BECKY JOY ADDING COLOR TO MY LIFE

Arizona Canyon oil landscape painting by Becky Joy

2012-01-28T19:10:00.000-08:00

"Arizona Wash" oil 11"x14" $600. Click here to buy.

I spent the day in the studio painting and preparing canvases. I needed to record a video for my online workshop working on brushwork. I chose a photo to work from. I was drawn to the bright yellow trees in the wash with the contrast of the dark rocks behind them. I moved things around and changed colors a little. I wanted the light yellow/greens of the trees contrasting against the dark warm violets of the rocks. It was a fun painting to paint with the texture and colors. Rocks are always something that I enjoy painting.

Feb is just a few days away. I have my PDF Febuary 2012 calendar page ready for you to download on the home page.My website Art Workshops Online has a new article about my value sketches with photo below from my sketchbook.

Becky Joy
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
Art Workshops Online
My Website

Painting from a plein air in the studio by Becky Joy

2012-01-25T16:08:00.001-08:00

"Rock Springs" oil 24"x30" $2900.

Click here to buy.

I starting painting this from a plein air painting that I had several months ago. I quickly blocked it in and did some work to it. I sent off the plein air painting called, The Source" oil 9x12", to the American Impressionist Society National Show. The painting sold right away. So, I no longer had my reference except for photos. I really wasn't happy with the work that I did to it before. Today, I finally got back to it and realized some of the problems that I had with the painting. Since it is a larger piece than the other one, I opened the sky a little on the left side. I also had grayed some of the colors too much. I lightened the trunks of the trees, put more light into the trees and made the colors much more vibrant. I went into the painting with much more gusto with the brush today.

Some days just feel more confident and ready to tackle anything. This was one of those days. It didn't take too long for me to get the painting on the right track. I also find that when I'm duplicating a painting, I need to put away the original one (in this case, the photo). It's important to look at the painting for itself. To do whatever that particular painting needs. Anyway, I feel much better about this now.Yesterday, I just got the news that I am invited to the Grand Canyon Plein Air in Sept 2012. So far, that is three acceptances for the new year, the Outdoor Painters Society Member show in Dallas, Telluride Plein Air and now GC.

Becky Joy
http://beckyjoy.com
http://artworkshopsonline. com
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

plein air oil landscape metal junk Arizona by Becky Joy

2012-01-24T21:38:00.001-08:00

Kit's Library of Visual Solutions 14"x11" plein air oil

$600. Click here to buy.

I had such a fun time painting out on location today. Not the typical pretty picture, but a painting of metal "junk". Or, as my friend Aryana says " Kit's Library of Visual Solutions". I went to my artist friends, Aryana and Kit's the morning to paint. They have so many interesting things on their property. I always enjoy the visual treat. I've even taken my friend Deb Groesser to their place to paint. We spent a day their. Previously, I've posted and painted their old jalopy truck "Giovanni". Kit is a metal sculptor and jeweler, thus his library of visual solutions.

Today I just got the news that I'm invited to the Grand Canyon Plein Air for Sep 2012. I'm very excited about how 2012 is shaping up.

Becky Joy
http://beckyjoy.com
http://artworkshopsonline.com
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Fall Color Aspen Trees by Becky Joy

2012-01-20T16:11:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
I finally finished this painting, a 36"x32" oil. I started it about 6 months ago, lost interest or momentum on it. Set it aside. And got it back out yesterday. I worked on it yesterday, thought I was finished, but no. I went to photograph it today and realized I still needed a lot of work on it. I put it back up on the easel and thought I finished about 5 more times, each time photographing it, seeing something that needed to be done and working on it more. I THINK I'm done now. I hope so. I feel like I'm done with it.

Last night I went to the Putney Painters opening at Legacy Gallery. Of course, it was wonderful. After visiting some of the other galleries, I even had to go back and look at them again. I saw a few friends at the show and on the street (going to the galleries). Qiang Huang was there with his two magnificent paintings. For someone from Austin, I sure run into him I think every time he has come to Phoenix, 3 maybe 4 times now. Daniel Keys paintings were some of my favorites and of course, Richard Schmidt's. There's always so much to take in at these shows. Love it.

Becky
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
My Daily Paintings
Art Workshops Online
My Website

Daily sunset landscape painting by Becky Joy

2012-01-19T16:44:00.000-08:00

Sunset Serenade oil 6"x6" Click here to bid at $95.

This is another painting from my imagination. I wanted to have a green sky. The pink clouds contrast nicely with it.
Today I had a great painting day. I finished two small paintings that are being set aside for the 5 C's art project for the Arizona Centennial. I also finished a large painting of aspen trees that had been sitting aside in the studio waaaay too long. I saw that a painter has one day a week to finish unfinished paintings. I wonder if I could be that organized? Nah!!
Tonight I'm going down to Scottsdale for the art walk and to see the Putney Painters Exhibit at Legacy Gallery. I'll let you know about it later.
Becky Joy
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
http://beckyjoy.com
http://artworkshopsonline.com

The Brown Onion

2012-01-16T17:05:00.000-08:00

Brown Onion oil 6"x6"

$95. Click here to bid.

Today I made a video for my online workshops about value studies. I continued afterward with this small still life painting. It's been a while since I've done a still life and I love painting onions, such wonderful colors. I kept the colors all cool to contrast against the warmths of the onion.

I also got the great news today that I am invited to the 2012 Telluride Plein Air Event in July. This is one that is really exciting for me.

Becky Joy

http://artworkshopsonline.com

http://beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Sedona daily oil painting

2012-01-09T16:51:00.000-08:00

6x8 plein air oil landscape $150.

Hi everyone,

I painted this at dawn in Sedona. Some of the lower layers of rock are a lighter color appearing orange in the warm sunlight. I've been getting ready for shows lately and finishing paintings that are laying around in the studio. Sometimes they just seem to stack up. To me the most exciting part about painting is the beginning. Unfortunately, sometimes I lose momentum and interest in a painting if I am interupted or take a break.

My blogpost on Art Workshops Online is about painting blue skies, the variety of colors to use when painting seemingly one color. More on the post.

Becky Joy

My Website

Art Workshops Online

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Texas Hill Country Sunset Painting

2012-01-03T15:52:00.001-08:00

Last Light oil 11x14" $600. Click here to buy.I worked in the studio today trying to finish some paintings for shows. I had some ideas to start on, but this one won out today.I started with a photo from the Texas Hill Country. When I was staying at my son's home, I took a walk and came across this road. I love the shape of it. I've walked down in that area a couple of times and each time came across some deer. Certainly not unusual in Texas. I've also hit one with my car there. We both came out of that one OK.
Becky Joy
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
http://beckyjoy.com
http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com
http://artworkshopsonline.com

Becky Joy, Workshops and sunset oil painting

2012-01-02T16:05:00.001-08:00

Mountain Light oil 6" x 8" $150. Click here to bid.

I made a little drawing over the weekend and had a definite concept in mind. I searched through photos and came up with a photo from Colorado with the meandering stream flowing through the valley. I played with the color and came up with this sunset leaving most of the painting in shadow.

Make sure and check out my workshops. I have an online 4 week workshop starting Jan 23 for $150. Learn from the comfort of your home at your own pace. Click here for more information.

Plein air workshop at the Superstitions, one day Jan 15, $85. Click here for more information.

Becky Joy

http://beckyjoy.com

http://artworkshopsonline.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Christmas Lights plein air oil painting by Becky Joy

2011-12-29T14:51:00.000-08:00

Christmas Lights oil 6"x6" landscape

I painted this two nights ago in the front yard looking down my street. I wanted to capture the Christmas lights before they were gone, not too much time left. I had a great environment around me. I had my clip on lights and all set up, then Mike brought the chiminea over by me and lit a fire. A nice cozy scene. I've never had it so good painting in cools weather, about 40 degrees. It was great. When I finished the painting, we sat in front of the fire and warmed up until the fire died down.

I hope to get some more done before the lights are gone. If I don't get out there right after dinner, it just doesn't seem to get done.

My online workshop, a 4 week session, is starting on Jan 9. The reviews have been really good from those that took my first session ending around Thanksgiving. I love it when people are happy. Hope to have some of you give it a try. Go to ArtWorkshopsOnline to see more about the workshop. I also have more information about my night time plein air setup on ArtWorkshopsOnline.

Becky

http://beckyjoy.com

http://artworkshopsonline.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Moon rise oil landscape painting by BECKY Joy

2011-12-27T16:11:00.000-08:00

Rising Moon oil 6"x6" $95. bid on ebay.

Hi everyone, I guess I'm getting in the mood for nightscapes. I painted this one today while playing with color. I've always loved those orange rising moons. It was difficult to photograph this painting. The blues always photograph lighter causing the orange moon not to glow as much in the photo as it does in the painting. I tried photographing it again, but came up with the same results. Blue I have found always causes a problem in photography.

Tomorrow I will post my nightscape, hopefully. I have an online session of workshops starting in Jan., 4 weeks for $150. Check it out at Art Workshops Online.

Talk to you all tomorrow.

Becky Joy

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

http://artworkshopsonline.com

http://beckyjoy.com

Plein air oil landscape daily painting of Beach Cottage

2011-12-26T17:57:00.000-08:00

Crystal Cove Beach House 6"x6" plein air oil landscape

Ebay $95.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. I haven't posted for several days. My son and his family came to town from Austin, TX. I had both of my kids and their spouses and my 5 grandkids here for Christmas, all of us together. We had a great time. Consequently, I didn't work at all this last week. So, now it's back into the swing of things.

This is a painting I painted about 3 months ago in California at Crystal Cove in Laguna Beach. I painted one earlier in the morning in the fog. This one was painted from the same spot looking up after the fog cleared. The first painting was used in the advertising for Randy Higbee's 6" Squared show this month. Below is the ad with Crystal Cove Fog.

I'll close for now and get back to work tomorrow.

Becky

http://artworkshopsonline.com

http://beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Sunset oil landscape painting by BECKY JOY

2011-12-16T14:49:00.000-08:00

LAST LIGHT 6"x8" oil landscape $150.

This is a painting from my imagination. I like the freedom of creating from my mind and the use of color in sunsets. They are so much fun to play with. Today I haven't done a lot of work after teaching a workshop. Tomorrow I will be back at the easel full swing. I have a commission to finish up and a couple of paintings to finish before the first of the year.

Then, I will be working harder on painting for the Arizona Centennial exhibition of the 5 C's. To learn more about this project, go to the blog, 5 C's Art Project.

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoy.com

http://artworkshopsonline.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

River, mountain, Bank of sunlight oil painting

2011-12-14T21:05:00.000-08:00

River Light 5x7" oil landscape $95

I painted this from a photo taken in Utah. It had been raining and the light came out and hit the bank and trees in the background. I grayed the colors and used violet to contrast against the vibrant lights of the yellows and greens. I used the palette knife for texture.

It was and interesting night tonight, you won't believe what happened. Well, if you knew me, you might believe it. . We decided to step out tonight, so I grabbed my black hooded sweatshirt. I was pulling it on as I walked through the garage. Halfway out there I thought what happened. "Whoa, Mike why did you turn the lights out?" As soon as I said it, I realized my sweatshirt was on backwards and the hood was covering my face. Total darkness. It took me a while to figure that one out. LOL

Tomorrow I will be going out to the Superstitions to teach a one day workshop with some students. We got lucky, the rain has subsided and tomorrow is the one good day this week. This doesn''t usually happen in Phoenix.

Talk to you all later.

Becky

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

http://beckyjoy.com

http://artworkshopsonline.com

Sunset painting progression photos by BECKY JOY

2011-12-13T13:59:00.000-08:00

Sunset Glow 6"x6" oil landscape $95.

Hi everyone, I played with color today. I thought I would post my source on this painting so that you could see how I often work. I had an old photo that I started with, then let my imagination take over with color.

