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2013-05-16 20:04:50 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)

Ribbon Fall, 2013, oil on canvas, 24x18"       
Still painting waterfalls as the spring continues in Yosemite Valley.  It is so beautiful here and cooler days this week are very welcome!  Mosquitos -- not!  

2013-05-13 00:04:16 (6 comments, 2 reshares, 14 +1s)

Painted in Yosemite Valley, then headed up to Wawona for a change and enjoyed the fields of lupine and the meadow across from the Wawona Hotel.  So charming.  I'll photograph tonight, and share tomorrow.  Happy Mother's Day to all the giving women in your life.

2013-05-09 05:07:31 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

2013-04-28 13:08:35 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 26 +1s)

"Can You Hear Me Now?"  36x18"  oil on canvas.   
Spring in Yosemite:  breezy, dogwood flowers, full throttle waterfalls all give me the desire to paint!  Have a great Sunday!

2013-04-18 15:09:38 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

www.pennyotwell.com

2013-03-17 14:49:31 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 26 +1s)

I love painting Yosemite Fall in spring with the snowmelt rushing over the cliff.  This piece is from last year, but soon, and when this full rush appears once again, I'll head up to The Valley to do another version.  No, I do not tire of painting Yosemite icons!  They are always different -- the light, time of day, and even me.  Happy St. Patrick's Day to all!

2013-03-10 21:10:29 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 22 +1s)

Just returned from the Big South Fork National Recreation Area and the Obed Wild & Scenic River Area as an artist in residence.  It was fun being in a new landscape, with lots of history, different trees and forests, and in 12 degree weather!  I ended up taking photographs and working from them -- not my preferred style, but I chose this time to travel and be there.  Huge hardwood forests, sandstone cliffs, snow, wood ladders and stairs on trails, and a warm welcome from people who have lived their entire lives in these hills.  I am grateful for the experience to paint here but happy to be back in warmer climes!    

2013-02-19 04:42:02 (3 comments, 6 reshares, 34 +1s)

This was a demo I did this past Saturday for Yosemite Western Artists -- it's oil on canvas, Granite Memory, 18x24".  Sold.  Focus was on using transparent paint next to opaque paint that I'm finding is a knockout combination!  Have a great week.

2013-02-14 16:52:27 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 18 +1s)

Sending out HEARTFELT LOVE from Yosemite!  Have a great day!

2013-01-04 16:16:51 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 5 +1s)

Color Cliffs -- Scenes from the Sierra Nevada

2012-12-12 03:39:02 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Storm coming to the Sierra Nevada as winter shares her bounty.  

2012-12-07 20:11:08 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Winter Watercolors

2012-11-27 01:22:05 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

I seem to like to go back and forth painting large paintings, then small ones.  But very few in the middle!?  Just the way I'm going right now!  

2012-11-26 15:16:49 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 14 +1s)

A trip to the Merced Wildlife Refuge with +Michael Frye and +Claudia Welsh in the early hours was magical.  This has become a Thanksgiving ritual and I was not disappointed as this photo reveals one of the Great Blue Herons observed.  The snow geese and sandhill cranes are gathering in numbers and I am hopeful to return and paint here after the holidays.  

2012-11-05 21:30:07 (3 comments, 5 reshares, 19 +1s)

I love the fall -- the walks, the leaves, the sky and more.  So painting comes with a quiet feeling of connection with the land.  "They" say it will storm at the end of the week with snow here.  I'll continue to enjoy the day!  Hope your day is going well!

2012-10-23 16:38:08 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Just before the snow flies . . .  

2012-09-30 16:43:36 (10 comments, 5 reshares, 20 +1s)

Work done on the Eastside this fall -- the smaller pieces are simple graphic statements, the larger pieces, lots of texture and more detail.  All done in acrylic on Gessoed Bristol Board 2012.  Enjoy!  

2012-09-14 03:43:27 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

2012-09-10 19:54:39 (0 comments, 3 reshares, 10 +1s)

Art and Wine in the Sierra Foothills, October 5-7

For the first time ever I’ll be participating in Sierra Art Trails, this October 5th through 7th. Sierra Art Trails is an annual event in the Sierra foothills near Yosemite featuring wonderful local artists, including many who are nationally and internationally known. The open studios give visitors a chance to meet the artists and sometimes see demonstrations of how they produce their work.

