Paintings and Memories

Magnolia Memories
9 x 12
Oil on Linen Panel

Sometimes a memory creates a painting and sometimes the painting creates a memory.    These magnolias were painted as I remembered lazy days spent in the South.  The Peony brings back the pleasure of a special bouquet delivered just at the right moment.  Magnolia Memoires is traveling to Texas today.   Cheers to Memories!

Peony Memories
6 x 6
Oil on Board

Anemone
Oil on Canvas
12 x 16

This week we welcomed spring!    These colorful anemone got me ready for sunshine, blue skies and cut flowers.   I am not surprised to learn these flowers are related to ranunculus which grow so abundantly in Southern California.    Their feather light petals dance!   Are you ready for spring?  These will be heading down to the Off Track Gallery here in Encinitas next week - so take some time to go and see them.   They may just get you dancing.

Sunflowers are one of my favorite subjects .... and this painting is a favorite among my Sunflower paintings.   I never tire of their happy faces looking up and saying "Come out and play"!  Hope you enjoy it. 

Oil on Canvas
9 x 12

Copper Kettle Roses

Painting roses is always fun.   Usually I paint them in either glass or silver.   This time the roses are in a copper kettle which creates a wonderful warm glow!

This painting is now on display at the OffTrack Gallery in the Encinitas Lumberyard.   Come by and check it out!

Copper Kettle Roses

Oil on Canvas

9 x 12

The San Dieguito Art Guild is hosting a Mother's Day Art & Garden Tour over the weekend.   These new paintings are packed up for the show and ready to delight our guests.  The florals will make a perfect Mother's Day gift .... flowers that last forever!

Thinking of Van Gogh
16 x 20
Original Oil Painting

Amalia's Roses
11 x 14
Original Oil Painting

Lifeguard Station
8 x 8
Original Oil Painting

Some Like it Hot!
9 x 12
Original Oil Painting

Golden Pear
8 x 10
Original Oil Painting

Sunflower Study

Sunflowers are some of my favorite flowers as well as my favorite things to paint.   I started this study with a thumb nail sketch including values.  Next I tried it in watercolor then oil.  All in good fun!

Sunflower Studies

Favorite Things

David Austin Roses
8 x 10"

A bunch of pink David Austin roses on silver, a beautiful day at a Cardiff beach .... clear colors and blue skies,  All things Blue!   

Cardiff Station
8 x 10"

My favorite things remind me to take a moment, look around, breathe deeply and find the peace, joy and love in God's creation!   In everything!




Tonight at Off Track Gallery in Encinitas there will be a flurry of activity.   Artist will be hanging new work.   

Blue on Blue
8 x 10"

Come to find YOUR favorite things! Mine will be there.

Pomegranate at Carole's

Pomegranate
9 x 12
Oil on Canvas

I attended a workshop given by local artist Carole Mayne last month.  We started by photographing a colorful still life.   We edited the photo into a black and white image  -which we used to create a thumbnail value sketch using black paper, a white pencil and a black sharpie pen.   It really cemented the values of the painting well in advance of picking up a brush.   "If the values are correct the color doesn't matter"!   So true!   I hope you enjoy the painting and seeing the photos we used.  

Workshop with Toni Williams

In June I took a 2 day workshop with Toni Williams.   She was a marvelous teacher as well as a kind & generous person.   I learned a lot.   These were the two results of the week!   If you get a chance she is definently an instructor not to miss!

Lake Hodges
8 x 10
Oil on Panel

Lazy Afternoon
9 x 12
Oil on Panel

Nancy Medina Flower Painting Workshop

11 x 14
Oil on Canvas
Nancy Medina Workshop One

I attended a fabulous flower painting workshop here in San Diego given by Nancy Medina.   She has a very technical, methodical painting process that I found easy to understand.   She uses transparent colors for an underpainting and then punches up the colors with opaque on top - keeping cool and warm colors in mind.   As a class we painted these first two together.

11 x 14
Oil on Canvas
Nancy Medina Workshop Two



6 x 6
Oil on Panel
Dyed Zinnias
 



Since Nancy was flying home to Texas she asked us San Diegans to help ourselves to the flowers from the workshop.    I chose stunning pink zinnias (dyed!) and some blue larkspur.    I painted these using her method.  

Linda's Roses

9 x 12"
Oil on Canvas

My friend Linda let me know she had some fabulous roses on her dining room table waiting to be painted!   And was she right!   They were vibrant and reflecting against a white linen cloth and silver pitcher.

As fall marches toward us most of these beautiful roses are spent.    However, just as in our lives, the memories live on!   Enjoy.

Rose & Rose

Rose 

Rose Again

I have been trying to get focused and work on one thing at a time.   This week I painted the same rose from 2 different angles and two different backgrounds.   While I still am not completely happy with the outcome I am happy with the process.   I found myself learning more about what not to do that what to do.    Sometimes making mistakes is the best way to learn!

6" x 6   Oil on Panel

Pink Rose

The Daily Painters Project (DPP) will be part of the San Dieguito Art Guild's Mother's Day Artist Studio Tour this year.    This still life is the perfect Mother's Day gift - a rose that will last and last.

Pink Rose 6" x 6" Oil on Board

Clipped Freesias

This painting is in a higher key than I normally paint but reflects the colors in my world this week which has been blue skies and sunshine.   It is telling us to get ready and don't forget to spring forward this Saturday night!

ps the lighting for this set up was coming from all directions .... thus creating this floating effect.   I attemped to "correct it" but decided my failed attempts meant to leave it be - spring has sprung!

8" x 8" Clipped Freesias Oil on Board

Sunny Days!

I painted these sunflowers yesterday when the sky was cloudy but that's all it took to brighten up my day.  I used a transparent under layer then came over the top with opaque colors.   Keeping with Carol Mayne's theory of segregating warm and cool colors - see her book "What Color is the Light?" I was satisfied with the bright feeling the painting has.

Life is Good and Full of Color

Who Cares if it is December?   8x8" Oil on Panel

Another Sunny Day in Sunny So Cal   8x8" Oil on Panel

Athough December is knocking on the door and the turkey and dressing leftovers are gone, the sun is shining which reminds me how thankful I am for the colorful blessings in my life!   Family, friends and the sunshine on flowers.  Time to reflect on the Good Life - one full of color!   Color comes from paint, flowers, tears, joys, hurts and yes especially those heart felt moments of love.  Isn't it fun to remember and be thankful?

Sunflowers and ....

I think the music in the mall stores has gotten to me .... I was painting these sunflowers and pomegranate last week and somehow couldn't get the image of a Christmas ornament out of my mind.   Where's the thought of the turkey and stuffing?  So once home, I toned down the shiny ornament and forced it back into a piece of fruit.   It is easy to look forward & worry about what lies ahead.   But for now, I will focus on the present ... and the in season pomegranates!

8 x 8" Oil on Panel

Spring Forward!

Although it was difficult to wake up in the darkness this morning (sunrise at 7 am) it will be nice to have daylight this evening. I painted this white daisy to celebrate spring!  I am looking forward to flowers, blue skies and sunshine.

I tried to paint this loosely, not worrying about the details and studying how to paint white flowers without using pure white!  I was happy I stayed loose in the background without covering the ground completely like a "wall painter".  The set up had a direct light to one side which helped keep the shadows consistent.
Spring Forward   6" x 6" Oil on Panel