My morning routine is generally coffee and reading. As the morning sunlight streamed across the wall with bands of light, I thought about how long it has been since I have picked up a pencil or brush.
Ah, it’s the dreaded slump. Uncommon? No. Aggravating? Yes. This particular slump includes not only pencils and paint, but also guitars and pianos. Good grief.
This is what is currently on the easel. I decided to go with a different color pallet, outside my comfort zone. This is an update of the original posting. It’s still really different than what I’ve done in the past and quite frankly, I’m not too fond of. I guess you could say it is a learning process that never ends.
Thanks for stopping by!!
What is interesting is that I spent a year doing some academic drawing and I found that it bled over into painting as well. Time well spent, I say! Now I just have to get my motivation to do something different.
Gary finally got his seascape AND a seagull- I guess it was high time since all the others he liked went to other homes! (Replaced the crummy photo for a less crummy photo!)
30′ x 40″ Oil on stretched cotton canvas.
For the last nine months or so, every time that I do a sea side/beach type scene that my husband likes, it ends up somewhere other than here. So I am currently working on this for him- (hopefully no one makes me an offer I can’t refuse!) There’s still a lot of work to do on this but I thought I would share it with everyone. Thanks for coming by!
This piece, entitled “Sunset Storm”, is my most recent. I delayed in posting until it arrived at its destination. This is a 16×20 oil on canvas. Framing from Frame Destination in Dallas, TX.
Hello Everyone! Thanks for stopping by. Just wanted to let you know that I’m moving things around on this site. I’ve been contemplating getting a different site, one that has no ads to deal with. But until then, have a look at the 3 new pages I’ve added, Pencil Work, Oil and Miscellaneous Mediums. I have just moved some images around and isolated them so that it isn’t so random. I hope you will take the time, have a look and tell me what you think. Thanks again for stopping by!
“Escape to the Sea”- 2021 20×16 oil on canvas.
Just finished one for someone in New Mexico. This is a 18×12 charcoal.
Funny thing with this was that the request was for this to be in pencil. While I did start it that way, I was unable to get the desired depth of gray-tones, so out came the “loathed” charcoal pencils. But guess what?! I’m actually happy with the outcome! Who would have thought.
Finally! After a few additional strokes of the brush this study subject is done! Of course, lighting helps the true color and tones stand out.
I finished the edges of the canvas this morning and, of course, my “eye” starts talking and the paint brush comes out – “oh, just a little contrast over here…oooo, yeah, here too…” This thing needs to hurry up and dry so these episodes won’t continue! 😂
Still on the easel- a 10”x20” Oil on canvas
Hello again! I’m still here! I’ve been doing a lot of larger pieces in oil as of late. This piece has gone to Arizona. It was requested after I had posted one similar (albeit much bigger) on Instagram. This one is a 30”x40” oil on stretched canvas.
Wet on the easel
I guess that I am attempting to extend myself again as I have never done a piece like this either in paint or in pencil- so don’t be harsh with your critique! (Just funnin’ ya)
I also have some other stuff coming up in the next few months. So, stayed tuned!
Well, hey there! Nope, didn’t croak- just haven’t done anything “artistic”. This one is a follow up to Sapphire Sea.
This past December I had to say good-bye to my favorite subject, my “adopted” dad, Pop. He was 83. My heart ached as I watched his last breath and I remembered doing the very same thing 15 1/2 years ago when I watched my dad expel his final breath.
Death is an enemy, not something to look forward to no matter how bad one’s life is. Nor is it a port to somewhere else. Death is the opposite of life.
I was finally able to deliver this piece. A lot more went into it (other than the actual work of painting it) but now it is done and it was a hit. Whew! Glad that is done!
This will probably the last painting that I do for a while. Creativity decided to take a vacation. I hope you will stop again from time to time to see if the vacation is over yet.
Until then, I hope all goes well with everyone and thanks again for coming by!!
Believe it or not, I did a few more things to this piece and now it is ready to go into the frame and then be delivered tomorrow.
The piece I’m working on now is of the Palo Duro Canyon, Texas. Talk about a pain in the neck! You have no idea how many bushes are on those plateaus and the varying shades of clay dirt on them! I will post something on that at a later date.
