Audra's Oil Paintings

Ugallery Sale! 20% Off!

2011-12-13T12:07:00.004-06:00

Ugallery is offering 20% off all art on their website through Thursday Dec. 15! Check out my art for sale on Ugallery here. I have twelve paintings for sale right now. Remember, Ugallery ships anywhere in the world!

Commission: Cattle Egret (2011), 11 x 14"

2011-12-02T12:21:00.008-06:00

I painted this graceful bird as a commission. I decided to paint it in a more realistic style than many of my paintings, because I wanted to be sure to capture the character of the bird, not just its general shape. I am really happy with how this painting turned out--from a certain distance it looks like a photograph. Below is the original photo along with the different stages of progress.One other interesting bit about this painting is that I didn't know in the beginning what kind of bird this was. We originally thought it was a Great White Heron (a genetic variant of the Great Blue Heron), but they are pure white over their entire bodies. This bird has brownish/orangish plumage on its head, back, and chest. After doing some internet research I was able to find out that it is actually a Cattle Egret. Here are some other photos I found:
http://www.new-jersey-birds.com/2009/03/cattle-egret-breeding-plumage.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cattle_Egret_%28Bubulcus_ibis%29_-Florida_Keys.jpg

Ugallery Sale!

2011-11-28T10:17:00.002-06:00

Ugallery has a 20% off sale through Tuesday 11/29! I have twelve paintings for sale at my Ugallery site. Check out my art here:
http://www.ugallery.com/audra-ziegel

Paintings for Sale!

2011-11-08T09:53:00.003-06:00

Many of the paintings that are pictured on this blog are for sale. I have updated all the links in each post to go to current listings on Etsy and Ugallery. I also have several giclee prints for sale on Etsy as well, so check those out.

Pet Portrait Commission: Maddie the Beagle (2011), 12 x 12"

2011-10-22T11:29:00.012-05:00

I've been working the past few weeks on my latest commission. I didn't post about it earlier because the commission is actually a surprise birthday gift for the recipient! The person who commissioned the painting wanted to surprise his wife for her birthday! This painting was a special challenge, because the photo I had to paint was in black and white. I did have several other color photos for reference, which was extremely helpful. Here's the original photo:
And here is a color photo I used as reference:I did a detailed sketch as usual, and completed painting the head and body in one sitting (so cute!):
I was instructed to leave the background as nondescript as possible, and to use a palette of muted greens or browns. I decided on greens since that contrasted better with the color of the dog's fur. I used really thick paint and chunky textures, especially in the top section of the painting. I mixed five subtly different shades of green/blue-green and placed them randomly next to each other without any blending. I really love how the whole painting turned out! Here is the finished painting along with some close-ups:Check out my other pet portraits here:
Olive, the Boston Terrier
Bear, the Yellow Lab
Bun, the Mini Lop

Want to commission a pet portrait of your own? Contact me here: audraziegel@gmail.com

Salt Fork River Art Festival

2011-09-17T12:15:00.004-05:00

Come visit my booth next weekend at the Salt Fork River Art Festival at Sleepy Creek Vineyards!

Still Life with Roses (2011), 9 x 12"

2011-09-17T12:13:00.002-05:00

For sale at my etsy page.

Bluebell Forest V (2011), 8 x 10"

2011-09-05T15:33:00.004-05:00

This painting is based on a photo by Herry Lawford, found on flickr.com. Original photo can be found here. Used under a Creative Commons License.

For sale here on ugallery.com.

Mark Your Calendars--Salt Fork River Art Festival

2011-08-29T16:36:00.004-05:00

Be sure to mark you calendars for this year's Salt Fork River Art Festival! I'll be showing my paintings there again this year. Here are some details:

Where: Sleepy Creek Vineyards
8254 E 1425 North Road
Fairmount, IL 61841

When: September 24-25, 2011

Not only will there be great art, but Sleepy Creek Vineyards makes some delicious wines that you can sip while viewing the art!

Hay Bales II (2011), 6 x 12"

2011-08-25T10:58:00.007-05:00

This painting is based on a photo by David DeHetre, found on flickr.com. Original photo can be found here. Used under a Creative Commons License.

For sale at my etsy page.

Recap: Downtown Festival of the Arts

2011-08-23T14:51:00.003-05:00

I had a great day at the Downtown Festival of the Arts. Not only did it not rain, but I sold seven paintings! I loved when someone told me they recognized my style and knew they had seen me at another festival. There was also someone who saw my art at the Taste of Champaign and had regretted not buying something then...she bought a painting this time! I got to hear some amazing stories of how my art touched people, and that really was the best part. :-)

Rock Island State Park, TN (2011) 8 x 8"

2011-08-22T16:41:00.004-05:00

For sale at my etsy page.

Booth location change

2011-08-16T13:09:00.004-05:00

So, my booth location has changed for the Downtown Festival this Saturday. I am now in booth number 8. You can check out a great map here on the Champaign Park District website. I've also updated my post below, with the map showing the new correct location.

Champaign Downtown Festival of the Arts

2011-08-07T11:52:00.005-05:00

The Downtown Festival of the Arts is in less than two weeks! I will have fourteen new paintings to show, including my largest painting ever! Here are the details along with a map:
Location: Downtown Champaign, Neil St.
Date: August 20, 2011
Time: 10:00am-6:00pm
I am booth number 8--come say hi!

