Hanging Around

A fun painting.  Umbrellas obviously on the mind since it's FINALLY raining here in the high desert of the Sierras.  We still need more please.  I cannot wait to see all of the glorious colorful wildflowers that will be springing up all over the place.  Will have to hike out with my smallest palm pochade and do a quick study or two when that happens.  Even the air will smell sweet.  Oh but I digress.  I really love the color palette in this one and the feeling I get when I see it, not only the composition, but well - can't help it, the colors.  The longer I live the more I love color.

Please contact me via email, bandolsek@gmail.com if interested in purchasing this painting. $65.00 plus shipping and handling in the states via PayPal, oil on panel, 7 x 5.

Tomato Valentine

Well wouldn't you know it, turned my back for a minute and there they were - holding hands.  What could I do?  It must be love!  Valentine love!  I love stories and I especially love humor.  Laughter truly does us all good.  Please feel free to invent your own story regarding these plump beauties...  and Happy Valentines Day to all.

Please contact me via email, bandolsek@gmail.com if interested in purchasing this painting.  $65.00 plus shipping and handling in the states via PayPal, oil on panel, 5 x 7.

Fields of Green

It's been awhile to say the least, but with the holidays and every other sort of thing happening like having to buy a new refrigerator AND washer at the same time, catching nasty colds, buying a car, etc, etc; it's good to be back blogging.

I've also had an extreme loss of my precious Dax kitty passing on.  My eyes are just starting to come back from being slits and very swollen from grieving as this just happened a few days ago.  He was a big part of our life.  It's been difficult coming into the studio where he was my constant companion and muse of sorts.  Loved that guy, but we had a long run of about 17-18 years and as Dr. Suess said, "Don't cry because it's over.  Smile because it happened."  I'm working on the best part of the memories now, although sometimes I let my thoughts wander a bit too far and have another go at a cry.  We had a very mushy lovey relationship.  He came when I whistled kicking his legs up and almost dancing to me, I think he thought he was a dog at times.  Lots of people got a great kick out of that.

This recent painting is called "Fields of Green".  I don't have to keep knocking them out as I don't feel I have to paint everyday.  I have already been there and done that years ago.  It was a great learning experience though and I still cherish it.  Now however, I am more relaxed and thoughtful of what it is I personally want to go after.  A fertile landscape of green - just the thing to ponder, springtime.

Tomatoes, TomAHtoes

They rallied 'round holding hands jumping on the plate yelling "paint us, paint us".  What could I do?  Ah the tomato!  Red, juicy, luscious, full of vitamins and all things that are good for body and mind.  Flavorholics know how happy basil makes them when teamed up with a drop or two of balsamic vinegar on a round slab of quality mozarella - making you hungry yet?  One of my favorite combos...

On holiday til the 12th, but will be of course sketching as always!  Hope everyone has a wonderful time with family and friends or at the least some time to really relax and veg!

Btw, for those of us who love a crisp sharp edge on our brushes, I just found a product called "Soft Clips" (no affiliation with them).  They're way easier to use than the paper folding, clipping tricks.  I wouldn't recommend hanging them on their dryer though as it will no doubt damage the wood, ferrule, etc.  Best to lay on their sides for drying.  Here's the link if anyone's interested.  http://www.soft-clip.com/

Tomatoes, TomAHtoes
8 x 10 x 1, oil on board, painted sides
Click to purchase $160 + $12 s/h

Orange Pepper

Sometimes it is just so difficult to get a good color match.  Between the monitors needing to be calibrated, the photo itself, etc etc.  So this is the best I could do for a match.  Of course, it will be different on different monitors, but we all know that by now.  Btw, I did eat this gorgeous thing afterwards.  They say paint what you love and I do love fruits and veggies - a lot.


Orange Pepper
6 x 6, oil on panel
Click to purchase $50 + $10 s/h

Garden Shears

I don't garden all that much anymore, although I still do have my green thumb.  An inheritance you might say.  I love the look, the feel, the style of the english garden shears the best.  Even the weight makes them rather important in my eyes.  Anyway, here it is, showing off...  all by itself.

Garden Shears

6 x 6, oil on panel
Click to purchase $50 + $10 s/h

REDdy to Go

A fun work for the kitchen or dining room.  Still life work to me is so great for oh so many reasons.  They make particularly good subjects as they don't need to scratch their noses or take breaks, lol.  Plus there's just no comparision to painting from life.  Still doing catch-up work from the open studio, but getting there.

REDdy to Go
8 x 8 x 2, oil on canvas, painted sides
Click to purchase $80 + $10 s/h

Some Open Studio Photos from weekend

The weather was absolutely perfect, everyone was really relaxed.  Some were first timers and couldn't believe how much fun they were having.  All in all - this was the best open studio ever.  Much thanks to my great husband Tim who kept my friend Bonnie (who was awesome and a great help), and I very happy with very flavorful food, music and a helping hand.  A great time was had by all.  I really wished I had been able to get some photos of Susan, Melissa, Leslie, Rachel (aka gorgeous Italian who has modeled for me in the past), Kim, Astride, Pat, Ruth, Bev and Ron and of course Bonnie.  Most are on Facebook if you are curious, go check those fabulous gals out!

