Painterly Art by Li Mahalik

Time moves on

2012-01-22T09:59:00.000-08:00

Qiang Huang, Artist

A busy week. Our Austin, Texas friend Qiang (pronounced Chong) came to town to show his work in the Legacy Gallery. Qiang was part of the Richard Schmid's Putney Painters of Vermont exhibit. The art exhibits and workshops were all filled with new ideas. Please visit Qiang's website and read his daily blog. Qiang always has an interesting view on life.

Now I'm off to an abstract workshop that uses tissue wrapping paper as an element of surprise. Wish me luck.

Oh! What a show!

2011-12-16T11:52:00.000-08:00

The Art Show went from December 2nd to the 4th. It's our first one and it went better than we had anticipated. We, the four painters and my husband were very fortunate to have the support from friends, colleagues, relatives and neighbors. The response was great and they loved the show.

We were surprised that even though we live near the busiest street near downtown Scottsdale, and with good signage on the street, not many passersby came. It just shows how important to have connections.

A lot of work was put into the preparation for the show, but it was also a lot of fun. The show brought another level of friendship to all of us - Sven Helle, Gloria Cuadraz, Vanya Allison, my husband Mark Mahalik and me. Mark deserves most of the credit for putting up a flawless show from start to finish. What would I do without you, Mark? Thank you so very much!

Sven and Vanya are great Portrait and Still life painters; Gloria paints mostly Still Life. She is a prolific and well loved professor at the ASU. You can see some of their work below.

Included in the show were the works done by the 1st graders at the Kiva Elementary School in Scottsdale during a workshop I gave them 10 days before the show. There were 26 of them! I had them work in groups with collages collected. They worked together and at the end choose a view and "framed" the final project. We decided to include their work to our show. Mrs. Judy Alway put a lot of thought and work into this. It was in Mrs. U's (Anna Udelson) class. She was great with the children!

Enjoy some photos of the event!

Art show begins in the main house living room with abstract paintings

and in the dining room

Sven, Gloria and Vanya have their wonderful paintings in the studio.

In the backyard, we post the Kiva student's collage artwork which they made 10 days before at the Kiva Elementary School where I gave a workshop. They are beautiful! Each one is unique!

They look great in the open. Vayna later wraps plastic sheets over to protect them from the rain and they still look awesome!

Each student will take home at least on piece of their work. Mark and I spent hours "framing" each work the student choose to have, which was the objective of the workshop, choosing a view.

The reception was fun in a cozy, rainy afternoon. We have over 70 guests, including some from our neighborhood.

Music, guests, wine and friendship. Vayna's husband Ted plays guitar to entertain the quests.

*****

Here are some works by my three friends and the one and only work by my husband sold first in the show, which I love so much:

Pintings by Vanya. oil on panel

"Napa Cab" by Gloria Cuadraz, oil 12x12

Sven Helle painted himself

My husband Mark's sold painting at the show.

Wishing you a great, good fortune for the coming New Year!

Happy Holiday!

Iris in Blue

2011-11-24T23:12:00.000-08:00

Oil on masonite, 12"x12"

Iris has a very nice, bony face. I loved painting her.

Next weekend, December 2 - 4, my three painter friends and I are having a studio art show and sale in Scottsdale near Scottsdale Road and Camelback Road. If you're looking for something different to do, stop on by! Please see below for more information. Hope to see you there....

Please email me if you have any questions or comments, or visit my website to see other paintings.

Little Bottle and Garlic

2011-09-06T21:10:00.000-07:00

Oil on panel, 9x12

Garlic is an interesting object for studying color - value, temperature, and, for its light, shadow, shade, reflective light, hard and soft edges, etc. It's so perfectly white all around until the spot light gives it its character.

At one point, I had to change the garlics and reposition them because when they didn't have the pointed bottom they were harder to make looking like garlics. When I started painting them they looked like purple little tomatoes. It was hilarious!

Please email me if you would like,

Or visit my web site to see more of my work.

