"I found a cat"

8x10 inch (20x25 cm)

oil on stretched canvas

$75

buy this painting here

At a ranch in Texas. It was a funny sight to see this girl drag the huge cat around. She found it somewhere and the cat was happy and relaxed, just hanging there. 

Waiting for mail

8x10 inch (20x25 cm)

oil on stretched canvas

This painting is SOLD

These mailboxes I found om my trip to the hill country, Texas. They were standing so patiently in the heat, leaning towards eachother.
I found the one with the Texas flag at another house. In my painting I replaced one of the mailboxes with the Texas one. It makes it just more colorful and I like, because I live here, to add a bit of Texas to a painting.
I struggled a bit to keep the background out of focus, there are a few layers of paint on this canvas, but the more texture the better. I am happy with the finished result! It makes my day when that happens, my mood depends on this...

Coffee stop

6x6 inch

oil on gessoboard

$55

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People in the city inspire me to paint- sometimes it's girlfriends shopping, sometimes it's a dogwalker who is a lookalike of his or her dog, sometimes it's a tattooed bikerider on his way somewhere, locking his bike to get a Starbucks coffee.

The Majestic Metro

8x10 inch

oil on stretched canvas

$75

You can buy this in my etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/DalessiArt

Click the link to go to this painting in my shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/237044607/cityscape-in-houston-oil-on-canvas-the?ref=shop_home_active_22

The Majestic Metro is a historic event venue in downtown Houston. The famous graffiti wall is sneaking through the tree.

The graffiti wall disappeared slowly behind the tree whilst painting. I didn't realize this until I looked at the pictures I took from steps in my painting process. I sometimes do this to check afterwards if I overworked a painting and where I should have stopped. I learn for next time.

These are the steps (sorry for the poor quality, but it's just to give an impression):

 First a rough sketch for the right composition and perspective.

 I quickly block in the canvas with color (I slightly toned the canvas so it's not bright white anymore, otherwise the colors you use will be easily too light).

Adding details where I found it necessary. I wanted to capture the sunshine.
I always like people in my paintings, it gives more life and dimension to it.

The end result. I maybe should have made the tree a little less leafy...

Camouflaged squirrel

8x8 inch

oil on stretched canvas

$65

Buy this on:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/240737842/camouflaged-squirrel-small-oil-painting?ref=shop_home_active_1

Squirrels you see everywhere here in the city. They look cute, cheeky and come fairly close for a good picture.

This one sat so still, it was like it tried to change its color like a chameleon. Which kind of worked, he chose a good tree and a spot in the shade.

Texas pickup truck

8x10 inch

oil on canvas

$75

SOLD

The lone star state, the Texas flag on a pickup truck- this is real Texas, I love it!

Red umbrella's

oil on stretched canvas

8x8 inch

This painting is SOLD

The atmosphere of this terrace attracted me to paint this. The people feeling relaxed, late afternoon, nice temperature outside, having a beer. The umbrella's were green, but I liked them better red so they would contrast nicely with the green surrounding.

Behind the people you can vaguely see the wall with black and white art. 

Starbucks on the corner

8x8 inch (20x20 cm)

oil on canvas

$ 65

SOLD

This Starbucks cityscape I painted from pictures I took. I feel I get better with the daily painting, this one catches the atmosphere and colors well!
Lots of Starbucks's (Starbuckses?) in my neighbourhood, this is my favorite one. In the distance you can see the buildings of downtown Houston.
I try to keep my painting loose, it gets better but doesn't come naturally to me. I have to push myself to use the biggest brush possible and only the small one for last detailing.