Sunday, February 24, 2013

Quartz Mountain at the Gloaming 8x10 sketch

A trip to Quartz Mountain had me doing a lot of onsite oil sketching.  What a wonderful weekend.  Here is one sketch that was done just a few minutes before the sun set.  We had fun scrambling up onto the mountain shortly after finishing this sketch to try to catch the light and take some photos of ourselves.  Man, does that sun move fast!  We certainly got our exercise and also some great photos.  Ok, so back to this painting.... I just posted this on ebay for auction.  Those wishing to bid or enter into my ebay gallery, can click here

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Fairy Tales oil on canvas

I teach adult oil painting in Tulsa.  When I set up this still life for the class I kept coming back to the theme of fairy tales.  This painting doesn't depict any specific tale but has elements of many with the crystal ball ( wizard of oz , snow white.... )  , Black crows ( a symbol of impending doom maybe), a magic wand....books of spells, an apple ( snow white ) an empty box ( treasure, pandora... ) Anyways here is the finished painting which I quite like.  It is on auction this week on ebay with no reserve, starting at $395.  Click here to bid or to see more of my work


Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Peach 6x6 oil

I was looking over some of my paintings that have been in the studio for a while and decided to rework a couple.  This is one that got a little attention this week and is on ebay at $39 with free shipping this week.  to bid


Friday, February 08, 2013

SOLD1 Red Haired Girl 20x24 oil

This began as a class demo.  I started with several photos.  a few of pretty girls and a few from our trip to the Wichita Mts.  Like Frankenstein, I took a hand from one photo, a face from another, a pretty outfit from another and borrowed the hair from another photo.  All combined into this painting of a lovely girl taking a walk through the woods.  I think all little girls imagine how wonderful it would be to have very long hair.  If we grow up to be artists, we realize our dreams through our painting.
She is on auction this week on ebay .  To visit her on ebay click here


I reworked her flesh a little and then took a photo in a darker room.  Man the color sure is different.  I need to go retake this in light!


Better.  Can you tell what other changes I made?  see below for answer :-)
I took a little bit of hair off the top and left side.  I took a tiny bit off the chin and added a little to the left side of the forehead and left cheek.  I also brought a hint of blue further out to the left to suggest a portion of her dress.  I feel better.

Sunday, February 03, 2013

Creativity Bleeds into the Garden "Bed"

A couple of months ago we got rid of a single bed and were left with the problem of the wooden box springs.   I first used them to put on new plants with a glass window on top as a cold frame in the garden.  I have sense given it a new look and decided to use it for its original purpose.... kind of.... as a "bed"  What I decided to do is create a slightly raised bed in my vegetable garden .  Here is how I did it.
 Step one.... and now I wish I hadn't already taken off the cardboard... remove all the fabric covering.
 I had some old fencing and scrap lumber laying around and used them for nailing to the sides.
 Here is the spot where it will rest.  First I will remove the mulch and flatten bed.
 Next I took a bunch of newspapers and cardboard boxes and flattened them out and stuck them under the box.

Then I threw in a bunch of compost and a little garden topsoil, complete with some nice earth worms and hopefully void of cutworm eggs or other nasty beasts.  I will continue to fill the bed with top soil, composted material and perhaps a little cow manure and peat.  I plan on having my little girl dream come true with a canopy bed in the near future as I will start with some cool weather crops and root veggies and ease on into  the summer with squash.  I plan to use a row cover to keep out the evil moths who lay eggs for squash vine borer.  I will beat them yet.

 Dead of winter veggies starting... Lettuce.

Friday, February 01, 2013

e books, my book is available

Just in case you don't already know... my book on oil painting is available for download through createspace and amazon.  I keep noticing more and more artists using tablets while painting and so I have made my book available in that format for those of you who find that is the way you learn best.  My book has great info for those of you who are  trying to learn the craft of oil painting.  The techniques in my book can be transferred  to portrait painting and landscape... the same principals apply.  For those of you who prefer to work with a video, those are available for download too... through createspace and amazon.  You can also order the hard copy, hold in  your little hand stuff from me through this website. 