Thanks for viewing!

"Rebecca"

2011-08-01T22:32:00.000-07:00

Oil on Linen, 12"x12"

Portrait has never been my favorite subject matter. In open studio it has been a hit or miss for me, mainly because I didn't know certain process that could make it less of a struggle. A few days ago, I learned that, like painting a still life or a landscape, value defines. Shades and shadows sculpt light to make things look 3D on a flat surface. They define the contour of a face as well as a landscape.

I look forward to doing more portraits in the future, even if it doesn't come by easy. It's hard to find some one who will sit still for you for a few hours (for free)!

***

Thank you for viewing!

For comments or to purchase my art, please email me or go to my web site,

"Little Brown Vase"

2011-07-01T17:49:00.000-07:00

Oil on Gessobord, 11"x14"

***

Sometimes, setting up subject matter to paint is more difficult than painting. In the studio, we juggle with the objects and try to come up with a worthy setting to paint. Often times it's a hit and miss. But the spotlight is always a lifesaver. It can suddenly bring the setting to life and create a dramatic effect. The kind of the light gives a particular temperature to the setting, ranging from cool to warm. The table cloth and the material in the background make a big difference, too.

*****

Six of my small paintings, mostly abstract, have be chosen to the

West Valley Arts Council Mini Miniatures Show

located at The Citadelle plaza at 19420 N. 59th Ave. Suite #A104, Glendale, AZ 85308

The exhibition will go from July 8th till August 10th.

The opening artists reception is on July 8th from 6 to 8 PM.

Please stop by to see my work and many other wonderful artists work.

The artwork will be for sale, too.

*****

To see more of my paintings, please visit my web site.

If you're interested to write, my email is here.

"Mr. Eucalyptus"

2011-06-16T22:14:00.000-07:00

Oil on Linen Canvas, 14x11

***

Mr. Eucalyptus is a big tree in my neighbor's back yard. A couple of hawks like to rest high on it's branches in the spring. I wanted to study painting trees and this is the closest I could find. So I did a plein air in my A/Ced studio looking out the arcadia doors of this grand tree. It was very warm at 104 degree in Scottsdale today!

*****

Please also visit my web site.

My email is here if you have any comments or suggestions.

Yellow Roses In Vase

2011-04-22T20:34:00.000-07:00

Oil on Telati Board, 11x14

***

There are times when we are stuck in a not-so-good spot to paint a live model, we have to be more inventive and selective to move object(s) around in our mind for better composition. In this painting, I was looking at three objects evenly spaced with no overlapping whatsoever. I elected to paint the vase with roses and a little brown bottle next to it. Bad choice! I forgot about the magic of threesomes (or odd numbers).

So, I took out the little bottles and in its place I put a rose petal, instead. I think it worked better.

"Red IV"

2011-04-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

Oil on Canvas, 20"X20" Sold

This painting grew from an idea of doing a painting in red.

I started by putting down alizarine straight from the tube as the darkest dark to anchor the painting. Next was to do the red by adding white, cadmium red light, or yellow to the alizarine and brushed over most of the canvas while leaving some parts untouched. At this stage, knowing when to stop and to evaluate is the most important part of the work. From here, one can let the imagination go to work.

*****

To see my other work, please visit my web site

Thank you for viewing !

A Land to Love

2011-04-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

Oil on Ampersand Gessoed Panel, 18x24 Sold

It's been a while since I posted here. So far this year, I've taken three workshops, one from Kim English, another from Camille Przewodek and, lastly, from Marc Hanson two weeks ago. The quick pace of the workshops was the best way to learn what I didn't know. The part that I've learned is now being digested at home by painting, and painting. But along the way, husband Mark sent an excerpt of an article by George Inness about art. In it it says:

"...Art aims is not to instruct, not to edify, but to awaken an emotion of love, pity, veneration, of hate, of pleasure, of pain, but it must be a single emotion if the work has unity, as every such work should have...."

