Wednesday, October 13, 2021

The Living Room Wall is DONE!

Today was a 'Stay at Home' day - my very favorite kind!
I was gearing up to finish the living room wall when I heard Tabitha scratching up a rug and I realized we haven't cut their nails since they have been home from the Bells.


Everytime she knows she's going to get her nails trimmed, she hides her head under Louis Dean's arm. 
Everytime. I'm quick and made short work of it and she was happy to get that over with and left the room in a hurry!

I worked all afternoon and into the evening......hours and hours......but I finished the living room.


I lit several candles to celebrate.


I pretty much trashed the den while I was putting this room back together,
taking pictures down from in there to hang up in here.
A few of the painitngs are very old.....I've been painting since 1976 but only have canvases from 1983 since that's the year my house burned. The sheperdess watching her sheep is from 1986 and I still love it. I painted the eagle and flag in 2003 when I was going through my divorce.I taught it in my Tuesday art class and remember how my anxiety at the time affected my art and made my eagle look very angry! As in life so it is in art - you can work through things and I was able to pull out this painting and ended up happy with it. In 2002, on my way to a craft fair in Ardmore, Oklahoma, I saw a poster in a gift shop and bought it. That was my pattern for the canvas.


All the other paintings are since 2000 except for one or two.


Some of my favorite paintings are on this one wall.
The one at the upper right has a tear across the sky area and I had Louis Dean put some duct tape on the back. I take pictures down when I put the Santa wall up each year and that one was ripped last year while I had it in the storage building. I'm going to need to repair that soon.


The two large burnt sienna scenes of trees and mountains are two of my favorite paintings.


All in all, I am pleased with it all and have had a good time working and listening to music.
On October 1st I put Neil Diamond back in the basket of CDs and today I loaded the CD player with 5 different ones ranging from a Pat Green disc that Amber 'burned' for me long years ago to Elvis Presley love songs my sister, Deanie, sent me for my birthday and a Frank Lloyd Webber, Mario Lanza and Floyd Cramer. I'm so very old school.....listening to music on a stereo Louis Dean bought me for my birthday the first year we were married - 2005. I remember asking him if it was on sale? "NO!" he said, "It just came on the market!! It's the latest and best one!"

I gathered the four portraits I love best to hang on the narrow wall going into the dining room.


I painted Amber from a photograph in 1987 - she was three years old.


This portrait of Sam was painted in 2006 when he was four.


And this was Amber in 2006 - the year I took her to London to celebrate her 21st birthday.


I painted this one for my mother's 80th birthday - and it doesn't really look like her - but I hung it anyway!


Now that's done!!
Tomorrow I will move on to the den and hang the Santa wall - which will be weird since the room is decorated for Halloween and fall!

Summer and Rayne and Sabrina are enjoying being back in Texas and they are so sweet to send me photos.


Rayne and Sunshine!


And here they are eating the sugar cookies I made for them!

I'm so looking forward to meeting up with them in Arkansas next week!

It's raining in Texas tonight as I close this journal entry.
Sleeping weather except we still have the AC on and it won't be cool enough to open up the house tonight. Soon....I hope we have real fall weather soon.....





21 comments:

Kathy said...

I am constantly amazed at your talent. Some of the pictures I remember you painting when you had your Tuesday art classes with Ruth Ann and Sabrina. Seems so long ago. It's good to change things up now and then.

Ginny Hartzler said...

So you have a poster that you used as a placement guide? That would have been such a big help. I would never ever known where to put any of them. But this is just PERFECT! Like in an art gallery. Which it IS. My very favorite is the people with umbrellas. If you ever sell it, I want it! These cookies look so good!!

Hootin Anni said...

Your room is like an art gallery. I feel I should see the gallery's hostess come walking in to introduce us to each piece. Will there be a silent auction?!!

Love the 'real time' photos too.

THIS Weekend!! Cold front!!

Jan said...

You certainly are talented

Estelle's said...

I really enjoyed your post today Linda....what an amazing collection of your paintings....so much to see...you are very talented and I appreciate that you have shared your lovely home. This was just a fun post!

Deb J. in Utah said...

