September Whites

That rule about no whites after Labor Day seems a little antiquated today. Especially here in the South where it is often warm into Late October. In fact we are at the Gulf Coast beach today sitting in the sun. Ii was inspired to name this painting September Whites as homage to the rule.


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Late Hydrangeas

I tried this painting several times and for some reason I couldn't make it work. I then made the background darker and it fell into place. Using pure black paint is a no no in painting because it turns out very flat. Gamblin just came out with a chromatic black that is made of green and red. I usually mix my own darks but I decided to try the new one. I love it! It is great to mix in with other colors; I used it with ultramarine in this painting. Maybe it is lazy, but I am all for convenience to allow me to create the next masterpiece. Haha


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Hydrangea Chorus

When I choose to do a painting like this I have to be sure the values are correct because it is almost monochromatic. I have an app recommended by Carol Marine that changes a color photo to black and white.It really helps to see if there is good contrast of values.I try to make sure that every painting has a good balance of light, medium and dark values, even if one of those three is just there for a pop.


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Blue Bench

This bench is in a park area. Hopefully it looks inviting to sit and enjoy the summer day. Today is the last day of summer. Although here in the south summer really extends into October, the best month of the year here!


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Bucket Sampler

Lilacs come in a variety of colors. I like the mixture of the whites and purples. No matter the color, the glorious scent is the same.


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Red Pots

Red and green are complementary colors.I have taken photographs of red tulips in bright sunlight and the photographs always come out as almost vibrating because the contrast is so strong. When painting that color arrangement the trick is to dull the green with a little red.Green in nature is almost never just a color straight out of the tube.Changing the green makes the red the "star" of the painting. What divas!


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Catherine's Kitchen

Our son and family recently built a new house near Nashville.Catherine (dil) had picked these blooms from her yard and had them arranged in a vase. I took them and an apple and set them on the kitchen table to photograph in front of a window. I like the backlit look of them. All before breakfast!


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Geranium Close Up

I have painted geraniums before but this never this much of a close up. The shapes become almost abstract.





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Perfect Sky

On our morning walk we were blessed with this beautiful pink sky. I took a photo and painted it when I got home. We are lucky to have such a beautiful place to walk!



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Single Sun

I never tire of sunflowers. They are so beautiful and sturdy hopefully turning toward the sun.Painting them is like therapy!


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Best Blooms

After painting with bright colors for a week, I enjoy switching gears for some more understated painting. This one is has color but more muted and neutral.these flowers were such a pleasure to paint.
My daughter has started back teaching art in a new school district. It is hard to believe she is beginning her seventh year. It gives me a sense of continuity that she is following the career path that I took.Teaching children can be a headache sometime but it is a worthy endeavor.What other job has people so glad to see you walk down the hall?


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Market Share

I love walking by flower markets, even the flowers in front of small groceries in big cities like Boston. I think it is the combination of all the colors. Each flower by itself is not as impressive as the group. Maybe that could be a metaphor for our lives?


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Garden Chair

I like garden settings that look inviting. This blue cushioned chair is just waiting for me to sit and and enjoy the view. Rather than smooth brush strokes I chose to add texture with some stronger strokes.I love that every time I sit down to paint I never know what is going to happen. That really suits my personality. I remember loving to substitute teach because everyday was a new situation.my niece hated doing that because she liked to know exactly what was going to happen. We need all kinds of people ( her house is much neater than mine!) but I will keep doing what I do.


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Serious Pansies

This is a small(6x8) painting of a few purple pansies. I like the very close up approach. I am thinking that maybe I get a little too close. I went to the eye doctor yesterday. I examined my glasses before I went and found several tiny dots on the surface. I realize that they are paint! I was able to get them off of the surface. Maybe I need some welder's headgear!



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Rose Gate

I saw a lot of this kind of scene when traveling in Massachusetts this summer. It is like roses are meant to hang around white picket fences. Summer is going to fast; although I won't be sad to say good bye to the upper '90's we are having this week. Think cool!



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Afternoon Shadows

Often when I am out looking for things to photograph I find myself searching for shadows first.they can become more important than the objects .this reminds me of a scene that might have been in an old Alfred Hitchcock show. All that foreboding black and white photography.


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Rose on the Edge

I like this Rose. It seems to know that its days are numbered but exhibits some optimism.Or hours!
There is a new song out by a group from England called Bastille. The song is Pompeii, a song about what happens to the doomed city. One of the lyrics say"if you close your eyes, nothing is happening. I'm going to be an optimist about this"very clever lyrics and catchy tune.


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Reservation for Three

I like the drama of the shadows from the jars. Lighting from windows is always pleasing to me.
We had the pleasure of keeping our 5 year old granddaughter yesterday.She has started kindergarten but they only attend one day the first week in a small group setting. We did a lot of things but she liked the spin art we did the best. She said"this is a good experience" haha I hope all of her art experiences in the future are good!
Art tip: take an old salad spinner,tape a piece of card stock or small paper plate inside, squirt paint from small acrylic paint bottles onto paper, then spin!
A really fun project!


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Roses and Daisies

I painted this one today in my painting group. When I say group I mean one other friend who paints in watercolors. We meet at our church and solve all the world's problems while creating new work. What more could you ask for?


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Red Lineup

This is a large (16x20) painting that I have finished for a big art sale in November. I have to prepare about 15 paintings framed pretty soon. I think I won't have a problem having enough; the hard part will be choosing which ones!


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August Zinnias

We have had such a cool summer here so flowers are still thriving. Something about the beautiful colors of zinnias makes my heart feel the way it does when I hear a saxophone! I can't quite explain the way I feel about music. I don't play the piano or an instrument but I do love music. For our 25th anniversary this summer we have scheduled 5 concerts. We see James Taylor here in Memphis next week and then a few days later David Gray in Nashville. Fun!,



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Daisy Bucket

This is what I call a casual bouquet. Stems just dropped into the bucket are just nicer than an artfully arranged florist type bouquet. I just read with my book club a book entitled The Language of Flowers. It is a novel but references the qualities and words associated with each flower. Kind of like a horoscope for flowers. I would recommend it.



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Full Color

Sometime it is all about the color. Actually it is usually about the color! If this painting was an abstract it would still be pleasing because of the color harmony. Luckily nature does the harmony all by itself. Love my job!


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Out in the Country

I like the sunlit path with shadows. Makes us wonder where it leads to.



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Barely There

I hope someone is traveling the country photographing deteriorating barns before they collapse. I would do it but am just too busy taking pictures of old water towers!



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Violet Trio

African Violets bring up images of little old ladies and crocheted doilies but I do love them. The colors are so rich and jewel like and the leaves so fuzzy!



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Salmon Sky

I like to paint landscapes as a change of pace from my flower obsession. I look at the real scene before me but am always compelled to add extra color or shapes. I figure that it is my chance to jazz things up!


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Framed French Flower Market

I sold this painting to a customer fom Florida last year. She sent a photo of it framed. I rarely get to see the "kids" after they leave home!


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Rites of Passage

I started this painting and thought I had finished. When I took a photo of the painting I realized that it wasn't complete. The values were too close and I had some colors wrong. I worked in it some more; adding darks and lights to the mediums. I now call it complete!(8x8)



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Party of Three

This is a combination that I like- sunflowers and bottles.Three is such a good number for a composition, it is hard to go wrong with it at all.


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