All of a sudden I realized that years of taking up workshops and classes to brush up my skill have made me forget the joy that I used to have when i picked up the brush to paint, when everything then was purely acts of love and passion. Now I'm going to combine the two, the skill and love. I'm in a fog right now, and I know that only by painting a lot will it reveal where it's going to take me.

***

Please come visit my new web site here.
Thank you for visiting!

Green Bench and Pots

2011-03-11T20:10:00.000-08:00

Oil on Linen, 11x14

It's been so pleasant outside lately. My friends and I decided to paint a still life outdoor in my back yard yesterday. In doing this painting, I discovered that in order to show the sunniness, shadows have to be darker and the values needs to be stretched. But I also remember when I painted in the desert in the sun, everything was kind of golden, even shadows were not as dark. Then, we got into the debate about High Key or Low Key. Is this high or low key? I don't know.

***

You're welcome to visit my website.

Or email me if you have any comments or suggestions.

Thank you for visiting!

Girl in Yellow Dress

2011-03-04T18:13:00.000-08:00

Oil on Panel, 9x12

About two weeks ago I took a five-day plein air workshop with Kim English, a brilliant painter from Colorado. The workshop was grueling as the models were instructed to change post every 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes. So we painted, wiped off, changed supports quickly, trying to compose, block-in, mixed the right colors and values as best and as fast as we could. Most people got to do a lot in each painting but I could only come up with just the figures mostly, like the one above, which Kim was very fond of. It's the most valuable workshop I've attended so far and I've got nothing but admiration and respect for Kim.

***

Here's my email address and my web site

Thank you for visiting!

"Plum blossoms in Vase"

2011-01-26T19:06:00.000-08:00

Oil on gessoed masonite, 11.5"x11.5"

*****

Once we remember how forgiving oil is when we paint, we can load up the color and have fun painting! It won't be fun if we use thin, little bits of color because it doesn't blend well with the rest and will look not as juicy and rich; the richness which inspires artists like us to use oil as a medium.

Thank you for visiting! You're welcome to contact me via my email, or go to my web site to see more paintings.

"Napa Cabbage"

2011-01-26T18:47:00.000-08:00

Oil on Gessoed Masonite, 12"x12"

*****

Lately, I've been spending a little extra time setting up still life, concentrating on creating a bit of atmosphere, or feeling. As a result, I'm enjoying painting again like I used to when I started. Instead of painting what looks right, I'm painting what I like. There's such a big difference! When I stated going to the Scottsdale Art School, I learned to paint right. Now with that, I can go back to paint what made me want to paint in the beginning, something that makes the heart warm and sing.

*****

Please come visit my web site or contact me via my email.

Thanks for visiting!

Fruit Basket

2011-01-18T21:40:00.000-08:00

Oil on Canvas, 16x20

I'd like to say this is done, but still have reservation about the color temperature on the left. I will only glaze it with warmer color and hope I don't end up overworking it.

*****

Please email me if you would like, or visit my web site, or my blog to see more work.

Thank you so much for viewing

"Green Tomato"

2011-01-01T10:07:00.000-08:00

"Green Tomato", Oil on Canvas, 8"x10" $200

Happy New Year!

May the new year brings you health, wealth and prosperity.

And may we all be kind to one another.

***

I've been traveling back and forth to Chicago during the Christmas season; saw my daughter, Wendy, and son-in-law, Jeff, a couple of times. They live in Lexington, Kentucky where he teaches and she works. My nephew and his wife came, too, while they visited Chicago with her relatives. It's the first time they saw the snow. So, it was one happy time together!

*****

Please visit my web site, or email me if you're interested in purchasing my work via paypal.

Yellow Rose

2010-12-15T17:52:00.000-08:00

Oil on Canvas, 8x10

These roses came from my backyard.

So pretty, I had to paint them.

Petals fell the next day.

Like life, what is

There besides the sentiment?

*****

Happy holiday, my friend! Thanks for visiting.

