Day 24 - Blue Charm Spey

Blue Charm Spey

5x7, soft pastel

There are many variations of this beautiful Atlantic Salmon Spey fly.  This one caught my eye because of the soft subtle nature of the grey feathers against the gorgeous blues and blue greens.  I just had to try this one out!  

Charlie was the Life of the Party

Charlie was the Life of the Party

6x8, soft pastel

Yesterday I bought three beautiful pears for another stab at a still life...but this morning one of them looked a little down and out.  Hmmm, must have been a party in the kitchen last night.  I decided to do another quick study anyway before it turned completely brown.  

Breakfast With Grandma

Breakfast With Grandma

6x8, soft pastel

For years I've had a few pieces of the "china" my maternal grandmother used daily.  I remember it fondly because I often stayed with her during the summer months in the teeny tiny town of St. Patrick, Mo.  She didn't have running water...we pumped water from a well outside the back door.  This also meant that we used an out house...which is another story altogether (maybe another painting opportunity).  Her house was two rooms wide...with a small pantry and back porch.  Suffice it to say, her teeny tiny house fit nicely into the teeny tiny town (I'm not sure the population ever got above 75...and today it's perhaps 10 or so).  

In 2001, my mother gave me one of grandma's old delapidated kitchen chairs.  After shipping it from the Midwest to Idaho, I set about learning how to re-cane the seat and gave it a fresh coat of wood stain.  It's one of those treasures seldom used...but often admired.  

Both of these items came in handy today as I set about looking for a still life that had meaning for me.  The way the morning light streamed in from the kitchen window onto the old china gave it such a glow, almost as though it was brand new again.  With grandma's chair in the background,  I couldn't help but remember so many of those summer mornings as we sat down for breakfast.  For her, piping hot coffee...for me, fresh orange juice and always always fresh homemade bread slathered with butter and strawberry jam.  I so loved breakfast with grandma!

The Last Berry

The Last Berry

6x6, soft pastel

Well summer is surely coming to an end...I've picked my last strawberry.  What a great summer.  I'm looking forward to a gorgeous fall.  This is a quick study. 

Floral Fireworks

Floral Fireworks

6x8, soft pastel

Today started with a migraine...so it's no wonder today's painting was filled with extreme colors.  Sort of like fireworks...this is an end of summer bouquet. One errant sunflower insisted on facing backwards.  I guess sometimes in life you just have to go with the flow.