A Painting a Day by Diana Moses Botkin

"Pink Sundown" Landscape Daily Painting

2009-07-08T23:08:00.000-07:00

Original unframed oil painting, 5"x7"
A study of rosy sky, blue mountains, green trees and a pink reflecting stream.
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

This small sunset study is another one using the new alkyd oils from Gamblin. I'm getting the hang of handling them. When I first tried the paints they seemed dry, but with some experimentation with thinner and medium, there is more flow like I'd expect with other oils.

"Summer Clouds" Miniature Daily Painting

2009-07-07T23:45:00.000-07:00

Original tiny oil painting 2.25"x3.25"
Unframed with free mini display easel
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

Gamblin Oil Colors sent me some new paint to try out and tell them what I think about it. It's a new line of fast-drying oils they're developing. The paint handles a little differently than other alkyd oils I've used but I think I could get used to it. This little study is one of the first pieces I did while experimenting with the new paints.

"Pedicure in Pink and Ink" Whimsical Daily Painting

2009-07-06T23:49:00.000-07:00

Original commissioned oil painting, 5"x7"
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

A month ago, my Facebook friend Marsha told me she couldn't get my May Challenge painting out of her mind. And, by the way, our July Challenge is coming up next week!

Marsha loved the concept and the little Lego helper and wanted me to paint something similar, with a twist, just for her.

Marsha has a special homemade tattoo on her great toe that got there at a high school slumber party. She's had it for over 40 years and has grown quite attached to it, even though she's not sure if it is a pineapple or a flower.

She and I both had a lot of fun planning this piece to show off that unique body art. When the painting was finished, we posted it on Facebook for a naming contest. Close runners-up for the title were "Pinkin' it Up", "Piggie Party", "This Little Piggie Got a Tattoo" and "Pampered Piggie". BB's suggestion of "Pedicure in Pink and Ink" got the most votes and it IS the perfect name for this piece!

"Wispy Show" Miniature Daily Painting

2009-07-03T13:31:00.000-07:00

Original tiny oil painting, 2.75"x2.25"
Unframed with free mini display easel
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

Wishing you all a happy and safe Fourth of July with family and friends!

"Feathers" Miniature Daily Painting

2009-07-02T23:25:00.000-07:00

Original unframed tiny oil painting, 2.75"x2.25"
With free mini display easel
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

These little sky studies are fun. I'd love to paint bigger ones too. You can contact me if you'd like something like this in a large size.

"Sunset Feathers" Daily Painting

2009-06-30T23:56:00.000-07:00

Original miniature oil painting, 2"x3"
Unframed, with free mini display easel
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

I hope you are well this week and enjoying your family, and summer. There is so much to do this time of year out in my garden and the yard, house projects, seeing my kiddos and friends, etc.

We've had such lovely weather lately here at the edge of the earth, and a bunch of beautiful sunsets. Here's a recent one I wanted to capture and share with you; a study of feathery glowing clouds in this very small format. Let me know if you'd like me to paint a big one for you!

"Summer Lullaby" Mother and Baby Art

2009-06-29T23:07:00.000-07:00

Original oil painting, 14"x11" in gold frame
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

Although I enjoy painting a variety of scenes in God's creation, I must say that mothers and babies are just about my most favorite subjects. This is a piece I've been working on for awhile and am pleased to show it here first.

"Glowing Glass" Still Life/Landscape Daily Painting

2009-06-25T23:17:00.000-07:00

Original unframed oil painting, 10"x8"
White wine in a goblet absorbs the evening light and creates a microcosm of reflection and refraction.
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

This is one of the pieces I've been working on lately, along with a small commission, which I'll post soon. It's an especially fun one, so please stay tuned to see it soon.

Getting an accurate image of this painting was a challenge. It has much richer color than what shows up in the digital file. Paintings are always so much better "in person" than on a computer screen.

This is a continuation of the idea of "Refraction" from a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to develop the color more in this larger piece, especially those glowing greens and lemony sky that were amplified by the glass bowl.