Still Life with Zinnias (2011), 9 x 12"

2011-08-06T11:03:00.007-05:00

Here it is, my first ever still life! In general, I dislike still lifes because I think they are cheesy (see this post). I think it is very difficult to paint a still life with character. When I found this photo, however, I was immediately inspired to paint it. My favorite part are the colors--especially the flowers and the aqua table cloth. I think this painting is just pure delightfulness. I've now found several other photos that I would like to use as still life subjects. By the way, I should mention this painting is the last painting I needed to complete before the Champaign Downtown Festival of the Arts in two weeks (Aug. 20). I'm getting excited! I will post more details about my booth location when I know them.

Original photo by Carl E. Lewis, found on flickr.com. Photo used under a creative commons license.

For sale at my Ugallery page.

Field of Poppies IV (2011), 8 x 10"

2011-08-04T11:04:00.007-05:00

This painting is a larger version of an earlier painting. It is a little more detailed than the previous painting. Both are just pure joy, don't you think? I can think of nothing more cheerful than a field of poppies.

I am nearly done with all the paintings I needed to complete for the Champaign Downtown Festival of the Arts on August 20. I plan on finishing the last one today. Its subject is a bit different from what I normally paint, so check back for a post on that soon.

SOLD

Yellowstone Lake (2011), 6 x 9"

2011-08-02T15:28:00.005-05:00

SOLD

Painting the Edges

2011-08-01T12:23:00.004-05:00

I first want to announce that I sold two paintings on Etsy this weekend! I'm so excited. One of the buyers asked that I continue the painting around the edges. I've never done this before, but I was glad to agree to do it. I finished the painting this morning. I think it turned out great! Here are a couple pictures. The painting is Sequatchie Valley, TN II.

Field of Lupine (2011), 8 x 16"

2011-07-26T16:54:00.010-05:00

This painting has undergone quite a transformation. Here is a before picture:
After:
For sale at my etsy page.

Country Road (2011), 8 x 10"

2011-07-21T15:25:00.002-05:00

SOLD

Snowy Avenue (2011), 6 x 9"

2011-07-20T15:05:00.006-05:00

My first ever snow painting! It's not exactly seasonal (the heat index in Illinois is 107 degrees), but delightful nonetheless. I think I managed to incorporate just about every color of the rainbow in this painting. I love it. :-)

SOLD

Kankakee River (2011), 9 x 12"

2011-07-09T16:52:00.006-05:00

SOLD

Early Spring at the Arboretum II (2011), 8 x 10"

2011-07-07T12:31:00.007-05:00

This painting is a small version of an earlier painting. It has less texture than I sometimes use, which was necessitated by the amount of detail in the painting and its small size.

I started another painting yesterday of the Kankakee River (inspired by our trip to Kankakee on the fourth of July). Hopefully, I will complete it in the next few days!

For sale at my etsy page.

Bluebell Forest IV (2011), 8 x 10"

2011-06-25T14:01:00.005-05:00

This painting is based on a photo by Herry Lawford, found on flickr.com. Original photo can be found here. Used under a Creative Commons License.

Sold

Illinois Sunset (2011), 9 x 12"

2011-06-25T12:01:00.004-05:00

This painting is based on a photo I took out of my apartment window. In the original photo, the sun is setting over the apartment complex. I tried, first, to paint building silhouettes at the bottom, but my husband said the buildings looked like warehouses... so I changed them into foliage.

For sale at my etsy page.

Irises III (2011), 9 x 12"

2011-06-21T15:40:00.005-05:00

This painting is based on a photo taken by my sister at an iris farm in Nashville! I have several other iris paintings planned that are inspired by her lovely photos. After my previous irises painting was stolen (see post here) I knew I had to paint them again. They are my absolute favorite flower to paint--so colorful and dramatic!

This painting joined the Taste of Champaign show on Sunday. I wasn't originally planning on showing this piece (it wasn't totally dry yet), but I had sold so many paintings that I needed to bring some more to fill up the empty space. The Irises didn't end up selling, but many people commented to me about it. Look for it at the Downtown Festival of the Arts, August 20th!!

Taste of Champaign: Recap

2011-06-21T15:25:00.006-05:00

The Taste of Champaign was last weekend and was a decided success. The rain held off (mostly) for the whole three days of the show and I sold eight paintings! It was great fun, as usual, to talk with people about my art and to hear their comments and thoughts about it. I received so many thoughtful compliments--it's really a great feeling to know people appreciate my art since so much of my time is spent painting at home, obsessing over small details in my paintings. It's just reassuring to know I am able to bring people happiness through my art. Here are some shots of my booth:One thing I noticed was that paintings with "local" subjects sold better than those, say, of Wyoming or Tennessee. I will be keeping this in mind as I prepare for the Champaign Downtown Festival of the Arts in August. I would like to complete another 12 canvases before then!! I had better get painting soon!

For those of you who would like to join my facebook fan page, here is a link:
https://www.facebook.com/audrasoilpaintings

Taste of Champaign

2011-06-08T11:54:00.005-05:00

The Taste of Champaign is just over a week away! I will have my own booth this year where I will be selling my paintings. I will have 29 paintings for sale in a large variety of sizes (from 2.5 x 3in. to 18 x 24in.), plus the portrait of Olive will be on display! Here is some general info about location and times:

Location:
West Side Park, Downtown Champaign, IL
Dates:
June 17-19th
Times:
Friday, June 17-5:00-10:00pm
Saturday, June 18 -11:00am-10:00pm
Sunday, June 19-11:00am-6:00pm
*Note: Artists are permitted to pack up early each night because of lack of lighting. Art booths may start closing as early as 8:30pm Friday and Saturday.

