Non-objective paintings

Depths of Passion (12x12)

Pink Elephant Dreams

When I switched to oils for portraits, I never thought I'd touch acrylics again for anything. I almost packed them all up and gave them away, but held off long enough to think about their usefulness. But it never occurred to me that I'd be painting non-objective paintings with them and enjoying the way they handle. I did these two paintings this weekend (and little else except eating and brushing my teeth.) 8 X 10

Non-objective experiments

This painting started with an early morning dream. 16 X 20 acrylic

Inner Musings

This is a little study, 6 X 6. I did it from a photo taken immediately before the reference photo for First Bubbles of Mirth, which is awaiting some revisions.

High Meadow

I did this 8x10 after watching David Dunlop's Landscapes Through Time this morning. I used reference photos I took in the foothills of the Catskills this past June.

On Her Bike (8x10)

Altered a bit April 14, 2012.

The Morning's Shopping in Vieux Nice

I think it's done. Vieux Nice is such a wonderful, vibrant neighborhood. We so enjoyed our time there sampling the restaurants and pubs and being constantly befuddled by the daily transformations of the various shops and eateries.

Giclee prints available at http://connie-schaertl.artistwebsites.com/

Vieux Nice

Recently my daughter, Laurel, and I spent some time in France. This is a street scene in "our" neighborhood, Vieux Nice. I have some adjustments to make, but this 16 X 12 oil painting is close to being finished.

Giclee prints available at http://connie-schaertl.artistwebsites.com/

Willow & Garrett

They weren't yet engaged when I started this. Now they've had a spectacular wedding and are settling into their new house. This is 14 X 11.

A Classy Watering Hole (SOLD)

This is a little 5 X 7 oil painting that may be finished.

Riding into the Sunset

Now it's finished. 9 X 12 oil.

Giclee prints available at http://connie-schaertl.artistwebsites.com/

Garrett

This is a small 8 1/2 X 10 portrait of Garrett, an excellent artist, a fine young man and my future son-in-law.

Another abstract

This is a little (9" X 9") abstract is another I did with a palette knife.

The Question of a Minor Summit (revised)

I wasn't satisfied with the silhouette of the vegetation in the foreground, and I decided that the shadows in her face needed a little more green tones.

Giclee prints available at http://connie-schaertl.artistwebsites.com/

Wimberley Valley Art League juried show

I knew things were going well when all four of my entries to the Wimberley Valley Art League juried show were accepted, but not how well!

Within a half hour of the show's opening a couple had searched me out among to crowd to say that they wanted to buy my Buenos Aires series. I'd been concerned that someone might want to buy only one and break up the series. Needless to say, I am delighted that the series sold together, and to people who know art.

The Question of a Minor Summit

I've changed the composition somewhat and think it works better this way.

I think this is finished. Or maybe not.

Buenos Aires 1, 2 & 3 - SOLD

Buenos Aires 1: Sadness

Buenos Aires 2: In Transition

Buenos Aires 3: To Sacrifice

The series may be done now.

SOLD. Giclee prints available at http://connie-schaertl.artistwebsites.com/

Worcester Farm

I recently attended my high school reunion in upstate NY. Both flying over the area and then driving the mountains around the tiny town, I became aware of how very rural upstate NY is. I've always known how beautiful the mountains are. This farm is in the mountains, surrounded by deep woods except where it fronts the small country road.

Buenos Aires Series

The reason it's been so long since my last post has not been idleness. I've been working on a series. I thought I'd post them all at once, but have now changed my mind. Here is the first.

SOLD. Giclee prints available at http://connie-schaertl.artistwebsites.com/

Mission Concepcion in San Antonio

This is a little 6"X6" oil painting of one of San Antonio's missions.

Giclee prints available at http://connie-schaertl.artistwebsites.com/

Morning Fire

This is a view toward the Mediterranean from St. Paul de Vence. The morning mist was augmented by smoke from burning garden & vineyard refuse.

Wimberley Arts Fest

Wimberley had it's annual Arts Fest on April 24. This is a busy season for art shows. Next Saturday is the Artists of Dripping Springs Studio Tour, and I'll have some painting hanging at the Solstice Garden Gallery.

