A Painting Day - Desert Chant - Ruth Andre

"Desert Chant"

10"x22"x1.5" Oil and Mixed Media on Cradled Panel

by Ruth Andre

$900

The studio is spilling outside to the open barn. There are larger cradled panels in the works and some experimenting going on getting the paint moved around on larger surfaces. Tools that work well on small surfaces seem very limited on a larger format. My small Challenge 100 Paintings are very intimate and fine. Moving to larger works is a challenge all on its own. Today's painting, "Desert Chant" is a step up in size giving me the courage to move on to a larger panel. COMING SOON! I do love the desert colors and right now the valley has a desert look with the dried grasses and the sandy ground. 

It has been, "A Painting Day".

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A Painting Day - Rising Creek - Ruth Andre

"Rising Creek"

4.5"x4.5" Oil and Cold Wax on Paper

by Ruth Andre

sold

The creek is dry right now but I cannot help but think about the coming rains and how the creek bed changes from rock and sand with leafy ferns and grasses to a powerful and beautiful water way. I think the painting, "Rising Creek" gives the feeling of how swiftly the creek water moves down its winding path through the valley.

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A Painting Day - Whispering Fog - Ruth Andre

"Whispering Fog"

4.5"x4.5" Oil and Cold Wax on Paper

Available With 12"x12" Mat

Challenge Painting Seventy-One

by Ruth Andre

$125.00

As the day turns to dusk and the fog rolls into the valley it brings a feeling of quiet. There is a solitude and a wanting to find quiet from the hustle of the day. The fog is like nature is surrounding us and allowing us to slow down from the work of the day. I love going into my kitchen at night and fixing a dinner that will give warmth and nurture the soul. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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A Painting Day - Valley Fog - Ruth Andre

"Valley Fog"

12.25"x4" Oil and Cold Wax on Arches Paper

By Ruth Andre

$250.00

I have been enchanted with the color grey for ages and have wanted to paint with grey so finally I have started the journey. Yesterday I posted, "Morning Fog" for the Challenge 100 Paintings using shades of grey. Today I have painted a slightly bigger painting in hopes of finding my way to a much larger painting surface be it paper or canvas. It is a process to make changes and with the painting above, "Valley Fog" you can see several thin paint applications that appear to be wisps of color showing the over and under painted layers. I also am showing the painting vertically and horizontally since I am not sure of the direction for this painting. I believe it works both ways and would make a quiet statement to any room interior. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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A Painting Day - Morning Fog - Ruth Andre

"Morning Fog"

4.5"x4.5" Oil and Cold Wax on Paper

Available with 12"x12" Mat

Challenge Painting Seventy

by Ruth Andre

$125.00

I remember being so surprised coming back to California to live. Before moving to the valley I had lived in the mid-west with turbulent weather patterns. Before that I lived on the coast of southern California with milder temperatures than here in the north. I also had not foreseen the foggy mornings that hung over the valley morning after morning in winter. Our small ranch is close to the creek and in the shade of a mountain holding the fog close for hours longer than our neighbors properties. I can be slipping and sliding on the frosted ground and look up to see a sun filled mountainside that as they say is so close but so far. I have learned to love these foggy mornings and over the years have found their beauty. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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A Painting Day - Phantom I and II - Ruth Andre

"Phantom I"

4.5"x4.5" Oil and Cold Wax on Paper

Available with 12"x12" Mat

Challenge Painting Sixty-Eight

By Ruth Andre

$125.00

"Phantom II"

4.5"x4.5" Oil and Cold Wax on Paper

Available with 12"x12" Mat

Challenge Painting Sixty-Nine

By Ruth Andre

$125.00

"Phantom I and II"

Available with Two 12"x12" Mats

Challenge Paintings Sixty-Eight and Sixty-Nine

by Ruth Andre

Two - $225.00

What goes on in the night? When I am walking outside after dark to check on the horses I can often see flashes of light coming from the edge of the creek bed. There is ample camouflage foliage with the berry bushes and old oak trees lining the water way. I know I am being watched from afar. Raccoons, Bobcats and Coyotes are about in this rural area. I always hope the Mountain Lions are making their scouting loop in another part of the valley, maybe one up the hill, a quieter area farther from the main road. It is always good to be aware of your surroundings even in the back country where it is usually so quiet that I can hear leaves scattering as the wildlife move about. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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A Painting Day - Red III - Ruth Andre

"Red III"

4.5"x4.5" Oil and Cold Wax on Paper

12"x12" Mat

Challenge Painting Sixty-Seven

by Ruth Andre

This is the third "Red" painting in the series and it is also my favorite of the three works. The bold color red in all three paintings feels good and I would like to see them matted as one unit of three. They would be gorgeous together. It is fun to work in a series even with just three paintings. Exploration takes place and makes for, "A Painting Day".

