In the newspaper

Yesterday the local newspaper published an article

about me. I've put the link here if you want to check

it out. I've been in the studio working on an iris painting

and that prompted me to post this older version. I love the

tight buds with their twirled colors coming to a point. They

are always the first to come up in the garden. I might try to

transplant some rhizomes this spring...no experience in that

department, but like painting, nothing ventured nothing gained!

Transparent Layers

"Transparent Layers" 7.5" x 7.5"

In honor of my father's succesful heart surgery, which he had

a year ago this week, I am putting this poppy painting up for sale.

It is $75.00, includes S&H and is unframed. I will donate a portion

of the sale to the American Heart Association. I might sell another

poppy painting at the end of the week as well. Use the buy it now

button and you will be directed to Paypal. I painted a whole series

of these close-up poppies, varying their colors, backgrounds and

compositions.

Delft blue dish

"Delft blue dish" 15" x 15"

When I did this painting I really tried to give myself

an assignment of not dipping into the same colors I

usually do. This is pretty hard, because we are creatures

of habit and somehow with brush in hand we always hover

over the same areas on our palette. I've found a new way

to remedy that. I cleaned one of my big plastic palettes and

rummaged through my big jar of colors, then I picked out

some pigments that I don't usually paint with and squeezed

them onto the new, sparkling clean palette, forcing myself

to use those paints. It's actually quite nice to have fresh, soft

new paint in one place vs. dried, old pigment on my regular

palette...it is more satisfying so you actually want to use them!

Tulip-time

I finally figured out how to add a slideshow to my blog's

sidebar! Yeee Haw...amazing what you can accomplish

if you take some extra time behind the computer.

Looking at this painting I realize that my color selection

has changed a bit over the years. I seem to dip into brighter,

bolder colors now. There is a hint of it here in the blue

background along the top center, but overall this painting

has a distinctly pastel feel to it.

Pansies and pears

"Pansies and pears"

This piece was created around the same time as yesterday's

post. Similar colors and viewpoint. I love painting pansies.

Since they have such unique color combinations, it's hard

not to come up with mud sometimes. Especially with the yellow

varieties. Their centers vary from dark burgundy to purple.

Or the subleties of the blue ones with their darker lilac faces.

The flat of multi colored pansies I usually buy in the spring is

even called watercolors!

Group of Grannies

"Group of Grannies" 11" x 11"

Thanks for all the comments lately, I've really enjoyed

seeing where they are all coming from. I also got some

advice on slideshows and a blog award...but I haven't had

time to address that one yet. I know I'm supposed to pass

the award on to others, but since I already have the links

on the side on my blog I'm going to bow out and make those

my "favorites". I know it's a cop-out and I'm sorry :( but thank

you to Kim Ratigan for thinking of me!

Couldn't resist the title of this one...not at all what you'd expect!

Had fun with some different color combinations here.

White paper

"White flower bouquet"

Sometimes the white of the paper just says more than

all the colors in your paint tubes. I enjoy Fabriano Artistico

Extra White 140 lb. CP or SP. I really like the bright white

of this paper and the softer surface. Arches has come out

with a bright white paper as well, since it's original paper

has an off-white hue...Then there is the sizing issue..internal,

external, animal sizing or vegetable...The more sizing to the

paper the "harder" the surface and less bleeding of pigments.

Two views

"Two Views"

I always have a figure of the week image on the sidebar

of my blog, but I hardly ever post them as a regular post.

Since I change them every week there isn't any history. I

really have to figure out how to link a slide show to my blog.

I know it's just a matter of sitting and playing and taking the

time to figure it out...but..time, time, time. I've been enjoying

the weekly figure sessions. Today is a holiday so there won't

be class tonight. I had a good time doing this double view.

I am trying to work larger. It's easy to get caught up and start

on a small piece of paper, so I've been trying to start with the

eyes and make them up to an inch big.

Spring Bouquet

"Spring Bouquet" 15" x 11"

The stores are filling up with these blossoms..

I'll wait out the Valentine's rush and the change in

floral pricing(!) to get some to paint in the studio.

I just noticed the other day that there were hyacinths

at the grocery store..3 for $10..seems like a deal, so

maybe I'll try those on for a change. I also saw the tight

buds on some daffodil bunches and need to buy some

of those as well. I don't put them in with anything else

because they ooze a sap that clogs the stems of other flowers

and prevents them from drinking water.