"Dorothy"

2010-12-08T12:44:00.000-08:00

Oil on gessoed Masonite, 12"x12" Sold

My Sweet Dorothy

At six in the morn,

Her garage door swung squeakily open.

Out came Dorothy in her pink robe

Dashing, but not hurriedly.

She picked up the newspaper

from the driveway,

Which would later sprawl all over

Her 1960's living room,

Advertisements on top.

The sky was just turning pink.

She looked up with her graying eyes.

Oh, gee! It's chilly today,

She said.

*****

I spent too much time painting Dorothy. After extra 5 or six hours of work after she posted for my friends and me, I didn't know if it got any better. But I would say it probably did because I found not much I wanted to do over. But I think I learned a lot about temperature and hope it sticks.

Dorothy is my 89 year old neighbor. She is kind, wise, healthy and tough. We became good friends over the last dozen years. She is like a mother to me, whom I lost when I was 10.

***

Please email me if you would like, or visit my web site for more paintings.

Thank you!

"Red Rose and Cup"

2010-12-04T18:47:00.000-08:00

Oil on Gessoed Board, 6"x6" $125

Recently I got myself a few Silver Brestlon brushes and loved them. Sounds like I'm advertising for them, but they really deserve the praise. They make painting a pleasure as I no longer have to deal with the unruly hair of some of the brushes I use.

This painting is painted from part of a picture I took. I liked the composition at this corner, its colors and contrast, but especially its romantic mood.

Please email me if you're interested in this painting, or visit my web site to see other paintings.

Thanks for viewing. Happy holiday!

Oak Creek, Sedona

2010-11-05T20:23:00.000-07:00

Oil on Canvas, 14x11

***

I painted this today from a picture I took at the Red Rock Crossing during a plein air workshop a couple years ago. I've liked this picture but dreaded to paint it because it looked so complicated. So, I summed up my courage.

Besides using a palette knife, I squinted my eyes a lot to try to ignore too many details. I also used a brush to paint where a knife would have messed it up. Since I don't have a lot of patience and a stead hand, the knife was handy for trees and twigs. The problem was that they tend to look too straight and mechanical. Perhaps I still need to use the brush for trees but only after the under paint dries a bit. Any suggestions? I'll appreciate it!

Please email me if you're interested in purchasing my paintings via Paypal

Or my web site to see other paintings.

Thank you for viewing!

In Gloria's Garden

2010-11-03T17:14:00.000-07:00

Oil on Gessoed Masonite, 6"x6"

In Gloria's Garden

I'm a chair.

In my proper place

Birds and bees and flowers

Greet me

Everyday.

I've been sat on, rained on

And stepped on.

I'm properly called an antique.

Don't worry and no offense;

Call me anything

I'm easy.

©Li Mahalik

My friend Sven and I went to Gloria's house to paint last Thursday. In her courtyard,I painted the chair and the flower pots, but Sven ended up painted me while I was painting. Although the setting was very pretty, I had to simplify the background to not fight with the chair. I like the structure of this painting and it had been a good experience.

Please email me if you're interested in purchasing my paintings via Paypal

Or my web site to see other paintings.

Thank you for viewing!

Sunflowers

2010-11-03T15:50:00.000-07:00

Oil on gessoed masonite, 6"x6"

Sunflowers

Today is one

Of those days, again

When no one is

Around him

To show him what love is

He looks up

With sun-filled eyes

His hearts turns

Into sunflowers

Even if he no longer can see

He knows where

The sun is

His flowers will let him know

©Li Mahalik

When my friends were busying painting a water jug still life, husband Mark came in with a bunch of sunflowers. I dropped everything and quickly painted them. I was in awe of the beauty. But I didn't quite capture the leaves. A few days later, I had to invent the leaves. They are fuzzy now as if in dreams.

Please email me if you're interested in purchasing my paintings via Paypal

or my web site to see other paintings.

Thank you for viewing!

