Napping Buddies

I love dogs....they are the only creatures on earth who love us more than themselves...they exist solely to bring joy to our lives.  I firmly believe there are no bad dogs, only bad people.  These two are living the good life, with good people, no doubt....just napping the day away.  Oil on gallery canvas, 12x24x2.5, available for purchase...commissions inquiries for your pet portraits welcome.

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Lily Pads

A recent visit to the Dallas Arboretum inspired this painting of the lily pads blooming in one of the water features.  The sun was dancing on the water, and the flowers lifted their heads to enjoy the day.  This painting is thick w/ paint, done with brush and large palette knives. 22x28, oil on canvas.  Currently displayed at The Dutch Art Gallery in Dallas, TX, it is available for purchase.

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Good Day Fishing

I've been doing a series of bears fishing...they are usually more successful at this than me.  I like the movement of the water and attempting to catch the moment.  This painting is 12x24.

Available for purchase.  

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Mother and Child

The most amazing thing happened while at the ER with my mother this week (yes, she is fine) ....I was on my way to the studio last Wednesday morning when a doctor phoned and said Mom needed to go to the hospital for tests and that we should come to the ER.  So I diverted to Mom's, picked her up, and headed to the hospital....against her wishes....she was very unhappy that I was going in my painting clothes!  Gasp.  They were clean, but had (you guessed it) spots of paint all over.  Nevermind.  We were admitted and shortly a Dr. Nelson came and administered to Mom.  Then, he looked up and said, "Oh, you must be an artist...Do you happen to know Hans and Pam Massar?"    

me: "Yes, I do, they are my gallery representatives here in Dallas, great people.  Do you go to their gallery?"

him: " yes, frequently...in fact, my wife and I bought the most wonderful painting there recently...let me show you, I keep a photo on my phone!!! We really love this painting, it just lights up our home.  I am embarrassed that I can't remember the artist's name, but we love the painting."

As he looks thru his phone, a lightbulb goes off in my head...

me:  "Do you happen to live near Hans and Pam?"

Him:  "Yes."  He finds the photo and is showing it to the other drs and staff.

me:  "I think I can help you out....that artist is Sharon Hodges and she looks exactly like me!"

hahaha!  You can imagine the rest.  What a total joy to meet someone who has purchased a painting and really loves it.  This was a major piece for me...it is 44x44....and all because I wore my painting clothes to the ER.  :))  Life is good.
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Establishing Dominance, 16x20, oil

Yikes, these rival wolves have issues...don't we all?  I am enjoying painting animals, and thought I should post a few of these efforts.  Trying to render fur in all its different forms is challenging. I still want to paint loosely and will always take some liberties with color...16x20x1.5, oil on gallery canvas.

For more information, email me:  sharon@sharonhodgesfineart.com.

Ripped from my Sketchbook: Triptych, 24x60, by Sharon Hodges

This triptych is another in the 'ripped from my sketchbook' series, thus the ragged edge motif at the tops of the canvases.  Does that work?  or not?  The modern landscapes do work as stand alones, as diptych, or triptych, depending on your preference.  This came up after I took my dog for a outing in a new park.  I am always amazed at what she sniffs out that I never even see, stuff that I would just pass right over, but that she is completely fascinated with...she is easily entertained and so happy with every scent that passes her way. Simple pleasures. 

Spring in the Valley, 30x40, by Sharon Hodges

I recently enjoyed a short trip thru the central Texas hill country, hoping to see field after field of our native bluebonnets.  I saw exactly three....bluebonnets, not fields and fields. :(  It was a bit early and it has been dry.  Nevertheless, the sun was warm, and I saw wonderful rocky outcroppings and glowing grasses, and meandering streams, the promise of a beautiful spring on its way, and I had to paint that feeling of the earth warming up after the cold winter.  (In a few months, we will be begging for those cold breezes, yes?) This painting is loaded with paint, thickly applied, lots of active brushwork.  I will post it on my website with the zoom enabled for better viewing.  This painting is currently displayed at Dutch Art Gallery in Dallas, TX. Contact me for more info. Thanks for looking at my work!

Salon Woman with Accessorie Pomeranian, 30x24, by Sharon Hodges

I woke up with different brain cells firing today....and this is what came off the easel. Who knew? Definitely more abstracted than recent work and alot of fun. I may expand this as a series of paintings 'ripped from the pages of my sketchbook'. I love how paper looks when it is ripped off of spiral bound books...especially heavy drawing paper. This is painted with oil paints and oil sticks, like giant crayons. I LOVE those. Please visit my website, and contact me if your are interested in this or other paintings.

