Gearing up for several upcoming shows

Both Scott and I have entered several upcoming shows recently.
The Gilcrease Museum Show accepted 5 of our entries!
Mine:

And Scott's entries :

SOLD! Flower Market

I just did this little painting with my adult class.  We were aiming towards a particular, very impressionistic style.  I think we got it.
To Bid click here

                                   Correct Color above   Correct Composition below

Billowing Clouds on an Oklahoma Prairie

This painting of one of our fabulous, Oklahoma skies will be entered in an upcoming show, unless, of course, it sells on my ebay auction first.  I have been doing a series of outside paintings ( skies) and inside paintings ( nudes ) which can all be seen on my ebay auction site.  To enter in, click here

SOLD! Nude Back

I am having so much fun painting the nude.  Hopefully you all aren't getting bored with the repetition.  One can get lost in the subtle changes in flesh as it turns towards the light, reflects light upon itself... a delight.  This one is on sale on ebay now on auction.  I have several and will work a deal if someone wishes to purchase more than one.

To Bid
To Blog

Prix de West thoughts

Well I just got through browsing through the wonderful paintings on the Prix de West show which features the best of the best... you know, all the folks in South West Magazine... And I made the mistake of taking a peek at the sold prices of the paintings.  Most were over $17,000 and on up to about $65,000.  My first thought was, "gee, I am not asking enough for my work!"  I love it when any of us can make a decent living by the work of our hands and years of practice but, $17,000?  The thing is, there are amazing paintings being painted right now by wonderful artists who are experts at their craft, and who have put in the years and practice who are not selling their work for those prices.  Must we all hire a marketing person, a publicist, an agent, in order to make a living at this?

No.

Those of us who don't go in that direction have control over their own lives, can sell their work to people who really love the pieces they buy ( rather than purchases for investment only), our friends can actually afford a piece or two.  We make a meager living but speaking for myself, I love the life I lead.  I get to teach students who really want to learn, I get to know that my work has gone to homes where the paintings are cherished, I get to paint what I want, when I want and I am still excited at each and every sale.  I feel blessed.

The Season's First Apples 8x10 study

I took my new puppy over to the community garden and found some apples on the ground.  I wasn't quite sure whether the apples on the tree were quite ripe yet but the one's on the ground were fair game for using in a painting and then eating so here is a little study that I did of them.  I could have taken them a step further but I liked the lose feel of this little study so I think I will mark it finished and pop it on ebay.  To Bid and see what other goodies I have in my ebay gallery, CLICK HERE

Penny and Sparrow House Concert

On Friday night we had our house concert with Penny and Sparrow.  Great harmonies, really nice guys too.  They came to the studio of Folk Salad the following day to do an in studio interview that should air in the next couple of weeks.  click here to visit the concert that we moved to a friend's cool space, Studio Soul.
Penny and Sparrow house concert at Studio Soul

Finding food in my back yard

Since I have places in my yard that get no mowing ( my garden ) I am able to see what might sprout up on its own.  I pull plenty of Bermuda grass but I am finding so many edible things that want to be there naturally.  Last night I made curried greens from some of the plants that I allow to stay in the garden.  Just for fun, I researched their nutritional value . ( I love Google!)  Turns out that Purslane has more omega3 fatty acids than ANY other green veggie and was among the highest in Vitamin A.  Dandelion was in the top 4 green veggies for over all nutritional value.  Lambsquarters, more good stuff than spinach!  Poke Sallet ( don't EVER eat this raw, boil and pour off water and then cook again )   High in protein, folate, magnesium, Vitamins A and C and B6.  Wood sorrel for a lemony taste Vitamin C.  And this stuff doesn't have to be planted, tended, weeded, poisoned!  It is provided for you for FREE ( which is my favorite word )

Why is it we have so trained ourselves that it isn't food unless we buy it?  I don't know but if you took a look at the prices on ORGANICALLY grown anything you might start taking a look at what grows in your own yard.  Why not do an experiment.  Turn over a small portion of your back yard and see what editable goodies find their way to you.

This is some purslane that I found growing in my basil box. 

My new painting buddy

She is in charge of rags and paintbrushes.

SOLD (for a song!) Female Nude Study

Just for fun I have just listed this for .99 cents on ebay.  It is a study on 16x20 stretched canvas.  I also have several finished nudes on the site on auction this week but they all have start prices about $200.  To enter my ebay gallery and place a bid click here

A couple more changes

I have been working on a series of nudes this month.  A group of us artists hired a model for several days of exercises.  I thought I was finished with this last week and put it on ebay.  This week I made a few more adjustments and 'finished' it again.

