New Work and New Day by Judy Crowe

Texas Hay 9x12

New Work, New Day

Every day is a new day in the studio.  I am so glad to be back at work on a regular basis but I'm finding that I'm a bit more rusty than I had hoped.  Not all work is great, some just so so.  I haven't been posting regularly for that reason.  I'm so enjoying the process though and thankful for that.  I am starting to work on a series of paintings from a Provence trip I took several years ago.  I taught a workshop there and then stayed on to paint for about a week.  I'll be posting some of those soon I hope when I start getting something I am proud of.  I'm getting really picky!  This is a plein air painting that I did a couple of weeks ago in Independence Texas.

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"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!

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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...


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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.

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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!  

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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!

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Sunsweets  8x8 o/l

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Warmed by the Sun 6x4

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Miss Kinslee  6x9

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Finished paintings by Texas Artist Judy Crowe

Winter's Blush  10x10  oil on linen

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

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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.

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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.  

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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)

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Approaching Sun 9x12

Morning Shower  8x10

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!

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

In the Pink by Judy Crowe

In The Pink 6x6 oil on panel

I love painting this sugar bowl.  There are so many colors in it.  It goes with just about anything or any flower that you can think of.  Perfect with pink carnations!  Have a great one!

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Flow Blue by Judy Crowe

Flow Blue by Judy Crowe oil/panel

Bid on Flow Blue 5x7

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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!

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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..

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Porcelain and Roses by Judy Crowe

Porcelain and Roses by Judy Crowe
7x5 oil on panel

Well, I have learned about another Blog Radio show that I think might be interesting.  So I am attaching the link here for anyone that might be interested:  http://www.artistmentorsonline.com/?cat=44.  It is hosted by Kevin MacPherson and Linda Fisler and also looks promising to inspire artists.  I love it!  Today I actually listened to Clint Watson and also Kevin MacPherson on the blog radio program mentioned a few days ago…look for that info below…anyway, both programs were excellent but I’ve decided to listen at lunch or at night though…no more listening while painting. 

The above link FYI has an article about our current economy which I find interesting…so lest you think you are the only one out there struggling to buy materials, etc., read this article.  Whether you are an artist or not, you might find these articles and radio shows pretty interesting…a look into the mind of an artist.  Take care, and as always, thanks for visiting my blog.  Stay tuned this week because I’d like to show you my color experimentations.  I am learning some things by doing these.  Tomorrow I am painting big! 

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Sweet Delicacies by Judy Crowe

Sweet Delicacies by Judy Crowe 6x6 oil/panel

I've been doing some color experimenting today and will post some of the things I've been doing this week on my blog and also on Daily Painters of Texas.  It's been fun even though is not one of those studies.  I've been reading about the Munsell Color Theory which is a bit different from the traditional color wheel.  If you'd like a link where you can read about it also, visit my blog.  Thanks for looking....have a wonderful and blessed Sunday!

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Bonnie Bunny's Garden 5x5 by Judy Crowe

Bonnie Bunnie's Garden 5x5 oil on panel

I have several small porcelain bunnies and birds that I enjoy painting.  They are like little friends!  Thanks for looking.


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(starting at 50.)


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Daisy Day

Daisy Day 7x5 oil on panel

Daisy Day

I love daisies!  Thanks for looking....


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Morning Roses by Judy Crowe

Morning Roses 7x5 oil on panel

Painting early in the morning is quickly becoming a favorite time of day for me because it's cool and quiet in the studio.  I have several rose bushes and this one is a knock out rose.  This summer is so hot, they tend to be smaller but very pretty.  Thanks for looking!

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