Here I am again at the tail end of another project. This one has been interesting as it seemed to always morph into something I hadn’t planned- like driftwood. Go Figure.
The next project I think will be in sepia tones again. So stay tuned!
Today, after working on another painting, I decided to put the last one in the frame. Looks pretty decent. Floater frames are cool, just a pain in the neck to install.
Next painting has to do with the sea. Stay tuned!
Here is the latest- I’m on a roll! This was taken from the scene of my back yard in northern New Mexico. There was always something beautiful to gain some inspiration from.
I’ve not really done a whole lot in oil so the learning experience has been fascinating. Improvement is sure to come. This project measures 24″ x 30″.
There’s already a larger project lined up so visit again soon!
I have finished and framed the most recent piece. As you can see from the previous post, I didn’t do a whole lot more to it. But I am happy with the minimalistic effect it has on my visual senses.
This painting is in oil, using only three colors. It is a deviation from my normal subject matter and may well be something I will dabble in for a while. It’s also the largest painting I’ve done to date. It is 48”x30” and in a floater frame.
Hope you enjoy it. Please leave me a comment and thanks for stopping by!
Hello from Okie-homa! As you can tell, I ain’t croaked yet and workin’ hard at mastering that Okie language and accent.
I decided to bring out the ol’ paint brushes and take a stab at oil. I had seen a print of what appeared as a grassy beach scene and it was just so serene that I thought I needed to do something similar. It started out that way but then it went off in a tangent.
So, now it is in the stage where I just pick at it for awhile. There’s no telling where it may end up.
Finally completed.
Here is the finished product of this little project. I want to thank this child’s parents for the opportunity to have done this piece. I love it when I find such fascinating subjects! Hopefully, I will find the next one very soon and get it up for you.
Thank you to everyone who continues to visit here!
I’ve been missing in action again? Si’ o no? Si’! I started this little project some time back but have been, well, missing in action again. As per usual, lousy scan but it gives you an idea of what I’ve been doing.
I’ve also been working on the illustration of a book cover for an author and the illustrations of another book, a children’s book. All has been on hold due to – well, being missing in action again. Perhaps I’ll get better at sticking around but then again……..
As I puttered around the house this afternoon, I kept walking past this watercolor. It just seemed to need more, so I put a little more intense color to it as well as things further in the background. I was just going to add it to the original post but the program had other ideas.
Maybe I will just start a new one.
Today I saw a pastel by Tyrus Wong who drew for Disney for a long time (he died December 30, 2016 at age 106-he was brought from China by his father at age 9 in 1920)… anyway, this pastel I saw had teal color and a wispy feel to it and at the end of the day I decided to pull out the watercolor and paper. My intent was to find that same feel but the paint took a different direction and this was the result. I may or may not do more to it, only time will tell.
Funny how a word can inspire……..
This evening has been interesting. For the past few months, I’ve been really focused on the things that have to be done. None of which had anything to do with art or music. This evening I not only pulled out the paint brushes but I also pulled out my guitars. Sure was nice.
One of my readers mentioned mountains so here is a shot at that. Thanks!
Still in a slump, but at least an effort was made… sorta.
Okay, so a little explanation is in order. This was just a little experimentation of the laying of color with different brushes and flow of water on the paper. No specific representations. 2016 has been a year of much change and grief so this “slump” has been the result of that. Hopefully, all this will pass and something good will come. Until then, thanks to everyone who stops by Quiet Eloquence!
Sometime back, I ran across some drawings that I did as a youth. When I first saw this particular page my first reaction was “who did this?” ’cause I thought it was kinda cool. Then I remembered it back in 1978. Me, my cousin and my best friend were sitting around doodling and drawing each other. My cousin actually saved the pages hence the reason I have it now.
Anyway, it was funny to me how symmetrical this was. (today I don’t think I ever even think about symmetry)
Bet you thought I dropped off the face of the earth!
Sorry, been a tough year. This three panel painting in oil holds some representation of things over the past 8 or 9 months.
Thanks for your patience and thank you for coming by!