I've also posted a few photos of my progression of the painting.

Now a final picture. Do you think it's time to clean? I have a path in the door, to the easel, and to the computer. The storage room on the right is impossible to get to right now. I'll start cleaning today, or maybe I'll just paint one more painting.
Talk to you all later.
Becky
http://beckyjoy.com/
http://artworkshopsonline.com/
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

OK, I GIVE UP!

2011-12-08T17:48:00.000-08:00

"Over the Edge" 6"x6" oil landscape $95.

Today wasn't an especially great painting day. I wiped off two paintings. I think that the problem was that I just didn't have a real clear idea of what I wanted to paint. So, I decided to paint this 6x6 from a plein air painting that I had. I had such a great reaction to the larger painting that I thought I should offer a smaller version for the lucky person that buys this one.

I was going to close this blog down, but..... Everyone seems to have this link. I wanted to have my blog from my website, but I guess it will be both. If you are reading this, you could go to my website and check out the blog there. Same as here, but it is a nice web site. At least, I think so.

I also got some great news last night. I found out that one of my paintings (the one below) won an honorable mention at Randy Higbee's 6" Squared show. This is the third time in his three shows.

It looks great in Randy's floater frame doesn't it! If you haven't been following this show you really should see it on facebook. Look up Randy Higbee where he is posting several of the paintings. I also had one of my four paintings featured in the advertising, below the one of Crystal Cove (the old beach houses). I had planned on being online last night to watch the awards, but my computer wasn't working to well. I found out later from a technician that I called that I had the switch turned off to my scrolling pad. Such a techie I am. I didn't even know there was a switch.

Talk to you all later. I hope that I have a much better painting day tomorrow. Sometimes that's just the way it goes.

Becky
http://artworkshopsonline.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

http://beckyjoy.com

New blog address BECKY JOY

2011-07-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

For some time, I have had a new blog on my website, http://beckyjoy.com. I have tried to switch to my website blog, but since we are all creatures of habit, I found myself and you here at the old one.
So, I will now quit posting on this one. But first, I want to announce that I am now a member of the Daily Painters. I felt with this new group that it would be a good time to start fresh with the the blog.

Check it out, http://beckyjoy.com/blog and sign up for the daily updates. That's http://beckyjoy.com/blog

Hope to see you there.
Becky Joy
http://beckyjoy.com/blog
http://beckyjoy.com
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

THE FRUSTRATION OF BEING AN ARTIST

2011-07-06T16:39:00.000-07:00

KNOWING THE FRUSTRATION OF BEING AN ARTIST

The progress of an artist is a continual self- sacrifice, a continual extinction of personality. - by Eliot, T. S..

• Know what you do well.
• Know what inspires you.
• Know that small changes in your habits make small changes in your art.
• Know that big changes make bigger changes.
• Know that you are an artist.
• Know how you feel about your subject.
• Know what your art means to you.
• Know that the more time you put into it, the more it grows.
• And, know that you are not alone.

We’ve all heard about the artists’ world having so many ups and downs. It’s not just in the world of shows, acceptances and rejections or selling a painting or not, it’s also in the emotions of making of our art. We have good days and bad days in creating. Some days go so smoothly, we approach the easel with confidence and turn out a wonderful painting with ease that we are proud of. The next day, we feel like we step up to the easel with a lack of confidence and have to wipe that canvas off a couple of times. On those days it seems as though we’ll never get where we want to go with our art.

As artists we always strive for perfection, but know that we will probably never achieve it. But, you mustn’t admit that, then you surely will never achieve that ultimate goal. Once you admit that you will never create the perfect painting, you will have stopped or at least limited yourself as an artist. So, how do you come to grips with the idea of knowing that you will probably never achieve what you aspire to and be happy with the work that you do? I have always had a tough time with this. It seems as though I am happy with my completed painting for about three days, then I look at it thinking I can do better or I would do it differently now. I find it really difficult on the paintings that I set aside for a show to ship off later. I always seem to find myself thinking, “If I did such and such to the painting, it would be a better painting. I now box them up so that I am not tempted to touch them.

I keep wondering when the time will come that I will be completely satisfied with my paintings or does that time never come? I know that I have to accept my paintings for what they are or I would never be able to move on and paint the next one. And that is what keeps me on the road to improving as an artist and striving for that perfection that I know I will never achieve. I have come to the conclusion that I have to look at each painting and know that it was the very best that I could do at that moment in time and that is a good thing.

desert palo verde at sunset by BECKY JOY

2011-06-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

I have this painting, 16x20 on canvas panel, listed on my website for sale for $1200. Click here to purchase

I painted this tree from my imagination. I have done plenty of them in plein air so I am familiar with them. I love the free form of the tree which makes it a perfect subject for using the imagination. I start with a dark form for the overall design, then a lot of back and forth with positive and negative shapes. I had a lot of fun playing with the color also. It is backlit, so the warmer colors on the tree peak out from behind and the front, away from the light source, is cooler in color.

Becky Joy
beckyjoy.com
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Two new paintings with rocks and water by BECKY JOY FINE ART

2011-06-30T10:58:00.000-07:00

LAKE ROCKS 9x12 oil Click here to buy.

I finally had a good day painting. I had had two days of wipe outs, then finally.....

Both of these are from images from Colorado. "The Source" I had painted in plein air a couple of years ago, but wasn't thrilled with it. So, it was start all over and paint again. My painting has evolved considerably in the last couple of years. I threw the other away, yuck! Anybody that knows me, knows that I love rocks. Even to the point of taking geology in college, so interesting to me. I guess it goes hand-in-hand with history and anthropology which I find facinating.

I am quitting the daily painter originals site that I belong to, I felt that I was being pulled into too many directions and needed to step back and keep my eye on my goals. I will still be painting daily, but I wanted to focus on some larger paintings. I felt that I was getting to the point of just turning out small paintings for the sake of small paintings. I need to focus on quality. Some of my paintings will still be small ones, but not as many as I had been doing (actually, the amount had been waning lately).

Watch for my ads starting in the June issue of American Art Collector magazine. I will be advertising for the next year with 1/4 page ads about every other month. I knew at some point I was going to start advertising, but I kept waiting thinking I'll wait until I get better or the next painting, etc. I have a well known artist friend that told me "it was time". I would continue to keep improving and I needed to get going on it and quit waiting. So, I jumped. Several, years ago I started ads in SW Art for a year. It went well, I sold 5 ptgs from 6 ads. (I know, you don't place ads to sell, but its a nice thought) Anyway, its a whole different market now and I certainly cann't expect that kind of response. This is the beginning of long range exposure. Below is the ad that will be coming out. Watch for it!

Talk to you later, Becky Joy

http://beckyjoy.com/

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

zion oil plein air landscape paintings by BECKY JOY

2011-06-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

These two plein air painting, 6x8 are available on my website for $350. each. Click here to purchase.
I painted both of these on my plein air trip to Zion. The canyon piece was the first of the day in a marathon painting day from dawn to dusk, too tired for a nocturnal piece.
I painted a larger painting today from the canyon piece. It has taken me several days. With the heat at 115 degrees the last two days in Phoenix, I have found it difficult to have the energy to do anything. I'll just keep at it, just slower.
When I was in Coeur d'Alene, I had an art rep approach me. I have wavered on how I feel about it. At times I think it would be great to have someone take over part of the business from me, but on the other hand, I feel a loss of control and not sure if it would be in the direction that I want to go. It has been and continues to be so important to me to improve as an artist and I'm not sure that that can happen with a rep.
Well, talk to you all tomorrow.
Becky Joy
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
http://beckyjoy.com

Maynard Dixon Retreat plein air painting by BECKY JOY

2011-06-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

I just got back from my trip to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for the Oil Painters of America show, then on to Whitefish, MT for some visiting, hiking and a little painting. The last leg of the trip I went to Mt. Carmel, UT where I met my friend, Deb Groesser, to paint in the Zion, Mt. Carmel, and Escalante area for three days. We stayed at an artists retreat in Mt. Carmel, which was Maynard Dixon's home. It was a wonderful place including the grounds.

The first painting was from the town of Springville, Utah at a park late in the afternoon. The only light left was hitting the tops of the hills, lighting up the rocks and trees, some of my favorite lighting to paint. It's a rush, literally. The painting measures 6x8 and is for sale on my website for $300.

This second painting measures 8x10 and is for sale on my website for $400. I painted this painting from the Maynard Dixon property in the morning looking across the road at Mt. Carmel. The warm colors of the sunlit rocks brings that part of the painting to your center of interest. I echoed the color in the house and some in the foreground trees. The mountains have so much color it is hard to stay on task and keep the shapes simple and not break it up with too much stuff going on.

I have more photos that I will be posting, but I also have some photoshopping to do and a few touch ups on some of the paintings. So, I'll talk to you all later.

Becky Joy
http://beckyjoy.com
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Plein air painting at the Oil Painters of America show

2011-06-09T19:19:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone from not so sunny Coeur d'Alene, ID. Well, sometimes sunny. The weather here is typical of the northwest at this time of year. It didn't rain today, but it has been cloudy, sunny, a little rain, then cloudy again. It doesn't make it easy for plein air painting, but I'm tryin'. Actually, it has been a lot of fun.

I'm at the OPA show right now. Yesterday was my first day out painting. I went to a couple of sites, the bridge is the first one. The painting in the afternoon is still in the car. I forgot to take a photo of it. I met some of the other artists that were out painting, but today I went my own way. I went out to the old mission and beyond. I painted the top painting of the mountains, water and trees (another cloudy painting).

While I was out there, I saw a moose with her newborn calf. The calf was hidden most of the time, but every once in a while I got a glimpse of the baby as it followed the mother, coming out of the bushes. I think it was absolutely the smallest one that I have seen. It is amazing what you see as you are out painting. After painting for a while, you are so quiet and concentrated on painting that animals will start to come out into the open. I think they must think I'm a fixture and non-threatening, so out they come. Pretty neat!

This afternoon I went to the informal welcome reception where I met a few friends I've met at other shows and a couple of online painters. I also introduced myself to some artists that I have admired, exciting. Tomorrow I have signed up for the Scott Christensen demo, as have a lot of other artists. I had better get there early for a good seat.

I'm also going to the lecture "How to Get Published" with Collin Fry. Tomorrow night will be the show opening at the gallery and awards. In between will be the vendors with their products, that was fun last year.

Saturday is full in the morning, but I may have time to paint some in the afternoon. I saw an old flatbed truck close to the hotel. That might be an easy one without driving around too much.

I'll post again before the weekend is over to let you know what is going on and how the lectures and demos go. Talk to you all later.

Becky

http://beckyjoy.com/

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU CREATE ART?

2011-06-01T18:16:00.000-07:00

First published in ezine by Becky Joy

I was recently talking to a friend of mine that is a creativity coach. Our conversation eventually went to what it means to me as an artist to create. She posed the question, "How do you feel when you paint?" We have had conversations about this before as have a lot of artists. She got me to thinking...

There are painters, as we all know, that paint for the money or at least, in part. I'm not saying that they wouldn't paint if they were not making money, but the market or the money dictates what they do paint. Then, there are artists that paint for the love of the process.

I'm a firm believer in painting what you are passionate about. I have at times in my career painted what I thought would sell, but I always felt disconnected and not satisfied with what I was doing. I know that those paintings were not the best work that I could do at that moment in time.

I have since tried to concentrate on painting only things that I am passionate about. In the end, those paintings are my best works. But, more than that, the feelings that I get from painting my passion is worth so much more to me. I've usually never tried to communicate to people besides other artists those feelings. Someone else might wonder "what the heck is she talking about?"

