Brande Arno Art

"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.

"Sophie" 9 x 12 Commissioned Oil Painting Sold I have not had the pleasure of meeting this dog yet, but from the reference pictures I want to.  She just looks so sweet and she has the kindest, prettiest eyes.  Her pet mom commissioned this painting as a Christmas gift for Sophie's pet daddy. I love painting commissions!  I wish I could every day.  

"Linda", 4 x 4 inches, oil on board Buy on Etsy "Linda" is the kissing cousin of my former painting titled "Julie".  She's not as colorful but she's just as lovable.  Like me, she loves wildflowers and spring.  This female Hummingbird was painted with a palette knife and some brushwork for good measure.

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board Buy on Etsy Gordon is a bold Hummingbird because he wanted to be flying on an orange background.  I thought, no I can't do that, but he insisted, so I took out my artist licence.  He looks just peachy.

4 x 4 inches Oil on Board with Palette Knife Click to Bid Anna and I are happy we got her finished.  She was hard work!  What I like about this piece is the soft rose glow of the light and her delicate little feet!

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board SOLD - Thank you! Boy did I struggle with painting today!  I painted and scraped, painted and scraped.  After about 3 hours of this kind of punishment, I was ready to give up and I felt tears coming.  This is nothing new to me or any other artist.  I almost gave up, but I said one more time and then...well let me introduce you to Elmer.

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board Click to Bid Drying on the easel now is this male Hummingbird loaded with color.  I'm thinking he's a Rufous but not sure.  I'll have to do some research.  Caesar, who is listed below, is a wanted hummer and this artist is happy.  Although I do not know the identities of the bidders currently duking it out on www.dailypaintworks.com I thank them for staying in the game.  The auction ends tonight and the auction for Orange Julius starts today.

4 x 4 inches Oil on Board Click to Bid This is another male Hummingbird painting.  I really think these Hummer's tell me what there name is before I even finish.  This bird has a regal demeanor and royal attire so of course he's a Caesar!    

5 x 5 inches, Oil on Board Buy on Etsy This ewe has a pink face and legs.  Couldn't resist naming the painting pink stockings.

6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board  Click here to Bid I'm really enjoying creating paintings of Roosters.  The most fun is their feathers followed by trying to capture their attitudes.

5 x 5 inches, Oil on Board S OLD March is a hard month because one is pretty sick of winter by the time March rolls around.  March of 2013 came in like a Lion and is going to go out the same...snow and cold.  So I'm feeling cabin fever and was wondering what to paint.  Decided a rooster would be good and because there is so much white in my world right now, so is this rooster and his world.   

5 x 5 inches, Oil on Board Catchy title, but I couldn't resist.  It's the pose. S OLD

Click to  Bid  4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board, Hand painted Boarder It's been a while since I've painted a big-bottomed bee.  I got inspired to paint one today.  I decided to make this one a little more realistic but yet whimsical.  So here she is.  And yes, she's having a bad hair day.

Bid on Auction 6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board I went on a field trip to find the sheep grazing as it was a sunny day.  So my first stop was a small farm not far from where I live.  What I found was ewes snuggled inside their small shelter.  I'm thinking they're due to lamb and get a new hair do.  In that order.

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board I really had a frustrating day today.  This can be traced to having spent too much time doing the same thing over and over on the computer because my first attempts didn't take. So I only had a few hours for painting, or so I thought.  The above painting was painted and scraped, repainted and scraped and painted again two more times before I got it right.  And I thought the small size and single pear would make this a piece of cake...wrong. I'm OK with all the scraping and starting new, because I learned a lot.

6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board "Monday, Monday can't trust that day" -  The Mama's and Papa's.  I tried to finish this piece on Friday and came close.  Today, being Monday and  the first day of my granddaughter's winter break, I needed to make a road trip to pick her up.  We got back in time (pun intended) for me to finish.  

4 x 4 inches, Oil on Board I really like the way this came out.  I feel like I'm doing a better job with painting white.  More specifically white mixed with color.  Another area that I'm feeling good about in this painting is the cast shadow. It looks real. 

Cooper 16 x 20 inches, Oil on Board No, this painting is not finished... but darn close.  This is the stage where I can loose the freshness and so I'm almost afraid to proceed.  Because of this fear, yesterday I started a painting of my other doggie, Cookie: Cookie, 12 x 16 inches, Oil on Board This is the initial lay-in and I just love what I captured here.  So I thought I was on a roll until I stopped my painting day and ended up with this: I ended up with some of this piece being overworked.  I do plan on finishing both of my puppy-dog paintings today.  I'm going to conquer my fear of finishing these pieces by showing that inner voice of fear the door out of my studio.

6 x 6 inches, Oil on Board This pug got herself entangled in her pink blankie, but don't think for a minute she isn't ready to show the cat who's the boss.  Enjoy the weekend. I know I will.

5 x 5 inches, Oil on Board This portrait of Greta Garbo is the result of my attempt at this week's Daily Paintworks weekly Challenge.  It's not as strong as I'd like, but it's not a bad attempt either...so in short, I'm happy with this piece.    I like to participate in these challenges because I learn so much by them.  Plus it's fun to see what I come up with.  Below is a close up, which I really like. On another note, I'm the proud owner of a brand new Scion IQ.  If you don't know what kind of car that is, well the first thing you'd notice is how small it is.  But I love it and I always wanted a small car.  If I didn't get my small car now, we'll...I'm only getting older.