Susan Neese McKinney Ramblings

 I didn't make it through the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge......Turns out life gets in the way.   I'm not too upset about it, as I painted more in the month of January than I ever have.   And I now have some new paintings for my Galleries to sell this spring.   And for a couple Juried Shows coming up.   Here's one that I painted as a result of my "Painting on Stage", with the Springfield Symphony Orchestral, MO.   I loved the subdued light that fell on this musician as he was warming up back stage. "Solitaire", 11"x14", Oil 

"Bold Impudence", 11"x14", Oil,  started from life.  This is my first painting done at the "Painting on Stage", at the Springfield, MO Symphony.    Just a few more touches and I'll call this one done.     It was great fun to be on stage during the fantastic show.    Available.  #18,  #30paintingsin30days 

The 30 day painting challenge is going pretty good.......I've just missed a couple days....Sat. night I was honored to represent one of my painting groups "Springfield Plein Air Painters", by painting on stage with the Springfield, MO Symphony.    The event was for the "Music to my Eye's", themed show which will be in March at the Machino's place of business.   Thanks to the owner, Nancy Dornan, for sponsoring this event.  There were 6 of us painting on stage representing 6 area Art Groups.    About 50 other artists were able to come and sketch, paint, and photograph the musicians during two rehearsals.    So hopefully we will see some fascinating  artwork in the near future as a result.   Here I am on stage having a blast!   I'm just getting started on my painting.   Of course wearing one of my "Super Painting Hat's".  .....LOL      Check in later to see the finished painting, and hopefully a few others.....

"Michelangelo's David", 12"x12", Oil, Available I'm pretty happy with Day One of   "30 Paintings in 30 Days", for the month of January 2016.    No contest, no prizes.........just a personal challenge with approx. 1200 other artists who have signed up to paint every day for 30 days.    January is a good month for this since it's usually too cold outside and it's time for those new goals and resolutions.  This is painted from a bust of a copy of the "Statue of David",  by Michelangelo. 

I finally got my Christmas card finished.   I'll probably add a little sparkle of glitter before mailing them out....and will wait a little closer to the big day to post it on Facebook.   In the meantime Merry Christmas to all my bloggers out there.  Hugs. 

Whew!!  Just hauled 5 of my larger paintings to the Midtown Carnegie Library in Springfield, MO, for the "Mantels of Midtown" show which runs thru February 28th, 2016.    Like a dummy I left my emergency blinkers on while I unloaded and helped install my paintings.........probably an hour.    Well, long enough to run my battery completely down.......    Thankfully Eva Pelkey, Manager, was an angel and had some jumper cables to recharge my car.     Then a library client fell into a seizure in the parking lot.    So after much ado the ambulance left and a nice guy helped us "helpless females jump my car"........I was finally back on the road.   So much for a relaxing day............Here's a photo of the front of this beautiful historic building, and the 5 paintings.

I enjoyed a recent 3 day portrait workshop with artist Michelle Dunaway, from New Mexico.   Here is "Jennifer", 11"x 14", Oil on panel that I started at the workshop.   Painted from life.    Just a few more touches and I'll call this one finished.   "Jennifer", 11"x 14", Oil on panel