"Making Faces" Whimsical Portrait

2009-06-16T23:07:00.000-07:00

With the trouble I had for our June Challenge of "Something Shiny From the Kitchen", I thought briefly about using this past painting. However, I knew I should paint something new, so it was only a fleeting thought. But perhaps you'll enjoy seeing it compared with what I did paint.

Original, unframed oil painting 8"x8".
Detailed portrait/figurative/still life painting of young man making faces, mirrored in shiny cooking pot, in warm and cool colors.
©2008 Diana Moses Botkin

This is one of the more complicated pieces I painted last year, which obviously took me more than one day to paint. I enjoyed the challenges of the shiny surfaces and bright background, contrasted with the face in shadow.

The piece also made other contrasts for me as I progressed; the silly face vs. the serious realism, the warm light background vs. the cool darker foreground, the childlike fun this young man is having vs. his beard revealing that he's not a child anymore.

His whimsical face in the reflective cooking pot reminded me of being a kid with my sister, visiting the Fun House and seeing our faces and bodies transfigured by the wacky mirrors.

The Unveiling of our June Challenge Paintings!

2009-06-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

This month's Challenge subject, "Something Shiny From the Kitchen" was chosen by group member Marie Fox. I thought this one would be easy, for a change. Wrong.

I had trouble finding much that was actually reflective in my cabinets of pots and pans. Most of the "shiny" things in my kitchen needed shining up. This was not a chore I wanted to do right after surgery for my broken ankle.

Fortunately, I received a brand new (shiny!) coffee press for Mother's Day. However, I still had to figure out what to do with it in a painting. After abandoning several set-ups, these little toy figures came to my rescue again to help me out with this pressing task at hand. Well, it's press time, so ta-da... here 'tis!

(left) "Press Event"
Original oil on panel, 7"x5"
in museum style gold frame
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

Here are the rest of the Group's paintings. Each of us works alone with the particular subject and doesn't know what the others are painting until our deadline (the day before we post them on our blogs). The surprise of what the others have painted is half the fun. It's interesting to see the differences and similarities in our interpretations of the subject. This month, there is quite a variety in the look of the pieces, even though we all started with a simple requirement; something shiny from the kitchen.

(left above) "Flour Scoop and Silver Cup" 8 x 10", Oil on canvas ©2009 Marie Fox

(left) "Serving Spoon" 10"x8" Original oil on canvas ©2009 Silvina Day

(right) "Steel Cut Berries" 12"x6" Original oil on panel ©2009 Vicki Ross

(left below) "The Face Off"
8 x 8" Oil on canvas board
©2009 Michael Naples

(right) “Gravy Boat and Cherries”
8 x 8", Pastel
©2009 Mike Beeman

(below) "Spoons" 6"x12"
Original oil on panel ©2009 Robin Cheers

"Elizabeth" Portrait... and Our Challenge Soon!

2009-06-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

Original oil painting, 7"x5"
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

SOLD

This is not strictly a daily painting, although I did finish the little portrait today. As with some pieces that must sit awhile to dry or get some trouble spot worked out, I took some time to finish the thought process of this painting's intent. I'm finally pleased with it, and feel that my client will be too.

Elizabeth is a smart, thoughtful and sweet girl, who also likes to run and play. I'm always very happy when I've met the challenge of a commission to capture a sitter's personality.

Another challenge I have currently is my monthly Challenge Group painting! This one is testing my determination! I've had more than one idea for this subject, chosen for June by member Marie Fox.

So.. now it's time to finalize my piece, because we're supposed to reveal them on our blogs on the 15th, Monday. I don't know how it got to be the middle of June already! I hope you'll check back here in two days when I post all the group's pieces for our June Challenge.

"Refraction" Still Life/Landscape Daily Painting

2009-06-11T23:22:00.000-07:00

Original oil painting, 7"x5" in museum style gold frame
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

How many times do we see something but not really look at it? I first noticed this glowing phenomenon a couple of years ago, although I'd no doubt seen it before and simply not paid attention to what I was seeing.

