Casual Portrait

"Taylor Looking for Hermit Crabs"

This is a little 8x10 "slice of life" portrait I did of my neice at my painting night on Tuesday at my mom's. I took the reference photo at Sand Island last year on a day trip and picnic. Taylor is looking for hermit crabs for a large collection she amassed that day. She is the type of girl that doesn't mind picking up little creatures - she loves frogs and turtles, too. With an older brother and two boy cousins in the neighborhood, she can hang with the best of 'em!

I was planning on taking it in the the studio and using my little brushes to add in some more detail - but my husband says he likes it the way it is.

LODA Artwalk

LODA Artwalk was a lot of fun and there were a more people out and about than I had expected. I guess it's the cool October weather! There was some good art and nice live music at Cathedral Square Gallery, wonderful botanical artwork at Chesser Gallery (in conjunction with the Botanical Gardens plant sale this weekend) and a live painting instruction in Cathedral Square to benefit Penelope House. Of course, Dauphin Realty had a nice "spread" of wine and cheese and rolled out the red carpet for all of us artists participating in their venue. My table was well received and there was quite a buzz regarding my mixed media peices. Both works on antique tin ceiling tiles (above) sold with an order for another "oyster". Everyone loved the redfish as well. "Canoes" on canvas also sold, with a commission for a larger abstract piece. So, all in all it was a great night. Come out next month and enjoy the festivities.

I have just completed 7 new large fish on canvas, a few mixed media pieces as well as several other small works on canvas. I have posted most of them on my website www.southernoilportraits.com. Click on Portfolio and then "Rabbit Creek Studios". I am trying to get organized to take it all to LODA in downtown Mobile tomorrow night.

Lyon's Share Gallery

We've just been added to Lyon's Share Gallery's website. Check it out!

http://lyonssharegallery.net/artists/about/jennifer-allen

Working Hard

I haven't posted anything in a while but I have been working hard! I finished this gorgeous portrait and more fish than I can download right now to this blog. Don't you love the snapper?? Some of these are going to Lyon's Share, some to Templeton Gallery and some to my studio stock.

Also, I will be displaying some artwork at LODA on October 10th, so I am going to be painting a lot getting some small and medium size pieces (mixed media and canvas work) ready for that. I will call it an "open studio" sale - there will be old and new works available at good prices. The display is going to be in the Dauphin Realty Office at 410 Dauphin Street (Mattress Factory Condos). These are really rustic, studio condominiums for true downtown living. Check it out, if you can! Other fall venues are posted on my website www.southernoilportraits.com

Painting A Day - 3 oysters on Tin

"3 Oysters on Tin"

I didn't quite finish my "painting a day" today - I was working on an 8x10 of a pier on the bay - so I am posting this instead since I finished it today as well. It's three oysters, cut out of tin and hand painted. I used real shells for the shapes and colors. I mounted it on an antique tin ceiling tile. I love any type of antique architectural element! These ceiling tiles are from a retail store from 1895. Great "peely paint" adds to the rustic oysters. This could sit on a small easel/plate stand or could be hung on the wall. Was rainy today so I had to take this photo inside. It's a little dark but I think you can see the colors well enough.

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Website: http://www.southernoilportraits.com/

Daily Painting - Okra

"Okra" 5x7 Oil on Canvas

I think I have a mild obsession with okra. I did not grow up eating it because my mom did not cook it for our family. I don't know if that's because I wouldn't have eaten it (picky) or because her parents came from Texas and California and they didn't fix it for her. Regardless, when I started eating it a few years ago, I found I love it! Fried, in gumbo, or stewed with onion, tomato and fresh corn - Yum! I've even been know to eat it raw when chopping it up. Maybe it has some vitamin in it that I lack? I've been wanting to paint okra for a while, so I stopped in at Jimmy Lowe's and bought some. My grandmother over in Elberta grows it, and maybe I should plant some, too.

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My website: http://www.southernoilportraits.com/