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

Deer in an Oklahoma Forest

My husband went camping w a friend and told me about finding this out of the way wilderness campsite where the deer were so tame they just kind of hung around.  He took me there last year and wouldn't you know, just as he said, we pulled in and there was a heard of deer there which hung around long enough for me to snap some great photos to use later.  This painting is on sale on ebay right now.  To bid click here  I am celebrating a 777 positive feedback score w new paintings on auction each day this week.  Clicking above will lead you into my ebay gallery as well.

Cowgirl Dreams

To Bid

This was inspired by a vintage print of a cowgirl.  See her in the background?

Provence Country Road

While in Provence this spring I took a lot of great photos of the area around the convent.  When I returned home I used several of them to create new works and to teach the process of painting to my adult students.  This is one of the finished pieces which is on ebay auction this week for you to bid on.  CLICK HERE to visit my auction ( around 25 pieces on auction this week )
or CLICK HERE to visit my blog where you can read about my life as an artist and perhaps purchase my new book on painting the landscape en plein air.

My TCC class project

For this project we all started out with the same photo of a lovely, costumed woman.  I demonstrate the process that we will all follow to complete the painting but allow each student to choose the model's surroundings and since I have a class full of animal lovers, they also chose an animal that would sit upon her lap.  This is turning out to be a lot of fun.  We are nearing completion.

Painting in the great outdoors in Oklahoma

We had a delightful plein air workshop at the RossMar Ranch this weekend.  I had 10 eager painters with me.  The weather held out for the whole day although it was a bit nippy in the morning.  Thanks to my layers of long underwear and multiple shirts, sweaters and jackets, I was prepared for what ever the day had to offer.  I demonstrated one oil sketch in the morning and one in the afternoon.  We will take both back into the studio this Thursday and will work with any students who want to complete their paintings.  ( Mine included as they are not quite ready for prime time :-)

Lots of paintings on Auction this Week, New ones added daily

Another week of new auctions on ebay.  I will be putting tons of paintings on auction this week, both large and very small ones.  This one is small, 8x8.  It was done as a demo in a workshop that I lead at the Tulsa Arts and Humanities Council a few months ago.
To bid and enter my ebay gallery Click Here

Pears from my Art Grab Workshop at AHHA

In Tulsa we have this new, amazing art center called AHHA.  I was invited to do several workshops there throughout the year.  I introduce adult students to oil painting by setting up a simple still life that can be completed within 2 hours.  Ok, so my first one took a few minutes past 2 hours but I had some great students who were primed to learn, who listened and followed directions excellently.  They did a great job, learned a lot about the process, and all went home with a small painting that they could be proud of.  I worked very quickly as I demonstrated the process to them step by step.  This is what I ended up with, and I must say, I love it!  I put it on auction this week on ebay.  It is an 8x8 oil on canvas.

To visit my ebay gallery click here

To sign up for an art grab class click here

Vintage Wild Flowers and Sarah McQuaid concert

The world comes to our doorstep.  We were honored to have Vintage Wildflowers ( of Tulsa fame ) open for Sarah Mc Quaid ( from the UK ) last night at our house.  We are so lucky to be able to host these concerts and share them with others.  These artists were all greeted with a very enthusiastic and appreciative crowd.  ballads were sung, Cds were sold and everyone's ears had a treat.

Lemonade

I told my students to bring items for a summer still life that would include lemons and lemonade.  We added and subtracted till we came up with a pleasing composition.  It includes a lemonade pitcher that used to belong to my husband's grandma.  This painting and about 50 others are marked down this week on my ebay gallery in preparation for a big sale coming up next weekend.  The more I sell online, the less I have to carry to my annual sale at Tulsa's exclusive, Utica Square's Art in the Square.  Check out my gallery for all the items on auction this week and get your bids in early!
To my ebay gallery

Maybe the final version of this painting?

If you leave any painting long enough in an artist's studio, the chance is that they will find something else that needs fixin'.  I had 'finished' this painting several months ago and then took a fresh look at it.  Since most of it was a product of imagination, I had to figure out, would the flowers be that big?, would her neck be that long? head tilted in that direction? etc.  So today it looks like this and is on sale on ebay... auction actually.  Selling a piece is the only sure way to keep our artistic hands off of it :-)
To bid
To my blog where you can purchase my "hot off the presses," book on landscape painting or find a link to the Kindle version of it.

Roses

A little painting of the roses in my garden.  This painting ( and a bunch of others ) on auction this week on ebay.