I know that words really don't really fully describe the feelings that I (or others artists I have talked to) have while in the process of creating. We talk about being "in the zone". But, to me, it's more than that. I get a complete sense of heightened awareness of what is around me in my world that I am creating. I become a part of that world, feeling the temperature, the colors, the sights and the smells. It feels as though my whole being is fulfilled. It gives me a feeling of inner strength, serenity, and confidence. I feel as if I am enveloped by a power.

So, at this point in my life, I feel that feeling is more important to me than anything else that I can gain from creating. I come away with the sense of resolve, self-confidence and serenity in myself. When someone asks about what paintings of mine I have kept or which is my favorite, that is not what it is about to me. It's the process of painting. when I'm done, I'm ready to experience that next euphoric feeling. I know that my best painting is still inside me.

Becky Joy is a nationally recognized artist specializing in sunsets, landscapes and still life oil paintings. Becky shares art tips, painting demonstrations and art business tips on her blog. http://beckyjoy.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6306229

2 mountain oil paintings by Becky Joy Fine Art

2011-05-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

8x10 oil The Ranch Road $600. click to purchase

Clear Creek, oil 8x10 $600. Click to purchase.

Well, I know that I made it through the day. How about you? Did you see anything happen out of the ordinary? I thought I would spend posibly my last day doing what I love to do and of course, that is to paint and paint and paint. Both of these painting are from scenes in Colorado. I started with a photo of a dirt road and then my imagination took over. Where should that road go? To a ranch, of course. That seemed logical to me, although it's obviously not a well traveled road.

The second painting is from a photo that I took at Piney Lake close to Aspen, CO. I've always loved the stream with the clear water and the rocks and muddy bottom showing through the water. And I know it was muddy. I had to step into it with my bare feet and try it out. Of course, it's cold mountain water and mud that I was sucked into. I was painting at this location about 4 years ago and took some photos as the day progressed. The plein air painting is long gone. I changed the scene a little by opening it up in the background and adding the mountains. I felt that the shape of the stream begged for more distance and atmosphere. So, I obliged.

I hope that you are enjoying the photos of the progression of my paintings in my videos and previous posts. I will have to post more of them.

I'll talk to you all tomorrow. I'm assuming that we have a tomorrow. I know that I am looking forward to it.

Becky

http://beckyjoy.com/

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Fall Aspen Trees by Becky Joy

2011-05-20T14:48:00.000-07:00

Fall Aspen 10x8 "the block in"

The finished "Fall Aspen" oil. It's still 10x8.

Its been a while since I painted some aspen trees. I always feel a little trepidation when tackling something that I don't feel real comfortable with. I get that lost feeling, like I'm unsure of myself.

I've painted a lot of all aspen, but as I said, it's been a while. Several years I was showing in a gallery in Aspen, CO (they are no longer in business). They asked me to paint about 12 paintings of fall aspen for a show in the fall, of course. I complied, which is normal with me. I hurried and painted 12 paintings of various sizes, the largest, I think was 36x48 and shipped them off in about a month's time. They had the show and sold a few, then that was the end of it. I think they were in the back room for the winter. I tried talking to them telling them that I could paint something besides fall aspen, but that was all they were interested in. After very little comunication and difficulty in dealing with the gallery, I pulled out of there and that was the end of my time in Aspen. I've since painted a few plein air fall aspen and a couple of studio ones. Maybe I'll do more now. I really enjoyed the color in this painting.

I put together a video yesterday of the sunset painting that I painted yesterday. Oh, I guess I didn't post it. I'll do that now along with the video.

16x20 sunset

youtube video click here.

I also have written a couple of articles on ezine.com

How Do You Measure Time and Money in Your Art Business?

Oil Painting Material Basics

Plein Air, Defined

BECKY JOY
http://beckyjoy.com/
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

1 mountain, 1 aspen oil landscapes by BECKY JOY

2011-05-18T12:01:00.000-07:00

Aspen Breeze 12x16 oil $800 Click here to purchase.

Valley Cluster 11x14 oil $550. Click here to purchase.

I made a youtube video on the progression of this painting.

Click here to view the video.

I started "Valley Cluster" yesterday and finished it this morning. The rest of the day I spent on the Aspen Breeze painting. I wanted the aspen trees in the shadow and to have mostly grays in the painting so that the little bits of light on the trees leaves would pop. I do like to paint distance in my paintings.

I layed in Valley Cluster yesterday. I reworked quite a bit on it to get the lighting the way that I wanted.

Both of these paintings I took a series of photographs that I put together for a youtube video.

I also published an article to ezine.com. It was an article that I had previously written, but I made some small changes to it and decided to publish it with ezine. The title: How Do You Measure Productivity and Manage Time in Your Art Business? Click here to view the article.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Do-You-Measure-Productivity-and-Manage-Time-in-Your-Art-Business%3F&id=6270671

Talk to you all later.
Becky Joy
http://beckyjoy.com
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Whoo hoo! another good day of painting BECKY JOY

2011-05-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

Mountain Jewel 10x8 oil Click here to buy.

Yay! Another good day of painting. I started in the closet with the primer, then the final coat of paint in the closet. After lunch it was in the studio where I painted this 10x8. I used several photos to compose this painting. I wanted the group of trees to be the predominately dark shape in the scene.

I used a cad red underpainting on this one. It was basically a cool scene with the greens and the mountains. I thought the red under coat would warm the scene up. By scratching out the grass and along the shore in a few places the cad red shows through helping to warm it up.

I have just booked a 3 day plein air workshop in Prescott, AZ for $150. on July 11, 12 and 13 from 9 to 4 pm. The class will be based at my friend Marla's ranch. There are lots of interesting things to paint in the high desert in this area. It should be fun. Go to my website for more info.

I just put out my newsletter for May, a little late, but hey, it's out. If you want to subscribe, do so athttp://www.beckyjoy.com/newsletter/

Well, tomorrow will be sheetrock taping on the second closet.

Talk to ya all later,

Becky

http://beckyjoy.com/

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

3 day plein air workshop in Prescott, AZ only $150.

2011-05-13T09:58:00.000-07:00

Lake Rocks 9x12 oil $500. Click here to buy.

The Source 9x12 oil $500. click here to buy.

OK, I don't know what the deal is with blogger. I posted these yesterday and it wasn't here today. I swear I did, I really did. Anyway, I painted both of these after two futile, unproductive days of wipe outs. I guess the old addage, " we have bad days to appreciate the good ones" applies here. Some days do you all feel like you just don't know how to paint and need to start over? That was me two days ago. This business can certainly have it's ups and downs.

I've been busy now painting one of the closets after sheetrocking and texturing. And, I still haven't been fired!

Today I should get some painting done this afternoon.

I also wanted to let you know that I have booked a time for a 3 day plein air workshop in Prescott, AZ at my friend Marla's ranch for July, 11, 12, 13 from 9 am to 4 pm for $150.

I will do a quick demo each day concentrating on different subject matters.

In the workshop, I will discuss composition, the basics of plein air painting, where to start, decisions to make and the steps to get to the final results. I'll talk about color, values and brushwork. We will use both the brush and the palette knife. I will go from student to student helping with each of their individual needs. At the end of the workshop we will have a critique for those that wish to participate.

I encourage each student to paint on a smaller size canvas, 11x14 the largest. The more you paint, the more you learn. So, if you are able to do 2 or 3 small ones in one day, you will learn more than painting 1 large painting.

For my list of supplies go to: http://www.beckyjoy.com/my-palette-and-supplies/ The only color that I would encourage you to add to your basic palette would be dioxazene purple.

Deadline for signup is July 5. You can mail me a check or go to my website at http://www.beckyjoy.com/product/prescott-az-plein-air-workshop/

Hope to see some of you there. It should be fun, lots of stuff to paint in the area.

Talk to you all later,

Becky Joy

http://beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Cave Creek oil painting by Becky Joy

2011-05-05T19:52:00.000-07:00

Jewel of the Creek 6"x6" oil $150. Click here to purchase.

Well, back to painting in the studio today. I started this painting a couple of months ago using an 8x10 plein air that I had painted on Cave Creek. I liked the colors in the painting, but felt that the composition was all over the place. In this painting I simplified the composition.

When I first started painting this one, it was a frustrating day. It just seemed liked nothing was going right. One of those bad painting day. After wiping the painting off two or three times, I took a paper towel to it and wiped off where I wanted the light. Those shapes gave me the lights for the composition. So, it was back to this and pick it up today.

I just got my Alyson Stanfield book, "I'd Rather Be in the Studio". I have her previous book and really liked it. This is the updated version. I spent some time last night reading it. This version has updated information on social media and the internet. Fist step, I need to get more organized. When I came home from this trip, I felt a little parlyzed with so many things to get done. I think its list time. I did finish my online traffic school and passed the test. Thank goodness that is over. I hate having things like that hanging over me.

I still have openings in my workshop in Pasadena, 3 days of plein air for $150.

Talk to y'all later.

Becky Joy

http://beckyjoy.com/

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Gadsden Plein air 2011, Becky Joy

2011-04-28T04:10:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
I've been painting here in Gadsden, AL since Monday. I've gotten a lot of work done and met some wonderful artists, including some that I have met online. Last night I had a chance to talk at length with one of the artists, Millie Gosch, who is staying at the same hotel as I am. I experienced my first tornado alert last night. The siren went off in town and the alarms in the hotel. We had to go downstairs and in certain rooms and the hallway of the hotel. Then the power went out. The tornado missed us, but it did give Millie and I a chance to talk quite a bit as we sat in the dark hallway with our flashlights. We found that we had taken workshops from a lot of common teachers and had some common artist friends. It's fun connecting that way.

Anyway, I have posted some of the paintings from the show below. We have painted at the Gadsden CC, downtown Gadsden and a farm in the country.

Gadsden CC

Greens, Gadsden CC

I decided to tackle all the greens on the first day.

Gadsden CC

Garden at the farm

Close to the farm on the second day

The second day where we had a cocktail party at a big ol' house.

downtown Gadsden. Pitman movie theatre. Yesterday, before the rains and the tornado.

Today will be off to the river and hopefully a break with the sun sometime today. I'll post later when I have time.

Becky Joy

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

6"x6" squared show award

2011-04-19T20:58:00.000-07:00

8x10 oil on canvas panel $450. Click here to purchase.
This is one of the demos that I painted last week in my workshop in Casa Grande. I painted this one, a sunset and a still life. This is the one I have left. It was a great group of people. I really enjoyed the class.

Tonight I went on facebook to watch the awards ceremony for the 6" squared show at Randy Higbee's gallery. What a lot of fun to participate in the show on fb as well as having four paintings in the show. I'm really honored to have a painting chosen as a winner. There were such wonderful pieces. What a job putting the show on. Randy and his crew did a great job. My 6x6 "West into the Sun" won an honorable mention.
If you didn't see the winners you will have to take a look on Randy Higbee's page. Wonderful paintings, all of them.

Well, getting my frames, canvases and paints ready for Alabama. Hopefully, I get some pics of the plein air event on my blog.
talk to you all later.
Becky
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
http://beckyjoy.com/

Arizona plein air painting workshops by Becky Joy

2011-04-16T17:42:00.000-07:00

8x10 oil on canvas panel $450. Click here to purchase.

This is a demo painting from the workshop at the Superstition Mountains from yesterday. The class went very well and I think everyone was pleased with what they learned in one day. I gave out a lot of information and handouts to help digest all of it. The biggest thing, of course, will be to practice and paint, paint, paint.

The three days before this one day workshop, I held a workshop in Casa Grande, AZ to a full class. It was a great group of excited students that were eager to learn. I really enjoyed them and will be back again next year. Below are some of the workshop photos. I didn't have time to photograph the demos. I have one of three left. Each of the three days I did a different demo. This was a studio workshop, so I painted a still life, a landscape and a sunset, showing how I would approach each subject. Each person selected their own subject matter and we also set up a still life.

