Tracy Haines Fine Art Oil paintings wall art daily paintings Lily Pond quotes and tips

Lily won 3rd place in a recent CFAI art contest.  I entered very last minute on a whim and didn't think much more about it .  What a nice surprise!


Studio quote of the Day:

If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each mans heart sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.  - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Studio tip of the Day:

Murphy oil soap is a less expensive and great way to clean oil painting brushes.  It cleans them well and also conditions them.

I am following the advice of  artist, writer and businessman Jack White and selling select small studies on eBay.  It's a bit of a risky venture for me; some pieces sell for very little.  I begin the bidding usually at a dollar, and sometimes the bids go way up, sometimes I lose a painting for a dollar.  The idea is that over time, you develop a following and bids begin to consistently rise.  I was seeing this happen, when suddenly sales stopped.  eBay is changing policy and many sellers are finding inconsistent results now.  Not sure I will be able to continue this for much longer.

If you would like a chance to win a painting for a whole lot less than it sells for anywhere else, check out my stuff currently on eBay:    eBay Paintings

Acrylic Underpainting by landscape artist Tracy Haines,Figurative, the zone, right brain activity

For so long I've wanted to tackle this image of my daughter, which was taken several years ago.  I liked the casualty of the pose, the attitude. It's Jordyn!

I finally started!  This is the acrylic underpainting.  I don't often start an oil this way, but lately have been playing around with loose acrylic underpaintings to get the canvas covered.  I will continue the painting in oil, and I will attempt to keep the end result loose, too.  I love a painterly quality in works; just not a big fan of especially tight paintings-although I admire the realists.

What is particularly fun about this approach, is that once the tough work is done- the work requiring left brain activity (which is always a strain for me , and why I beat a hasty retreat out of medicine)-one can put in "time out" the chatty, over- analytic left brain by, say, listening to an interesting podcast.  This frees up the right brain to take over and allow a more fluid, intuitive completion of the painting.  For me , this is where the painting really comes to life.  This is that zone where I lose all sense of time and place and self.

Thank you for checking this post out, and I will post the painting again once it's completed.

Why is original art so expensive by Tracy Haines

Spring Towards Rampart 8x10 oil/birch  Available for purchase

I am occasionally asked why original art is so expensive. Before becoming an artist, I wondered the same thing.

I would like to share a little bit of what I have learned.

In today's post, I will cover the cost of some essential materials used in a painting. In subsequent posts, we will look at the costs associated with learning to paint, setting up a studio, producing a single painting for sale, start to finish, then what is involved in trying to sell a painting.

The average oil painter uses a palette of a minimum of 6 colors plus white. This bare minimum usually consists of a warm and cool version of each of the primaries. 

A small 37ml tube of professional quality paint averages a price between $8.00 ( alizarin, a cool red) and $19.00 (Cobalt blue)

So, on average, most painters have spent $ 100.00 on paint alone. ( my current working palette has 15 colors plus white)

Decent quality canvases vary in price, but , to do 12 small, 9x12 paintings on an average quality cotton canvas, you can add another $ 80.00. Oil paints and canvases need to be purchased continually. 

To purchase 5 quality oil bristle brushes in different sizes ( again, a bare bones set up) , an investment of perhaps around $50 can be expected. This cost can be stretched out over a longer time, but brushes need to be replaced not infrequently. 

The painter also needs mineral spirits, paint medium and varnish. 

Then there is the initial cost of setting up a dedicated studio area including an easel. This will be covered in another post.

Tracy Haines pastels landscapes paintings art plein air crested Butte Colorado mountains

Title:  Evening in Crested Butte

Artist: Tracy Haines

Medium: Pastel on sanded archival-treated MDF board

Size:  8x10

Unframed

This is one of many plein air pieces I did on a trip back to Crested Butte, Colorado earlier this July.  The scenes everywhere were simply show-stopping.  It was the week of the wildflower festival.  This year the color purple seemed to dominate over the yellow we saw in abundance last year. 

Tracy Haines original oil paintings on linen canvas plain air trees streams light Colorado landscapes impressionism

Title:  O'Fallon Park Artist: Tracy Haines Medium: Oil on linen canvas on masonite Size : 9x12 Unframed This painting was done en plein air on a beautiful spring day in the mountains of Colorado.  It was delightful to paint on such a crisp, fresh morning to the music of a swiftly flowing stream!

Tracy Haines original art paintings in pastels,oils and acrylics colorful Colorado landscapes mountains sunsets affordable wall art for home

Title:  Beautiful for Spacious Skies

Artist: Tracy Haines

Medium: Pastel on sanded professional and archival Wallis paper mounted to foam core 

Size:  11x14  

Unframed

The colors of the landforms underneath the lovely night sky at dusk begged to be painted. This scene was found near our cabin in the Indian Mountain area near Como,  Colorado
The painting will be carefully sandwiched between two pieces of foam core, with glassine taped over the image.  The painting should be taken to a framer once you receive it and will need to be framed behind glass. I have shipped pastels in this manner without problems thus far.

Haines pastel painting plein air impressionism wall art Colorado trees

Trees Convene
11x14 Pastel

I was attracted to the interplay between the tree trunks and yellow lit field.  The trees seemed to be in conversation.  The calligraphic quality of the foliage was interesting, too.

