Life is confusing (sometimes)

July 15, 2022 kingstoncovestudioart, charcuterie, confusing my calendar, confusing your calendar, Diana Bennett, everyday life, smaller paintings versus large, too hot to paint, too much on my plate, which paintings sell better, wine, wine glassesLeave a comment

I signed up for my first ever Art Sale called the Crush, as it is held at a local winery. I paid for my space and went to put it on my calendar realizing I was out of town that week, at another “art first”! I signed up for a Plein Air Open Paint Out in Mendocino the same week. I already paid for that, and the week of lodging and am very excited about entering a contest, but disappointed I won’t be able to do both.

Trying to stay on top of everything you sign up for and want to do can be exhausting. Next week I am taking a figure drawing class in Sacramento, then meeting a high school classmate for lunch. It is a casual class.

In the interim, I decided to paint a couple of wine pieces. This one is 9x 12 inches and was fun to paint. I will start showing in Village 360 in Suisun Valley starting the 23rd. This piece is available for $450.00.

The other piece I am working on is 30″ x 40″, featuring grapevines and mountains and big sky. I worked on it all day, and forgot how long it takes to do big impressionistic painting. I am trying to expand my horizons on what I paint.

So many artists paint one thing, and I think it is important to experiment to see where you excel. I have been painting for a long time, with more in the last view years and love to try different things. At this point in my life, I like to go big or stay small, with nothing in-between. Just a random decision I made lately.

Sunflowers

July 9, 2022 kingstoncovestudioartist, California, creative energy, flowers, opinions do they matter, painting, Sunflowers, Ukraine, vasesLeave a comment

With everyone doing paintings of Sunflowers for the Children of the Ukraine, I decided it was time for me to do one too! So, off to Farmer’s Market last weekend, where they were selling beautiful Sunflowers. My husband bought two bundles for me, and I put them in one of my favorite vases. I do not paint very many flowers, so this was a new challenge for me.

When I put it on my page on Facebook, one of my friends said to “ditch” the arms on the vase. I am glad I did not, as I think they add character to the painting. Everyone has an opinion about art, whether intellectual or just a gut feeling. At this point in my life I only trust an opinion from an artist I consider better than myself. Everyone thinks you should listen to their opinion, but if they don’t have a background in art/color why would think how they feel is more important than how you feel about the piece. I have stopped asking the opinions of family and friends, as in most cases I do not agree with them. My sons grew up surrounded by art and design, so luckily they do have a good eye. My youngest son has made many suggestions that truly worked in art and in design. At the moment he works for a company designing furniture.

The other thing people almost always ask, is how long did it take to paint that piece. One of my dear friends, and another artist explained to me to always tell them it took years. That is indeed the truth, as you are working for years to perfect your skill. So this painting probably took thirty years and two hours!

Redoing a Painting

June 30, 2022 kingstoncovestudioart, artist, creative energy, Diana Bennett, facebook, Fishing boat, just goes to show sometimes you fail, Newport, Oregon, photography, Success or failure, Sunset in the west, this one should sink, too much color is not always good, trying something new, Twitter, WashingtonLeave a comment

When we were staying in Newport and having dinner, this fishing boat passed by the window. I liked the composition, but not the colors. I thought about it for a while and decided I would try to add a sunset behind the bridge. I painted this about a year ago, and still thought it looked a little dull.

This is the original attempt and it seems lack-lustre.

So I gave it a little more life today, and now I think it is dancing almost too much and I really am not wild about the colors. The fishing boat is too centered in the painting and I think it is “dump worthy”. this just goes to show that you are not always successful with your painting. But if you do not try new things, then you do not grow. As I look at the composition, it is not my best.

What shall I paint tomorrow?

First Local Fair

June 18, 2022 kingstoncovestudioart, artist, artwork, Craft fairs, creative energy, Vacaville, what people buy, what’s for sale, where not to sell art, where to sell artLeave a comment

Today is the first time l’ve joined a Craft Fair in Vacaville and realize people don’t buy fine art or even cards at an event like this. I am amazed what people do buy, mostly things i would not think to buy. They buy Sensy from the booth on one side, walk by and say “pretty” then buy a net wreath or fake flower arrangement at the next booth.

Okay, I take that back, I just sold five cards It will be interesting to see if I even cover my entry fee! I know intellectually you have to get your art out somehow, but not sure this is the venue. The lady selling cat toys gets a lot more interest than my art!

If nothing else, it is interesting to see this cross-section of Vacaville! And an interesting experiment that I will most likely not repeat! Its for a good cause, but hard in a new town to figure out where to sell your art?

Painting Abstracts is Fun!!

June 6, 2022June 5, 2022 kingstoncovestudioart, artist, bright colors make me happy, facebook, freedom, lifestyle, Painting in oil, share this with your friends, the joy of life, vibrant colors, what makes you happy, wildLeave a comment

The idea of painting something big and colorful without boundaries is exciting. It can look like whatever you want and/or how you feel that day! I must be feeling excited about life, as I think these two come out as vibrant and fun and happy!

Of course they are always for sale, as the creative process is what brings me joy!

Buena Vista Bar in San Francisco

June 5, 2022 kingstoncovestudioartist, Buena Vista, bus trip, Diana Bennett, facebook, Irish Coffee for breakfast in SF, Irish Collee, San Francisco, The Saturday ClubLeave a comment

Every time I go to San Francisco, I love to stop at Buena Vista and have an Irish Coffee. I have been doing this since before I was even 21. (Oh no). I only ate there once with my family when my sons were very young. I highly recommend the Irish Coffee, but not so much the food. (Although it may have improved in the last thirty years) The fries were good.

