"caliente"

© 2010 Heather Bennett
"Caliente"
6″ x 6″
oil on Ampersand panel

Here is an example of what this Web site would look like. The copy is to the right of the daily painting.

And here's some more copy to just fill up this space: Alden Avenue is a picturesque, tree- lined street in Rathbone Village. Shining wood floors in three bedrooms, living room and formal dining. All newer windows throughout. A fireplace in the first floor family room where you will enjoy a crackling wood fire. Just a hop, skip and jump to the walking/bike path. Close to school and neighborhood store. Neat homes and yards reflect community spirit. Cover Your Bases listing with an upgraded home warranty.

"cake no. 4"

Click here to bid on ebay.

© 2010 Heather Bennett
“Cake No. 4” from the COUTURE CONFECTIONS series
6″ x 6″
oil on Ampersand panel

Let them eat cake! Did Marie Antoinette say this or not?

Here is how this post would look with the painting at original size and centered with copy below it.

Here is some extra copy just to fill up the space: Alden Avenue is a picturesque, tree- lined street in Rathbone Village. Shining wood floors in three bedrooms, living room and formal dining. All newer windows throughout. A fireplace in the first floor family room where you will enjoy a crackling wood fire. Just a hop, skip and jump to the walking/bike path. Close to school and neighborhood store. Neat homes and yards reflect community spirit. Cover Your Bases listing with an upgraded home warranty.

"cake no. 3"

Click here to bid on eBay.

© 2010 Heather Bennett
“Cake No. 3” from the COUTURE CONFECTIONS series
6″ x 6″
oil on Ampersand panel

Today my husband and I have been married for 10 years!

"cake no. 2"

Click here to bid on eBay.

© 2010 Heather Bennett
“Cake No. 2” from the COUTURE CONFECTIONS series
6″ x 6″
oil on Ampersand panel

I started painting from life so my cakes would have more dimension. This is the first cake I’ve painted in a long time.

Wet Paint

I have to catch up on posting a few paintings I finished so far this week.

Click here to bid on eBay.

© 2010 Heather Bennett
“Single Tulip”
6″ x 6″
oil on Ampersand panel

This was the last tulip left in our garden and the only white one.

Click here to bid.

© 2010 Heather Bennett
“Open”
6″ x 6″
oil on Ampersand panel

Single tulip decided to open. It’s amazing, I actually saw this happening since I was staring at it so long.

Click here to bid on eBay. SOLD! Thank you!!

© 2010 Heather Bennett
“Have a Heart” from the PITCH SOME WOO series
11″ x 8.5″ x 1.5″
oil on stretched canvas

Did you know that 95% of all women are wearing the wrong bra size? Here’s a bra fitting guide for a little help if you’re one of the 95%. I was.

i heard it on NPR

The other morning I woke up to this story on NPR - Morning Edition. So, I had to go out and get the books and see what all the fuss is about. I'll let you know what I think.

I'm going to start painting again May 1. I've been finishing up some other projects and had to put painting on the back burner for a while.

simplify

Since playing around with acrylics and some mixed-media projects I have found at this moment that I really like just painting from a still life.

I've really been trying to simplify my life. From letting go boxes of stuff in my basement that have been sitting unopened for 9 years, same thing with old clothes that don't fit me any more (ahem!).

Mixed media requires so much stuff!

When I paint a still life all I need are my paints and a simple subject. It's very minimal and refreshing.

I'll have some more paintings soon!

starting some mixed media paintings

These collages will be the background of some mixed-media paintings I'm working on.

I’m painting on hot pressed watercolor paper that I prepare with a coat of gesso. I am using Golden Extra-Heavy Gel (Matte) medium to glue the pieces down. Over the top of my collaged background I apply a coat of Golden Soft Gel (gloss) medium. This protects the images and will allow me to wipe paint away from areas. (You’ll see what I mean soon.)

So that’s where I’m at with my projects. I have a total of 4 collaged backgrounds ready to go for tomorrow and the under-painting of a cake with no collaged background.

new supplies

I’ve been waiting for these! I really enjoy ALL the fun mixed-media techniques you can use with acrylics, but I have always hated how they dry so FAST. I mean really fast.

So, I thought I would give these OPEN acrylics by Golden a try. They are supposed to stay wet for a few days on your palette and stay workable for a few hours on your work surface.

awaiting supplies

The "studio" is coming along. Now I'm waiting on some supplies I ordered and just collecting ideas. I'm going to be working in a different style next. A little more mixed-media folk art style. We'll see what happens!