Collectors enjoying the artwork and each other.  Girls just want to have fun!  From left to right: Barbara, Marin, Beverly, and Andy.

Entrance to courtyard.

View from one side of displays.

Dana loving the artwork with her husband, don't ya just love her tee? Hm-m-m, chocolate...

Another display view.

View showing double doored studio entrance towards back.

Decisions, decisions...


Still so much more to catch up on, but the intoxicating smell of oils will soon be screaming for attention so I'd better get to some of the 'have to do it' tasks on my list... Enjoy!

Open Studio today and tomorrow

The weekend's here already.  Where does the time go?  Looks to be the start of a very busy one indeed.  The weather is awesome, AND no wind, woo hoo.  Really looking forward to meeting and greeting my collectors and newbies out for a look see.  My husband Tim and friend Bonnie are helping me out this year.  I'll try to get some shots here and there and post tonight or tomorrow.  This year I did the very best I could to keep it shady under the loggia.  Sunny Cali can get very hot while in the sun, it's true what they say about drier air and is actually very pleasant in the shade.  Better get busy...

Open Studio this coming weekend

Lot's more to do so won't have much time to post, I'll try to get some photos if I get a bit of a break.  Still haven't fixed the fence on one side, but it is ok for now.  Checking off my list a bit at a time.  Inch by inch anything's a cinch right?  Hope to post again by next week.  Hope everyone has a great weekend.

DSFDF "Up on the Roof"

Different Strokes for Different Folks

Here's the link to the site where this originated.

This is the latest from Karin Jurick's Different Strokes for Different Folks blog.  It still amazes and thrills me that we are all so different when it comes to creating for example.  We all have the love of art in common, but the results are so very individual.  Thank goodness! 

12" x 12", Oil on panel

SOLD

 $195 plus $10 shipping & handling in the US

Oranges

Can you believe the witty, clever, one of a kind name of this painting.  Took a lot for me to come up with that you know, lol...  This is a 12 x 24 btw, I personally love the colors, the diva attitude.  Yummy, delicious, fresh, I could go on.

Red Grapes

So how do like that?  I went to the frig to get the gorgeous orange, not yellow or green or red, but orange pepper only to find that my sweet husband had cut up all of our 'snacky' veggies.  Oops!  It was very sweet of him as I was very busy in the studio rendering a larger piece.

So-o-o-o, I'm posting this commissioned piece called "Red Grapes" that my dearest most amazing Texan, Mona, requested earlier this year.  Love you Mona!

Calendar Girl Birthday Card (January)

This is one of my Calendar Girl Birthday Cards that I have for sale at Zazzle.com.  They all ended up in a 2010 Desktop Calendar that I always sell at my wonderful boutique "Botany's Desire" and also at my annual open studio event.  They were so sweet that I decided to sell them individually as well.  I have to say that January is my fav!  Hope you like them...
My Zazzle store

Yardwork today

Our annual Open Studio tour is coming up fast, this year it falls on Oct. 24th and 25th and I just I can't put it off any longer and have to get out to the courtyard and do some very labor intensive work.  All of the cypresses seem to be hit by some type of plight. I've had to remove 3 so far, this will be 4.  There are only 4 left after that.  What a messy job, full of dead needles to clean up, ugh!  Better pull out the Ibuprofen now and just get to it...

Olive Branch

NFS - This is the olive branch I was referring to yesterday.  The one my friend and I spotted, and then snagged.

No kidding, I carried this baby home with me by dumping the ice out of my wonderful Starbucks Tazo Passion Lemonaide (yummy AND refreshing), and sticking the branch in the tops slotted cover.  It worked great!

Wildflower

A friend of mine and I have been trying to 'stay healthier' by walking early in the mornings two days a week.  So far, we've actually stuck to it, grab a Starbucks something or other (usually a tea) and back out the door we go. Phew!

So-o-o, as we were soon approaching home, there were a bunch of crazy wild daisy like flowers growing out of nowhere.  I had to see if at least one or two of them would make it back - this was the last guy standing so of course I had to paint it in fun and colorful palette.

I am now on the lookout for well, whatever.  We happened upon a very cool Olive tree with branches hanging over the wall on the street.  So I picked just a bit of the branch and found 3 olives attached.  I'll post it when I can get a picture.  Who knows what other great nature finds we'll discover on our walking adventures.

Croque Madame

Another wonderful panini sandwich.  Crowned with a fried egg, makes it a Croque Madame.  I cannot wait to sink my teeth into the wonderful flavor the panini delivers melting all of the flavors together so perfectly.