I recently went there with a group of fun women, where we laughed and loved our Irish Coffees. Can’t wait to go there again. It is always perfect, no matter what time of day! I loved the ambiance of the restaurant, even though the view was cut off by a tent outside because of Covet 19.

I painted this a couple of months ago and just kept looking at it, thinking it was just “too light” in color for a bar. I’m hoping to paint a few more bars in the future, as they just seem way too interesting to me.

All my artwork is for sale.

So I was asked to paint this adorable girl…

June 1, 2022June 4, 2022 kingstoncovestudioare they worth it, artist, bab portrait, commissions, Diana Bennett, how to change a painting, painting a baby is hard, Portraint painting, trying something newLeave a comment

I am not a portrait painter by calling, as I find them challenging. Babies and small children are the hardest. I just spent two days working on a painting from this photo. It was not easy for me, as I do not do portraits very often. The grandmother wanted trees and surf in the background, so I made up a background with Palm Trees and surf and clouds in the sky. She did not want the block in the hand, so I formated the painting without the hand.

The more I have done commissions in my life, the less I want to do them. People either love them or hate them and there is no middle ground. I was told it does not look like her granddaughter and that she had too much “makeup”. I do wonder how you are to have roundness, depth and light without any change in color.

I did a little research before beginning and read that babies (i.e. young children) are the hardest to paint. I watched a few videos on painting babies and felt pretty good about the result. The person I painted it for is coming over tomorrow to see what she thinks. I think I don’t like doing portraits and am really an abstract or impressionistic painter.

Update:

Since the grandmother did not like the painting, I decided to work on it a little more. I thinned the face and lightened the eye. I think the trees in the background more of a distraction, but that was part of the request. The other was to take the toy out of the hand.

Would love to know what you think! I really paint big abstracts and smaller impressionistic paintings. So this was a reach for me. I think we all need to try new things in our life, when opportunity presents itself.

So I’m going to be featured artist in a local gallery

May 20, 2022 kingstoncovestudioand the theme is blue, art, art show, artist, come see the show, Diana Bennett, facebook, Fairfield Suisun City Visual Arts Association, WashingtonLeave a comment

It was a last minute happening, so I have to take pieces that are already framed, as other than two inch canvases everything needs to be framed and ready for hanging. Fifteen pieces are now ready to go. In other galleries where I’ve shown my work and had my own show, you took your work in, hung it yourself and each one was labeled on the wall with information: Price, size, material & etc. At this one, there is a list to be made, someone else hangs your show and each piece has a rather complicated tag. It took all day to pull this together, and I still do not have a list of cards yet. Those need to each have a description, even though I put the name of the piece on every one.

It is about this point if you wonder if it is worth the work? Since I am new to the area, it will be interesting to see if anything sells?

This the largest piece I am showing at 36″ x 36″. It has been in my family room for the last year and I do like the piece, but needed a “Show-Stopper”. Hope it catches the attention of people coming into the gallery. It was painted after the fires in Vacaville and is called: “The Air is Clearing”. It is available for $2500.

Lagoon Valley was painted from a photo I took while walking around this lake. It is 24 x 18″ and is for sale for $750.00.

“And the Ducks Liked the Boat” was a derelict boat in a small canal that I photographed, while we were out looking for Christmas Trees last year. We did not get a tree, but this photo of the boat was lovely. It is 14″ x 11″ and available for $550.00

“Down By the Sea” is a Plein Air from Monterey. It was such a beautiful spot! Hope I captured the essence of the scene! It is 12″ x 9″ and can be yours for $450.

Mardi Gras is a smaller 7″ x 5″ watercolor that is framed and for sale at the gallery for $250.

A River Runs Through is 12″ x 9″ and available for $450 at the gallery.

There are several other pieces.

Come visit the Fairfield Suisun City Visual Arts Association

1350 Travis Blvd, Fairfield, CA 94533

And the theme is Blue?

May 16, 2022May 14, 2022 kingstoncovestudioblue, Lagoon Valley, painting local color, The Ducks Like the BoatLeave a comment

New to the area, I have been looking for places to show my art. There are only local coops nearby, so I decided to try my hand at two of them. These two pieces go to the Fairfield Suisun Gallery for a show opening later this month. The theme of the show is blue and I would certainly say these two meet that qualification.

They were both painted from local scenes. The boat was derelict in an irrigation ditch and there were quite a few ducks surrounding it, as if looking for a new home out of the water. I loved the photo and think I captured the essence of the scene.

The second photo is area where we often go for walks. It used to be totally dry, but with the rain we had here this winter it is now lush and beautiful. It is a little larger that the first.

Hope you enjoy my blue, blue contributions.

Explosive Moments

May 14, 2022 kingstoncovestudioexplosive painting, for the love of painting, love art, love paintng, This is not a cloud, what to paint nextLeave a comment

My mind has been exploding with painting ideas lately! I want to paint small. I want to paint big. I want to find time everyday to paint, which often seems impossible. So many other things get in the way. I originally painted this without the calligraphy, but it did not have enough life for me, so I flipped the painting and totally changed the look.

The is a 30″ by 40″ oil that I painted for my 1912 Bungalow home in California. I was very energized while painting this and loved the process. Such freedom in an abstract. It can look however you want it to look and feel. This one feels explosive to me and makes me smile. What art do you do to make you smile?

My blog is a little funny, as it combines two of the things I love to do in life: painting and cooking. I have Cherry Galette in the oven right now, with the first cherries our cherry tree has produced. Thinking about the richness of the red, reminded me of this painting I just finished last week. I’ll do a short blog on the Cherry Galette when it is done, as if you were to have food and art, this would be wonderful with a beautiful and rich Crocker & Starr Cabernet Sauvignon!

diana bennett | artist | interior designer | cook

Interior . Kitchen. Bath . Office Design & Wonderful Food.