I’ll be showing my work at Casto Oaks Fine Wine and Art in downtown Mariposa. My display will include a wide variety of images, old and new, including classic daytime landscapes, nighttime photographs, and high-key images. I’ll also have my small matted prints available, plus signed books and posters—and special prices on many items. I always enjoy meeting online friends in person, so please stop by and say hello if you’re in the area.
W... more »

2012-08-29 15:39:29 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

2012-08-19 15:06:56 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 22 +1s)

+Michael Frye took this photo of me painting in Yosemite Valley a couple of nights ago.  I had just gotten rained on, but then the sun came out.  Can you see the rainbow (it's slight) that nearly hits my head!?  It was that kind of rainbow in the head day!  I painted all day and into the evening, had a picnic dinner with these friends, all as a celebration -- my show starts today!

STONE & BRUSH, the Paintings of Penny Otwell, is up starting today at The Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Valley through September 30.  If you come up, check it out!  Reception is September 13, 3-5pm.  Painting in a new style, without much blue, and letting the drawings show through.  See www.pennyotwell.com    for a preview.  Have a great Sunday!

2012-08-14 04:58:09 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 11 +1s)

Raven Tells a Story

2012-08-05 23:36:40 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

hilarious!

2012-08-03 14:40:16 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Children are natural artists and it's fun and they don't take themselves or their art too seriously.  I love painting with them because it helps me remember the simple joy of playing with color and shapes and being "the observer."  Paint with your kids or your grandkids today!

2012-08-02 19:53:11 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 15 +1s)

I've just put a warm glaze over this painting that I posted some time ago.  It's made a rich deep surface on what was a very cool painting.  What do you think?  Title:  "Evening, Ahwahnee Meadow"  24x48", acrylic/c

2012-07-31 01:21:21 (4 comments, 6 reshares, 27 +1s)

"Snowmelt, Gaylor Basin" 2012, acrylic on canvas, 16x20"

2012-07-05 03:32:38 (8 comments, 3 reshares, 32 +1s)

I completed this piece in acrylic last year and just put a series of glazes over it in gold and one very thin layer of burnt orange.  It has more depth!  Fun experiment.  Happy 4th of July to all!

2012-07-03 05:06:04 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Painting the High Sierra, Yosemite

2012-07-02 14:54:10 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

This #flashmob  moved me very deeply.

For my friends, family + loved ones ~

Auf zu liebe
zu sonne
und zu freiheit.

And to all who happen upon this: Today, in this moment, choose happiness and joy. For yourself, and those around you.

Please tag in someone in your life/circles who you would like to share your joy of life with:)

<3 Ash

2012-06-30 18:36:41 (2 comments, 2 reshares, 16 +1s)

"Painting with Steve", 12 x 24" oil on canvas board en plein air June 26, 2012.  Half Dome, Yosemite.  Fun to be outdoors painting with oil after working so long on my acrylic show pieces.  Change is fun!  Have a great day everyone!

2012-06-26 02:57:05 (5 comments, 3 reshares, 22 +1s)

Hot Sunshine, Half Dome & Cloud's Rest, 24 x 30" acrylic painting for up-coming show in Yosemite.  

2012-06-26 02:55:00 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

Hot off the easel, this 24 x 30" acrylic painting is for my up-coming show in Yosemite, this one is called, "Lenticular Clouds, Tenaya Lake."  

2012-06-03 15:39:35 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

This is the final version of the Half Dome painting.  Several others were completed this week and I'm exhausted and delighted.  I like the new palette (not using blue) and will continue painting with strong drawings in the field and painting in the studio.                   www.pennyotwell.com

2012-06-03 13:58:27 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

 Un niño siempre puede enseñar tres cosas a un adulto: a ponerse contento sin motivo, a estar siempre ocupado con algo y a saber exigir con todas sus fuerzas aquéllo que desea.
Paulo Coelho

2012-06-02 14:43:57 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 15 +1s)

I paint on these vertical canvases for a "slice of Yosemite" and usually do waterfalls, but I thought El Capitan would be a fun study.  Just the nose and that lovely cliff behind it.  Using ink and acrylic paint and I'm leaning towards Art Deco in this one.  My show at The Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite will   show the entire ink/acrylic series in August, 2012.  Working hard!  Having fun!            Art Deco El Capitan, 36 x 12", acrylic on canvas

2012-05-24 01:42:41 (7 comments, 2 reshares, 26 +1s)

This is the final for "Morning Moon & Dome" with about 4 green glazes over red, orange and gold. This photograph does not do the luminosity justice. I am on to the next project for my show at The Ansel Adams Gallery in August and enjoying the ride! Have a great week!

