Oil Painting Again - And Loving It!

As some of you know, for the last twelve years I've painted on silk - for accessories & apparel.

Well, this little painting in an old book, got me wanting to paint with oils again!

I loved the simplicity and the monotone colors. I thought, "I can do this!".

So engrossed with art was I, that I couldn't wait to go to the Norton Simon Museum with my fabulous artist friend, Linda Walker. (I'm a huge fan of the gift shop/book store too.)

And this sculpture. Is it my imagination, or is he checkin' out her boobs?

Another look at the painting that enticed and inspired me.

So... could someone please tell me why this is the subject-matter I chose to paint?!!

I actually know why. It's because of the colors. I love colors! Even when painting on silk, I love bright, jewel-toned colors.

OK. Time to get my supplies set up. I started with my water-soluble oils. The regular oils and thinners are too toxic for delicate-little-ol'-me.

This is the palette I thought I'd use, but I only used it for a short time. It was just too small and would have made me paint little-bitty, picky brush strokes. Not my style.

This is the one I ended up using later on. Nice, large area for mixing paint.

Ohhh, I do love my palette knives!

But I especially love my brushes!!

And I've got to have my color wheel!

I am who I am, so I have to plan, plan and plan some more.

Of course there has to be some pretty music involved. Italian love songs work for me!

And now we begin. This is my sketch.

Sooo much fun!!

The first day of painting.

Laying down the base-colors.

Day two. I decided I reeeally had to have another color wheel. Pot lids come in handy for drawing circles. I don't cook, (raw foodist) so that's the only use they get. :)

Putting in some shadows and hi-lights.

End of day two.

Day three. Finally switched over to the larger palette. I love when every thing's nice and clean and fresh paint is laid out.

It doesn't stay that way for long.

End of day three.

I needed some new brushes. Really. I did.

Day five. A peek into my studio and its surroundings. I love it here!!

Wow. There's no stoppin' me now!

End of day five.

Day six. I'm on a roll.

The end of day six.

Yay! Almost finished! I still have another few hours to work on it and it'll be a done deal. Sooo much fun!!!!!!!! By the way, the colors in these photos are really not as bright as they are in real life. It must be my camera. It can't be the photographer!

I started this painting, on the left, a year ago and posted it on my blog, but lost total interest in it. I may finish it now. Now that I've got that oil painting bug again!!

I'll post my current painting as soon as it's finished. I may even splurge and buy a frame for it.

Stay tuned, okay? ~

I love Vincent Van Gogh!! 

We saw some of his paintings at the Norton Simon. Fabulous!!

I understand that some of his relatives have recently been discovered...

VINCENT VAN GOGH'S RELATIVES FOUND!!

His obnoxious brother — Please Gogh

His dizzy aunt — Verti Gogh

The brother who ate prunes — Gotta Gogh

The brother who worked at a convenience store — Stopn Gogh

The grandfather from Yugoslavia — U Gogh

The brother who bleached his clothes white — Hue Gogh

The cousin from Illinois — Chica Gogh

His magician uncle — Wherediddy Gogh

His Mexican cousin — Amee Gogh

His Mexican cousin’s American half brother — Grin Gogh

The nephew who drove a stage coach — Wellsfar Gogh

The constipated uncle — Can’t Gogh

The ballroom dancing aunt — Tan Gogh

The bird lover uncle — Flamin Gogh

His nephew the psychoanalyst — E Gogh

The fruit loving cousin — Man Gogh

An aunt who taught positive thinking — Wayto Gogh

The little bouncy nephew — Poe Gogh

The sister who loved disco — Go Gogh

His niece traveling the country in a van — Winnie Bay Gogh

And a musical cousin from Liverpool — Ring Gogh

- By Pat Miller

For more of my art-related posts;

Art Part One

Art Part Two

Art Part Three

There are SO many things to love!

I love "Followers" and comments too!

Thank you.

Signing off for now,

gabriele

A Chocolate Lover's Dream!

Be still my heart!!!!

Linda couldn't wait!! Licking the 'S' blade from my food-processor!! Seriously?!!

(Do not try this at home!!!!)

This is my good friend, Linda Walker, the fabulous wildlife & western artist. You remember her from my post about our crazy trip to Descanso Gardens, right? Well, she's decided to eat a little healthier than she has been, so I offered to give her a beginners course in raw foods.

"Raw Food 99". She's not ready for 101 yet.

I started her off on a healthy Green Smoothie. It was a hit. (Whew!)

After knowing her for about 28 years,

I had no idea that she's a notorious chocolate licker... er... lover.

Don't ask.

Mmmmm.

Yummmm.

"What?"

I knew she'd come in handy some day.

Here she is, washing dishes in her new, bling-embellished, "Not Your Daughter's Jeans".

Love the name.

I made a bunch of stuff for our munching pleasure. Desserts, since most people will be more willing to try raw food 'meals', if they like the desserts. (Whatever it takes!)