"A Road Traveled"

2010-10-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

Oil on Gessoed Masonite, 6"x6"

I have traveled near

And far, on a road that is

Yellow, blue, purple and at times

gray, a long time ago

Then I learn to love

The grays, the sorrows

Mother of all

©Li Mahalik

I was trying out the newly bought burnt sienna oil stick, and got into painting this little piece. I added a little blue and transparent oxide red and lots of white. It's spontaneous, and it's a good experience to help me paint looser in the future.

If you're interested in purchasing my paintings, please email me.

To view my other work, please visit my other blog, or my web site.

Thank you!

Blue Bottle and Pears

2010-10-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

Oil on Gessobord, 11"x14"

Is it possible
To see no shadows

In this shadow world?

Cafe Sunday

2010-09-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

On the seventh day

The coffee house is seen again

Over an easy egg or two

Flowers on the adobe wall

The white table cloth

The neatly placed silverware

And the feel of Mediterranean-

Arizona's sun

It matters not how

Water flees to the south

Along the banks of concrete

Not blue and big fish

Life is as good

As a friend

Or two; two cups of coffee

©Li Mahalik

I painted this from a picture I took of flowers on the adobe wall at a breakfast place where my husband, father and brother-in-laws and I went in downtown Scottsdale. The place had a feel of romance and the food was nice. I remember it was in April when the sun was gentle.

"Just Passing By"

2010-09-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

I just finished this painting. The title I gave inspired me to write a poem. Here it is:

Living

A world of colors, looking in

Wading through. Perhaps

With the first slit of sunlight, or amongst the busy rain

Slumbering still between

Two worlds, a crack

Will appear in the mesh

And you slip and glide through

That heavy story you create

What nonsense and opportunity! Now!

Oh, for heaven's sake

I'm just passing by

© Li Mahalik

I hope you like it. I'm sure it can be better and I'll work on it more.

Please visit my website for more art work.
Large commissioned work on abstract oil welcomed. Please email me for quotes.

In Love With Grays

2010-09-20T14:12:00.000-07:00

Oh, such lazy days staying in the comfortable, air conditioned home just goofing around and watching people buying international houses on the TV while the temperature here making record high of 109 in the late summer.

This painting transformed itself many times. Today I decided to just try a Joan Mitchell and call it good.

You're cordially invited to come visit my website to see my other paintings.

"Caroline"

2010-09-10T20:55:00.000-07:00

Oil on Gessoed Masonite Panel, 11"x14"

I meant to paint this lady abstractly but ended up painting her this way. The intent, though, freed me up from being too careful like I often do when I paint real objects. The hands are the most difficult to paint. It took me a few hours to find out what I did wrong, but ended up learning a lot from the mistake. Looking at this now, I think I need to add just a touch of yellow orange to bring the right hand to life, which I'll do in the morning.

If you're interested in this painting, please email me. Or visit the Daily Painters of Arizona to see many more wonderful works. My website contains works in the last few years.

Thank you so much for looking.

"Alone in Winter" By Li Mahalik

2010-08-26T15:45:00.000-07:00

Oil on Gessoed Masonite, 6"x6"

This painting was based on a picture I took during a plein air paint-out at the Pebble Beach along the Bush highway. The green tree stood out amongst the grey leafless trees along the creek. I added some horizontal elements to break up the many vertical lines.

Please contact me if you have any comments, questions or have something in mind for a painting. Or visit my website, and my blog. Thank you so much for viewing

"Land of The Mescalero"

2010-08-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

Oil on Canvasbord, 16"x16"

For my friend, Fourhawks. The world is kinder and more beautiful because of you.

"From My Heart" By Li Mahalik

2010-08-23T18:33:00.000-07:00

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas, 20"x16"

I painted this a week ago and let it sit in my studio while pondering about it. It had a lot more red then and had no dark value, and it seemed too sweet. So, I revised it a bit today. Even though it's an abstract, a focal point or area still helps tying everything up. I would have loved all my abstracts to look good no matter how you placet it. Not this one, though. It wants to look like a bunch of flowers, from my heart.

