Country Spring Harmony by Judy Crowe

Country Spring Harmony  11x14 oil on linen panel

Hi Friends, I have been working, just not blogging.  Wow I can't believe it's easy to let time pass by but I have purposely been trying to limit my time on the computer-to paint more.  Painting is becoming my number one priority.  I am hoping to enter some new shows and some shows that I haven't had the work to enter in recent years.  Since my son left in January, I have tried to clear my schedule for everything except painting.  I have tried to be more critical of my work also so that I don't put images out there that I 'm not happy with.  I hope to get better--- as we all do I suppose.

This painting was done a couple of weeks ago on a country road outside of Magnolia Texas.  It was a little overcast, the sun was in and out, but this scene caught me eye.  Even with clouds, it was pretty.  I hope I captured the morning.  These are Texas bluebonnets.  Bluebonnets can be a picky flower are a little hard to paint if you want to keep them loose.  I prefer simplicity and color over detail.

Thank  you for visiting my blog!

Judy's website

Contact Judy

"Gloria" by Judy Crowe

'Gloria'  20x16 oil on linen (head study)

Hi Friends,

I attend a portrait group on Fridays in The Woodlands, Texas and Gloria was our model last week.  She had such an interesting face and she was so still.  It was fun painting her and I thought I'd share this study with you even though I didn't finish it.  Richard Schmid says in his book 'Alla Prima, Everything I know about painting' that  a painting should hold it's own even if you don't have the time to finish it.  (check out his website at www.richardschmid.com)  

I was happy with her face for the most part, I mean to say, at this point in my study of faces and heads.  I'm really enjoying working on these character studies and I'm really learning a lot about drawing, edges, and color. 

I've revamped my website, changed the color and added prices for all work. 

Thanks for letting me share with you!

Judy's Website

Judy's Contact info

Here's Lookin at You! by Judy Crowe

Here's lookin at you!

Jill's Mouse Friend

Hi Friends,  Well, I've been very busy.  Last week I put together about 45 paintings for an upcoming one day show, "Art Party" 2012.  This is the second time I've been involved in this fun event that is only one day.  At the art party there will be quite a few small 6x6 paintings along with about 25 framed pieces sizes 8x10 and up.  If you live in the area of Houston and vicinity, and would like to come, just contact me and I'll be happy to send you an email invite!

The little painting above is just a fun little 4x4 (approx) painting I did for my daughter a couple of years ago.  She's a research tech in a genetics lab and she works with mice.  :)  This guy is a bit cuter than most of her lab mice I think but I saw this pic and couldn't resist.  I think she still keeps this little painting on her desk at work.

I listened to a very good "Artist's Helping Artist's Blog Talk" radio program today.  If you are interested in hearing an interview with Peggy Kroll Roberts, (http://www.krollroberts.com) just click the link on the side bar of my blog here and you can hear the conversation with Ms. Roberts who started her career as an illustrator.  I enjoyed the program because she talked about the journey she and her husband Ray Roberts have taken while making a living as full time artists.  It's interesting to hear the struggles of artists who have 'made it'.  Gives me hope that there is still time for the rest of us!


Thank you as always for visiting my blog and stay tuned, in coming days I'll be posting another figurative work along with a large still life that I've completed.  At present, I am working on a pet portrait commission and having fun with that!  Blessings...


Judy's Website
Contact Judy Link

Head Study by Texas Artist Judy Crowe

Rhonda  14x11 oil on panel

This is a head study I did last Friday in the portrait session that I have been involved with at the Woodlands Art League.  It's a great opportunity to get with other artists and share ideas and to practice painting the face or figure.  This is not my forte' of course...I really want to get a lot better at painting portraits but I try and I learn as I am going.  This young woman's name is Rhonda and she did a great job sitting for us which is not an easy task.  I told Rhonda I would post it so that her mom and fiance' could see the painting. Rhonda thought it looked like her so I am happy that I was able to get a likeness but my main goal is to get a nice painting.   Now that I have posted it, I can see there are a couple of things I should do next time- for instance the shadow side of Rhonda's face should softened a bit I think.  Take care, happy Sunday and thanks for visiting my blog.