Tracy Haines Colorado landscape fall foliage aspen mountains

Colorado Fall, 5x7 oil on canvas panel,  $ 35

One of my favorite things to do in the fall is ride my little motorcycle along the barren dirt roads near our cabin.  Often, campers have fires going. The crisp fall air combined with the smell of burning logs and pine tree is simply intoxicating. I break out in song as I ride. Can't help it.

Tracy Haines Colorful colorado landscapes fall aspen mountains

Towards Steamboat Springs ( EB 130) is an 8x10 oil on 1/4" masonite prepared with PVA sizing followed by 3 applications of gesso.

Painting pal Holly and I drove towards Cataract Lake to plein air paint. Took us forever to arrive though, because we wanted to stop to photograph the breathtaking scenes all along the way.  Have I mentioned what a blessing upon blessing it is to live in the great state of Colorado?

Painters Paradise.

Painting en plein air at Lair of the Bear with several artists from PAAC, we were all challenged by changing light conditions.  This scene proved to be gorgeous in a variety of lighting.  It's very interesting how the major shapes drastically change depending on the light. Two other paintings of this same scene  but with overcast lighting will be posted soon.
This painting is currently up for bid on eBay.

I found this lovely scene on a drive in the early spring from Breckenridge towards Fairplay.
It just sold on eBay. It is a 16x20 oil painting. I can't get enough of the willows against snow. The warm orange- green of the background trees frames the focal point nicely.

Tracy haines Original fine art for sale affordable pastel oil acrylic paintings on canvas wall art impressionism expressionism colorful colorado trees flowers floral red green blue purple mountains streams skies sunsets

I ventured on a solo painting trip last fall.  Packed paints, dog and headed out in jeep.  I got up at dawn, drove from the cabin towards Buena Vista, then to a campsite on the Arkansas river.  I loved the first light.  Renoir ( Rennie) had a great time chasing off the cows that kept coming to see what I was painting.  This was the first of many paintings this day.  Great day!!!

Tracy haines Original fine art for sale affordable pastel oil acrylic paintings on canvas wall art impressionism expressionism colorful colorado trees flowers floral red green blue purple mountains streams skies sunsets

Those who live
in Colorado know
the beauty of willows
against fresh fallen snow.

This quick 5x7 acrylic on watercolor paper sketch is, of course, yet another from the 'never disappoints', Lair of the Bear.
(Where else, right?)
And why not?  When a painter or photographer, or landscape appreciator, finds a spot she loves, why not go back and back.......

This will be up on eBay at 5 pm on 3/3/14.  If you would like to bid, search EB43 on eBay.

Tracy haines Original fine art for sale affordable pastel oil acrylic paintings on canvas wall art impressionism expressionism colorful colorado trees flowers floral red green blue purple mountains streams skies sunsets

Deer Creek Rhythm is a 5x7 mixed media painting using acrylic, marker, ink and pencil on 140lb watercolor paper.  There is a small margin around the image to allow for  framing with a matt, if desired. This piece is up for auction on eBay and through Daily Paintworks ( link to your right) and starts at 99 cents.

Driving along Deer Creek one evening, while driving my son Nick's friend home, I was forced to a screeching halt by this scene. The play of cool blues against warm willows just arrests me everytime!

Oh, the beauty of this earth!

Note to artists: Did you notice what I just noticed? The composition sort of slides the eye right down and off the left side of the painting, doesn't it? Don't you hate it when you inadvertently break a rule you are well aware of? I  bet lifting the tree on the left up and over the mountain, or sloping the mountain on the left up and to the left, instead of down would help. I will sit on this for the time being, and just try to remember the rules next time.

birds owls owl Tracy haines Original fine art for sale affordable pastel oil acrylic paintings on canvas wall art impressionism expressionism colorful modern mixed media abstracted

"Wise" is a 5x7 mostly acrylic plus pencil,ink and marker mixed media work on 140lb watercolor paper. I left a margin for framing with matt, if desired. Image plus margin measures 6x8".
Click Daily Paintworks if you would like to place a bid. Bidding starts at 99 cents.

I like this little guy's face.  Did you know that it is very difficult to determine the sex of an owl?
I learned this from reading a wonderful, intriguing book by Stacey O'Brien called Wesley the Owl.  I highly recommend this book!!!  I fell in love with owls after reading it. Oh, how I wanted an owl for myself.  Knowing this, my very good and wonderful friend, Kay, bought me a precious pet owl, (stuffed, but-oh well.... ) She left it on my doorstep with a lovely note. What a nice surprise to come home to. Thank you, Kay!!

Tracy haines Original fine art for sale affordable pastel oil acrylic paintings on canvas wall art impressionism expressionism colorful Owls birds

"Wisdom" is a 5x7" acrylic and pencil sketch on 6x8" 140 lb watercolor paper. I left a margin of paper to make framing with a matt easier, should you choose.  This painting will be up for auction on eBay today at 5:00 pm.  Bidding starts at $0.99.  Hard to beat this bidding price. If interested in bidding, access auction through eBay or through Daily Paintworks ( link on your right)

I fell in love with owls after reading the book, Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien

What a remarkable, poignant story.  I very highly recommend this book.

I also wanted to step out of my comfort zone and paint an animal for a change.  Had fun doing this.