Make me an offer!... on or off ebay

Just to let you art lovers know that you can always make an offer on anything you see on my Ebay website.  I know that some of these paintings are out of reach for some of my buyers... heck, I can't afford to buy art... BUT.... I am always up for a good deal.... a great barter...so shop on! http://midwest-fine-art.com

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Ruby's Slippers

I don't claim to be a tango dancer but I have a lot of fun trying to become one.  This painting was inspired by the tango and by the receipt of the dancing shoes once owned by my husband's Grandma Ruby.... Thus the title, Ruby's Slippers... To bid on this painting click here 


Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Vintage Green Vase

This fall I went to a garage sale and came across this great little green vase.  I have been wanting to paint it for a while and thought I would set up a still life with it and some of the porcelain dolls I picked up as well.  The dolls scared the students... ( not scared like Steven King scared, scared like " I can't do this... , " scared.  Anyways I took the great dolls out and painted out a tea cup that was in it for a while and all in all came up with a very pleasing study!    This painting is 20x16 on stretched canvas.
 To Bid click here

Saturday, January 05, 2013

Remember When

a few fun studies in the Pre Raphaelite vein









Pre Raphaelite Girl in Oklahoma Field 20x24

I am on a Pre Raphaelite kick and a red coat/sweater kick :-)  This painting was done earlier this year but is on auction this week so I thought I would re post.  To Bid

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

SOLD! Girl Wearing a Red Coat Walking in Snowy Field

We recently attempted to beat the storm out of Arkansas.  We set out on I 40 only to find that the roads were already icing over, the delta fields were covered in a thin layer of snow.  Fortunately when one is in a car that is driven very slowly, you can take non blurry photos out the window.  When I got home I used the photos to create some interesting new paintings.  This is one of the paintings I just completed.  It is on auction through ebay this week.
To Bid

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Prairie Walk 16x20 oil


It is Christmas vacation and I get to paint what I want to paint ( not that I don't already do that :-) but since I am not teaching, I like to play.  This painting is a combo of several photos and my imagination.  I really like how it turned out.  I put it on ebay for sale this morning.  If I leave it out over the holidays it may get some more work ( as often is the case ) but perhaps not.
If you would like to purchase or make an offer, see the other things I have been working on over the holiday, click here to visit my ebay gallery.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Big Sale up to 65% off on our Zazzle Stores

Zazzle is having a sale of up to 65% off which includes http://zazzle.com/margaretaycock  and http://zazzle.com/folksalad.  Check them out if you have been wanting a great T shirt, apron, canvas bag, cup and more!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Downtown Heber Springs Window Dressing

While in Heber Springs Arkanas over the holidays we decided to peruse the music shops and art galleries.  Being Christmas, most of the shops were closed but we were entertained instead, by this great dress.... Yes, it is camouflage and pink taffeta... and pink cowboy boots to top of the ensemble.  :-)

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Pre Raphaelite Girl 16x20 oil on canvas

In my adult painting class we usually start with a master painting and use it as a jumping off point in which to do a work of our own.  Since I teach demonstration style I like to have the same source material available to all students which in an ideal world, would be a live model but in our case we are working with first time painters and there is a lot to teach about measuring, how to hold the brush, paint mixing, values, etc so it is easiest to work from photos.  I included 2 photos that we used to spark our imaginations.  It is remarkable to watch what everyone comes up with using the same photo.  We often find that there is a slight resemblance to the artist in the work.  Anyways, this one is on auction this week through ebay with a very low start price and no reserve.  



Tuesday, December 11, 2012

SOLD ! Sunset on the Gulf 8x10 oil

This is a little painting that I did while on vacation in the Gulf.  I was finally able to break away from the crowd as they all went out for seafood and I got to feed my soul.  It is on auction on ebay for the low start price of $39 with free shipping.  To bid

Sunday, December 09, 2012

Scott's Pretty Vangoghish Landscape

I know, I usually only post my own work but this time I am posting one of my favorite student's work.... My husband, Scott.  He has been studying w me for about a year now.  He has finally graduated to have some paintings that are worthy of selling after only a very short time, I might add... Anyways he has sold one already and is on the way to selling a 2nd one this week as it has a bid on it in my ebay gallery.  This one is also in the ebay gallery with a low starting bid of $45 and no reserve.  It is hanging in our kitchen right now and I love to see it there but would be happy to let it go to just the right person :-).
To Bid
To visit my blog
To visit my zazzle store