Susan Neese McKinney Ramblings

" Royal Blue", 8"x 10", Oil painted from life. This is a still life I painted about a week ago in my newly lit studio.   My friend Cheryl came over and we painted for the morning and then had lunch.      It's good to get together with friends after being stuck in the house because of the cold and snow.    A little cabin fever setting in I think.     I also entered 3 paintings into a juried show last week.   I should find out if they are accepted or not in the next couple days.     Then the end of the week I have 5 paintings to take to a show in Springfield at the Drury University gallery.    It's an honor to be INVITED to bring my paintings to a show, instead of doing all the work of entering.    The weather is not looking real good for the week.    I hope it's not too darn cold the day I have to carry the 5 paintings to the gallery door.    Last year my grandson, Levi, and I about froze carrying paintings two blocks, in downtown Springf

"Stephanie",  16"x 20", Oil on canvas This is our lovely model from an "Open Studio" paint out Saturday in Tina Garrett's studio, located in Lee Summit, MO.    The smaller photo is the initial study I did in 2 1/2 hours.    After getting home,  I stepped back and I could see the mistakes I'd made..................So with the above reference photo, and about 6 hours of work later,  I'm pretty happy with the results.    The reference photo of Stephanie doesn't show the colors as well, nor does it show a lot of the details of her face.   A photo just doesn't work as well as from life.     Thanks again Tina, and Stephanie, it was wonderful spending the morning with you.   I hope to do it again soon.