Fresh Cut

This little painting was painted from a photo.  My concentration was on the glass vase in this painting.  I normally don't paint a lot of glass in my art, but I was happy how this turned out.

"Fresh Cut"
(4 x 6 - oils on canvas panel)
SOLD

More Roses

I'm still painting roses!

"Pink Rose #3"
(6 x 6 - oils on canvas panel)

"Orange Rose"
(6 x 6 - oils on canvas panel)






















Artist Note:  I'm still working on form and color combinations, trying not to blend it out.  As I paint these I am studying the way the petals turn and the color contrasts, playing cool against warm and light against dark.  I don't have real roses to paint from but I am using a book and what I learned from my floristry experiences to paint these.  Practice, practice, practice...

Patio Greens

The inspiration for this painting was from a photograph showing leafy greens planted on this patio.  The photograph had a white wall, and some boring pots below so I did some artistic editing.  I also moved the watering can out a bit so it wasn't so hidden.

"Patio Greens"
(10 x 10 - oils on panel)

Pink Roses

I love painting the same subject multiple times to study how different they turn out.  I find it very interesting how using different painting surfaces will result in such a different look.

"Pink Rose #1" 
6 x 6 - oils on canvas panel


This first rose was painted on canvas panel, notice the coarser textured background.

For the rose I used combinations of alizarin crimson, transparent oxide red medium, permanent rose, burnt umber and white.  The background was mixes of ultramarine blue, sap green and white.  For the greens I used sap green, dioxide purple, indian yellow, cad yellow light, burnt umber and white.

"Pink Rose #2"
6 x 6 - oils on panel


I think this is a softer look with the panel.  I used the same colors that I did for the first painting with  different color intensity mixes.

The only other difference in color here is that I scraped together what was left from the first painting of the rose and used it in the background of this painting mixed with my blues.









Artist Note:  I used titanium white for these paintings, but found it hard to get the feel I wanted from the whites.  I didn't have a white with a heavier body but I will paint this again with a thicker white to see if I get a better result.  I think the umber in the first rose mixed with the alizarin gives me a deeper color to the rose and I liked that a lot.

Please feel free to share any comments, suggestions, etc. I would love to hear from you...

Fall Plants

Season's change is soon upon us and it has me thinking about my garden series again.  This little Terracotta pot reminds me of  the Fall Season with its earthy colors and the ornamental cabbage plant growing there.



"Fall Planting"
6 x 8 - original oil painting on panel

Summertime Flowers

I woke up this morning to a gloomy rainy day.  I know my flower gardens need rain to produce those beautiful blooms I see when I look out into my yard.  On days like today I am grateful to be able to produce my own sunshine through my art in these floral paintings.

As fall approaches and the seasons change, I look forward to the cooler temperatures and being able to get outdoors to do some plein air painting, possibly take a trip somewhere to paint.

"Red Knockout Roses"
8 x 8 - oils on panel

"Sunflowers"
8 x 8 - oils on panel

Seedling Pot

This little pot has no bottom and has a removable lid.  It can be placed over planted seeds for germination and/or a tiny plant (with the lid removed) to protect it from the wind and harsh seasons.  I like the way it is nestled in the garden among the plants growing there.  It kind of reminds me of how we Mothers protect and watch over our babies...

"Seedling Pot"
10 x 10 - oils on panel

Beach week

I recently returned from a wonderful week in Florida at Seagrove beach.  I brought my paints and although I did manage to paint a little bit, most of my time was spent playing at the beach and in the surf with my family.  Our grand babies really enjoyed the beach and it was so much fun to watch them, I didn't want to miss a minute.

Here is a picture of my beautiful family.  We had such a wonderful time!

A couple of quick paintings from my balcony...

"Ready For The Day"
6 x 6 - oil on canvas panel



Note:  This was what I was very lucky to wake up to every morning.  The beach was absolutely wonderful.  I painted this as the guy was setting up umbrellas and chairs for the day.

"The Sky Is Closed"
6 x 6 - oils on canvas panel





Note:  Sunsets in Florida are so beautiful.  I painted this one evening and when my little grandbaby came in to see what Nana was painting he described this as "the sky is closed".

Peacock With An Attitude

While visiting and painting in Jefferson Island at Rip Van Winkle Gardens one day, I took a picture of this resident peacock with the intentions to paint him.  This bird was so majestic and oh so cocky.  Truth be told I really had trouble taking his picture.  He kept turning and running...very non-cooperative for picture taking.

"Peacock With An Attitude"
(5 x 10 - oils on panel)

"Put a Cork in It" Competition

The Lafayette Art Association that I belong to is having another juried art competition they have named "Put A Cork In It", which only means they are serving wine and cheese at the reception.  But, I always find it a challenge to try to do a play on words, especially when I create an abstract piece.  I racked my brain and went to work on creating something for the show and here is my entry.  I will find out next week if this piece makes it in.

"Nature of Things, Good vs. Evil"
30 x 40 - oil on gallery wrapped canvas































Artist Note:
In my Abstract Representational piece, God and the Devil, obviously represent good vs. evil.  The rose with thorns represents nature and beauty as well as being vulnerable to hurt.  The leaking heart represents Mankind.  God is looking down on us and smiling.  The yellow from his beard is enveloping the heart and fixing the problem, thus "Putting A Cork In It"...and yes, that is a real wine cork.  The devil is not happy...