Totem - Star Light - Ruth Andre

Totem - "Star Light"

1.25"x12" Oil-Wax on Paper
Painting Matted and Framed 5"x16"

by Ruth Andre

This is another painting to celebrate the coming holiday season, "Totem-Start Light". I really like this painting and "Totem-Star Bright" in the last post. They give me a feeling of true joy. The lively saturated colors entertain many memories. It h as been, "A Painting Day".

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Totem - Red Sky - Ruth Andre

"Totem - Red Sky"

1.25"x12" Oil-Wax on Paper

Matted and Framed 5"x16"

by Ruth Andre

Totems Available Here

I just put a link up for the Totem Series. I will be adding to this collection prior to the Holidays. Each Totem painting is available Matted and Framed. Enjoy! Take a look around.

The studio was rocking today. The Totem painting above, "Totem - Red Sky" was completed and another larger piece finally made it to the photo-finish table. I have lots to say about the evasive painting and will share my trials and tribulations in the next blog post. I love painting the Totem paintings and if  you knew how long they take to paint you might be surprised. The paintings decide what they are going to be and I get dragged along until they say, done. 

It has been, "A Painting Day".

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Structure - Ruth Andre

"Structure"

4.5"x4.5" Oil-Wax on Paper

by Ruth Andre

The painting, "Structure" is a favorite work. It is minimal with strength in color and design. The title came to me as I finished the painting. I questioned whether the title depicted where we live or how we live. It seems structure is needed in our life to keep things running smoothly. We also need a structure to live in for protection from the elements. The painting also has a masculine vibe, a wool suit vibe. Maybe you see or feel the painting says even more. I feel it takes a fearless painter to be able to paint minimally. The tendency for a painter is to add rather than to subtract. Maybe this is true for all of us and the way we have learned to live. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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Clouds on the Horizon - Ruth Andre

"Clouds on the Horizon"

12"x12" Oil-Wax on Paper

by Ruth Andre

Labor Day is fast approaching and I hope you all have plans to relax and enjoy. 

It has been, "A Painting Day".

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It Fell From the Sky - Ruth Andre

"It Fell From the Sky"

6"x10" Oil-Wax on Paper

by Ruth Andre

When good things happen we sometimes say, It is like it just fell from the sky. I have had this feeling a few times in my life and it is a wonderful happening. Mostly good things come slowly after days, weeks and years of preparation. I believe it is the journey that makes our life interesting. There is a lot of energy in this painting that has made for, "A Painting Day".

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Sideward Glance - Ruth Andre

"Sideward Glance"

Each Painting 4.5"x4.5" Oil-Wax on Paper

by Ruth Andre

My escape to the studio was a two part adventure today. I was able to paint this morning and then again late afternoon. It works well when I give the paintings time to rest before adding more layers of paint. I also get to see the painting with a fresh eye or in this case a sideward glance. If there are two eyes here in these paintings it is truly abstracted but the name came to me as I finished the two works so I am going to go with it.  It has been, "A Painting Day".

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The Sun Is Out - Ruth Andre

"The Sun Is Out"

6.5"x6.5" Oil-Wax on Paper

by Ruth Andre

This painting was once white and blue with a hint of yellow. I thought it looked nice but it did  not jolt any strong feelings so I let it sit for a few days. Today after feeding our sweet mare, Hopi, I went to the studio to see what could  be changed for a stronger painting. It had been a safe painting and now it is a painting that makes me know it is alive. It has a pulse. I am laughing at myself a little but it is true. While living in Encinitas, California the ocean was out my front door. Every morning I would walk to the front windows and look out to see the ocean. The fog was often my sad reward but then as the morning went on I would call to my husband and say, The Sun Is Out. It was a glorious time living by the sea but short lived. We left sunny California to farm in the Mid-West for several years. My morning view changed from  ocean blues and greens to green and yellow wheat fields as the season changed. I must admit it was a cultural shock but one I soon grew to love. 

It has been, "A Painting Day".

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Well Red - Ruth Andre

"Well Red"

6.5"x6.5" Oil-Wax on Paper

by Ruth Andre

When we think of Minimal Art we usually think it is white, grey or black. The painting today, "Well Red" is painted in a minimal style and is definitely red and yet minimal. The color really sings and it feels warm and inviting. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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Sojourn II - Ruth Andre

"Sojourn II"

12"x12" Oil-Wax on Paper

by Ruth Andre

The Sojourn series has begun and continues with, "Sojourn II". The painting from yesterday's post and this one today are a little different in style. It is a new direction and one I have decided to explore. The paint is layered and scrapped to reveal layers below. Maybe this is a  letting go of sorts so the paints  can go their own way. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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Sojourn - Ruth Andre

"Sojourn I"

12"x12" Oil-Wax on Paper

by Ruth Andre

This painting caught me off guard and maybe the same thing has happened to you. I went to the studio with a definite plan for a painting. As the paints were added the painting took on a life of its own. I kept hearing a voice saying, the painting is done. I was so caught up with my plan that I kept saying, NO it needs more. Finally all motion was stopped and I took a long look and decided to wait until tomorrow before continuing with the painting. Now that I have had a moment to walk away, my quiet sojourn, and view it once again, I am thinking the painting is finished. It was not only 

"A Painting Day" it was "A Wild Day" in the studio.

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Snow Trail - Ruth Andre

"Snow Trail"

7"x7" Acrylic on Paper

by Ruth Andre

It is quite hot here in Northern California. We are experiencing another heat wave. I am thinking the last heat wave may not have ended. Thoughts of cooler temperatures must be guiding my way in the studio today. Taking a snow trail and listening to the quiet of the snow covered trail sounds quite lovely right now. I have always wanted to try cross country skiing, but never have. It would be a wonderful way to see the back country's snow-covered trails in winter. 