6" x 6", oil on panel
SOLD

Wild Poppies

Wild poppies grow heartily all over California, but especially in certain locales.  Photographers galore - on the ground, slouched over.  Hey, whatever works for that most perfect of shots right...

SOLD

Lily

SOLD
The title of this painting isn't very clever, but it's all I had after a very busy day.  Unlike most of my lillies which are from Hearst Castle, and especially Mission San Juan Capistrano, these are from Balboa Park in front of their Botanical Garden building.  This place is awesome.  There's even an area when you walk in where they've planted all types, colors, etc of flora and fauna that you can touch, smell, oh and ah after.  The bunch of us that are a more curious lot were getting kind of loud with our wow's after some of our tactile fun and more and more people came over.  Now that was a great idea and the plants rather seemed to enjoy it as well.

Poppy Gorge

Poppies run amuck, gloriously falling over themselves and finding spaces that only they can grow in gorges, on hillsides, in rock crevices.  Hiking the trails or just driving by, wow.  The colors are amazing.  It's a definite 'must see'...

A Rose by Any Other Name

The mint julep cup is a perfect setting reflecting this lovely single rose at it's prime in full blossom.

8 x 8 x 2, painted sides.  Ready to hang.
SOLD

To the Table With You

This is a very relaxed work that I must say I absolutely and thoroughly enjoyed painting.  Did another painting similar from a sketch called "Pass the Cream and Sugar Please".

I am blessed!  I LOVE my job.

Oil on panel, 7 x 5

Breakfast

Oil on panel, 7 x 5
SOLD

Yummy delish breakfast in a pan!  Oh the flavor that is melding this fine morning.  Can't wait.

Notecards work today

Well today is what I call a notecard day. I sell them in boutiques and little shops and I am overdue to put some new ones out there. I'll leave you with sample cards called "Apple a Day" and "Let's Visit".

Carnation

AndolsekArt at Etsy

Single carnation in a blue vase. I love the colors in this and the loose painterly feel. Hope you enjoy it as well cause it was terrific fun to paint.

Poppies

AndolsekArt at Etsy

I know, I know, everybody paints Poppies, but they are one of my favorite flowers. And of course, I had to render this sweet thing in an abstracted matter just cause I had to. They're so delicate, yet so strong, bending with the wind and going strong rather than fighting it. Maybe we should look to this beauty to deal with situations that occur in our lives.

Boating

AndolsekArt at Etsy

Boating is a 9 x 12 oil on canvas panel rendering the last days of easy breezy summer. Quiet waters, relaxing... Oh how nice before the holidays begin with a furiously fast pace.

Beachy Keen

AndolsekArt at Etsy

It's nearing the end of summer now, but there's still some time left to catch some rays and just plain relax before holidays abound once again. This is definitely a lovely reminder to take time to smell the sea salt air! ps - I love how loose this is, my fav kind of thing.

Classic Ford

AndolsekArt at Etsy

Remember Route 66? Remember the paintings that came out of that era? Well that's the feel I wanted with this piece... A classic ford, the line, the style, the colors. Puts me in mind of traveling down Route 1 in Cali. Woo hoo, how fun is that!

Btw, the colors are just not up to snuff online, but pop in person...

Radical Radishes

'NFS'...  So here's the story on the title for this one with hopefully some humor thrown in. All of the radishes were huddling in a bunch, tied together, trying to escape when suddenly the rubber band snapped! Three of them got loose and ran for it... from habit, they huddled once again, this time radicals and free! As Hendrix would say, freedom - give it to me.

"Pass the Cream and Sugar Please"

SOLD

Ok, so I love coffee although I do love Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade on a hot day. I actually made myself a delightful cup a java before getting started on this really fun piece. I like simple layouts most of the time. I don't like clutter in my house or studio either, it bothers my peace and gets dusty. So again, like my profile says, I try to keep it simple, but love those colors...

"Strike a Pose"

AndolsekArt at Etsy

This piece is very expressionistic to me. I completely let myself go and working from a sketch I had completed for one of my notecards, just had fun with it. This is what happens when I listen to happy music like the Bosa Nova! I like the colors in this as well, a more pastellish go at the Munsell.

"Beached"

AndolsekArt at Etsy

I've just added a new piece of work to my brand new Etsy store titled "Beached". It's a beach (ha) scene of a beached boat in a moorish type of setting. I like how this painting turned out. I like the colors, etc basically I think I nailed it, but hey that's how it's got to be. I have to paint for me or as David Leffel would say regarding motivation. "Beauty... the fun of trying to get it down... the fun of trying to get better." I hope you agree! Btw, please visit my shop when you have time.

"Kitty Adventures"

AndolsekArt at Etsy

Isn't it fun? Playing outside, oh the places we'll go and the things we'll see!

"Sitting Pretty"

AndolsekArt at Etsy

Love has caught my heart and I just have to show it to cuteness lovers everywhere... so precious. Btw, the photography compliments of Scott M. Liddell.