Below is a map of the layout of the park. My booth is number 8 (circled and highlighted in yellow).

Peony Garden, Allerton Park, Monticello, IL, 8 x 16"

2011-05-20T15:35:00.003-05:00

I'm finally back to painting, after a week of mostly cloudy skies in Illinois. I only paint on days that are sunny, because my apartment is too dark otherwise. My latest painting is another local scene--I'm hoping it will sell next month at the Taste of Champaign! I'll be posting more info about the Taste of Champaign as soon as I know my booth location. Some general info:
Location:
West Side Park, Downtown Champaign, IL
Dates:
June 17-19th
Times:
Friday, June 17-5:00-10:00pm
Saturday, June 18 -11:00am-10:00pm
Sunday, June 19-11:00am-6:00pm

This painting is sold!

Article Feature!

2011-05-18T09:57:00.003-05:00

An article about my art has been featured on the website emptyeasel.com. It is a whole mini-critique and description of my art--I am very flattered! Here is a link to the article.

Woodland Phlox, Lake of the Woods Park, 8 x 10"

2011-05-13T13:33:00.005-05:00

Last weekend we visited Lake of the Woods forest preserve in Mahomet, IL. The wildflowers were in full bloom! I took a ton of great pictures--many of which I hope to paint. Here's a pic of me photographing some purple trillium.This painting is sold!

Goldenrod and Wild Sunflowers, Middle Fork River Forest Preserve (2011), 9 x 12

2011-05-09T14:57:00.003-05:00

Sold!

Garden Path at the Arboretum (2011), 5 x 7"

2011-05-04T15:23:00.003-05:00

Close-ups:
I recently took some great pictures at the arboretum on the U of Illinois campus that I thought would make great paintings. I'm trying to find more inspiration where I live.

SOLD

Sunny Day at the Arboretum II (2011), 6 x 9"

2011-05-03T12:04:00.002-05:00

Sold!

Wyoming Countryside (2011), 6 x 8"

2011-04-28T14:42:00.004-05:00

I think this is the last Wyoming painting for now. Up next are another Bee Rock painting, two of the arboretum, and a really unusually shaped one of the Sea of Galilee. Stay tuned!

Sold

Sequatchie Valley, TN II (2011), 6 x 12"

2011-04-24T13:15:00.006-05:00

Check out this wikipedia article about the Sequatchie Valley in Tennessee. It is quite a pronounced geological feature and looks awesome from space!

Sold!

Sequatchie Valley, TN (2011), 9 x 12"

2011-04-23T11:44:00.003-05:00

I love this painting so much, I think I am going to keep this one too. I am planning, though, to paint this subject again on a 6 x 12 canvas. I already have it sketched--it will be more of a panoramic view of this beautiful valley.

Red-Winged Blackbird (2011), 12 x 12"

2011-04-19T13:47:00.004-05:00

I can't decide if this painting is too "folksy." Is it possible to paint a bird and have it not be folksy? I'm not sure. But, I like the texture of the tree and the varied tones I added to the sky. Those features give this painting more interest than it might have otherwise.

For sale at my Ugallery page.

Field of Poppies III (2011), 8 x 10 in.

2011-04-17T12:07:00.004-05:00

Back by popular demand... Everybody loves my poppy fields. Unfortunately, there are no fields of poppies in Illinois (that I know of), so I have to acquire photos from internet sources. I found the reference photo for this painting on flickr.com. It was taken by Jon Connell--here is a link to his flickr page. Used under a creative commons license.

Sold!

Two new paintings!

2011-04-14T11:31:00.007-05:00

Yesterday was a very productive day and I was able to complete two small paintings, both 6 x 9 in. The first is based on a photo taken at Shaker Village in Canterbury, NH, when I was there for a friend's wedding last July. The second painting is yet another Wyoming-inspired work. This particular painting turned out a bit more abstract than I had planned. Though, the original photo did look like it was taken on Mars (except for the foliage)!
"Wyoming" is for sale at my etsy page.

Butte with Sagegrass (2011), 8 x 16"

2011-04-13T10:54:00.005-05:00

Here is another Wyoming painting. Maybe I should call these paintings the "honeymoon series." :-) I'm pretty sure this is my favorite painting of all I have done to date. I feel like this painting actually emits light! This is something I have been striving to achieve for a while, and here it works perfectly! I can feel the bright sunny day on which the original photo was taken when I look at this painting.

I haven't decided yet if I am going to sell this one. I am preparing to have a booth at the Taste of Champaign in June and am trying to complete at least another ten paintings before then. Generally, if I know I am going to sell a painting, I try not to get too attached to it. But this painting is different--how do you price a painting that evokes a priceless memory?

Ugallery Ships Internationally!

2011-04-11T19:01:00.002-05:00

For all my international blog readers, I thought you should be aware that Ugallery ships artwork internationally! So, if you are interested in any of my paintings listed on Ugallery, they can be shipped anywhere in the world! Visit my Ugallery site here.