Every time I see a chicken or pictures of chickens the first thing that comes to mind is an old Tyson chicken commercial where the announcer says “We don’t sell fat yellow chickens”. So, of course, I have to put a southern draw to it and announce “we don’t sell no fat yeller chickens!”
Silly, I know.
Anyway, I was asked to draw a chicken, more specifically, a game rooster. (definitely not a fat chicken and they stand really upright!) I decided that it wouldn’t be very interesting in pencil so I started it in watercolor. This is it, thus far. We’ll see where it goes from here. (and below is the updated piece)
This is a print of a piece I started in December. I was going to add more to the original but it seems that less is more in this case.
Here is a piece that I started some time back but never posted in its completed form. It has been on display since October of last year. I figured out that I don’t have a decent place to photograph here so it has reflections in it…. sorry. Anyway, here it is.
I love cats. Their expressions just crack me up.
This is a new project I started…. haven’t gotten far nor do I know what direction it will take. One of these years I might have the equipment to make photos of the drawings look more like the drawing! Come again to see what’s next! (Note: this is an updated picture of the drawing- taken with my iPad)
It has been a while since I did anything new and for some oddball reason, I wanted to mess with the watercolors again. The last thing I put on the sight was the result of that. This time, however, I was thinking less could be more but then……………….
One day while I was out and about, my normal activity, a friend had found a feather which was blue on one side and yellow on the other. It was pretty cool. So, I took a few pictures of it stuck in the wire of a latilla fence to take home and later contemplate whether it could be used for anything.
Eventually, I got out the watercolors and put this together, just foolin’ around.
Some thirty years ago I did a painting of a New Mexico sunset, similar to this one, with very vivid colors. There was an old guy at a grain elevator who made the comment “you have quite the imagination” Hey! I didn’t create that! That’s the way it really was!
Anyway, this painting is based on a sunset that I saw out my back door. Sometimes the sunsets I see in this area are so vivid, so beautiful!
(owned by private collector)
This is another small watercolor that is similar to the first of this series. It was kinda fun throwing in a touch of red here and there as red isn’t something I use much of.
Here is another one of the minis that I did during the wintertime this year. My Pop really liked this one.
During my wintertime burst of micro-paintings, here is one with some purple flowers…. no idea what they are, they just kinda emerged onto the paper… enjoy!
That’s a question that I’ve been asking myself lately. I’ve not done much in the “art” field. Been a busy Spring and Summer with other things.
During the wintertime, I was piddling around with watercolor. I did a couple of medium sized pieces and several miniatures. I thought I would share them with my readers…… just not all at once.
Here’s one of the larger ones.
This afternoon I decided to work more on this piece…… still don’t know what to call it. (If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know in a comment!)
As you know, I am not an oil paint fan. But I still do it from time to time. Last year I told my son that I would do a painting for him similar to one he saw in a store.
So, I began with the task of finding a large enough canvas that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. Check! Next, I painted the whole thing gray. After that dried I began the process of figuring out how to lay it out and give it some drama and meaning. I looked at a lot of photographs dealing with the theme of the highway leading off into the horizon.( If you get a chance, go check out Tau Zero , this guy is spectacular! )
So far, this is as far as I have gotten…… stay tuned for more!
At long last I have completed some projects that I have been working on for an extended period of time…..sometimes things just don’t wanna get done.
Here is a photograph of a piece I call Million Mile Reflections. My subject was a victim of Alzheimer’s. Such a tragedy. Anyway, I was inspired by the look in his eyes, both before and after the ravages of the disease. I’m always amazed by what a person can see in another person’s eyes.
Thank you all again for coming by. Please come again soon to see what else crops up on Quiet Eloquence!
This morning I met one of my friends for coffee at a local coffee shop. We both noticed an art piece hanging near our table. Really nice colors. The more we looked and talked about it the more I felt like going home and getting out the brushes.
This piece started out completely different than the end result. Here is a photo of it. I’m calling it “Into The Light”.
I came down sick with a bug the first part of the week….. been a couple three years since I had the pleasure. But something good came out of it. I had encouraged a friend to pick up the paint brush again after she had shown me something she had done some years back. Anyway, I’m here, confined to my house and I decided to get out my watercolors again. It has been awhile since I really had any desire to do anything in that medium. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by what emerged as I sat in front of the fire with them.
