tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61285803767104349812024-03-05T17:42:54.026-07:00Like Watching Paint DryArt instruction and other fun stuff by Debra Pero.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.comBlogger243125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-43808356740218777242014-03-14T01:22:00.002-06:002014-03-14T01:22:44.751-06:00One more miniThe last of the four cowboy miniatures entered in the Masterworks show. I plan to paint five, but havent gotten the last one done yet. 4x4, oil on linen.<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-81344401747737497482014-03-11T00:40:00.000-06:002014-03-11T00:44:35.587-06:00Masterworks -Standard Art DivisionAs mentioned in the previous post, I was fortunate to have two paintings juried into the Masterworks show down inAlbuquerque . The show will run basically the month of April. I will be delivering these two standard sized works, as well as my miniature hopefuls next weekend. <br />
These are the two works selected for the show. Both are 9x12, oil on linen. Sorry for the photos, but these are the only pics I have right now.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tjV7OsRmwqM/Ux6ug6PGpHI/AAAAAAAAFVY/5ywzzd1h7VU/s1600/7AEA03A0-D410-4CC5-81F1-0C69EACB77FE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tjV7OsRmwqM/Ux6ug6PGpHI/AAAAAAAAFVY/5ywzzd1h7VU/s1600/7AEA03A0-D410-4CC5-81F1-0C69EACB77FE.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cooling Off</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NA0_lcG5-Dk/Ux6ug6AkiEI/AAAAAAAAFVY/mYFFHtyKpiI/s1600/A0ECA417-A3DB-4789-A5A9-9A007E5F8AB6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NA0_lcG5-Dk/Ux6ug6AkiEI/AAAAAAAAFVY/mYFFHtyKpiI/s1600/A0ECA417-A3DB-4789-A5A9-9A007E5F8AB6.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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Winter Hay</div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-6658849296467505872014-03-06T17:21:00.000-07:002014-03-06T23:03:25.390-07:00Masterworks Miniatures.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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So, it's time for Masterworks of New Mexico again. It's a juried event down in Albuquerque, a combination of three shows, actually - and hosted by three separate art associations. More about the big show later. In addition to 'regular sized" art, they also have a juried miniature show. </div>
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These are three of my five entries. I don't have a camera, so am using cell phone pictures, which definitely has it's drawbacks. Color is off and I cannot seem to correct it.The size of these is 4x4 inches- about the length of a q-tip is a good way to think about it. </div>
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It's a different process, working this small, and since I pretty much only do it for this show, seems I have to go through the learning curve every year all over again. Still, its a nice challenge, and I don't take it all too seriously. I have two more in process, which I will post once they are all done. I hope the jury likes cowboys. :-)</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aNcxxCLn-2k/UxkQsUBk5aI/AAAAAAAAFVE/afU5UI2UuJU/s1600/High+Country+Views.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aNcxxCLn-2k/UxkQsUBk5aI/AAAAAAAAFVE/afU5UI2UuJU/s1600/High+Country+Views.jpg" height="320" width="317" /></a></div>
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High Country Views</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yArJBi_H_OU/UxkEH-5j-TI/AAAAAAAAFUs/z8-5kf2QdRw/s1600/Range+Rider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yArJBi_H_OU/UxkEH-5j-TI/AAAAAAAAFUs/z8-5kf2QdRw/s1600/Range+Rider.jpg" height="320" width="315" /></a></div>
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Range Rider</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DLReVs_dE0g/UxkEFws5_bI/AAAAAAAAFUk/mOtL-_hxp0o/s1600/Through+Summer+pastures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DLReVs_dE0g/UxkEFws5_bI/AAAAAAAAFUk/mOtL-_hxp0o/s1600/Through+Summer+pastures.jpg" height="320" width="316" /></a></div>
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Through Summer Pastures</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-9332995183952644042013-03-04T15:18:00.001-07:002013-03-04T15:18:58.547-07:00Untitled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rDgxCJOysII/UTUdLQyLd_I/AAAAAAAADiY/2kWQYQ-UL8g/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rDgxCJOysII/UTUdLQyLd_I/AAAAAAAADiY/2kWQYQ-UL8g/s400/Untitled.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Untitled, 16x20 </div>
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oil on linen</div>
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My camera woes continue. the colors on this are so wrong, and I cannot seem to correct it.</div>
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And it will not get a crisp, clear shot. But, its the only camera we have at the moment.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-69412188449020010812013-02-15T15:17:00.001-07:002013-02-15T15:17:08.102-07:00Masterworks Art Exhibit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bqY7fBbiAnE/UR6yKmIHw9I/AAAAAAAADg0/VyJSPbNveI0/s1600/masterworks+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bqY7fBbiAnE/UR6yKmIHw9I/AAAAAAAADg0/VyJSPbNveI0/s400/masterworks+card.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I'm pleased to announce that my painting, Still Life with Nest II, was juried into the 15th Annual Masterworks exhibit down in Albuquerque. Above is the postcard from the event, and bottom right is pictured my painting from last year's show, Packing Out. I was happy to see it was included on the advertising for the show. That's cool. This is just a scanned copy of the card, so colors are a bit off.<br />
Here's the details on the show:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Masterworks Fine Art Show</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>April 6-27 10am-5pm</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>EXPO, New Mexico, Hispanic Arts Bldg.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Albuquerque, NM</b></span></div>
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Here's this year's accepted entry:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ecysabEIKWI/UR6yHxctVWI/AAAAAAAADgs/SGdxX0JaaDk/s1600/Still+Life+with+Nest+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ecysabEIKWI/UR6yHxctVWI/AAAAAAAADgs/SGdxX0JaaDk/s400/Still+Life+with+Nest+II.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Still Life with Nest II</div>
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oil on linen, 15x30</div>
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and here's the piece from last year that is featured in the publicity.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dbN4DfjzGzs/UR6yFH8vu6I/AAAAAAAADgk/oZKzPYija50/s1600/The+Pack+Trip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dbN4DfjzGzs/UR6yFH8vu6I/AAAAAAAADgk/oZKzPYija50/s320/The+Pack+Trip.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Packing Out</div>
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oil on linen 8x10</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-73811829105759963692013-01-26T18:40:00.000-07:002013-01-26T18:40:31.079-07:00First painting in quite awhile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bogkt7t8XpA/UQSEChH28YI/AAAAAAAADb4/PJV4iWwtX8U/s1600/Still+Life+with+Nest+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bogkt7t8XpA/UQSEChH28YI/AAAAAAAADb4/PJV4iWwtX8U/s400/Still+Life+with+Nest+II.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Still Life With Nest II</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">15x30 oil on linen panel</span></div>
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Well, I dove right back in to painting after about a 7 month hiatus. The impetus was a juried show here in New Mexico. I did very well at this same show last year, and so I felt it was a good investment of time to</div>