Hi Linda. Thanks for this look at your gallery. Your paintings are beautiful. You are so very talented. Hope your weather cools down. It is cold here in Utah and we have already had our first snow in the mountains. See you again soon!

Vee said...

That was a lot of work! It all looks cozy. Portraits are so very difficult. I really like Sam's. I can see how you'd get an angry eagle at that time. Might be perfect for right now because of the state the country is in.

Arkansas...you always have something to look forward to. 😊 It's the only way to live.

Unknown said...

I love the rain and umbrellas scene! You are truly very, very talented. I recently watched a documentary about Bob Ross (Netflix) - you probably remember him. It would have been great to sit in on one of his classes. Hope you have a wonderful day!
Hugs from Beth J. in Iowa

Debbie said...

your gallery wall is gorgeous linda, you have such talent and it is nice to see it all displayed. your portraits are stunning, i think this is the first time i have seen your portraits. ambers is picture perfect, and i think your mom's is wonderful too!! i can't wait to see the santa wall!!

Changes in the wind said...

My favorites were the houses but they are good and the portraits were amazing.

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Autumn is definitely time to enjoy the comforts of home. I love your wall and all the paintings are beautiful. You are very talented. I've never tried to do a portrait. of anyone. But you do it very well. I'm not ready for Santa anything, but time is going by fast and before we know it Christmas will be here and you'll be prepared.
We have a couple of warmer days here and then we're to cool off here and experience some real fall weather. I'm not looking forward to it. I've so enjoyed these lovely warmer days.

MadSnapper said...

I just asked about the santa wall on FB but you answered it here. I wish I had your gift for painting, I have always wanted to sketch and or paint. you have your on gallery. i don't remember seeing the ones you painted of Ammber and your mother. i love all four of them

photowannabe said...

Your paintings are stunning. I have art envy...
If only I could do that!!
What a magnificent gallery wall you have done. Lots of work but so worth it.
Love the end quote too.
Glad you are on FB, but I love coming here to see all the information and chatty journal entries.
Keep doing what you are doing..
Sue

Vick said...

Lovely art display. I read somewhere that all art is autobiographical.

Susie said...

Linda, I love all your art work. I like the rainy day one...love the one you sent me . Miss you and all my blog families. I am still hanging on, some days by mere threads, but ok. Blessings and love to you , LD, and the family. xoxo, Susie

Wanda said...

Your Home is truly "Your Hall of Fame". It's like your life hangs on each wall, showing your moods, your loves, your hurts, and expresses the God given talent you have, and how willing you are to share your life with us. It's so inspirational and heartwarming. Love the portraits..you so captured them.
As always, loving your blog, and sending love and hugs!

Carole said...

Fabulous art display - and it's all your own work. Way to go! Cheers

Deanna Rabe said...

I love what you said about how your art was affected by your stress and/or feelings and how that shows in your paintings. It makes perfect sense but I never really thought about that before.

I'm glad you made the changes to art on the walls that you wanted to change, and I think our homes should reflect our lives in happy ways!

Lady Samy said...

You are a real artist. Very talented. I also hang my art in frames. I want to leave a memory for my daughters and thus remember their artist mother. Art and life. It's therapy. A big hug from Samy. Congratulations!!!
Blog Lady Samy/Facebook/Instagram/Youtube

BeachGypsy said...

howdy there Girlfriend! Hope y'all are having a nice weekend so far! Loved this post, love how kitties hide their lil heads/faces like that, it's just so cute and sweet how Tabitha does that. I loved seeing all your paintings, You are so talented! I can't draw or paint AT ALL. Yours are great. You know waaaaay before this thing started, this "trend" of saying "gallery walls"----I was always putting up lots and lots and LOTS OF pictures, it's just who I am, ha ha LOL. Anyway---I'm thinking you have always been that way too maybe???!! Everybody always made fun of me saying "you cover your walls with too many pictures" but it's the look that I love and I guess now some people actually agree with me, ha ha LOL LOL. Are you feeling better since your surgery? Hugs!!

Far Ago Farm said...

Hi Linda! Your gallery is so beautiful and lends such a cozy & charming feel to your home. You are one talented lady! Jane