COME AWAY WITH ME TO CUBA...AND MY STUDIO!

"Beautiful Trinidad, Cuba"

8"x6"     Oil on Canvas Panel

Click here for information

 

This painting is my Day #2 piece......Monday, Labor Day.

Churches in Cuba are no longer allowed to serve religious purposes.

Many are now public government buildings, museums,

performance venues, etc. 

Trinidad is full of beautiful and charming buildings, very colorful, but many

are in disrepair. 

 

I have set aside my plan to do a painting a day in favor first of

completing a portrait I started a few weeks ago as a class assignment.....

one I had been inspired to do for some time.  This is Bill, deep-sea fishing in Hawaii.

Here is the start:

 

Yesterday I started to model the foreground shirt, and the boat behind

the figure (see below).  Today I hope to work on the face and hat, and I'll be able to show

that in my next post. 

Progress.......slow, but nevertheless, progress.

 

Lucie has decided to sleep thru this process..........

big help!

Stay tuned..........

 

 

COME FLY WITH ME!

"Plants & More, Cuba"

8x6     Oil on Canvas

Click here for more information

 

I have once again signed up to participate in the

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge......

not too bright on my part with the obligations I currently have

but, nevertheless, I'm in it.

 

I've decided this time to create works based on my travels.....most of them will

be of trips out of the USA, but occasionally I'll throw in something

out of the beautiful Southwest where I live.

 

This first piece is a plant shop in Cuba.  The buildings there are beautiful with lots

of charm, but maintenance challenged as the people

 have very little with which to repair them.  I apologize....

the color on the photo is not accurate.   Close, but no cigars (Cuban)!

 

Lucie thinks I'm putting myself up a tree by accepting this

challenge.....as usual, she's right.  We'll see how it goes!

Stay tuned...........





RAIN AND COOL WEATHER!

"Canyon Road Address"

Oil on Panel    6"x8"

Click here for purchase information

This was painted from a photo I took during a last-summer visit

to Santa Fe.

 

We had fabulous weather here last week!  One day we had an all-day

gentle rain, Saturday several soft showers, and even a nice rain last evening. 

Temperatures were in the low 80's all week......this while the

rest of the country was burning up.  We have such good weather

here in Las Cruces all during the year, and even on our seldom rainy days we 

enjoy beautiful white fluffy clouds against usually sunny, crisp New Mexico blue skies.

 

H.R.H. Lucie prefers to sleep on rainy days.  A walk outside in the rain

would muss her beautiful sleek hairdo. 

(Please don't tell her I showed this photo to you.......)

 

 

It's beginning to cloud over....another shower coming????

 

Stay tuned....... 

 

 



SUMMER SUNFLOWERS & SUMMER SHRIMP

My post today to my Daily Paintworks Gallery is

"Summer Sunflowers"

Oil on Canvas Panel (unframed)

8"x 6"

$95.00

Please click here for purchase information.

This has also been posted to the Daily Paintworks weekly 

Challenge.

In my last post I promised a really good shrimp recipe.  Here is a photo

to stimulate your curiosity:

This is so good, and so simple.  I peeled the shrimp before cooking

so it wouldn't be so messy to eat, but they can also be cooked in the

shell.  I wish I could take credit, but

the recipe can be found here.

Try it.  Let me know what you think. 

Stay tuned....

Kathleen and H.R.H. Lucie 

HAPPY JULY 4TH, AMERICA!

It's true that I haven't been here for a spell...too many irons in the fire,

and lots of family in and out. 

Lucie is absolutely correct in her philosophy of "doing what you

like best" (in her case that's sleeping), so it's back to

the easel for me (and a continuation of her favorite hobby, for her).

 

 

My painting post for today is Challenge #12 on the website,

"Let's Paint New Mexico".  I was saddened to learn that this site has been put 

temporarily (I hope) on hold.  Artist Dee Sanchez has done a great job with the

site but, like many of us, just has a shortage of time in her days.

 

 

"Market Zinnias"

Oil on Canvas Panel (unframed)

6"x8"

$95.00

Please click here to purchase

 

I hope to be able to show you some new (and we always hope) great work

in the next few days.   On my next post, I have a wonderful shrimp recipe

to share with you......Stay tuned.........

 

Kathleen (and H.R.H. Lucie)

 

 

 

 



SHOW AT MAIN STREET GALLERY, LAS CRUCES

Next Friday, May 3rd, you're invited to join us.   I will

be participating with other members of the

Southern New Mexico Art Guild in a show of small paintings of

our beautiful newly reopened Main Street.

This show, at the appropriately named "Main Street Gallery",

will be part of the monthly 1st Friday Downtown Art Ramble

from 5-7pm.

 

My painting, "Rio Grande Theatre" (yep, you've seen this before...sorry),

will be part of the show. 