Tropical respite

A tropical respite...we were in the midst of pouring rain

last night..today it's foggy because the temperatures are

above freezing and the snow is evaporating. January thaw

came in February! I'm in the studio working on some more

winter snow/barn scenes, but decided to post this painting

I did of a friend's house in Bermuda. I love the palm fronds

on the left side..oh to have plants like that in your yard!

Lily lightness

"Lily lightness" 15" x 15"

It's a good exercise to go through and look at paintings that

were created several years ago. Hopefully you find that there

has been a learning curve and you are more pleased with your

recent efforts...at least that's the theory, right? This painting

was in a group show back some years and won an honorable

mention award and got a write up in the local alternative paper.

Looking at it again I see that I really like the transparency of the

pigments and the simplicity...Everywhere I look lately the theme

does seem to be "keep it simple".

Sunset Silhouette

"Sunset Silhouette" 7.5" x 7.5"

It was time for another one of my feathered friends! One

of our Vermont galleries is hosting a Feather, Fin and Fur

show this spring..so I shall try to participate with some of my

rooster paintings. Theme shows are always interesting, because

you get to see so many different interpretations of a theme.

Should be fun to see a whole room dedicated to critters and ofcourse

in all sorts of different media. It's only February, but once you start

thinking about the upcoming show schedule..time will get eaten up

fairly quickly. Unfortunately galleries are closing all around due to

the dire economic times...I shall do my best to support the ones that

remain open!

Courtyard Colors

A study in outdoor garden furniture...

I gathered the paints one day and set up an

impromtu still life in our courtyard paying no

regard to where physical objects started and stopped.

I simply overlapped and combined shapes trying to

come up with a pleasing composition. I like the way the

brick pattern came out and the glass of the table.

Every year we try to get some of the elephant ear tropical

plants. We mix them in with our other annuals and it always

amazes me how HUGE those leaves get and I love the way

the rain pools and collects inside the folds of its foliage.

The dark purple/black variety is especially lovely.

Beach Grape

This is a journal painting done several years ago while

on vacation in a nice, warm climate! I will be going there

in my head today, because I am going to the dentist to have

two fillings replaced...ouch. So I will fill my brain with thoughts

of leisure and drown out the sound of the drill...did I make you all

cringe right there? Wish me luck...thank goodness for novacaine,

but I wish they could administer it without the needle part!

(just when you thought I'd talk about colors and painting process..ha:)

Blue silos

I thought I'd post this right after yesterday's image, because

I wanted you to see the difference in the blues I used for the sky.

It's probably hard to tell on all the different computer monitors,

but maybe the subtleties will come through. This blue is Verditer

blue by Holbein. It almost has a lavender feel to it. It seems warmer

than yesterday's blue..which has a distinct "cold" winter feel to it.

It has been great conducting these experiments...all these tubes of

paint and so easy to get stuck in the "always use the same colors rut".

Winter scene

As promised one of my winter landscape interpretations...

eventhough it was created from a photograph, but it's just

been toooooooo cold around these parts! I used a new to me

blue for the sky...it is cobalt teal from M.Graham Co. It is very

vibrant and I like the way it performed. I scumbled a paper towel

across the sky for some cloud effects. It certainly is hard to leave

so much white paper...I didn't use any masking fluid just in case

you were wondering.

Tall Poppy

Tall and skinny poppy..this is another

older painting. I used to let the pigments

flow more randomly...now it seems I try to control

them a little more. You almost don't know what's

going to come out of letting various colors mingle

on the paper...some of the time it's mud though..I am

a little borderline on this one. But experience teaches

us which pigments play well together and which ones

need to be separated on the playground!

victorian sketch

My latest contribution to the Different Strokes

blog...As a child I would want draw or paint, but

just didn't have the inspiration..so I would pester my

mother and ask her (insert whiny child's voice here)..

what should I draw?? Give me some ideas!! Well now

I have Karen who so graciously provides us with inspiration

once every two weeks! Plus she gives us unique subjects that

I probably wouldn't seek out myself..another way to stretch

the creative muscles! By the way...this is my 200th post! Yee haw.