Happy Holidays !

Happy Holidays! and Merry Christmas!

"Inspiration" is back!

Snowmen

6"x6" Soft pastels on Canson paper

I added this work to the latest Collaboration project "Christmas Tree" from "Art Sharing 21".

Check the site and add your contribution!

Collaboration Project *Happy Thanksgiving!

This is for "Art Sharing 21".

My part -on the right side -was done with Oil Pastels on green paper.

Visit "Art Sharing 21" for more projects.

Happy Thanksgiving !

Collaboration Project * Halloween puzzle

This is a new collaboration project at "Art Sharing 21" : "Halloween puzzle"

Barbara Giordano - witch

RodiMad - black cat

Elena Malec - owl

Nancie Johnson - pumpkin

Collaboration Project * Tulip

I joined a new beautiful and interesting blog "Art Sharing 21" created by Elena Malec, where artists and art lovers can meet and work together on a project -online, in order to create "in a team effort something beautiful in the spirit of peace and harmony" as Elena said.

First project was a "Tulip" (2 pieces: the flower and the leaves)

My part -the leaves - Oil pastel on Canson Mi-Teintes paper

After Nancie Johnson completed the flower and I finished the leaves, without communicating with each other, Elena assembled and finished the work.

Please check this site , enjoy and... join!

Corner with Flowers

5"x7" Oil pastels on Canson paper

It is just a corner from a beautiful photo with flowers, provided at "Studio Atelier" for this month's Challenge. Check this site to see the other works.

Reflections

detail (from 12"x16") Oil on canvas

For "Inspirations All Around Us" Challenge blog.

"Royal Gala"

5"x7" Oil pastel on Canson paper

A new performance, two works posted in the same day!

This time is for "Paint and Draw Together" Challenge 9.

I tried something new, oil pastel.

Exploring Pastel

5"x7" Soft pastel on Canson Pastel paper

This beautiful rose is for "Inspiration All Around Us" September- October Challenge.

It is my first work in pastel.

I should name it "Rose Elena", because she gave me the first informations and lessons for working with pastels.

So, thank you Elena!!

Lemon

5"x7" Oil on masonite

This is for "Rookie painter", September challenge - lemon.

Bizarre Autumn

16"x20" Oil on canvas

An older, bizarre, unusual autumn.

"Greedy Chipmunk"

8"x10" Oil on masonite

For July, a little greedy chipmunk for Gary's "Wilderness Art Challenge".

"Cute little frog"

8"x10" Oil on masonite

This cute little frog is my submission for James Parker's "Windows to the Words Art Challenge" July. The submissions are here.

"Hydrangea"

7"x9" Oil on canvas

A little bit of hydrangea for Dana Marie's "Inspiration All Around Us" July 6th - July 19th "Enduring Grace". Beautiful this flower!

"Cherries"

6"x8" Oil on canvas

It is done for the nice challenge blog "Rookie Painter" July.

"Yummy"

4"x4" oil on canvas

This is my contribution for Dana Marie's challenge blog "Inspiration All Around Us" - June.

It is done from a beautiful photo posted (on that blog) by Elena Malec. Yummy!

"Mule Deer"

8"x10" Oil on canvas panel

I submitted this work to a very nice blog, Gary Keimig's "Wilderness Art Challenge"

I love animals!

"June Paintout Hawaii"

"Honolulu" 8x10 Oil on masonite

Reference photo

This is my entry to Bill Guffey's "The Virtual Paintout" - June.

" Washington's Palouse "

8"x10" Oil on canvas panel

This is my submission for Dana Marie' Blog

"Inspiration All Around Us" June challenge.

Check this site to see the original photograph

and the other interpretations.

"American Beauty"

8"x10" oil on masonite

This is a challenge painting for another great blog, James Parker's

"Windows to the Words" -newly discovered. The submissions are

posted on "Windows to the Words ART".

Above is the "American Painted Lady" butterfly through my eyes.

ADNW "Sedona Sunrise"

8"x10" oil on canvas panel

This was done for another wonderful challenge blog "A Day Not Wasted".

So far, great pictures!

Something Older

12"x16" oil on masonite

Another old reproduction of a painting "Mother and Child" by Camil Ressu.

Another Master

13"x19" oil on masonite

This older work is (almost) a copy of Camil Ressu' "Harvesters at Rest" (painted in 1925).

He lived from 1880 to 1962. 
I like his paintings and I have always been fascinated by the colours he used.

A few stages

Here are a few stages of the previous work -Renaissance.

Using a grid, I started drawing the image on a piece of

masonite (treated with acrylic Gesso).

Next, I used a wash of raw umber and turpentine.

Then I started to add colours. Checking often the original

image of the painting, I adjusted the colours, adding

layer after layer and blending-blending-blending.

The last image, RV at work :)

Italian Renaissance Study

8"x10" oil on masonite

This portrait is done after "Christ, the Man of Sorrows" by Giampietrino (1500-1540),

a follower of Leonardo da Vinci.

I did it for Michelle Burnett's blog "Following the Masters" , March Challenge.

I enjoyed very much painting it.

Thanks Michelle for your wonderful blog!

Dracula's Castle

12"x24" oil on canvas

Did you hear about "The Count Dracula" legend?

He is the main character of the Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula".

Although the novel is fiction, there are some historical connections between the character and Vlad, Prince of Wallachia (Southern region of Romania), best known as "Vlad the Impaler", faimous for his resistance against The Ottoman Empire and for his cruel punishments.

Bran Castle, commonly known as "Dracula's Castle" is described in the novel as the Count's home.

A few other interesting facts you can find here and here.

An old bridge

20"x28" oil on canvas

"Happy International Women's Day to all Ladies!"

FTM "Irish Girl"

10"x10" oil on masonite

I did this for the "Following The Masters" blog, February's Challenge.

First image represents the original "Irish Girl" by American painter Robert Henri (1865-1929).

"Waiting for Spring"

12"x16" oil on canvas

We are now in the middle of winter. Some of us have a lot of snow, storms, strong winds, cold or extreme cold weather.

However it is nice thinking in a few weeks, spring will finally come.

"River"

14"x18" Oil on canvas

Winter Again

10"x12" oil on canvas

Sometimes it is nice in winter.

Winter Time

10"x12" oil on canvas

Winter time.

Portrait of "A woman"

12"x16" oil on canvas

Happy New Year!

I have skipped the last challenge of my favorite blog DSFDF not wanted someone get upset,

however I post an older portrait of "a woman".