French Metro

"French Metro"
11x14 Oil on solid panel


My painting of French Metro was actually done last Spring at a
Plein Air outing with the Plein Air Painters of the Ozarks.
French Metro is a WONDERFUL French Antique shop in Fayetteville, AR.
It is located on Dickson Street in a quaint grey brick bldg.
I am not always up to going to all of the weekly paint outs,but this particular day
I was the hostess of our paint out. Our Plein Air group meets from April 
Through October or November, rain or shine. We meet at 
interesting, historical, beautiful, and scenic places around the NW AR area.
We all take turns with coming up with new and different places to paint.

I was familiar with French Metro, as I know the owners, Renee, Terry, and Alexander Hunt.
They travel to France several times a yr, and ship back wonderful
antique finds from all over the Country.It turned out to be a great selection for paint out location.
This particular day in April was one of the first paint outs of the 2010 season. 
It was a picture perfect day.There were hundreds of tulips in the front garden.
Renee was kind enough to have set out a old garden cart, and a table top
still life with pottery, wire basket and  fruit.
When I painted, I left the still life out as my painting was busy enough without it.
We had several onlookers watch us paint, with lots of questions. The local newspaper
even had a reporter come and take pictures and interview a few of us.
Two weeks later, we all had our paintings on display in the front of the store front picture window.

French Metro is a rare treat to enter. The minute you walk into the shop, you are transported to a different era. You can literally spend hours looking at all of the beautiful things.Everything is displayed nicely with written cards explaining the item for sale and its history.If you are in the Fayetteville area, you would be smart to set aside some time to visit French Metro.
If you can't in person, at least take a look at their website.
  



Nestling Red Fox

Debra Sisson Commissioned Oil Painting Wildlife Animals

Oil on hardboard. 9" x 12"

Now that I've painted a red fox for a commissioned painting,  I'm really intrigued by their great coloring and penetrating eyes.  I'd love to paint another one! This fox was nestled up against his/ her long bushy tail. I kept the background loose to suggest a woodland environment in the fall or winter months.  I always learn more "painting stuff" and more about myself with each painting that I do and this is especially so when someone asks for a particular commission like this one. 
If you'd like to commission a painting please contact me.
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Red Bird

Red Bird,  9x12 oil on canvas

This red bird is an old friend. It is a piece I did some time ago.
I really thought it needed a little brightening up, so tonight I took it off of the wall where it had been
hanging, and added a little light!. I added some cad orange, and some cad red, and 
a  few other colors to help make him pop a bit.

The wet paint up on the right hand corner kept catching the light and looking  like I had added
white,when I haven't.

I hope you enjoy my little red bird!

Pumpkin Gourd

Debra Sisson Oil Painting Still Life Art Ornamental Fall Garden Autumn

Oil on canvas, 6" x 8"

I usually buy a sack of miniature, mulit-colored gourds for painting inspiration in the fall.  This time I chose a solid orange one to paint.  I guess you'd call it a dimply, pimply, pumpkin gourd.  (I think gourds are in the pumpkin family but they're not good for eating).  This little orange guy had interesting protrusions to play with in paint.  I like to paint subjects in a light that produces a shadow that includes complimentary colors along with the color of the object that I'm painting.
If you'd like to commission a painting please contact me.

Visit my gallery to -- Purchase $75.00 + $10.00 shipping (for international shipping, please e-mail me )

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Annapolis Afternoon


Annapolis Afternoon 5 x 5
oil on canvas

This is the second painting I did for the Art Center of the Ozarks

5x5 auction and fundraiser.

I was in Washington D.C. two yrs ago visiting my Daughter. One gorgeous afternoon,
we ventured over to Annapolis. I took this picture from the downtown area
looking out into the bay. There was a great white sailboat along with several
other colorful sailboats in the distance.

This was a fun small painting to do. The picture is a bit fuzzy and not as clear as I
would like, but still a gorgeous scene.

November 4th at 5:55 pm starts the silent auction, live music, and fun.
So, if you are near Springdale, AR, check it out. All the paintings have a starting
point of $25.00. The Art Center provides the canvas, and the artists do the rest.

A very worthy cause for a wonderful organization for all of NW Arkansas to enjoy!!

Half-Haltered

Debra Sisson Oil Painting Horse Art Pet Portrait Country Western

Oil on hardboard, 8" x 6"

This grey mare seems to be glancing around as she relaxes during a break on a trail ride.  I love to capture the expressions of horses this way.  The afternoon lighting highlights her white forelock, mane and ear tips, giving them a wonderful  glow. What fun to paint!
If you'd like to commission a painting of a similar piece or a commission of your pet please contact me.
Visit my gallery to -- Purchase.  SOLD
Thanks for stopping by!
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Crazy Little Hot Peppers

Debra Sisson Oil Painting Still Life Art Ornamental Vegetables Garden

Oil on canvas, 6" x 8"

Peppers make great painting subjects, and these wildly bright ornamental ones bring October colors into the mix also.  I'd been admiring my neighbor's flowering peppers in a pot for a long time and finally took some photos of them.  I liked the way I could play with the composition. The leaves were sunlit and the peppers protruded out in so many ways.  Photographing them was exciting and painting them was even more so. Thanks, Sharon, for your gardening skills in growing these colorful treasures that are pleasing to the eye. I know, you'll say that all you did was water them once in a while!
If you'd like to commission a painting please contact me.

Visit my gallery to -- Purchase $85.00 + $10.00 shipping (for international shipping, please e-mail me )

Thanks for stopping by!
Please Visit my DailyPainters gallery to see all of my paintings

Pink Overlook

Pink Overlook
oil on canvas 5x5

Every Year our local Art Center of the Ozarks has a huge promotional fundraiser called 5x5.
They call on all artists, young and old, expert and novice to create 5x5 paintings, or pcs of art exactly that size.