In addition, the Dona Ana Arts Council,

operators of "the Theatre", will feature an image of this

work on their invitations and on the program of their annual

Arts Awards Celebration to be held there on May 30th.

 

I'll also have another "Main Street" entry in this show,

"Upstairs at the Branigan"

.....a view of our Branigan Cultural Center that eludes many

who fail to look beyond the overall view of this beautiful building.

 

YOU'RE INVITED.....SEE YOU AT RAMBLE.....AND,

AT THE DONA ANA ARTS COUNCIL ARTS AWARDS ON MAY 30TH.

 

Stay tuned......

 

 



GUESS WHERE I'VE BEEN......

No where, that's where.  But I've had lots of great

company, and lots of great help getting my yard ready for

Spring and Summer.

 

To get back in the swing (and the palette), I decided to swing into Spring

with this floral painting in the "fractured" technique....

 

"Showgirl"

6"x8"     Oil on canvas board

Click here to purchase

 

Lucie is recovering from the excitement of having friends in

the house to play with.  She says "hello....be back with you soon".

Her naps (morning, afternoon and evening) are all running together!

 

Stay tuned.....

DAY IN TAOS

"Day in Taos"

6"x8"     Oil on Linen Panel     $95.00

Click here to purchase

 

This is the entrance to a bed and breakfast in Taos, New Mexico.  The

original owner was host here to a group of well-known artists

and writers who pioneered as the Taos Society of Artists.

 

"Mesilla Valley Sunset"

6"x8"     Oil on canvas panel     $95.00

Click here to purchase

We were attending a barbeque at a ranch close to the Organ Mountains,

 here in Las Cruces, when the sun started down. 

This magic was revealed.

 

Lucie and I didn't have our walk today.  It is very windy, and although

the sun is shining beautifully, the wind is quite cold.

We're a couple of woosies, so we'll try again tomorrow. 

The very good news about Las Cruces is that our weather is usually

so much better than that anywhere else, we don't complain (much).

 

Stay tuned.....

 

HISTORIC RIO GRANDE THEATRE

"Rio Grande Theatre"

8"x6"     Oil  

NFS

 

This is a study for a show coming up in May featuring "Main Street, Las Cruces NM". 

The Rio Grande Theatre has been designated an historic building...

the only restored two-story adobe theatre in the U.S. 

A 422-seat facility with state-of-the-art equipment, it is operated by

 the Dona Ana Arts Council, and is considered the "Jewel in the Crown

of Downtown Las Cruces".

 

I love this building.....I spent many hours here as a Board member of the

Arts Council.  As the subject for a small painting for the upcoming

show, however, it requires lots of detail work.   

Shall I?  or shall I select a subject that doesn't require 

my nose to be on the canvas? 

 

Stay tuned.......



DREAM BIG

"Dream Big"

6"x8"     Oil     $95.00

Click here to purchase

 

"Dreaming Big" is exactly what I was doing in I attempting the "fracturing

technique".  It was inspired by Julie Ford Oliver, and captured in 

her video ArtByte on the Daily Paintworks website. 

Challenging it was, but fun, so I'll try it again. 

Julie is a long-time friend, mentor, and fellow member of

the Southern New Mexico Art Guild here in Las Cruces.....

and outstanding artist.

 

Lucie has been like this pretty much ever since our grandchildren

left here to return home on Monday......

(she's going to be unhappy with me for showing you this).

 

Back soon.....stay tuned.....



SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE

 

"Rooftops of San Miguel" (study)

6"x8"     Oil     $95.00

Click here to purchase

 

This is the study of a larger painting I have in the works.  You're on the roof of a villa in San Miguel where we spent a week for the wedding of my granddaughter.  The wedding was also held here in the villa.  Perched on the side of a hill, the views were fabulous, and I was taken with the unusual view of the rooftops.

 

"San Miguel Window"

8"x6"     Oil     $95.00

Click here to purchase

 

I love San Miguel.  Everything about this beautiful village inspires me to paint....doors, windows, street scenes, people, flowers.....and more.  I look forward to returning.

 

"La Entrada"

6"x8"     Oil     $95.00

Click here to purchase

 

This is the entrance of a home we rented in San Miguel.  It was breathtakingly beautiful, and charming at the same time, which sounds confusing, but it was truly a treat to stay there.  It came equipped with a gardener, housekeeper, and a cook, who shopped for fresh food at the market each morning and prepared breakfast, lunch, and left a prepared supper before she departed in the early afternoon.  What a life!

 

As you may have guessed by now, I'm way behind on posting to my blog.  Here is

 the reason....Winslow (6+) and Story (3), great-grands from Austin, and it was a good thing!

They brought their dad, grandfather, an aunt, a great-aunt, and two cousins....

 

As you can guess, Lucie stayed under the bed!

 

Stay tuned.....we'll take a trip to another location next time....