Ocean Waves (2011), 6 x 9"

2011-04-11T12:45:00.007-05:00

I think it is really difficult to paint a beach scene without it being cheesy or cliche. I feel the same way about sunsets and still-lifes with flowers. So, I can't decide if I like this painting. I painted the sky three separate times--the first time it was definitely cheesy, and the second time it didn't have enough interesting details. Finally, I added some big, fluffy clouds. Below are pictures of the sky in its three versions. I think I definitely reduced the "cheese" factor. For sale at my etsy page.

Shoshone River, Cody, Wyoming (2011), 9 x 12"

2011-04-08T11:46:00.006-05:00

Based on another photo from my Wyoming honeymoon trip. I have at least two other paintings planned based on these photos. I am loving painting the unique rock formations and colors of the West!

Red Poppies (2011), 8 x 10"

2011-04-05T11:14:00.007-05:00

Some close-ups:
SOLD

"Scenic Area" (Wyoming), 2011, 9 x 12"

2011-04-03T11:48:00.007-05:00

This painting is based on a photo I took in Wyoming on my honeymoon in 2006. :-) I've been looking over those photos recently and have found several more that would work perfectly as paintings.

For sale on Ugallery.com.

The Watchman, Zion National Park (2011), 30 x 40"

2011-04-01T12:00:00.008-05:00

This painting was a challenge! Not only is it my largest painting to date, but I significantly altered the color scheme of the original photo. I generally do not attempt to change anything in my source photos--especially not the light source--because I have found that the result is a painting that does not make visual sense. But in this case, the original photo appeared to have been taken on a dark, overcast day and there was no obvious direction to the light. I had already sketched and painted part of the painting when I decided that the original photo was not ideal--thus, I attempted to make some alterations. Here is the original photo (found on flickr.com and used under a creative commons license--original photo by Stuart Seeger):First, I determined that I wanted the light to be coming from the right side of the painting. So, I had to decide which faces of the mountains would be reflecting the light and which would be in shadow; also if there would be any cast shadows. I sketched the shadow pattern onto a sheet of paper and used it as a reference as I painted. I basically painted the canvas from the top down, starting with the sky, then the mountains, then then the trees, etc. I had to scrape the mountains off several times before I got the color scheme right. You can see evidence of this here (diagonal ridges) where I (unintentionally) let a layer of paint dry that wasn't completely flat:
I kind of like the effect, though, because it fits the rough texture of the rocky cliff face.

I think the end result is pretty successful. I really like the colors, especially on the mountains (see above photo). Looking back , I would have picked a different photo that had a good, interesting light source to begin with. It is hard to appreciate the details of the painting in such small photos, so here are some more close-ups:For sale at my Ugallery page.

Fog in the Woods (2011), 8 x 10 in.

2011-03-30T16:57:00.006-05:00

Based on a photo taken by my sister, behind her apartment in Wisconsin.

SOLD

View From Bee Rock, Monterey, TN (2011), 8 x 10"

2011-03-29T15:14:00.006-05:00

Here's a link to my previous Bee Rock Painting. This painting is the view facing the other direction.

For sale at my etsy page.

Lower Falls, Hocking Hills State Park (2011), 6 x 9"

2011-03-25T14:59:00.009-05:00

Based on a photo I took at Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio.

For sale at my etsy page.

PAINTINGS STOLEN!

2011-03-24T14:01:00.005-05:00

I just found out that three of my paintings were stolen out of my Sight Specific window display in downtown Champaign. No one knows exactly when the paintings were stolen--probably sometime during the last week. The two missing paintings are Burgess Falls, Irises II, and Hillside with Wildflowers. I am totally shocked that someone would want to steal my paintings, but am very relieved that the paintings were insured for their full value. Please contact me if you see these paintings somewhere.

Upper Waterloo Falls, TN (2011), 8 x 8"

2011-03-17T14:17:00.005-05:00

My latest effort working with light and shadow. This painting is based on a photo I took at Waterloo Falls, just north of Cookeville, TN. Here is a little info about this location.

I am currently working on a large (30 x 40 in.) painting and hope to be done in a week or two!

SOLD

Changes

2011-03-11T10:13:00.007-06:00

I've been reading several books recently on the use of color and how color affects the perception of depth in a painting. After reading these books I became greatly dissatisfied with a recent painting, Field of Tulips; one which depends on there being a sense of depth in the painting. So...I made some changes. I don't generally make such significant changes to my paintings after they are finished, but I wanted to see what I could do with my new-found knowledge. I think the resulting changes convey depth better than before. (note: I only made changes to the top 2/3 of the painting.) Here are the before and after pictures:For sale at my Ugallery page.

Ugallery site

2011-03-10T11:55:00.002-06:00

I am excited to announce that some of my larger paintings are now being sold on Ugallery.com. Ugallery is a hip online gallery that exclusively deals in fine art and photography. Unlike Etsy, I had to apply to be a part of Ugallery and was thrilled to be chosen as one of their new artists! I will continue to sell smaller works on my etsy site. However, I will now be selling my larger works through Ugallery. Here is a link to my portfolio page.

Sunny Day at the Arboretum (2011), 8 x 10"

2011-03-08T13:28:00.003-06:00

SOLD

Hay Bales (2011), 8 x 10"

2011-02-17T09:39:00.008-06:00

I have been wanting to paint hay bales for a long time. Maybe it is because I live in farm country and they are ubiquitous to the landscape, or maybe it is because I just love their shape. I was experimenting with the rather fantastical/impressionistic color palette I used. I've not yet decided if I think it works... However, I do like how it looks when framed.