"Red I, II and III" by Ruth Andre

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A Painting Day - Red II - Ruth Andre

"Red II"

4.5"x4.5" Oil and Cod Wax on Paper

12"x12" Mat

Challenge Painting Sixty-Six

by Ruth Andre

$125.00

The "Red I, II and III" series was so much fun to paint. I had started the small series to be quiet and serene paintings by starting with black and then a green-grey. After the first few layers of paint I stopped for the day and when I went back to the studio I could think of nothing but red. I mixed my red paints and let the paint move across the paper. The color is alive with emotion and movement. I will post the number three RED painting tomorrow. For a small preview I have posted all three of the Red paintings below. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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A Painting Day - Red - Ruth Andre

"Red I"

4.5"x4.5" Oil and Cold Wax on Paper

12"x12" Mat

Challenge Painting Sixty-Five

by Ruth Andre

$125.00

What is it about the color red that we love? It seems the love of red starts when we are small children. I remember my own mother asking me what was my favorite color and of course it was RED. It seems red roses are a favorite and red cars too. It is a special color that is full of life. The painting, "Red" is one of three that I painted for the Challenge 100 Paintings. Here is a link to see all of the available Challenge 100 Paintings. The original oil and mixed medium painting is available with a 12"x12" mat, with a cellophane sleeve ready for you or gift giving. If you would like to buy one or all three "Red" paintings save with the PayPal link below. Enjoy!

"Red I, II, III"

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Buy 3

Option 1 $125.00 USD Option 2 $350.00 USD Option 3 $0.00 USD

A Painting Day - Postcard From the Canyon - Ruth Andre

"Postcard From the Canyon"

18"x24"x1.5" Oil and Mixed Media on Cradled Birch Panel

by Ruth Andre

$1,250.00

Vacations are made full of memories and it is always nice to receive a postcard from a friend or family member while they are on holiday. The art of sending a postcard or letter is slowly disappearing but I remember traveling as a kid and sending postcards along the travel trail. Traveling is one of the best ways to learn about cultures even within our own country. The people in the Mid-West or the South-West or the North-East may all speak the same language but their traditions and way of life differ from one area to the next. It is fun to get out and explore and learn there is more than what is going on in your own backyard. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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A Painting Day - Too Blue I and II - Ruth Andre

"Too Blue I"

6.5"x3"Oil and Cold Wax on Handmade Paper

by Ruth Andre

$95.00

"Too Blue II"

6"x3"(1/2" smaller than "Two Blue I") Oil and Cold Wax on Handmade Paper

by Ruth Andre

$90.00

Today I am showing two small paintings on Mura Udaban A Itaboshi HM paper from Washi Arts. They are titled "Too Blue I and II".  There are times when nature almost seems unreal. The colors are so bright or deep that it is hard to believe they come from nature. I know the mountains that circle the valley are so green in winter that they appear an unreal and intense emerald green. I have also seen the ocean appear to be an amazing blue or Too Blue to believe. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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A Painting Day - Closed Doors - Ruth Andre

"Closed Doors"

4.5"x4.5" Oil & Cold Wax on Paper

Challenge Painting Sixty-One

by Ruth Andre

$125.00

I have been painting a few works unrelated to the Challenge 100 Series
but got back to the series today. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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A Painting Day - Just Words - Ruth Andre

"Just Words"

6"x24" Oil on Japanese Handmade Paper

by Ruth Andre

$350.00

"Just Words" Shown on Mura Udaban A Itaboshi HM, from Washi Arts. 

"Just Words" - Close-Up Vignette

(The blue color is actually more turquoise than shown here.)

As you can see I have had a very fun Painting Day! I went to the studio with a soft soothing image in mind and then things changed once the paints came out. I find the whole painting process amazing. The images appear ready or not. The title comes from how sometimes a person will say one thing and do another. It is confusing at best. It has been, "A Painting Day".

PS: The Challenge Paintings will continue in the next post.

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Paper: Mura Udaban A Itaboshi HM, from Washi Arts.

