"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tuesday, September 18, 2012



I completed this little oil painting over the weekend. It is from a photograph I took 2 years ago at Pipestem, West Virginia. This building was part of an experiment - a planned community which didn't succeed...so, if you visit there, you will find several homes and out-buildings. This abandoned community was once a dream of many people which didn't succeed...so sad. I took several pictures that day, and plan to do more paintings of this now defunct community.

The painting is 7"x5" and is painted in oil.

6 comments:

Autumn Leaves said...

I love this little painting, Barb. I am not sure if it is the beautiful colors or your personal technique or even just the story behind it, but it is powerful. Beautiful work!

Unknown said...

This is so pretty! I love the contrast of sharp lines and softly blended areas... It gives it a nice effect. I also love your signature, by the way... it looks very professional!

Ginny Stiles said...

lovely composition. Oil is not my thing to do but I do so enjoy looking at it. The California Poppies is a knock out Barb...just lovely!!! Hope you are feeling good. Think of you so often. And we follow a lot of the same blogs, I notice.

Barb Sailor said...

Thanks Sherry - I sure appreciate your wonderful comments. It is a scene from one of my favorite areas and maybe that translates into the painting.

Barb Sailor said...

Katherine...thanks for commenting on my textural contrasts - I have been working on that. I have used that signature for some time now and have finally gotten better at it in oils...much easier in watercolor.

Barb Sailor said...

Thanks Ginny...watercolor is still my favorite medium, but sometimes something in my soul calls out for oils! I haven't been able to do plein air painting this summer due to my health problems, so working from some of my favorite pictures sort of transports me back to to the places - almost as good, but not quite as good as painting in plein air. I don't feel any worse, and no better, but thankfully, I can walk for short distances and am back to cooking and light housework - something I was doubting would happen back in the dark of last winter. By the way - your different zentangles and their uses are absolutely fascinating. Love them!