Laurie Pace - Fine Artist

'Bubble Girl' 8 x 10 Watercolor on Aqua Board Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting : This is my first attempt at using Aqua Board with watercolors.  I am by trade and experience a commercial artist and illustrator.  BUT, it has been years since I have 'illustrated' anything.  So this is a first to try out this product. Before being the "Painter of Horses" I was the "Painter of Pears" and before that and for a very very long time, "Painter of Children and Women".   I am going to continue doing my horses as they are what I am known for internationally, but with this pull to go back...I believe it is time to see what I bring back to the table from the abstracted side. An interesting journey... The Thought :  As I dropped our daughter off at school on Friday morning and I was singing my way through the crowded turn circle lanes in front of the school, 

'Morning Haze Ponies' 36 x 36  Oil on Canvas SOLD Contact me for a commissioned painting. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting:  The collector lives here in Dallas. She came by the studio with paint swatches and we spent an hour or more visiting. I felt like I had a good grasp on the color palette for her room and her personality as well.  Once I started working on it, I stayed up most of the night painting so I am rather sleepy this morning.  This was a two day painting of many hours.  Holbein Duo Oils of course and my signature style. The Thought :   My rose colored glasses keep me in a state of denial I am sure.   Denial of reality that surrounds us in life.  Sometimes I tell Terry those rose colored glasses were a gift from God. I believe we are all blesssed with unlimited good. There are seeds with in each of us waiting to be nurtured, watered and grown.  We are each abundantly blessed with a garden to grow and from our ga

'Dance of the Red Ponies' 18 x 27  Oil on Canvas SOLD Contact me for commission work. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting:   This is a close up shot of this painting, just a piece of it.  This painting was varnished yesterday and I took a few close up shots of it.  I haven't painted much but will be starting some new things today...so right now you get a snap shot close up of the red ponies. The Thought : A shot at life...is the phrase that comes to mind.   Things that happen in our lives often determine our direction.  Unfortunately that is when we desperately come back to the Lord, seeking what ever it is that we need.  Why wait until things are so bad?   Of course as I reflect on those words I know the answer myself.  Life.  Life keeps us caught up running to catch up with the "next best thing".   The entire time the best thing is right inside of us waiting to be opened.  That would be our hearts.  We all wan

'Power of Three' 18 x 27  Acrylic on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting:   A pull ... a pull with some favorite colors on THICK crisp white.  There is a movement with in these on the pure white that brings me to a musical movement as you would read music and perform it....in 3/4 time of course!  Named the Power of Three...can you guess why? The Thought :  I promised pumpkins and babies didn't I? Oma and Tink Reading   Bampa and Tink waiting for something to eat.     Pumpkin carving Promises are a special thing .  How often do you make promises in one day?  My mind echoes with the words, "I PROMISE I will do it today."   "I promise I will be there to pick you up." If you are like me, when someone uses those words you hesitate unless it is someone that has a trusted history with you.  A "carry through" history.  There

'United Ponies' 30 x 40 Oil on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting :  This is  a commissioned painting for a family in the United Kingdom, hence the name United Ponies.  They wanted a vertical painting with my signature style of painted pulls and requested softer colors and lots of greens.  Can you find all the horses? The Thought : We had Tink yesterday. I will try and post some pictures later this week.   Rainy day again yesterday too.  God is restoring our area back from the seven year drought we have been in. On Sunday our youngest daughter carved a pumpkin with one of her friends  for the carving contest at the high school.  I took some pictures of that too and they are still on my camera...so you may get caught up suddenly with all of them.  Normally at this time of year Terry and I make up a big batch of chili, usually our first for the winter, and we have a gourd carvin

'Autumn Winds' 30 x 30  Acryilc on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting :  Delicious.  It was delicious painting with an orange sherbet color.  But gee, look outside and see all the golden leaves tinted with this orange sherbet color and you can't help but want to paint it.  THICK paint adorns this canvas as you can tell by the ridges of paint piling on edge as I pulled the colors. The Thought : Have you ever had to pick up the phone and dial for tech support on your computer?    I added Snow Leopard to my Mac. Somehow the morning after adding Snow Leopard, several of my itune folders were empty of favorite songs, like Josh Radin and Ellis Paul etc.  I was painting in acrylic at the time I discovered this so I had to wash the brush and give up on the painting to call Tech Support. I simply cannot function in the studio with out my music. Well, I didn't really think about t

