Summer Art Wrap-up

Since I paint mostly from my own photos, I suspect my subject matter shows not only what I like to paint but also what I like to shoot. And in this late summer period, it seems as though three primary subjects have caught my eye -- cats, food and houses.

This is Maybee. She belongs to my cousin Mark. When I saw his photo of this sweet girl with her tongue showing, I knew she had to be one of my subjects!

So did Audrey. A lot of you know Audrey if you read Deb's blog. Audrey has had a few medical issues this summer so this was to be her get well card. (I took the photo before I put in her beautiful whiskers.)

Unfortunately, I lost it somewhere in the house when I was cleaning for book club. They should be put on alert that next time they come, I don't clean. Anyway, I redid Audrey with another photo. And then today I found it.

This is actually from a combo photo of Quebec City and a card. I took a bit of license but not too much! This one is part of the lost set. (Till today!)

And you may remember the photo for this one, which was my favorite house. I can't find this one either. No, I did -- today!(I need to work on my windows.)

This view -- I don't think it's done yet, but another -- looking down on Vieux Quebec and across the St. Lawrence River. (The building on the right needs help, among other things. Somehow the perspective got a tad wonky.)

I love my Martha's Vineyard houses, so I had to capture this one...

And yet another.

It's better with a mat.

This is not a Vineyard house -- it's the cottage of my friend Judy. But it could be!

Here -- let's have some of Rick's bread... (from the once-missing collection!)...

...and some wine. I did this based on the painting Rick loved in Quebec. Not my original design but I'll tell you, it was one of the hardest I've ever done.

And while we are talking food and drink, here are a couple of future menu cards. I still have to do the "menu" lettering. I may do another version of these horizontally as place cards and hopefully have all done for my November sale or to add to the Gypsy Caravan. Does anyone still use menu or place cards except me? (To be perfectly honest, I think I can do the Christmas one a lot better.

                       

Here might be a future Christmas card.

Or maybe this one? (From a vintage postcard) I can see I need to revisit the eyes on the lower right bird.

I'm not very good at portraits yet. I think this one shows a lovely young woman, but Miss Molly's soul is missing from it. I think it's in the turn of the mouth. She needs another layer of color. It's something...I don't have it quite right. But I remain undaunted!

                   

And finally, I'll leave you with a sunset from the lake.

 Just because.

Thanks for wandering through my late-summer art! Now I have to get into crafty mode before my November 2-4 sale!

Sharing this week at Happiness is Homemade Link Party, Share Your Style, Share Your Cup and Pink Saturday.