I Spy oil painting sunflowers and cat still life

I Spy  Oil on wood  10" x 10"  SOLD

Mull it Over Monday: on Sabbatical

I've written before about how I do art 24/7. Normally, it works out pretty good. I'm afraid the year's end has found me running a little ragged though... My original idea for Mull it Over Mondays was to write a bunch of them in advance, thus freeing up time to pursue other projects on Mondays. I didn't anticipate such wonderful feedback from fellow artists and collectors, not to mention a dramatic spike in my blog traffic on Mondays...

When my pre-written MiOMs ran out, I started writing them on weekends. Now, with Christmas right around the corner and weekend activities escalating, I'm afraid I have to take a little sabbatical on Mull it Over Mondays. Thank you everyone who commented and emailed me directly regarding MiOM topics-- Your observations are greatly appreciated and provided much food for thought on future mullings. I look forward to bringing this feature back in 2012. To read the Mull it Over Monday archives, click here.

On Duty gray cat and white mum painting

On Duty  Oil on wood  10" x 10"  $299.

I may have to do a few more of these, I really like the cat-flowers combination.

Distracted II oil painting cat

Distracted II  Oil on wood  6" x 6"  SOLD

A fabulous Facebook friend commissioned me to paint Distracted again.  Painting different versions of the same subject is always a pleasure.  I told her I'd try it with a little more color--she's happy with it and so am I.

Mull it Over Monday: My Top 5 Blogging Tips for Daily Painters

Turquoise and Lime Oil on wood 8" x 8" 

1) Post true to life pictures. Daily painters frequently photograph work when it's still wet. This presents a challenge. Dark passages will appear streaked with gray or white--where the light reflects off the wet paint ridges. A photo tent, the "macro" setting on your camera and a tripod go a long way towards good photographs.

2) Don't trash talk your own work. When I first started posting my daily paintings, I always had the urge to explain what I knew I could have painted better. The thought of someone else calling me out on my various perceived errors was agonizing. The truth is: It's a total buzzkill to like somebody's painting and then read about how much they would like to change it. Do the best you can and let the chips fall where they may.

3) Keep your text brief and sweet. Now folks, there are some exceptionally good writers out there who also blog paintings... But it's my list, so here goes. Share your lovely painting, write a few meaningful lines about it and then call it a day. Have a martini and enjoy the sunset. Part of the joy of blogging is receiving comments, if you obligate people to read three paragraphs of marginally related text before they can comment on your work--you risk losing them to the "next" button.

4) Keep projects that haven't happened yet under your hat.  Sooner or later, someone will make promises they can't keep and you may pin hopes on a project or an idea that never actually materializes. Most artists experience this...  A daily painting blog is great place for announcements about your art and your visitors will rejoice upon hearing your news-- Your blog also makes it easy to over-share!  If your next "big thing" isn't an absolute sure thing, it's a good idea to wait and make sure things pan out first.

5) Post clear contact infomation: There are opinions you need, questions un-answered and opportunities begging to be explored-- but if people can't shoot you a quick email to tell you about 'em, what's the point?
I hope these are helpful. If you care to add to 'em or comment, I'd love to hear from you!

Cats at Play small original oil painting

Cats at Play  Oil on wood  6" x 6"  SOLD

Look!  I finally got Layla in on the action!  The "design" of this painting relies on the silhouettes being accurate--but I was pleasantly surprised at how much detail I was able to pull out of the photo reference.  Very happy with this one. (:

Upward painting of gray cat looking up

Upward  Oil on wood  12" x 12"  NFS

The Conscious Compassion Show at Pentagon

I am so pleased to be part of the Conscious Compassion show at the Pentagon Gallery.  See the mailer above.  If you are in Cleveland on December 3rd, please attend the opening night reception.  The show runs though February 4th.  

Squeaktoy Surprise old rubber squeak toy painting

Squeaktoy Surprise  Oil on wood  6" x 6" 

Mull it Over Monday: Applying 80/20 to Painting

Lone Fressia  oil on wood  8" x 8"  Available here.
80/20:  Mostly gray, 20% color. 

Back in the 90's I had a wall dedicated to "art and photos that inspire."  It was a mostly a collage of art magazine clippings...  I looked at it when I need a little giddy-up in my get-up-and-go. These days I keep eye popping art in a folder on my computer. It's more managageable and easier to update. Some images become old fast, some retain their motivational qualities over time, all are worthwhile.

I'm forever trying to identify "why" I like what I like. (and if I figure it out, of course how do I infuse my art with it.) Some identifiable traits I fancy time and time again: Art that combines representational painting with abstract, technical brilliance, "cute," "hot colors right now," and "graphic." I happened to see a video on Apartment Therapy and it fleshed out another trait I didn't really know about: 80/20. 80/20 is a ratio that applies not only to decorating one's apartment. It's good for painting too! (...not to mention easier to grasp than the golden mean.)  Our brains are hard wired to sizzle upon encountering this visual ratio. It's relatively simple: Just like a neutral livingroom pops with a few orange pillows, so too will a gray landscape pop when we see a bit of cerulean blue peeking through the clouds.

John Stamos is one of very few
who can pull off the 50/50 mullet.

I took another look at my inspiration folder and immediately recognized paintings that incorporate 80/20!

If you find yourself struggling with a painting, consider applying the 80/20 ratio! Too much chaos? Too busy? Too dark? Sometimes less is more and knowing how much less can turn an otherwise boring painting into something special.

Plastic Horse Pulltoy

Plastic Horse Pulltoy  Oil on wood  6" x 6"  $95.

Cat and Sunbeam original oil painting



Cat and Sunbeam  Oil on wood  6" x 6"  SOLD
Diane@DianeHoeptner.com



Inquiring minds want to know what my fabulous new Minnetonka mocassins look like, so here for your extreme entertainment, a picture.  Sweet, right?  Just call me easy to please, a new pair of shoes and a Coco cat sitting near a sunbeam and I'm good to go.

Duncan the Dachshund a dog portrait

Duncan  Oil on wood  8" x 6"  SOLD

This is a commissioned pet portrait.  My buyer asked for a turquoise background and that worked out really well.  For information about my pet portraits, click here.  There's still time to order your's before the holidays.

Mull it Over Monday: Not.

I'm afraid the only thing I mulled over this weekend was whether I should spring for a pair of blue Minnetonka mocassins.  We had a quick overnight in Berlin, Ohio:  Amish country.  Amish town closes down at 5pm on Saturdays and doesn't re-open until Monday.  We had a few hours to shop and eat.  We stayed at the Berlin Grande Hotel, a surprisingly contemporary hotel in the middle of rolling hills farm country.  I didn't have to mull over the mocassins too long as my dear Husband bought them for me.  (:  They are so comfortable, I'm sure I'll wear them out by the end of winter.  Mull it Over Mondays will resume next week. 

Cat in Sun oil painting

Cat in Sun  Oil on wood  6" x 6" 

Garden Roses oil painting big pretty red roses

Garden Roses  Oil on wood  each 12" x 9"  Please email for info.

Same roses as week before last.  This time around they look less like a 1920's postcard.   Me still likey. 

Distracted oil painting gray cat

Distracted  Oil on wood  6" x 6"  SOLD

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