Fancy Pants

 Fancy Pants

6x8, soft pastel

While I was painting this one all I could think of was “fancy pants” for a title. It’s such a fancy, frilly type of bloom. So, when it came time to title the painting that’s all I could think of.  So...here ya go!

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!

Pink Ballet

Pink Ballet

6x6, soft pastel

Another favorite spring flower of mine is the bleeding heart plant. I was in third grade and at the home of a good friend when she showed me these mesmerizing flowers in her mother’s flowerbed.  I was amazed by them. I had never before seen such a perfect little heart shaped flower in mass dancing in the breeze. They are such a delightful little gift of spring.

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.

The Last Bloom of 2020

The Last Bloom of 2020

6x8, oil

Day 1 of the Strada Easel Challenge:  2021 Is Here!

I'm not sure the world has ever been happier to start a New Year as it is this year. Of course, we are certainly not out of the woods when it comes to the pandemic in which we have all found ourselves. In fact, the pandemic rages on...it's never been worse. Our hospitals are full and struggling still to help all those who are in need of medical attention...whether COVID related or not. I heard a statistic today that 1 in 11 Americans have it or have had it. My grandson Tyler had a mild case from attending college. My grandsons Zack and Brian currently have mild cases, thank the Lord. And, we suspect my daughter's farm family in Washington state had early cases of it last spring...before testing was widespread.

The world has lost countless lives whether from the virus itself or as a result of it and it's impact on our healthcare system, our mental wellbeing, and the world's economy. Mankind is reluctantly united in a way we have never (in my lifetime) been united...to fight the virus, to get an effective vaccine, and to recover economically. But, most importantly, too recover our sense of freedom. 

Oh how we took for granted the simple things in life! Now, we have to stop and consider whether we can visit our families and friends, go out to restaurants, movies, concerts, sporting events or fly on a plane. Even though our odds of surviving are quite good, most people are doing what it takes to both bolster our economy while at the same time staying healthy so we don't inadvertently spread the virus and further burden our healthcare system.  

COVID19 has by now touched every family I know. Fortunately most have gotten mild or moderate cases and slowly recovered. Some have been in ICU yet thankfully survived. Several friends have lost loved ones and a few of my virtual friends have lost their lives. 

Mankind has weirdly adapted to the uncertainty and heartbreaking reality of COVID19...yet we all yearn for the day we can return to the world we once had. So, in a way, we celebrate from afar, a new year...with new hope that 2021 will be better than 2020. 

May God bless us all and help guide us to healthier and happier days ahead!

Shot of Lead

Shot of Lead

6x6, soft pastel

Day 5 of the #stradaeasel challenge - up at 3:30am ready to go and enthralled with my little shot glass theme. I’m sure I’ll tire of it by month end...but for now, it’s captured my attention.  This time I stayed “painterly and loose”. 

Pretty In Pink

Pretty In Pink

9x9, soft pastel

It's funny how we anticipate water lily blooms. It takes months in the Idaho mountains for a water lily plant to send up its offerings for the year. I patiently monitor their progress all summer long and take many, many, many photos. But alas, this bloom was actually captured by an artist friend, not me. I love how she captured the vibrant blue of the sky against the colors of the bloom.  So pretty in pink.

Variegated Poinsettia

Variegated Poinsettia

6x6, soft pastel

May your holidays be as bright as this wildly colored poinsettia!

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

Spring Canopy

Spring Canopy

6x8, oil on linen

A little plein air painting in our neighborhood.  This time of year the flowering trees provide an explosion of color and a gorgeous canopy to walk under as we stroll the pathways that run throughout our neighborhood.  I couldn't resist!

Jar of Peonies

Jar of Peonies

10x8, oil on panel

I'm so glad spring is here! My peonies are going like gangbusters.  Even though they haven't bloomed yet, they're going to be abundant this year.  As soon as they appear, I'm sure I'll be setting up more still lifes to capture their brilliance.  This little still life is in anticipation of that moment.  Another stab at oil painting.