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enter again, and hope for the best. </div>
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Unfortunately, I mis-read the application information, and ended up with only 3 days to do a painting, and I had to drive 2 hours to hand deliver the entry form in order to get it there in time!</div>
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I've painted many of these same elements before. And, because I had such little time, it seemed like a good idea to paint something relatively straightforward and simple. </div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-9532375530942597562012-06-07T20:20:00.001-06:002012-06-07T20:28:33.862-06:00Two New Paintings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TmhzHlz53UY/T9FTeUVAGFI/AAAAAAAADYQ/-k0ZXaR0_9Y/s1600/Dawn+Patrol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TmhzHlz53UY/T9FTeUVAGFI/AAAAAAAADYQ/-k0ZXaR0_9Y/s400/Dawn+Patrol.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
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Dawn Patrol</div>
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oil/linen 12x16</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1XdOOBbpZSg/T9FUCtYPs_I/AAAAAAAADYY/suOPrhrx_TE/s1600/South+At+Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1XdOOBbpZSg/T9FUCtYPs_I/AAAAAAAADYY/suOPrhrx_TE/s400/South+At+Sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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South at Sunset</div>
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16x20 oil/linen</div>
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For more info on these paintings, and a cool youtube song about coyotes, please just click on over to my<br />
<a href="http://debs120paintings.blogspot.com/">other blog </a> </div>
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I posted these there, with some explanation. This blog will eventually disappear, and I'm moving everythign over to the new blog.. at some point. Not right away!</div>
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<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-48981097478494253452012-05-15T13:47:00.000-06:002012-05-15T13:47:11.016-06:00Spring Show in Keene, NH<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm pleased to announce an upcoming show at the <a href="http://www.monadnockfineart.com/">Monadnock Fine Art Gallery</a>. I tried to download the invitation, but the file seems to be corrupted, so here's the scoop.</div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;"><i>Sweet Spring, Beauty All Around</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;">May 25-June 22</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;">Monadnock Fine Art Gallery</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;">Keene, NH.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;"><i>Artists' Reception,</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;"><i>Friday, May 25, 6-8pm</i></span></div>
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This is a joint show with Mary Iselin, a fine artist and even finer person. I'm really happy to be paired up with mary for this show. She will have beautiful paintings of spring lambs and draft horses, and gardens.</div>
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Below are a few of the paintings that I'll be shipping to Keene this week. If you're in the area, please drop by and pay a visit! Wish I could be there in person myself!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jc1uQArqGhs/T7KrtPdWQEI/AAAAAAAADWs/y6IpO9vuqpk/s1600/Looking+for+Shells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jc1uQArqGhs/T7KrtPdWQEI/AAAAAAAADWs/y6IpO9vuqpk/s400/Looking+for+Shells.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
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Looking for Shells </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fe9bepPMPcg/T7KsAaHICqI/AAAAAAAADW0/61JGEzNSUhM/s1600/Tea+and+Beatrix+Potter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fe9bepPMPcg/T7KsAaHICqI/AAAAAAAADW0/61JGEzNSUhM/s400/Tea+and+Beatrix+Potter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tea and Beatrix Potter</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NX0szY3YL1s/T7KsPCUTDtI/AAAAAAAADW8/QwZGLBh5e9Y/s1600/85.+Wren+and+Cherry+Blossoms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NX0szY3YL1s/T7KsPCUTDtI/AAAAAAAADW8/QwZGLBh5e9Y/s400/85.+Wren+and+Cherry+Blossoms.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Wren and Cherry Blossoms </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VXGxWOSKxok/T7KsYUxi8aI/AAAAAAAADXE/w4UrXcy5J2o/s1600/86.+Dandelion+Wishes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VXGxWOSKxok/T7KsYUxi8aI/AAAAAAAADXE/w4UrXcy5J2o/s400/86.+Dandelion+Wishes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dandelion Wishes</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-70747808259306288632012-04-25T18:47:00.001-06:002012-04-25T18:47:28.108-06:00Cinco Caballos ("Five Horses")<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gGPqdJaNrzo/T5iasfc14sI/AAAAAAAADVs/UNjArk7I474/s1600/Cinco+Caballos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gGPqdJaNrzo/T5iasfc14sI/AAAAAAAADVs/UNjArk7I474/s400/Cinco+Caballos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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12x24 oil/canvas</div>
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I've had a heck of a time working out the background on this one. And now that I've photographed it, I can see some changes need to be made. So, expect this one in a revised form soon. This photo isn't that great, anyway.</div>
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Well, back to cooking supper !!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-40857939614178508062012-04-24T22:28:00.001-06:002012-04-24T22:28:18.425-06:00Tea and Beatrix Potter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kf82CnXWNgU/T5d71sCY5DI/AAAAAAAADVk/wBA-4SEfeVE/s1600/Tea+and+Beatrix+Potter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kf82CnXWNgU/T5d71sCY5DI/AAAAAAAADVk/wBA-4SEfeVE/s400/Tea+and+Beatrix+Potter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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12x24 oil on canvas</div>
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I haven't done still life for several months. I found this one in the closet a couple of days ago - had completely forgotten about it. It was still unfinished, and I had gotten disgruntled because I just wasn't happy with it - so, into the closet it went!</div>
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Well, repainting an old canvas sometimes works, and sometimes doesn't. You can lose the transparency (which did happen here to some extent) and certainly the freshness... But I think, overall, the re-painting (actually, just replacing one object with another) helped this one and it is at least salvageable. Where the little Beatrix Potter books are now, used to be the saucer from the teacup. The round, white shape was too repetitive with the cup, and drew too much attention away from the copper pot, which is really the star. The books are there, but they whisper instead of shout. And besides, who doesn't like Beatrix Potter? The one on top is "the Tale of Benjamin Bunny" - one of my favorites. Her watercolor illustrations are so delightful.</div>
