Mables and Perfume

 Marbles and Perfume

6x6, soft pastel

This little one was so much fun to paint…there may be more still life paintings to come this month…while I break all the rules in 2024.  

The Last Leaves To Fall

 

The Last Leaves To Fall

6x6, gouache and pastel

My ability to keep a poinsettia alive is nonexistent. I admire them, but I don’t try and keep them as a live plant throughout the year.  So, today’s painting was an experiment using the last leaves to dry up and drop off. The substrate I used is a canvas board and the underpainting is gouache with each subsequent layer applied in soft pastel.  The soft pastel layers were sprayed with fixative (true to form, each layer of fixative darkened the pastel pigment (which I really don’t like). So, the final top layer is fresh soft pastel unfixed by fixative.  Once again confirming to myself, I simply don’t like to use fixatives.  However, I do like the end result of this one.  Have a joyful New Years Day! Today is day 1 of my very own 30in30. For me, 2024 will be the year of no rules…just paint!  I’m already breathing a bit easier 😂

Sunbathing Tulips

 Sunbathing Tulips

6x6, soft pastel

Some of my favorite tulips are these deep purple ones that really pop with color once the sun hits them. I set up several vignettes a couple years ago using them...this photo being one of my favorites. I sure hope they come back up this year! I’m ready for all the colorful spring flowers to arrive. 

Bunny Planter with Petunias

 Bun Planter with Petunias

6x6, soft pastel

This little planter sits in front of my house and is made of cement. It can only hold a tiny plant so this year, it’s a petunia.  Such a sweet little guy!

Orchids

 Orchids

6x6, soft pastel

I don’t always indulge myself and purchase the flowers I want to paint...sometimes, a quick snapshot of flowers at the grocery store is all I need for inspiration. 

Soon There Will Be Petunias

 Soon There Will Be Petunias

6x6, soft pastel

I painted two pieces yesterday in anticipation of my second COVID vaccine shot today. These shots have been easy-peasey with no discomfort other than slight arm pain at the injection sight. Actually the needle itself is so fine these days, one cannot even feel it going in...which is a blessing for this needle-phobia person.  

The painting today was inspired by a previous painting and the petunias within it.  I love the affordability of the beauties and look forward to seeing them again very soon!

Petite Iris

 Petite Iris

6x6, soft pastel

Last year, I purchased these tiny flowers and took several photos for a piece I did within a shot glass series in January. So, it’s fitting to use them again this year for my mini-series on spring flowers. Given how difficult 2020 was for us all...it’s refreshing to focus on the beauty of spring and all its colorful flowers. 2021 is already looking better for us all...in fact, today I get my second Pfizer vaccine shot. Things are indeed looking more hopeful even though the COVID19 virus is still among us. May you flourish in 2021.

Shamrocks

Shamrocks

6x6, soft pastel

This little piece was made from my memories of searching for four leaf clovers as a child. I was often visiting my grandmother in St. Patrick, Missouri and because it’s St. Patrick’s day, I thought it would be a fitting subject matter. Both of these pieces are now on their way to new homes. I guess I’m not the only one that loves these little gems and the intrigue of finding an actual four leaf clover. 

Feeling Daffy

Feeling Daffy

6x6 soft pastel

I didn’t especially like this piece...until the next morning.  Then I decided it was ok.  Sometimes you have to step back and look at it with fresh eyes.

Silver Creamer With Cuties

 Silver Creamer and Cuties

6x6, oil

Day 12 Strada Easel Challenge

Practice makes perfect right? Well in this case, perhaps it looks like silver a bit more than in previous versions...or maybe not...but it was a fun exercise anyway! 

Jewel Tones

 Jewel Tones6x6, oil

Day 11 Strada Easel Challenge

These little jewel toned liquor glasses are some of my favorite ones (not that I have a lot of liquor glasses)...but, the painting itself didn’t meet expectations. For some reason the oil paint just didn’t want to go onto the canvas...so, like some paintings...I’ll probably paint it again. 

