Brande Arno Art

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard Sold Both Monday and Tuesday's paintings were scrapers.  I prefer to wipe away a failed attempt and usually do better with the second try.  But two days in a row...I went to bed last night thinking my painting career was over.  The photo reference for this painting was taken November, 2014.  What caught my eye was the contrast between the dusting of snow against a hill darkened with trees.  Perfect setting to insure those bales stand out.  Where are the trees in this painting you ask?  I  pulled an artist license and switched those trees out for pretty blue sky instead.   

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard Sold - Thank you Occasionally, the bird feeder is visited by a Rose Breasted Grosbeak.  They are stunning birds and are just the right size...not too big, not too small.  I'm pleased to have been able to create this painting today.

  2 x 2 inches, Acrylic on Canvas- $ 15. Buy on Etsy   Decided to just have some fun in the studio for Valentine's Day.  I know that I'm not alone to say this holiday can be very painful for some.  I've had my years of tears with Valentine's Day.  But not anymore, thanks to my husband of 25 years.   As a child though, I have a wonderful memory of my dad using this holiday as a value in purchasing lesson.  You see, his barbershop was in a small shopping center with a drugstore as a neighboring business.    When I was about 8 years old, we walked inside to see the Valentine chocolate boxes.  Oh, those cellophane wrapped red velvet hearts!  Big and small, some with ribbon and plastic flowers, some were pink and lace around the edges.  Normally, he'd come home on Valentine's Day with a smaller red heart box.  What would be different this year, is I could pick what I wanted...but   To get any of t...

"Softie The Snowman" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard Sold - Thank you I felt like painting a snowman today, because looking out my studio window is like looking at a snow globe.  Not a blizzard mind you, but large, fluffy snowflakes falling gracefully from above.  Good thing because this poor snowman has started to melt and needs reinforcements. 

"Rex" 6 x 6 inches, Oil on Gessoboard $ 65.  Buy on Etsy I use to be so-o-oo into Halloween.  But now, not so much.  However my love for Edger Allen Poe and Hollywood movie giants like...Oh...Boris Karloff has not waned and can throw me back to my teenage infatuation with scary.  So today, I painted "Rex" while listening to Mr. Karloff on YouTube.  This particular series featured audio for about 1.5 hours worth of 10 minute stories.  Perfect for studio work on Halloween!

October's Grey Titmouse, 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard Click to Buy The bird feeding station at my house is in full swing.  I'm enjoying lots of activity from a variety of birds and snapping pictures for future paintings.  As I was refilling the feeders today, a little chickadee swooped and almost landed on me.  Maybe next time.  

"Monster Owl" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard NFAC - Nibblefest Art Contest for October, 2014  click to bid This is Fritz the owl in costume and he wants to make a few points: 1.  You can be a monster and not look like one. 2.  You can be an owl and not look like one. 3.  You can be both and confuse everyone. Heads up Nibblefest patrons...Fritz, aka: Monster Owl will be up for auction starting at 99 cents very early on October 20.  If you want to give Fritz a good home, click the link  on October 20 or later and keep bidding. Runs through October 27, which gives this freshly painted Fritz plenty of time to dry and pack for his forever home.

"Wide Eye and Stance" 5 x 5 inches- Oil Painting of a Grey Titmouse -Sold What attracted me to paint this bird was the wide stance of those cute little claw feet.  Had to do some editing of the tree branches, although I really wanted to include every single one.  But it's all about the bird, not the branches.

"Toddy Toad" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard Click to Bid A fellow DPW artist and blogger... Kali Parsons shared that while she was walking her dogs, she's been having to dodge little toads...really tiny little toads and like... an invasion of them!  I was laughing because where I live, we have those same little buggers making an invasion in early June.   Before reading her blog, I was wondering what I was going to paint  because today, I would be delayed getting in the studio.  So when I read her post, I was laughing and I thought...I have time to paint a toad today.  

"Spots" 6 x 6 inches, oil on gessoboard Click to Bid This little owl was painted for one of the Daily Paintwork's weekly challenge.  

"Memory Patch" 6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board I've been noticing tall weedy grasses peering from the dramatic and dark backdrops cast by shade trees.  The combination makes for a great painting and I've told myself several times as I drive by, you can paint that from memory.  So today, I did.

"Buddy-Boy" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard  $ 45.   Buy on Etsy I think mice are cute and I had a crush on them and bunnies as a kid.  I was fixated on drawing them when I should have been listening to the teacher.  Gosh, that was before my parents got color TV!  Well, we had indoor plumbing and ashtrays.  Anyway,  Buddy-Boy was painted to be on the short list of awe-cute mice and I kindled an old flame.    

Samantha the Hamster, 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard click to bid I wanted to paint a small animal today.  My first attempt was a mouse.  Well, that was a scraper and while I was scraping, I was nagging myself for letting more than two days go by without painting. I really had to fight the urge to call it a day and give up. I decided that perhaps the photo reference for the mouse was not clear enough and decided to work with a hamster photo which was clearer.   Samantha and I are happy I did not quit. 

Pattycake the Sea Otter, 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board Nibblefest Art Contest- Starts Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014 Sold - Thank you! "Pattycake the Sea Otter" is my entry for the monthly Nibblefest Art Contest, with this month's theme being Sea Monsters.  Well, OK- she's not a monster, but she does have a monster appetite for sea urchins.  She is just so cute. The link to bid will activate tomorrow afternoon.  Opening bid is only .99 cents.  If you click on the Nibblefest icon to the left of this setting, you'll be able to see entries from other artists, all opening at .99 cents.

"What Did I Hear?" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board Purchase on etsy This little ewe is pretty sure she heard the farmer say we are going to have a long hot summer.  She and I are in shock and awe!

"Sugar Shack l" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board Sold, Thank you I'm waiting for pure Maple syrup.  March is the month that the trees are tapped and when sugar houses or shacks are in full operation here in upstate NY.  Then comes Maple Syrup weekend.  So In anticipation, I'm planning on painting a couple or more real sugar shacks.

Thumbsy the Owl, 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Panel Sold - Thank you I feel another fantasy series bubbling up in my artist soul. I think a batch of owls are slated to be created! Thumbsy is the first one and of course he's modeling the universal sign of approval. 

Two in the 'Hood, 6 x 6 inches, Oil on Panel $65. Buy on etsy   I painted these two yesterday from a photo of several cows. I was so glad to get back to painting!  Of course everyone, almost everywhere is experiencing some pretty heavy duty winter, so to toast Spring, I took out the artist license and mixed up some delectable Spring greens!  Yum.

2014 Draw a Dinosaur Day 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Panel Ok, I've been in Microsoft Windows 8 HELL these past few days.  On Tuesday, January 28, I woke up to find that my laptop computer's screen was cracked.  At first I thought it could wait until tax return.  Then, I tried to navigate...yep, couldn't get the upper left side to work.    So I grabbed my charge card and went to purchase a new and improved laptop.  Unfortunately for me, I had to accept windows 8.  Just so you know, I feel like Dorothy in Oz.    Well, I'm now able to post again.  I can't say I understand how I got the image saved and I can't seem to edit the images yet, but here is something.  I so enjoyed painting this Dinosaur, I just wish I was able to post it sooner.

"Waiting" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Panel, $40. Buy on Etsy Waiting for the Superbowl, waiting for Spring, waiting for a clipping?  I'm waiting for two out of the three.  I think I'm looking forward to Superbowl as much as Spring.  Let me clear the air, I'm NOT a football fan, but Superbowl not only features two great teams playing with top skill, but great commercials and a half-time show to boot.  I make crockpot chili and appetizers.  We eat all day.  Love it.