After a Walk in the Woods

We took a nice walk in the woods two days ago when it was about 55 degrees out and then worked on this the next day when it didn't get above freezing.  Surprisingly we found a tree full of persimmons long after the season was over.  Every tree in the woods was totally vacant of persimmons EXCEPT one and it was absolutely full of them.  We have had several hard frosts and an ice storm which should have cleared every tree.  Don't know how this one held on so long.  Anyways the persimmons, having been through those extreme weather conditions, had turned a very interesting shade of blue, almost like a blueberry.  I just had to bring some home to paint.  Later in the day we found a tree that had dropped a bunch of acorns too and the squirrels hadn't found them yet.  I have been meaning to try to make some acorn flour and these were so big and meaty that I couldn't resist.  When I started to make the acorn meal and boil it, it smelled just like molasses.  I called my husband in and asked, " what does this smell like?"  to which he replied, " Molasses."  I am excited to try some bread made from this flour.  Perhaps a loaf of banana persimmon bread is in order.

Now and Then

The photo shows what my pretty lilac bush looks like right now.  The painting is what it looked like this summer in all its glory.  Hopefully it will spring back after all this ice melts off of it.  It was about 12' tall.  and today its leaning self is barely off the ground :-(
To bid on this painting and check out my other ebay auctions click here

Aceo trading cards

One of my ebay buyers ordered a few of these and so I tried my hand at them last week.  Turns out they are really fun to paint.  I put these 3 on ebay today.  There is no reserve on the auction.  Each one is hand painted in oil on an aceo trading card.
To Bid

ACEO cards

What fun!  one of my ebay buyers just requested a couple of artist trading cards.  I had never considered doing one before but went to my local art store ( Zieglers ) and they hooked me up.  Since I bought a pack of these little trading cards I suspect I will be doing some more of them.  These two were a lot of fun and I do so love immediate gratification ( these didn't take too long to complete )

Want one of your own?  I can surprise you with a dramatic billowing cloud sky scene or do one similar to those above.  Only $35

Church and Lunch in the Woods

We got up early on Sunday and went for a little foraging trip to the woods.  We found a couple different eatable mushrooms ( which were delicious ), some poor man's pepper, greenbriar, and buckbrush ( we weren't that hungry ) and some delicious ground cherries.  Yummy!

Wood ears ( brown jelly like ) Oyster mushrooms ( gills run under the cap and down stem)

Buck Brush

Greenbriar ( climbs, has tendrails )Some are used like a root crop, try digging them, first through the stickers, then they are tough to get out of the ground, cook like potatoes or you can make flour from them by chopping up and adding to water to later collect the starch in the bottom of the water for flour.

Ground Cherry ( has a little lantern like husk, bright orange fruit delicious

upside down oyster mushroom on willow

poor man's pepper ( best when green )

wood ears

SOLD! Pre Raphaelite Girl in the Woods

Chief Standing Pear 6x6 oil

What could be more festive than a green pear on red and white striped cloth? ..... a second or third green pear on red and white striped cloth.  This guy's brother and sister are on auction in my ebay gallery right now for a song and No Reserve!  6x6 oil on canvas.  Cute!
To bid

One of my Favorites

This is a painting of summer roses from my garden.  I brought them in and set them on the kitchen table.  I am not much for red and orange together... or so I thought... but I loved the two colors together as the roses were against  my terracotta wall.
This and several other paintings are on sale this week in my ebay auction.  To bid click here
To visit my blog click here

'Tis the Season for Demo/Study Sale on Ebay

'Tis the season.... To put a lot of affordable studies, demos on ebay auction.  This is a little study of my great niece, Avery as she walks in the woods.  It is on auction w no reserve starting at $39.  It is 11x14 oil on canvas.
To bid Click Here

Setting up for our Big Art Sale. What fun we had this weekend!

What a lovely morning and afternoon we had as did those who braved the snow and ice to join us.  Nothing nicer than a house filled with happy voices of sweet girlfriends, guy friends and our patrons. 
Thanks to all who came. 
Unfortunately our house concert musical artists were unable to join us as they were coming from Dallas and had gone only 10 miles in two hours and had to turn back.  That was the bad news.... The good news, an acquaintance was opening a restaurant downtown in the evening and so we took our little party downtown following the show and scarfed down free snacks and drinks followed by a new hand craftsman ( woman) / whiskey tasting group event in the neighborhood. 

Holiday Sale

Gardening

We're in the middle of a snow and ice storm here so I am thinking of gardening and summer weather to keep me warm.  I am also gearing up to open the studio tomorrow for a big sale.  I have invited some of my favorite artsy people to bring their wares as well and we are all inviting our buyers, friends and family to join us for a cup of tea, a snack and an artsy afternoon.  The painting above is one of many that will be for sale at my house.  Can't make it across the country?  check out my ebay auction instead.  To visit my ebay gallery/auctions click here

You Oklahoma folks who want to get out on the roads tomorrow, ( our street looks pretty good already ) we would love to see you.