SOLD

Art of Day feature!

2011-02-11T09:38:00.002-06:00

I am very excited to announce that my art has been featured on the Art of Day blog!!! Click the box below to visit the article!

Pet Portrait: Olive (2011), 11 x 14 in.

2011-02-09T11:16:00.018-06:00

I am finally ready to write a post about my latest painting, a portrait of my dog Olive. I was waiting to post until I was finished with the painting so I could describe each step of the process with photos.

I approach portraits differently than other subjects. For the portrait of Olive I needed to find just the right photo. This is a photo I had taken several months ago, when she was basically full grown (she just turned one!). I didn't originally intend to do a painting of this photo (I didn't stage it for a painting), so there are areas that do not work perfectly for a painting, but I like Olive's pose, the color of the chair, and the fact that she is sitting with two of her favorite toys.The first step in painting a portrait is to crop the photo to the correct proportions and add graph lines to the photo:I draw the same graph lines on my canvas and then sketch the figure. The graph helps me to get the proportions of the figure right. This is extremely important when painting a portrait because the painting needs to look exactly like the subject. It can't just look like any old Boston Terrier (or whatever pet I'm painting), it has to look like my pet--personality and all. So, the sketch is crucial.
Still using the reference photo, I paint the head first, because if the head/face isn't right there is no point in working on the rest of the painting. Plus, it is the hardest part, so it feels good to get it done and over with. I painted Olive's head in one sitting--maybe 2.5 hrs. I was extremely pleased with how it turned out and it made me excited to continue with the painting. I really felt like Olive was staring back at me from the canvas.The next day I painted the body. The coloration and light-reflectiveness of her fur was a challenge. Luckily my style works well for painting fur, so the texture came naturally. I especially enjoyed painting her collar and tag.
Next, I sketched the chair and the toys at her feet. The strange little woven toy was difficult to sketch......and even more difficult to paint. The purple chair turned out a little more brightly-colored than in the photo, but I think it is a nice contrast to Olive's brown fur. It's really starting to look like a painting now!After finishing this, I took another look at the background from the original photo and decided I needed to change it somehow. I brainstormed all sorts of ways to change the background, but I couldn't come up with something that would match the lighting and give the painting depth. I finally found a photo of the book cases in our living room and "photoshopped" a piece of it into the background. I like it!The last step was to paint the books...
...and the details on the books.Want to commission a pet portrait of your own? Contact me here.

Field of Tulips (2011), 9 x 12"

2011-01-26T11:33:00.011-06:00

My newest painting contains the first building I have ever painted. It is only about one square inch in size, but it is there. If you click on the photo you can zoom in to see its tiny details.
I've noticed recently that many of my paintings fall into one of two themes: "Field of ____" and "____ Sunset." You'll notice that the painting in the previous post falls into the latter theme. I really enjoy painting both of these subjects, because there are endless variations of these themes. I also like the idea of a collection of paintings that are all similar in some way. Below is a collection of my "Field" paintings. I included the "Hillside with Wildflowers" (bottom right) because it essentially is a painting of a field of wildflowers.Here is a collage of some of my sunset paintings:

Twilight Sunset (2011), 6 x 12"

2011-01-16T12:53:00.007-06:00

SOLD

Sight Specific Display

2011-01-13T19:29:00.005-06:00

My Sight Specific display is up now is downtown Champaign (10 E. Main St.--location of old Wind Water and Light Gallery) and looks awesome. Here are some photos:

Two Miniatures

2011-01-12T14:06:00.006-06:00

I have completed two miniature paintings of poppies. Both paintings are painted on 2.5 x 3 in. pieces of glass and will be sold framed (as shown). These adorable little paintings are perfect for displaying on a tabletop, desk, mantle, or bookshelf.
For sale at my my etsy page at www.audrasoilpaintings.etsy.com.

Pink Poppy is based on a photo by "bitmask" found on flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hvc/2542773015/
Used under a creative commons license.

Sight Specific Display

2010-12-16T09:54:00.002-06:00

My Sight Specific display window will be installed in downtown Champaign sometime next week! The location will be 10 East Main St. (across from Merry Ann's Diner) in Champaign. For those of you that know Champaign, this was the location of the Wind Water and Light art gallery before it moved to Urbana. I won't be able to post pictures until after the new year, but I think the display should run for at least six weeks. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Indi Go Gallery Holiday Show

2010-12-07T17:46:00.008-06:00

Here are some pictures of my display at the Indi Go Gallery's holiday show. Follow this link for more photos from the show.
Check it out! Open hours: M-F 2-7:00pm, Sat-Sun 12-7:00pm.
Address: 9 E. University Ave., downtown Champaign, IL

Sight Specific Display

2010-12-03T12:27:00.002-06:00

I was recently chosen to be a part of the Sight Specific project in downtown Champaign! The Sight Specific project puts on rotating storefront exhibits throughout the year in locations around downtown Champaign. I am super excited to get my own display! My exhibit will start next week, location TBA...

Gicleé Prints!