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<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-24469442175945816092012-04-01T00:03:00.000-06:002012-04-01T00:03:02.245-06:00Masterworks, New Mexico<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sYRlVle6A6U/T3fspSlwQ1I/AAAAAAAADS4/SYsZ4yrLWQ8/s1600/The+Pack+Trip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sYRlVle6A6U/T3fspSlwQ1I/AAAAAAAADS4/SYsZ4yrLWQ8/s400/The+Pack+Trip.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">the Pack Trip 8x10 oil/panel</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aqMF5lUwHko/T3ftLcdWs5I/AAAAAAAADTI/ft0Zfg24y4Q/s1600/62.+Rounding+Up++Straysfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aqMF5lUwHko/T3ftLcdWs5I/AAAAAAAADTI/ft0Zfg24y4Q/s320/62.+Rounding+Up++Straysfinal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rounding Up Strays 3x5 oil/canvas</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> I'm pleased to announce that these two paintings both received honors in the upcoming Masterworks of New Mexico exhibit, which opens next Friday, April 6, at the Expo New Mexico Hispanic Arts Center.</div><div style="text-align: left;">There are two concurrent shows, a "regular" size show, and a miniature exhibit. The top painting here is one of two that were juried into the big show. The Pack Trip was awarded the Jack Richeson Award of Excellence. It also sold before the show was even hung! </div><div style="text-align: left;">Our of about 500 miniature entered, only 150 were accepted into the miniature show. With those odds, I'm very happy that all five of my entries were accepted, and Rounding Up Strays received an Honorable Mention. Since painting miniatures is really not my thing, I'm just happy that it got noticed at all...For the miniature show, they really like tight detail and finely tuned work... I like working a little looser, but it was still fun to try a different approach and pull my hair out while trying to work so small....</div><div style="text-align: left;">The opening reception is this Friday, and it should be fun to go and see all the works. I got to see a great number of them when we delivered the paintings, and it is a very strong show. If any of you are local to Albuquerque, I invite you to come and see it. There are many very fine paintings.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-51857099375480793852012-03-26T18:39:00.000-06:002012-03-26T18:39:23.735-06:00Welcome Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6sYPdV9tEdU/T3ELaMc-yDI/AAAAAAAADSI/avy9tqxTj00/s1600/The+Welcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6sYPdV9tEdU/T3ELaMc-yDI/AAAAAAAADSI/avy9tqxTj00/s400/The+Welcome.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Welcome Home</div><div style="text-align: center;">16x20 oil/linen panel</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I started this one a couple of weeks ago, and then had to stop and finish up some other deadlines. It is never good for me to leave a painting sitting around for too long... for some reason, I just can't get back into the groove with it... </div><div style="text-align: left;">Though I sort of lost my enthusiasm, I did try to at least bring it to a conclusion... This ol' rancher has been out, maybe on a hunting trip, and he's finally home, at the end of the day.... As he stops to open the gate and walk the horses through, the ranch dog has seen him and come running to greet him...My dogs would be jumping all over me. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-18270500588760419052012-03-16T00:10:00.000-06:002012-03-16T00:10:11.711-06:00Working (real) small<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZW4N6s9y-tY/T2LW9DKJmmI/AAAAAAAADQs/oLvkwQh6IOA/s1600/63.+Paint++fillyfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZW4N6s9y-tY/T2LW9DKJmmI/AAAAAAAADQs/oLvkwQh6IOA/s400/63.+Paint++fillyfinal.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Staying Close, 4"x5" oil/canvas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pvICLSDT2uU/T2LXBWsUJ6I/AAAAAAAADQ0/Lfi05UC2tfQ/s1600/65.+Where'd+They+Go+final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pvICLSDT2uU/T2LXBWsUJ6I/AAAAAAAADQ0/Lfi05UC2tfQ/s320/65.+Where'd+They+Go+final.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Searching for Strays, 4" x 5" oil/canvas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7J96OEAgDc/T2LXGQRBcKI/AAAAAAAADQ8/W7NjEeikDTA/s1600/70.++Miniature+Paint+Foal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h7J96OEAgDc/T2LXGQRBcKI/AAAAAAAADQ8/W7NjEeikDTA/s320/70.++Miniature+Paint+Foal.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Paint Filly, 1.5"x 3" oil/panel</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vSJTnRs6Re8/T2LXefFZfWI/AAAAAAAADRE/8EXNQhhHXmY/s1600/62.+Rounding+Up++Straysfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vSJTnRs6Re8/T2LXefFZfWI/AAAAAAAADRE/8EXNQhhHXmY/s320/62.+Rounding+Up++Straysfinal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rounding Up Strays' </div><div style="text-align: center;">3"x 5"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KV2W73WkqXY/T2LXxc6t7uI/AAAAAAAADRU/QeXwW4Q8pxQ/s1600/64.+Cowgirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KV2W73WkqXY/T2LXxc6t7uI/AAAAAAAADRU/QeXwW4Q8pxQ/s320/64.+Cowgirl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sadie's Calf</div><div style="text-align: center;">3"x5" oil/canvas</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">These are a few of the miniatures that I will submit to a miniature show down in Albuquerque next month. Working this small requires a change of technique and painting style that I'm not real sure I like much, but the challenge of doing them was still fun, and I hope they'll get accepted to the show. You can't appreciate how small these are unless you see them in "person", but here's a still-in-progress shot of the smallest one to give you an idea. yeah, that's a quarter there..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZV7AnT2Kppk/T2LZFaseMUI/AAAAAAAADRc/S5j0IQpE1ss/s1600/70+size+reference.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZV7AnT2Kppk/T2LZFaseMUI/AAAAAAAADRc/S5j0IQpE1ss/s320/70+size+reference.jpg" width="142" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">It would probably help if I had small brushes... but then, where's the challenge in that?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-45307705611955406422012-02-22T20:10:00.002-07:002012-02-22T20:10:56.574-07:00Masterworks of New Mexico<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFocFHkyBTw/T0WlBTdOmrI/AAAAAAAADN4/niNkz2IC0hI/s1600/MasterWorks+6x4+PC+back+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFocFHkyBTw/T0WlBTdOmrI/AAAAAAAADN4/niNkz2IC0hI/s400/MasterWorks+6x4+PC+back+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I'm pleased to say that I have two paintings accepted into this show. Dates are as listed above on the card.<br />
If you're in the area, stop in... there's all kinds of free events, demos, paint-ins, etc. too, during the month of April...<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-41731799501952053262012-01-22T13:31:00.002-07:002012-02-09T14:45:10.571-07:00Discovery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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22x26 oil/linen panel</div>
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Last post for a bit, as I have an out of town trip, and then some shoulder surgery, so I won't be painting for several weeks. (gasp, I can't imagine going that long!)</div>
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This depicts an actual cliff dwelling ruin in the Gila Mountains of SW New Mexico.. this particular one is Cave #4 I believe... I drew together several historical photos of the ruins from the 30's or 40's, and used some other references to hopefully accurately depict these frontiersmen's dress and gear... In 1878, Henry B. Ailman and his party went searching for gold in the Gila Mountains. While traveling through the canyons, they "discovered" the Gila cliff dwellings. Here I've depicted them riding up to take a look at this mighty curious sight. Some historical accounts say they were trying to avoid jury duty in Albuquerque and so left town on this gold mining expedition... They struck gold alright, though not the kind they had imagined<br />
These ruins are now part of a national park -<br />