Judy's Website

Contact Judy link

Flow Blue and Pansies by Judy Crowe

Flow Blue and Pansies  o/l 10x10

I love to paint pansies.  Pansies and roses are probably my favorite flowers.  I like sunflowers too but pansies are so colorful.  Color is king I think.  :)  This is one of my few flow blue pieces.  Wish I had more but they are pretty expensive so I buy the Wabi Sabi ones.  I pick these up where I can.  Usually they are chipped or the lid is missing or something.  This sugar bowl has no lid but it makes a perfect flower pot.  I like Wabi Sabi things.  If you don't know what Wabi Sabi means, here it is in a nutshell:  Wabi-Sabi is a traditional Japanese idea based on the acceptance of transience. It also means seeing beauty in imperfection, impermanence, incompletion and decay. This sort of beauty can be found both in nature and in man-made things. 
Thanks for visiting my blog today!  

My website

Contact Judy Link

Last of my Project by Judy Crowe

Dear Friends,

These will be my last auction pieces.  I have a few paintings that I did for this project that have already sold and I'll probably post those at some point but these are the last paintings that will be up for auction through Daily Paintworks for the present.  I'll still be posting to my blog frequently so please stay tuned and thanks so much for visiting my blog!

My Website Link

Contact Me Link

Sunsweets  8x8 o/l

 Bid on Me

Warmed by the Sun 6x4

Bid on Me

Miss Kinslee  6x9

Bid On Me

Finished paintings by Texas Artist Judy Crowe

Winter's Blush  10x10  oil on linen

You Say Tomaato, I say Tomahto...      6x6 oil on panel

Bid On Me


Judy's Website
Judy's Contact Link

Well, Ok, yesterday's post was a little bit of a downer.  Sorry about that....today's another day and I finished my rose painting this morning.  Then I did another auction piece and it's posted above.  Starting bid is $50.00! 

I received another question about color, "why do you like Rembrandt?" from my friend Gaye. 
I've tried a lot of different brands but Rembrandt is one of my favorites.  For one thing, I like to mix most of my colors and I just find that this brand works for me.  Also, Rembrandt is a well respected high quality paint for professionals that will stand the test of time.  I also like the consistency and because of it's pigment and it's creaminess, I find that much of the time I don't need a medium.  When I do use a medium, it's usually Liquin or Gamblin Galkyd slow dry, or Galkyd lite depending on the drying time I want.  Liquin and Galkyd lite tend to speed up drying time whereas Galkyd Slow dry and Gamblin Neomeglip tend to slow the drying time which gives you more working 'wet on wet' time. 
I also like Gamblin and Winsor Newton paints.  For me Holbein is too transparent.

As always, thanks for taking the time to read my blog!

Winter Pansies by Judy Crowe

'Winter Pansies'  7x5 oil on panel

Pansies are a favorite flower of mine because they are just so colorful.  As my mentor :) Richard Schmid says, "you can almost paint them with colors straight from the tube".  I am very very very very happy to be painting!  And I will paint tomorrow Lord Willing!!  You know, they say that what you do on the first day of the year determines what you will be doing the rest of the year as well...so if you are an artist...I do hope we all can get in our studios tomorrow!  If not, that's ok, this week then....Blessings to you and your family for the new year!  Thanks for stopping by.

Bid On Me

Judy's Website

Judy's Contact Link

Morning Roses by Judy Crowe

Morning Roses 7x5

Wow is life busy.  I almost made the mistake of saying, particularly if you have a family, but I know that isn't necessarily the case.  If you live in today's world and are trying to make a living-whether you have a family or not, you are most probably as busy as I am.  I so would like to move from Houston and have a cottage in the country with a lovely studio!  I am praying for that for the future.  Right now, today, though...I painted.  Yeah.  Here is the painting I produced and I hope you like it.  It is up for bid and this is the first of just a few paintings that I have left to finish my 50/50 project.  I will be counting today to see what I need to do to finish but I think it's about 10...I'll be trying to get these online and up for sale between now and Christmas.  Take care out there!  And as always, thanks for letting me in on your cyber world.  

