Joyce's Art Gallery

Passing Storm

2011-11-06T13:14:00.000-08:00

Recently, I have literally been caught up in the storm clouds. Maybe because of the drought we have experienced here in Texas. This is an original, 16x20 pastel painting, on Canson matboard, of a passing storm cloud.

Sunrise After The Rain

2011-09-18T16:19:00.000-07:00

There was a wonderful sunrise this morning after yesterday's rain.

Visiter

2011-09-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

The neighbor's cat dropped by to check out my fishing hole.

Texas Rain Clouds

2011-09-18T14:23:00.000-07:00

A little relief from our drought! Thankful for every drop!

OOPS!

2010-08-16T17:44:00.000-07:00

Rosebud by Joyce Brandstetter Couch

This is not just a ''oops'' but a major ''oops!'' I have been working hard,'' taking advantage of the world wide web'', to get my art seen. I built a website, took to blogging, got on Facebook, entered Facebook art groups. Now, I find out that it is not appropriate to use the word ''gallery'' in an artists website or blog. As I have used the word ''gallery'' in both my website and my blog. My website and blog are also on my business cards. I have some major decisions to make and work ahead of me if I decide to give them both a new name. I can either act innocent and leave things as they are or make all the changes that are necessary to be appropriate. While I want to appear professional and do things appropriatly, if I change my blog name the result will be that I loose my followers. And there is the wasted business cards. I think I will need to think this over and weigh the pros and cons. I would like to hear what other artists and galleries think about this.

A Quiet Place

2010-08-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

A Quiet Place by Joyce Brandstetter Couch

Here in Texas, there are little hidden streams on every country road. Dry streams most of the year, but after a rain they come alive. Small and overgrown they are hidden from view by all except for the most curious passerby. I found this one in San Saba County, Texas. The bright sun seemed to cast a golden sheen on the rocks and water and a small patch of blue reflected from the sky. A Quiet Place is a 16x20 acrylic painting.

Crossroads

2010-08-07T10:25:00.000-07:00

Painted from a photo that I took in the spring. This is a crossroad in San Saba County, Texas. 16x20 acrylic painting. I knew something was not quite right with this painting, so I posted it to be crytiqued on an artist magazine site. I got a lot of ideas on improving it, some negative remarks and also some positive ones. The negative remarks brought me down for a while, but I will not let them keep me down. Eventually, I will work on this again and see if I can improve it, if not it will not be a wasted cause as any painting I do can still be a learning experience for me.

Little Artist

2010-07-29T03:23:00.000-07:00

Little Artist by Joyce Brandstetter Couch

She was setting there on the floor, lost in her drawing. The sun was coming in the window behind her highlighting her hair. She looked like an angel. I don't think she was even aware that I was taking pictures, so deep was her concentration on her task.The more I looked at the photos the more I wanted to paint her.Little Artist is a 16x20, pastel.

A Texas Spring

2010-07-24T16:12:00.000-07:00

A Texas Spring by Joyce Brandstetter Couch

A friend and I went on a day trip this spring to see the bluebonnets and take pictures. They were exceptionally lovely this year. As soon as I saw this scene, I knew, I had to paint it.

Why do I paint

2010-07-20T03:51:00.000-07:00

‘’Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures’’ ~Henry Ward Beecher

Why do I paint?

I remember one of my grandchildren asking me this one time. At the time I was a little offended as the question was actually,’’ Why to you just set around and paint all the time?’’ I knew in my heart that that question was being repeated from an adult. Recently I have been working on my artist statement and BIO. Everything I read says to tell why you paint, so that got me thinking about the reasons. Painting is a form of expression, how the artist sees the subject and how the artist feels about that subject. I paint what I love. Inspiration comes as an overwhelming feeling to express oneself about a subject, to put on paper or canvas, your most personal feelings about the subject. A writer will tell the story. A visual artist draws or paints the story.

Country Road

2010-02-24T17:01:00.000-08:00

Country Road by Joyce Bandstetter Couch

Country Road is an original 16x20 acrylic painting on cavas . My inspiration came from a near by curve in a rocky dirt road . Where is it going ? That is left up to you , the veiwers imagination !

Autumn Waterfall

2009-11-16T16:38:00.000-08:00

This is my newest painting ''Autumn Waterfall '' , 16x20 acrylic on canvas . I have been so inspired by the autumn colors , recently . I just listed it on my brand new website , Joyces' Gallery . Hope you will look at both and let me know what you think .

Autumns' Blaze

2009-10-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

My second to enter in the Facebook competition . Acrylic on canvas , 18x24 .

Autumn

2009-10-16T13:57:00.000-07:00

I just entered this in the The First Annual Autumn Arts Painting Challenge and Competition on Facebook . Wish me luck ! 18x24 acrylic on canvas .

October

2009-10-11T14:44:00.000-07:00

I just finished this fall painting . My inspiration was a stock tank just outside of Zephyr . Not yet sure that I will enter it in the facebook competition . May wait as it is still early . 11x14 Pastel on Multimedia Artboard .

The First Annual Autumn Arts Painting Challenge and Competition"on Facebook

2009-09-29T17:18:00.000-07:00

I just entered this competition on Facebook . I have noticed that Autumn is beginning to show its face , however slightly here in Central Texas . I have always loved the colors of Fall . We have lots of red oak in this area and they are my favorite in the fall . Now I have to decide what medium I will use , acrylic or pastel and hope for an early Autumn . These are a couple of my autumn leaf paintings . No, they will not be entered as they are painted on a leaves and not painted in the correct time frame .

First Sign Of Autumn

2009-09-17T18:25:00.000-07:00

An original painting ,11X14 Acrylic on multimedia artboard . Inspired by visit to Cliffveiw Resort , Whitney , Texas

The Neighbors Barn

2009-09-12T21:48:00.000-07:00

Could not think of anything else to name this . 16x20 original pastel landscape . My first pastel landscape . Listed in my Etsy shop .

Just Before The Storm

2009-09-03T17:37:00.000-07:00

My husband and I went for a drive one evening and I spottedthis old Barn . Thirty minuites later it was storming . 16X20 original acrylic painting on canvas . Listed in my Etsy shop , http;//artbyjc.etsy.com

Inspiration

2009-08-14T08:51:00.000-07:00

This last two years have been a hard ones , to say the least . First , it was neccesary for me to go back to work full time and of course this cut my time that I could spend on my artwork . Then some unspeakable things happened concerning my children and grandchildren . Admidst it all , I lost my inspiration to do artwork . As an artist who had always felt that inspiration , this was another tragedy for me . With Gods grace and the love of my family and friends , I am on my way back ! Footprints in the Sand
''One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

Some of my ACEOs

2009-08-13T13:16:00.000-07:00

These are ACEOs . ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions and Originals".

Some of My Leaf Paintings

2009-08-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

Rosebud

2009-08-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

This is my new pastel painting . It measures 11X14 inches . I have listed it in my Etsy shop , http://artbyjc.etsy.com/