Rabbit studies

Quick study of Peppermint Pumpkin resting under the fig tree in our yard. This is a small 8 x 10, oil on canvas.

I've actually been enjoying sketching and studying this little guys anatomy.....

I'm glad he moved in with us.

rabbit paintings

I'm Late is done

So here's the finished Painting

A new Inspiration in my Life

Okay this rabbit showed up in our backyard about 2 months ago and has decided to stay.
He's real sweet, great personality and all and a whole lot of fun anatomically.
So here's my first attempt at expressing his personality. "I'm Late" is a 16 x 20 oil on canvas.
I still have some more work to do but here it is.

Mom's Hot Apple Pie

Something new and different.
I truly love reflection and light and dark. This is from a photo I took in Julian.
We were on our way for some apple pie and this couple was directly in front of us.

"Mom's Hot Apple Pie"  16 x 20.
I'm not completely done . Will repost another photo when it is complete.
So here it is for now:

Here's the finished painting of the Tiger and Dragon fly.

I wanted to convey the heat of the Summer. On this particular day a friend and myself ventured off to the San Diego Safari Park.  It was a hot day. This Tiger was situated in the shade of a tree.

I decided to add the dragonfly as an object of distraction for the Tiger from the heat.

Felines with Butterflies and Dragon Flies

I have been working.
Lately I've been combining creatures. Lions and cats with Monarchs. Tigers with Dragon flies.
I'm really concentrating on light and dark.....




There is still a little more work to be done on the dragon fly and Tiger, but I thought I would put it out there.

Still thinking of a tittle.....
 Oil on Linen
24 x 36

What Butterfly
Oil on Canvas
16 x 20

Gingy's Dream Complete

Here's the completed painting of Gingy;s Dream.
I went to the Sorolla Exhibit with a friend yesterday and I was so inspired.

A touch of red......

Monarchs and Kitty's

Milk weed has been planted and Monarchs are abundant. Our yard has become a forest full of fluttering orange and black wings.
They are such beautiful and complex creatures.

 I'm combining those beautiful creatures with other beautiful creatures, together, in my paintings and having a good time.
Love Peace and Happiness....

Here's one of those paintings " in progress".
Gingy's Dream,

Painting Pelicans

Painting pelicans at the Oceanside Pier.

Every painting has it's challenges. Some more then others.
I photographed pelicans and brought them home to my studio to paint.

 Painting from photographs are so limiting. One must draw upon real self experience to make them work as a painting. Creating an image that looks 3 dimensional from a 2 dimensional source  has it's challenges.
But the challenges are fun and rewarding. You learn so much as you go through the process.

Edges and values. Lines and warms and cools. So much to learn  and I'm glad.

Even though I do not look at this painting as a complete success I have learned from the experience.
I used to throw in the towel for the day if I couldn't get it right. Now I talk myself through the difficulties and keep plugging away. Telling myself " I can do this". I'm working on eliminating the excuse " I can't do this".
Flipping the switch, turning the knob to I can do this.

Here is the results of a new beginning. A new process.
I've learned art is a life long learning experience. Probably one that will always have an door open.
That's good.

Note no signature on this painting. Still in the process, not yet complete.

The Messenger The Lion and the Monarch

I decided to rename the painting.....from "A Passing Moment" to "The Messenger".
Why,  well I leave that thought up to you.

So here it is:

A Passing Moment....Lions Tigers Bears ......

Here's a new painting I'm working on.
The lion is from a photo I took at Out of Africa. The monarch butterfly was photographed in our yard. We got some milk thistle and the monarchs have come.

Two beauties ......Which is the fairest of all?

I'm having fun with this painting.It measures 24" x 24" and is an oil on linen.
It's not finished yet....

"A Passing Moment"

Big animals in Small PLaces

The more I see and the more I read it appears big animals are being put into smaller spaces. Whether intentionally like a cage or expanding human/livestock perimeters. Big animals are being forced to assimilate to new standards of living. So here is a painting portraying a Tiger a big Cat put into a small space.
The  total size of the piece is 16" x 16", which is a relatively small support size for such a large animal.

. The tiger could not fit proportionally into this square size so the actual image had to be contained into a smaller rectangular space. Big Animals in small spaces.....

I'm working on the borders of this piece...not sure what I will come up with.

A trip to Carrillo Ranch and one Peacock later

Leo Carrillo Ranch is home to quite a few peacocks. Spring is here and everyone is strutting their stuff, flickering their feathers and looking for mates.

This guy was off to the side....maybe resting for a moment.
The painting is almost finished....here it is in the works.

 I'm working on abstract forms in the background, almost keeping the peacocks magnificent colors grounded.

Just a little more

Almost....

A new painting

I decided to work on some people pieces.
Here's a portrait I'm working on of my good friends brother.
Lot's more work to do..but it's a start.

It's a 24"x 18" Oil on linen.

Motorcycle to be added soon.

The Soloist a Painting of a Wolf

Warms and Cools. Composition and Simplicity. The strength of one. They all came together to create this painting. So here they are.....The Soloist a 30" x 15" Oil on Canvas.
This painting began with a burnt umber ground and was built with a Burnt umber pick out.
I enjoy this process. Drawing with paint. The light areas are created by removing the paint with a clean brush or Q-tip. This helps to set my values and the mood of the painting to come.
So here it is.

Wolf Waltz a large wolf painting

This painting is 30" tall by 48" long. I'm enjoying painting larger and larger.
Of course it takes more paint and more time...ran out of titanium white when I was close to completion.

To start I layed down a ground of Raw Umber and drew in all the details worked on values and negotiated composition.

 I kept going laying layer upon layer upon layer. Glazing and pulling out.


Not sure if I'm totally happy with this painting but I am satisfied and ready to move on.

Destiny of Souls a new Lion Painting

The first painting of the New Year has been completed. It's title is Destiny of Souls.
This is an Oil painting on canvas 40" tall by 30" wide.  After sleeping with the painting a few nights, I hang the painting on the wall facing my bed, the title emerged.....Destiny of Souls. The release of the preys soul as it is caught and the comfort and exhilaration of the lions soul after the catch.
I wanted to create a feeling of uneasiness as the lion runs directly toward the viewer.
Please check out my website, marlaepsteinart.com  for price info and feel free to email me .
So here it is: