Day Two Forty-Four

Started with Peppers again, to loosen up, and get my 'sea-legs' back (in terms of painting, ha ) Thought this might be fun, since we were going to cook these tonight on the grill with some zuchinni, and some lobster tails.... Anyhoo, I've been working on the house, getting stuff done, and we've shown it for 2 open houses, plus 3 other groups have scheduled times to come through... but no one has bought it yet !!! I've decided it's time to make some messes again, the way I used to !
Have gotten a couple of baby quilts done too, for friends, because with painting I had really gotten behind with those, too. I'll post pictures of the quilts when I get them back from the quilter, and put the bindings on...

Great house, if you are interested, in the St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood... available now..... It's a charming 90 year old vintage-one !!

I'm coming back, really I am....

I've been so busy... We listed our house yesterday in Kirkwood, Mo., and there is so much to do, plus we have a couple of little trips that were already planned...... I will paint, I will paint, I will paint !!!! just gotta get all this stuff done.. what a chore. See you all soon !

Back to Daily Paintings Soon !

I've been doing backbreaking hardwork in the 90 degree heat... but it will all be worth it, I'm hoping. Our big house is a bit too big for us, so we've decided to get it on the market and see what happens.... As a result the painting is on hold for a little while, but I'm 'chompin' at the bit' to get back, so it won't be long, I promise. Please don't desert me, I'm going to be back posting in a little bit.... thanks for the patience... I don't want to lose ANY OF YOU ! thanks, Sandy

Marigolds from Kentucky

I thought the least I could do was leave you with a painting... rather than just a line or two of text. These little humble marigolds were a Kentucky purchase, while looking for appropriate painting subject matter on vacation. I didn't actually paint them until I brought them all the way home. I liked the way they turned out, even though they don't give the 'big impact' of a larger, more colorful bloom..... somethings are just small and delicate, I guess.

Working on the House....

Life is somehow getting in the way of my painting these days. There seems to be only so much time, energy, and stamina. I'll be back to painting and posting SOON ! thanks !

Day Two Hundred Forty One

'Side Succulent'

6 x 6 oil on panel
75.00 + 6.00 s + h

I was going to do three paintings of the same apple... UNTIL I found out how difficult the plate was going to be. Meanwhile, I spied the plant I had done, and it was sitting on top the table. I liked the angle, so I decided on that instead. I don't know if it makes a very good composition, but I decided to post anyway.... tee hee !!!!

Day Two Hundred Forty

Apple of your Eye'

6 x 6 oil on panel
75.00 = 6.00 s + h

This was a vintage plate I bought to put into our antique mall booth. I thought the apple would look cool on top... The green glass was hard to capture, especially with the filagre design it had. Keep pushing the envelope.. I'm just sayin'

Day Two Hundred Thirty Nine

'Succulent #2'

8 x 8 oil on panel
95.00 + 6.00 s + h

I made a gift of the first one, so I decided to try painting this little plant again, only larger. I really enjoyed the color, which is a blue-gray, especially over the Permanent Rose ground !

Day Two Hundred Thirty Eight

'Begonia'

6 x 8 oil on panel
85.00 + 6.00 s + h

I used a very dark maroon ground for this one. It was a painting that I painted over, and because it had some darks in it, I had to make the ground really dark. Well, it wasn't quite dry, and kept mixing with my new colors, so I had to apply the paint really thickly. A whole different look, but at least it's looser, the way I've always CLAIMED to be wanting to GO !!
I'm not sure it will even ever dry, because I just remembered, I had varnished that other painting underneath !! ha ha !!!

Day Two Hundred Thirty Seven

'Peony and Stella'

8 x 8 oil on panel
95.00 + 6.00 s + h

Peonies used to be my favorite flower. I still love them, but they never stay for long, and when you bring them inside, they are always filled with ants !! Difficult in their subtly to paint. Easier for the well defined Stella Doro daylily !

Day Two Hundred Thirty Six

'Frontyard Iris'

8 x 8 oil on panel
95.00 + 6.00 s + h

This is the last of my iris... I only have a handful of them, from the previous owner. The times I've planted them they Never came up. I discovered that I had planted them too deep, which is often the problem people have with them. It's hard to keep them in place when you just literally place them practically on top of the soil. They tend to fall over, and not stay-put ! Does anyone have any good suggestions for this?
By the way, these babies are really hard to paint ! ha !

