Autumn iris

Here’s a little 8x8 on canvas of one of my garden iris... I love flowers, and love painting them, too.

57 Chevy

I painted this at the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis.   A fun day, with other painter friends..... doin’ my thing...😘

Apricot rose

I decided to set up my easel in the front garden to capture the sunlight on this little gem.   Fun, catching this, since I only have 2 rose bushes I have ever been able to get roses from... this is a thornless variety I bought because I had 2 little granddaughters at the time and didn’t want them to get stuck...
   Sorry for the glare on the photo...

Small cuppa please

This one is from the archives.  I like the mix of warm and cool colors here, and the feeling of anticipation for that first sip....

Plein-air #146

     Since I'll be painting on site next weekend at the 'Art in the Town' in Webster Groves, I thought I'd better get my easel out (I'd yet to use it) and see if I could set it up.... Good idea, right?
     I also needed to see exactly what I will need to bring along.... I discovered I'd better pack a pair of gloves and some kleenex, if  it's chilly like it was today.
     Here is my very FIRST attempt at plein-air painting.  I see why it's so challenging.  The light keeps changing !  I suppose that's why lots of artists take reference photos, along with their painting, so they can go back to the studio and tweek the shadows and highlights, if necessary !
     I enjoyed the whole process, and plan on doing a lot more plein-air work !

 

 

Red-orange with hydrangea #114

     Just couldn't resist getting one more out of these flowers.... also, I couldn't resist this vibrant red-orange to go with them !!  Thanks to Leslie Saeta for hosting this wonderful challenge.....

JCS centerpiece #111

 

     This is the flower arrangement from the table at the Gala the other night.   I was wondering how to get the subtle off white of the flowers in shadow, knowing that there was not much color or contrast.  It was a challenge, for sure.   I bought a couple full sheets of matboard to use as backgrounds.  This periwinkle is one of my favorite colors !

Afternoon snack painting #100

 

     Well, made it to 100, and it seems as only yesterday I started.... ha ha 
     
     I've found that adding the number REALLY helps me keep track of my paintings.   My daughter helped me organize the way I put them in folders by the DATE.... that helps, too, when you're looking for a particular painting, and you don't want to spend all this time trying to find it ! ha ! 
     I suppose I never thought I'd have so many that I couldn't keep track, but somehow, they mount up !  Love the daily painting gig.... ha !

Time for a nap painting #96

 

     I know I've become addicted to pears, but I just had to do one more before they completely bit the dust!   I've really tried to work with the economy of strokes here, going so far as finding myself holding my breath as I apply the stroke, hoping it will do exactly what I want it to !! ha ha 
     I've thought a lot about how I'm applying the paint (especially since I've been on a regiment of daily painting for the 30/30 challenge)   I realized during this one that I must be conscious of putting MORE paint on my brush, instead of moving the paint around that's already on the canvas.... Each new revelation is valuable to me, with these 'baby steps' hopefully allowing me to move in the direction I want to go: to free up my work and make it fresh, communicating my subject without overworking the surface.....   I try to learn something new with each endeavor...

Big brother painting #93

SOLD

     Many varieties of pears, as well as other fruits, at Whole Foods.....  Here are two very different shaped ones.... reminded me of a big brother and his two sisters.....

Single Pear painting #90

 

Sometimes simple is best, I guess.    I was trying to get several done, and in doing so, simplified-- ha !  I really liked the way this one turned out.

3 Gerberas in tiny vase painting #81

     I'm chillin' out listening to my classic Billy Joel this morning, and finishing a painting..... so enjoyable being retired !  I hope all of you 'worker bees' get to experience this.... it's fun !

background redo... painting #41

Which one do you like better?  I changed this background, cause it's always bothered me. I guess it was too intense of a color, so I toned it down, and gave it more of a neutral feel.... what do you think?

Gerbera mix painting # 80

  SOLD

     Rainy Sunday afternoon.... no sunflowers at Whole Foods today, so went with these gerberas.   The first batch I cut a little too short, so, combined them for a mixed bouquet.   Fun, especially when I don't have to cook dinner, cause it's great leftovers from my birthday dinner last night at this cool Italian restaurant, Charlie Gitto's, on the "Hill" in St. Louis !!   How many times do I get so lucky that my family flys in from Dallas to join in the birthday celebration??  Thanks Brad and Michael, for making my birthday sooo special !

Tiny vase painting #79

SOLD

     I'll admit it.... Garage sales, and yard sales get my heart thumpin'... Just can't help it, I'm addicted.  I used to have antique mall booths with my sister, and that gave me a perfect excuse to shop.  Now I've given that up, because it took soooo very much time, but I still have to get out there every Sat. morning, in case there is some treasure that might get by me !  ha 
     I found this darling little tiny triangular vase, along with a couple of other little guys that had some unusual shapes, and I was so anxious to try painting them.   Here's the first one.... It doesn't take much to make me happy, I guess.  ha ha

Original variety painting #78

SOLD

The original variety of sunflower, with the dark center, is hard to beat..... I never knew there were so many kinds until I started painting them.....

Balancing act painting #69

 

They kept falling over, so I had to keep changing my painting... ha !  I had fun with the composition, though.  I need to shake it up a bit. !

Persimmon trio painting #68

 

     I've seen these in the stores, but never bought any until now.  I bought them particularly for painting, so now I'll have to see how to fix them so we can actually eat them ! ha !  I really had fun painting them !

Autumn Tea painting #66

 
   I love to sip on hot tea when the weather gets cool.... My favorite is Ginger-Peach..... This pot is one I got quite awhile ago. I love the two-toned coloring and the shape. 

Kirkwood House commission painting #63

SOLD

     A friend is putting a new house on this lot, and wants to share the memory of the old one with the former resident.   She commissioned me and I combined two photos to get the perspective and the awnings in there, that have been removed in recent years !

     I guess I failed to mention that the house is going to be taken down to build the new one.... ha ha