I’ve about determined that wintertime is the time for experiments. Maybe it is because a person gets cooped up when the weather is less than warm or maybe it’s…. oh, I don’t know.
Case in point: color. I had this notion that I wanted to paint in blue and green. So, I whip out the blues and greens in my small collection of oil paint tubes, squirt out a few globs of paint onto the palette then grab my trusty palette knife and ……….. I really didn’t intend for it to look like a flower but thus far, that is what it appears to be. Hmmm. I guess we’ll see as time goes on whether it continues to look like that.
The recent brain-storming became a catalyst for the progress of this commissioned project. And although there is more work to do on it, I’m tickled that it’s moving again. Check back, there’s more to come!
P.S. Photo still isn’t truly representing the piece.
For the past I-don’t-know-how-long, I’ve been trying to put together a composition on a portrait. Wracking my brain, I keep coming up empty. Last night I began thinking outside the normal, or rather, what seemed like the route to take with it and thought about something I don’t do much. Color. And pastel at that.
So, this morning I began an experiment to see if I could control those little chaulky sticks and make them do what I can see in my mind. I was pleasantly surprised that it was going pretty well. I really liked how my sky was unfolding. (unfortunately the real thing beats the photo by miles… sorry) Then I started on the lower half. That wasn’t as easy to control. When I come back to it, perhaps I can make it jump out some more, perhaps get some depth into it.
Ah, experiments……..
Despite what I want, some things just don’t move quickly. This piece is a good example of that. I have some ideas for it but thus far, it hasn’t not come to fruition.
This is a photo of the piece so it is kinda muddy but you can see the point I’m at in the composition.
You have no idea the conversations I have been having with………. myself. I have been so swamped with fifty-bazillion other things and just have not picked up the projects that are long over due. (You can go back and see some of the progression.)
And then, of course, as soon as I talk myself into “just do it!” then I remember how much I love my pencils. I am hoping this Winter I will get these done then move to another chapter……. like maybe more feathers!
Thank you again for visiting and I look forward to hearing from you all!
This morning I realized that I hadn’t really finished telling you or rather showing you whatever became of the entry for the miniature show earlier this year. Here it is framed and hung on the wall alongside my horse’s shoes above the focus of the drawing.
As Winter is fast approaching here in the northern mountains of New Mexico, my pencils should be coming out of their cave as well. It has been a busy, eventful year but I’m really glad it is almost over. So, please come again and see what lands on this page and feel free to comment!
Here in the mountains of northern New Mexico, the temperature is usually pretty nice. This week has produced some much warmer temperatures. But you aren’t here for a weather report………
I did more work on this piece last week and decided to pass it on. Still a long way to go.
I want to start by thanking everyone who has been visiting this site. I really appreciate it.
And believe it or not, I have been working. I completed one project, got it down the road. Still working on three more. Below is one that seems to be moving really slow…. not going to be finished anytime soon.
So, please come again and see what else is going on. And be sure to tell your friends!
Greetings from my crazy world! It has been a busy and ……….. well, let’s just say it hasn’t all been according to plan.
I am hoping to finish up several projects in the next few months. One private project is coming to conclusion now and will be shipped to its final destination. There will not be any posting on that project as per the request of the client. However, the other projects will be shown here as they progress to conclusion. Below is an example of one of the projects.
While I have been “incapacitated” with my sprained ankle, I’ve taken advantage of my time and done drawings, which the last few entries show and I had a hankering to do a painting. So, I did what I call Cowboy Storm. The piece is actually 11×14 but my little flatbed scanner is only 8.5×11.5…….. sorry.
I’ve been puttering around with feathers, so to speak. And I’ve had a ball with them! Very different from my normal portait compositions……. but I like ’em!!
Here’s one that I started. I’m calling it Three Feathers. Not sure if it will just be the feathers or if I will add something else to it. Right now I am liking the way it is looking. Very simple yet has some sort of message.
And here is the same piece after some more work on it today………..