Perhaps you're way ahead of me and have observed this a million times. Others certainly have. (Senaca the Younger wrote about it in Rome before Christ.)

I was fascinated by how the wine glass concentrated the light and revealed the surrounding landscape in a glowing topsy turvy microcosm; the glass acting as a lens. This has been one those ideas in the back of my mind that I've wanted to paint, so this is the week!

I've also been attending to a number of chores this week (and last week too)... stuff like paperwork and framing for upcoming shows. Next week, Friday June 19 from 4-9 will be the summer opening for Naples Gallery. I'll be on hand, along with other gallery artists, to show new work. Gallery address and my other summer shows are on my website Galleries and Events page. If you're in the area, I hope to see you there!

"Homecoming" Portrait Daily Painting

2009-06-06T02:22:00.000-07:00

Original oil painting 10"x8"
Detailed portrait/figurative piece of father and baby boy in blues, greens and warm skin tones.
©2007 Diana Moses Botkin

NOW SOLD

It's nice to be home after a hard day at the job for Dad. Cares of the work day melt away in the warmth of home and hearth. The child is happy to connect with his daddy and grabs onto the big guy's shirt like he's never going to let go.

This piece is one of my favorite paintings of father and son. I thought you might enjoy it for upcoming Father's Day. There are reproductions of this image (and others) at my LifeImages gallery. You may also contact me for similar commissions.

"Spring Tonic" Landscape/Still Life Daily Painting

2009-06-04T23:24:00.001-07:00

Original unframed oil painting, 5"x7".
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

A glass of wine on occasion is an enjoyable health benefit. It also looks interesting with the green lawn as a backdrop and the blue sky reflected in the burgundy depths.

"Evening Visitor" Wildlife/Pet Daily Painting

2009-06-03T23:56:00.000-07:00

Original oil painting, unframed, 7"x5"
Racoon in tall grass.
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

A few winters ago I noticed coon tracks one day in the snow when I went for a walk. This surprised me, because I had never seen any racoons around this area, not even as roadkill. Back in Oklahoma where I grew up, that's a fairly common sight in rural areas.

Then a couple of years ago a mama racoon and three babies visited our front yard and climbed the maple tree. We could hear their purring chatter and watched them from the window. Last year we had a repeat performance from the racoon family in our tree, but other sightings were rare.

This spring we've had a regular visitor to our front yard, this lone racoon. He or she comes looking for leftover cat food on the patio in the late afternoon or early evening. I'm always fascinated by this bashful creature's odd gait; which looks like a sneaking quiet dance on tiptoes.

"Restful Moment" Portrait and Pet Daily Painting

2009-05-28T23:07:00.001-07:00

Original oil painting, 7"x5"
in gold museum style frame
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

This lovely young lady and her large cat were a pleasure to paint. I could almost hear that kitty purr while I was working on this small oil sketch.

Have you been considering a special portrait? Let's talk about it. I'd love to make it happen.

"Petite Model" Pet Daily Painting

2009-05-27T23:44:00.000-07:00

Original unframed oil, 6"x4"
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

This small orange kitten at a friend's house looked so fetching on the shiny floor with the back lighting, window patterns and reflections, plus that quizzical expression!

"Pipe Dream" Portrait Daily Painting

2009-05-26T23:56:00.000-07:00

Original unframed oil study, 7"x5"
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

This is the smoking room at a friend's house. I peek in there every now and then. As a former tobacco addict, however, I am probably one of the least tolerant people for second-hand smoke, so I don't stay long in places like this. But the smoke is fun to watch at a distance. It's a bit like the steaming vapor that inspired some of my coffee paintings.

"Sunset at River's Edge" Landscape Daily Painting

2009-05-23T23:49:00.000-07:00

Original unframed oil painting on panel, 5"x7"
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

I am always a bit surprised and amazed to see water reflections mirroring different colors in the sky, all jumbled together like so many varied colored ribbons.

