A Painting a Day by Diana Moses Botkin

Friday, November 6, 2009

"Hardware" Miniature Still Life Daily Painting

Original miniature oil painting 3"x3"
Unframed with mini display easel
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

One of the events this past week was another surgery on my ankle, to take out metal. Last spring when my doc put both of my broken ankle bones back together he installed a titanium plate and screws on the lateral side, and pins and wires on the medial side to hold the pieces together while they healed.

This is the plate that was removed, along with the screws. Not much was left of the pins and wires because they had to be cut to be removed. I'm so glad to have all that metal out now. It seems a bit odd that I want to keep this hardware but maybe I'll make something out of it.. earrings perhaps.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

"Walnut in Hull" Miniature Still Life Daily Painting

Original oil on panel 2.25"x3.25"
Unframed with mini display easel
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

I'm currently surrounded by reminders of our precipitous existence here on earth. My friend Sandy waited another day for the Lord to take her home. She has lost her battle with pancreatic cancer. And my Uncle Marvin passed away yesterday.

This past week I was outside in the yard picking up walnuts from our tree. As I was gathering the fruits and removing hulls, I thought a lot about Sandy and Marvin who were both hospitalized and near the end of their lives.

God puts these simple reminders everywhere of the soul. I noticed them last spring when I painted the maple seed series and am reminded again with these walnuts. That outer hull, once green and alive while the fruit was growing, eventually rots away, revealing the inner part which is the real substance.

Psalm 139:16
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Gesture Drawings and Quick Figure Studies

Quick studies can be charming, with their simplified gesture, while still revealing proportions and form. When I'm working on these, I frequently think I haven't gotten much information down on the paper. Later as I look at them I realize there is a lot there. I hope you enjoy these. If you'd like any of them, or my other figurative pieces, you can easily purchase here at my DailyPainters Gallery.

(top, left) "Legs in the Air" 15"x12"
Original Charcoal and Chalk on Grey Paper
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

(left)
"Studying the Ground"
12"x18"
Original Charcoal and Chalk
on Grey Paper
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

My Figurative Studies at Tidewater Gallery

These new drawings and several others are going to Tidewater Gallery in Swansboro, North Carolina. You can contact owner Ray Voelpel if you'd like to have them.

(top, left) "Prone, with Knee Down" 12"x18"
Original Charcoal and Chalk on Blue Paper
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

(left)
"Back View on Bar Stool"
18"x12"
Original Charcoal and Chalk
on Grey/Green 100% Cotton Charcoal Paper
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Quick Pose Nude Figure Studies

My daily painting has taken a back seat the last couple of weeks while I finished a portrait commission, and varnished paintings to send to my new gallery in North Carolina. So perhaps you'd like to see more figure drawings. These are a couple of pleasing gesture studies of short poses by our petite model.

(top left)
"Sit Twist"
Original unframed charcoal study
on grey paper 18"x12"
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

You can find more figurative works at my DailyPainters Gallery, including additional quick poses, as well as longer poses with a more finished look.

(left) "Stretch Pose" 18"x12"
Original unframed charcoal study on grey paper
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

Monday, October 26, 2009

"Woman Kneeling, with Head Down" Nude Study

Original unframed charcoal and chalk drawing, 12"x18"
on blue/grey 100% cotton charcoal paper
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

See more available figure studies at my DailyPainters Gallery.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Daily Painting Giveaway Winner Announcement

Thank you to all who entered the drawing for my free painting giveaway.

In case you're curious, Carolyn in Missouri is the winner whose name was drawn. She picked "Above the Trees". Congratulations, Carolyn!

If you missed out, keep watching my blog for more giveaways. I do these on a whim some months! It's always fun for me, seeing the entries come in from all sorts of places and lets me know who my fans are reading this blog.

At left is "Lake Reflections", an original 3.5"x5" miniature oil painting of Fall trees reflected in water.

It is one of the lovely little 'uns offered at my Etsy Gallery for a lovely price.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Free Daily Painting Giveaway Today (October 22)

TODAY is the day to win one of these daily paintings! If you're interested in winning, simply e-mail me at this page in the next 24 hours (until 6:30 pm PST on 10/23/09). In your note, tell me which of these pieces you would like to have if your name is drawn. Please also include your name and mailing address.

I will print out all the e-mail entries tomorrow at this time and have my son draw a name for the lucky winner. It could be you! There are no strings attached; I'll even pay postage.

Here are the choices for the giveaway.

(left)
"Fiery Sky"
Miniature Oil 3"x3"
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin

(right)
"Above the Trees"
Miniature Oil 3"x3"
©2007 Diana Moses Botkin

(below left)
"Colors at the Track"
Miniature Oil
3.5"x5"
©2007 Diana Moses Botkin

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

New Venue for my Work and the Giveaway Soon

"Before the Wedding"
Original Oil, Portrait Sample
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin

It's been a busy Fall for me so far with portrait commissions and other projects. If you've been thinking of ordering a special painting, let's talk. You can tell me your ideas for the art you want and I'll do my best to make it happen.

I've been asked to show my work at the Tidewater Gallery in Swansboro, North Carolina in the historic James Bartley House. Soon I'll be packing up pieces for owner Ray Voelpel to exhibit there. I hope if you're visiting the Atlantic Coast in the area that you'll drop in to see the beautiful work of the talented artists Ray represents.

I also hope you'll also keep watching for my little painting giveaway soon... very soon!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Back Study Daily Painting

"Deer Skinner's Back" Original Oil
8"x10" Nude Female Figurative Study
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

Contact Tidewater Gallery to purchase.

Besides being an outstanding model, this petite muscular woman is a tanner and leatherworker. Ever resourceful, she processes hides that deer hunters don't want. The tanning takes time and strength, and she stays especially busy this time of year.

Monday, October 19, 2009

"Lying Down" Figure Study and a Giveaway Soon

Original unframed charcoal and chalk drawing on tan cotton paper
Figure study of reclining woman, 12"x18"
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

You can see more of my life drawings at my DailyPainters Gallery page. Additional recent studies are on the way; I'm waiting for another sunny day to photograph them in good light.

A giveaway is on the way too, one day this month. On the day I make the announcement, you'll have 24 hours to contact me for a chance to win... no strings attached. I'll even pay postage. There is not much longer to wait!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Our October Challenge Group Paintings: "Water"

Here it is, the middle of October already and time to unveil our paintings for this month. Suzanne Berry, our newest member, chose "water" as the subject for our Challenge.

With so many possibilities, I debated with myself during the past few weeks trying to decide on a final plan.

As with most of these group challenges, the painting finally came together at the last minute. For some perverse reason I seem to work best under pressure.

So, here is my piece for our October Challenge, at left. As you can see, the Legos didn't want to be left out. They're funny that way.

"Fish Tale"
Original oil on hardboard
Unframed, 8"x6"
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

As you can see from the rest of the paintings, my Challenge Group members had some related ideas, although each was uniquely creative.

The subject of water conjured up all sorts of images for me; everything from Niagara Falls to a glass of water.

That's part of the fun with doing this as a group; even when we're all painting the same subject, it's a surprise to see exactly how we all interpret it.

(left) "Sprinkler Park"
Oil on linen, 16"x9"
©2009 Robin Cheers

(left) "Half Full"
Oil on board
8"x8"
©2009 Michael Naples

(right)
"Cool, Cool, Water"
Oil on panel, 8x8"
©2009 Vicki Ross