Sunday/Monday!

Thanks so much to everyone for the condolences for my friend Sondra. I so appreciate it.  I was thinking of her when I painted this. To see all the paintings that showed up for the Thursday art discussion....go HERE.

(Painting) Celeste Bergin, Memories, oil on 8x8 canvas panel

Sunday!

It may look "too much" ....but this is how it was tonight at sunset. Mother Nature brought out her own dazzling paint kit. 

In the way of personal news...My best friend Sondra Rebalkin passed away unexpectedly last week. She hadn't been feeling well, but she was a very hearty person and she had always rebounded. Not this time. 

The day after she died I did this little pencil drawing of her. When I finished it I smiled...somehow I had captured her.  I'm sad, of course, but I am also keenly aware of how blessed I was to have her as my best pal for all these years. I never had a sister--but if I had... pretty sure she would have been just like Sondra.

------  ("Are we not two volumes of the same book"? ---John Steinbeck)  

This one coffee shop where Dave and I wind up on our walks is also a gift shop.  I grabbed this little red bird as part of my still life sketch. I was so beguiled by it, I wound up buying it. My plan is to paint it next. It just makes me smile.

Hoping you are all have great plans for the upcoming week. :)

Oh, here is the art that showed up to last week's art discussion: Alla Prima Portland

(Top Photo) Painting: Celeste Bergin, Sunset, oil on 8x8 canvas panel

Tuesday!

I painted this with the end-of-my-paints on my palette.  Also, last week I went to Thursday art discussion and here is what everyone brought....Alla Prima Portland

(Painting) Celeste Bergin, Portrait, oil on 12x9 canvas panel

Sunday

For Thursday's art discussion meeting we were asked to bring in a painting and say why we felt it is successful. This is a painting from a workshop. I like the complementary colors and the twig shapes in contrast to the oranges. To see what everyone else brought ....go HERE

Today (Sunday) I went to the reception at Concordia College...some of my friends are showing and it was great fun to see their new work and visit with them in such a pretty setting. Slideshow below (or direct link to photos HERE). Thanks for the photos, David Burbach.

(Top Photo): Painting, Celeste Bergin, Oranges, oil on 16x12 canvas panel

Superbowl Sunday

I did two acrylic paintings today (neither is quite done yet). At the end of the session I painted this sketch, just to use up the paint on my palette.  I'm not one to freeze my paints (like so many seem to do)...it's fun to just use up paint (if only on a practice sketch).

When we are out for our neighborhood walk, it is always made special if we run into Heidi, the neighbor-dog. Heidi's "Dad" lets her run up to us.

Without fail, Heidi sits on our feet. It's just her thing. She sits on mine...then she goes over to Dave and sits on his. 

The Thursday art discussion meeting was great because the Thursday Drawing Club met at Medley Tea and we just had a blast. To see what showed up at the meeting and the Drawing Club results..go HERE. 

Sunday!

This painting is from awhile back. I changed it some and may make a few more minor adjustments to it yet. I like the mysterious feeling and how it is telling a story...the viewer gets to decide what the story is. 

Painting: Celeste Bergin, The Conversation, oil on 12x9 canvas panel

Friday!

Today I join the ranks of people who write..."well, this looks better in person". It is not photographed correctly. Why are my Granny Smith apples looking so much like limes? Just trust me, they are apple-ish in person. (I did these in response to reading Carol Marine's book).  If you are wondering how she achieves her jewel-like colors, she spells it all out. I took this to art discussion on Thursday --to see what everyone else brought...go HERE.

(Painting) Celeste Bergin, Exercise, 4 Green Apples, oil on 12x9 Gessoboard