Fables and Fairy Tales

I finished this a little earlier this year.  It has kind of a magical quality to it. There are elements of all kinds of fables and fairy tales in it.  It also includes a crystal ball with my own town in it.... Tulsa.
I have this and many DAILY 6X6 PAINTINGS on auction this week through ebay.
Click here to visit my Ebay Gallery

First Fridays in Tulsa

Scott and I will be spending a portion of our Thanksgiving getting ready for a First Friday Show at the AHHA downtown.  They have opened their space to all the different folks who are under the umbrella of the Arts and Humanities Council.  Scott and I wear many hats and two of them involve the council.  Scott's baby, "House Concerts Unlimited," and mine, " The Art and Healing Program at Hillcrest."  Come by and check out our tables and get updates on upcoming shows.  Of course, both programs would love to receive a monetary donation from you as both programs run on a shoestring.  Our fingers are crossed for continued support of the Art and Healing program from the wonderful doctors at Hillcrest. 
We have 3 concerts coming up in December.  Check them out on http://houseconcertsunlimited.com
A couple of them will be held at our house and one is too big so it will be at the Woody Guthrie Center.  Hope to see some of you out for those events.

A new look at an old series

I just took a new series to the gallery and got this grouping back.  I like how these all look together but happily sell them separately :-)  I just posted them all for sale on auction through ebay yesterday.  To bid or just to browse my ebay gallery, click here

Louise's Choclolate Cake

Guaranteed to not add a pound to your weight or an inch to your waistband.  It is that time of year again.  No, not the time to eat cake.... well maybe a little cake wouldn't hurt.... but the time for me to put a bunch of daily paintings on auction for holiday giving.  This is one of my favorites.  I left you a slice :-)
To bid and check out my other auctions click here

Peter Piper Picked and Painted a Peck of Persimmons

I am working on some small pieces for an upcoming show at Doran Gallery and at our annual Holiday sale at my house.  I am painting as quick as I can and eating persimmons to keep up my strength :-)  If you would like an official invite to the house sale, let me know and I will send one right out to your email.  Love to see some of you.  Going to have about 8 or so artists selling their work... jewelers, basket weavers, knitters, as well...

To visit my ebay auction click here

finished painting of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Fidelite

Praying for a good harvest and giving thanks for God's mercies

Sketching at Oxley Nature Center

It was beat the clock.... I love this low sun but when the gloaming comes around the light pops off in a mater of seconds.  We only had about 45 minutes to get down some of the important elements, color shapes, etc.  I think I have something to work with though.

A walk down a woodland path

This was painted after visiting Provence, France.  Our favorite exchange student ( daughter ) Katharina met us there for several days.  This was painted from a photo of she and my husband walking down a path in the woods next to a convent where we stayed.
11x14 Oil on stretched and back stapled canvas.

To Bid on this Painting and enter my ebay gallery click here

Approaching Storm 6x6 oil

Nothing like a storm on the ocean after you have driven 30 hours to get there for vacation. grrrr... It is a great time to take some dramatic photos to be used later for paintings though... silver lining...
This family seems to be discussing if they should leave now... or should have left 15 minutes ago.
I just put this little daily painting on ebay for auction.  Check it out and feel free to cruse through my ebay gallery for more auction original oil paintings.  Happy Bidding!
Click here to visit my ebay auction

Pre Raphaelite Girl with her Cat by Margaret Aycock

Somehow cats keep popping up magically in my paintings these days.  I lost my sweet little kitty cat a few month ago and I guess she is still in my mind.  Anyways this was a class assignment and of course I don't want to be left out so I always paint with the class... I demonstrated techniques along the way.  I am loving what the class is doing with this.  One did a draped nude with a panther laying next to her and one is holding a baby bear.  Fun.  ( notice how lazy I am.... hiding that hand under the cat :-).  My excuse is time is of the essence in class and I didn't have time to devote to it.  booohahaha....Anyways this one is on auction on ebay right now.  To bid and visit my ebay gallery click here

Just ran across this link to Jesse Aycock Playing for This Land Press

Jesse performs for This Land Magazine... Click Here

My student's self portraits... Love them!

Violin with Moon Flowers

To Purchase

 My friend and excellent luthier, Jacob Mehlhouse, ( Tulsa Strings )  gave me this blank to paint.  The price for the violin includes a fully completed instrument, strung and ready to play.  Please allow time for Jacob to put all the parts together.  Shipping will occur only after completion.  I was inspired by the blooming moon flowers outside in my garden.  They seem like a musical, magical flower, blooming just as it begins to get dark, filling the air with a sweet perfume.  It is my hope that the one who purchases this instrument will also fill the air with the sweet perfume of your music.  Got a different design in mind?  Let me know and we will work with you on a custom instrument. 

Photos from my Plein Air Workshop

I recently lead a workshop on painting en plein air  This is one of the sketches that I completed in the morning hour.  I put it on auction this morning on ebay.  Click to visit my ebay auction

Red Roses on Terracotta

Normally I wouldn't think I would like a composition in mostly reds and oranges but I brought roses in from the garden and being in a hurry to capture them on canvas, set them up in my kitchen which has light terracotta walls.  I really liked how the roses looked against that color.  This painting is on auction this week on ebay.  If you are interested in bidding or visiting my other auctions, click here

Patrice Pike at our house concert this weekend. RSVP

http://houseconcertsunlimited.com