100 Faces, large oils

Here are 4 new panels, part of my series of 100 faces, people killed in Iraq. These are oil on panel, 24 by 33" each.

More paintings from 100 Faces

More oil paintings

Start of 100 Faces Project

Here are my first paintings of 100 Faces, soldiers who have died in Iraq, all since 2004. As I listen to the news, soldiers who have died are portrayed as if they are statistics. ....."4 more soldiers killed in Iraq......" The references for my pieces come from the CNN website, you can go over and read all the names, ages, where people were from, and how, supposedly, they were killed. 19,20,19,23,28,22, years old. I have created 100 drawings and now I am working in oils for larger paintings.

Painting on Shaw Island

Just returned from a Great painting weekend on Shaw, here are some of the oils. Old reef net boats, hauled out on the shore.

September Workshop

Just finished with a great plein air workshop here on San Juan Island in early September. Here are a few plein air oil demonstration paintings during our 4 days. Very nice group of people, some beginners, some working as professional artists. Larry Bennett, pictured while he was painting at Jensen'e shipyard, arrived in Friday Harbor via his own boat. On the last day, he took us all out to a non-ferry island where we painted at Jones Island. The painting with the sailboat anchored up, and Orcas Island in the background was done from Jones. Larry is captured on canvas painting inbetween 2 old boats, hauled out and on blocks. The other pieces were at private homes. One with beautiful red barked Madronna trees, the other, a sunny front door on San Juan Island. Just set dates for 2007 workshop, July 8th, one day and Sept, 6,7,8,9 for an indelth 4 day. More info at www.sanjuanartworkshops.com Annie

Hey there, just starting with my blog, hope to post paintings as they happen, or complete, or even in progress. I work in oils, sketch, teach, and learn all the time. My interests range from abstract to plein air to figural to portraits. Different ways of working, all good.
Most recently I've been experimenting with making my own frames, starting with lumber, making linen covered liners, and distessed frames. Nice to have color input in frames. I find framing can be a giant headache, so I'm getting into the idea of making my own. Like a distressed look with multiple layers of colors, dark turquoise over burnt red, things I can't find in a frame shop, or couldn't afford. I like the idea of creating an environment for a painting. Just read an interesting book about the history of frames. There was a fantastic frame made by Picasso for one of his cubist painting. The frame was fairly flat and wide, he had added a zig-zag down each side, with a 3-d effect. it went perfectly with the painting. I'm guessing he took plaster and formed his zig zag into the plaster and then painted the whole thing when dry. Fast setting sheet rock mud might be a good compound for fooling around with textures. Anybody out there tried this?