I'm finding that I love painting with either oils or soft pastels...the challenge (for me) is in deciding which one to choose when planning a painting.  With oils...I have to wait for the painting to dry...then, varnish. The big payoff with oils is that I can put them directly into an open frame...whereas, pastels require glass.  When I do paint with pastels, I've been trying to frame them with non-glare glass.  This makes a big difference in presentation...especially for art shows but drives up the cost of framing.  With oils, I'm still learning the finesse of applying varnish.  Ah, the challenges of each medium!   Still......I'm having a blast!

Lavender Sky - Pastel

Lavender Sky - Pastel

12x12, soft pastel

Day 30 of 30....Lavender Sky is befitting of a final farewell to the 2017 Jan. 30in30!  Whew, I made it!  I'm ready for a short break. I hope you enjoyed them all, the good, the bad and the ugly.  Breaking into oil painting this past month was a lot of fun.  I certainly learned a lot and look forward to doing more of both oils and pastels after I get caught up on everything else that took a backseat these past few weeks (like laundry).   See you soon!

Love At First Sight

Love At First Sight

6x6, oil on board

Day 29 of 30....Once again I found a really good reason to by a sweet treat at the grocery store.  After all, finding just the right prop is critical for a good painting.  It was all for the sake of art.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!  This little guy was gone before the painting was even finished.  

WIP:   I started with a drawing of an earlier oil painting I did of this scene.  Then I began washing the pastel underpainting down with alcohol when I noticed the initial drawing wasn't right....so, back to the proverbial drawing board for this one!  I wasn't paying too much attention...just playing around.  Oh well...live and learn, and learn, and learn!

Partly Cloudy With A Chance Of Rain

Partly Cloudy With A Chance Of Rain

6x6, oil on board

Oh my..."Partly Cloudy" is....what?   To me, a total mess.  Today's painting is my least favorite so far...oh well.  I just don't necessarily have the stomach to be as loose as I need to be to pull off a good landscape especially with oils.  I should stick with a genre that I don't get bored with...maybe that's my problem.   I also find it tedious to mix colors...it impedes the process (for me anyway).   I guess I need to practice mixing so it's easier to come up with the color I'm looking for a lot faster.

WIP: Untitled, 12x16

On the heels of the above painting...I thought I'd better return to my beloved soft pastels.  In fact, the last two paintings in oil were so disappointing that I've started two larger boat scenes.  One, a familiar kayak scene and the other a small wooden boat.  I don't have titles for them yet.  But here's the progress on the kayak scene.  I love to kayak while my husband is fishing.  This scene reminds me of so many places but especially Horsethief Reservoir near Cascade, ID.   Given the winter we've had, I'm sure looking forward to warm summer months!

White Bouquet

White Bouquet

6x6, oil on board

Painting 17 of 30...one thing I love to paint is glass...especially a vase or jar.  The variation of colors and highlights and reflections are a blast to paint. Of course, a little tougher with oils...but I'm getting there. I think.

Bedtime Buddies - Oil

Bedtime Buddies - Oil

6x6, oil on board

Painting 14 of 30 - Revisiting a painting I did in October of Macy...a Facebook friend's pup who is full of Westie attitude!  Having loved it in pastel...I decided to try it in oil.  This oil painting thing is definitely like trying to write with your non-dominate hand.  But again, I practice and practice....and practice.  I know it's not completely hopeless because I still bound out of bed each morning (often 4-5 am) excited to try again!  

Sunset Sail

Sunset Sail

16x12, soft pastel

Painting 11 of 30....Finished painting "Sunset Sail" finally has the mood I was after...colorful yet soothing!  I painted this scene a couple years ago in a much smaller version and am glad I tackled a larger version.

Peonies - Oil

Peonies - Oil

6x6, oil on board

Day 6 of 30..."Peonies in oil" is a second attempt at Desmond O'Hagan's vase of peonies from his online class.   I don't know if I'll ever be an oil painter but practice makes perfect....right?  I thought pastels were a bit messy but they're nothing compared to the cleanup necessary with oils.  That said,  I love the texture and rich color I'm getting with oil paint...so maybe I'll keep trying.

Peaceful Morning

Peaceful Morning

12x16, soft pastel

Day 5 of 30...this is the finished larger piece.  No oil painting today...just enjoying this one for a bit then on to the next larger piece!