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Here's an old photo of the ruins, as these two guys might have seen them from across the canyon... the ruin on the far left of this photo is the one I have painted. And yes, horses were able to get up there, as I have some old photos showing the Rangers on horseback working to restore some of the ruins and build some paths....</div>
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<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-73125351755004535772012-01-18T00:43:00.001-07:002012-01-18T00:43:25.710-07:00Tips and Tricks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Conte sketch of two young cowboys</div>
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I had to add some image, (can't have a post without SOME kind of picture!) so just threw in one of my quick sketches. </div>
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Today's post is just a random selection of stuff that I've found useful in one way or another. Some are ideas and some are practical tips.</div>
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Tip #1 (from artist Larry Seiler). Use an old phone book to wipe your brushes as you paint. We all have those used phone books, right? And in many places, they can't be recycled. I just tore off the cover, and put the phone book down on my working surface. As I paint, I wipe the brushes and palette knife (I use paper towels too, but this works well for a first 'wipe down"). when the page is dirty, I just rip if off and use the next one....</div>
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Tip #2. To help brush tips to re-gain a sharp edge, try this. Once the brush is clean, take a piece of pressboard, like a cereal box, pasta box, or the like. Mine is an old small calendar I got from my optometrist. Cut out a square of the pressboard on a fold - in other words, you want a small square piece of it that is already folded in the middle so it has a nice sharp crease to work with. Take the offending brush, and place it so that the tip is right inside that fold. Fold the card over the brush and use a clothespin to pinch the end.. adjusting it so the tight part of the clothespin is crimping the end of your brush between the pieces of cardboard. Leave it overnight. If you do this right, the brush will come out with a nice, clean, crisp edge again.</div>
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Tip #3. Have the same light on your palette as you do on what you're painting. If you use, say, an Ott Lite on your palette, but your still life is lit by an incandescent bulb, then you are in for a world of hurt. Just sayin'.</div>
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Tip #4. Before you throw away a painting, take a look and see if any part of it, even just a small part, is successful. Consider cropping it down and making a smaller painting o ut of it. If its on a canvas, use a razor knife to cut out your selection, then glue the piece of canvas to a backing of masonite or foam core.</div>
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If it's a panel, use whatever means y ou have to in order to cut it down to size. I use "table saw editing" all the time.</div>
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Tip#5. Keep 3 jars with lids for your solvent. A "working jar", a "sludge jar", and an "overflow" jar. The working jar contains clean solvent that you're using to paint with right now. When that gets dirty, or you're done painting for the day, pour that thinner into the sludge jar.. Clean out your working jar after pouring out its contents by wiping it out with a paper towel. The next morning,the sediment will have settled to the bottom, leaving clear solvent again. Carefully pour out the now clear solution from the sludge jar back into your working jar, leaving the sludge in the bottom..-. Eventually, this jar will get full of sludge and you will have to appropriately discard it.</div>
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The third jar is useful if, like me, you paint pretty much all the time. My working jar gets dirty, and don't have time to wait overnight for the sediment to settle in the sludge jar. So I keep a second "clean" jar. I can take my regular working jar, pour it into the sludge container, and then have a jar of clean solvent to start working with. Peanut butter jars work well for this, as they have wide openings that make them easy to clean.</div>
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Tip#6. When painting plein air, secure your canvas or panel to the easel( in case of wind - there's always wind isn't there?) by using the 'wet canvas straps" sold at many online art supply stores. These are stretchy bands hooked together in an "X" shape, with little loops on the end. They are intended to carry wet paintings by wrapping the loops around the corners of the canvas and then holding the middle of the "X" to carry it by.</div>
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I didn't find them very useful for THAT, but they come in mighty handy when painting. I set the panel or canvas on my easel, and then, from the back, attach the loops on the corners...I can adjust for smaller canvases by tying a knot in the strap till it's the right size. this holds the canvas or panel to the easel like a nifty bungie cord. </div>
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This is what the straps look like. I believe they come in a pkg. of 3 different sizes.</div>
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Here's how I attach them to my canvas or panel.(shown from the back, as it would be sitting on my plein air easel). I can tie a knot in the middle to adjust the size.</div>
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Tip #7. Baby wipes work great for cleaning hands while painting. when I'm outside working en plein air, these are especially handy. </div>
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That's it for today.. just a few simple things that work for me.. and maybe y ou'll find them useful too. If you have some favorite tricks, I'd love to hear about them.... I'll add them here!</div>
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<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-43109539590530133132012-01-12T17:59:00.000-07:002012-01-12T17:59:26.216-07:00A Little Celebration of Color<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nBsTiUZhskE/Tw-ANDMeDaI/AAAAAAAADIg/vnIVw2R5bvY/s1600/A+Little+Celebration+of+Color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nBsTiUZhskE/Tw-ANDMeDaI/AAAAAAAADIg/vnIVw2R5bvY/s400/A+Little+Celebration+of+Color.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">16x20 oil/linen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's the latest off the easel... </div><div style="text-align: left;">For a change, I wanted to do a very light background (in this case, all white) and have lots of vibrant color.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Usually, I go for dark backgrounds, and rather muted tones.. this one looks like Carmen Miranda exploded - but it was really a treat to just enjoy all the rich colors of the fruit and flowers. I love the color orange -just love it!! One of these days, I will do a painting all about orange. It was also fun to get the different textures of the fruit, from the smooth s hiny apples, to the pebbly orange and lemons, and the fuzzy peaches.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I have to admit, the peaches were not quite so pretty in real life.. it is not peach season, and our local grocer only had a few, and they were rather "sad". I had to use artistic license -and made them a bit more presentable....</div><div style="text-align: left;">Did not want to get into painting folds and creases of the white cloth, so I settled for some very subtle</div><div style="text-align: left;">indications of wrinkles.. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Doing a very light background requires a different approach.. you can't throw things into shadow as you can with a dark background. There is none of the mystery, and edges become super important as they are presented against the high key backdrop.... A learning experience for sure, and hopefully a successful one.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-56342511172448857672012-01-11T17:11:00.000-07:002012-01-11T17:11:49.596-07:00How to Edit Your Painting Without Picking Up a Brush....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white;">I started working on a piece last night - got a few hours into it, and then this afternoon, set it out to stare at it awhile. Ya'll do that too, right? Sometimes I think I spend as much time staring as painting. That's not always a bad thing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white;">I'll also photograph it and put it in black and white to check values, and reverse the image too.. that helps to sort out any errors as well.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white;">Anyway, after all this staring (accompanied by a cup of tea and a cracker - valuable aids) I knew that I needed to make some changes, and had a good idea what I thought should happen, so I popped it into photoshop to do a "test drive" of my idea. This is a real handy tool.. I just used the drawing tool in a big brush size (it's sort of like painting with gummy worms) and blobbed in some color where I thought the changes needed to be. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white;">If you ever think you need to make some changes to a painting, this is a great way to test it without having to actually paint anything. I've heard of people taking clear mylar or plastic, and painting on THAT on top of the painting - maybe for small changes that might work.. This is easier.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: white;">Okay, enough said... here's the painting. It's still very priliminary,so I'm not worried about anything but the big shapes at this point, and the values. So, don't get your britches in a bunch because the chickens don't look like chickens yet!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ad37ARqyQ5s/Tw4jv1YLxAI/AAAAAAAADIQ/tXi7EndkC-0/s1600/Breakfast+for+the+Girls+WIP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ad37ARqyQ5s/Tw4jv1YLxAI/AAAAAAAADIQ/tXi7EndkC-0/s400/Breakfast+for+the+Girls+WIP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">And now the changes I felt needed to happen:</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">I knew I needed to focus the light more in the one area around the children. I also needed to balance the strong diagonal line from the shadow on the barn.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Additionally, the light just needs to go up in value for the feeling of morning sunlight. There are alot of strong architectural lines here, and I felt the need to balance that with some softer shapes.... </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kRexqSMVP1Y/Tw4j9tCh59I/AAAAAAAADIY/9O8snoKirko/s1600/Breakfast+for+the+Girls+WIP+photoshop+plans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kRexqSMVP1Y/Tw4j9tCh59I/AAAAAAAADIY/9O8snoKirko/s320/Breakfast+for+the+Girls+WIP+photoshop+plans.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">So......</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">I lightened the value of the ground.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">I lightened the shadow value also - more light bouncing around, more of it will refract back into the shadows, so they need to be warmer and lighter.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">I threw almost all the foreground into tree shadows - this focuses the light just around the center of interest - those little kiddos and the chickens- and also balances both the strong lines and the diagonals of the barn shadow. </span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Plus threw a little tree shadow on the barn to break up that line a bit.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Anyway, thought ya'll might be entertained at how you can use photoshop, or gimp (and I'm no expert - this was only using the drawing tool - no layers, nothing fancy) just to do a test drive on your painting without having to risk anything!</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Now I know what I gotta do, and it's very easy for me to visualize it and - hey - that's half the battle right?</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">PS. that's a water pump there in the foreground... don't worry, it'll eventually look like one......</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-59866361465513795812011-12-25T01:37:00.000-07:002011-12-25T01:37:44.508-07:002011, year in review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxXZGa72IB58B7oWf1QukQCQz7XK9pdY_htStVNb1LsJ4dQgmbcVnYpj5VWydu_isdTnWiPl6v7G21tB59jaQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<br />
Here's a collection of photos from the year.. there were so many more I wish I could have included, and then there were things that we just didn't have photos of... but these are all part and parcel of what 2011 brought to us... The year included:<br />
recovery from a serious auto accident<br />
Steve finally getting a job in NM, and moving here, after being apart for over 7 months<br />
a new puppy, Marley, to keep our other pup, Gibbs, company<br />
even better, a beautiful new grandson, David<br />
another grandson on the way (no photos yet!)<br />
lots of exploration in the beautiful mountains of New Mexico<br />
the Hardrock 100 mile run in Colorado<br />
visits from family and friends (some pictured, some not)<br />
the awful, devastating Las Conchas fire<br />
a trip to the Grand Canyon - something we hope to do again<br />
and lastly, a simple Christmas eve run on snowy roads here in the mountains, and a lovely evening at home with Steve and our friend, KZ..<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas to all of you - you are the blessings of our lives, what makes us who we are.<br />
May God bless you, as you remember the real reason for the season.<br />
<br />
"Iin the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His Glory... the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth".<br />
John 1: 1, 14<div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-27841630368493385982011-12-23T00:41:00.000-07:002011-12-23T00:41:16.018-07:00FAV 15% for November FASO contest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PfjXqleD4KI/TvQwFc6J8SI/AAAAAAAADFo/-LMZwZeli1k/s1600/Still+Life+with+Penny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PfjXqleD4KI/TvQwFc6J8SI/AAAAAAAADFo/-LMZwZeli1k/s400/Still+Life+with+Penny.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Still Life with Penny 12x16 oil/linen</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">this one got the nod again for the November Bold Brush painting competition by Fine Art Studio Online.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm pleased, but surprised because this is such a lousy photo. The painting was purchased by a friend, and I'm glad it found a good home.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-32577278838444349292011-12-20T23:18:00.000-07:002011-12-20T23:18:02.871-07:00When Paintings Go Bad.....<div align="CENTER"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Troubleshooting Your Painting</b></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Before you throw it away, go through this list..</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0H9wn1OaYDQ/TvF4tPg56gI/AAAAAAAADFc/hzTORuFMNrM/s1600/badpainting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0H9wn1OaYDQ/TvF4tPg56gI/AAAAAAAADFc/hzTORuFMNrM/s400/badpainting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="western" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">These paintings are from an exhibit in the Austrian Museum of Art.