Thursday, February 28, 2008

Chloe


Chloe
Oil on Canvas
10" x 10"
2006

Sold









This painting was a commission. Chloe was rescued from the streets of Chicago, found with a wire around her neck that was making a sore. After many years of being a great companion she became ill and passed away. This painting was done in her memory. Yes she does have one brown eye and one blue eye.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Pink Tulips



Pink Tulips
Oil on canvas
4" x 18"
2002




I painted these pink tulips from a trip my husband and I took to The Buchart Garden's in British Columbia.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Side Yard Swing


Side Yard Swing
Oil on Canvas
20" x 16"

Gifted to my son







You've seen the front porch, now this is the side yard where our sons played on the swing, hung from the rings, and from a bar that is just outside the painting to the right. As you may have noticed in the previous painting our yard is bird friendly. Our youngest son has this at his apartment. They also at one time took a bed mattress outside and placed it strategically so they could swing real high and make a flying leap out of it and hopefully land on the mattress. Boys!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Front Porch


Front Porch
Oil on Canvas
20" x 16"

Gifted to my son






This is my front porch, bird bath, and yard art perch. My eldest son has this hanging on a wall at his home. I often use it on my business card. I figure why not have a picture of where I am on the card.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Northwest Coast Raven Design


Raven
Acrylic on Canvas
6" x 12"
2006

Several years ago I used to do these carvings in wood by using a computer driven router for cutting. I studied the legend, drew the design, scanned it into a computer that digitized my lines, and transfered the information to a machine that did the carving. I no longer have access to that equipment and it took me 4-5 years to realize I could just paint them "trompe loeil", or as if they were carved but actually painted.

This is Raven. Ravens grow up to marry Eagles. Raven's never marry Raven's or Eagles, Eagles. This is forbidden. In this Raven design I have used the ovoid shape around the eye, in the eye, and as the nostril. The red shapes in the bill and head are called Split U's. They are purely decorations to the main design. The black form line is continuous forming the outline of the bird. Both the black and the red are on the same plain or surface. It's a challenge to paint the lines and shadows so that appear to be carved wood.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Voting Day at Saatchi Gallery


Salmon at the Dam
Acrylic on canvas
12" x 12"
2006








I have entered this painting in the Saatchi Gallery Showdown. voting starts February 11th and runs through February 18th. It's rather fun to see how many people actually view and vote for a work of art you have done.

There are four people on the dam. One is a woman and distinguished from the men by a lower lip ring. The Salmon has two eggs still inside it's stomach area and three already spawned, located in the center. I used an ovoid shape for them because ovoids represent multifaceted or jointed areas. These areas are around the eyes, the tail and fin joints as well in this design. At the bottom are three little fish designs representing the results of the struggle to get past the dam. Included in the Salmon body I have incorporated a Raven. If the design is tipped on to it's side, placing the people on the dam at the bottom, you will see the Raven's head, eye, nostril, beak, and tongue. The ovoid of the Salmon's tail is also part of the Raven's feathers. The reason I did this is because Raven guide the Salmon on their journey back and forth to and from the sea.
If you could place your finger on the black "form Line" of the Salmon's body you would be able to trace all the way around the major outline of the fish and it's major body design. It is one unbroken line. The red areas are secondary to the design and always placed on the same upper plain as the black. The blue is purely decorative. In some designs a creamy color is used too.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

My Internet Websites




My internet presence includes these other sites:

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/artist_profile/Maeona%20L.+Urban/34330.html

http://urban-plein-air.wetpaint.com/

The Saatchi-Gallery site is where I have posted mainly studio artwork. I live-chat with other artist there, enter their artwork showdowns, and have work in their online commission free sales gallery. It's all free. If you go there don't just look at my work, there is lots to do there.

The Plein-air.wetpaint site has several pages of artwork: First of all a page of my 2007 plein air work, a page of floral work, a page of Northwest Coast Native American work, and a long boring biography and artist statement.

Day One as a Blogger


Well here I come world. It is official. I am a blogger.

I am the one wearing the pearls.
The other is my hubby.