I'm getting ready to take off this next week for Gadsden, AL where I will be participating in their plein air event. I'm really excited about it and seeing a different part of the country.

Setting up for the workshop.

We were beating the Arizona heat in the afternoon by setting up under the ramada.

I'm planning on setting up another three day plein air workshop for this summer in Northern Arizona where we can escape the heat. If you are interested in Prescott or Sedona email me and let me know. beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Plein air painting in Texas hill country by Becky Joy

2011-04-06T15:32:00.000-07:00

Today's 9x12 of a farm in the Hill Country, bugs and all

I also painted another yesterday and one this afternoon, all 9x12. By this afternoon I was painting crooked posts on the house. Maybe it was the crooked fence.

Then it was Lily, the four year old's turn to paint. Now, I have to admit, she got a little more help. It was more of a lesson in patience for me! Lily is in training as shoe-holic. She picked out her favorite purple shoes to paint.

9x12 yesterday's farm ptg.

The crooked house 9x12

Lillian's purple shoes 6x6 ready for Randy's next 6" Squared show.

I'll be out around Fredericksburg tomorrow. The last day of painting before I leave. Saturday is the zoo!

Becky Joy

http://beckyjoy.com/

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Texas Hill country plein air by Becky Joy

2011-04-05T17:58:00.000-07:00

Oaks 5x7 oil plein air $250. Click here to purchase.

I painted this in my son's neighborhood this morning while visiting him and his family in Austin, TX.

It's kind of nice painting something besides desert. The weather should be good again tomorrow so that I can get out. My son is making a map for me with some suggestions. So we'll see where I go, I don't know yet.

I spent the afternoon helping my grandaughter paint her second oil painting today. Last year when I visited she painted her first. It was a struggle. She's 6 now. First, I let her pick out a toy that she wanted to paint. We sat Belle down on the patio table so that she was backlit. My grandaughter had her first lesson in squinting. The painting turned out much better proportions than the drawing did. She was amazed at the shapes that she saw when she squinted and the colors looked right then too. Tomorrow I will be painting with the four year old, that should be interesting.

Belle by Lauren

Becky Joy

http://www.beckyjoy.com/

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Still life commissioned oil painting by Becky Joy

2011-04-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

An 18x14 oil still life. The painting has been sold. After blocking the painting in, I left parts of the block-in as it was. I find that if I start painting over the whole painting that I loose much of my design. I lot of the darks have been painted once. This was a patterned piece of fabric that I used keeping just a suggestion of the design.
I am in Austin, TX right now and was going to go out painting this morning with Sara Winters. But, it was raining and windy, very windy all day, so we called it off. I hope to get out tomorrow morning for some painting and more later in the week. I did bring green paint with me.
I found out from a friend in Arizona that I had a painting at the Arizona Plein Air Painters annual show in Sedona that received an honorable mention. That was unexpected nice news to get.

I'll post as soon as I can, but schedule makes posting difficult. Talk to you all later.
Becky Joy
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
http://beckyjoy.com/

Photoshop workshop at Scottsdale Artists School

2011-03-28T20:56:00.000-07:00

This is a plein air, 11x14 oil, overlooking Lake Pleasant, which is northwest of Phoenix, AZ. Overall, I like the painting, but I do want to do some new composing. I don't like the shape of the road which leads off to the left. and the shadows of the tree and bushes could be more interesting and a little more shadow on the right. But, it will have to wait.

Right now I am in a workshop this week with Mark Daily. I am taking a Photoshop class at Scottsdale Artists School. A little frustrating today. I need to brush up more on my camera. I grabbed my manual, but didn't realize until I was in class that it was the Spanish manual. I can speak and read some Spanish, but a manual was too much. So, tomorrow it will be in English. Then the photoshop I didn't get one concept about threshold and moving the layers. Tonight I'm spending time with my photoshop manual. Back to school tomorrow. Hopefully, it all is a little more clear for me.

Talk to you all later.

Becky

http://beckyjoy.com/

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Oil Painters of America 2011 Becky Joy

2011-03-19T20:08:00.000-07:00

The Road Leading West 18x24

I got the news that this painting was accepted into the Oil Painters of America 2011 which will be held at the Devin Galleries in Coeur D'Alene, ID in June. Very exciting news. This is the second year in a row for me for this show. I really would like to get three years at the nationals so that I can get that coveted signature membership. One to go!

This was one of those paintings mostly from my imagination. I did have a photo of a road that angled up on the hill like the one going toward the sun. That is what sparked my imagination and went on from there.

I went to the Celebration of Fine Art today to visit with artist friends. (I did the show for about 10 years) It was great seeing everyone and catching up. And of course, there is a LOT of beautiful artwork to see. If you are ever in Scottsdale at this time of year, you should see the show.

I have openings in my workshops coming up. To check them out go to http://beckyjoy.com/workshops

Becky Joy

http://www.beckyjoy.com/

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Superstitions plein air painting by BECKY JOY

2011-03-17T14:32:00.000-07:00

Superstitions 11x14 oil plein air $550.

I went out yesterday to the Superstition with a group painting. This is my painting from the afternoon. I still need to photograph the first one from the morning. It got a little warm out there in the afternoon. Then I left a little too late and driving across town I got stuck in the rush hour traffic. Another good reason for being an artists. I would hate to think about having to go through that every day.

Anyway, I broke down the different planes in large colored masses and then grouped the plants in the front for the design that I wanted. There were paths leading down this bank which drew me to this particular scene. I just changed the design. Overall, I was pleased with the day for painting. A good day!

I will be having a one day workshop at the Superstitions on April 15 for $70. Email me or go to my website at http://beckyjoy.com/workshops

Talk to you all later,

Becky

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

www.beckyjoy.com

New River, AZ plein air by BECKY JOY

2011-03-10T17:43:00.000-08:00

New River Homestead 9x12 oil on canvas panel

$475. To purchase click here

Another day of plein air painting. I was up on a hill, kind of exposed today with a little wind. I painted behind the car with the trunk open to sheild me from the wind and the sunlight. I forgot the sunscreen the last couple of days. Again, today I used the palette knife through most of the painting. It was morning with the light to the right backlighting the hill on the right. The sky was a realy warm color.

I used the brush to soften some of the edges and to have a little thinner paint at the top of the hill so that it helped to give more depth to the scene. I had probably five people drive by choking me in the dust. They would slow down and say a few words (kind ones), but even slowing the dust was pretty thick.

I'm not sure that I will get out tomorrow. I want to head down to the Superstitions in the next few days. I still have some openings in my workshops in Pasadena, CA and the Superstitions, AZ. I just added a three day workshop for Casa Grande, AZ. If you are interested in any of the workshops, email me or go to my website at http://beckyjoy.com/workshops

Talk to you all later.

Becky

http://beckyjoy.com/

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

BECKY JOY palette knife desert plein air

2011-03-08T15:53:00.000-08:00

Phoenix View 9x12 oil on canvas panel, plein air

$450. To buy click here.

I've gone out painting the last three mornings. This was from this morning. I felt pretty good about this painting. I've been trying to use the palette knife a little more this week. Yesterday was frustration!

I feel that I get cleaner, brighter colors by using the palette knife more so than the brush. I do like to use both. They each have their advantages and distinctive look. This is looking down a wash off into the distance with the houses and mountains.

Hopefully, I'm out again tomorrow morning. Gorgeous weather right now!

Becky Joy

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

http://beckyjoy.com

BECKY JOY FINE ART sunset oil landscape

2011-03-04T14:48:00.000-08:00

Sky #70, I think 6x6 oil on canvas panel $150. includes free shipping

in US and free black display easel

Cave Creek, AZ plein air painting by BECKY JOY

2011-03-03T15:22:00.000-08:00

8x10 plein air oil on canvas panel

$450. + shipping

I painted this one yesterday at Spur Cross Ranch along Cave Creek. I was with some friends painting and forgot to bring my paints on the hike down to the stream. I didn't want to go back and borrowed from a friend. You really don't feel good about borrowing too much paint, so it was a little scimpy on the painting. So I finished it up today with a little more paint and took out some light that I had in the right foreground, recomposing the painting. It was just a little too scattered with light. I was having a good time with the color here. All in all, a good day.

I started a new blog Painting, the Best of the Week. I'm getting a variety of artists on the site, some that paint "daily paintings" and some that "paint daily". I just want the best work of the week on the site. Some of you might find it informative when the artists describe their piece. Check it out.

Also, I have openings in my workshops both in Pasadena, CA and at the Superstitions in AZ. Both are plein air workshops.

Talk to you all later,

Becky Joy

http://beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

On top of the World oil painting by Becky Joy

2011-03-02T20:05:00.000-08:00

5x7 oil on canvas panel

$150.

free shipping within US, free small black display easel

This is such a simple scene, but for some reason I was having a difficult time painting. Some days are just like that. I redid almost all of it from the beginning to the end. I would put down a stroke and no, not right, wipe it out and do it again.

I went out plein air painting this morning, but didn't finish the painting. I walked down into a canyon and forgot my tubes of paint, so it was a little scimpy on the paint. I borrowed from a friend, but you only want to borrow so much. I got enough done to finish it in the studio, except my camera battery went dead. So, I used my friend's camera. She just emailed me the photos tonight. Tomorrow I'll finish painting it. One of those days.

I started a new blog today, Painting, The Best of the Week. It's another blog for paintings, but a twist to it. I'll be asking artists to post to it once a week with what they think is their best painting along with their thoughts on why and about the painting, their thoughts and process. I posted the first painting, maybe you can be the next. Each contributor will have their name in the links. I want to keep the blog simple with each post and not a lot of sidebar gadgets, etc. There are a couple of pages, about the site and events for artists.

I'll be back here tomorrow with that plein air painting.

See ya, Becky

http://beckyjoy.com/

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Farm and field with a white house plein air by BECKY JOY

2011-03-01T13:35:00.000-08:00

Winter Farm 11x14 plein air oil on canvas panel $550. + $15. S&H

I painted this one a couple of days ago in Northern AZ. The green of the spring grass hasn't started yet, just a lot of beautiful ocher and gray colors. At first I didn't have enough depth in the painting. The background trees were too close with detail and the color didn't recede enough. So I reworked that. I really liked the warm sunlight on the house. I painted the windows a warmer and lighter color than what I really saw. That helps to keep the illusion of the strong sunlight on the side of the house. We are, after all, painting an illusion.

I've still been preoccupied with the website. I have someone setting up part of it right now, too big of a job for me. I wanted something special and different with it. I plan on having it up this week if all goes well.

Talk to you all later,

Becky

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

art demo at Mountain Artists Guild by Becky Joy

2011-02-26T13:32:00.000-08:00

5x7 oil on canvas panel Sky #51 $150.

I went up to Prescott yesterday to give a demo at Mountain Artists Guild. I thought I was totally prepared, but I forgot my tripod. I was trying to pack as light as possible thinking they would have an easel for me to use, but no. So, I managed to paint on a 16x20 canvas for the demo. My position for painting was a little difficult, so I certainly wouldn't consider it one of my best demos. But I think everyone got something out of it, so that is good.

I painted this one today in the studio from an old photo. The field was a variety of warm colors with the late afternoon sun. The light was hitting the trees and the tops of the fence posts. A really nice scene.

We poured concrete this week for an addition to the house and then driving to Prescott yesterday, I'm pretty tired now and not doing much of anything. Hopefully, Mon I'll be back in the swing of things.

I'll talk to you all tomorrow.

Becky Joy

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Challenge painting from dailypaintworks by Becky Joy

2011-02-24T16:36:00.000-08:00

For the Campfire 6x6 oil on canvas panel

$75. buy now ebay click here.

