Laurie Pace - Fine Artist

'Dancing in Leaves' 30 x 40  Oil on Canvas Re-posted because I actually got  a better camera image of it! Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie     © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Website   This painting is at the gallery in Dallas.  It is one of my favorites this year and probably because of the palette colors. Did you know that colors affect your moods? Some colors can bring out the best in your making you feel positive and energized.  Other colors can bring you to a somber point.  So what are your favorite colors?  What colors draw you in to go "AWWW"?  God as the great Creator, brings every color to His palette in our world.  Look around you and see the explosion of all the elements of art, from color to balance, to space and symmetry.  This is home. This is God and this is love. He is woven through our very being and His love and grace are a mighty force of love in our life... attracting us and bringing us int

'Finished Dinner painting' 4 ft by 12 ft  Oil on Canvas  This is the finish of this painting. It is with a decorator in Highland Park Texas. Julie Guidry is a home designer with a flair for art. Contact me for commission work. Laurie   © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Blog My Website     Who are you? or should I ask, Who do you think you are? There are many people we honor in our lives who are important to us. We look to them as our mentors and we respect what they say and do as they seem to set that high example in living life and honoring God.  If you look closer you will find they not only honor God but they honor themselves as a child of God.  How can you begin to do that in your life? We all have that small inner voice that talks to us all day long.  We have that continuous conversation going in our thought part of your mind. For me that is the dangerous part.  I can convince myself of almost anything and talk myself into anyth

'Joined at the Hip' 24 x 36  Oil on Canvas SOLD I am thinking about doing more trees in this series. I did a group of these trees several years ago and loved painting them. Contact me to commission a painting. Laurie   © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Blog My Website       Back with a short blog for the morning.  We were in Dallas this weekend and we are back.  My mom welcomed us on Thursday night and we enjoyed spending my birthday together on Friday.  Saturday was the opening of the Artists of Texas show at the Dutch Art Gallery in Dallas.  Unfortunately I had a horrible migraine and only lasted a few hours before we had to leave.  Pam did such a wonderful job with Kay Wyne and Sharon Hodges helping to hang over 350 paintings.  I have pictures but have not downloaded them  to the computer yet... but I will. Terry is going to be putting more memory in my computer this morning and setting up a new router to help with my "new toaster&quo

 Still in Progress 4 f tby 12 ft   Oil on Canvas Contact me for commission work. Laurie   © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Blog My Website     Day off.  After today, I may take a day off from blogging here and there over the next week. We have much going on and I may not have access to do so. Every one needs a day off on occasion. I told my kids it is called a MENTAL HEALTH DAY.  When they were growing up, each semester of school if they did not have too many absences, they were allowed a Mental Health Day each semester and they loved it. They never abused missing school and it was good for them to feel like they had control. Only rule was they could not take it to avoid a test.  Sometimes mental health days provide the extra rest our body needs from the stress and expectations we have daily.  What ever the reason, God is present in every moment as you heal and relax. It is a good time to spend reflecting and trusting Him to provide direction

'Progress from an old painting' 4 ft by 12 ft  Oil on Canvas  This is a continuation of a story on a painting I did in 2008... a huge 4 ft by 12 ft.  I just found images of it when cleaning out my files and decided to share the journey. Contact me for Commission Work. Laurie   © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Website     It has been raining for two days now but no one is complaining.  Suppose to rain today and tomorrow be crisp and clear. I am so ready. The rain has made for a nice birthday week nourishing me as well as good nourishment for the earth.  God is indeed good.  The next best thing was TWO birthday cards from Jan!  I thought the first one was over the top but then came a second one.  I feel loved...Thank you my heart sis. Celebrating the year and anticipating the next finds me filled with enthusiasm for God and for life.  Allowing Him to work in you will bring about the same results... happiness, contentment, rich satisfact

'BIG' 4 ft by 12 ft  Oil on Canvas Progress shots...  Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie   © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Blog My Website     I came across this image and several others from two years ago. I was painting a huge 4 ft by 12 ft scene that the decorator wanted certain elements in.  This would be tough to do in this studio here at the lake.   The image shows the canvas on my easel, the images sketched on and the painting beginning in the background.  I will post the rest over the next few days.   Think about your life in the same way.  We sketch out in our mind what we think should be and we begin filling in the experiences and the happenings around our visions.  In a painting things change constantly on the surface. Unpredictable smudges or color combinations often turn into the best things.  Too much control and you loose the soul of the painting.    Does God view us in that sense?  He watches us get our

'Caught in the Storm' 9 x 12  Oil on Canvas Another available FREE painting with free shipping in the US. GONE GONE GONE! This one is heading to Washington! Thank you. Contact me for commission Work. Laurie     © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Blog My Website     I have had the staggers for two days with messed up sinus and dizziness that is quite bothersome. Makes painting very difficult at best.  I take it as a nudging from God to slow down and stop doing so much. My brother is helping me set up my new back up system.  Back up to the back up you might say.  Of course God doesn't really weigh in on these earthly issues. Only we are paranoid and controlling enough to want back ups of backups.   If I didn't have to have everything for tax purposes I would stop worrying about it entirely. I challenge you today to give up a worry that has been nagging at you.  Let God know you are going to let go of it and put it ALL in His h