Bid On Me Link  (bidding begins at $50.00)

My Website Link

Contact Judy Link

Louisiana Marsh by Judy Crowe

Hi Friends!  These are both plein air studies of the Louisiana bayou.  I've painted in this spot for several years in a row and no matter how many times you paint this spot, it's always different.  That's one of the great things about painting on location in my mind-trying to capture that particular moment in time that will never be again....  Monet gave us a glimpse of this when he painted his water lilies on different days under all kinds of light conditions and situations.  His hay bales also were painted over and over again while he examined color and light.  I try to remember some of the things he said:

 Paint what you really see, not what you think you ought to see; not the object isolated as in a test tube, but the object enveloped in sunlight and atmosphere, with the blue dome of Heaven reflected in the shadows. (Claude Monet)

Thanks for visiting my blog!

 My Website Link                  Contact Me Link                  

Approaching Sun 9x12

Morning Shower  8x10

Jubilent Cherries :) by Judy Crowe

Jubilent Cherries!!    :)      6x6      oil/panel


Thank you again Sarah, Charlotte, Judy, Sheriart, Tracy, Pam, Angela, Theresa, well, all you guys out there in internet land.  It's great when doing the thing that you love connects you with so many others who also love doing the things that we love to do!  Does that make sense?  Hope so.  Well, this is another little personality..this little German Sugar bowl.  They have become like little friends so I hope you get to meet them all in the coming weeks yet....I am enjoying doing these little studies.  This one, is up for bid also but not one of my 50/50 studies.  As always, thanks for stopping by!


BID ON ME
MY WEBSITE LINK
CONTACT ME

The Austrian Creamer by Judy Crowe

The Austrian Creamer 5x5 oil on gatorboard panel

The Austrian Creamer

I love to collect old dishes and I have several of these small china sugar bowls, creamers, and tea cups.  Some are so intricate and it is a real challenge to paint them and get the character of each one.  This one is so pretty and paper thin, I wish you could see it in person!  It's from Austria according to the lady I purchased it from.  Thanks for visiting my blog.  Please keep all the folks here in Texas in your prayers.  So many homes have been destroyed.  We need some rain so badly...

Bid On Me

My Website Link

Contact Me

Summer's Music 20x16 oil on linen by Judy Crowe

Summer's Music 20x26 oil on linen

If you would like to see some of the process on this painting, visit my blog.  Thank you all so much for the nice comments on this painting!  Yeah.  I had thought about using it for my painting for the AWA show in Atlanta in October but I have one more idea for a larger piece that I might try first....this is the finish.  I've been looking at it for a while on my easel to make sure it's ok.  It's so hard for me to even know if I think it is show worthy amidst so many other wonderful paintings.  And of course to sell it would be nice.  :)  At any rate, thank you for the comments.  I added a couple more flowers because I felt the painting needed them on the right side above the pitcher.  It felt too bare there, in fact my husband mentioned that too so we were both thinking it.  But now I am thinking I might remove the blue plumbago on the sheet music but haven't decided yet.  I took this photo outside, inside, and all around trying to get the best color naturally.  Just so happens that one of Robert Genn's latest letters was on taking photos.  Here is the link if you would like to read that "clickback" of his on how to do that.  Thanks again all...and as always for visiting my blog!  Happy Trails!

Oh, if anyone is interested in a Clyde Aspevig book...check out the Autry Museum.  www.theautry.org. I found one that I thought was out of print, Elemental Solitude.  If you don't know who Clyde Aspevig is, well he taught Scott Christensen and Matt Smith.  Google him..you'll be amazed!  Click those links to see.

Have a blessed day!

