Yellow Story

I am not sure how many jars I have painted in the past few years but it is a lot. The jars all alone are not as interesting as they are when filled with beautiful flowers. The combinations and possibilities are endless- I have a few more left in me!

Call Me

i have been painting some larger canvases lately for a show but like to take a break and work on some small paintings . It is very satisfying to create these small vignettes. Because they are smaller (8x8) there is no pressure to put on myself to create a masterpiece. Another beauty of oil painting is that if I don't like how a painting is going it can be wiped off and started over. If only life could happen that way!

Back of the Garden

I am getting paintings ready for a solo show at the Memphis Botanic Gardens in August. Most of the paintings I show on Daily paintworks are 11x 14 or smaller. For this show I needed some larger ones so I have been busy.It takes a little adjustment to move to painting larger but not difficult to do. The same principles of design apply to both. The main difference is just larger brushes!

Fine by Me

No matter what I paint I always come back to flowers. I remember when I was in the eighth grade and painting flowers on wooden and metal boxes, actually anywhere I could find. You will have to remember that was in the late '60's- flower power and all that love. I am not good at growing things, not good at botany terms but painting flowers is my thing! I feel totally at peace and comfortable when standing in front of an easel with some flowers to paint. Lucky girl!

Transformation

i used to be afraid of painting glass; it just seemed to be too complicated. I finally got brave and discovered I really loved it. This particular jar was calling my name! The complex changes between the blue and the aqua as the light came through was exciting. I know , I am easily entertained.

Minute by Minute

We  stay at the same beach house every year. The furnishings change from time to time but most have been the same over the last 12  years. On our day of departure we always leave very early to avoid the trafgic. As I was checking for any items that were left behind I noticed this basket with very nice silk peonies. I guess I had seen them before but not realized how interesting the basket was. So I took time to take some photographs of it before we got in the car to head for home. I painted this view of it as soon as I could after I got home. Moral the story; always be on the lookout for beauty right under your nose!

Color Choice

i painted this one a few months ago but forgot about it. Things have been busy around here with preparing for our beach vacation , going on it and unpacking when we got home. I remember my mother would take all kinds of things from her kitchen when she went . I remember thinking that she doesn't need to do that; we could just eat out.The night before the trip she and my father would have the drama of packing it all into the car. I have now become my motner! The beach house that we rent has an equipped kitchen but I end up taking knives, waffle maker, margarita machine, etc. I also hate to leave the beautiful view we have of the Gulf so my husband and I rately eat out when we are down there.Other family members do go out but often are disappointed in the touristy restaurants. We have friends who live near beach who have directed us to some good local restaurants for when we DO decide to eat out when there.

Expecting You

I am the first to admit that I don'tenjoy drawing or painting buildings. Measuring and perspective are just not fun to me. I do like parts of houses though.A porch, a window or a doorway are the perfect complement to the flowers I love. (Stress free!)

Purple Wall

Sometimes a pot of flowers can be a little ordinary so I try to think of something to spice up the painting.The original background for this was just a gray wall. By adding the lovely lilac and aqua color the overall effect is very pleasing.

INSPIRATION

Today is the last day of our beach vacation in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This is our 11th year in the same beach house.Our family has grown to 19 people. It is a wonderful time for cousins to get to know each other well and bring up funny stories from the past between siblings. It is also a way  my husband and I to enjoy the results of all the years.
Back to painting next week!

Back Patio

I like to paint a little vignette as opposed to a panoramic view. Also I like nature added to some manmade things as a composition. This painting has the perfect combination of that, the flowers and the patio furniture complement each other.

Garden Party

Green is a tricky color. The color that comes out of the tube is usually artificial. The best greens
are made from mixing yellow and blue.I like to show a variety of greens from cool to warm. One of my favorite colors is one named Carribean Blue. It adds some excitement to a mostly green subject.