Please contact me if you have any comments, questions or have something in mind for a painting. Or visit my website, and my other blog. Hope you have a wonderful week!

An update of my 4'x4' commissioned abstract painting: I'm painting it in my mind, no kidding!

"It's A Small World"

2010-08-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

Oil, 6"x6"

I'm putting this painting I did a few weeks ago up just for fun because it does not exist any more. It had been transformed into "A Promise" (see it in my blog). I miss it, but I have it in my file.

A lady who came to buy our furniture advertised on Craiglist ended up commissioned me to do a 4'x4' abstract painting. I'm excited. I hope it'll turn out well....

Please contact me if you have any comments, questions or have something in mind for a painting. Or visit my website, and the Daily Painters of Arizona blog.

Thank you so much for looking!

"Forget-me-not" by Li Mahalik

2010-08-11T19:14:00.000-07:00

"Forget-me-not"
Oil on Gessoed Masonite
6"x6"

A month ago, I did a painting called In the Blue, of some penstemen flowers by the road superimposed on the blue shadow of a tree. Sometimes, when I do the house chores, I would think about the etherial image, about how best to show the feeling. Today, I put it down after a few tries, going a full circle and came back to my original imagination. I think the name "Forget-me-not" is fitting. Don't you think?

"Untitled IV"

2010-08-08T19:48:00.000-07:00

Oil on Gessoed Masonite, 6"x6", $125

To me, Abstract is more difficult to paint than representational painting because the process tends to go through different kinds of preparation, research and techniques. But in the end, it will have to meet the criterias of what makes a good painting: composition, values, color harmony, proportion, depth, eye movement, etc. There are so many ways an abstract can turn out: a little darker here and more color there; warmer here and less busy there. So, here it is, an exit way appeared and I called it a day.

Please come visit my other blog to see more recent paintings, or my website to see other paintings. If you have any suggestions, comments or interest to purchase, please feel free to contact me via my email.

"Omnipresent"

2010-08-04T21:47:00.000-07:00

Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas, 16x20

It was fun and different going back to a bigger canvas. A dear friend came to paint with me today. In between the conversations, I had room to ease my fixation and made this expedition a joyful one. Please come visit my blog to see more recent paintings, or mywebsite to see other paintings. If you have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to contact me via my email.

"A Promise"

2010-07-29T20:24:00.000-07:00

Oil on Gessoed Masonite

6"x6"

Before I posted this, I had to think about how this painting came about, even though I only started it two days ago, changed it, let it sit there and finished it today. Then I remember it was a landscape with a big Agave in front and a graceful Mesquite tree in the back and a strip of light in between the two. I still have the picture in my file, but come to think of it, it's really not bad, but I started over and here it is.

Please visit my blog and website to see more paintings. If you're interested in purchasing, please email me. The small 6x6's are around $125 including shipping in the US. Thank you so much for looking!

"A Day In November"

2010-07-27T21:57:00.000-07:00

Oil on Gessoed Masonite
6"x6"

This piece evolved from a presentational to a non-presentational. I found that it is easier to "switch" from one to the other, rather than to start an abstract from nowhere, which I do sometimes, because quite often I end up losing the freshness and the momentum. The images in the mind are hard to hold, and the paint, once on the canvas, solidifies the image; one has no choice but to keep going, innovate and know how and when to quit.

Please come visit my website, another blog which I'm a member of, my store or email me if you would like.

Thank you so much for viewing.

My Recent Small Paintings

2010-07-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

Route 66, 6x6
Oil on Gessoed Masonite

"Red Friday", 6x6
Oil on Gessoed Masonite

I painted these two paintings one after the other.

I'm loving the small panels because I can paint quite quickly and spontaneously with lots of paints. Modifying and doing over are quite easy. They can also provide me a feel of what bigger paintings with the same theme can look like.

