Brande Arno Art

5 x 7 inches, Oil on Board with Palette Knife http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/brande-arno/miles-square-view/105253     I spotted these Evergreens on the way home from an appointment a few years ago.  When I got back to the studio, I grabbed my Plein Air kit and drove right back to make this painting.  So even though its a few years young, I decided it's time to post it.

6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board w/ Palette Knife   http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/90055 I finished this too late yesterday to have enough natural light to photograph, so I did that today.  This is another piece inspired from 2006 field work sketches on a day trip to Johnson City, NY.

6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board This big boy was difficult to know when it was finished.  Also my camera gave me a bit of trouble with capturing the image properly.  But he's finished and if I say so, quite handsome!  Can you tell I love black bears?

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board It's been a while since I painted The Girls.  They wanted to be part of decorating a Christmas Tree, so off they fly carrying matching glass balls and shoes.  They also have matching antennae muffs.  

5 x 5 inches, Oil on Board Another red barn!  I'm going back to my favorite subject to paint...Barns.  I'm totally in love with barns.  As winter grows closer for tomorrow, for today, I'm painting Spring.

6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board Years ago, I went on a retreat with my husband.  I took a picture of a hen house that we discovered when we took a walk.  I decided to use it today to make this painting.  Of course I pulled out my artist licence to adjust this and that and while I was creating, a few more hens showed up!

5 x 5 inches, Oil on Board with Palette Knife This piece pretty much painted itself...no not really.  Put it's the piece that taught me that less is best.  Every painting session should be so good! 

6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board Does this birdie look familiar?  She got a complete make-over.  This sweetie hopes to make her way to the Higbee Gallery for the annual 6 x 6 competition and sale.  When finished with the makeover, I had to come up with a title.  I thought the bird looked like it was wearing clothing.  So why not say wedding finery!   Below is my first attempt at this character.   

6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board This painting got accepted into the Randy Higbee 6 x 6 inch competition and art show.  The deadline was November 18 at midnight.  Naturally, I waited until the last minute.  But I kinda have an excuse as I've been ill pretty much all this week!  Bummer.   On the bright side, I'm feeling much better and look forward to getting some serious studio time this week.  

9 x 12 inches, oil on board NFS Well, I think I pulled this off.  I'm so pleased with the outcome.  I wanted it to look like a toy of my favorite Robot from my favorite TV series:  "Lost in Space"  It looks like B-9 and it looks like a painting of a toy.  I love it!

5 x 5 inches, oil on board I love to see the birds gathering at and near my bird feeding and watering station.  Some birdies (finches) are just plan piggies that sit on the perch of the bird feeder and just have at it.  Other's like this Chickadee will pluck a seed and fly to a branch to eat it, allowing space and time for other birdies to get a seed or two...or one hundred!  All told, I have two feeders and one small bird bath.  I have to refill both each day.   

6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board This bold character was spied by me while driving yesterday.  Thankfully, I wasn't far from home and when I got back in the house, I grabbed my sketchbook and did a quick sketch.    Today,  I really wanted to capture the "Oh Yeah" attitude crows can sport.  This guy was way up high, perched on electrical wire.  Below is the sketch of yesterday.   

5 x 5 inches, Oil on Board The ladies are taking a bow.  In terms of the history of Big Bottomed Bee's, this is the first piece showing their cute little faces.  They know that they should be wearing ballerina slippers, but they love high heels.  They look a little retro.  Maybe I'm watching too many Donna Reed Shows!  

Just a quick update.  "Red Barn In August" sold through DPW auction and the Hurricane Sandy Charity I picked is Little Shelter of Huntington, NY,  a no kill shelter that had two of their six buildings all but destroyed. Like any shelter, they try hard to make the best use of their space and donations.  Thank you, Bev! www.littleshelter.com

6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board Another migraine headache today, but I managed to paint this piece.  It is my interpretation of a photograph that my daughter took recently while she was on vacation.    This painting session was followed by a nice nap with my headache bag and both doggies, Cooper & Cookie.  If you have to have a migraine, having one Mini-Schnauzer and one Schnoodle as your support system is the clear path to feeling better and I am feeling better now and after washing up my brushes, my weekend will start.  Enjoy yours!

5 x 5 inches, Oil on Board I was looking for something cute to paint.  This little guy was in my source file and I couldn't resist!  I named the piece Lemon Drop for the yellowish patches of grass that this cutie was sitting on...besides its's a cute name.    What I like about this piece is the use of mixed neutrals and more blocking in areas that I'm trying to make a priority to describe the form.   On another note, I've been listening to reports of looting going on.  I'm disappointed...really do we need anymore victims?

6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board Sold!  Proceeds benefit Little Shelter of Huntington, NY www .littleshelter.com   Glad to be in the studio again today.  I hope to make up for lost time.  This painting is from a plein air source in Maryland.  I have used my artist license with this piece.  I have more neutrals in this piece and have mixed colors a little further than I usually do.   I'm also trying to mix color values next to each other in my palette.  I'm not going to let the secret out as to who I got that theory from, but she is pretty well known in the daily painting community.