I’m still working on a couple of projects and sometimes it seems unbearably slow.
This one is of “generations”. Oftentimes, after I have put a piece aside then returned to it, I see things that must have some attention. This evening I have worked it a little bit so what you see here is where I am currently.
I will be working on all four of the subjects for quite a while longer and then will eventually add another subject to the negative space around and behind the main ones. Stay tuned and see what’s next!!
Well, I just couldn’t settle with that that last drawing…. had to take another poke at it, so to speak. So, here is the second attempt at this Native American child.
I am always looking for ideas for drawings. Sometimes they just elude me. I have always enjoyed old photographs, especially when the subject seems to be speaking volumes through their eyes.
I was looking at a picture of a little Native American girl and her eyes seem to say so much in silence. So, I decided to see if I could capture a little bit of that. This is what I did in a couple night’s work. I may try to do it again and retire this one…… who knows.
Well, it is another chilly night in the mountains and, of course, most will be nestled closely to a source of warmth, to wit, a wood burning stove or fireplace. I find myself in my favorite chair, all snuggled up and enjoying a cup of coffee as I watch the flame and burning embers within the stove.
Now, you may wonder, what has that to do with an entry, miniatures or even 2013. Last year, 2012, I was invited to put in a small piece for a show at a museum here. The invitation was extended to me again. At first I wasn’t really in a position to do it, as I had two pieces in progress. But then, during my evenings in my chair, I felt the need to just draw my source of enjoyment. I really enjoyed the double shadows cast onto the wall by the lights as well as the glowing embers inside.
So, below you will see the source of my warmth and the 2013 entry for the miniature show.
From time to time as I start another project, I think about what it would be like to be a fly on the wall and watch the goings on of this process. So, with that in mind, I had my Pop take some pictures as I started a new project. I was surprised (dismally) by all the various expressions on my face as I worked. I’m glad no one can watch.
This new project I am calling (for now) Million Mile Reflections. My subject is one who lead a full and interesting life in different areas only to end under the heavy hand of Alzheimer’s Disease. I wanted to show how clearly one can see how this horrible disease closes the curtains of the eyes of ones who suffer its grip. My heart breaks for those and those who have to watch it from start to finish.
Here is the beginning of this new project.
And this is where it is thus far…………
…..and as usual, I want to invite you back again to see how this piece, as well as the other that is currently being worked on, is coming along. Thank you for visiting and I wish you all well.
I have started another project. This one will be called “Generations” There will be four images within the composition. Actually, five if you count a non-person image that will be woven into the over all composition.
Not sure of the completion date so please stop again soon to see the progress and the eventual completion of this project.
For those of you who are watching the progress of this piece, note that the one image is changing rather than additional images added. These images are being shot with a camera rather than being scanned, hence the darkness of the overall image.
Thanks for watching!
This evening while I was puttering around my office, preparing to start a new piece, I opened up one of my old pads of paper and lo and behold there was a drawing I did nearly ten years ago! I forgot that I did it!
Funny how much more detailed I am these days……………..
This morning I decided to play around with some new “toys” that I got recently…… colored pencils and paper. So far, I’m not real hip on them. Maybe with some time I can make them do what I want. One thing is for sure… start with the light colors!!
Below is a start on a piece…. maybe it will get finished or maybe not. We’ll see what happens.
This is the latest project that was just completed and delivered. (Please forgive the quality of the scan)
Copyright Desiree Hodges, All Rights Reserved
Sometimes it is like pullin’ teeth to get something accomplished. I’ve been trying to put the finished piece on here but the scan I had done was so huge that my software program couldn’t shrink it down to a usable size.
I also had nine-kinds of trouble getting a print done of the original. But I did finally get that accomplished with much pain along the way. I won’t bore you with that drama.
And framing has been a pain in the neck………….. I guess I can just say the whole thing has not gone according to schedule.
So, without further adieu, here is how the finished piece turned out.
And this is the portrait as it will hang………….
Here is the latest thing I’ve been working on…. still in the process of completion. (Notice that there is a signature already in place? I scratched it into the paper before blacking it as it would be quite difficult to sign it afterwards- not that it will make any difference 50 years from now!)
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