'Journey' 14 x 14  Watercolor Framed  Available through The Dutch Art Gallery during the Artists of Texas Show Where Texas Finds Its Color. Nov 2 - Dec 31st Contact me for Commission work. Laurie    © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Website         These fall days are by far my most favorite. Savoring the last of warmth in the late afternoon and waking to a brisk morning... what a beautiful life. Yesterday afternoon Terry kidnapped me and we went for a three hour drive through the countryside around the north side of the lake.  Simply Gorgeous! Everything. The trees were wearing their most vibrant colors and the sun was brimming in brilliance sparkling through the rich leaves.  Again Lord, what a beautiful life. Time for me to think about Thank You Notes to Heaven.  Do you remember as a kid growing up your mom introducing you to the fact that you needed to write thank you notes to Aunt Sally and to Grandma?  Patiently she would

'Flying High Ponies' 9 x 12  Oil on Canvas ANOTHER FREEBEE including shipping in the US. First email gets it sent to them... IT has been claimed and is shipping out today!!! Thank you! Laurie Contact me for commission work. Laurie    © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Blog My Website    JOY JOY JOY!  For some reason looking at this tiny fun painting brings joy to me, or does it?  Colors, movement and action all rolled into one. Then "joy" to someone that will get a free painting. Is that really true? There is never a bad time for Joy.  There is never a moment you have to wait for Joy either.  Joy does not come from reaching a goal or buying something or from getting a free painting.  Joy does not come from a marriage, a new baby. Joy does not come from attaining things or buying things or even getting things free. Joy does come from a state of mind.  Joy comes from the pure simple realization of what is and the gratitude you ha

'Red Roses' 24 x 18  Oil on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Blog My Website     Flower for the thought of new growth even in the early days of winter.  Even in these days of cold when it seems like there is little growing, the world around us is full of life and growth.  We  have to remember that God is our ever present source to providing what is needed to encourage that growth. It is His love and grace that sustains us even in the darkest days; then nurtures and encourages us to bloom again.  So often we feel like we can never get to that point of smiling or being happy again.  Our source is HIM.  He provides the health and wholeness we seem to miss in our lives. It is our responsibility to reach out to Him to receive it.  Don't expect it otherwise...you'll have a long bleak winter ahead with out Him.  Prayer always makes a difference in our lives and in the lives of th

'Black Horse on Red' 9 x 12  Oil on Board IT IS GONE! GOING TO KY!! Thank you Rachel. Enjoy! This is one of my Christmas Give-Aways...email me if you want it! Free shipping in the US to go with the free painting. Contact me for Commission work. Laurie    © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Blog My Website   Short blog this morning. Hope to paint today. Going to have breakfast and try to get in there and warm up those brushes and paint.  I sewed the kitchen curtains last night, hanging the last one about nine, but had more computer work to do until almost eleven.  I promised myself today to stay AWAY from this machine...  I am waiting on an order of canvas from Rupen at www.Canvasplace.com .  He is always good about getting it to me quickly...but I am ready today and it will not be here until next week.  My thoughts are scrambling trying to remember everything.  My official Birthday Week starts Sunday.  Terry lets me have a full Birt

'Pear Study' 9 x 12 Oil on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie    © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Website     I became a pear person this past weekend. I use to be known as the pear lady as I painted pears almost as much as I painted horses... but we had some new pears from the store and during the rainstorms there was not much to do but paint by candle light and I did... a pear and an apple. Our trip to Dallas was short.  We bible studied in the car on the way in, the prophet Jeremiah.  The first mission, I did deliver all the paintings to the Dutch Art Gallery for the upcoming Artists of Texas show.  I was wowed by the depth of work that has arrived from our artists across the state.  We have 45 participating artists.  Pam Massar at DAG is a wonderful host for this group. I got to meet Texas Artist Shirley Quaid whose work I absolutely drool over and I got to see the work in person. After we left the gallery w

'Saving the Lost One' 24 x 18  Oil on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie   © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Website       Massive rain again last night. Tornadoes danced through out northern east Texas and we made a vow to make sure we buy a weather radio. Ours was lost in the move. Actually it is obviously in the missing box with Terry's ties, my missing books and the other missing objects we have not found yet. This painting ties right in there with all of the 'lost' ideas.  The rancher is out bringing in a lost one in the snow.  The picture is from a friend in Ponder Texas, Linda.  Our area had snow last year, which is unusual.  I finished it up yesterday about two or so just as the storms began and was able to get a quick shot of it before the darkness descended. We were one of the lucky subdivisions that did not lose power. Highly unusual. We have to make one of those GENERATOR decisions while we are