To Bid

SOLD ( #s 2 and 4) A few new paintings with our sessions with a live model

Gifts from the garden

Last week it was so wonderfully cool and wet that I got the whole garden weeded in the matter of a couple of hours.  Then we went away for the weekend and when I returned.... did I mention "wet" ?   Anyways there were tons of weeds and now there are too many mosquitos and it is nearly 100 degrees out so needless to say I think I will let the weeds win this battle till it cools off again.  On the up side, my luck with cucumbers is on again, off again (I don't poison ) and apparently this is my year.  getting tons of cucumbers, peppers and my tomato plants look great but not nearly enough tomatoes to suit me.  This year I am trying a couple of new things... goji berries and ground cherries.  both are growing like gangbusters but the goji berries don't live up to their hype.  I will dry them and then see what I think but the fresh ones aren't tasty enough for me.  The ground cherries, on the other hand, are a great addition to the garden.  I really like the taste and I like the unique little lanterns you find them in.

Peaches and blackberries are from our community garden just behind the house.

Sunset Road

To Bid
To Blog
One thing about Oklahoma is you never have to look very far for an amazing sky.  I have added several beautiful Oklahoma Sky paintings to my ebay gallery and to my auctions this week.  This is one of a small distant storm.

SOLD Diet Chocolate Cake

This diet cake, while more expensive than your average chocolate cake, will last a life time and not add a single pound to your waistline.  A true bargain if you ask me :-)
The creamy frosting is buttered on.  Looks good enough to eat.  On auction this week with no reserve.  To enter into my ebay gallery and possibly bid on this or another painting... click here

The Process

To Bid click here

SOLD! Nude Female Figure 9x12 oil on canvas

I am a member of a professional group of oil painters in my state and we have recently taken on the fun challenge of a nude a week, working with a live model.  What fun we are having.  I will post more as they become finished.  This first one is on ebay this week on auction .  To bid click here  You will be entering into my ebay gallery. From there just click to see more of my paintings.  excuse the unfortunate glare on the painting.  It really isn't blue in the background.

Snowy Walk 20x24 original oil by Margaret Aycock

I really hate to see it go but this was just added to my ebay auction this week.  I love the cheery red coat against the grey background.  To Bid click here

Jesse Aycock with Forest Sun and Ingrid Serban... Front Porch Series

More beautiful harmonies and lovely steel
http://youtu.be/opb5cebTW-g

Let there be Lonely, The Secret Sisters, Jesse Aycock at the Ryman in Nashville

Ready for some sweet harmony?
Let there be Lonely

Great Read and Great Movie

I especially love a good coming of age story where the characters learn important life lessons and make tough decisions that support their enlightenment.  Two such tales crossed my path this month, one being a great book on CD... I can highly recommend checking this out from your local library and see if traffic jams and long drives across town don't turn into a pleasure ride.

So, if you are looking for a great read, try The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd.  Just finished it.  ( she wrote "The Secret Life of Bees )  I foresee this book turning into a great movie as well.  It is fiction but based on a lot of facts and based on the stories of 2 real life women even though I see it as a coming of age type of book... my favorite. It takes place mostly in South Carolina during both the abolition movement and women's rights.  A beautiful, disturbing, and ultimately, joyful tale.  ( I must have the happy ending! )

 Sooo looking for a good movie too?  We just went to Maleficent last night and didn't expect nearly the great story telling that we got.  A lovely tale of betrayal, hate, jealousy, power redeemed by love and forgiveness.

Roses in a Jelly Jar

One of my favorite paintings that was started and finished in about 4 hours.  This is on auction right now on ebay.  To bid and see numerous other paintings on auction this week click here

Peonies

This is one of this year's crop of peony paintings.  It is on ebay this week, on auction.  What a joy it is to paint them.  To bid on this or visit my ebay gallery click here  This is one of my favorites.  Also new in my gallery are some recent paintings by my husband, Scott.  Check them out.

