Snow White's Day Out

White cat out on her morning walk.

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450781

Paper Dolls

I liked the idea of scissors but wanted to connect it to a subject of interest. After a lot of dark thoughts (not getting enough sleep these days) I thought of my girls and the fun we had making paper dolls.

I read Carol Marine's book, Daily Painting and tried her islands and oceans process which was a bit alien for me. I liked it, kept the yellows somewhat cleaner (need to practice this more) - so thanks Carol.

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450780

Beach Bike

My "Relaxation Station." I'm not one for sunbathing. Within half and hour at the beach, I'm done, bored, need to do something. However, spending a day on a bicycle by the shore is definitely my kind of day.

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450778

Happy Feet

Originally painted for the Relaxation Station Challenge. My guilty pleasure is my pedicure and pursuant happy feet. A requirement for California living.

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450774

Princess Collar

Redheads make great subjects. She had a great dress with a theatrical collar from a romantic age.

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450771

Rose Royale

I never tire of painting redheads. This is a study done from life.

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/kit-francis/rose-royale/418887

Bye Baby Bunting

The tiniest moments of peace where time stops just for a few seconds, we hold them dear, precious memories. I recently became a great aunt and our family has grown larger. After much debate and plenty of Googling it's been confirmed that the new baby is our kids' second cousin twice removed.

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450769

Which Way Is Up?

Which way is up? After painting her I realized the painting could be hung in any orientation. The buyer of the piece will have final choice in the matter.

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450767

Muse on Gold

This is a study for a larger painting. I have another larger piece with the whole figure. For the study I just wanted her head and shoulders, I liked the shape of the silhouette made by her hair and neck. Started from life, finished in the studio from the larger painting. (And yeah, the larger painting will be finished from the study.)

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450766

Breadmaker

Painted from life. I asked the model to come however she would like to be painted. She wore her grandmother's shawl and necklace.

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450765

First Dance

The first dance is enough to make any young lady a bit apprehensive. Although her face is hidden from view, you can tell that she's quite lovely.

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450764

Waiting on Table Number 10

I love to watch waiters in action, but sometimes the moments in between can be just as intriguing. Here, our waiter is wondering if the guests at table number 10 are going to be much longer and hoping the tip is generous.
Painted using a limited palette and it was done from life - in the studio. 

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450763

Gritty City

This is another dailypaintworks.com challenge. The trickiest part is sacrificing detail for atmosphere. The most helpful thing is that the photo was not high resolution... 

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450762

Shortcut on 12th

The trouble with shooting street scenes is that the images are usually bad and the composition weak. I found if I zoomed in one one small area I would find what interested me in the first place. I shoot a lot of urban scenes, but always when waiting at a light, I suppose that's what gives me all the brake lights to the right of the image. I will definitely be exploring this more.

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450759

Kit's Kitty

I called this 'Kit's Kitty" because I painted it and cats make a sweet subject to paint. 

To bid on this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450755

Afternoon Dream

"Afternoon Dream" Sometimes the deepest sleep is when you lay down just for a nap. Before you know it you're out - zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz and dreaming. Then you wake up and can't really remember a thing about it....

To bid on this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450754

Studio Time

Dancers make a great subject for painting. This piece is about the light and the shapes created when the subject is back lit.

To bid on this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450752

Three Sisters

Pretty palms are a typical sight around California, with plenty of bling around sunset if back lit. That's what I was going for when I painted these Three Sisters.

To bid on this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450750

Etudes in Blues

I love limited palettes. Each is different depending on the subject. But playing the full range of blues is so satisfying. I had to ask myself what shade of blue is that lemon?

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/kit-francis/etudes-in-blues/418327

Daft Daffodils

A study of 2 daffodils in a field of blue and green.

To bid on this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/449869

Tulip Challenge

This was a great challenge from Diane Hoeptner. I chose a part of the still life image she set up. I reversed the image in an image editor, because it read better to me.

To bid on this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/kit-francis/tulip-challenge/418324

Solstice Solace

The winter undresses trees removing their mantles of green and gold. Their branches are exposed; caught in a dancer's gesture as if the footage was paused on performance reel. Arms stretched out in flowing lines, balanced and counter balanced.