This was certainly a challenge for me. I don't own any small brushes for detail. It was a lot of negative painting to get some smaller edges. I remember now why I don't want to paint detail. Not a lot of fun for me, but the challenge was good for me. It has been a long time since I have done a still life and even longer since I have used ultramarine, burnt sienna and white for a limited palette. I had to dig up an old tube of burnt sienna for this. I haven't had that in the palette for a long time either. About time I used most of it up anyway.
This has been the challenge on the dailypaintworks. I thought I would do a few challenges to get more work out there more and to challenge myself with things that I don't usually paint.
Anyway, check out the site.
I'm still working on the website. So, I guess for right now this is where my work will be.
I have a workshop in Pasadena, CA for June and a one day plein air in AZ. Check out my workshops at http://beckyjoy.com/workshops. There are still some openings.
Becky Joy
http://beckyjoy.com

Sunset oil daily impressionist painting by BECKY JOY

2011-02-22T15:18:00.000-08:00

6x6 oil on canvas panel $150. includes shipping in US

and small black display easel

OK, back in business here. I painted this today after seeing the sun and sky colors late yesterday afternoon, not quite sunset, but getting close. I think this is sky #50.

I had a setback last Thursday with my website. I changed some code, got locked out and was not able to correct it. I was just getting a bigger mess. So, I abandoned ship. I started over. I only have one painting in there right now. Since I had to start over, I decided to use another program for my photos, but its taking me some time to get up to speed, like help! I worked on it all weekend. I'm not one to give up on things, but I was just getting too frustrated and just deleted it all. I thought it was better to start with a clean slate. We'll see how this goes. So, right now, this painting is only on my blog. I have been posting on my blog at my website, but I guess I'm back here right now. This is my temporary new website.

I do still have openings for my workshops which are on my website at beckyjoy.com/workshops.

Well, back to the website soon. Talk to you all later.

BECKY

http://beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

single rose daily oil painting by BECKY JOY

2011-02-16T10:24:00.000-08:00

8x4 oil on canvas panel

$95.+ Shipping on Ebay

To bid click here.

I painted this from the Dailypaintworks.com/challenges. I haven't painted any still lifes in probably about a year. I have been thinking I needed to do some and then saw this challenge. I thought it was a good way to get me back to those flowers and set ups. I was also going to post this on the challenge, but for some reason I haven't been able to get onto the website to do so. So, for now, this is as far as I have gotten.

I had some 4x8 boards made for me. I like the format and have some other things in mind to paint on them. So, off to painting some more.

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoy.com/

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

SKY OIL PAINTINGS BY Becky Joy

2011-02-14T22:33:00.000-08:00

12x24 oil on linen panel, on hold

18x24 oil on linen panel, on hold

Even though I have not posted any skies lately that does not mean that I haven't painted any. I have been toiling away in the studio painting larger paintings, skies.

These are two that I have just finished. I repainted one of them, because I wasn't pleased with it. So, I kept my nose to the grindstone until I got what I wanted. Both of these paintings are on hold until I hear if they were selected to a show. I've been pretty lucky so far. I'll have to wait and see if the luck holds.

I'm also getting the framing and shipping supplies together for 7 paintings that are headed for shows in different directions. Its amazing how much time is devoted to work besides painting.

Anyway, I have some ideas for some smaller paintings and hope to start back to work with them tomorrow.

So, talk to ya'all tomorrow.

Becky Joy
http://beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Scottsdale Salon Entry by BECKY JOY

2011-02-08T18:28:00.000-08:00

"Sunset Reflection" 24x30 oil accepted to Scottsdale Salon at the Legacy Gallery

I feel really, really fortunate that I had another painting accepted into a major exhibition. It has been a great ride this last week. I was especially pleased with this painting and felt good about my chances of getting into the show, but you never know until you read your name on the list.

I've been going through my calendar tonight. Things are starting to heat up and get busy. I bought some extra bulletin boards last week to help me keep organized. Like most artists I need to have everything visually in front of me or I forget it. So all the notes and deadlines are pinned up and on dry eraser board.

I also have two new workshops planned right now. The first will be a one day plein air workshop at the Superstitions on Friday, April 15 from 10 to 4 pm for $70. If you are interested, email me at beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com and I will email you the particulars.

The second workshop I am pleased to announce will be a three day plein air workshop in Pasadena, CA on June 16, 17 and 18 for $150. If you are interested in this workshop, email me at beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com and I will send you information.

Talk to you all later.

Becky Joy
http://beckyjoy.com/
http://beckyjoy.com/blog

BECKY JOY announcing new art shows

2011-02-08T07:46:00.000-08:00

BECKY JOY
This last week brought a lot of news about shows for me. I had two paintings selected for Paint America, "Apples" was selected for the Top 50 mini and "Sunlight Through the Oak" was selected for the Top 100.
My painting "Remains of the Rain" was accepted into Salon International 2012 at the prestigious Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, TX. On top of all that, I received an invititation to participate in the the Sedona Plein Air Festival next October.

"Apples" 8x10 plein air

"Sunlight Through the Oak" 14x18 oil

"Remains of the Rain" 18x24 oil

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoy.com/blog

http://beckyjoy.com/

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

2011-01-25T09:12:00.001-08:00

Springtime Greens landscape by BECKY JOY

2011-01-24T15:56:00.000-08:00

$150. oil on canvas. 6x6 panel with free shipping in US and free display easel.

To purchase, click here.
Hi Everyone!

I worked out in the yard this morning and then a little on the computer and managed to get one painting done today. I painted from a photograph that I have had for years from Oregon. I liked the light coming through the trees in the morning and hitting the one tree with the vine growing on it. The photo had a lot going on in it and I needed to do a lot of editing. This is what I came up with.

I've been working on my bio page (its not on here yet). I'm taking the Blog Triage workshop from Alyson Stanfield. I've just started and going through this step by step. The idea is to come up with a story so it isn't so dry. I'm coming up with ideas now I need to translate it into writing, not always an easy task for me. Probably not for a lot of you. I'll let you know how it is coming.

If you haven't noticed, I put the Feb 2011 calendar page on my home page and also under "neat stuff". Its there for you to download if you would like. A new one will be coming each month. I haven't got a lot of "neat stuff" yet, but there will be more ideas coming.

And, also this weekend, I put a new youtube video on my website of a sunset painting demo for you to view. http://www.beckyjoy.com/videos/painting-demos/

Enjoy and I'll be getting more videos out there.

Yesterday, I went to the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale to see the show and visit all my friend, I did the show for about 10 years. If you have never been to the show, it is fabulous. Take a peek of it online at http://celebrateart.com

Remember, if you sign up for my newsletter, you can download a copy of my new ebook with 5 paintings step by step with explanations of color.

Becky Joy

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Sky oil painting series by BECKY JOY

2011-01-19T16:49:00.000-08:00

6x6 oil on canvas panel $125. free shipping in US and free display easel. To purchase click here.

Well, I keep on trying to paint these skies. This one is a little grayer in some of the colors than previous ones. In addition to this one, I painted two more today. But, they are under wraps right now.

As I told you yesterday, I repainted my plein air painting. So I thought that I would post it with my revisions. I took out the fence (the resembled a car) and I changes the design on the bushes on the left behind the tree. I still did not want the bushes to be distinct, because I wanted to keep it in the background. Once I start adding more detail in an area, it will bring it forward.

OK, tomorrow I'm moving on. No more work on this one.

Talk to you all later.

Becky
www.beckyjoy.com/blog
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Moonlight oil painting by BECKY JOY

2011-01-18T17:56:00.000-08:00

6x6 oil on canvas panel $125/ price includes shipping in US and free display easel

To purchase click here.

I have tried this color combination before without success. I wanted to have a yellow/orange moon. I've tried this before a couple of times, but threw them out and tried it again and again. This time I started with cad orange, cad yellow lt and titanium for the moon. I then used ultramarine with the orange and moved out to dioxazene purple. In the end, I felt that the colors that I used worked together.

On my last post, I got a comment about my plein air painting. John thought he saw a car in the background. I wasn't sure what he saw, but I eventually got that the rail fence in the background looked a little like a car window. I felt if he saw it others probably would also. It wasn't necessary to the scene, so I painted it out. Also he said he thought the bushes behind the tree wasn't right. It was actually an area that I got lazy with while I was painting it. I had wondered about that area, so I repainted it. I think that by listening to John that I came away with a better painting. I'll have to take a photo of it tomorrow to let you see the new changes.

Talk to you all later.

Becky Joy
http://www.beckyjoy.com/

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

new oil landscapes by BECKY JOY

2011-01-16T15:19:00.000-08:00

I didn't post much this last week, but honest I was busy. There are several shows with deadlines in Jan. I had to finish some pieces to submit to the shows. I don't want to post those that I submitted. Some of the shows require that the pieces have never been shown anywhere. Now I don't know if that means my website, the internet or FB, but I'll play it safe, just in case someone is out there checking on postings.

I've been working really hard lately and have been taking an online workshop from Camille Przewodek. The prerequisite to taking the online workshop is that you had to be in a previous color bootcamp workshop. Anyway, I did that last spring. Each week, I would go out and do at least two plein airs, then email the starts to the paintings, the end results and a photo of the site. Camille said she was trying to get me to a new level. I really felt good about the workshop. Not everything was successful, but then I tried things that I had trouble with and knew I would learn from. I felt like I really learned a lot, but need to take a break and get back to business for a while. I am definitely going to take another workshop from her. Her approach to painting really resonated with me.

This painting is an 18x24 studio painting that I worked on yesterday and today. I was happy with the results. I'll live with it for a while and see what I think.

This was my last plein air that I painted in the workshop. After talking to Camille, I lightened the hill in the background and grayed the greens of the background trees and simplified. I have a tendency to start picking at the colors in the background, breaking up the large shapes. Overall, I was pleased with this one. The other two are in the garbage. I wasn't excited about what I was painting and it showed. She told me to stick to painting what I was "jazzed" about. I know that, what was I thinking? Or was I?

Just a couple of more days with big paintings, then I'll paint some small ones.

Talk to you all later.

Becky Joy

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
www.beckyjoy.com
www.beckyjoy.com/blog

The Road oil painting by BECKY JOY

2011-01-06T16:28:00.000-08:00

16x20 oil on linen Click here for more info.

I started from a photo when I painted this. I loved the curves in the road going across the field. I designed the rest of the painting around this road. It is a good painting to see all the greens that you can create. Mixing, mixing, nothing out of the tube. Almost every color on my palette was mixed with the green.

I continued today filling out applications. OMG there are a lot due right now. In the next couple of days there will be more to do.

Tomorrow I will be out plein air painting. Its supposed to be a cloudy day and I would like to do another "gray" painting.

Talk to you all later.

Becky

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

A gray day in Superior, AZ by BECKY JOY

2011-01-03T17:03:00.000-08:00

A 9x12 oil on linen panel $650.

To purchase click here.

I painted this scene from Superior, AZ last week. I wasn't happy with it. I had too much pure color in it to look like a gray day. So, it was back to the drawing (painting) board with it. I started all over and used subtle shades of gray and warmed up the sky where all the light was. The light was coming down on the road which was out in the open. That had the most light of any place.

Anyway, I loved the funky buildings. Superior is a wealth of old "stuff". A fun place to meander around. It is still gray here in AZ today. Tomorrow I plan to get out and do some plein air painting. After all, we don't get very many gray days.

Remember to go to my website for a 2011 free calendar download.

Talk to you all later,

Becky

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

http://beckyjoy.com

http://beckyjoy.com/blog

2011 January calendar download by BECKY JOY

2010-12-31T17:06:00.000-08:00

"DAWN" JANUARY 2011 CALENDAR

Haven't gotten your calendar yet? You can download the month of January right here. Each month of the year I will choose one of my paintings. I will post it on the home page of my website the last week and first week of each month. Any other time you will have to go onto my website under "fun stuff" where you will be able to download the calendar. The calendar is set up to print on an 11x14 portrait style paper.