Austin Visual Arts Association Figurative Show

Tonight was the opening of theAustin Visual Arts Association Figurative Show at the Austin Art Space. Willow and Laurel came with their wonderful boyfriends, and we were snapped in front of the wall where "Officer" is hanging.

Grazing Longhorn by the Woods

I started this a long time ago, posted the lower image, and recently went back to it. The top image shows changes I made.

Giclee prints available at http://connie-schaertl.artistwebsites.com/

The Phantom Stream

Spring in Texas creates a lot of flash floods that disappear within hours. Top one is the latest version.

Her Accessible Heart

Every smallest brush stroke changes her expression, but the heart necklace is a perfect symbol of the beautiful, loving soul within the outer beauty.

Enchanted Forest Fashion Show

This outdoor fashion a couple of years ago took place in a metropolitan forest. The young designers, besides making the clothing, also modeled their own creations.

A small portrait

This small 7 x 7 painting seemed to come together on its own, and was a pleasure to do.

Giclee prints available at

http://connie-schaertl.artistwebsites.com/

Color in Winter

I woke up from dreaming this painting this morning and dragged out my acrylics. It's not quite the image in my dream, but close enough.

The Painting Demo

I'm not sure if this is finished, but for now, I'll go ahead and post it.

Life drawing at AVAA

For the last couple of Sundays, I've been driving in to Austin to paint from models at Austin Visual Arts Association. Here are a couple of 1 hour studies.

Each session with the model starts with 1 minute gesture drawings.

First Prize: Austonian in Progress

I had a bit of a shock last night that sent me into the ladies' room in hysterical paroxysms of laughter. Last night was a Wimberley Valley Art League juried art show opening. The League includes some very fine artists. I'd submitted 4 pieces. The one that was accepted I had included at the last minute. When I walked in I got quite an eyeful of why only one was accepted -- some really excellent paintings by some well-known artists. I worked my way down the wall and saw my painting. There was a little sign between it and the photo hanging below saying 1st place. I thought that the photo below was nice, but WHY did photos so often win over paintings in these shows... Well, it wasn't the photo, it was my painting that won first place in 2-D works. And it was an experiment I'd painted upside down!

I was absolutely giddy all evening. It felt like some kind of cosmic joke.

(The top photo is of my friend, Marv, my daughter, Laurel and me in front of some beautiful works by Ann Templeton and others.)

Giclee prints available at http://connie-schaertl.artistwebsites.com/

Morning in Eze

The above shows changes made with glazing at Edward Povey's class on color and glazing.

We went to the ancient walled city Eze on a beautiful October morning. Our group of artists comprised the total number of tourists for the first half of our visit, and the local shopkeepers were relaxing into their day. I painted this from a photo I snapped while wondering around. Since it is a walled city the tiny alleyways stayed in shadow except for the midday sun. The location of this cafe was one exception that allowed in slanting morning sun.

The painting is 16 X 20" on canvas board.

Giclee prints available at http://connie-schaertl.artistwebsites.com/

The Mediterranean from St. Paul de Vence

This is a little 5 X 7" watercolor I did from a photo I took walking back down to our bus from the old walled city of St. Paul de Vence. Even though the trip had seemed to take us far inland, we were actually able to see the Mediterranean from the higher elevation.

Inspired by Cezanne

5 X 7" watercolor I did last week while watching David Dunlop's Landscapes Through Time.

Giclee prints available at http://connie-schaertl.artistwebsites.com/

Laggo Maggiore View

This has been my project today. It's been wonderful to be able to spend so much uninterrupted time painting. The only problem is that the more I paint the more I want to paint. While driving to my day job, I'm looking at all the unpainted pictures and mixing the paints for them. I don't know whether I'll do any more painting on this, but will try to get a better photo. The natural light had gone and it's tricky to avoid reflections from the wet paints.

Stream Through the Trees

It's been a productive long weekend. I started this on New Year's Day and have been working on it off and on since.

Giclee prints available at http://connie-schaertl.artistwebsites.com/