</span> </div><div class="western" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The exhibit was called "Bad Painting, Good Art"</span></div><div class="western" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">really, no kidding.</span></div><div align="CENTER" class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>The major elements of your painting are: concept, composition, drawing, values, light, shadow, color, and edges. </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> So, it makes sense that if something just isn’t working, it’s probably going to be one of these elements that needs to be corrected. Here are some questions to ask yourself if you find that a painting seems blah, or uninteresting, or just doesn’t seem to have that “flow” that you are aiming at. Or maybe just plain wrong somehow… (it happens).</span></span></div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Concept:</b></span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Did you start with a clear idea of what you wanted to communicate, or were you just painting things? </span> </div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If you didn’t have a clear idea, can you frame one now? Can you select a focal point, and then decide which parts of your painting will help communicate that and which might be unnecessary? </span> </div><div class="western">Helpful hint: If you are feeling the need to fill every inch of canvas with something, then it is likely that your center of interest isn’t interesting enough, and you should work at emphasizing it more. Do this before you try to add more “stuff” in there!</div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Composition:</b></span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Is your center of interest placed so that the viewer takes a journey into your painting? If your center of interest is on the left hand side, did you create a visual path to keep the viewer engaged while reaching the focal point?</span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Is your center of interest smack dab in the middle? That’s usually not a good placement. Can you move it?</span></div><div class="western">Helpful hint: Did you remember the “tic tac toe” rule of thumb in arranging your still life?</div><div class="western">Helpful hint #2: Sometimes, cropping a painting down will condense the composition and make it stronger. You can do this in photoshop or equivalent, or use some cardboard or paper to frame in your painting in different ways to see if cropping might help. I frequently use what I call the "band saw editing" process. (ie, cutting down a larger painting into a smaller one)</div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Drawing:</b></span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Have you used perspective correctly? Are you sure?</span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Are objects that should be symmetrical, actually symmetrical? (vases with handles, or other complex shapes are especially bad about getting out of whack!)</span></div><div class="western">Helpful hint: View your painting backwards in a mirror. This gives you a more objective view of what you’ve painted, without your own preconceived notions. Many flaws are revealed this way, unfortunately! But it’s a great way to find the flaws so you can correct them! </div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Values:</b></span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Does your painting have a good range of values? </span> </div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Where is the darkest dark and the lightest light? Do these areas coincide with your center of interest?</span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Are there too many little value changes? Lots of choppy little areas? Can you simplify the values (NOT the colors) to only have 4 or 5 major values? </span> </div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Helpful hint: try using color temperature INSTEAD of value changes to show form and light/shadow changes. </span> </div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Light: </b></span> </div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Did you select a single light source? If not, can you eliminate all but one light source? (this is especially noticeable in painting highly reflective objects like metal or glass)</span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Is your subject effectively lit? </span> </div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Is there a flow of light across your painting? If not, how can you create that?</span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Have you given visual clues that there is intense light? (halation, letting colors flow into the atmosphere around them, reflected lights?)</span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Is all of your light the same color? Do you have areas that look like there is warmish golden light on them, and some things that look like there is bluish cool light? Light needs to be consistent in color.</span></div><div class="western">Helpful hint: If everything looks the same as far as light goes, try putting some things into shadow, or lessening the value changes on some of the less important elements, so that your center of interest can really be the star.</div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Shadows:</b></span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Do your shadows have too sharp edges? Remember that cast shadows are most sharp where they touch the object, and become more diffuse and softer the further away from the object they go. </span> </div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Are your shadows warm enough? Remember the rule, cool light/warm shadows.</span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Warm light/ cool shadows. Unless you are painting morning or afternoon light coming through a window, your light on a still life is probably cool. That means your shadows should be painted warm. Shadows even on a white cloth should not be blue, but a warm orangey green.</span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Form shadows might be a cooler, darker version of the object, but cast shadows will always be warm.</span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Do your shadows reflect the shape of the object? Form shadows should follow the contours of the object.</span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Hint: If your shadows look flat, or solid, they are probably not warm. Try adding a whisper of cad yellow, red, or orange to your shadow mixture. </i></span> </div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Helpful hint #2. If you can’t decide what color your light is, put a piece of white paper under the light. Place something on it that will cast a shadow. Look at that shadow, and observe the color. Warm or cool? The answer will tell you what color your light is.</i></span></div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Color:</b></span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Color is tough! There’s a couple of important things to note about color:</span></div><ol><li><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Color should serve the greater purpose of the painting – which, if realness is what we’re after, is to condense and find the truth and the essence of something. Color shouldn’t be used just because it’s “pretty”, but because it enhances that reality. Intelligently choose your colors!</span></div></li>
<li><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Lots of bright, out-of-the-tube color, all juxtaposed next to each other, usually does not serve to create an effective sense of light. Decide which is more important to you: bright color, or a light effect, and then plan your color. </span> </div></li>