Today, for the record, I set up an ebay store to sell my small paintings. I don't know how it'll go, so I'm a little nervous. I don't really know what my paintings are worth and what the market is like. There are tons of paintings out there, some are originals, some are copies. But I know that if I keep on painting and get better everyday, some people might appreciate my work. I have everything to gain, especially, by doing it, as an incentive to keep painting. Wish me luck! I will soon put these up to my ebay store when I sum up courage. Please come visit!

Please contact me, or visit my web site to see more paintings. Thank you so much for visiting!

2010-07-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

"The Merchant", 6x6

Oil on Gessoed Masonite

The fun thing about painting Abstract is "walking" without knowing where you're going. "Walking in Beauty", as a very dear friend of mine used to say, is the journey we all embark upon. There's no one path that isn't worthy of traveling. At the end, then, like this painting, it is how we make it better by changing, eliminating, and choosing a view.

Warm Regards,

dreamcobbler@cox.net

www.dailypaintersofarizona.blogspot.com

www.limahalikart.com

"A Pair of Pears" by Li Mahalik

2010-07-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

This pair of pears took me longer to paint than it should have. They are fairly light in color in life with very little red (yes, I picked them, duh), even when I used the spot light, the shades were still quite light. It was a disaster this morning when I looked at it. Then, I went back and made a few attempts to darken the shades. I think I've learned my lessens.

please contact me at dreamcobbler@cox.net.

Or, visit www.dailypaintersofarizona.blogspot.com to see many wonderful artists work.

"Peaches and Cream" by Li Mahalik

2010-07-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

Oil on Panel, 8x6

After painted a larger version of this, I went back to paint this smaller one to see how I could do better. The pink and white blossoms were a challenge because it was hard to see where one tree ends and the other begins. I discovered that once we notice the subtle change in shades we can exaggerate the values and colors to make it more painterly. This one is far from perfect, but I've learned an invaluable lessen from doing it.

Please contact me if you have any suggestions or comments, dreamcobbler@cox.net or visit my web site to see more of my paintings: www.limahalikart.com

2010-07-11T11:05:00.000-07:00

"Morning"

Oil on Canvas, 8x10 July 2010 #2

This painting is painted from an image in my mind, with mostly a palette knife and a brush.

I'm getting better with using the palette knife, like how and what to paint first, and the usage of dark color to light color, etc. I think I'll explore this technique more often because I really enjoy doing it. It's more like painting the abstract which I've always enjoyed doing.

Please email me at dreamcobbler@cox.net if you're interested in this painting, ($125, including shipping in the US.)

Or, come visit my web site at www.limahalikart.com to see more.

2010-07-09T13:19:00.000-07:00

Lost Dutchman's Mine

Oil on Canvas, 14x18

Just finished this larger version of the painting I did a week ago. It has a lot more detail and took me a lot more time to paint comparing the sizes. I don't know which one is better, the big one or the small one. But each attempt teaches me a lot, and this one, about the contrast and the values of colors.

Please email me at dreamcobbler@cox.net if you're interested in purchasing it or my other paintings on my web site, www.limahalikart.com.

Please also visit www.dailypaintersofarizona.com, of which I've just became a team member.

2010-07-06T15:50:00.000-07:00

"In the Blue"

Oil on Panel, 8x10

This is a quick study of a beautiful bush out in the front yard of my house.

Everyday when the sun is setting, casting the shadow of a handsome elm tree on my neighbor Dorothy's lawn, this bush with little delicate white flowers on it's long, wispy stems seems to sing with amazing grace against the deep blue across the street.

If you're interested in this or other paintings, please let me know.

2010-06-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

"The Lost Mine", oil on panel, 8x10

I just bought quite a few small panels a week ago and decided to just paint and paint, not to worry about the outcome, as I truly believe that as a painter, my job is to become as good as I can possibly be.