Prairie Girl

As you can see, this painting has taken several forms.  She started out with two arms, then only one arm and finally no arms.  I wanted her to kind of be part of the landscape and the figure kept getting in the way.  I was having fun with the costume but my fun was getting in the way of the painting.  I think i am pretty satisfied with it now.  It is up on my auction site on ebay right now.  To visit my ebay gallery or bid click here

15% off sale this week on my Originals

I am playing with my Ebay Gallery/Store and have decided to try a markdown sale.  So here is the link to 15% off any original oil painting over $200.
http://www.ebay.com/sme/artistswaygallery/Extra-15-off-when-you-spend-200/so.html?_soffid=5001634802

A Hornet's Nest, Persimmons, Blue Bird Eggs

Whose idea was it to paint this danged hornet's nest!! My adult painting class decided they wanted to create a still life using things found in nature.  My brilliant husband ( one of my students ) decided to bring in this hornet's nest.  He later regretted it and is still not finished with his painting, long after the rest of the class.  I hear him grumbling as he paints :-).  The rest of them were very glad to wave this painting good-by.  I actually quite liked it after I did my own grumbling.  It certainly got us all out of our comfort zones.  This is for sale now on my ebay store.  To bid click here

Oklahoma Artists League

 

This photo was taken right after setting up for our first show... at the Polo Grill in Utica Square, Tulsa.  This was the inaugural show for our newly formed group of professional painters in Oklahoma, " The Oklahoma Artists League "

Thanks to Tulsa's premier dining establishment, Polo Grill for treating us like kings and queens as we enjoyed a complimentary brunch.

Check out the work of our group on line

Members:

Alan Frakes

Anne Spoon

Louise Higgs

Joey Friscillo

Me

Derek Penix

Christopher Westfall

not pictured: Gill Adams

Jesse Aycock New CD Flowers and Wounds

This is a video link to my son, Jesse's press release for the new album.  pretty wonderful.  If you don't already have it, you should.  It is an amazing album.  to order you can go to http://jesseaycock.com

Here is a link to the video:

http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/video/12792511?fb_og_action=reverbnation_fb%3Aupload&fb_og_object=video.other&utm_campaign=a_public_videos&utm_content=video.other&utm_medium=facebook_og&utm_source=reverbnation_fb%3Aupload

Peonies in a Greek Vase

One of my favorites from last week's peony painting frenzy.
It is on auction this week along with several others.  To bid or visit my ebay gallery
click here

My Childhood home work in progress

I ran across a faded photo of the house where I grew up and decided to paint my memory of it.  It is getting close to being finished.  I am having fun painting my memory... the tree that I can still remember where to put my hands and which leg goes over which branch in order to climb it, the winding pathway to the dirt road that lead through the corn patch down to the river, and the tall mountain that we loved to climb across the street.  There was a spring that came right out of the bottom of that hill.  I used to take a little cup, climb under the barbed wire fence and fill my cup with the freshest, coldest, best water I have ever tasted.

Vegitarian Lunch from the garden

I encourage everyone to have something planted in a garden, even if that garden is a bucket on the patio.  This is what we had for lunch yesterday.  It was so pretty ( and good) that I just had to take a photo of it.  I might add that we had mint and wood sorrel tea to go with it.

more peonies and primroses

set up in an east facing window

Transparent wash with general shapes and colors

Start adding opaque paint with areas of medium values and then darkest values within those larger medium value shapes.  Try to hold on to the beautiful transparent lights where you can and where they benefit the work.

Soften some edges and sharpen those in the focal point area/areas.  Sometimes less is more in my book anyways.  I don't like to have things look to tightly rendered.  I am going for a more painterly look in my work..... sometimes achieving my goal.

 

I think I am done painting peonies for the season.  This is my 10th painting, and I believe it will be my last till this time next year.  For those of you who are artists I thought I would include the process.  Although it is an oil painting, it starts out very much like a watercolor.  With peonies you have to work fast.  You pretty much have one day per painting as by the next day they have started to droop.  It sure is nice to stand on my breezy back porch and breath in the scent of all these beautiful flowers and then on top of that, get to paint them!  This painting and the others are in my ebay gallery.  I will sporadically put them on auction from time to time as I do my other paintings.  As always, you are free to make an offer, especially if you desire more than one painting.

To visit my ebay gallery click here 

Another Peoney Painting

To purchase and/or visit my Ebay Gallery click here
These are so much fun to paint and I suspect there are more of these little paintings to come as the weather has been so cool that the season seems to be lasting a little longer and we haven't had horrible winds and rain storms to knock all the blossoms off.  I am so lucky, I get to be surrounded by beauty and get to breath in the beautiful scent as I paint.  Keep checking as I will post more as they come.