I've been brave and put a few paintings on Ebay. One sold and one is in the bidding process. It's exciting to see the sales and get my art into new homes.

new studio

I've been neglecting my art, but for a good reason. I'm moving my studio from our living room to the bedroom. There's just a little too much distraction in the living room and I've been schlepping my stuff to my sons bedroom to work...and got tired of that. So, now I've made a permanent (I hope) spot in my bedroom.

More painting coming soon!

"stormy sky"

© 2010 Heather Hingst Bennett
“Stormy Sky”
6″ x 6″ x 7/8″, Oil on stretched canvas


Today I experimented with some abstract ideas. Abstracts are a challenge for me. I never know when it's finished. So, I'm not selling this one yet. I have to see how I feel about it in the next few days.

"just a slice" - SOLD

© 2010 Heather Hingst Bennett
“Just A Slice”
6″ x 6″ x 7/8″, Oil on stretched canvas

Click here to bid on ebay.

"fugi trio" - SOLD

© 2010 Heather Hingst Bennett
“Fugi Trio”
6″ x 6″ x 7/8″, Oil on stretched canvas

Click here to bid on Ebay.

I always experience a variety of emotions when I am painting. From “Wow, this is looking really good!” to “Why did I do that?” to “I can’t paint this subject.” and then finally “I did it and it looks pretty good!”

I do really have a hard time painting apples. I think I’ll try a different variety sometime. Fugi apples are kind of round and lopsided and don’t really look like a “typical” apple.

a class project

Today I worked on a painting for a class I am taking that I hope to be teaching in the future. In this beginning class students will learn about the primary colors and how to lighten and darken them; eye level; shines on different surfaces; reflected light; reflected color and much more!

Tomorrow it's back to still lifes! I'm not sure what I will be painting...hmmm...better take a look around the house...

sorry, no art so far this week

My grandfather passed away on Saturday and I've been having a hard time concentrating and getting into the painting mode.

"love mug"

© 2010 Heather Hingst Bennett
Red, Pink, Black & White Series - "Love Mug"
6" x 6" x 7/8", Oil on stretched canvas
$25 USD – free shipping in US

Please email me to purchase this painting or for more information.

"still no cake?"

© 2010 Heather Hingst Bennett
Red, Pink, Black & White Series - Still No Cake?
6" x 6" x 7/8", Oil on stretched canvas
$25 USD - free shipping in US

Please email me to purchase this painting or for more information.

"where's the cake?"

© 2010 Heather Hingst Bennett
Red, Pink, Black & White Series - Where's the Cake?
6" x 6" x 7/8", Oil on stretched canvas
$25 USD – free shipping in US

Please email me to purchase this painting or for more information.

I saw this cake stand and HAD to have it. To paint, of course!

"purse straps"

© 2010 Heather Hingst Bennett
Red, Pink, Black & White Series - Purse Straps
6" x 6" x 7/8", Oil on stretched canvas
$25 USD - free shipping in US

Please email me to purchase this painting or for more information.

I'm trying to come up with a good place to take pictures in my house. I hope to have better photos soon!

Thanks for visiting!

"hanging around"

 

© 2010 Heather Hingst Bennett
Red, Pink, Black & White Series - Hanging Around
6" x 6" x 7/8", Oil on stretched canvas
$25 USD - free shipping in US

Please email me to purchase this painting or for more information.

"red purse"

© 2010 Heather Hingst Bennett
Red, Pink, Black & White Series - Red Purse
6" x 6" x 7/8", Oil on stretched canvas
$25 USD - free shipping in US

Please email me to purchase this painting or for more information.

From now until Valentine's Day I am going to challenge myself to paint a red, pink, black or white object.

color

I'm getting set up for still life painting tomorrow. It's been a while since I've painted one, so I'm a little nervous.

I have been working on a series that I call "Long Neck Beauties". These are painting from my imagination and hope I will finish one soon, so I can show you.

Today, along with working on the long neck beauties, I have been enjoying studying about color. To actually achieve correct secondary colors you need two different sets of primary colors. THE OIL PAINTING COURSE YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED suggests using a warm primaries of cadmium yellow medium, cadmium red hue and thalo blue and cool primaries of lemon yellow hue, permanent rose and French ultramarine blue. This is the proper way to mix your secondary colors. I'll show you my results in the near future!

I've also been enjoying Vicki McMurry's book, Mastering Color: The Essentials of Color Illustrated with Oils.

There's so much to learn about color!

it has been a while

I can't seem to get into a groove since the kids have been on winter break! It hasn't helped that since going back they have had 3 snow days and now have 2 days off! So, they will be back in school again on Wednesday. HOPEFULLY...I think we could be expecting more snow in the next few days! It has been a very wintery, winter.

I signed up for an on-line painting class that begins Wednesday. So, I will be painting soon!