Poppies Maybe - Oil Painting

Found the little brass pot at the Goodwill. It's one of my favorite places to scout for still life items. This composition is becoming one of my favorite formats. Enjoy!

Brassy Poppies
5 x 7 Oil on Canvas Panel
Purchase Price $49.01
© 2016

SOLD

Lazy Orchid Blooms - Oil Painting

One of those subjects that just seemed to call out "paint me like this." If you decide to frame it, a warm colored frame (not black) does the most justice to the colors in this painting. If not, a table top easel works too!

Lazy Orchid Blooms
8 x 6 Oil on Canvas Panel
© 2016

A Little Mantel Piece - Oil Painting

This was one of those subjects pulled from things just sitting around the house. The hydrangea do not  always dry in a way that is pleasing, but I found a few heads that should find their way into future paintings.

Hydrangeas in Copper
5 x 5 Oil on Canvas Panel
Starting Bid $39.01
© 2016

Can be purchased at Auburn Creative Arts Center

Indian Corn Oil Painting

Here is an Autumn Themed painting that is for sale on Daily Paintworks.

I usually start with pumpkins this time of year, but liked the idea of painting these colorful corn cobs.
Challenging to arrange the cobs for color and deciding how many kernels to paint!! Lots of fun!

Indian Corn

9 x 7 Oil on Canvas Panel

Study in Grays and a Pop of Color

It seems like I am always looking for new affordable learning opportunities so I'm in my exploration mode and reading a lot as a source for inspiration. 

This painting was just one of those 'what ifs', and wanted to share it here on the blog. The 'what if' was using mixtures in black and white with a bit of color to see if it went dead or not.

I tested the printing on a flat notecard and the color in the background came out much more purplish, but okay for the price!

So now, I've been looking at it for several weeks trying to decide what to do with it. 

I like the neutrals with the intense red color for the visual interest, and will probably try a few more with a variety of intense color spots. 

Study in Gray and Red Berries
8" x 8", Oil on Stretched Canvas

Stylized Portrait of Angel for Daughter

I actually painted this a few weeks ago, but didn't post because it was a surprise for my daughter. (Ahem... Once a Mom always a Mom.) 

My (adult) daughter lost her kitty last year around Christmas time, and I know how difficult it was for her. The little painting made her smile...

I started the idea back in January, and finally had to accept that my photo reference was not all it could have been for a black kitty with a white chest. It was taken in flat lighting, and I just couldn't get any descriptive details from it so I had to settle on a stylized version.

Angel 
5 x 7 Oil on Canvas Panel
© 2015

Copyright, Imitation, and Culture

What's your point of view on copyright laws and appropriation for your own artwork?  I know I do enjoy painting an occasional master copy, and find it very valuable to developing my own skills. I am not talking about something that crosses both a legal and ethical line like plagiarism.

I happened to find this thought provoking TEDtalk… on this very topic that presents an argument in favor of imitation.


Here's another interesting article discussing copyright protection of an entire culture!
http://lanfiles-vm.williams.edu/mbrown/Brown-CopyrightingcultureCA98.pdf

I have feelings in favor of both sides even with my own artwork and images. I know whenever I did a project for a corporate client in graphic design, it was a given that they owned the results, and I always felt okay with that arrangement. I often see my design work on the side of trucks and billboards even to this day (from some 12+ years ago) and have to admit I feel a little bit of pride in a good way that they are still using those images.

However, I tend to feel a different emotion when I do my fine art images… maybe it's because it is  more personal, but I would still see it as a compliment if someone likes it enough to copy it.