Brande Arno Art

5 x 7 inches, Oil on Gessoboard $ 55.  Etsy Shop I'm blessed to have two mated pairs of cardinals that visit my bird feeder daily.  They have to take turns at the feeder, so sometimes they wait on our trees. What I was trying for in this painting, was to get the feeling of overhead height.  I'm also starting to premix some colors in an attempt to gauge values.  Enjoying the journey.

"Clamped In" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard  I painted this sweet heart the day after I wasted three hours trying to salvage a hopeless painting.  It was a long walk on a short Pier. I want to tell myself that I'm learning by trying to fix a failed painting.  But what I have to learn is when to fold um.  In my case, because I like fresh brushwork and after a certain point of maybe this, maybe that with the brush...it's lost.

"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.

"Bird Talk" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard $ 55.  Click to buy Inspired to paint this little fella by those that visit my bird feeders.  Chickadees are such nice birds.  From what I observe, they pick a seed from the feeder and then fly to a nearby branch to eat it...thus giving another bird a turn.  As pretty as goldfinches are, they're squatters.  Sometimes it takes an eviction notice to get them to share with other birds.

"A Pair" 4 x 4 inches, Oil on Gessoboard Buy on Etsy   This piece is a little more colorful than usual for me.  Maybe I still have some anesthesia in the brain.  I love the stuff they give IV just before they roll you in the Operating Room.  I ponder how these anesthesiologist's stay sober.  What a temptation they face every day.  They are special gifts to mankind and most of them are humble. One of the two that worked with me carried a backpack.  It does not hold books.  But it does hold the tools of his trade, serious drugs. I'm going to be 61 later this month.  I'm the Baby-Boomer generation and it's hard to see my generation retiring and being replaced by thirty-something docs, but this fellow looked to be all of 24.  When I first met him, he looked like the hippies I grew up with... the long hair, full face beard and otherwise 1st year med student demeanor brought me to the conclusion he's way too young to be taking c...

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board S old Julie is a sweet little Hummingbird.  I'm so happy with the outcome of this painting because there is the feeling of flight.

5 x 5 inches, Oil on Board I painted this piece today as while it was snowing pretty hard in my neck of New York.  The temperatures are on the warmer side so the snow is not really sticking for now.  I think that will change tonight.  Well anyway, I'm so wanting some sign that spring is close. Yesterday, when I took Cooper and Cookie out for a walk, I thought I detected the first air of spring.  Maybe it's because of my age, maybe it's because I'm a smidge American Indian or maybe it's my years of plein air painting, but I'm pretty sure the air changes when spring is close. There is a slight sweetness and lightness in the air weeks before any other signs of spring become apparent.  I'm holding on to that theory as a winter coping technique.  More spring paintings to follow.

6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board This is actually an adjustment to an older piece.  I repainted the piece adjusting the clouds and sharpening the vineyard part of the painting.  You might think what if this sheep decides to move to the grapes, well most vineyards are protected by wire fences and if you look real hard, they're are in the painting too.    I've posted the older piece below: Cotton Balls, 6 x 6 inches