2012-05-15 20:58:47 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

Off to the Gallery . . .

2012-05-14 21:12:09 (11 comments, 3 reshares, 18 +1s)

Sold! It's 24 x 24", acrylic on canvas, and titled, "Rock Poem, with Junipers" . . . since I posted this a while back,the painting received several layers of glazes which gave it a luminous quality.

2012-05-14 00:21:18 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 21 +1s)

Sold! 30 x 24" acrylic on canvas of lower Yosemite Fall. Lots of glazes and layers in this piece. It went to a great place and will stand over a fireplace in a brand new home! Grateful!

2012-05-08 20:44:45 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

2012-05-06 02:00:23 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Oil on plein air board, 12 x 16" +Penny Otwell

2012-04-23 14:03:54 (13 comments, 4 reshares, 30 +1s)

The Merced River Canyon is such an astounding place. Spring, shown in this painting, is unbelievable -- the poppies are electric, while the redbud are pink/purple with all the shades of new growth green. Add in metamorphic rock, the river, the sky, and the canyon wrens, well, it's paradise. In August, this same scene looks barren, hot, and dry, and I always admire these plants to make it through 100+ degree weather. Note the old railroad bed. This is an oil on canvas board, 12 x 24" completed on earth day. Happy spring!

2012-04-20 13:28:51 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 11 +1s)

My knife art
Yes knife art and not palette knife art...!


Seeing the works of Leonid Afremov quite moved me to...experiment with palette knives. Unfortunately, due to my less than tidy room (teenagers...ugh!), I couldn't find my palette knife; So, I grabbed a knife from the kitchen and started off! hmm, then there was another problem, I didnt have any canvas free for practicing this new technique, but I did find a few old CD Covers that I had left aside for something creative. So, I painted on them; With a knife! (and turpentine/(kerosene?) oil, a box of oil colors, and some newspapers so that my dining table wouldn't get all splattered with oils paints )..

So this is the first painting with this technique; its my first experimentation with knife art. Stay tuned for more!


#ART #art
#artwork #painting #reflection #reflective ... more »

2012-04-20 13:21:36 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 21 +1s)

In reading Chuck Close, he says: "The greatest enemy for an artist is ease . . . and repeating yourself once you get good at it."

"Peach Bloom," Great Central Valley, California. Spring 2011.
Acrylic on canvas. www.pennyotwell.com

2012-04-08 15:11:07 (14 comments, 8 reshares, 36 +1s)

A wonderful old house on Forest Service land in the Merced River Canyon -- Mac McClendon and his wife had a beautiful garden along the river here and I've been enjoying "McClendon's Beach" for many years. Went down there to paint and want to share a spring scene with you -- Happy Easter to you all!

2012-04-04 17:23:27 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 22 +1s)

Had a wonderful drive through the Anderson Valley in Northern California and stopped to photograph. Did this in the studio yesterday in oil, a 6x8" palette knife painting on linen board. The oaks and forests are covered in lichen that makes the trees look white. Of course, I stopped at Navarro Winery and bought a good bottle of their award-winning Syrah. Spring has arrived!

2012-04-03 04:26:12 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 22 +1s)

Away from oil painting for a bit, so thought I'd play "imagine a landscape" and came up with a pink winter sky and a dark forest. I love using memory images to paint. Back to the studio today and working the small oil paintings, then The Commissions! Hope it is a great week for you -- happy spring!

2012-03-21 13:21:05 (5 comments, 4 reshares, 34 +1s)

Oak Grove, 8 x 16", oil on board, early spring 2012. Pallet Knife work.

2012-03-08 06:00:09 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 30 +1s)

North Dome, 7 x 5", oil on linen panel from Italy. Yosemite National Park -- www.pennyotwell.com

Have a great Thursday!

2012-03-07 15:41:16 (4 comments, 4 reshares, 21 +1s)

Painting small oil pieces (5x7") for Daily Paintworks which I've just joined. This is a painting of Half Dome from the Tioga Pass Road. I did the drawing this winter when the road was open, and just got to this little gem. Critiques welcomed! Have a great Wednesday!!!