A Bit of Berries

 A Bit of Berrries

6x6, oil

Day 10 Strada Easel Challenge

I purchase grocery items sometimes with a painting in mind (such as these red raspberries).  Often, the food is eaten before a painting is created. This time, there were a few berries left, but only enough to fill this teeny tiny liquor glass. I love it’s deep purpley-red color.  It makes me think of grape jam. I may paint it again. 😊

Avocado Sunrise

 Avacado Sunrise

6x6, oil

Day 9 Strada Easel Challenge 

There’s something about painting this little piece that was so much fun, I wondered why I hadn’t painted one before now. I eat avocado and toast almost every morning and today was no exception. Unfortunately I broke down and ate half of it before I finished the painting. It was delightful!

Silver Sugar Bowl

 Silver Sugar Bowl

6x6, oil

Day 8 Strada Easel Challenge

Once again focusing on reflective surfaces in a super small still life. I purchased this little silver sugar bowl (I think it’s a sugar bowl) in Arizona.  I considered polishing it up before painting it, but the greenish patina was kind of charming. I’ll polish it later and paint it again.

Silver and Fuji

 Silver and Fuji

6x6, oil

Day 7 Strada Easel Challenge

Continuing with still life using a little wooden box...this time again, setting it up on top of the box to accommodate the bowl of fruit and focusing more on adding color.  I just love painting reflections. 😊

Thinking Outside of the Box

 Thinking Outside of the Box

6x6, oil

Day 6 Strada Easel Challenge:

Today I needed color! While dealing with shingles...and watching in disbelief as radical protesters stormed the Capital building...I just needed to go to a happier place! That involved searching for items that would make a happy colorful still life. So here you go! The beauty of painting is being able to go into “the zone”...where pain is dulled and the political rhetoric of the day is muted. May God bless and re-direct Americans towards a more tolerant peaceful existence. 

Amber Glass

Amber Glass

6x6, oil

Day 5 of the Strada Easel Challenge:

I loved the way the amber glass was reflecting off the back wall of this little wooden box.  I'm giving myself a couple hours to crank something out each day...but I hope to refine this piece in the coming days.  I'm going to have to square-up this box going forward since the canvas is square (the painting looks as though I couldn't paint a straight line) but,s maybe that's the funky nature of these still lifes. For now, I'll call it finished.

 

Pot In A Box

 Pot In A Box

6x6, oil

Day 4 of the Strada Easel Challenge:

No...it's not the kind of "pot" you might suspect...but a case of shingles has set in during the past 24 hours so finding some pain relief is priority number one today. I hear pot is good for that...but alas, I live in Idaho. I may need to visit an adjoining state (ha!).

Now for my painting...I'm infatuated with pitchers of all kinds. Big ones, short ones, squatty ones, and skinny ones. I think this little squatty guy may have been on a railway dining car because it has a little silver dish attached at the bottom, presumably for catching potential spillage as the train moves along the tracks. Whatever the reason, I love it's little plump body and attached lid and saucer. It's actually silver...so I may need to revisit this subject again this month because to me, it looks like a ceramic pot.  Nonetheless,  it's pretty darn cute!

Shell-ter In Place

 Shell-ter In Place

6x6, oil

Day 3 of the Strada Easel Challenge:

These pieces are considered studies...since they don't possess all the realistic details I would typically paint into a scene such as this (and they're painted with oils)...but they are a lot of fun to play with!  On the side, I am also painting in pastel...a more laborious juicy piece during the Challenge. Keeping the pedal to the metal when it comes to artwork (housework?...not so much, but then we are tidy folks anyway) 😎.

Feeling Boxed In

 Feeling Boxed In

6x6, oil

Day 2 of the Strada Easel Challenge:

I have this crazy little old wooden box that is far from square and has a beautiful patina to it. I've wanted to use it in some way for the Challenge.  I decided to start by placing small still life scenes in it. The title seems appropriate right now as we settle into winter...fortunately, our winters in the Boise Idaho area are typically pretty mild so there's really little chance of feeling too "boxed in".