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There Is Always A Bright Spot - Ruth Andre

"There Is Always A Bright Spot"

7"x7" Oil-Wax on Paper

by Ruth Andre

This painting has a new home.

This has been a very busy week. I shipped paintings to The Art Spirit Gallery. The gallery is featuring me in an off sight exhibit and needed more paintings. I will be blogging about the coming show shortly. After all the rush to get work framed, packed and shipped in just a week's time it is  now time for a breather, a break to recharge. I went to the studio and my painting became very introspective. The title says so much and is directed to all the crazy comments that come ones way when in a crisis or death situation. There is always someone that point out what they believe are helpful words such as, luckily you have two children or, your family member or friend lived a long life or... Saying sorry is all that is needed, not a pep talk. I know they mean well but they do not understand. The bright spot may come and I am sure it will but not while the grief is so close to the heart. It is a time for healing from within. These are somewhat somber words for the day but the painting took me there so I went with it. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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Shelter I - Ruth Andre

"Shelter I"

4.5"x4.5" Oil-Wax on Paper

Matted and Framed 12"x12"

by Ruth Andre

The, "Shelter" paintings went to the framer today. It is always a treat to see my paintings enclosed within a frame. Once framed the paintings are then complete. I love the red in the "Shelter" series. The paintings exude warmth and energy. It has been, "A Painting Day". 

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Cloud Cover - Ruth Andre

"Cloud Cover"

4.5"x4.5" Oil-Wax on Paper

by Ruth Andre

I love seeing the afternoon sky and how the color changes from shades of blue to pink, orange and yellow. The sky is like a beacon of light and then the color changes and night follows. 

It has been, "A Painting Day". 

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Finding My Way

"Finding My Way"

4.5"x4.5" Oil-Wax on Paper

by Ruth Andre

sold

I painted this piece and then scrapped it off and started again and again. I saw paintings come and go and though they might not have been bad they were not what I wanted. They did not have the spark that makes a painting. I find if I am willing to let a painting free itself from the first structure of an idea, the real painting is given space to form. It is wonderful and frustrating but when I find the painting, it is rewarding and I can let it go.  It has been, "A Painting Day".

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The Red Car - Ruth

"The Red Car"

14"x20" Oil-Wax on Paper

by Ruth Andre

My painting today, "The Red Car" was influenced while visiting relatives in Colville, Washington I was impressed with the logging industry that took place in and around this small town. The town made me feel like it took strong and strong minded men to run the mills. Everything was big. There were big trees, big working sites, big trucks and big men. When we drove up to visit my nephew and his wife I saw the cutest red convertible car in the drive way. It not only stood out because of the color but because it was totally incongruous to the area. It was a sporty model car that looked like fun. It looked like sunny days and fast drives through the forested roads. 

I am not sure why but the image stayed with me and came to the surface again while painting 

in my studio. Inspiration for paintings is sometimes totally unexpected but it is there just waiting to make itself known. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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New Gallery - New Show - Ruth Andre

The Art Spirit Gallery 

415 East Sherman Avenue

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814

208 765 6006

I am very proud to announce my work is now being represented by The Art Spirit Gallery in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. I have followed The Art Spirit Gallery for a few years and have always enjoyed the represented artists and the gallery exhibitions. It is such a delight to see my work also being shown on the gallery walls. The gallery is currently celebrating with their 

20th Anniversary Exhibition. It is a big show and one that is a delight to see. 

Preview the show HERE.

The Art Spirit Gallery chose my triptych "Red" series for the exhibition. 

It has been, "A Painting Day".

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The Curtain - Ruth Adnre

"The Curtain"

8.5"x8.5"Acrylic-Oil-Wax on Stonehenge Paper

by Ruth Andre

Today I did some experimenting with paper and mixed media. On this piece I mixed acrylic base  colors and once they were dry I added a mixture of oil and wax. The painting, "The Curtain" is somewhat influenced by how the creek is slowing for the season. The water is like a curtain closing over the bridge and the creek water is folding inward. There is just a trickle of water passing from one side of the bridge to the other. It won't be long and the lush green grasses and ferns along the creekside will be dormant until fall when the rains come again. Have a wonderful holiday. It has been, "A Painting Day".

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Covered In Green - Ruth Andre

"Covered In Green"

4.5"x4.5" Oil and Wax on Paper

by Ruth Andre

When things go wrong and then go right,  you then know you are having a special experience. While traveling through Washington we had a flat tire. We were pretty much in, what looked like, the middle of no where. We stopped at a farm and took a look at the tire and then started to call for service. As we looked around we realized we had stopped at an alfalfa farm and we were surrounded by acres of very green alfalfa fields. It was a gorgeous sight and one I will never forget. The young farmer that owned the property said he had 3,000 acres all planted in alfalfa. Whew! This fellow also went to work changing  our tire and would not take payment of any kind, no money, no dinner, nothing. He said he just wanted to help. It took a couple of days to get the right tires ordered but we ended up enjoying the area and may have missed seeing this beautiful spot without the tire mishap. 

It has been, "A Painting Day".

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"Moonlight"

4"x4" acrylic on paper

matted and framed 11"x11"

by Ruth Andre

This was painted after a full moon made the valley as light as day. Looking out the kitchen door I could see  Hopi, our Paint mare, in the pasture resting in the moonlight. It has been, 

"A Painting Day".

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