'Still in Progress  ~ Roping in the Snow' 24 x 18  Oil on Canvas Still in progress on this painting. We had bad storms yesterday and no power. Didn't want to paint as much with the lightening and the storms bouncing around and the studio is a solid wall of windows.  Hope to finish this up today after church. Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie     © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Blog My Website     My thoughts yesterday through out the day were to try and stay on task.  The early morning hours found us worried with an ill bird, then a quick trip to town for supplies for Terry to finish the last sealing up of the back of the house repair...and as we arrived home storms were coming into the area. Between the dog that desperately needs a bath and cannot have one with stitches in his paw, the now dusty closed in back porch room that serves as my studio, and no electricity...I didn't get the painting finished.   BUT I

'ETCHINGS of Roping Snow' 18 x 24  Oil on Canvas IN PROGRESS.... Stay tuned for tomorrow. My friend Linda in Ponder, Texas, shared photos for me to paint of her husband riding in the snow we had last spring.  This is a small study for a larger palette knife painting. Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie     © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Blog My Website     Do you have any pretentious people or pretenders in your life right now? Are you a pretender? Sometimes it can get tangled when you are trying to develop new habits in life and you do that fake it till you make it thing.  The important thing is not to pretend to yourself.   Back to the old saying "To thine own self be true."  By this time in your life you do know the difference. When I was writing about self-concept yesterday and was cruising the internet I came across a thought I missed... for goodness sakes, look how many people are on Facebook today? Look

'Appy Sunrise' 18 x 24  Oil on Canvas  This is the first of my Holiday offerings at good prices. This painting is available. It is for sale and I will take offers through Monday Oct 25th starting from $199.  Shipping will be included in the final sale. CLICK HERE to email me with your offer.   © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Blog My Website     I am late blogging this morning because we were out late yesterday and did not hit bed until almost one this morning. It is just after nine as I am typing away. I was awake briefly at 4, but went back to sleep...but not before I begin to wrap my thoughts around what I wanted to write about this morning. WHO ARE YOU? Thinking about our own conceptions of who we are was wrapped in my brain.  "Self-concept is simply what you understand about yourself. It differs from self-image because it involves your social abilities and character, physical appearance and body image, and thinking

'Dancing in the Leaves' 30 x 40 inches  Oil on Canvas This is available here from my studio. Please make an offer. Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie   © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Blog My Website     Lazy day yesterday and the hours fly by and I am not sure where they went. I was even up by 7:30.  But not much was accomplished.  Still cannot figure out why. I tried to paint, but didn't like what I was doing.. .was using a brush again.  Next will be back to my palette knife. I feel a bit draggy. I noticed the days are really getting shorter and I know we do that day light savings flip again soon. I always dread it. Why does man mess with GOD?  God knows best.  This restless tired feeling has got to go and I need to recenter myself. When you feel this way there is a need to fake it till you make it. Think Stacey was the one that repeated that to me over and over again in her younger days. Breathe in a pray of g

'Colorful Morning' 9 x 12  Oil on Canvas This is a warm up practice paint of trial colors for a future painting, so it is NOT expensive at all. Almost a give away.   Email me if you are interested and I will make you a deal! Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie   © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Blog My Website     Yesterday was one of THOSE days.  It was not bad enough to make you say, "Why did I even get out of bed?"  but it definitely made you reflect on it.  Not sure where any of the time went and I needed to paint yesterday. I played with the above piece and one other that finally made me laugh and cry. Such is the life of an artist.  Some days the creativity just flows through you and other times you try to take charge and it never works. None of it.   Wonder how the great Creator felt way back when... did He have bad days and good ones as He worked too? That might explain some things..huh? I still have not

'Horse Play' 24 x 30  Oil on Canvas SOLD Contact me for Commission Work. Laurie     © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Blog My Website     Forgot to blog this morning. That is rare considering it is something I have done every morning for over 4 years, almost five years. Things were scrambled yesterday. I was sitting at the computer yesterday morning about nine and I looked backwards before rolling my chair (The dog was behind me laying down.) and saw massive blood all over the floor.  Paddy lifted his head and seemed okay, but obviously something was not okay.  I called out to Terry to get out of bed and he came pretty quick. Long story short, Paddy had cut open his foot across his 'pads'.  VERY DEEP.  Terry and I quickly bound up his foot and headed for the nearest vet.  This would be the vet with all the wild animals.  Zebras, Kangaroos etc...  With in the hour Paddy was in surgery and his foot was stitched back in place.   Too

'Beneath Thy Window' 22 x 28  Mixed Media on Canvas Commissioned Painting SOLD Contact me to commission your own music piece with your child. Laurie   © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2010 My Blog My Website     Yesterday was Sunday, but I finished up this music painting and wanted to share it this morning. It is a commissioned painting and the buyer provided her favorite CD piano music for me to listen to and precious photos of her nephew playing the piano.  He is a very talented young man and it was an honor to paint this for his Aunt.     I just got back the collector book for one family of the piece entitled  How Great Thou Art. This is the cover.  This is the title page...  There are several pages of studio shots and then images of the progress of the painting. This is how I do the oil paintings as well. I take progressive shots of the work. From the birth of the painting, the sketches, through the drawings on canvas to the painting in step