Day Two Hundred Thirty Five

'Frontyard Find'

6 x 6 oil on panel
75.00 + 6.00 s + h

I gave these little purple flowers to the baby girls (while sitting in their carseats to leave, yesterday) but alas, each of them had an ant jump out of it, and try as I might to get them shooed away, I missed both of them. Well, the plants stayed here, and with the girls freaking out when they see a bug, I was glad they didn't have an 'ant incident' on the way home, and have to stop on the highway to find the culprits !!! (the girls are 4 and 2, and really spot every bug !) ha !
I liked the way these looked, and decided to paint them, instead. This is the first time I've used my 'ground', which in this case was dry, for my background, and didn't paint over it.... I like it, I like it !!!

(Day Two Hundred Thirty Three)- Out of Order

'Single Blossom Peonies'

8 x 8 oil on panel
95.00 + 6.00 s + h

I posted these, but Blogger got messed up, and I lost the post... so here goes.
Yesterday I found these in the front yard, and it was so cool to get a set up arranged, without ever getting out of my pajamas. I used the Permanent Rose that Brenda Ferguson suggested, and got a really cool color, not as much like Alizarin Crimson as I thought it would be...
I see Permanent Rose in my future... ha ha !

Day Two Hundred Thirty Four

'Three's Company'

6 x 8 oil on panel
85.00 + 6.00 s + h

Pears practically paint themselves. Good thing, too, cause I've been so busy lately. Daughter coming into town for a week, and lots of family stuff, too.... Life goes on !!

Day Two Hundred Thirty Three

'Single bloom peonies'

8 x 8 oil on panel
95.00 + 6.00 s + h

I found these in the yard this morning. Wow, great to find something so cool to paint and not even have to get out of your pajamas... h a ! Well, I started them, went for coffee with friends, and ran some errands. Before dinner, did a little of the color, too, then when I came back after American Idol, the petals were all different... they had all shifted... how dare them ! well, I got them finished at 11:30 and hope they look alright. I had to guess on the finishing touches, because of the changes that have occurred. (Well, at least I hope James wins this Idol thing !) I voted tonight, for the first time !!! Go James !

Day Two Hundred Thirty Two

'Rhododedron, Again'

6 x 6 oil on panel
75.00 + 6.00 s + h

I went into the studio this morning, early, and lo and behold.... the bud I'd painted was still there, but, of course, it had opened... Instant set up for the next painting. This time I did the background more accurately to the actual one.
Finished it after playing 9 holes of golf with my son's girlfriend. Haven't played for a couple of years, but I didn't embarass myself, and we had a really fun time ! (that's usually all I can hope for on the golf course... ha !!)

Day Two Hundred Thirty One

'Backyard Rhododendron"

6 x 6 oil on panel
75.00 + 6.00 s + h

Thought this blossom was so pretty out in my backyard. The bush is fuller with blooms this year than I ever remember in the past.
Had fun with family at the annual Laumeier Art Show for Mother's Day. Hope everyone had fun with their families !

Day Two Hundred Thirty

'Succulent'

6 x 6 oil on panel
75.00 + 6.00 s + h

I've been buying so many special plants for the pots on my deck.... I love to have it look good, but it costs a bundle ! I bought this little one to plant with my jade plant that I painted awhile back. I brought it in and thought I'd try it. It was fun to paint, with all the subtly of values...

Day Two Hundred Twenty Nine

'Cyclamen'

8 x 8 oil on panel
95.00 + 6.00 s + h

I don't know what possesses me sometimes. this was the hardest flower I've ever done. It has so little definition, and it is so unusual shaped that it's hard to make it believable. Yet I try... ha ha !
It did like the end result though. Something about the overall shape of the stem and it's relationship to the flower. Love that pink, too !!!
Brenda, I got some permanent rose, and I'm dying to try it... Winson Newton color, right?

Day Two Hundred Twenty Eight

'Front Yard Mix'

8 x 8 oil on panel
95.00 + 6.00 s + h

This is all that remains of my tulips. The other blooms are from a couple of bushes I found on sale at the end of last season. I can't remember what they were, but they had originally been priced at 18.99, and I found them for .50 each. !! Possibly my best bargain EVER ! tee hee !!!