"Tender Hands" Small Figurative Daily Painting

2009-05-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

Original oil painting 4"x6"
Framed in museum style gold frame
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

This small study is for a larger piece I'm painting of mother and baby, a favorite subject.

Pictures from my Exhibit at Leslie Powell Gallery

2009-05-20T21:01:00.002-07:00

Although I wasn't able to be at my show at Leslie Powell Gallery which opened on May 9, the gallery director sent me photos. There were a number of sales and a good turnout for the Opening. It's always fun seeing people discovering my work and thought perhaps others might enjoy a few pictures too.

The exhibit hangs until June 26. If you're near Lawton, Oklahoma and would like to see the paintings live, I'll hope you'll drop in. Please introduce yourself to gallery director Nancy Anderson and tell her I sent you!

I'm working on some new paintings for upcoming exhibits these days. Although the larger pieces won't be ready for you to see for awhile, I plan to post at least a few new little 'uns soon!

"Glowing Veils" Abstract Miniature Daily Painting

2009-05-16T22:46:00.000-07:00

Original miniature oil painting, 2.25"x3.25"
Unframed, with free mini display easel
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

There are so many possibilities for painting subjects, sometimes it's overwhelming. These little playful thumbnail abstract ideas give my mind a chance to wander awhile and make some new discoveries.

The Unveiling of Our May Challenge Paintings!

2009-05-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

This month's Challenge subject, "Pig Party", was picked by group member Mike Beeman. I confess when he sent out the notice in April of what we'd be working with, I was at a loss for what to paint.

As the days went by I thought up several plans for paintings, none of which I developed very much. When I broke my ankle I started thinking about this idea instead. Those toy figures wanted to part of the painting again too!

So, here is my piece on the left. I had a blast with it and it definitely was a challenge!

"Piggie Party of Five" 4"x6"
Original unframed oil on panel
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

And here are the rest of the Challenge Group's paintings.

Each artist put their own twist on the "Pig Party" subject. I love it that they are each so different and unique.

Aren't they wonderful!?

(left above) "Party Ears" 12"x7" Original oil on panel ©2009 Vicki Ross
(right above) "Pig Party" 14"x11" Original oil on canvas ©2009 Silvina Day

(left) "Swine Barrel" 5"x7" Original Pastel
on Canson Paper
©2009 Mike Beeman

(left below) "Hog Wild" 5"x7"
Original oil on panel ©2009 Robin Cheers

(below right) "Piggy Bank Picnic" 6"x6"
Original oil on canvas ©2009 Marie Fox

"Sunset Burst" Abstract Daily Painting

2009-05-14T23:00:00.001-07:00

Original miniature oil, 2.25"x3.25"
Unframed, with free mini display easel
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

We had abundant cloud forms to watch today. I enjoyed them immensely, and also the colors at sunset. This little experimental mini was the result of the day's influences (which did not include pain pills, by the way!).

Painting abstracts is nothing new for me. I have painted some huge ones. These little ideas would be fun to do on a large scale.

Tomorrow is the unveiling of our May Challenge Group paintings, which should also be a lot of fun! Stay tuned.

"Spring Tints" Abstract Daily Painting

2009-05-13T23:55:00.000-07:00

Original miniature oil painting, 2.25"x3.25"
Unframed with mini display easel
©2009 Diana Moses Botkin

I wanted to do something a little different to get back to my paints this week (finally). You might think this colorful mini was inspired by spring flowers and storm colors, but the truth is that my inspiration came from my broken ankle and all the colors it has displayed in the last few weeks. However, I couldn't very well name it "Bruise Colors".

The ankle is healing fine and pain level is usually low. So it's back to work for me, although it is a bit uncomfortable to paint with my foot up on my desk. I'm still supposed to keep it elevated and not put weight on it for a couple more weeks. Simply moving around on crutches, or carrying anything, is challenging at times.

And speaking of challenges.. coming soon is the unveiling of our monthly Challenge Group paintings for May. We've all put on our thinking caps for this one, I'm pretty sure. Our subject is quite different. Watch for what everyone has painted in a couple more days!