I was thinking about which painting to use for the first month, my first endeavor in this. I chose this 8x10 plein air which is titled "Dawn". I felt that was an appropriate title for the beginning of a fantastic new year for all of. So download as many copies as you want or send the link to a friend. This is just one more way that I can share my art with you. It's yours for free to keep.

Here is the link: http://beckyjoy.com/

Have a great New Year! I'll talk to you all later.

Becky Joy
http://beckyjoy.com/
http://beckyjoy.com/blog
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Sky #39 by BECKY JOY

2010-12-29T14:50:00.000-08:00

Sky #39 $125. 5x7 oil on canvas panel,

free shipping in US, free display easel.

Click here to purchase

The sky is the limit or is it unlimited. An odd saying for what it means. Today I did this little snow scene. I wanted to keep most of the painting in high key, so the tree is it, the dark with the brightest spot, the sun, next to it. There are a lot of grays in the painting with the colors as a whole becoming cooler as they move away from the sun. I put the group of trees in the background to help balance the painting.

I took plenty of photos of this painting as I was painting it. The process of painting this one will be in my e-book that will be coming up, so check back for it. I hope to have it done by the time I send out my newsletter, which I'm waiting for the first of the year to do. I've had a couple of people let me know that they miss it and where is it. Its coming, I promise. So much to do.

Well, on to working on that e-book.

Talk to you all later.

Becky

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

http://beckPublish Postyjoy.com

http://beckyjoy.com/blog

DESERT SKY BY BECKY JOY

2010-12-28T12:32:00.000-08:00

Sky # 38 6x6 oil landscape on canvas panel

$125. free shipping, free display easel

to puchase click here.

I know the sky doesn't have a lot going on in it. It is really about the ground on this one, but I'm going to post it as sky #38.

I started the painting as an abstract shape with the shadows linking them together. All paintings have as their essence abstract shapes to hold the painting together. I then started adding the light on the ground and details with very few in the shadows. The sky was next, laying down a golden pink at the horizon and more on the right, then cad red with titanium and lastly, at the top I layed in alizarine crimson and titanium. After that was all down I then went over the sky with ultramarine and titanium keeping it lighter at the horizon. This grayed the sky, but kept it warm with the reds under it.

I'm starting to get together some images for an ebook that I will be putting together along with the progression and explanations for my reasoning and choices. Hopefully, it will be ready within two weeks. The hardest part is for me to remember to stop painting and to take a photo.

Well, onto more painting today.

Talk to you all later.

Becky Joy

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

http://beckyjoy.com

http://beckyjoy.com/blog

SKY 36 BY BECKY JOY

2010-12-27T16:34:00.001-08:00

$125. 5x7 oil on canvas panel Sky #36 To purchase click here.

I'm back to work today. The computer this morning and painting this afternoon. Its getting to be a routine. I hope that all of you had a great holiday. Now its diet time. OMG way too much food, but it was so good! My daughter cooked and she really is a good cook.

I'm doing some goal setting for my business for next year. I spent quite a bit of time yesterday and today planning a writing things down. I think I've got it. I may post my goals and that will make me more accountable and follow through. At least, that's what I'm thinking.

So, about dinner time and time to quit for today. Talk to you all later.

Becky

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
www.beckyjoy.com

New blog by BECKY JOY

2010-12-08T13:43:00.000-08:00

I have a new blog up and running that is connected to my website. Click here to go to the new webpage.
Let me know what you think. Becky
http://beckyjoy.com/
http://beckyjoy.com/blog

Sunset Sky #32 of a series by BECKY JOY

2010-12-06T13:13:00.000-08:00

$125. Sky #32 oil on canvas panel, free

shipping in US, free display easel.

Click here to purchase.

Again, I found myself painting and wiping off and painting again. I have found that painting skies and trying to constantly think of new color combinations that I keep reverting back to what I know and have painted before. This time was no different, so I pulled out a tube of a different color to force me into thinking differently. I used a permanent rose in this painting. Next time I want to get away from the pink and try something else.

I worked in my studio this morning organizing. Yes, I still haven't got it completely done, but very close. I went through my stretcher bars and organized and threw out broken ones, etc. This last weekend I put together two videos after I almost threw the camera across the room in frustration. I have one video of my drying rack made from the old metal wc frame and another video of me plein air painting in OR. I tried to edit the painting down to 3 or 4 minutes (its 3 1/2). I've had some comments about it being too short. What do you think? Both video links are below.

Plein air painting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG4egw2lO8s
painting rack http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZwXYpe_5xo

Well, back to making more videos. Talk to you later.

BECKY JOY
www.beckyjoy.com
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Sunset red sky #31 by BECKY JOY

2010-12-02T15:25:00.000-08:00

Click here to purchase.

$125. includes shipping in US and display easel

6x6 oil on canvas panel.

Today's post is a warm sunset, #31 of my 100 series, where I pushed the color a little more. That has been one of my goals. I need to work a little harder at it. This is supposed to be a learning experience for me as well as a visual treat for you.

I shot some video today in my studio which I will be trying to edit tonight. I haven't been successful in the past with some video that I shot of me plein air painting. So, I'll try it again. I'm also still trying to tweak this website behind the scenes and slowly add more work to it.

I'm starting to work on my next newsletter. If you aren't subscribing to it, you might want to do so.

Talk to you all later, BECKY
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
www.beckyjoy.com

For Email Marketing you can trust

New website and blog BECKY JOY

2010-12-01T00:51:00.000-08:00

I have a new blog along with my website. Both are together now at http://beckyjoy.com/
Check out the website and the press the "blog" button.
Becky Joy
http://www.beckyjoy.com/
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

6" Squared art show and sale, sky #30 by BECKY JOY

2010-11-30T16:45:00.000-08:00

This 6x6 is for sale on my website for $125.

Click here to purchase.

The price includes free shipping in US and a

small display easel.

I worked in my new studio today. Everyday it is even better. Mike builds me little things in the studio. I posted a photo of the drying shelves that he put up for me. The gold ones are an old metal watercolor frame that he took apart and mounted the pieces on the wall. What a great idea. They are sturdy and neat looking.

If you have the opportunity to see the 6" squared show at the Randy Higbee gallery in Costa Mesa, CA, you should go. It looks like an absolutely fabulous show of 300 6x6" paintings. I have 3 in the show. I wish I was there.

The opening is Sat Dec 4 to 8 pm

and Sun Dec 5 12 to 5 pm

Show and Sale

Here is the FB link to some of the paintings. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2094536&id=1267751453&fbid=1669490298271

This is my drying rack for the small paintings, my wrapping and framing station with the wire in the holder that Mike also made for me. The rack is really great. I can see the paintings that I've recently worked on (and tweak them if I need to) instead of placing them in the CD rack that puts them out of view.

Talk to you all later,

Becky

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Oh, check out my new website at www.beckyjoy.com (Almost done with it)

Sunset oil daily impressionist painting by BECKY JOY

2010-11-22T15:56:00.000-08:00

This 6x6 oil on canvas palette is available on my website for $125., which includes the free display easel and the free S&H within the US. To purchase this painting go to: www.beckyjoy.com/sky-28

My new website is up and running, but limited. I have not put everything on it that I intend to. I'm working on it a little every night. This painting is posted on it. So you can see the website, but remember that not all the links are workable. You will be able to see by all the tabs what will be on it. I'm excited by the possibilities that I will have with it.

I just finished my commissioned work and now I will be working on a project that I started several months ago and need to get more done on it.

I'll talk to you all later.
Becky Joy
www.beckyjoy.com
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Sunset #27 of a series of 100 sky daily paintings

2010-11-18T15:06:00.000-08:00

This 6x6 oil sunset is #27. I have placed this on ebay with a starting bid of $95. To bid click here. As with all my small daily paintings this one comes with a free wrought iron display easel, so framing is optional.

I've been working all day on commissioned pieces that have stacked up, a good thing. Sunsets are the themes of the bigger paintings with two to go. I've also been working at nights on the new website. Understanding some of the computer language is challenging for me, but I know I can do it. Years ago I did build my own website using frontpage, so I know I can do it again using wordpress. Ya just gotta read the directions. I'm more of a "hands-on"person . I have to force myself to take it slow and read all the directions in order. UHG!

Talk to you all tomorrow.
Becky
beckyjoy@cox.net

General Motors antique truck oil painting by BECKY JOY

2010-11-17T16:25:00.000-08:00

This 6x6 oil on canvas board is listed on Ebay starting at $95.

It comes with a free display easel.

To bid click here.

Today we needed to get away from the house with all the construction and working so hard lately. So we went out to my friends Kit and Aryana so that I could paint their GM truck by the name of Giovanni.

I've painted this truck before and just love the patina and color variations in it. The reds and violets contrasting with the greens make a great combination. I had a lot of fun today. I need to get out there more often.

I've been working on my website now. I have a new host and will putting together a new site. I wasn't able to do some of the things that I wanted with the previous site, so here goes. I worked on it last night, now again tonight. Hopefully, it doesn't take too long. Probably not the best time of year to do this, but it needed to be done.

I'll try to get something else done tomorrow and get back in the swing of things.

Talk to you all later,

BECKY

beckyjoy@cox.net

Palette Knife Sky # 26 by BECKY JOY

2010-11-16T16:52:00.000-08:00

This 6x6 oil is for sale for $110.includes shipping in US

and display easel.

Hi everyone!

I'm finally up and running. My studio is just about done just a few finishing touches, some moulding, shelving in the storage room, my dry eraser board and lights. Daylight painting is OK right now. Its fabulous being in this new space. I've been getting it organized the last two days, then today I took the day off from working on it. I have some commissions I needed to get busy on, so that was the job today. I also painted this small little oil and hopefully, I'm back on track with the small paintings.

I've started to revamp my website, so it is down right now. I wanted to make some major changes to it. I will be having some video on it of demos and my new studio. So I'll let ya' know when its done and I'll post the studio picks and video.

Its been a lot of work the last 5 weeks. We did all the work ourselves. The last two weeks was more work for me so the painting took a back seat, but I just know I'll be putting out better paintings with this studio. At least it will help me be more organized. There is a place for everything now.

Talk to you all hopefully tomorrow.

Becky Joy

beckyjoy@cox.net

Plein air painting by BECKY JOY

2010-11-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

Going through paintings while cleaning up today I ran across this one. I forgot about this 9x12 that I painted during the San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival. I loved the color of this house and the variations in the shadow colors. The mailboxes and the fence in violet I thought added a nice touch to the scene.

I've posted this on my website at http://beckyjoy.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/531211

This morning I went out and bought a new printer. I got an Epson which I used to have and was always pleased with the color. My color photos that I printed out sure turned out nice. It was a good choice. Now I'm taking a break from helping to install the insulation in the ceiling of the studio. I've taken some photos, but there really isn't much to show you yet.

Becky Joy
www.beckyjoy.com
http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Sunset water reflection oil painting by BECKY JOY

2010-11-01T21:37:00.000-07:00

I finished this 18x24 oil today. I like the combination of colors that I have going here. There are a lot of grays in the scene and a variety of cool and warm grays in the bushes. All the grays make the pure colors in the sky and water seem even brighter. The bushes as a whole are cooler farther away from the light and the field is brighter and purer in color closer to the light. I have posted this painting on my website, www.beckyjoy.com

I've been working on a few larger pieces. Now its time to start working on putting together a portfolio. I'm trying to get everything organized and have made up several pages of photos. I guess I'm using an antiquated program, Word Perfect. I went to get the files printed and they had trouble converting them. So now I need to convert them to Microsoft Word. I tried to print some on my printer, but the color is really not adequate. So tomorrow its off to the printer with my new files.
BECKY JOY
www.beckyjoy.com
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Winter Light on trees by BECKY JOY

2010-10-31T16:43:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been working on larger paintings and finishing paintings that I have started. Today I finished this 20x24. I started with an abstract design with the color and lights and darks then did some negative painting, then positive. Back and forth. This was a painting that I had started a couple of weeks ago. I wasn't happy with the composition or the color. I had the trees to light and bright and there was no where for me to go as far as light accents. The sky and snow are a violet color which I thought was very pleasing with the orange reds. This was a lot of fun once I let go and just started with a loose design. It was too tight before and I wasn't having fun with it.