Chama River, 20 x 16

Thick paint, this may not dry til next year....but I like where this is going....it just feels right. It began from an old photo taken at the Chama River in New Mexico. The topography there is so wonderful...it is no wonder so many artists live and work in that area of New Mexico. I want to make more paintings in this genre...I just like the way the paint feels. If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me.

Cafe Cat, 20 x 16

I am enjoying painting with lots of luscious, heavy paint.....it really is all about the paint. Something is changing in my painting. We will just see where this goes. Sold.

Trinity River Cactus, 14x11x2

This is a small work on panel, a study of cactus found along the river's edge last summer. My studio group is mounting a show at the Texas Discovery Gardens at the Texas State Fair. The show will be on display thru December 31, 2010, so if you go to the State Fair, stop by and see the show. The art show is free, and the building itself is wonderful, as are the fabulous gardens, and the Butterfly Exhibit. If you are interested in purchasing this painting, you can do so at the Texas Discover Gardens, or just contact me.

Untitled Commission-60x48x3 (sold)

This painting was commissioned after the client saw another work "Just a Country Song Waiting to Happen" which is on display at the Dutch Art Gallery, Dallas, TX. Both paintings have a beautiful dress in common, but then they part ways. This painting is rich in symbolism telling a story of many important events in this couple's life together. The client requested that the painting contain the special dress, the colorful bow-tie that was worn by the groom at their wedding, and a special piece of jewelry, and a representation of their wedding date. I chose to perch the dress form's magic melon on a tight rope (because balancing marriage, career, family is like a tight rope, yes?), the melon being a fertility symbol. The eggs in the bird's nest represent the couple's children, and the nest the safety of their family. The groom's jacket hangs from the jungle vines (the jungle representing the challenges of his professional career). The yellow bird holds a scroll with their wedding date in the Roman calendar. A humming bird holds a strand of pearls representing one of the many pieces of jewelry the husband has gifted the wife for special occasions throughout their marriage. The blue dragonfly is a symbol of the warm hospitality that this couple continuously offers their many friends and family members. It was a challenging and rewarding commission. I was honored to work with this couple on their special painting!

Play Ball, 30x40

I totally love dogs and their consistent excitement about every little thing. This golden retreiver, like most, LOVES to chase her tennis ball...every time is like the first time. I hope my painting captures a tiny bit of that joy. I guess painting dogs, as subject matter goes, may not be considered 'high brow art', but I believe the human species would be alot happier if we approached our lives like dogs approach theirs. I will likely paint more dogs.
This painting is gallery wrapped linen, finished edges, so no need to frame. If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me. Thanks!

Sun Goddess in Pink, 20x16x2

This is the third sun goddess this week, and I am enjoying the graphics of these compositions. This is painted on gallery wrapped linen, so no need to frame. (sold)

Sun Goddess in Green, 20x16x2

I have a good bit of reference material of people soaking up the sun in various degrees of undress. My favorite perspective is looking from the deck above...it was easy to observe the patterns, colors, and shadows without intruding on the individual's solitude. I plan a series of these...they could be interesting hung together, but each will stand on its own composition. I am currently painting on gallery depth linen, so no need to frame. (Sold)

Tuba Parade, 40x30x2, oil on gallery canvas

I totally love parades, and especially the bands...all of them, especially the giant tubas which remind me of stampeding elephants (and frequently sound similar to the pachyderms, ahem). It takes a special person to play a tuba, don't you think? This piece stands on its own, or completes a triptych of the Memorial Day Parade pieces: see prior posts of 'Memorial Day Bagpipers' and 'Canines on Parade'. All are painted on gallery depth canvas, completed finished to the edges, so no need to frame. If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me.

The Diner, 60x36x2, oil on gallery canvas

A great diner is one of my favorite things. This one is in Dallas, owned by a friend of mine, and is just a great place for food and friends. The strong morning light through the back windows added an interesting touch to this composition, making all the condiments look like mini-landscapes (well, that's how it looked to me!). If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me.

Unknown Father and Son, 60x36x2

This father and son shared a tender moment at the Dallas Arboretum last spring. This is, for me, a large work, and I am happy with the rendering of this moment. Thanks for viewing my work.If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me.

Sharon Hodges: Not Exactly Fishing, 24x30

Not exactly, but I believe these boys would have grabbed one if they could! It was a beautiful day with strong light dancing off the water and the boys...a good day.
If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me.

Memorial Day Bagpipers 40x30x2

OK, yes, I am alive, albeit traveling, and trying to catch up on posting. Ahem. I shot some parade photos in Nantucket in spring 08, and loved several of them. I knew they could be interesting paintings, but I kept putting them off...probably because they are figurative. If you are following my blog, you will note these next few posts are all figurative...what's up w/ that? Generally, figures strike fear in my heart, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, and I like the graphic quality of these next few paintings. If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me.