To bid on this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/449867

Evening's Blanket

On bright summer's days, the sun doesn't so much as set, as the evening encroaches and covers the day in its blanket. This is so evident as you see the shade creep up the trees, their golden tops still aglow and the shadow starts it's ascent up the mountainside.
I used to pass this tree on my way home. It leans against the embankment, its branches hanging over the path protecting the hikers below.

To bid on this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/449866

Stars over Loch

For this piece, I was inspired by another of the challenges on dailypaintworks.com. The thought of the stars at night would be really hard to do, I think as I'm a bit of a realist - meaning I can't get past black sky, white stars. So again I go for the just after sunset and the moonrise. Add water and the village lights - and is that pub down there?

To bid on this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/449865

Evening Stars

Evening Stars make me think about tomorrow and what it will bring. I found this subject on the weekly challenges on dailypaintworks.com - it's a first for me. I liked it so much I may paint another!

To bid on this painting: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/449863

Lucy's Sky

If you look out the window in Southern California, it's just about always blue skies and same-old, same-old sunshine. So I used the challenge pic from dailypaintworks.com for reference. Painting this was kind of like eating ice cream, especially using those dreamy colors. So this is all about color for me.

To bid on this painting: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/449861

Uptown Umbrella

I love the rain! Good boots, nice coat and a big umbrella. At least I love to paint the rain and those reflections that are almost abstract.

To bid on this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450751

Bright and Frosty

I love this image because it reminds me of the beauty of winter. The stillness of a walk in new snow, everything is white except for a flash of red in the branches, and there sits this little fellow.

To bid on this painting: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/449859

Camellia's Close Up

Picked from the garden, straight to the studio. She's a lovely flower. This painting was all about warm light, cool shadows and all the subtle daubs of color in-between. To bid on this painting: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/449852

Bosc Pear

There's nothing like a delicious, bosc pear on a cool, Autumn day. To bid on this painting: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/449848

Pomme D'Amour (Apple of Love)

To bid on this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/449847

Blue Light

I painted this at a workshop.

To purchase this piece: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/450770

Autumn Apple

There's nothing like a crisp apple on a cool, Autumn day. To bid on this painting: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/449846

Prima Donna Pear

Some pears are fancier than others. To bid on this painting: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/449845

Summer's Day Pear

Summer's day pear. To bid on this painting: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/kit-francis/summers-day-pear-/418296

Beach Bike, oil , 6" x 6", starting bid $65

This was painted in response to Dreama Tolle Perry's challenge on DailyPaintWorks for us to paint our own brand of "Relaxation Station". The concept was mind numbing probably because I don't spend time relaxing, because life is too interesting and I'm on a constant adventure. But I thought of the beach where work is far away and no computers beg engagement. But then again, I'm not a beach person because within half an hour I'm really bored and itching for something to do. But a bike offers a relaxing alternative.  The view of the ocean and the sounds and smell of crashing waves can be experienced from my bicycle. With the added freedom of exploring and getting slightly lost or swinging by Starbucks for an iced latte.

Click to bid

Blue Sky Drive

Blue Sky Drive - 6 x 6"- Oil- Opening bid $65

Here it is. What the people of Southern California have to put up with day after day. Blue skies, day in, day out.

Click to bid

Actually I've had quite a good start to this daily painting thing. I am more than slightly addicted. I've posted a couple of dozen small daily paintings and I have to control the urge to check the stats and see if they are gathering interest. My biggest quandary is, should I paint only one subject matter? Or at least concentrate on mainly one thing? Perhaps I should reevaluate that in another month.

Artist's tip:
When 'plein air' or landscape painting, do the lay-in of the big shapes in one shade of a neutral color. ( I used ultramarine mixed with a terre vert type green.) Your painting will have a unified quality to it. Over the initial lay-in you can then add various colors and you'll find the original lay-in color influencing what lies on top.

Studio Time

Studio Time 6 x 6 inches.

Dancers are so beautiful to paint for sure. But the underlying reason to paint this scene that got me excited was the light and shadow relationship. I LOVE the way polished floors have these beautiful reflections of both light and shadow.

Click to bid

Tip for artists: I discovered at a workshop that I took the value of 'value studies'. By making a postage stamp size sketch using grey and black markers I found it added clarity to the subject by simplifying the shapes. It also make me 'see' the masses in a more obvious way.