2010-11-30T11:27:00.002-06:00

Sold my first giclee print on Sunday. I picked it up from the print shop today and it looks awesome! :-)

Prices for my prints range from $35-$45. The detail of these prints is fantastic and the image captures the texture of the original painting perfectly! Check out the prints I have for sale at my etsy shop. Prints make great Christmas gifts and are an affordable alternative to an original oil painting! Contact me if there is a painting you would like a print of and don't see it listed on etsy.

Holiday Art Show at Indi Go Gallery

2010-11-28T14:01:00.004-06:00

I'll be selling some of my paintings at the Indi Go Gallery's holiday art show Dec. 7-21! This show includes eight artists who specialize in different mediums--painting, jewelery, photography, fiber, and graphic arts. The opening reception is Friday, December 10, from 6-8pm. Open hours will be 2-7pm M-F, and 12-7pm Sat-Sun. Come check it out!

Sunset over the Mountains (2010), 8 x 8"

2010-11-03T16:38:00.014-05:00

I've been having real trouble lately finding a photo I am inspired to paint. Since I am only painting small canvases right now, I am finding that possible subjects are rather limited. I have so many photos I'd like to paint, but they would require larger canvases. Large paintings are hard to sell, therefore I am limiting myself to painting tiny things for the time being. Anyway, I already have a whole stack of larger sized paintings waiting to be sold. Such a dilemma. I am wanting to complete a few more small paintings before the end of November so they are dry and ready to sell for the holidays. I should mention that people love the bigger paintings, they just don't want to spend more than $100...

The painting below is based on a photo that inspired me because of the unique sky.
SOLD!

Hillside with Wildflowers II (2010), 5 x 7"

2010-10-26T12:14:00.007-05:00

SOLD!

Based on a photo by Marlin Harms found on flickr.com.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marlinharms/4479737002/
Used under a creative commons license.

Hillside with Wildflowers (2010), 5 x 7"

2010-10-18T12:25:00.006-05:00

THIS PAINTING HAS BEEN STOLEN. Please contact me if you see it anywhere.

Based on a photo by "Athena's Pix" found on flickr.com. Original photo found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23045224@N04/3085724318/in/set-72157622267627156/
Used under a creative commons license.

Two Miniatures: Field of Poppies II, and Bluebell Forest III

2010-09-30T16:01:00.013-05:00

I completed two 4 x 6 inch miniature paintings today. This super-small size is new for me and I find it charming!
Both paintings are SOLD!

Bluebell Forest III is based on a photo by Herry Lawford found on flickr.com. Original photo found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/3476179510/
Used under a creative commons license.

Salt Fork River Art Festival: Recap

2010-09-28T14:58:00.006-05:00

I had a booth at the Salt Fork River Art Festival this past weekend. This time it was a two day event. Saturday turned out to be a perfect fall day--sunny and cool. I sold four paintings Saturday! Sunday was quite chilly and fewer people came out to see the art, however I sold one additional painting. I've still had no success selling my giclee prints, which is a bit disappointing. I think people really want to have something to take home with them instead of having to bother with placing an order. For future events I will probably just sell whatever prints I have instead of trying to take orders.
Olive came Sunday and we kept each other warm!

Commission: Bear, the yellow lab (2010), 16 x 20"

2010-09-21T11:27:00.012-05:00

Yesterday I finished work on a commission--a portrait of a yellow Labrador. This painting was fun to work on since I don't frequently paint animals. I tackled this subject a little differently than I do my landscapes. I spent a large amount of time graphing and sketching this painting. Since this is a portrait and not just a painting of a random dog, it was important to get the proportions as close to the original photo as possible. I was especially careful to match the colors of the fur. The most tedious part of this painting turned out to be the bed of impatients behind the dog. It took a long time to place all the little flowers and leaves (and mix like ten different shades of green paint) in a way that looks natural.

Interested in commissioning a pet portrait of your own? Contact me with any ideas at audraziegel@gmail.com

Article Feature

2010-09-20T22:38:00.002-05:00

One of my paintings is featured in an article about autumn on the blog www.indiesmiles.com.
The article can be found here:
http://www.indiesmiles.com/a-luscious-splash-of-autumns-rainbow/

Thanks to LindaGJ for including my painting!

Salt Fork River Art Festival at Sleepy Creek Vineyards

2010-09-15T16:56:00.005-05:00

I'm getting ready for my next art festival! I have eight new paintings to show (they're all posted on the blog). It will take place at Sleepy Creek V ineyards in Fairmount, IL, about a half hour drive from Urbana. Here are the dates and times:

Sept. 25, Saturday
10am-7pm

Sept. 26, Sunday
11am-4pm

Address:
Sleepy Creek Vineyards
8254 E 1425 North Road
Fairmount, IL 61841
(here are some directions)

Hope to see you there!

Facebook page!

2010-09-08T12:59:00.004-05:00

Become a fan of Audra's Oil Paintings on Facebook! Click the "like" button on the right hand side of this page, or visit my facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/audrasoilpaintings

Pink Rose II (2010), 9 x 12"

2010-09-03T15:04:00.015-05:00

Based on how popular my other pink rose painting was at the Downtown Festival of the Arts, I decided to paint another smaller (i.e. more affordable) pink rose. Seems as though roses are becoming somewhat of a specialty for me. They are not my favorite subject to paint, but I love how 3-dimensional they look on the canvas. My rose paintings are some of my best, I think.

