Mexican Train Dominos

If you play Mexican Train Dominos you will know what the above items are. If you don't play then I will explain their use. They are the centerpiece or "train station" of the game. You put the main domino in the center then build your trains off of the cut out sections. For those who don't play dominos they can be used as a wall hanging. I put a small ribbon on the back so they can be hung when not in use for the game. These are one of my biggest sellers. I have painted hundreds of them. My inventory was running low so I spent time this past week painting more of them. I painted 10 new ones but also sold 7 of them to people who called and said they wanted one. That means I have to paint even more for the fall craft show. I will wait to do that closer to the time of the show. I am now working on two medium size paintings and have just completed two smaller paintings.

Paintings in two different styles.

I completed two new paintings. They are totally different subject matter. The one posted below is 10X20 and is one of my saguaro paintings. This one was inspired by a photo sent to me by a friend. It was of a painting of a woman's face covered by butterflies. When I saw it I thought it would be fun to do a Butterfly Saguaro.

The next painting is a 10X10 and is a Vanitas painting which is also the title I gave it. This is based on a 17th century style of painting popular with the Dutch and French. While the paintings contained lovely objects such as flowers they always included some reference to man's mortality like the skull. I thought this could be another version of a Day of the Dead painting.

Even Smaller Paintings

Here are six really small paintings. Five of them are 5X7 and one is 3X5. These smaller paintings sell well at art fairs so I always like to have a nice selection. I think I have done thirteen small paintings in three weeks. All of these paintings are repeats of ones I have done before. As much as I love painting I must admit I have been getting bored with doing old subject matter and feel it is time to get creative again with some new ideas I have been tossing around in my head. I have already started working on two paintings using these ideas. I'll post photos as soon as they are completed.

More Small Paintings

I have completed six more small paintings. Two are desert scenes, two are saguaros and one is of kachina masks and one is a cross. I was averaging one painting a week this year up until two weeks ago when I started to work on smaller paintings. Since then I have painted 13 which is almost one a day. I will continue to work on the small stuff and maybe start working on craft items. I must keep busy working towards the fall show.