Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Wishing for a Rain Cloud - Summer Sale - Ruth Andre

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"Wishing for a Rain Cloud"
4"x4" Painted Handmade Papers, Bead, Wire on Panel
by Ruth Andre


As you know I live in the foothills of northern California. The summers are hot and dry with no or very little rain. This summer we have  not  had a single drop of rain and the fields are heavy with dried almost white grasses. I found myself feeling jealous as I spoke on the phone with a favorite aunt in Kentucky. She said the sky is grey and a big storm is coming. I remember living in the mid-west and feeling the hot temperatures drop when a storm came through. The rain was a blessed event and oh how lovely it was to see the earth soak up the falling water. I found myself wishing for a storm cloud.



Monday, August 29, 2016

Golden Hills - Summer Sale - Ruth Andre


"Golden Hills"
4"x4" Painted Papers, Embellished Rock, Gold Wire, on Panel
by Ruth Andre


I got to the studio late today. The shadows from the mountains met my view showing the golden hills that surround our small ranch. The grasses are so bleached by the sun they seem to glow. The Summer Sale will go on through September. I will be adding small collage works  here to the "A Painting Day" blog and also to the Daily Painters website. Enjoy the sale by adding a collage work to your art collection.

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Sunday, August 28, 2016

Red Door - Summer Sale - Ruth Andre




"Red Door"
4"x4" Hand Painted Papers, Metal Disk, Linen Thread on Panel
by Ruth Andre
$75 - plus shipping





I hit a slump recently and I have been finding it difficult to get myself to walk the short path to the studio. So today I thought I would challenge myself to start a series of small collage works and have them available at a Summer Sale price. The "Red Door" collage is the first of the series. Getting this little one completed got me kicked into gear and I hope to be back into the studio tomorrow so stay tuned.


Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Time Travel - Ruth Andre


"Time Travel"
6"x6" Found Papers, Painted Papers, Wire, Bottle Cap and Gold Leaf
by Ruth Andre
$150

This collage may be an entry for a coming Altered Art Show. I have never tried using found objects in a collage so it was interesting working with box paper and an old bottle cap that I found years ago and saved. I would like to compete a couple more altered works to see what finds its way to the finished work. I am enjoying the collage process very much. 




Monday, August 22, 2016

Davis Ranch View - Ruth Andre



"Davis Ranch View"
6"x8" Oil on Canvas 
by Ruth Andre
$150

Saturday I got my husband to take me to a paint out to meet plein air artists at the Davis Ranch down Hwy 88. At the moment I cannot lift, bend or twist so Tom set my pochade box and paints up for me and I was ready to paint. The Ranch sells vegetables and fruits grown on the many acres of land surrounding the store front. We were eight artist strong and took up shady spots though out the ranch. I focused on the windrow of old oaks and tall shrubs near the back of the ranch. It was really a perfect day and I chose a shady spot under the trees leading out along the road. My friend, Bruce Hancock was just across the way painting an old tractor that had a lovely rusty patina. It was a fun outing and I had the chance to meet a few new artists. It was, "A Painting Day".


Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Gold Fever - Ruth Andre



"Gold Fever"
6"x6" Mixed Media Collage
by Ruth Andre


"Gold Fever" Collage Close-Up

Today's work is a collage with hand painted papers, gold leaf, metal and stone beads plus wire. It has been exciting adding each element to complete the collage I have been told not to bend, lift or twist to help my back heal so I am working setting down and boy is that making things challenging. My distance to see the work in progress is shortened and it feels like a handicap so I have been standing after each paper or new media is added. I also take smart phone photos to give a distant view. I decided to move the composition to a more fluid mood by adding torn gold leaf and wire that floats above the collage piece. Living in Sutter Creek and seeing the remaining old and forgotten mine hoists along with vintage metal and rock buildings is a reminder of the days when gold was found in the creeks and land in the valley. Sometimes men with metal pans are seen at creek side panning for gold even today. They all hope to find their dream, Gold. 




Sunday, August 7, 2016

Just Passing Through - Ruth Andre


"Just Passing Through"
8"x6" Oil on Canvas Panel
by Ruth Andre
$125.00

Today's painting was painted on an outing just five miles from my home in Drytown, California.  Drytown is a wide spot in the road with a couple of antique shops and an old diner called the Old Well. In its day Drytown flourished with over 60 saloons and amenities for the gold rush miners. I met my friend, Bruce Hancock for the morning paint out. We picked our shade spots and went to work. When I paint plein air the memories for the day stay with me. The rush of traffic buzzing by and then the complete silence with cars coming and going. The weather was over 100 degrees but
 we had a good paintings session and headed for home before either one of us melted.
On a personal note my back has become a real problem and I may be having surgery in the next few months. I miss my studio time more than I can say.  I will keep you posted!
It has been, "A Painting Day".

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