 



MISTY MORNING AT PRUDE RANCH

"Misty Morning at Prude Ranch"

Oil     6"x8"     $95.00

Click here to purchase

 

Are there any Prude Ranch lovers out there?  Well, y'all, if you don't

know about it you should!  Prude Guest Ranch is located close to Fort Davis in

far West Texas.  You can spend the weekend or more riding horses, chowing down

on great food, and swimming in the indoor pool. You can visit the observatory for

a "Star Party", shop in town, visit Big Bend, Marfa and Terlingua, 

check out the "Milky Way" (the stars are brighter in Texas!)

or just chill out in that beautiful country. 

Tell my granddaughter, Kelly, I sent you....she's the head wrangler there.

 

Summertime brings kids from all over the country (there have even been some

from France) to learn to ride horses, rope, dance, and a myriad of

other activities. Click here to visit their website.

 

Our daughter Evin sent this cartoon.....asked if this was Lucie....

I say "YES" on all, except #6....she doesn't do that.

 

Stay tuned.......



"SPRING SHOW", and "THIS IS NEW MEXICO"

These two small paintings have been added to my website, and

also to my Daily Paintworks Gallery:

 

"Spring Show"

Oil     6"x8"     $95.00

Click here to purchase

 

Every Spring, the cactus on my patio puts on this show, with beautiful

colors and lots of blooms.

 

"This is New Mexico"

Oil     6"x8"     $95.00

Click here to purchase

 

This is between Santa Fe and Taos, but could be many places in New Mexico.

 

Happy Sunday.....stay tuned......

 



"MESILLA MORNING"

"Mesilla Morning"

Oil     6"x8"

$95.00

Click here to purchase

 

I've been posting a painting a day to my new Daily Paintworks Gallery,

including this one, which I painted today.  I'm hoping

to return to painting a small piece each day.  I think that exercise has given me

an opportunity to try some new things, work with other colors, and

do studies on some subjects on which I've been wanting to work

for awhile.

 

There have been some nice days recently, so Lucie and I can get

outside in the sunshine.  As long as Lucie can get out (that also translates to

 

"get her way"), she doesn't care how much time I spend in the studio!

 

Stay tuned........ 

 



"LA REINA"

"La Reina"

Oil     8"x6"

$95.00

Click here to purchase
 

I submitted this painting today to the Daily Paintworks Challenge.  Actually, this was last week's challenge, so I'll be getting busy on the subject for this week.....an historical building.

 

Stay tuned......

I'M ON WWW.DAILY PAINTWORKS.COM

Today, I joined Daily Paintworks, an online gallery of artists,

 where I'll be posting my small works for sale.  In my next blog, I hope to be able

to create the link so you can go directly to my gallery page there.  

Meanwhile, this is a test, and if it works, they'll pull this image and the

corresponding information, and it will appear for purchase tomorrow 

on my page on their site.

 

"Wildflowers at El Monte Sagrado"

Oil on canvas board, 6"x8"

$95.00

 

I'll keep you posted as I learn more.  (Lucie thinks I'm nutz for doing this...

At this moment, I think she's right!).

 

Stay tuned.......

 

CREATING COLLAGES

Well, I did it......I created a collage.  There are several sites online that

can be used to create collages, and I think I selected the most difficult!

HOWEVER, after having my nose pressed against the monitor for

more time than I want to confess, I did it!  Time and trial will only tell if I

can succeed again.

 

Anyway, here is a collage (yea!) of a few of the pieces I painted

during the "30 Paintings in 30" Days Challenge. 

It is my plan this weekend to begin posting my work for purchase

on the Daily Paintworks website.  As soon as I have a link

for that, I'll post it here.....I hope you'll check it out. 

 

Stay tuned...... 



MY NEW WEBSITE.....

I usually love challenges, but this past weekend has been a real techy challenge!

I now have my new website up and running, tho not complete yet.

I welcome critique, so please click here, come back

(or email me, KSquiresStudio@comcast.net)

and let me know what you think.  The "Blog" button on the website

will bring you right back. 

For those who don't know, you can click on the title of today's blog....

in this case "MY NEW WEBSITE" on the email copy of the post you receive

in your inbox.  That will take you to the actual version of today's post, and you can 

add your comments in the space provided at the bottom. (I'm a "newby",

so it took me awhile to figure that out!) 

 

Can anyone out there tell me how to link my blogger blog to my Facebook Page???

So far, I've given up on that for now....too much time spent unsuccessfully.

Back to painting today....

 

Just to add a bit of color, this is a painting I did of Lucie in her favorite position!

 

 

Stay tuned (and let me hear from you).....

 

 



DAY 30!!!!! - "30 in 30"

Day 30!

"Lunch in Provence"

Oil     8"x6"     $95.00

 

We had a wonderful lunch with a great bottle of wine

in this wee restaurant in a wee village in Provence, several years ago.

