Cassandra's girls

Finally! Something to blog about. I just finished a commissioned piece for my friend Cassandra. This is chalk pastel and chalk pastel pencil on toned paper. She plans on making it her Christmas card. Cool!

Community Project

This weekend our neighborhood had an arts event that included interactive mural painting. For my contribution, I designed a paint-by-number mural. I have a few progress photos.

Portrait study

I got Janel to sit still for me for a little study. I wanted a portrait fix.

Neighborhood Rotary

Yesterday we were in the Shasta neighborhood in SJ. It took some looking before I was able to settle on this composition.

Beach Paintings

Last weekend we painted at the beach; one painting in the morning and one in the late afternoon. The bottom painting is the early one. I think the top image could have done without the umbrellas. I'm a sucker for bright colors. This painting is definitely a good learning piece. I would like to do three more versions of this same composition.

Back to the City

The next week we painted in DTSJ at St Joseph's Cathedral. The grays in the shadow of this building offered a special challenge. We spent two Sundays there. The work posted here is the second week's work. The first week's piece is hanging in the kitchen of my friend, Janel.

Artist in the Field

After spending two weeks (last month) outside of trials pub with unsatisfactory results, my painting pal, Dave, introduced me to his favorite spot in Woodside. There I found some satisfaction. I'm at a bit of a loss when it comes to pure landscape. So, I incorporated a figure. It is a successful composition in spite of how very green it is.

Trials Pub

This is the facade of Trials. The sub straight is an old painting that is almost entirely deep blue. So, this painting seems dark and will lighten as it progresses. This was today's my plein air work. Next week, I'll come back to it. Two seems to be the right number Sundays to familiarize myself with a new subject.

A little more

What can I say, I'm eking out this painting stroke by stroke.

At it again

This piece is a new piece even though it looks like the one I've been working on. The previous incarnation is crap because the foundation was so substandard. That is a lesson learned. There is little more than a month left 'til the Saratoga Rotary Art Show. The countdown begins.

California Theatre

Easter Sunday's work on the California Theater.

The Califronia Theatre

So, week three of painting outside has proven a little less satisfying than week two, but I like this challenge. We decided last week that we would take a brush at the California theatre.
Next week, I'll be back for more because there is potential for this painting.

Plein Air Sundays

For two Sundays in a row, I've painted outdoors. I am very excited about the warm weather and the work that will come from the next few months of Sundays. It's been a long time since I've painted outside. I've never done it consistently over an extended period of time, so this is new-ish. I even got a sunburn today! (Next week,I'll wear sunblock.)The bottom image is week one's product. The top image is week two's. I spent more time on week two's piece. I think there was significant improvement from last week's work to today's work. That is exciting. Plus, I'm transfixed by this fountain!

Big Red Shiny II

This past weekend, was fun: I began a painting, finished a painting and went to a great opening at the Art Ark. My friend and neighbor, Val, had an idea for an entry for me to create for the Big Red Shiny II Show. So I did. It was fast and there was instant gratification (not to mention I won the a prize for the sexiest piece in the show.

Click on Eileen Graham Fine Art at the bottom of this page to see my website.

The following Sunday...

...I scraped a bunch of paint off of that piece- mostly the red-orange that Al Preciado had put on it. But the sharing was fun.

Playing around on First Friday

It's been a long time since I was in the studio in a serious capacity. However! There has been some fun in the art-making camp. Last month's first Friday events included a bit of a paint-in. Around 20 artists set up studio in Works San Jose for the evening. I let some folks help me at the canvas.

A few marks

I put a few more marks on this piece. I have plans to make this piece thick. It is thin right now, but it will be thick. I've been spending time at the computer, organizing my image files. It's no excuse but that's what I'm offering.

Starting from scratch

Today I felt like I was learning to paint all over again. I was putting colors and shapes on the canvas with little sense of familiarity.
I'm not through with Italy yet.