Vaile Mansion
Ever since I laid eyes on this house I have loved it and longed to paint it. Easier said than done, is all I can say! To see it in this painting does nothing at all to impress the vastness of the place, nor can my scant suggestions of gingerbread detail hold a candle to the real deal. I tried. There is just too much of this house to try and replicate in an image. Kinda like the Grand Canyon, or the Ocean, you have to see it in person to get the right feel of it. But I love the house. I love having this painting of the house hanging on my wall to remind me of it everyday.
Vaile, 16" x 20" Oil on Canvas
Adventures in Oil Painting
A few months ago I decided to just get brave and start working in oil paints. I've avoided them since my oldest first became mobile. Oh, he was a terror! Oil paints, turpentine and paintings that stay wet for days do not go well with tiny curious fingers. Largely why I've always worked in watercolours has to do with their nontoxicity and rapid drying time. But working in oils was like hanging out with an old friend. So familiar and comforting, I don't have to fight to control them as I do in my rigid style of watercolours. I'm going to be honest... I don't think I'm going back. At least for a while.
We Should Catch Up, Part II
A few more...
We Should Catch Up, Part I
While I don't expect any readers who followed my blog 5 years ago have been waiting with baited breath for me to come traipsing back from oblivion, a fastforward seems in order. A big ketchup. My leave has not been total, I have done several new things and learned a lot since dropping the brushes and pallet for diapers and teething rings. Here's an undescriptive stream, if anyone has any questions about a particular painting, just ask...
5 years... Egads!
Has it really been five years since I've posted in this blog? That was about the time that my third son Adam was born, and since then I had a fourth child, Karlie. Wow. Where did the time go? As any mother will tell you when it comes to children, anything
her gets put on hold for
them, no matter how important it may be. As much as I love my art, it just hasn't been front and center for a while now. But, now my Adam is gearing up for Kindergarten and Karlie is everyday more independent (and a little less naughty) and I can begin to focus again on the things that make my world go 'round, besides them.
But since being a mother is at least half of who I am, I am starting a new blog. The Artful Mama. Or Creative Mother. Something like that which means the same. I hope those that appreciate one can appreciate the other, as there are many sides of
me and I am candid about them all.
Blue Girl
I have been inspired by one of the roses in my garden, Blue Girl. It is a very pretty rose, and very finiky. I was challenged to capture the cool toned beauty of this flower.
I had been given a great gift from an artist friend of mine, a book called "Making Color Sing" by Jeanne Dobie. It is a great book and I reccomend it, even to those who are relatively versed in color composition and basic color schemes. I used some of the methods described in this book for my new painting and I am very pleased with the results!
New Painting, Morning Reflections
I have just finished this painting, "Morning Reflections". I am happy with the way it came out, as it is my first still life. I am already looking forward to doing many more! It was such a change from painting people and flowers and green grass and trees, to painting glass and metal. I very much enjoyed it!
I have a few more works in progress at the moment, but I am already thinking of what I will do for my next still life.
Making Cake
I have just completed this latest painting, and I must say, I am very fond of it. The two boys are Timmothy and Johnathon, at home in the kitchen "making cake"! I used the childrens own art in the background, portraits they did of their parents.
It was a wonderful treat for me to paint these sweet boys, doing what boys do best! Eating and making a mess, but having a good time at it.
This is a 14" x 19" painting.
Recent works in Gallery
I have recently had two new paintings accepted to Hidden Gallery, in Lee's Summit. I am happy they liked them, and have them on display with three others in a collection of my work. All five are florals, and I am pleased with the display.
Here are some close up views of the painting "Lilies".
Also on Display, are "Climbing Jack":
"Amarillys"
"Swan River Daisies"
I do not have a photo for the painting "Mallow".
Welcome to My Blog
Hello, and Welcome to my blog. My name is Destany Fenton and I live in Northern Missouri.
I have been painting in watercolor for nearly ten years, but I have been an artist my whole life. Even as a small child I was happiest when drawing and my family could see that it was a passion for me, even then. Being an artist has always been a large part of my identity.
I was fortunate to be encouraged in my creativity and recieve private lessons througout my childhood. In 1997, I fell in love with watercolors. I enjoy the transluscent feel and ability to capture light that they offer, as well as their versatility and beauty.
I find there is very little watercolors cannot do! I use them to paint on many surfaces, including eggs, wood, and traditional watercolor paper.
It is my goal to achieve the rich color and detail in my paintings, and therefore the process can take a long time. But I enjoy building my paintings from concept to reality and creating a work of beauty where before there was only a blank sheet of paper.
I consider my work to be "Enhanced Realism", meaning I paint realistically using much bolder colors and starker contrasts than what I actually see. I am not happy to create a photo perfect image, but to paint scenes the way I would like to see them. The way life and stories surrounding the objects color them in our imaginations to be bigger than ordinary. In many ways, I am creating an image of an object or scene that is more true to it's nature by striving to capture the emotion it envokes, or the personal history behind it.
