Kronberg in the Fall

Oil on 24x30cm linen canvas

I painted this scene because I wanted to capture the beautiful colors we've had this fall!  This is the view of a small village close to where we live in Germany, the castle at the top of the village overlooks the houses below and then all the beautiful fall colors all around, truly a beautiful sight!

View of the Castle, Königstein im Taunus

Oil on 50x60cm linen wrapped canvas

SOLD

I just finished this painting today.  This is another  scene of Koenigstein in Germany.  The castle ruins with the village below.  The kids and I love to walk around the old ruins and you can get really nice views of Frankfurt from the tower!

Annecy, France

Oil on 40x60cm Linen wrapped canvas

 

We visited family in Annecy a few weeks ago.  Annecy has a very cute old town and canals that go into a large lake, the water is very clear and has this beautiful light green color.  I highly recommend a visit if you can as it is well worth it!

Königstein, Germany

Oil on 11x16in wrapped canvas

SOLD

Well after a few months of being away and not painting, here's my first painting in Germany!  This is a little down from where we live, a small quaint village about 15 minutes from Frankfurt.  I have to say it's been a little challenging moving to a different country, just lots of stuff to figure out and of course the language barrier too!  We're getting there though!  I got together with a group of very nice women to paint and that pushed me into getting started again, thankfully!

Koenigstein im Taunus Castle ruins

5.5 x 8.5 in Pen and Pastel on toned paper

Well, we're finally settled in Germany!  It's been a hectic month and lots of new experiences.  We're going to love living here, I can already tell, but it's always hard to leave family and friends and start new somewhere else.  I'm working very hard at learning German.  I did make it to the castle today to do a little sketching in pen and pastels.  I still don't have my easel set up and I need to go buy some paint to start painting!  The kids will go back to school at the end of next month so I want to be ready to start painting then!  Hope everyone is doing well and having a great summer!

The Academy of Fine Art annual exhibition flyer - Join us!

 

We'll be having our annual exhibition at The Academy of Fine Art next week, it should be a fun event and lots of good art to admire!  The week after, my family and I fly to Germany for our 2-3 year assignment!  I haven't had time to paint lately nor admire all of my blogger friends' work so I apologize for being absent!  Hopefully, when we're settled in our new home, I'll get back to the painting world!  See you soon and keep painting!

Heidelberg, Germany

Oil on 30x40inches deep wrap canvas

I just finished this painting after working on it for a few weeks.  It's a large one, 30x40, and so many details!  This is from us visiting Heidelberg in Germany a few months ago, such a beautiful town!  We were standing on the castle when we took this picture.

Barn in Plein Air

Oil on 8x10 deep wrap canvas

 

We did an afternoon of plein air last week at the Academy.  A lot of fun but I definitely need an umbrella if I'm going to paint outside, it was hot and I got sunburned!  I really enjoyed painting the red barn and being outside, a nice change from painting in the studio.

Finished Cast Painting

Oil on 20x26 Wrap linen canvas

 

After many many months of work on this project, I finally completed my cast painting last week.  This is what I've been working on in the mornings in my studio at the Academy.  The bust painting itself was completed about a month ago but then I had to get started on the lace around it.  It was a challenge but so happy that I stuck with it.  An invaluable lesson in patience and technique! 

Below is a collection of pictures I took throughout the weeks, ignore the glare in some of these, it can be hard to photograph!  I also included a picture of the setup in my studio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farm

Ink pen and Pastel

 

I have to say that I'm enjoying bringing my sketch book with me.  I've always avoided sketching because I didn't enjoy the pencil and pens tend to dry up quickly but I found some new ink pens and I love adding the color of the pastels.  Definitely easier than bringing my paints!  I did this sketch this morning during my daughter's horseback riding lesson.  It was cold so I could even stay in the car!

Sketches from Florida

 

Ink pen and pastel on 5.5 x 8.5 in toned sketch paper

 

I did some sketching while in Florida this past week.  I really enjoyed doing ink pen with pastel as it was easy to carry with me and different to work with then oil paint.

Krista

Oil on 18x24 canvas paper

 

This is the latest life figure painting from the Academy.

Portrait Day 5 - Final

Oil on 24x18 Canvas paper

 

Today was the last day for this portrait.  I mostly worked on the hair, the background and the shirt trying to get it to a finished stage. 

Portrait Day 4

Oil on 18x24 Canvas paper

 

It's amazing how many things still need to be worked on after 4 days!  I never thought I could spend so much time on a portrait in the past but the Academy is certainly teaching me a lot!

Portrait Day 3

Oil on 24x18 Canvas paper

 

Day 3 of the portrait class, 2 more to go!

Portrait Day 2

Oil on 18x24 Canvas paper

 

Day 2 of portrait class, 3 more days to work on it!

Portrait Day 1 and Life Figure

Oil on 18x24 Canvas paper

Day 1 of 5

 

Oil on 18x24 Canvas paper - 1 day study

 

We started a portrait class this Tuesday so this is from day 1.  I'll have 5 more days to work on it so still at beginning stages.  The life figure is from today.  I only had today to work on it since we'll be going house hunting in Germany next week!

 

Woman Reclined

Oil on 18x24 Canvas paper

 

Just finished a 7 day pose at the Academy.  Such a treat to paint a beautiful lady during her last few weeks of pregnancy!  She was a trooper and it was fun to see the baby moving around!

Life Figure

Oil - 18x12 on Canvas paper

 

Oil - 18x24 on canvas paper

 

 

Well it's been awhile!  I guess last time I posted something was before Christmas and we all know how busy a time that it!  Not that I haven't been working or painting!  The paintings above are from Figure Life classes at the Academy.  The woman is a 3 hour study whereas the man was a 6-day.

 

 

I have big news!  In June, my family and I are moving to Germany for a few years for my husband's job!  We'll be living in Frankfurt and I'm very excited!  I'll have to put school on hold for a few years but hopefully pick it back up when we return.  I'm hoping for a lot of painting inspiration while we're in Europe. :)