To bid an visit my ebay store Click here

House concert this Thursday at our house

House Concerts Unlimited
Presents
Sarah McQuaid
with opening act
Vintage Wildflowers
sponsored by


 

When:  Thursday, September 26th
Where:  1135 N. Denver Ave. Tulsa
Time:  Doors open 6:30pm and show starts 7:00pm
Suggested Donation:  $20
RSVP is required, as seating is limited.  RSVP to scottapoet@yahoo.com  You may reserve a spot through paypal to scottapoet@yahoo.com
 

Note from your house concert host:   If you like Celtic and British Isles traditional music, then you will love both our opening act Vintage Wildflowers and headliner, Sarah McQuaid.  Expect, exceptional musicianship, coupled with lilting vocals and be transported to a place of castles and fields of heather.  Of course there might be a head chopped off or two.  :-) 
 

 

Rising star Sarah McQuaid’s voice has been likened to malt whiskey, melted chocolate and “honey poured into wine” (Minor 7th). A captivating performer, she seduces her audience with cheeky banter and stories from the road, as well as with stunning musicianship; in her hands, the guitar becomes much more than merely an accompanying instrument.
Her musical output reflects her own eclectic background: Sarah was born in Spain, raised in Chicago, holds dual US and Irish citizenship, and now lives in rural England. Refusing to be pigeonholed, she spans the genres with both her beautifully crafted originals and her interpretations of material from around the globe and down the centuries. Sarah’s third solo album The Plum Tree and the Rose has drawn critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic: “Impeccable,” wrote fRoots (UK), while Midwest Record (USA) called it “low key but glorious and incendiary” and Hot Press (Ireland) said it “should feature on many end-of-year best-ofs.” “A great songwriter and traditional singer, and a wonderful guitarist.” — Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2, UK

“Brilliant musicianship, a warm and welcoming stage presence and a voice as rich, matured and knowing as the finest thrice-distilled Irish malt whiskey.” — Geoff Wallis, fRoots, UK
“Sparkling guitar and compelling alto voice ... reminiscent of Pentangle’s best efforts.” — Tom Druckenmiller, Sing Out!, USA
“Likely to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.” — Aled Jones, BBC Radio 2, UK
Watch Videos

My Landscape book is now available on Kindle!

My book is now available on Kindle!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F1IXB1GKindle book on landscape

Okies on the Shore 8x10 oil

Every now and then I pull out my old beach pics and do a fun painting of beach figures.  I usually pump up the colors, break down the planes and just have fun.  This one is 8x10 oil on canvas and is on auction this week at a very low start w free shipping.
To Bid click here

House Concert with Wendy Colona and Jesse Aycock

you tube video of Wendy at our house concert

Friday the 13th Book Release! Painting the Landscape Outdoors and in the Studio

It is finally done... my book on painting the landscape.  This is a very affordable way for you to have a Provence, France painting experience with out having to leave the country.  I packed the book with lots of great tips, for painting outside and then even more for studio work.  I will help you pack for a successful plein air painting excursion... hats, no sunglasses.... changing light... bug spray.....I will help you get set up... sun? shade? how little can you carry and be able to have it all when  you are out in the field?

I will guide you through the thought process of seeing a great composition in nature and translating it to the canvas.

I also have a great homework section at the back of the book to keep you motivated and inspired.

The book retails for $23 but I will keep it at $20 through the blog.  If you are ordering from outside the country, I would appreciate an extra $5 to get it to you.  Any overage, I will pay myself.

To purchase, click the button under the picture of the cover of the book to the right.

Here is a little sample of a few pages that include some 1 1/2 hour sketches.

Oklahoma Torndado

This is a tornado that we saw on our way home from playing in the creek. I have painted it a couple of times and this particular painting is on auction this week in one of my ebay sites.
To bid, click here

A cool photo

We just happened along this scene in western Oklahoma. I loved how the natural world seemed to be eating up this house... taking back what was once their own. 

Gallery openings in Tulsa

See a very short video of First Friday Art openings, Tulsa
I took this last night at one of the gallery openings.

Something Hot

I love to garden almost as much as I love painting.  Sometimes I get to do both in the same day.  This was from one of those days.  This little painting is an oil on stretched canvas and is for sale by auction on ebay.  there is no reserve and a very low start price.

To bid

First Friday Art Openings in Tulsa

I am excited to announce the both of my entries into the TAC annual show got in..... And.... I have 5 pieces in a show at Living Arts that is in honor of the author of " The Kite Runner," who is coming to town for a series of talks on his work.  I also have a piece in the, yet to open, Route 66 show at MEME gallery and another in the upcoming "Stacked Deck" show/fundraiser for Resonance, and... a piece in the 12x12 OVAC show in OKC.... I am breathless!

I am also continuing to paint and get ready for my show at Utica Square's annual Art in the Square.  Not to be missed!!

Here is just one page from my new book on Landscape painting.

Painting the Landscape Outdoors and in the Studio with Margaret Aycock

I am excited to share with you artsy folks that I just finished a book on painting the landscape plein air and in the studio.  If anyone has a moment, I would love for you to read a small portion and give me some ( hopefully, positive ) feedback.  I started the book after going to France earlier this year.  I stayed in the guest house of an abbey there and painted in the poppy fields, olive and almond groves that surrounded the abbey.  I was able to paint in the same areas of the pioneers of the French Impressionist movement.  I will try to get a link up today in my blog so that you can buy the book, if interested.
A link to read a portion of the book

a link to my gallery on ebay