I also think it is interesting to compare this recent painting with my very first rose painting. My technique has developed quite a bit; the petals are now more distinct--the whole image is more "in focus"-- and the brush strokes better convey depth in the painting.

For sale at my etsy page. Also available as a gicleé print--contact me.

This painting is based on a photo found on flickr.com and used under a Creative Commons Licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/). The photographer audreyjm529 has an entire album of amazing rose photos here.

Bluebell Forest II (2010), 6 x 12"

2010-09-01T11:39:00.011-05:00

SOLD!

Available as a gicleé print--visit my etsy page.

This painting is based on a photo by Hardo Muller found on flickr.com. The original photo can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hardo/3484789416/
Used under a creative commons license.

Mountainside in Autumn (2010), 8 x 10"

2010-09-01T11:38:00.013-05:00

SOLD!

Commission: Yellow Roses (2010), 16 x 20"

2010-08-30T15:58:00.008-05:00

This is a commissioned painting I completed back in March. The painting was an anniversary gift and the couple wanted it to feature yellow roses which were their wedding flower. I found the subject of yellow roses to be exceedingly difficult to paint! Yellow is such tricky color to work with, because the shadows so easily turn into a muddy brown color. Several times I had to scrape off a section of this painting because I felt it was turning into a brown rose painting. I'm convinced in the end they look like yellow roses. I also like the perspective of this painting--peering down at a bouquet. It captures all the intricate layering and depth of these beautiful flowers.

In action:

Field of Grass (2010), 8 x 10"

2010-08-27T16:13:00.009-05:00

SOLD!

Available as a gicleé print--visit my etsy page.

Partially based on a photo found on flickr.com by Miss Baker. Original photo found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11984793@N05/2621398477/in/set-72157604787740668/
Used under a creative commons license.

Apple Orchard (2010), 8 x 10"

2010-08-26T15:19:00.013-05:00

I'm really in to apple trees right now. I love their form and I love the color of both the blossoms and the fruit.

SOLD!

Partially based on a photo by Liz West found on flickr.com. Photo used under a creative commons license. Original photo found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/calliope/54070471/in/set-72057594125801300/
Liz West's photostream can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/calliope/

Apple Tree I and II (2010), 9 x 12" and Fall Foliage (2010), 8 x 10"

2010-08-25T12:13:00.027-05:00

Three paintings in two days! I completed another pair of paintings, this time two apple trees (really the same apple tree in two color schemes).
I thought I needed a good fall foliage painting for the next show in September. I had been wanting to paint this particular photo for about a year. I found the original photo on flickr.com.I love this photographer's fall foliage pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/indykethdy/Photo used under a creative commons license. Original photo found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/indykethdy/2507986335/in/set-72157605419719934/

All three paintings are SOLD!

Apple Trees I and II are based on a photo by Bobosh_t found on flickr.com. Original photo can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/4520154660/
Used under a creative commons license.

Champaign Downtown Festival of the Arts: Recap

2010-08-25T11:39:00.012-05:00

The art festival was last Saturday and I am feeling much less stressed now. Despite some concerns about the weather and the set-up going smoothly, everything turned out great. The weather was perfect--by some miracle the forecast changed from 60% chance of thunderstorms to partly sunny all day! My booth set-up turned out pretty much exactly as I had planned and had a very cool look about it and I am glad to have not spent more money on a fancier set-up. The wire mesh I purchased to hang the paintings on created a very airy space and the paintings looked a little like they were floating in mid-air. The only piece of furniture in the booth was a small folding table which I placed in the middle of the tent. This created a very open, inviting space. I was pleased with this set-up and I think I will keep it the same for the next show. Check out the pictures of my booth below:The most pleasant surprise of the day was that my booth won an honorable mention award! Of the 56 artists at the festival, I was one of eight who was recognized! And, I sold five paintings...can't forget to mention that! All in all it was a huge success. I am now more aware of what sells and what people like, so next time I can be better prepared with more small paintings for sale. I did find, however, that it is the big brightly colored paintings that draw people in to the booth. The giant pink rose and the field of poppies definitely received the most compliments so I will include them in future shows for sure.

NEXT SHOW: Salt Fork River Art Festival at Sleepy Creek Vineyards in Fairmount, IL. Sept 25 and 26.
Address:
Sleepy Creek Vineyards
8254 E 1425 North Road
Fairmount, IL 61841
http://www.sleepycreekvineyards.com/

Champaign Downtown Festival of the Arts

2010-08-14T10:58:00.004-05:00

Come visit my booth at the Champaign Downtown Festival of the Arts next Saturday Aug. 21 from 10am-7pm. I am one of 56 participating artists and my booth will be located on the east side of Neil St. south of Main St. There will also be live music and artist demonstrations! See map below (I'm highlighted in yellow):

Poppy (2010), 5 x 7"

2010-08-13T15:28:00.010-05:00

This tiny painting is just the cutest. It is painted on a canvas board and will be sold in a beautiful ornate frame (since there is no way to hang it unless it is framed). It will make its debut at the Champaign Downtown Festival of the Arts on Aug. 21.

Partially based on a photo by Jenny Downing found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenny-pics/
This photo used under a creative commons license. Original photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenny-pics/468040317/sizes/l/in/set-72157604120407690/

SOLD!