<li><div class="western"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There should be a certain color strategy for your painting, and usually, the focus of attention should have the richest, warmest color. Some color strategies are </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><u>opposites </u></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(for example, a red focal point against a green background, or variations of purple and yellow) or use of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><u>rich color against NO color.</u></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(for example, an orange against a neutral gray background)</span></span></div></li>
</ol><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Ask yourself these questions if your color seems dull, or muddy, or icky.</span></div><ol><li><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Do you have a color strategy? </span> </div></li>
<li><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Have you mixed your colors too much? Try to avoid mixing more than 3 colors at a time in any one mixture.</span></div></li>
<li><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Would adding small areas of pure color enhance your objective? Especially on your center of interest?</span></div></li>
<li><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Do your white objects have enough color in them? White is never really “white” except in the very lightest highlight. Mix a “dark white” for the local color of a white cloth, for example, and leave room for both highlights and shadow color.</span></div></li>
<li><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Are your transitions too blended? Color needs “boundaries” to exist as color. In other words, we recognize color by comparing it to what is next to it. If everything fades into a blur, colors get lost too. Think about using transition colors to show form instead of blending everything together.. Maybe try mixing a light, dark, and middle value for the objects you are painting.</span></div></li>
</ol><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Helpful hint: Select an area of your painting to receive the richest color (usually your center of interest) and use it fearlessly there!</i></span></div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Edges:</b></span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The more I paint, the more I am convinced of the importance of edges. </span> </div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Are your edges dynamic? (do they vary between hard and soft?) If they are all the same, can you sharpen some edges, and soften others?</span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Can you look for a place to “lose” an edge? This would be where two values or colors are quite similar. </span> </div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Are your inside edges (where light meets shadow) soft enough?</span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Can you create a sense of depth and space by using softer edges in background objects?</span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Have you inadvertently painted an “outline” around anything? </span> </div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Does your background seem to purposefully turn around your objects? (this is bad)</span></div><div class="western"><i>Helpful hint: Look at your center of interest, and check to see if it has a variety of edges</i>. </div><div class="western"><br />
</div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If none of these things seem to point you towards a solution, then you have my permission to scrape it all down, or throw it away. It is, after all, only a painting. Learn from it, and go on. But first, go have a cookie. Cookies cure lots of things. </span></div><div class="western"><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-78432058545325642662011-12-07T21:17:00.000-07:002011-12-07T21:17:56.363-07:00Making a Copy of a Remington painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Kp7zIPlnak/TuAxd3kKCDI/AAAAAAAADBo/h48_-akO3vM/s1600/12+FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Kp7zIPlnak/TuAxd3kKCDI/AAAAAAAADBo/h48_-akO3vM/s400/12+FINAL.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> after Frederick Remington's "The Cowboy"</div><div style="text-align: center;">11x14 oil/panel</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sometimes studying the art of a painter that you admire can be extremely beneficial. One of my favorite artists is Frederick Remington. His paintings inspired me when I was a young girl and probably played a big part in my wanting to be a painter. So today's project was to copy one of Remington's paintings. I took a few photos as I worked and will show the progression. Total work time was about 5 hours. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RmNpwJiREh0/TuAyBcaGnEI/AAAAAAAADB4/Du4c8qIjDXc/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RmNpwJiREh0/TuAyBcaGnEI/AAAAAAAADB4/Du4c8qIjDXc/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The Set Up</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the reference photo and the drawing, which I transferred to the panel using vine charcoal and a small fixative to keep it in place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9H5Q8Vh31M/TuAyGxG4luI/AAAAAAAADCA/-4fWQvtfxW4/s1600/1A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9H5Q8Vh31M/TuAyGxG4luI/AAAAAAAADCA/-4fWQvtfxW4/s320/1A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A close up of the drawing. I cropped the original painting, which was a taller vertical format, to fit a panel which I had handy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ei-l9LXZ3j0/TuAyPTZ6fpI/AAAAAAAADCI/Zx7m6eqeolM/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ei-l9LXZ3j0/TuAyPTZ6fpI/AAAAAAAADCI/Zx7m6eqeolM/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Here I am simply filling in an average color and value for the major shapes. Not worried about detail, just covering the canvas and getting rid of the white. This is pretty much how I would proceed on any painting, except I don't usually do a detailed drawing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R7Z3xLQUrlM/TuAyWoz0cqI/AAAAAAAADCQ/bJLSsjJT2Ds/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R7Z3xLQUrlM/TuAyWoz0cqI/AAAAAAAADCQ/bJLSsjJT2Ds/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Now I'm finished putting down all the color - I left some of the mane and tail of the horse because those brushstrokes would need to be a one shot deal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x4oD1wNk-JY/TuAyg8MywYI/AAAAAAAADCY/4BZAT26wY9Y/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x4oD1wNk-JY/TuAyg8MywYI/AAAAAAAADCY/4BZAT26wY9Y/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I've started on the cowboy, the center of interest. Getting the main object down in a painting can help you to know how to finish the rest of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zPmCzbpc7uM/TuAypmpnlqI/AAAAAAAADCg/pOFg9YPTyHs/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zPmCzbpc7uM/TuAypmpnlqI/AAAAAAAADCg/pOFg9YPTyHs/s320/5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Changes now will be smaller. Work from the large light and shadow shapes and start breaking those big shapes into smaller shapes of light and dark, color and temperature. This was both easier and harder in trying to mimic Remington's work. Easier because I just had to see what he had already done and try to follow it. Harder, because I had to see what he had done and try to follow it! Though Remington's style of painting is not too far removed from how I typically work, he was working on a canvas, and i was working on a panel, which made getting some of the texture a bit difficult. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XII4Xbhx3Ko/TuAyyRiUEZI/AAAAAAAADCo/NZ32syceh_Y/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XII4Xbhx3Ko/TuAyyRiUEZI/AAAAAAAADCo/NZ32syceh_Y/s320/6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Still just moving around the figure to bring it to completion. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yPoJwMmjNeo/TuAy6VpNGtI/AAAAAAAADCw/VhrsOkb0AcI/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yPoJwMmjNeo/TuAy6VpNGtI/AAAAAAAADCw/VhrsOkb0AcI/s320/7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The face was really small, and I found it difficult to get the kind of detail that was needed. I don't have brushes small enough! I settle for an "approximation".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-arG0QQzfPzc/TuAzE-t6NxI/AAAAAAAADC4/d-QwO5eNlzU/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-arG0QQzfPzc/TuAzE-t6NxI/AAAAAAAADC4/d-QwO5eNlzU/s320/8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It's getting there. Remington used some really dark shadow colors. I think he probably used black, which I don't usually have on my palette. The small card I used mostly for reference did not give me all the information I really needed - I had a larger image in a book, but the colors were quite different and I never was sure which one was closest to the truth.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HXKOXzl2l0Y/TuAzNGYVt4I/AAAAAAAADDA/_s_sTDABN38/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HXKOXzl2l0Y/TuAzNGYVt4I/AAAAAAAADDA/_s_sTDABN38/s320/9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Just a little work on the horse's head ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DvKTTBm0LIs/TuAzYN1Mp2I/AAAAAAAADDI/Tm6r9GqXB88/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DvKTTBm0LIs/TuAzYN1Mp2I/AAAAAAAADDI/Tm6r9GqXB88/s320/10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> the cowboy is just about done, and now I'm bringing the horse to a finish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Kp7zIPlnak/TuAxd3kKCDI/AAAAAAAADBo/h48_-akO3vM/s1600/12+FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Kp7zIPlnak/TuAxd3kKCDI/AAAAAAAADBo/h48_-akO3vM/s320/12+FINAL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and here's the final! This last image is color corrected - the in-progress shots were shot in natural light while on the easel and tend to be a little cooler than actual.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So what did I learn? Well for starters, to really try to do an actual "copy" is a very big project. This is more of an approximation - the image looks very close, but the brushwork is quite different than Remington's sketchy, textured work. And, just the intense studying I had to do in trying to paint this was educational in how Remington used color, edges, and temperature. And to think he painted from life, not photos! Amazing. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Remington documented the West like almost nobody else, telling the stories of the frontiersmen, native americans, and the military, so that we today have a record of those days.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I put these images together in a short video, so you can see it morph from beginning to end...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz_i3mqeHQiAHSc7e-kblmkLSDvkvT5xv3howIynbHo_nBs533p-tfcT20Bey3eJNweUxgrwP9FiW_w0QTOQg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-39435675047430375022011-12-06T18:05:00.000-07:002011-12-06T18:05:29.549-07:00Team Ropers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bS5OsfbLyRI/Tt66OVp7MlI/AAAAAAAADBM/91F4S_G2XUw/s1600/Team+Ropers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bS5OsfbLyRI/Tt66OVp7MlI/AAAAAAAADBM/91F4S_G2XUw/s400/Team+Ropers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Team Ropers 8x14 oil/panel</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I started this one several weeks ago, using some great rodeo photos supplied by fellow artist friend Max. I just finally got it back out and finished it today. This action took place at a small rodeo in AZ. In team roping, one guy will try to rope the steer around his horns, and the other roper will go for his back legs. He's called the heeler. In this pair, the guy on the white horse is actually the heeler, though in this painting, as they have just started the chase after the steer, you can't really tell. Sadly, after it was all said and done, the heeler missed and they didn't score...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am playing around a little more with the palette knife and used that for the background, and all those spectators. Sometimes less is more (most of the time, actually) and just indicting the presence of the folks on the bleachers and by the arena railing seemed better to me than getting bogged down in tiny little figures detailed. Besides, all the action and interest is up front and center! Which is a good thing to remember - the focus of a painting, whatever that might be, should be the area with the most defined edges, color saturation, and contrast. Everything else should be sort of like looking out of your peripheral vision. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, it is going to be below zero again tonight, so gotta go stoke that woodstove again! Brrrrrr!!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-3966054726635083092011-11-27T08:48:00.001-07:002011-11-27T16:48:03.255-07:00Holiday Show and Sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s2x3DUrUCgA/TtJaslIzluI/AAAAAAAAC9A/kdTaTfd1AVk/s1600/holiday2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s2x3DUrUCgA/TtJaslIzluI/AAAAAAAAC9A/kdTaTfd1AVk/s400/holiday2011.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><br />
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The gallery in Jemez Springs, NM, where I exhibit, is hosting a holiday show entitled, (as you can see) The Gift of Art. Member artists will be presenting works of art, all under $250. I have a number of small works in the show, all priced VERY reasonably, way below normal retail, just for this show. Some unframed works are also there at very reduced pricing. If you're in the area, please stop by !<br />
We're having a holiday reception Sat., December 10 at the gallery, complete with Christmas lights, a bonfire, and goodies - it'll be fun - come get toasty by the fire and enjoy some good food and drink and art!<br />
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ps. I'm pleased to report that two of the paintings I dropped off at the gallery today have been purchased! The greatest compliment that anyone can pay is to buy a painting.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6128580376710434981.post-64216209013434895362011-11-13T23:05:00.000-07:002011-11-13T23:05:29.298-07:00Another Portrait, color this time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OhlyCoflj8Y/TsCuU5T8efI/AAAAAAAAC5U/TMYUO4TradQ/s1600/Gary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OhlyCoflj8Y/TsCuU5T8efI/AAAAAAAAC5U/TMYUO4TradQ/s400/Gary.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gary 9x12 oil/panel</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I frequent an artist website called Wetcanvas.com. Check it out if you've not been there - great resource, forums for every conceivable art topic or media, friendly and encouraging folks. In the portraiture forum, each year around this time they do a portrait swap. Folks get randomly paired up,and the partners paint portraits of each other (from photos, of course). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So, this is my portrait swap partner, Gary, a very fine pastel artist. I can't wait to see his rendition of me. I told him to make me look younger. :-) I find working from photos really, really hard, if you are trying to get accurate skin tones, and a likeness too. I hope Gary likes his painting...</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Debra Pero Fine Art http://debpero.com</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01799016923038189074noreply@blogger.com6