They provide the canvas, and you can choose to do one or two. The silent auction "soiree" is always held around the 5th of November. Each pc of art starts at a min bid of $25.00.

The auction is fun, with live music and appetizers and a host of artists from the community. It is pure profit for the art center. They pass out the canvas in mid summer to allow plenty of time to get them back by October 4th. As usual, mine arrived a bit wet and a few days late, but they arrived and are fine. This is one of this yrs entries and my next blog will be the second. What a refreshing way to support our local art center of NW Arkansas. It gives back so much to our community in all areas of the arts.

Blue Vase and Pear

Debra Sisson Oil Painting Flowers Still Life Art Botanical Garden

Oil on stretched canvas, 11" x 14"

I've been working with bolder and more vibrant colors lately in my smaller studies that don't usually get posted.  (laziness on my part).  But I did like this larger one of a striking blue vase with an assortment of colorful flowers and the understated pear behind the rose.  Strong sunlighting on the still life group made the shadows interesting shapes and these were my favorite areas of the painting.  Different but fun and that's fine with me!

If you'd like to commission a painting please contact me.
Visit my gallery to -- Purchase $175.00 + $10.00 shipping (for international shipping, please e-mail me )

Thanks for stopping by!
Please Visit my DailyPainters gallery to see all of my paintings

Smiling Corgi

Debra Sisson Oil Painting Welsh Dog Art Pet Portrait

Oil on hardboard, 8" x 10"

A friendly Welsh Corgi was hanging around with his family at Devil's Den state park in Arkansas when I showed up for a hike with the Trailblazers' hikiing club.  I took lots of great pics on the trail we hiked, but this photo of him and his shadow just had to be painted. I loved the looser feel of it, though I did put too much detail in later in my opinion.  Overall, though, I was happy with it.

If you'd like to commission a painting please contact me.
Visit my gallery to -- Purchase $120.00 + $10.00 shipping (for international shipping, please e-mail me )

Thanks for stopping by!
Please Visit my gallery to see all of my paintings

Geraniums from Joan


Oil on Canvas 5x7
This little painting of geraniums is special to me.
Recently in August of this year, my father passed away. He had been ill for several yrs and
my dear Mother had taken care of him day and night for yrs. Anyway, when I got
home from Iowa there were a number of cards waiting for me to open.
One of them was a sweet handmade card from my neighbor Joan. She and I love
our gardens. So, She took a picture of part of her garden and then
made a sympathy card out of it. It was such a lovely heart felt note
on a card she made, showing some of her beautiful pink
geraniums. I just had to paint it!
So here it is...Joan's pink geraniums

Double Red Gerberas

Debra Sisson Oil Painting Flowers Still Life Art Botanical Garden

Oil on hardboard, 5" x 7"

I wanted to make this little painting sing with color and light.  The red Gerberas may have started out to be the "stars", but the bowl actually seemed more interesting when I applied thick bands of color with a palette knife to its rim.  I had fun with this and that's always a good thing.  I hope that it translates a sense of fun to others also!  I've been working with small flower studies like this one and a larger canvas with a still life of flowers is coming soon.

If you'd like to commission a painting please contact me.
Visit my gallery to -- Purchase $85.00 + $10.00 shipping (for international shipping, please e-mail me )

Thanks for stopping by!
Please Visit my gallery to see all of my paintings

Snapdragons

Debra Sisson Oil Flowers Still Life Botanical Garden

Oil on canvas board, 6" x 8"

My snapdragons did survive the winter I discovered and the cooler weather has made them spring back to full bloom. I particularly liked the coloring of this smaller variety. It will be time to do some plein air painting at the fall festival at Neumeier's nursery again this weekend for myself and other artists here in Fort Smith. It's alway fun to be surrounded by great flowers, food, arts and crafts, and musical talent in the fall weather!
If you'd like to commission a painting please contact me.
Visit my gallery to -- Purchase.     SOLD.
Thanks for stopping by!
Please Visit my gallery to see all of my paintings

Pink floral and bird still life


This is a fun painting I did about a yr ago. I know, I know, I am cheating a bit. I am getting several paintings ready to get turned in to the Art Center of the Ozarks for the 5X5 competition and gala. I am also getting two paintings finished up for the Artists of Northwest Arkansas "Peoples Choice" awards due next week. I will share those when finished. I procrastinated a bit and the time has bit me here at the last minute.

This Still life has one of the glass birds in it that reminds me of the blue glass bluebird of happiness made right here in Arkansas. I am sure most of you are familiar with them. I loved the contrast of the glass top table, glass bird, hard silver tray in contrast with the big bunch of soft pink flowers. 

Pink floral and bird still life 11x14 oil on hardboard.

p.s. Debra, I love your submission of your cow, just
lovely. The patterns that swirl around to show his hair and hide are marvelous! 

Spotted Calf

Debra Sisson Oil Painting Cow Art Farm Animals

Oil on hardboard, 7" x 5"

There's just something about a calf's face that is compelling to an animal admirer like myself.  This calf was photographed earlier this spring on our route into town (or back from town) on Tennessee Ridge Rd.  She wasn't shy about having a stranger talk to her and take photos.  I wanted to showcase her unique coloring but also portray her with some mystery. 
If you'd like to commission a painting please contact me.
Visit my gallery to -- Purchase $75.00 + $10.00 shipping (for international shipping, please e-mail me )

Thanks for stopping by!
Please Visit my gallery to see all of my paintings