Concept sketch for Jazz mural in private residence

Yeahooo! A mural commission! Oooh, how I love to paint large!
This is the concept for the mural. I will be starting in the morning. I hope to be done by mid next week.
So excited to see it materialize.
This is a private residence in Redding, CA

Concept sketch for Jazz mural in private residence
copyright Raette Meredith 2012

"The Hills are Alive" commission

I just completed this acrylic painting today. It is a commission for a singing teacher in Redding, Trish Harris, with Trish Harris' Studio of Voice.

Amazing teacher, amazing moment captured forever on canvas. The original photograph was taken by Robyn Reeves Tyler.

"The Hills are Alive" 30"x40" acrylic on canvas
copyright Raette Meredith 2012
original photo by Robyn Reeves Tyler

More texture - this time it's a palm tree in the wind

I love watching palms bend in the wind - I did this tonight with a pallet knife and oils.
Loving this technique.. it's fast and freeing - a perfect technique for catching the wind...

What do you think? I wish I took better photos.. but you get the drift.. the colors are more vibrant in real life..my lighting really grays out the image...

"Windy Palm"
10"x14" oil on canvas board
copyright 2012 Raette Meredith

And here is some detail.. again the colors are a bit washed out.. but you get the idea..

"Windy Palm" detail - oil on canvas board
copyright 2012 Raette Meredith

Harvest Grasses - pallet knife oil painting

Okay, so I have worked on 5 paintings this week - most of them grasses. Two of them need more work. My mission with this type of pallet knife painting is to keep from allowing the colors to become muddy.
I find it easiest to accomplish this by limiting my pallet, which requires that I carefully choose my pallet prior to beginning. I like this one. It's called "Harvest Grasses". The original is 8"x10" and loaded with texture. I still have a lot to learn, but I love the process, which is what matters!!!
Full image:

"Harvest Grasses"
8"x10" oil on canvas
pallet knife application
copyright Raette Meredith 2012

Here is a close up that shows the texture:

"Harvest Grasses" texture

Comments are appreciated.

Thick Thicker Thickest

I finally got some killer inspiration this week - I am back to grasses, but this time I am painting with thick oils. I applied the paint with pallet knives, two different sizes. I did not use any medium with the paint since the layering of paint seems to be thick enough. I can't wait to see how long it takes to dry. 

I have included an image of the finished painting below. It is titled "Windblown Grass" and is 9"x16" oil on canvas. Below the full size image is a detail image showing the texture.

"Windblown Grass"
9"x16" oil on canvas
Copyright Art by Raette Meredith 2012

"Windblown Grass" (texture) oil on canvas
copyright Art by Raette Meredith 2012