH football! I am posting viseos of my son on my FACEBOOK page. (I am Virginia Pedro Vaughan on FB).
He has been doing well in big time 5-A Texas football. Lots of news clips to link to, this year! That 4 overtime game last week was the talk of the town...this week was a close game, a loss, but he had his best game ever!.
My sketchbook sale continues! See info below... Out of the Canyon__sketch #30 in my Colorado Sketchbook___EBAY sale now, item #140454193056

Number 10

Number 10___a sketch I am keeping___11 x 14

I have been Talking about football a lot, lately...enjoying my son's senior year as the Round Rock Dragons' varsity quarterback. My friend, Priti, takes the team photos from the sidelines (her son is a receiver). I used one of her photos to do this sketch...I am thinking the photo was way better, but I love sketching! ...My friend/artist Candy from Vermont asked me about this today, so HERE YOU GO, Candy!...I do not think I could do this "en plein air", because it's a little scary watching your son play Texas High School Football...I wonder what the college moms do??? I hide behind my video camera during the game, but I will keep sketching from Priti's photos.

*CONGRATULATIONS to the Dragons for being named ARMY STRONG TEAM OF THE WEEK by Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine . This was for their win Friday Night ...in FOUR overtimes!

Quickie 2__cow, sketch, pen

Cow Sketch 2__see yesterday's post for the other one___ pen on paper__5.5 x 8.5___$50

I have a sketchbook of 30 pencil sketches on archival paper that I am selling on ebay. THE WHOLE SKETCHBOOK! Click the link to see all 30 sketches, and follow the links to ebay if you want to follow the sale, which ends on Oct 23. It is MY COLORADO SKETCHBOOK, and I did the work last summer.
The sketch above is a quick pen sketch, like the one I posted yesterday...they are a good "matched set"...if you like cows! These were sketched with a PEN, which might seem intimidating to those who prefer to have "eraser options", but, (as I told my new student, RV, yesterday) I like the adrenaline rush of NOT using an eraser....I prefer to turn the page if things go wrong :)
OH, THANK YOU for all the fun FOOTBALL comments!...I mentioned my son's team's Friday night game, and the FOUR OVERTIMES...well, today, they were honored to be named as the ONLY 5-A team in Texas for the ARMY STRONG TEAM OF THE WEEK...it is a GREAT honor! Below is the link to read about the Round Rock Dragons...
http://www.texasfootball.com/army-strong-teams-of-the-week