Up Close #130

 

  I had to rescue my blooms from the constant 4 day rain, before they got ruined.  These wonderful tree peony flowers are my first indication that spring is really here.  Once I measured the flower and it was 7" across... amazing.... and the color is brilliant.  Don't know if I totally captured the color but I tried.... with Winsor Newton's permanent rose.  Still trying for a believable rose color with the light on it.... sometimes the pink seems so unreal and not at all natural.  I remember reading to lighten a color go to the nearest one of the color wheel, rather than always adding white.    still working on it.
     If you have any hints on that, please add a comment to help me... thanks

Peonies in vase #129

 

     Certainly been a long while away from my easel, we have many jobs we are doing around our 100+ year old house, including putting in a new kitchen, and doing a lot of the work ourselves....  
     One of the first signs that spring is really here is my gorgeous tree peony blooms... Once I measured it and the bloom was 7" across !  Well, I rescued several from the rain, (it's rained for days here) and had to get to painting it....   This color is always a challenge, but I used the permanent rose I got awhile back, while seeing it in use on Brenda Ferguson's blog.   Thanks, Brenda, sometimes it is just the ONLY color that will do !!

New Painting set up....

 

 

Here's my new still life set up.  I found it awhile back at a yard sale.  It's a table with no sides, just a top and bottom.  I painted it with a reflective while enamel and with the help of some heavy white fabric I can create the sides and back, that way controlling the light and shadows.   I'm excited to try it out.... Now... I've just got to get 2 rooms painted, and a ceiling, and some cabinets to get ready for my new kitchen cabinets FIRST !!!

Microscopic inspired abstract #130

 

 

I tried a really big one (for me),because it's 32 x 32,for my newly painted 2nd familyroom..... I needed something big and bold over the couch, beside my "Clausen" abstract from California.   His work is so cool, usually completely abstract... we bought one of his rare ones which contains a portrait, also.

Taj Mahal #129

Traveled to India?  Gotta love it.

Bouquet #128

 

 

Here's a conglomeration of flowers from Trader Joes... They have good selections sometimes.  I liked these because they had ranunculus in them. 

Rose #127

 

 

     Still struggling with roses... they are hard to paint !  I somehow think I might have an easier time with an apricot or yellow one.   That's next, if I can find one ! ha !    Thanks for the helpful critique from my talented sis on this painting.... when she came over this week for her birthday dinner... love you, Lin !

Erica and Chalonda #126

 

 

     I started this with a painted all over surface, and then started to work on it with mineral spirits and q-tips... It was challenging, but fun.... By subtracting and then adding, over and over, it started to take shape.  I wasn't that concerned with whether or not it got a likeness, but only with being loose.....  I also decided to only use colors that were left on my palette from yesterday.  
     The sweet face belongs to Erica, who works for my Doctor, and takes such good care of me !

The second portrait is Chalonda, who took the exray of my foot when I left the Drs office on Tuesday....

Strange ancestor....

 

 

     Does anyone remember these old (red) piggybanks?  This one is from my antique booth and has an advertisement for a bank on the other side.  I know they came in blue, too.  I really like this little guy and thought it would be fitting to paint him with my current purchase of a bank for my granddaughter.  "A penny saved......etc."

Sunflowers #125

     So happy I found some sunflowers at Trader Joes...  Spring can't be too far behind, right???

Ranunculus and Delphinium #124

 

 

Delphinium is another flower I was unable to grow.  I spent 60. on 6 plants several years ago, but they all died.. so sad.  These are such a wonderful color.  I think it's either too hot or too dry in St. Louis for these. I do like the combination of colors here.  The periwinkle brings out the yellow-orange.

Ready for spring #123

 

 

     I love these beautiful flowers, here's another version of them.   Something about the tight buds, so compacted with vibrant colored petals and amazing contrast.   Wish I could grown them.  But.... Spring will soon be here, if that's any consolation !

Ranunculus #122

This truly is my favorite flower... I can't really explain why... Peony runs a close second...

Big Brush #121

 

    Still determined to conquer this rose.... ha ha

Dueling roses #120

      I found this at the grocery store today and decided I needed to challenge myself.   I was not happy with my attempt at them about 2 or 3 months ago.
    The rose is definitely the most difficult of all flowers for me to paint.  I'm gonna keep trying til I get it, though.    Bigger and bigger brushes are something I'm working on !
     As you can see, I did give it 2 tries !! ha ha

Girls bouquets #119

 

 

Here are both the little arrangements the girls had on their placemats at dinner last night...  such a fun family get together... Di made the lasagna and birthday cake, chocolate, of course... she did a fantastic job !

Spikey mums #118

 

 

     We hosted a birthday bash for Bus (aka Paw Paw) last night with flowers I bought to paint.... Grace and Kate had special little bouquets on their placemats, along with the larger centerpieces.....  Thought I'd better paint them too !  These were so different, but so hard to paint.... all those spikes !

Crimson pear with plate #117

 

 

An arrangement, once more, with my crimson pear.  The color is so fantastic. 

Crimson pear #116

 

     There was only one of these at the store.... It really grabbed me as I walked by it.  I've never seen a pear so red, or so shiny, and I had to have it.   It's lonely here, by itself, but it had to be painted... what can I say?

Dolly with mary janes #115

     This is an old school doll.  She's similar to one my sister had ( I wasn't big on dolls back in the day)  Anyway, I rescued her from the basement at an estate sale a month ago.  She looked pretty ragged, with a filthy dress (homemade, which I love) and grimey skin.   I cleaned her up ( that part was fun, cause I kinda talked to her the whole time, ha !)  and decided to paint her... Very big challenge to get her right and still keep a sort of looseness to the painting...   Well, I think it turned out, even though it got a bit more complicated that I had thought.... maybe I need to think ahead before I get into this kind of detail... Oh well, she's finished and maybe I'll do something simpler today... especially since it's Superbowl Sunday !!!