My Website

My Contact Link

PS  Back to painting a few small studies to finish my 50/50 project next week for a day or two.  :)

Tangerines and Cream by Judy Crowe

Tangerines and Cream  6x6

I'm tired.  Long day and long few days and not enough time to paint!!!  Ugh.   Life is busy and it seems that too often it's painting that goes by the wayside unless I just absolutely let a lot of things go which I plan to do in the next few days.   It's also difficult with so many distractions to really produce work that you are proud of.  For those other artists out there I am sure you feel the same way sometimes.  But I have decided to just post what I am really very happy with.  That's why you haven't heard from me in a few days.   But I figure if it takes me a year to finish my project, I'll be practicing and that was the idea in the first place....on a brighter note, this is my 34th study.  Thanks for hangin' in there with me!!  :)

BID ON ME

My Website

My contact link

My Blog Link

Ebony and Ivory by Judy Crowe

Ebony and Ivory 6x6 oil on panel

I kept thinking about the song by Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney called Ebony and Ivory..which I always loved for the tune and the message.

Have a wonderful weekend!  Thanks for visiting my blog!

BID ON ME

My Website Link

My Contact Link

Deep in the Heart of Texas by Judy Crowe

Deep in the Heart of Texas 7x5 oil/p

 These are my youngest son's cowboy boots when he was a little boy.  He used to wear them on the wrong feet!  Talk about cute.  We still laugh about that today.  But the really funny thing is that he also wore..with the boots of course...his batman cape.  Never went anywhere without the two!  I have pics of him on the couch sound asleep-batman cape and boots and all.  Those were the days..  I guess I should have named this painting 'those were the days?'  Anyway, I am glad I kept them because now I can paint them.  Maybe tomorrow I'll paint my daughter's ruby slippers.  :)  They are also quite worn.

On another note, I got a note from my son today (my #1 son)  He had a Theodore Roosevelt quote for us...

"Far Better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumph, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory or defeat."

Thank you Jason.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and take it easy out there.

BID ON DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS

MY WEBSITE LINK     CONTACT ME LINK

Flow Blue by Judy Crowe

Flow Blue by Judy Crowe oil/panel

Bid on Flow Blue 5x7

My Website Link

Contact Me Link

I have several flow blue dishes.  They are difficult for me to paint..but fun also.  I was a bit happy with this one.  Thank you for visiting my blog!!

I promised to tell you a few things about the Munsell Color Wheel but we went on a long long drive this weekend and got home late last night so I have not had a chance to fully read my book (car sick if I read in the car! Ugh!)  Anyway, if you are interested in the book it's called, 'A Color Notation, an Illustrated System of Defining Color and Their Relationships'.  Purchased very cheaply through www.half.com!   Honestly though, it's basically about experimenting with compliments other than those we were taught in school.  I am posting some pics of the traditional color wheel as well as that of the Munsell Color Wheel so that you can see the difference.  I am having a lot of fun doing this and am playing with a lot of different colored backgrounds etc.  I plan on posting one of the newer paintings on the site tomorrow night.    So here is the traditional color wheel pic:

And Here is a couple of pics of the Munsell Color Theory wheels where you can see the compliments are not quite the same.  With this one, you could actually use a turquoise background with a pair of red apples or push it one way or the other.  I find this interesting and a bit hard to put to use.   But it's fun also!  

Spiced Tea

I read an interesting article yesterday sent to my inbox - the Robert Genn newsletter.  Basically the article talked about the art of fishing and how it parallels to painting-it takes a long time to really understand what it is all about and to acquire the necessary skills.  It requires patience and more patience...a constant trying and working to really understand the craft...got my Munsell book today.  Looking forward to sharing more of those insights with you....

Click this link to Read the article

Blessings and thanks for visiting my site!

Bid On Me

My website

contact Me

Quote of the Day....

"Time, time--that is our greatest master! Alas, like Ugolino, time devours its own children." Hector Berlioz

Cider by Judy Crowe

Cider by Judy Crowe, 6x6 oil on panel

Over the years I've collected a lot of "stuff" to paint! :)  This is one of my favs not only because of the colors it has in the jug, but also because of the color it picks up from everything around it.  Yummy color.  Another experiment..

Thanks for visiting my blog!!  

Bid On Me

My Website Link

My contact link

My blog link

If You've Got the Money Honey...by Judy Crowe

If You've Got the Money Honey.....oil on panel 6x6

Last week I was reading about the Albert Munsell color wheel.  This was just a fun painting to try some ideas associated with that and to just try something different.  It was fun!  Thanks for looking!

BID ON ME


My Website Link
My Blog Link
Contact Me