I posted this on my website and also updated my website. I've got another on the easel today and will probably paint through Halloween on it.

Talk to you all later

BECKY JOY

www.beckyjoy.com

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Studio Paintings and Plein air by BECKY JOY

2010-10-29T17:18:00.000-07:00

These are some studio paintings that I finished this week. With cleaning my studio and moving things from place to place I decided to finish these that have been sitting around undone. After a second or third look or a long period of not looking at the paintings, it is amazing what you see that you didn't the first time around. All needed some changes, tweaking or major overhauls.

I also have a few more of the plein air paintings from San Luis Obispo that I didn't post. Two of those paintings are posted below. All these paintings are posted on my website at www.beckyjoy.com.

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

www.beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Prints

Cards

BECKY JOY FINE ART sunset oil landscape

2010-10-27T17:24:00.000-07:00

This 6x6 oil on canvas board is available on my website

for $110. includes an easel & free shipping in US.

To purchase click here.

Today I had more painting time. I took a day off from construction, except to hold board a couple of times.

I started this painting and wiped it off not once, but twice. The second time I liked the look of the canvas in places where I wiped it off, so I kept it thin in the sky. I added the cloud with the brush and the light with the palette knife. This was a painting more about color than anything else. I like adding a touch of light in the ground to help balance the light in the sky. It gives a little more interest to the painting than just sky.

I also finished a larger painting today and touched up one that I realized after looking at it for a while that I wasn't really done with it. I needed to be more aggressive with the paint. I'll have to photograph it later.

I got a call from Link Gallery in Wyoming. They received the paintings that I sent them and everything shipped just fine. Always a relief to hear that.

Well, more painting tomorrow.

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

www.beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Prints

Cards

Moonlight oil daily painting by BECKY JOY

2010-10-25T18:17:00.000-07:00

6x6 oil Sky #20 Moonlight available on my website

for $110. includes display easel and free shipping in US

Click here to purchase

This little painting I did today after helping to roof my new studio. I didn't have time or the energy to paint the moon last night or the night before, but I did take notes on the colors. I love the moon when it first rises and has that peach color to it. The clouds are lit by the moon and have a warm green cast to them around the moon. I haven't gotten a lot of painting done with the studio work. Now that the roof is on we can take it a little easier. And now it can rain. I thought I would post a photo of my studio at the moment. Below is the cramped quarters and mess that I am working in right now. It makes it difficult to paint anything large.

My desk, which you cann't see very well under all the stuff, including dust is one of my favorite found pieces that I own. It was a desk that a contractor threw out. It had stains, cement, cigarette burns, etc on it. I loved the style, a 60's desk. I sanded it all down and found out that it was solid mahogany. I put many layers of tongue oil on it and repaired one of the drawer handles by rebuilding it. I couldn't find any to match or the same size with the holes matching up on the desk. So I rebuilt it and painted a faux finish to look like the wood, then put the tongue oil on it too. Turned out great. I love those kinds of finds.

Again, I hope to paint more tomorrow. Talk to you later.

BECKY JOY
http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com
www.beckyjoy.com
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
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Sunset and rain clouds paintings by BECKY JOY

2010-10-21T18:29:00.000-07:00

This 6x6 oil is available on my website for $110/includes

shipping in US and display easel. Click here to buy.

This 6x6 oil on canvas is available on my website for

$110/ includes shipping in US and a display easel.

Click here to buy.

I didn't post yesterday. I was so busy with the studio and packing paintings for a new gallery that I will be showing in, the Link Gallery in Cheyenne, WY.

Today I worked on the studio remodel all day. We have 1/2 the rafters up for a new roof. We are incorporating a storage shed into the studio to make it larger and to give me a storage area. The walls and cement floor were good, but the roof, OMG. It leaked like a sieve. So we dismantled the roof today and started on the new one. The weather is supposed to be good for the next week. It rained yesterday and this morning. Now we should be safe to work on this part of the project. The sunsets and rain clouds have been magnificent this week. So is the moon that is visible from the sliding door of my studio right now.

I hope that I will be able to work on some larger paintings this weekend. I have plenty of small ones, but the larger ones I still need to work on.

I'll try to take a photo of what is going on with the studio and post it tomorrow.

Talk to you all later,

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

www.beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

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winter afternoon sky and barn scene by BECKY JOY

2010-10-18T18:43:00.000-07:00

This 6x6 oil is sky #17 available on my website for $110.

which includes shipping in the US and a small black wrought

iron display easel.

This is a winter scene from Oregon. The only warmth was in the sky at late afternoon. I like the peach color against the different blues and violets. I used the palette knife on the buildings, trees, sky and the bushes in front. I usually use the palette knife towards the end of the painting putting the basics in with the brush.

Today I got the news from FASO that one of my paintings was voted in the top 15% for the FAV 15%. That is really a nice feeling to be voted on my work by other artists. To view the paintings that were picked, click here.

I also got the news earlier that I will be in the Mountain Oyster show in Tucson. One of my plein air pieces from Lake Pleasant.

I haven't gotten a whole lot of painting done with the studio remodel. The studio is coming along great. Today I got a sliding door in that will open to the patio. I like the idea of being able to keep the door open on a nice day. It will be a great way to keep the fumes down. I would also like to put in an exhaust fan. I'll take some photos a little later so that you can see my new reworked studio. The electrical and new lights will be next, then the roof.

Talk to you all later.

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

www.beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

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sky sunset oil painting by BECKY JOY

2010-10-12T15:31:00.000-07:00

Sky #16 5x7 oil available on my website for $110.

Click here to purchase

OK, back to work here. Since I got back I have been working on a couple of larger paintings and now remodeling the studio. I need more and better organization for storage. This house has been and is a work in progress. I had set up the studio first, but have been using a sun porch add on. It has worked, but wasn't the most ideal situation. Now after the mess and trying to paint through all my junk piled up, I'll have a better space when its done. I'm looking forward to it.

I will try to get back on track here and paint more skies. I did work on four small cloud paintings last week, but the are just clouds with a blank space in the bottom for the ground. Hopefully, I'll finish them and post them.

I also have cancelled my ustream show for the time being, just too crowded and too much commotion for now. So for right now, back to painting.

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

www.beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

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BECKY JOY plein air truck painting and poem

2010-10-06T15:23:00.000-07:00

This is an 8x10 plein air that is available on my website, www.beckyjoy.com

The day that I painted this one, I had a poet "shadow" me for the day. I started at another location painting a barn and out buildings, but it was way too hot. So, I moved on to another location closer to the coast. The main object was just to find a shady place to paint. I pulled into a parking lot and found this old truck across the lot. I thought the red would show well against all the greens.

The poet that followed me and wrote about me painting this truck is Jane Elsdon of Atascadero, CA.

The following is the poem that she wrote.

FAREWELL TO THE JONESES

No keeping up with the Joneses here

Artist that she is -

The moment that she saw it -

Rusty old red Dodge

Flatbed truck, vintage 30's or 40's

Disintegrating before

A backdrop of green

Beside a billboard boasting

Town of HARMONY

Population 18 -

It was instant love

For this artist

No hot August nights

Where folks from wide and far

Parade their seductive vintage

Automobiles through town

Ashine with radical restoration

Like a fading actress displaying

Her latest tuck and nip

On the red carpet.

It was simply

Romance of the brush

Seduction of the subject

Captured on canvas

By a brush whose bristles

Reveal the light.

Jane Elsdon

September 28, 2010

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

www.beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

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http

Apple shed plein air by BECKY JOY

2010-10-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

This 8x10 plein air from the SLO festival is on my website for sale

It is framed in black. www.beckyjoy.com

A friend from San Luis Obispo took me to an apple orchard to paint on Thursday morning. This was the first thing that I saw with some shadow. It felt like the little shed was being overwhelmed with the morning glories. The old sign in the back just gave it a great added touch. I had so much fun painting this.

BECKY JOY
http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com
www.beckyjoy.com
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
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http://www.ustream.tv/channel/becky-joy-artist-oil-painting-in-the-studio

San Luis Obispos plein air and workshop by BECKY JOY

2010-10-03T18:45:00.000-07:00

This is an 8x10 plein air oil. I woke up after dawn, looked out my window and saw this view. The hills were just ablaze with wonderful rich colors. I hurried up, showered, got dressed and went painting.

I awoke almost every morning this past week at dawn and was out there painting when the sun was coming over the mountains, but this morning I was winding down and slept in a little later. Because of that I saw a different view, the hills were already lit with the morning sun. I have posted this painting on my website along with other plein air paintings from the week. http://www.beckyjoy.com/

This 9x12 plein air is another view from the house that I stayed at. The light streamed over each of the hills then hit the field at the bottom of the valley. I was so mesmerized by this view and the light coming from the sun that I almost missed the other view. This piece sold at the show. Overall, I felt that the show went very well for me. I'm happy with what I sold and with the paintings that I created. At least most of them. There are a few that were good learning tools. Next time, I'll have more knowledge from those failures or at the least, not complete successes.

Below is a photo of my paint set up with the view of the quickdraw behind it. The finished painting in the quickdraw was auctioned off afterward. I originally started painting the big blue work trucks with the orange ladders. They had the cones out, so I thought they would be there for a while. Not so, I had to wipe them out, because I didn't have enough information. It was panic for a little while when I had to refocus and have a new focal point, but I think I recovered reasonably well. I noticed that my drawing was a little off after wiping off. I have too much of a slant from left down to the right. I guess that is one of the things I need to watch more next time.

I'll be leaving for home tomorrow morning, rest and wash clothes for a couple days, then I head up to northern AZ to pinetop to paint the aspens. That should be a nice change of pace with the fall colors on the aspens. So, I'll have to sort through all of this. Then I'll be posting some fall pictures later this week. Talk to you all later.

I still have space in my 3 day plein air workshops Oct 21,22 & 23 in Phoenix. Email me if you are interested. beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

BECKY JOY
http://www.beckyjoy.com/
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

San Luis Obispo Plein Air by BECKY JOY

2010-10-01T15:40:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

What a great week painting. It has been a very productive week painting like a mad woman. Overall, I'm very pleased with the results. I finished 16 paintings from 8x10 to 11x14. This is just a part of them. I'll have to take more photos when I get home.

I was really in the "zone". I even forgot to eat one day (not good) and that certainly doesn't happen often to me. Anyway, today was the day that we turned in 6 of our paintings for the show. Now its relax until tonight for the opening.

Tomorrow morning is the quick draw. Always an exciting event. Its really a rush (literally and figuratively) during the two hours. After the paintings are done they are auctioned off. I'm hoping to get some small paintings done on Sat afternoon and Sunday. Both days have a lot of waiting around until the show is taken down on Sun at 4. Then I'll be heading home.

I'll post some more later and hopefully some photos of the event.

Becky Joy

http://www.beckyjoy.com/

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Sky #14 & #15 daily paintings by BECKY JOY

2010-09-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

Sky #14 5x7 oil $110. BUY

I painted this little nocturne last night. I set up a little earlier than the night before and a little closer to the street. Because it was earlier, there was a little more action on the street with cars, porch lights, people walking and that big orange/gold moon. I notice that I have a little glare on the left of the painting. I'll have to try the photo again. The dark colors can sometimes be hard to keep from getting a glare, but its not too bad.