'Morning Winter Sky 24 x 36  Oil on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting :  This one grew over a week's time.  It started out quiet gold and then as always erupts in color.  I do not think if you held me down I could paint a picture without a color explosion. What I love are the carved ribbons of color in the forelock and the mane, and the subtle plays of orange and blue. The Thought :  I groaned inwardly this weekend as our youngest daughter missed all homecoming activities because of her choices not to turn in math homework or study for two vocab tests in English. It was truly been a rough week this week.  I cannot believe how much has changed since Morgan was in high school. Did you know parents are able to sign on to a website and see that the student arrived at class; they can see what assignments are being given and they have total access to the teacher's grade book EVERY

'Gentle Woman' 24 x 24  Oil on Canvas SOLD COMMISSIONED PAINTING Contact me to commission something for your home. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting :  She asked me to paint something special and this is not quite done, but enough to share it with you.   http://www.spiritandsong.com/compositions/1529   This is one of the songs I listened to as I began to paint "Gentle Woman".  Her nephew is also a classical Pianist and he has some inspiring music that he has written and performed on this link.  http://derekremes.com/?page_id=4   When I do commission paintings I like to listen to the music that is the favorite of the collector wanting the painting.   She made it easy.... The Thought:   God guides us to different doors to open in our lives at different times of life.   Sometimes we open the door and sometimes we don't.  More often I think we don't.  We tend to want to control our own destiny.  What we have

'Moonshine' 24 x 36  Oil on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting: This is a large version of a small painting I did entitled "The Moon."  The little one just sold and as I was packing it to ship, I decided I wanted to paint a big one. That is what I usually do with the little ones is use them as a test for colour and movement. The Thought: Wii is still happening in the morning.  When I do over 45 minutes though, I feel whipped.   That is what I did yesterday.  I hit the shower when I was done and dried off and began to dress realizing I was so tired I wanted to fall back into bed. The journeys we face in life are not always easy . Whatever you are confronting right now, know you are gaining both experience and strength as you go through this time in your life.   Last night I began to wonder if I was doomed as I walked into the daughter's room and she had use

'Purple Horse' 18 x 27 Oil on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting :  I think it was the mood of purple that hazed over me as I started painting this black horse.  I didn't use much black.  I didn't think I like it and then I truly did like it as it developed it's very own cool personality. The Thought: It was a day yesterday of taking one step forward and two steps backwards .  I always anticipate Wednesdays to be a wash as I teach piano and guitar in the afternoon.  The day began calmly as I put in 45 minutes on the Wii...and then had breakfast with the daughter.  It went slowly downhill the next 30 minutes and then crashed a few times in the next hour.  A rainy day made traffic a nightmare at the school...ah but we were two minutes early and missed it all!  I was thanking God and singing on the way home until my cell phone rang and the daughter announced she did no

'Time on My Mind' 24 x 30  Oil on Canvas SOLD Contact me to commission work by check or paypal. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting : This is an oldie from the external harddrive. I do not have a painting that is new! I do have five, make that six drawn off on canvas ready to paint!  Stay tuned for new and approved. The Thought :  Typical conversations in our family might revolve around who is going to do what.  What is your most UNFAVORITE thing to do around the house?  Mine is taking out the trash.  I love washing dishes or cleaning bathrooms.  Each of us has our likes and dislikes.  Each of us is made differently.  The daughter still at home does not like doing dishes or homework.  She avoids both like the plague.  Our older daughter loves to bake, but 10 years ago she couldn't operate the stove. Looking out on a broader approach...not only are our daughters unique, but so are we.  While our God is the one and ONLY G

'Flying Three' 24 x 36  Acrylic on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting: You almost feeling like you are flying with these wild ponies.  Painted in dimensional layers of acrylic, this painting is a conversation piece plus color. The Thought:   Morgan mentioned that there is talk of continuing the $8000 bonus to new home buyers AND offering for Refinancing as well. Granted this is in the talk stage in the congress...but it is something to hope for as many folks are still facing foreclosure.  For others, this provides a time to buy that first house and have that $8000 to help with closing costs in your first purchase. Catch up with them on their blog:  www.mortexlending.blogspot.com .  Both of the boys blog daily and I throw in some thoughts as well.  I am in three solid years of daily blogging and have rarely missed a day. My mom calls if my blogs don't post. My daughter calls