 

Lucie is delighted now that the "30 in 30" Challenge is over.....

she has a new "leash" on life (groan). 

 

Stay tuned...........



DAYS 28 and 29 - "30 IN 30"

Day 28

"September Song"

Oil     6"x8"     $95.00

 

I called this "September Song" as the image I worked from was taken

in September.  My patio definitely doesn't look like this now.....just sayin'.

 

Day 29

"Rear Window"

Oil     8"x6"     $95.00

 

The photograph image used for this painting was taken in the South of France. 

Much like the doors in Venice are green, the shutters in this part

of France are typically blue (the camera makes these appear

bluer than they really are on the painting).

 

Day 30 is here!  It is my plan to continue with, if not daily paintings, at least

to paint 3 or 4 each week, and use the time on the other days to

work on larger pieces. 

 

Stay tuned......Day 30 coming up!

DAYS 26 AND 27 - "30 IN 30"

DAY 26

"Day in Paradise"

Oil     6"x8"     $95.00

 

I decided to paint Southern California on Days 26 and 27. 

We are land-locked here in New Mexico, but I have visited there many times, and even

was a "California Girl" in San Diego for almost four years. 

One of my favorite spots is Laguna Beach.......

 

Day 27

"Near Laguna Beach"

Oil     6"x8"     $95.00

 

We're on the countdown......

 

Stay tuned........

DAY 25 - "30 IN 30"

DAY 25

"Aguirre Springs"

Oil     6"x8"     $95.00

 

This is at a recreation area on the other side of the mountains from

my house.  It is a great place to picnic and hike, and close by.

 

I'm a bit behind on my posting, so will make this one short and sweet.

 

Stay tuned........



DAYS 23 AND 24 - "30 IN 30"

Day 23

"Paddy's Iris"

Oil     6"x8"     $95.00

 

My friend Paddy, the gardener, didn't share bulbs with me as she did with the sweet pea seeds, but when I was her neighbor, she shared flowers with me.  I miss that, and her.

 

Day 24

"Cruising New Mexico"

Oil     6"x8"     $95.00

 

Yes, this is different.  This is in response to Challenge #10 on a site I

participate with called Let's Paint New Mexico. 

It was a bit challenging for a daily painting, but I'm killing two

birds with one stone (or painting, in this case). 

 

Stay tuned......... 



DAYS 21 AND 22 - "30 IN 30"

You're invited to take a short morning walk with me......

 

I wanted to share this video with you, because it relates to my Day 21 and

Day 22 paintings........

 

Day 21

"Week in Venice"

Oil     8"x6"

 

I was greeted each morning by this view across the canal from my room

in Venice.  Venice very typically has some version of green in

their doors. 

 

Day 22

"Venice Green Door"

Oil     8"x6"

 

I seem to be in a door or courtyard rut here.  Time to move on

to another subject, although I love to paint unusual doors and windows. 

My perception is that they are easy, until I'm into the work.  As you can

see, this old door was far from simple, both for the makers, and me!

 

Stay tuned for "Day 23"........



DAY 20 - "30 IN 30"

DAY 20

"Aging Gracefully"

Oil     8"x6"

 

This is from a photograph taken while on a wine-tasting tour in the region

around Florence, Italy.  The camera has turned the shaded areas

very blue.....not a good photo....but you get the picture.  I promise that

the photograph was taken before the wine was tasted!

 

We're now 2/3rd of the way thru the "30 in 30".  Boy, what an experience

it has been......a good, but busy one.

 

Stay tuned........

DAY 19 - "30 IN 30"

DAY 19

"Charlotte's Gate"

Oil     8"x6"

 

I guess I'm painting Spring because the weather the past two days has

been simply beautiful....sunny and balmy, compared to the past week.

 

I call this painting "Charlotte's Gate" because I painted a similar image on her

(Charlotte is my daughter) back patio gate when she lived here.  When she moved, we

removed the panel on which it was painted.  The last time I saw it, it was

on her kitchen wall.

 

Here is the image of her "gate" painting.  The gate was easier to paint!

 

Lucie is enjoying walking in the sunshine.....(sitting in the sunshine).

Stay tuned...........

 

 

 



DAY 18 (plus a repeat of Day 14) - "30 IN 30"

DAY 18

"Sweet Peas, Please"

Oil     8"x6"

 

My sweet pea seeds came from good friend Paddy.  She says to be successful

in growing them, you must plant them the day the first ball is

thrown out during the World Series.

 

I'm repeating (I hope) the image of "Mission Conception", the painting I did following

Calvin Liang.  I'm so sorry it didn't appear with the video on Day 14.......

This "wee" painting will go to Clark, Jim & Judy's new little boy. 

His parents were married in the chapel here in San Antonio.

 

Day 19 is almost ready to post......

 

Stay tuned.......