Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas, Everyone!























'Of Mengs' Adoration of the Shepherds' . 40" x 30". oil on canvas
© 2008 kay eneim


"Today a light will shine upon us, for the Lord is born for us;
and he will be called Wondrous God, Prince of peace, Father of future ages;
and his reign will be without end." (Cf. Is 9:1, 5; Lk 1:33)

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Old Companion























'Old Companion' . sketch . 7 x 5 . oil on linen panel
copyright © kay eneim


My first stab at painting 'en plein aire'... a looong time ago...

I decided then that I should start with an old friend... this old tree. It's more a sketch than anything, but I learned a lot, and I like it because it is of that old tree.
This dead pine tree has been a part of our lives for over 25 years now... it 'hangs out' at the base of the driveway amongst the ponderosa pines in northern Arizona. It is amazing to me that it hasn't collapsed or fallen and has continued to stand for so many years in spite of its tragic fate in the woods... who knows how many years ago... long before we first set eyes on it.



Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Protea























'Protea' . 14 x 11 . oil on wood panel
© 2011 kay eneim

White protea were something I had not seen before... for some reason, they reminded me of Christmas... with that 'poinsettia red' in the center... and the white petals... like the red and white poinsettias.

They were great with the purple and green 'sweet potato' vines I had rooting in a jar of water in the kitchen!


Sunday, November 20, 2011

Running Shoes























"Running Shoes" . contour sketch
© 2004 kay eneim

This method of sketching... contour drawing... is so much fun. You draw without lifting the pencil until you're done. It's a great way to learn to 'see' and to draw. I did this one over seven years ago while waiting at the airport.

I was going through some old sketch books and realized I haven't done any contour sketching in a very long time. I think it is definitely time to go back to this kind of sketching... I really loved doing them.

If you've never done it before, try it! You may be surprised how well you can draw... with a little practice, anyone can draw.


Sunday, November 6, 2011

Autumn Breaks



















'Autumn Breaks' . 5 x 7 . oil on linen panel
© kay eneim

... at the base of the Mogollon Rim in northern Arizona as Autumn began to set in with its chill!


Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Seeded Eucalyptus

















"Seeded Eucalyptus . 11 x 14 . oil on linen panel
© kay eneim
private collection

I love this little silver bowl... a wonderfully handcrafted, simple, stunning little bowl... given to us one year for Christmas.

...it was a joy to paint alongside the flowering eucalyptus!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Our Lady of Knock, Ireland

















Sketch - "Our Lady of Knock" . 6 x 8 . oil on linen panel
copyright © kay eneim 2011


Perhaps you have heard of the Marian Shrine at Knock, Ireland...

It is the site of an abundance of recorded miracles in the aftermath of the apparition of Our Blessed Mother, with St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist, alongside Christ in the form of the Sacrificial Lamb on the altar while surrounded by swiftly, quietly flying angels.

It was a scene of silence and light amidst darkness.

For a long time I have had that scene in my head, as it was described by those who saw it on August 21, 1879, and have thought how, as an artist, I would depict that scene accurately yet have it work as an artistic composition.

What is unique about this apparition, a valid and recognized apparition by the Catholic Church, is that it was about the Holy Mass. While some artists have composed their paintings to show the Blessed Mother as the main focus of this apparition, I am working to keep the centrality of the altar as it was conveyed that day in Knock.

Above is a small sketch (very rough, to be sure) in preparation for a somewhat larger canvas... with Our Lady in prayer and humble deference to Christ on the altar. The plan is to keep it very misty, as it was a dark, rainy, windy night... and, at the same time, convey the absolute quiet and bright light that was present at the gable wall outside that little church in Knock where the figures stood...

At the time, Archdeacon Cavanagh was the much-loved pastor of the parish where she appeared that day. Also on that day, he had completed saying his 100th Mass for the Poor Souls of Purgatory.

I believe this is the first and only recognized apparition of Our Lady in which the Eucharist is present on the altar, in the form of the sacrificial Lamb. This apparition is particularly special to the priesthood and to the Holy Mass.

You can read more about the apparition by clicking here.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

'Nestled In'
















"Nestled In" . 5 x 7 . oil on linen panel
© kay eneim

... for a little project.


Friday, June 10, 2011

'In From the Garden'























"In From the Garden" . 16 x 12 . oil on wood panel
© kay eneim


I luuuuuv this little vase... I just loved the embossed design and was eager to paint it.
It's perfect for so many arrangements... for my daughter's sweet peas... and roses... and lavender... and... well, her roses were 'to die for'. They were the inspiration, first and foremost. Sooo beautiful, they were!

This is one of those times when the photo doesn't show the life and depth of the impasto strokes... but hopefully you can get an idea of this one.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Of 'Our Lady of Sorrows'























"Of 'Our Lady of Sorrows' " . 18 x 14 . oil on linen panel . 2011
© kay eneim 2011

... I began this painting during Lent in 2005 and have only worked on it during Lent each year thereafter... this Lent it was finished. It has been interesting to come back to it each year, with a new perspective and sometimes a new approach in technique.

I can't remember the name of the artist who originally painted this image hundreds of years ago, and haven't been able to track it down.

I'm struggling with some glare on this photo... it's difficult to photograph oil paintings, especially the darker ones. I'll be working on that.

Friday, April 1, 2011

'Lasting Arrangement' recipient of FAV 15%!



I am pleased to announce that 'Lasting Arrangement' (below) has been included in the FAV 15% of the Bold Brush Painting Competition, Fine Art Studio Online, March 2011... with over 865 entries!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Lasting Arrangement






















"Lasting Arrangement" . 20 x 16 . linen on panel . 2011
copyright © kay eneim 2011
sold


This particular painting did not come easily... i mean really.

At the time it was begun, my head was in a fog. I was adjusting to a studio move which was far more to 'reckon with' than i had expected... and i was without a garden for inspiration.

In a workshop in April (2010) with Sherrie McGraw, i began this painting with much promise...
but i just couldn't get into the swing of things that week.

I had planned ahead for this workshop and had the last of the roses from a bareroot rose i had planted in a can... just so i could have some roses for Sherrie's workshop.

I loved this arrangement so much... it made the struggle all the more frustrating.

In the end... after getting the unfinished painting home... I decided to scrape down some areas and begin again with some new protea and new roses.

WELL... without a garden the 'new' roses weren't going to happen, either!




















photograph © kay eneim 2010


At least i had this photo from the workshop.

As much as i really dislike working from photos, this photo did help me to work on the painting this week... many months later.

Sooooo... after an injury that kept me away from the easel for eight months, it is at last finished.

... i can't begin to tell you how grateful i am!