A Painting Day - Wabi-Sabi- Ruth Andre

"War Bonnet-Talidu"

16"x16"x1.5" Oil and Wax on Birch Panel

by Ruth Andre

$750.00

My work has been honored to be a part of Serena Barton's new book,

 "wabi-sabi-PAINTING with COLD WAX". It is a must have book for artists interested in the oil and cold wax medium. It is full of beautiful photos and technique tutorials. Serena has a strong sense of design and her colorful art will act as a guide for artists interested in exploring the oil and cold wax art medium. The painting above, "War Bonnet-Talidu" is the painting Serena chose from my portfolio for this colorful and informative book.  Serena has also added my bio and her own impressions in the copy for my paintings. I am more than thrilled to be a part of Serena Barton's newest book.
"wabi-sabi-Painting with Cold Wax" available at Amazon.

Serena Barton's book - "wabi-sabi OIL with COLD WAX"

Ruth Andre - Featured Artist - Paige 107 and 108

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A Painting Day - Summer Breeze - Ruth Andre

"Summer Breeze"

4.5"x4.5" Oil and Cold Wax on Paper

12"x12" Mat

Challenge Painting Sixty

by Ruth Andre

$125.00

The high temperatures let us know it is truly summertime. Luckily a cool summer breeze occasionally finds it way into the valley bringing with it a short respite from the heat of the day. I know the cooler weather will be here soon so I do my best to enjoy summer and all it has to offer. 

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Ruth Andre - Back Country - A Painting Day

"Back Country"

4.5"4.5" Oil and Cold Wax on Paper

12"x12" Hand Cut Mat

Challenge Painting Fifty-Nine

by Ruth Andre

$125.00

The hills in the back country are golden, almost white in color. The old oak trees stand out as sentinels of the land. I love the contrast of the landscape pallet durning late summer. I have tried to capture the colors that surrounded me today by painting the soft pale grasses and the dark strength of the old oaks. It has been, "A Painting Day". 

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A Painting Day - Setting Sun - Ruth Andre

"Setting Sun"

4.5"x4.5" Oil and Cold Wax on Paper

12"x12" Hand Cut Mat

Challenge Painting Fifty-Eight

by Ruth Andre

$125.00

The last view of the day is the sun's orange rays sliding behind the mountains leaving the valley in darkness. There are no street lights, just the stars and moon making a landscape of grey shadows. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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A Painting Day - First Signs of Spring - Ruth Adnre

"First Signs of Spring"

4.5"x4.5" Artist Proof Giclee Print

12"x12" Hand Cut Mat

Challenge Painting Fifty-Seven

by Ruth Andre

$50.00

The painting today, "First Signs of Spring" is only available as a print. My friend and printer, Jim Ginney, made fantastic prints for this painting and several others for the Challenge 100 Painting Series. I will be adding more PRINTS to my website link in a few days. There is something about this painting that draws me in and makes me want to have a look around. 

Family will be visiting for a few days so my daily painting life will be on hold until next week.

It has been, "A Painting Day".

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A Painting Day - Summer - Ruth Andre

"Summer"

4.5"x4.5" Oil and Cold Wax on Paper

12"x12" Hand Cut Mat

Challenge Painting Fifty-Six

by Ruth Andre

$125.00

August seems to be the "get it done" month. Getting the last vacation in or getting the kids ready for school and college. It is also the month that is pretty much the last of the hot-hot weather. I am dedicating this painting, "Summer" to the last days of summer. The heat of the day penetrates through the clouds making for a summer day. Take care!

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A Painting Day - Red Feathers - Ruth Andre

"Red Feathers"

Oil on Japanese Handmade Paper

Image 12"x6.5"

Paper 17"x9.5"

by Ruth Andre

$175.00

Once again I used the handmade Mura Udaban Japanese Paper from Washi Arts as my painting surface.  The Mura paper is beautiful and has brought new inspiration to my painting. The greens in this painting are full of nature's beauty and then I added a bit of whimsy with the red floating feathers. It is as if a gust of wind has sent feathers drifting down from the tree tops. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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A Painting Day - Red Wing - Ruth Andre

"Red Wing"

Painting - 12 "x4" Oil on Paper
Paper 17"x9"

by Ruth Andre

$150

After the serenity of the quiet Challenge Painting in yesterday's post I am sending out a bolt of red with the painting, "Red Wing". Since I started painting on paper my interest in the different paper types has grown and I ordered a beautiful handmade paper, Mura Udaban A Itaboshi HM, from Washi Arts. The Mura paper is often used as a backing for scrolls and comes in sheets 17"x56". It is a beautiful paper and one I am enjoying and using as my painting surface. Lovely papers like Mura Udaban actually add to the painting by giving the painting a beautiful resting place and a foundation filled with the history of ancient paper making. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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