I made a Chocolate Strawberry Cheese Cake. To match my socks.

My daughters designed the apron for me. "Dessert Diva". Thanks, Girls!!

I chilled the Cheesecake in the freezer while I made some other goodies.

As you can see, Mr. Man isn't into the raw food thing. But he will drink Green Smoothies.

And hasn't turned down a dessert yet.

I made Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge, and little cupcakes from some of the Cheesecake ingredients.

Trying out the cupcake. Such an adoring look. Then she scarfed it down.

Never to be outdone in the dessert chow-down... I had two.

The Cheesecake had set and was ready to eat.

Let's slice that bad boy up!

How about a Chocolate Milkshake and some Chocolate Mousse?

With pistachios and coconut. Mmm, mmm, mmm!!

Linda was the taste-tester for the Chocolate Milkshake.

Now that I think about it... she was the taste-tester for everything! Heyyy!!

Taking a break from stuffing our faces, I had her look through some of my favorite raw food recipe books. (I love books!!!!)

Of course, after looking through this one, we were ready for another little nibble.

These turned out really tasty. Since raw desserts are so nutrient-dense, you're only able to eat a small serving, before you're full. Which is pretty cool. And a good thing.

Linda was getting ready to head out, so we wanted to get some pictures of us together.

Isn't she cute?!

Wait a minute... she really IS cute!!

She's cuter than me! Let's see if I can do something to remedy that.

Tell her something funny...

"Blah, blah, blah, blah blah."

Yeeees... that's it.

How's your hair?

Still cute! Dangit!!

That's enough, Paparazzi!! Girlfriend has to go home now.

But not before she takes some samples with her. I did not have to twist her arm.

I also gave her some raw food DVDs, books, recipes of what we made today...

And a really cool poster about Green Smoothies. (Pure health in a glass!)

I would love, love, LOVE to teach people how to do this!!

To go into their homes and give demonstrations on how to create raw food dishes...

And especially desserts! I mean, who doesn't like desserts?!

I'm taking two, raw food chef classes. One for savory dishes and one for desserts.

I really love showing people a healthy way of eating! And, seriously, it's not all desserts. :)

But I think I'll go have a little bite right now! ~

DISCLAIMER:

No stomachs were hurt in the creation of this post. We didn't eat the entire dessert. We only nibbled on everything. Just to let Linda get a taste of the many flavors. Okay, so I ate a couple of cupcakes. And maybe some Chocolate Mousse. And a Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie.

And three strawberries. And a few pistachios.

BUT! We also had some, Zuchini Pasta!! We had VEGETABLES!!!! :-)

For more posts about raw food, green smoothies, desserts, whatever, just type the words in the, "Search This Blog" box on the top right of this page.

There are SO many things to love!

I love comments and "Followers" too!

Thank you.

Signing off for now,

gabriele

I Love Les Mills PUMP!

Yes, I do!!

And getting stuff in the mail!!!!

My favorite knife in the entire house, because it's the one that opens all my packages!

Be still my heart!!

Ohhh! Look at all that stuff!!

Books and pamphlets.

And the DVDs. Seven so far. There's room for three more in the case. I guess they'll be coming out with them down the road. And I'll be waitin'!

This one's really informative and great reading.

This one's nice, but not one I'll be using. I have my own way of eating. (Raw food.)

Here are the five pound weights.

And the ten pounders.

And the bar.

Of course I had to attach the plates to the bar right away!

Unfortunately those clip-thingies were so hard to close, I had to use a glove.

I emailed customer service to let them know. Hopefully, I'll hear back soon.

Not sure if they'll be sending me new ones, or if they'll loosen with continued use.

Here's my new toy, with my old toys. I couldn't wait to use it!!

I did a leg/butt routine using the five pounders, but they weren't heavy enough.

I didn't want to use the ten pound weights, because I'm new to the moves and wanted to concentrate on the form, rather than double the weight.

As luck would have it, I had some old 7 1/2 lb. plates laying around and they actually fit on that size bar. Happy, happy me! I love working out with weights. Always have.

But it's strange how I can use 30 lb. dumbells for arms, with no problem, but squatting/lunging using a bar with ten lb. plates leaves me breathless. I used to stack 365 lbs on the leg-press machine! So what's up with that?! Because it's different, I guess.

Reading more about "Les Mills PUMP", I see that it's taught in gyms all over the world. Even in my neck-of-the-woods. I'd love to go sit-in on one, just to feel the live energy, but I wouldn't work out there. I like working out in the privacy of my own home. I have a lot of equipment, including a "Bowflex", which I love! And I really, really like not having to dress in the latest gear to look good at a gym.

I can stay home and wear pleather, if I want.

Life is good!! ~

For more about exercising, with kids too this time, please peek here;

"Working Out - More Fun For Some Than Others."

There are SO many things to love!

I love "Followers" and comments too!

Thank you.

Signing off for now,

gabriele