'Dance of the Red Ponies No. 362' 18 x 27  Oil on Canvas SOLD FROM THE BLOG Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie                                         © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting:   Rich reds were in my palette on this one... and I wanted more red but tempered my desire with other colors!   THICK buttery paints and a treasured pull, one of my signature pieces. The Thought : Blog is late this morning.  The computer froze up as I was finishing it and wham I had to force quit Firefox and I lost the entire thing. Even the normal save as draft was not functioning in blogger.  So this will be short and sweet as it took me 45 min to write what was here and I do not have the time this morning to repeat the exercise! Whatever His plan is, it was not for me to share what I had written. I was given the Kreative Blog award.  I was suppose to share 7 things you would not possibly know about me.. and I truly put my heart into

'Purple Haze' 24 x 30  Oil on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting :  The first painting was called White Knight.  I wanted to paint the subject again and sought the deep contrast of cooler colors and white. You only find slight soft accents of reds and yellows.  The paint is thick and is Holbein Duo Oils .  The Thought : The gathering of so much talent took place yesterday at the Dutch Art Gallery . The Artists of Texas had their first gallery showing.  Kay Wyne was the liaison for the AOT group and the gallery and did a fabulous job.  When you walked in  you were blown away by the intensity of the work as well as the diversity.  None of this everyone painting the same thing.  None of this "your work reminds me of someone else's work".  All original and all unique.  I will put up a slide show in a day or two of the show. The Artists of Texas is a group that wel

'Three Apples' 8 x 10 Oil on Board  Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 DO NOT FORGET IF YOU ARE IN DALLAS, COME TO THE DUTCH ART GALLERY for our opening show today and meet the artists from 2-5pm. The Painting : Crisp colors of fall in this contrasting of hues red and green. These were honey crisp apples I bought at Whole Foods last week and as they were drying from washing I snapped pictures on my green kitchen towel. Had to paint them. Gotta love it. The Thought : More Wii today... much better as I didn't work out by 35 minutes. I do not feel as drained.  I can honestly say I am tighter all over from the yoga and aerobics. I am determined to try and do this at least five times a week added to my huge daily list...but I worry when I start humming the tune of the step song from the Wii.  Daughter says I am doing it too much. She has me working on my MYSPACE.  Yes I have one. I visit it on

'Two Pair' 18 x 24 x 2  Oil on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting :  I need to take some better pictures as I shot this last night as I finished it.  The lighting was not good.  I love painting pears. There is something about giving character and color to each one. The Thought :  SORE.  Wii makes me sore when I over do it.  I started getting up earlier and I do 30-45 minutes of Wii fit now.  Then shower and then stumble achingly into the studio to start my day.  I puts me about an hour and a half behind from where I need to be when I take the daughter to school. I keep an image of good health in mind with trying to exercise more . I know it provides more energy once you re-coop from the workout...but I am tired now.  The good I am imagining will slowly become a reality as my fitness improves.  I can already tell a difference in flexibility when I am bending or reaching. 

'Brilliant Color' 24 x 36  Oil on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting :  This is similar to one that I sold this week.  It is a second huge painting of thickly applied Holbein Duo Oils in gorgeous roses. The Thought:   Well Mr Truck was up and running and Terry drove it to work. It sounds about 2 years younger at least.  Perhaps we might have replaced the waterpump before?  I don't think so... I think they just give up.  Other than  a sore body from the contortions he made while fixing it, he is a happy camper. This was my second morning on the Wii fit.   The first day I did 1 hour of exercising. I hurt so bad the next two days I didn't do anything.  This morning I got up early and worked out doing yoga, Aerobics and running.  It takes 45 min to do 30 min of exercising.   At least I am in the normal range...altho it is up at the border on the BMI.  I hope to try and get i

'Of the Earth' 30 x 30  Oil on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting:   Inspired by Spirit of Fire and the palette of earthy oranges and rusts balance by deep blues and golds... this dynamic painting evolved.  A blue eyed white horse... of the earth. The Thought:   Terry is working on his truck.    I have to pray for divine order.   He is after all, an airline mechanic with a practicing license.  He is truly good with cars and loves taking them apart.  He has rules about everything being laid out and marked.  He was good when we moved about marking and remarking boxes and wires with tags of what they go to.   He has his own 'divine order' going on. I had suggested we take Mr Truck to the fix it mechanic on Monday . We cannot be with out two cars during the week with the daughter in school.  I have to take her every morning around 8:30 and then Dad picks her up at 4:15.  I wa