I also finished this 24x30 today. I had started this last week when I gave a demo, then set it aside when I came home. I wasn't totally pleased with the composition. This morning I figured out what I wanted to do with it, so it was paint all day. I've posted this one on my website, www.beckyjoy.com. I'm counting this one as sky #15 even though it is bigger.

Well, now its time to start packing. I just want to remind all of you that I will not be on ustream this next week, but probably the following Tuesday. My posting will be sporadic this next week.

Talk to you all later,

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

www.beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

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Nocturne & clouds daily paintings by BECKY JOY

2010-09-23T16:05:00.000-07:00

Sky #12 6x6 oil on canvas panel $110. includes

shipping in US and display easel. BUY

I went out yesterday as the clouds were blowing into town and painted these two cloudscapes from the backyard. That's one of the expensive houses that looks down onto my neighborhood. They were exciting and fun to paint. Always a rush (literally and figuratively) to paint quickly moving clouds.

Sky #11 6x6 oil on canvas panel $110. includes

shipping in US and display easel. BUY

This was the first plein air of the day. I ran on errands in the morning as the clouds were starting to come in. I started these at about 3 in the afternoon. By evening there were just a few ribbons of clouds left. They blew in and blew out. I went out last night at probably about 8pm and painted the third scene, a nocturne. There wasn't much going on in the neighborhood as far as lights, but the moon was wonderful. Anyway here is my third plein air sky of the day, Sky #12 of my series.

Sky #12 6x6 oil on canvas panel $110 includes

shipping and display easel. BUY

I worked on getting some ideas together for a commission. Things are busy right now. Also, two or three other commissions (not sure what sizes yet, but big). I'm also getting ready to leave for San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival next week. I should get something done for tomorrow, but that may be it for a week. I'll have my computer and will try to post something while the plein air event is going on. I'll take pics at the least.

Talk to you all tomorrow.

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

www.beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

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Almost Manhattan Island, NY daily oil by BECKY JOY

2010-09-22T11:55:00.000-07:00

Pelham Park, NY 5x7 $110. includes shipping in US

and display easel. To buy click here.

OK, I know its not a sky painting. I WILL continue to paint skies. But today I was online and saw the virtual challenge. Now I haven't done many challenges, but decided to take a walk with my little man on the google map. I found this bend in the road and liked the light and the signs. Only problem was that I walked too far. I was off of the island before I knew it. And now, I don't have any extra time to paint another painting. Maybe next month.

I'm still working on the youtube thing. I made a video. It looks great. I have tried to download it on youtube three times. I know that the size is OK, but it won't download and says there is a problem internally with youtube. So now I'm making a dvd so that I don't lose it somehow playing around on this. I'll get it yet. I don't give up easily, except on the challenge this month.

Talk to you all later,

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

www.beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

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Ustream weekly painting by BECKY JOY

2010-09-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

Today's sky, #9. $110. includes shipping & display easel.

To purchase click here.

This was a plein air from Sunday evening as the sun was going down. I liked the oranges of the palm against a warm sky of grayed violets and blues. It was late when I finished painting and I was hungry and tired so it didn't get posted right away.

Yesterday I got a new program for videos to go with my new camcorder and youtube. I shot some video while I was in Oregon plein air painting, but wasn't able to do much with it with the rudimentary program that came with my camera. Anyway, I played with the computer all day yesterday only to realize that I needed a program with more options. I kept trying to cut down on the video time. I cut away scenes, etc, but I really needed to have it in fast speed. After working on it all day, I realized that I needed to upgrade to another program. So now I have another one to start over with. I'll start on that tonight instead of TV.

I was going to paint another sunset on ustream this afternoon, but I really got into this 40x30 ptg today that I blocked-in. So the plan is to work on this one during the broadcast. Tune in to see the results.

Ustream show

Talk to you all later.

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

www.beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

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Sky Sunset series by BECKY JOY

2010-09-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

Sky #7 5x7 oil on canvas panel. $110. (includes shipping

in US and free display easel) Click here to purchase.

My daily painting didn't go well today. I tried another painting and the jury is still out on it. I'll have to look at it for a while. I'm not sure if I like it. This was my second daily sky. I'm much more pleased with this one.

I've started on a painting marathon here. I've been really excited about what I'm painting and going through unfinished and finished paintings and tweaking them. I've also gotten a couple of new ones done. I've been trying to get some larger pieces and sunsets for galleries finished. Today was a good day other than my first daily painting. I guess I needed a warm up.

I only have 2 openings for my 3 day plein air workshop in Phoenix on Oct 21, 22 & 23. If you are interested in details, email me at beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

www.beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

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Sky #6 nocturne oil daily painting by BECKY JOY

2010-09-15T12:41:00.000-07:00

This is the 16x20 that I painted during my ustream broadcast. I told everyone that the rose madder could get away from you and color everything. I did over use it and had to tone down the bottom of the sky by graying it. A few other little tweaks and it was done.

Sky #6 6x6 oil SOLD. includes free shipping and a small

black display easel. To purchase click here.

I'm now getting things ready for my demo tonight in Phoenix. If I get business done before I leave, maybe I'll start another painting today. The weather is starting to cool down here in Phoenix. I went for a bike ride and it didn't even get too hot before it was over. I'm usually hot and thirsty when I'm done. The great weather is just around the corner.

Well, I'll try to get ready for another painting. Talk to you all later.

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

www.beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

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Sky series oil daily paintings by BECKY JOY

2010-09-14T18:52:00.000-07:00

Sky #5 available on my website

6x6 oil $110. Click here to purchase.

Today was a busy day with working on my portfolio, the ustream show, painting, getting ready for a demo tomorrow and a little hitting golf balls at the driving range. Don't ask how good I am. Its for the fun of it.

I painted the first sky painting on my weekly ustream show. It is almost finished. I've got a little tweaking to do tomorrow morning then I will post it here. I've had a lot of fun with the ustream show. You should check it out next Tuesday night at 4pm PDT.

Tomorrow should be a good painting day. Hopefully. My workshop in Phoenix Oct 21, 22 & 23 is filling up. If you are interested, email me for particulars at beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

Talk to you all tomorrow.

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

www.beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

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Sky oil daily paintings by BECKY JOY

2010-09-13T15:41:00.000-07:00

#4 of 100 skies

A 5x7 oil on canvas

To purchase for $110 click here.

Free shipping and a free display easel with the painting.

Go to my website to view all the available daily paintings. BeckyJoy.com

Besides painting this one today, I finished a larger painting and now have a blank canvas on the easel ready to start another. I also took care of things like switching health insurance (yuck) and answering emails etc., etc.

I've got some signups for my workshop coming up in Phoenix on Oct 21, 22 & 23 for a plein air class. If you are interested email me at beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com.

I just had someone that has bought from me in the past ask about prints. Yes, I do have prints of my work available. If you are interested, the following link will take you to FineArtAmerica where I have several prints available. http://beckyjoy.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/505600

Well, now on to that blank canvas. Talk to you all later.

BECKY JOY
http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com
www.beckyjoy.com
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
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The Sky is the Limit! #3 of 100 by BECKY JOY

2010-09-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

Sky #3 6x6 oil $110. To purchase click here.

The Sky is the Limit, series of 100

Free shipping and display easel with purchase.

The diagonal line in the foreground is offset by the diagonal in the clouds and the tall tree on the left. I kept working on this trying to get the sky light enough, but still enough color in it. In the light parts of the sky I used Cad lemon yellow, cad yellow light, dioxazene purple, ultramarine and cad orange. the clouds have the same colors with the addition of quinacridone rose and cad red light. The foreground is a lot of my left over paint making grays.

I hope to get a larger sunset painted this weekend. I need more in my inventory. These three have already given me ideas for my larger pieces. Come back to view #4 coming up soon.

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

www.beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

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Skyscape daily paintings #2 of 100 by BECKY JOY

2010-09-09T15:10:00.000-07:00

Sky #2 of 100. 6x6 oil $110 includes free shipping and

free display easel. Click to buy here.

Tah..Dah...! #2 Only 98 skies to go. The sky is the limit.

This was the extent of my painting today. I did a lot of computer work, errands, etc.

I've booked a 3 day workshop in Phoenix for Oct 21, 22 & 23. If you are interested, email me at beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com. I also will be giving a demo at an art group in the Pebble Creek area of the valley next Wed. I'll get the location coming soon. I will post it when I get it.

Come back for tomorrow's sky

Talk to you all later.

BECKY JOY

http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com

www.beckyjoy.com

beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

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100 skies daily paintings, the start by BECKY JOY

2010-09-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

This is #1 of a series of 100. 5x7 oil on canvas for sale for $110 includes shipping and a small black wrought iron display easel. To purchase click here.

I have considered concentrating more on skies. I've know for several years that that is one of my strengths, but I found myself often painting similar paintings. So I've decided to stretch my wings by working on skies exploring color and compositions. I will be doing a series of 100 daily paintings that will all be primarily skies. Today is the beginning.

I painted this primarily violet painting with just a little yellow and warm cad red light in the light of the clouds. I was able to get many subtle shades of violet and having just a small amount of the yellow really contrasts with those violets. So, there will be 99 skies to come.

I am just scheduling a plein air workshop for Oct in Phoenix. It will be in the Pebble Creek/White Tank Mtn area on Oct 21,22 & 23 from 9-3. Email me if you are interested. beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com

This is an 18x24 that I painted last night on Ustream. I used one of my daily farm scenes as the composition, but changed the color and lighting to a sunset. I thought I would let you know my basic palette of colors.
I use a very traditional warm/cool palette of titanium white, cad lemon yellow, cad yellow light, cad red light, alizarine, cerulean blue and ultramarine blue. Additionally, I use dioxazene purple, cad orange and sap green in almost every painting. I also like and sometimes use, quinacridone rose (sparingly), permanent green light and mars orange. I do have an array of other colors that I will occasionally use, but these are the most common colors on my palette.

On ustream I also talked about opposites, the yin and yang of painting. I wrote a list of them on a previous blog. To see that list click here.

I think the ustream broadcast went well last night and I will be back on next Tues at 4pm PDT. Hope to see you.

BECKY JOY
http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com
www.beckyjoy.com
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
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workshop photos by BECKY JOY

2010-09-06T16:42:00.000-07:00

Today's daily oil painting is available on my website for sale for $110. which includes free shipping and a free small black wrought iron display easel.

To purchase click here

These were two of the three paintings that I did as demos in my workshop in Oregon. I forgot to take a photo of the third one, a moonscape that got away from me before I had a chance to take the photo. I was taking a video in the class, but didn't have the camera in movie mode, so not a lot to show you about the workshop.

I also have posted another painting here. It was my last plein air piece on my way up to Portland at dawn. I still need to look at the videos of me plein air painting.

This is a winery that sits up on the hill. There was so much to paint while I was visiting Oregon.

I told all of you about the plein air paintout at a winery in Northern Arizona yesterday. I went, I painted and it turned out to be maybe one of my worst paintings. It was a wipeout when I got home. I made several mistakes that I hope I don't do again.
1. I set up by a wall where I couldn't back up to look at the painting.
2. I didn't do a value sketch
3. I didn't have a clear vision of what I was painting
4. I changed my mind on the focal point midway
5. I left my glasses in the car, which I needed since I couldn't back away.

The painting was all over the place with no real focal point or composition. There was no way of reviving that one. Oh well, I did get a bottle of wine and a teeshirt and it was a great location.

I hope that you all had a great weekend. I will be resuming my broadcasting on ustream tomorrow on Tuesday at 4pm PDT http://www.ustream.tv/channel/becky-joy-artist-oil-painting-in-the-studio

BECKY JOY
http://beckyjoyartist.blogspot.com
www.beckyjoy.com
beckyjoy@beckyjoy.com
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