Duece Violettes

 Duece Violettes

8x6, soft pastel

Another spring flower are the beautiful purple violets. And, it’s another spring flower that we had at our house when I was growing up in Iowa. They bloomed each year under an old oak tree in our backyard. Ah, such good memories. 

 

Lillies of the Valley

 Lillies of the Valley

8x6, soft pastel

A childhood favorite. I always knew when spring had finally arrived once the Lillies of the Valley bloomed at our house. We had a large patch of them on the side of our old Victorian house. I enjoyed making little bouquets of them...their scent was intoxicating.

Study - Vase of Sunflowers

Study - Vase of Sunflowers

8x6, soft pastel

One of my goals is to sell affordable original artwork. Sometimes that's a big challenge when a painting can take quite a few hours to complete. Such is the case with my "realism" pieces, where one painting can take days, weeks, or months to complete. But others that are more "impressionistic" are more easily created and (once in awhile) just more fun to create.  And thankfully, more affordable to just about anyone.  Hope you enjoy this little vignette.

Pitcher of Twigs

Pitcher of Twigs

8x6, soft pastel

This little pitcher of twigs is my reminder that spring is only weeks away!  I painted it as part of the Strada Easel 31 Day Challenge (already shared on Facebook).  The best part for me was painting the crazy vertical light reflection on the pitcher itself.  Hope you enjoy it!

TC and Friends "Fun Times In Idaho"

TC and Friends 

"Fun Times In Idaho"

8x6, soft pastel

TC and her two friends arrived in Idaho a couple days ago.  As soon as they unpacked they were raring to go! They wanted to see the sights in and around Boise.  First on their list was hitting the slopes at the local ski hill, Bogus Basin.  Actually, it was Senor Azul who was most adamant about skiing. He crowed all the way to the top of the mountain.  TC was mildly amused and hen kept peering over the side of the chairlift, certain her chicks would meet an untimely demise.  They all returned to my art studio safe and sound and in one piece (well, ok...three pieces).

TC (aka the Traveling Chicken) is a small ceramic chicken that has traveled the globe since 2012.  She picked up a couple friends along the way and together they visit hosting artists in their studios.  Each artist agrees to create a painting of one or all of them and then pass them on to the next artist.  It was a fun day painting these three goof balls!

Follow TC’s adventures at http://travel-chicken.blogspot.com The painting above is available for sale ($125) on Dailypaintworks at https://www.dailypaintworks.com/artists/Cindy-Gillett-5073/

Harry Needed To Chill Out

Harry Needed To Chill Out

8x6, soft pastel

This was a painting completed from life ahead of time since I'll be out of town and internet will be spotty.  A scene from our neighborhood.  Even though I live in Idaho...our subdivision was developed with a desert theme....many of the original cacti have died (no surprise there)...but the Joshua Trees keep hanging on. The fact that they survived last year's epic snowfall is amazing.  I call this little guy Harry.  He was a bit frosty this particular morning but still very beautiful.  I love the light green section at the top...as though he's ready to sprout new growth...you go Harry!

While traveling, I also completed this crazy little painting below of garlic.  Not my favorite painting for sure, but some days painting from life is like pulling teeth.  Day 15 of the #stradaeasel 31 Day Challenge.

Garlic

6x6, soft pastel

English Roses

English Roses

8x6, oil on linen board

During October I took an online course from the ever talented Dennis Perin. Dennis is so very talented at capturing the light in oil and is an excellent instructor (check it out at www.theperrinmethod.com).  

One thing I really enjoy is to paint a piece in oil and then soft pastel or vice versa.  Above is my oil piece and below you'll find my soft pastel piece. Do you have a favorite?  I'm just not sure which one I like over the other. That's the funny thing about being the artist...it's tough to be objective. Also, we're typically super critical of our work. After three and a half years of painting, I'm getting better at quieting down that critical voice in my head and just letting things be. That said, I'm still very much in pursuit of my masterpiece.  Will it ever materialize?

English Roses

8x6, soft pastel

Holiday Reds

Holiday Reds

8x6, soft pastel

Our local plein air group usually paints throughout the winter months at Edward's Greenhouse in  Boise. The temperature is just right for painting and we typically have a plethora of subjects to paint...especially during the holidays when the poinsettias are in bloom.

Spilling Over

Spilling Over
8x6, soft pastel

This is a painting I started this summer while visiting my mom and sister (and her husband Al) but I didn't get to finish it. So, here's the finished piece.  The photo's a bit dark...but otherwise accurate.  This was a big pot of flowers outside the facility mom lived in.  I loved painting it especially because the flowers were spilling over the edge...love when that happens! 

Sole Survivor

Sole Survivor
8x6, soft pastel

Sole Survivor was just that...the very last sunflower on my small little pot of sunflowers growing in the front yard.  I like these sunflowers since they stayed small and didn't overtake their space.  I also loved that the all the blooms lasted throughout the summer (I'm used to having to deadhead flowers but not these)...they didn't dry out even a little bit until September.