Louie Thies Web Site needs a MAKEOVER!

Please go to this site and give a thumbs down to my website (thiesart.com) so that I can win a website makeover. Tell all your friends. PLEASE!!! I’m in desperate need of some help on this!

http://www.webhostinghub.com/worstsitewins/vote/Zwyiu3RAcs

Louise

You really must visit this web site to see how pitiful Louise's web site is.  I actually sent her a note last week, kindly teasing her of it's content.  I know it will bring a smile to your face.  This is one of her 'pages':

What you’re supposed to see here, is something that says, “This site is under construction.” I have not figured out this website design publishing thing, and until I do, this is what you’ll see. Take my word for it though, Louise Thies IS a world class artist … (not a website designer) and is probably out painting as you’re reading this. She’s real sorry she missed you, but if you’d like to email her, you can at this temporary email address: LThiesArt@gmail.com

Please vote for her web site for a thumbs DOWN to help this artist win a makeover!

Horse # 7

7

It is supposed to be 60 degrees in Kansas City tomorrow.  If I am lucky enough to find a horse close to Parkville, I am going to paint out!

Horse #6

6

It's too dark to take a photo, but this is what I just painted today for horse #5.  It's a tiny little thing on a nasty old board that is gessoed.  If Kevin MacPhearson is correct, by the time I paint 100 horses they will look ok!

Painting Horses 3, 4

#3

#4

On my quest to learn how to paint horses, this is todays work.  I am painting on canvas 'paper' from a tablet.  I know I will go through many paintings before one is worthy of a canvas panel.  Yesterday I purchased a book on horses that is pocket size.  It will be great to have in my backpack on location.  

Up Coming Workshops/Classes I am offering through KCAI

Current Workshops:

Painting: Mixed Media and Collage $179.00 Workshop Dates: 2/18/2012 - 3/24/2012 Location: Kansas City Art Institute United States http://www.kcai.edu/ This class is for artists who want to push beyond traditional art forms and explore new realms of possibilities in their paintings. Anyone who is interested in mixing painting, drawing, collage or photography into their paintings is welcome. The goal of the class is to help students strengthen their skills and develop their images into personal statements. Water media paints are recommended. Contact Information: Tabitha Schmidt 816-802-4562

Beginning Drawing $229.00 Workshop Dates: 3/6/2012 - 4/24/2012 Location: Kansas City Art Institute- Northland Location Kansas City Missouri United States http://www.kcai.edu/ This course emphasizes the process of drawing as an intuitive response to the study of form. You will learn composition, proportion and tone through the study of visual relationships. You will gain an understanding of the technical and aesthetic aspects of drawing by exploring a variety of drawing media including pencil, charcoal, and conte. Contact Information: Tabitha Schmidt 816-802-4562

Ok.....I know these are NOT paintings.....

My husband has been doing a little Santa side job this week.  He is working with copper creating wonderful cuff bracelets.  His patina was stunning, but when the lacquer was added (so your arm wouldn't turn green) the color dissolved somewhat.  Each bracelet has it's own personality.  Copper is such a warm metal to wear.  These and more are for sale.  Great Christmas gifts!

Horses

I really wanted to take a trail ride this summer, but it never happened.  So I guess I will have to just be satisfied with painting one.  There is a new movie coming out Christmas day about a horse, and every time I see the ad on tv, I get the chills.  It must be fate...

I have explored artists that paint horses and found Howard Turpning's work.  He is a master at people, horses and landscapes. I think the process of copying a master painters work is a healthy exercise.  I imagine some will argue that point.  I would much rather be standing by a horse, with an Indian on his back, next to a rambling spring etc.  But it is not happening Dec. 10 in Kansas City MO.  So this computer is the next best thing.  I did go out and photograph this afternoon for my own reference photos.  I pulled over and parked to ask permission to photograph the horses.  I found out of the 5 animals, only one was a horse, the other 4 were MO jumping mules!!!  Never the less, I took several photos.

I'll post the beginning of the painting, and the work after about 1 1/2 hours of work.  I am certain there will be more work required, but I have a good start!

#1 and 2

Salida Plein Air Event

I had the wonderful experience to paint in the Salida CO Plein Air Event this fall.  This was one of the 3 paintings I had in the show.  I truly enjoyed the fall colors, and I was thankful I had a large tube of Cadmium Yellow Lemon in my backpack!

What really made this event special was I had 3 very good friends of mine painting with me.  It just doesn't get better than being in those CO mountains with friends, surrounded by the fantastic landscape in perfect weather, painting our hearts out.  

San Juan River

This painting was done on location in the '4 corners' region near Farmington, New Mexico.  The river birch trees were really showing their color this fall.  My husband was fly fishing in that area but I selectively left him out.  After reading Joshua Been's blog yesterday, I should have added him in!  You may want to visit his blog and read the article on landscape paintings with the figure.

Why didn't I do this sooner?

I don't know why I didn't set up a personal blog for my art work sooner.  I assume I could use the excuse 'time restraints', but I would be stretching the truth.  So this is day one.  It's my husbands birthday and his one year celebration of being retired for one year.  Seems like a good day to start.

The last day of November I completed this painting from memory and a photo reference I took this summer.  We were traveling from MO to CA and on the journey home we passed through some incredible landscapes in AZ.   I have a new found appreciation for that area.  Maybe it is because we took our time to get to know 'her', stopping every once in a while to take photographs of the beauty.  Being retired you can do that.

I have many paintings to post from our journey to the West coast and back.  We were traveling in a vintage 1962 Airstream.  More on that later.  I do have a blog on that project as well.  See the blog list for the address.

I have been looking at paintings by Matt Smith (www.mattsmithstudio.com) and thought a Prickly Pear Cactus would be great fun to paint.  Take a look at his work.  Amazing.