Hydrangeas today... Painting #37

     The hydrangeas in my backyard are so beautiful this year.... maybe because of the mild winter we have had.   Today's painting shows the 3 different colors of flowers scattered on two of my bushes.   I think the periwinkles are the prettiest !

Naptime, circa 1950 Painting #36

 

     I set this up before I left for Arkansas, about a week ago.  Yesterday, I was anxious to go and get my eye surgery, and wanting something to occupy a few hours.  I started this, no drawing at all, just began with my brush, locating areas of extreme light and dark, and letting the image just emerge.   I started to see a shoe there, ( these are very old, and worn, from an antique sale... ) and I just kept refining.  It was kinda fun, no hassle or pressure.   The little quilt is one I made for my granddaughter for her baby dolls, out of left over fabric from a baby quilt I recently completed.     All in all, I like the results, because they truly are looser than my usual paintings.  Since these could have actually been 'baby boomer ' shoes, I named it "Naptime, circa 1950", with the help of my daughter...

Our daughter graduated with an MAT teaching degree last weekend, which meant I stayed for most of the week to help her pack to move back home to find a job.  This Monday I had surgery on my other eye... SSOOOO I'll be back to the studio as soon as possible !  You know, life sometimes 'gets in the way' of the painting routine !! ha !

Peonies in Ball jar Painting #35

SOLD

     Change of pace, today... I found this huge peony in my yard... I inherited a bunch of peony plants... I don't remember this really big one... it was fun to paint.

Maestown Antique Fair... Painting #34

     It was a great Sunday, filled with sun, heat, bratwurst, and LOADS of fabulous antiques.  It was the annual Maestown Antique Fair.  Maestown is a little historic town (and I DO mean LITTLE) in Illinois.  I shot lots of pictures, some of them will work as paintings, but they really are complicated to paint.  I'm trying to get the impression of bodies and shapes and activity.  This is new for me, but I'm gonna keep trying. The colors are really intense, due to the direct sunlight.  More to come.

Buff and Trisha Painting #33

     Funny that's the number of this painting.  It's my daughter and our former next door neighbor, who grew up together since age two.  They are now 33, turning 34 this year !  Here's a picture of the two of them at the new Crystal Bridges art museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.

     Tracey is in school in Fayetteville Arkansas, and will graduate with a masters degree in English education this semester.  She's worked so hard and this degree will compliment her photo-journalism degree from MU.  She got to reconnect with her old buddy this year, which is a joy that most people don't get to do.  
     We're so proud of you, Buffy !

Tomorrow I'll re-evaluate and maybe put a few finishing touches on this !

Yellow Hat Painting #32

     I've seen this woman walking before, with her yellow hat... well, this time I stopped, and asked her for a few pictures, and she graciously obliged.  Something about that hat !

Maggiano's lunch reflections Painting #31

 

     I snapped bunches of pictures while eating with my sis at a fun restaurant in Brentwood this week.  Only problem is... they are so complicated to paint... need to keep subject matter a little more simplified, I'm thinkin'....

At the Park Painting #30

     This is Cassandra's mom, at the park the other day.   My granddaughters were playing on the playground. 
      I thought she had called her daughter, 'Sandra', which, is a pretty rare name for a little one, so I commented on it to her.  She corrected me, and I realized she could make a good painting study, so I snapped a few of her, kinda pretending to be getting pictures of my babies.... ha ha .... people always start to 'pose' if they think you're getting them in the picture !  Either that, or they don't want you to take it, but--it never looks exactly like them, anyway, so I don't know why they care...  Oh well

     Maybe some of you could offer some insight on how to get pictures of people without them noticing or caring ?

Beach Walkers Painting #29

     This is my first attempt at ocean, water, waves, etc.  It is challenging to get the color and values just right.  I think this picture was late afternoon, or it looks that way from the shadows.   Shoes in hand, they are probably walking to the public beach, or the great restaurant on the pier that you see here... Benny's.... great food !

Palm Beach Painting #28

    On a recent visit to Palm Beach to visit my friend, we stopped on the way from the airport at this great seafood restaurant.  I snapped this shot as we left.  Not quite finished.  Gotta put the finishing touches on tomorrow.

Zoo...the Hippo tank Painting #27

SOLD

     The St. Louis Zoo is Fantastic.  I've been going there since I was a little girl, and now I get to take my granddaughters there to enjoy the animals, too.  There have been so many improvements over the past decades.  Big Cat Country is a wonderful setting to see lions and tigers without the confines of a traditional cage.  The elephants, rhinos and others (including the cheetah and hyenas) are visible along a beautiful walk among the wooded areas called Rivers Edge.  New features include: A great penguin house, the butterfly house, the 1904 World's Fair Birdcage, a tank where you can pet stingrays and sharks, the children's zoo, a new facility for the apes, (fantastic) and the Newest -opening this year- is a huge redesigned living space for the sealions and seals.    Make sure you visit if you are in St. Louis !
     This painting is from a picture I took of my 3 girls (daughter-in-law and 2 granddaughters) at the huge tank for hippos and large fish.  Those hippos swimming, viewing them underwater, is sure a sight to see !!!

Key West cyclist Painting #26

SOLD

     While recently in Key West I snapped a few shots.  Having some fun with them now.  Love the look of the bikes, and the loads of value contrasts.

Out to Lunch..... Painting #25

     Here I've strayed a bit from my usual still life, but this is a picture I took a few weeks ago.  My sis and I went to lunch and to our Botanical Garden.  We were both art teachers, retired, and have loads of interests in common.  One day a week we get together to either paint, sew, antique, (junk shops) and generally get into a bit of mischief !  It's fun !

Finished

SOLD

     I worked on this, until finished last evening.  And- one day after cataract surgery !  Ha... guess that means my eye will be fine for painting purposes !!  After 5 weeks, I'll schedule the other one.  Here's me with the patch you have to wear to sleep, so you don't accidentally rub your eye.....

Commission update

I worked today, adding color to my portrait commission.    He still has lots of more detail before he's done....

Gerbera Daisy Painting #24

 

     These always look so great at the nursery, then I bring them home.   Maybe I'll have to get some Miracle Grow to keep them blooming ! 

Plums Painting #23

     Plums on a plate.   Posting with my post-operative cataract surgery eye closed.    Surgery went well today.   Glad it's over... I was stressed, but so many friends have told me they have had great experiences with it too.   Now, I will be able to see to drive (in one eye, for now) without the glasses and contacts I've worn since I was in Mrs. Lauerman's 4th grade class !

White Asters Painting #22

     Whenever I find these at the thrift store, I buy them.... even if a dog has chewed on them, and they can't really be worn (too well, anyway).  Come to find out, these little numbers are very special indeed, and are made in France... who knew?

Rare portrait commission Painting #21

     I'm working on this as a  SURPRISE  father's day gift.  Here is the first stage, in terre verde green.  I learned this method from Chris Saper's book on portraiture.  She does her completed underpainting in green because it's the complement of the fleshtones which will be added when this is completely dry.  I've used this method in my entire series of students portraits--  flicker site---