'Spirit of Gold' 24 x 36  Acrylic Overlays on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie                                         © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting :   Another joyful piece with the acrylic layering. It begins with washes overlaying washes and then the painting.  Bright, crisp and clearly alive! The Thought : Take a breath and let it out slowly.   With this breath I want you to release your anxieties this morning.   Take another breath and feel God's breath filling your lungs...hold it for a few seconds and slowly expel the breath into the atmosphere... sharing God's breath out from your body. Be secure in Him today .  His presence and peace surrounds you and protects you as you live this day. There is joy in life and in living. There is contentment in giving and helping others. God Spirit protects us through every moment of our day.  He is our constant companion...so if something crops up unexpe

'Moon River Crossing' 18 x 24 x 2  Oil on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie   © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting : Powerful strokes of nightfall with the moon in the upper left corner.  The curling splashes of water rising up foaming around the horses as they cross the river.  Red Horse behind the White Horse.  This piece could have had several names.  As always with the thicker pieces, many layers of incredible Holbein Duo Oils applied with a palette knife. The Thought : Goodness cannot grow in Grumpy Soil .  Holding onto to negative thoughts only breeds unhappiness and discontentment. When we do this, it keeps us at a distance from the goodness of God. On the other hand, if you make room for goodness in your life , it will come.  If you let go of the negativity, the grumpiness, the judgmental attitude and you will find LESS STRESS and more joy. If you want a fuller life, with positive energy flowing through y

'Spirit of Fire' 30 x 40  Oil on Canvas SOLD this morning just before I posted this blog! It is on its way to a new gallery in Shanghi.  Thank you. Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting : Just back here from my NY show, this beauty has been featured in Western Art Collector in an ad and write up last year. She is ready for a new home.  HEAVY palette knife dominates the exterior feel of this composition while strong color contrast builds the energy. The Thought : Sometimes I feel overcrowded by life .  Between the responsibilities and the personalities and the compounding of work and home life, the hours are not enough and something always suffers. I believe when we arrive at this point we are open to attack from all sides.  Evil creeps in when you least expect it during your day and often you react in a human fashion lashing out instead of walking with Him. God wants us to always be

'Spring Showers' 36 x 48 inches  Oil on Canvas SOLD FROM THE BLOG! Thank you. Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting : This beauty returned from Patina at Marble Falls.  That was the gallery that had to close it doors and many of us are sad as it was one of the best of all of the galleries.  It is HUGE.  Standing four feet tall and three feet wide, is filled with the colors of rain as horses gallop toward you splashing.  ENERGY abounds from this painting. I just delivered it up to The Dutch Art Gallery for the show opening there next week, but it is for sale.  So contact me if you are interested. The Thought :  I have to stop and take a breath and remember.   I remember with warmth and a wide smile my grandson Grant.  Grant died from complications from the flu in February of 2007. He was only 11. With the Swine Flu wiping through our population and so many deaths on the flu with children and

'On a Reach 2' 5 x 7 inches oil on board Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting :  This is my third small sailboat piece for the show in Dallas.  Small palette knife with big action. Note: I just finished helping the boys set up their blog... interest rates are at 4.5% for home loans... check it out! http://mortexlending.blogspot.com  The Thought :  Saying Grace ... that stuck in my head this morning.  When I was driving our daughter to school yesterday and I spotted all the different 'neighbors' out walking in the hot humid air heavy wiht moisture.  Some are older and walking slowly with a cane. Some are middle age and walking their dogs...and then there are the younger ones. These are the ones that still look fabulous in their short shorts and jogging tops and they are not walking, they are jogging. Somehow they still look unsweaty and gorgeous.  As I drove along I had that

'A Horse in the Sun' 30 x 30  Acrylic on Canvas Contact me to purchase by check or paypal. Laurie  © Laurie Justus Pace     Graphics One Design 2009 The Painting :  This began with an undercoat of Indian Yellow, swipes of Deep red and orange and gorgeous sunrise runs of paint.  Thus began this composition.  The added layers of acrylic build the horse off the surface of the canvas. The Thought : This was a busy shipping week with over 15 pieces going out to various collectors and galleries.  The market had slowed last month but was quite brisk this weekend.  I gave up trying to figure out the economy.  We closed on our refinancing loan yesterday, pulling together all our home improvement loans out on the house we have redone.  It settles everything in one loan for 5% which is a positive thing for us until we know if Terry will be offered an early retirement package. Our daughter was off for two days of Teacher Inservice.  She worked hard rebuilding her science