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I am just about to send my very first Newsletter (ever) & have a great list of people who have been following my “artistic cause” .  I will be sending Newsletters four times a year & occasional emails.  I use my daily blog for the day-to-day stuff & to highlight new paintings or anything going on in my art world. 

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Thanks you

Lori Rae

Painting my latest commission outside

This weekend I had the rare opportunity of painting outside.  I say this because here in Maine, we have had at least a month of bad weather, weekends included.  I am working on a 30×30 commission & I hadn’t started it yet.  With some of the nicer weather that we had on Saturday, I was able to set up outside (I like the driveway better than the lawn actually) – with Stella on her run close by & Rich working on a project himself.  I didn’t know how I would like it, I’m not a plein air painter, and even so – I’m actually a little shy when it comes to people watching me paint.  Our yard is private accept for the neighbors that our driveways connect with.  So, I did end up having some spectators off and on, including my neighbors little guy who is over 2 plus. I started by working out my background, the commission is a Fleur Di’ Lis for my sister-in-law from New Orleans.  I wanted the background to be as interesting as the painting but to compliment, not compete.  I used rich purples, maroons, and dark blues in wide brush strokes.  The effect was very cool.  I like to normally let the paint truly dry to move on, and the sky was darkening, so I packed my work up for that day.  Sunday, wow, what a day! I enjoyed my morning and resumed my outdoor painting position outside.  I freehanded the coat of arms (because that’s just how I work) – but it wasn’t without lots of measuring, almost graphing out placement, and constantly checking and rechecking my sketch for it’s symmetrical self.  Once I drew on my canvas with very dry paint, I was able to see the composition. Stopping, starting, and stepping back I was slowly making progress that was positive.  After a lunch break, I decided to start applying color to the Fleur Di’ Lis & it really started to come to life. Finally, I laid gold lightly fan-brushed over the rich colors, which gives the whole piece a very antiquated feel to it. So how did I like painting outside?  It was really great, I will do this again.  It’s not that I don’t love my studio; it’s just that my body has been lacking some vitamin D, and there is nothing like seeing your work in “natural” light!  I may touch up a few spots inside, but I think it’s ready to be signed, sealed and delivered.  I’ll post it after my customer (sister-in-law Becky) sees it.