Uptown Umbrella

Uptown Umbrella

Don't you love the rain? There's something about rain that visually filters the scene into something quite paintable. Think about that for a minute.. As artists, as we paint we are trying to unify the scene somehow, make it come together with maybe a color, or by lighting. We squint to aid this visual editing process and then, along comes the rain. This is great! It's an instant unifying filter. Not to mention, the reflections. Of course when battling the elements it's not easy to stay inspired when there's a cold stream of water running down your collar. Thank goodness for cameras.

Muse on Gold 7 x 5

Breadmaker 10 x 8

This marks my 19th day on DailyPaintWorks. It's quite a lot of work - apart from just painting. But I'm sticking to it and will keep at it for a couple of months at least and see where it takes me. My DailyPaintWorks site is a virtual gallery and you can check it out anytime. Her are another 2 paintings I recently added to the auctions. Both done with live models followed up with minimal touch ups in the studio later.

Click to bid

School's Out

I take photos when I stop at traffic lights. It's random. Often all I see is the road ahead and red tail lights going off into the distance. Sometimes I stop and people are crossing, I never know who will be there, what they look like of if the lighting will be any good. But that's part of the challenge. Follow my blog for more of these "Random Pedestrian" paintings.

SOLD!

The Boulevard

My reference for '​The Boulevard' was shot by jumping into the street in between sections of traffic. Looking West into late afternoon light is really inspiring. The first trick was to stay safe. The 2nd trick was to remember that the darks (too dark in camera) should get washed out when back-lit. Don't know if I caught that, but I'm happy with my effort.

Sold at auction

Shortcut on 12th

The trouble with shooting street scenes is that the images are usually bad and the composition weak. I found if I zoomed in one one small area I would find what interested me in the first place. I shoot a lot of urban scenes, but always when waiting at a light, I suppose that's what gives me all the brake lights to the right of the image. I will definitely be exploring this more.

Click to bid in auction

Daft Daffodils

"Daft Daffodils" herald springtime. So I suppose it's a little early for their season but I love them all the same. I painted this a while ago and forgot about it. Just found it in a stack of little painting. "So that's where you've got to - daft daffodils."

Click here to bid (6 x 6 inches oil on board)

Gritty City

Click to Bid
 I painted this to capture the atmosphere of city bustle. I wasn't interested in the details other than the little bits of light that glimmer around people on the move and reflections of cars and lights in traffic. 

Artists' tidbits:
When painting this kind of scene from photos, as this one was, it's best to use a really low res image. Or use photoshop to throw it out of focus or merely resize it. Details are the enemy of impressionistic painting, or at least too many details can kill the atmosphere. This painting was painted for a challenge from DailyPaintWorks. My DPW gallery is here

Waiting on Table 10

I love to watch waiters in action, but sometimes the moments in between can be quite intriguing. Here, our waiter is wondering if the guests at table 10 are going to be much longer and hoping the tip is generous. 
Painted using a limited palette and it was done from life - in the studio. There was a time when I would actually go to restaurants and hire waiters and waitresses to pose. What was I thinking??? Needless to say it didn't go well, modeling is a job too, and we are not all cut out for it. After a few waitress problems I invested in a white apron. From then on, I costumed models to pose, and that was a lot more successful.

Bid on this painting (6" x 6" oil on archival board)

Kit's Kitty

I'm not a cat person. We are all allergic to cats in my house so we don't own one. But aren't they so pretty? I called this 'Kit's Kitty" because I painted it and cats make a sweet subject to paint.

Click to bid in the auction.

Lucy's Sky

Click to Bid in my auction (6" x 6" oil on board)

"Lucy's  Sky" was painted as a challenge from my Daily Painters group which was to paint the sky and nothing else. My inspiration was color and the colors found in the clouds. Reminded me about eating ice cream, was as much fun to paint and no brain freeze.

Rainy Day Blues

Click to Bid

If it's going to rain, I like a really good downpour. It's really inspiring to an artist to see a wet street with brilliant reflections of lights, viewed to the sounds of splashing? However, it's probably best viewed from the comfort of a warm dry studio with good cup of tea for one thing.

(painting is 6 x 6 inches, oil on archival board)