Beach Grass (2010), 8 x 10"

2010-08-09T13:53:00.007-05:00

Close-ups:Based on a photo my dad took while at Catalina Island, FL.

SOLD!

Gicleé prints available!

2010-08-08T14:18:00.004-05:00

Gicleé prints of select paintings are now available! Gicleé printing is a state-of-the-art reproduction technique featuring archival ink, archival quality watercolor paper, and ultra high-resolution ink jet printing using variable sized droplets. The detail of these prints is fantastic and the image captures the texture of the original painting perfectly! See my etsy site at www.AudrasOilPaintings.etsy.com for listings.

Stargazer Lily (2010), 9 x 12"

2010-08-04T17:26:00.006-05:00

Sold!

Bluebell Forest (2010), 8 x 10"

2010-07-23T11:12:00.010-05:00

A fairytale-like scene--a forest carpeted in bluebells. I was desperately searching for a photo to paint when I unexpectedly came upon this scene. It was another one of those occasions when I began painting immediately after finding the perfect photo!

SOLD!

View my other two bluebell paintings here:
Bluebell forest II
Bluebell forest III

Indi go Gallery and the Champaign Downtown Festival of the Arts

2010-07-15T21:13:00.009-05:00

My show at the Indi go gallery is over now and I am pleased to report that I had three sales! Showing at the gallery was a wonderful experience and I got lots of positive comments and feedback from people who visited the gallery. I definitely feel very encouraged about continuing to pursue my painting career. Here's a picture of me from the artists reception July 8th.

Here's a picture of me painting during one of the closed events. Kelly's (one of the other artists) super awesome self-portrait is behind me.An album of photos from the show can be found here.

I am very excited to be participating in this year's Downtown Festival of the Arts in Champaign. I will have an outdoor booth all to myself! The festival is August 21 from 10am to 7pm. Come check out my booth--will hopefully have several new paintings to show!

Tulip Magnolias (2010), 9 x 12"

2010-07-10T16:46:00.020-05:00

Magnolias are another subject I have wanted to paint for a long time. I finally found just the right photo.

SOLD!

Partially based on a photo by Filipe Fortes found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/fortes/
Photo used under a creative commons license. Original photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fortes/3528464208/
http://fortes.com/

Tulips (2010), 10 x 20"

2010-07-03T12:42:00.006-05:00

For sale at my ugallery site.

Indi-go Art Gallery Show--"The Three Graces"

2010-06-25T13:14:00.008-05:00

Some of my paintings will be on display June 29-July 15 at the Indi-go art gallery in downtown Champaign! I will be sharing the space with two other artists (aka "The Three Graces"). The gallery will be open most days from 4-8pm with several special events planned. The official openhouse is July 8 from 6-9pm. Come check it out!

9 East University, Champaign, IL

For more information, see the Indi-go gallery's Facebook page. My poppies painting is the profile picture! Our artist statements are displayed here.

Champaign-Urbana flute lessons

2010-06-19T15:44:00.005-05:00

Check out my new flute lessons website. Here you will find information about me as a performer, music samples, and information about joining my private flute studio.

http://flutelessons.blogspot.com

Sunset (2010), 9 x 12"

2010-06-10T12:17:00.014-05:00

This is a wild sunset! Not so sure I love the color scheme, but the original photo really does look like this!

SOLD! Available as a gicleé print--visit my etsy shop.

Prairie Grass (2010), 8 x 10"

2010-06-05T17:40:00.014-05:00

Having lived in Illinois for several years, I have come to love visiting the local prairie reserve. The tall grass that sways in the breeze and the unusual wildflowers are quite beautiful. Prairie grass is a subject that I had wanted to paint for several months before I finally found the right photo. I spent a great deal of time searching the internet for a copyright-free photo that was both inspirational and compositionally fascinating. One especially important aspect is that I need to be able to visualize the finished painting when I look at the photo. I find many photos that are inspiring and have great composition, but feel are beyond my technical facility or would not translate well in my style. When I finally found the perfect photo, I painted it immediately.

I consider this painting to be one of my "spontaneous" type paintings in that there was no planning--no sketching and no photo editing--involved, and the painting was completed in one sitting. The paint was applied thickly directly onto the canvas using two small brushed and a palette knife. The finished painting turned out exactly as I had envisioned it...I love when it works that way.

SOLD!

Irises II (2010), 12 x 16"

2010-06-01T15:46:00.011-05:00

THIS PAINTING HAS BEEN STOLEN. Please contact me if you see it anywhere.One of those tedious subjects I mentioned... :-) Based on a photo taken by my sister. This painting is currently hanging in my apartment. At times it looks so real--practically like looking out a window .

Field of Ranunculus (2010), 8 x 10"

2010-05-24T17:04:00.017-05:00

I have a folder of "painting ideas" on my computer, and this painting comes from one of those photos. This was a really spontaneous painting, and finished rather quickly. I often do these small, quick-type paintings between really tedious, complicated subjects. I love how this one turned out.

SOLD!

Partially based on a photo by Erin Pettigrew found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/superfem/
Photo used under a creative commons license. Original photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/superfem/545345047/

Early Spring at the Arboretum (2010), 11 x 14"

2010-05-05T11:30:00.008-05:00

This original oil painting painting is based on a photo I took at the arboretum on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The photo was taken in the evening as the sun was setting and the light was reflecting off the white-barked sycamore trees in a fascinating way.

SOLD!