When I started this painting at my friend Gloria's house, I thought I would do an abstract study from a photo I took at the Superstition Mountain. Using a big brush, I still came up with more detail than I intended to. But I was happy with the result and learned a lot during the process.

There are quite a few things I can say from doing this painting. First I found that the quality of paints really helps save time, energy and the resulting look of a painting. So, try to get better oil paints if you can. Second, look at the subject matter (if it's a photo), from far away, or in your computer file using a thumbnail view. It helps you decide if the composition is interesting enough to warrant the effort to paint. To me, the interesting composition involves good stretch of values, different masses and their distribution, lines and dots.

2010-06-13T12:50:00.000-07:00

In the Desert Garden

Oil on panel, 8x10

I tried this particular subject three or four times with different tones and brush strokes and finally was satisfied with this one. I found that to express a sunny day, a painting needs to have a good stretch of values, from lightest light 7 to 9 on a scale of 10 to the darkest dark, 1 to 3. It is pretty logical in reality or in theory, because value, as well as color, is relative. In a cloudy day, even though the shadows should even be darker than in the sunny day, we don't have to paint them as dark, as long as the lightest light isn't as light.

I could be wrong. I'll keep painting to find out if I'm right on this.

2010-06-03T21:33:00.000-07:00

For a painter like myself, color turns out to be quite a personal choice as long as one is mindful about the value in a painting. For example, I could make this painting "warmer" by either using more orange while painting, or, I can, when it's completely dried, glaze it with a warm color such as orange yellow or very light burnt siena.

I hope you like it.

2010-05-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

I did this study today from a picture I took near Wickenburg, AZ. Usually I'd rough up the composition with a brush and went on to paint. This time, however, I drew the whole thing carefully with a charcoal pencil, paying attention to the detail and the value. When I was satisfied about what I saw, I went on to put oil colors on. I'm pleasantly surprised with the result, as I didn't have to correct the composition which I sometimes do and would muddied up the paint. So, a little more work in the beginning saves a lot of time and energy later.

If you're interested in purchasing this painting, please email me

2010-05-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

These are the "After and Before" photos of my paintings of "Anna".

I painted the "before" of Anna at the Scottsdale Artist School during one of the OPA (Oil Painters of America) studio painting sessions. OPA had it's Annual juried Exhibition in Scottsdale this year, of which I'm an Associate Member. During the OPA event I met many great Masters of contemporary paintings including Zhiwei Tu, David Leffel, Jeff Legg, Joyce Pike and Carolyn Anderson. They inspired me so much I'll never forget them.

William T. Chambers, an OPA Signature Member was kind enough to critique this painting for me, I am so grateful. I followed his suggestion and revised the painting. I muted down one side of the chair to maintain the focus of the painting which is Anna, and kept the flow of the eye movement going. What do you think?

Cotton Series I, II and III

Cotton I, Oil on Cradled panel

The first of the series, Cotton I, has beenjuried into the show at SACAMA, together with my two other art work, "Yours Truly" and "Dancing", which is a bronze. The show "Point of Pride" began on May 5. Hope you'll come visit.

2009-10-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

This is my most recent abstract,"Nightingale" Oil, 24 x36

It came rather spontaneously. The pigments I used are mostly warm black with a little Burnt Sienna. A little green brings out the pink.

***

"The Button Jar"

2009-10-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

The other day, I went to an antique shop to see if I could find something interesting for Still Life and I did. I brought home these bottles, jars, a kettle and some ceramic pots and cups, tall, short, skinny and shapely and arranged some of them on top of my book shelf. Since the wall was too white as a backdrop, I put one of my abstract, "Moonwalk" behind them. The afternoon sunlight bounced off them, creating a surreal effect. As I was painting, I tried to keep in mind the beauty which inspired me to want to paint it. I hope you like it, too.

I'm still figuring out how to do the blog, but eventually I hope to move my writings which I've been doing on my website, www. LiMahalikArt.com to here so I can better connect with you. You can view my other paintings there. Please let me know what you think. Thank you!