Rosebud | Oil Painting

Rosebud
6 x 4 inches, oil on panel
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It's a Race | Wild Horses | Dewey, Arizona

It's a Race!

8 x 24 inches, oil on panel

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People are always telling me my paintings remind them of Maynard Dixon and this painting was inspired by his work for sure. Sometimes I like to see how close I can come to using a color scheme or composition of his but make it my own.

Perfection | White Rose | Oil Painting

Perfection

10 x 12 inches, oil on panel

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The Holy Grail | Pear | Oil Painting

The Holy Grail

5 x 7 inches, oil on panel

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It's Time for Small Paintings! | Pear | Oil Painting

Glorious Imperfection

5 x 7 inches, oil on panel

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This little pear measures 8 x 10 inches with it's crazy little frame which needs another frame if it is ever going to hang on a wall. For now it's happily sitting on my shelf and it's my fave!

Shelby and Ashley

Shelby and Ashley
34 x 34, oil, commissioned portrait
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Scheherazade

Scheherazade
48 x 36 inches, oil on linen, $7400
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Just in case some of you are wondering about the meaning of the title, Scheherazade, there is a ancient story about a Persian princess who was captured by a king who killed his wives after spending one night with them. Knowing her fate, she told the king a story and when he wanted to hear another, it was time for her to go. This was sad because the next story was more exciting than the first and so the king did not kill her and 1001 tales later, Scheherazade was the love of the king's life.

I know some of you are wondering if I'm painting but these big paintings take time! Not only have I been painting but I decided to learn a thing or two about flash for web design. Some people teach painting to keep fresh but I love working on the computer -I love how Shasta's website turned out - www.picassodog.com

After blogging for about two years, I find that many people still would prefer a website so check out my new and improved website- www.marciamolnar.com

All the best, I hope you all are having a lovely summer!

Val Pankov's Trip to Valparaiso, Chile

CHILE - Valparaiso

Valparaiso, Chile -

Sep 1, 2007
by Valeryan

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Val Pankov (my daughter Shasta's boyfriend) has just sent me a slideshow of his trip to Valparaiso, Chile. He went to ski but you will see he loved being in the city as well. He shares the narrow streets where graffiti transcends to high art and the everyday activities of the people who live there.

I know there are many of you who will love this as much as I did, thanks Val!

Wild Blue Yonder

Wild Blue Yonder
34 x 56 inches, oil on linen, $8500
available at Legacy Contemporary
click on image to enlarge

Finally! I have finished a painting after all these months. I hope to be finishing a few more this month so stayed tuned.

It's Sunday, Father's Day, and I'm missing my dad and Tim Russert. One of my favorite things to do is get up on Sunday morning, (George likes to sleep in) make myself a cup of coffee and Meet the Press.

Here is a picture of my studio. I sometimes take pictures of my work in progress and I had moved my TV temporarily to a chair and guess who is on?

Grilling someone mercilessly, I suspect. Another thing I suspect - I won't be the only one missing Tim Russert.

Sunset Serenade

Sunset Serenade
48 x 48 inches, oil on linen, $9800
available at Legacy Contemporary
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Saguaros and sun with a little moonlight mixed in, what could be better than that?

Portrait of Elizabeth

Elizabeth
18 x 12, oil on panel
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Elizabeth is my niece and almost a real fairy! I wanted to give her gossamer wings but I didn't think my sister would get it.

A portrait demands more than spontaneous brush work. Trying to get a likeness is such a tricky thing, overwork it and the painting looses it's spirit but not enough attention to detail and it's missing a good likeness.

I have two important goals, please my client and capture not only a physical likeness but a spiritual one. Lofty, I know, but this one was pretty easy, not much quess work since I see her often and know her well.

Sweetest Face

Sweetest Face
9 x 12, oil on linen, $1200
available at Legacy Contemporary
click on image to enlarge

Well, got nothin' else goin' tonight so I thought I'd post one last painting for 2007.

Happy New Year everybody!

Fascination

Fascination
10 x 12 inches, oil on panel, $1300
click on image to enlarge
available at Legacy Contemporary

I called this painting "Fascination" because I just can't get enough of it. It started with a painting for my daughter - "A Rose for Shasta" but that was about finding great colors to go on turquoise. Then I wanted to showcase the rose itself and usually I would be ready to move on. But no. I have to paint this again, there is more to say.

You may have noticed the change in my blog design. My thanks goes out to Cynthia at Colorado Art Studio for getting me started. She was brave enough to tackle her blog design with great results so I took a peek at her code and viola- three columns instead of two!

Settlers West Galleries, The American Miniature Show, February 9, 2008

Pasa Doble
9 x 12 inches, oil on linen
sold at Settlers West Galleries, The American Miniature Show, February 9, 2008
click on image to enlarge

I've been really happy with my little paintings of roses. I think next year I will enlarge some of my favorites to sizes like 36 x 48 inches.

I was tagged last night by Joan DaGradi who was tagged by Don Gray. I've never been tagged before but it was delightful to visit their sites and the sites of the artists they tagged. How this works is- I'm supposed to list 5 little known facts about myself and tag five other artists, linking to their websites. So here it goes.

1. I am a computer geek, I know more than my kids and I like to help people. I like writing code, SEO, designing sites for everyone in my family and helping my neighbors. Recently I got www.terrytiles.com up and going. I love David's work and it was a pleasure to help him with his business online.
2. I am ranked 22 on www.solitairecraving.com as I am addicted to playing every day.
3. I am dyslexic.
4. I don't wear much jewelry or ever make anything but I love, love, love to play with beads.
5. Almost all the chocolate I've ever eaten in my life has been in hiding, trying not to get caught by George. It adds a little adrenalin rush to the high of the pure, dark chocolate experience. lol

Many of the artists blogs I visit have already been tagged so I will try to tag artists I don't think have been tagged, who are friends of mine or related to me.

1. Shasta Molnar, daughter
   
2. Tim Schmidt, brother
   
3. Lynne Oakes
4. Rafe Terry
5. Pablo Villicana Lara
   

Somewhere in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Winter's Warmth
24 x 8 inches, oil on panel
click on image to enlarge

People always want to know if I work en plein air. The answer is - no. I don't know how people do it. How does one narrow it down to one little composition when there is a whole sky and all that land and then try to match the colors on a palette precariously perched on some spindly little easel? They have to be so passionate about painting they forget about the freezing cold or the heat with the bugs, ants and snakes. The whole thing is mind boggling.

I just want to be happy so I take pictures. I go for walks and in general spend a lot of time outside in the morning and late afternoon. I study the light and try to remember not only the color but the feel of the air on my face, the sound of the wind in my ears, sometimes it's so intense I think color has a musical sound. I know, kind of weird, but that's the way it works in my head.

I started with this photo and added the colors from my afternoon walks with Rocky and George. This is our favorite time of the day.