Man Oh Man

Man Oh Man
16"X20"
Oil on Canvas

As the Old Year draws to a close I am rife with wonder about what on earth I think I am doing. I really like what my friend, Ellis Heyer says in her statement:
"Everything is ultimately a landscape. Heaven is here on earth, my task is to open my eyes, see it and paint it." To read the rest of her statement and see her paintings, click here.
The truth is, I don't know what I am doing. But not doing, is not an option. I am thinking about going back to cows for awhile. Or memories of Maine. But I also want to continue the Museum Goers series at the new California Academy of Sciences. And I really like the man walking in the painting above. Maybe I will concentrate on figures in motion. Ever since I was told to stick to one subject I have flitted around from thing to thing as if my creative life depended on it.

Man and Superman

Man and Superman
18"X18"
Oil on Canvas

Superman, by Art Ramos. At the De Young Museum. Ramos says, “One of the central issues of my work has been the notion that art grows from art." So art imitates art imitates art. Perfect.

Black and White

Black and White
20"X16"
Oil on Canvas

Nothing is ever just black and white.

Out of the Mist

Out of the Mist
12"X12"
Oil on Wood Panel
NFS

Willow's Dog
8"X8"
Oil on Wood Panel
This is painted over "Left Overs". Never fails to loosen me up to be painting over old left overs. Must remember to do it more often. I was going to give this to Willow but I am enjoying looking at it so much, my generosity will just have to wait awhile.

Egrets in the Afternoon

Egrets in the Afternoon
12"X12"
Oil on Canvas
SOLD

Making Waves

Making Waves
6"X6"
Oil on Wood Panel

Making Waves

Making Waves
6"X6"
Oil on Wood Panel

Museum Going Continues

Museum Goer Passing By
14"X18"
Oil on Canvas

The painting is Birmingham, by Jack Levine. You can see it at the de Young Museum. It's very compelling. Lots of action. Which makes watching people walk past very entertaining, like a dance.
Please note: my usual e-mail is not working. (It's been 24 hours and it turns out DreamHost Support is not so dreamy) Please contact me at:
susankeegin@gmail.com

Lady in Black Spanish Scarf

Girl Contemplates Lady in Black Spanish Scarf
6"X12"
Oil on Canvas
SOLD
Lady in Black Spanish Scarf, Robert Henri, 1910. See it at the de Young Museum.

Musee de l'Orangerie

Em at l'Orangerie
36"X24"
Oil on Canvas

Musee de l'Orangerie

My Wonderful Dog Rosie

My Wonderful Dog Rosie
8"X8"
Oil on Wood Panel
"There's not a thing I wouldn't do if she asked me to for my baby Rose..."

Museum Goer 5

Museum Goer 5
16"X20"
Oil on Wood Panel

This morning I had a realization about what I paint. Landscapes, exterior or interior, through which something moves slowly, altering the space, shadows, reflections. People in the museum, cows on the hillside, boats in the water, dogs in the meadow.

Museum Goers Going Strong

Museum Goer Reads All About It
11"X14"
Oil on Canvas
SOLD
So the museum is the Pompidou Center in Paris.
Miraculously, by just clicking around, I found the very painting: Alice, printemps 1933 by Balthus.

Museum Going Goes On

Museum Goer 3
11"X14"
Oil on Canvas

More Museum Going

Museum Goer Moves On
16"X12"
Oil on Canvas
$450
Why this. Why now? Do I know? No. Seeing where it takes me. Maybe nowhere. If nothing else, I learn a lot in the process of painting the great works whose titles I should know but don't. I am not a very disciplined museum goer myself. I get distracted by the light, vast spaces, the play of the figures against the art as they move through the galleries.

More Museum Goers

Museum Goers 2
16"X12'
Oil on Canvas

Museum Goers

Museum Goers
18"X14"
Oil on Canvas
NFS

Taking It All In

Taking It All In
3"X2"
Oil on Wood Panel

Birds of a Feather

Birds of a Feather
3"X2"
Oil on Canvas

Early Bird

Early Bird
3"X2"
Oil on Wood Panel

I'm back to birds. After a week off canvassing in Virginia and calling North Carolina and then savoring this sweet moment of history.

Low Flying

Low Flying
8"X6"
Oil on Wood Panel

Moving On 2

Moving On 2
5"X5"
Oil on Wood Panel

SOLD

Take Off 2

Take Off 2
5"X5"
Oil on Wood Panel

Inside

Lynn's Bathroom
18"X24"
Oil on Canvas

The days are getting shorter. The temperature is dropping. Time to come inside.

Cronkite Beach 2

Cronkite Beach 2
24"X18"
Oil on Canvas

Lift Off

Lift Off
8"X6"
Oil on Wood Panel
SOLD

Weekend Visitor

Tramp
8"X10"
Oil on Canvas
NFS
This cute dog came for lunch on Sunday. His name is Tramp.

To Each His Own

To Each His Own
5"X5"
Oil on Wood Panel
SOLD

Morning Gathering

Morning Gathering
7"X5"
Oil on Wood Panel

Low Tide Fishing Expedition

Low Tide Fishing Expedition
7"X5"
Oil on Wood Panel

Can you believe the colors of the grasses? The great white Egret rising above it all in elegant pursuit of a little meal. Bowls me over with deep down awe and appreciation for the big, beautiful Natural World.

Duck Pond

Duck Pond
11"X6"
Oil on an old piece of Wood

Fly Over

Fly Over
7"X5"
Oil on Wood Panel

Take Off

Take Off
6"X6"
Oil on Wood Panel
SOLD

Life in the Wetlands

Life in the Wetlands
6"X6"
Oil on Wood Panel

Taking Flight 4

Taking Flight 4
12"X9"
Oil on Wood Panel

Taking Flight 3

Taking Flight 3
20"X6"
Oil on Wood Panel
SOLD

I can't get over encountering these birds wherever I walk these warm Fall days. They have always been there, but I just started focusing on them and now I see them everywhere. This one on the bike path along the water in Mill Valley. In the afternoon. I always hope to see one in flight. Mostly they stand very still for a very long time looking regal. I watch. They watch. And we both wait.

Cronkite Surf

Cronkite Surf
18"X18"
Oil on Canvas

People ask me what subject I paint. It appears the answer is that I paint what surrounds me. Lately that has included the beach where I walk Rosie early in the morning. Or the estuary where we walk in the afternoon. I was once counseled to find a subject and stick to it. Well. My subject is life. Which changes with the seasons, age, time. Think I'll just stick to that.

Stepping Still

Stepping Still
7"X5"
Oil on Wood Panel
SOLD

Family Outing

Family Outing
5"X7"
Oil on Wood Panel

Even in a light drizzle the beach is full of life and light. Ducks share the inlet with herons and egrets. Each works its territory. Every morning. Regardless of the doom and gloom in the world, there they are. Punctuating the landscape.

On The Move

On The Move 1 and 2
5"X7"
Oil on Paper

The morning beach walk is spilling over into the rest of the day.
Painting on paper is freeing. Fast. Fresh. Like being there. Away from it all. Except for the few happy dogs that come our way.

Beachcomber

Beachcomber
7"X5"
Oil on Paper

Morning at the Beach

Morning at the Beach
8"X6"
Oil on Wood Panel

I have been savoring these Fall days full of yellow and orange light. No one was on the beach early this morning except a few good dogs, their owners, a smattering of surfers, and a trio of pelicans fishing. Puts the world right back in order.

Taking Flight 2

Taking Flight 2
12"X12"
Oil on Wood Panel
SOLD

Taking Flight

Taking Flight
3"X2"
Oil on Wood panel

Waiting 5

Waiting 5
3"X2"
Oil on Wood Panel

SOLD

Waiting 3

Waiting 3
3"X2"
Oil on Wood Panel

SOLD

Still Waiting
3"X2"
Oil on Wood Panel

Waiting

Waiting
3"X2"
Oil on Wood Panel

SOLD
These paintings were hatched while I was waiting for my car to be serviced. I took a walk and discovered a whole world of birds living right next to the freeway. They too were waiting. For their next meal. Slowed me down. Gave me pause. And reassurance. That real life is going on all around us.