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

Hot Pepper

Red Hot Red Pepper!

Hot Pepper 6 x 6 Oil on Panel

Takes Two to Mango

These two paintings continue my efforts on focusing on a small vibrant area of the canvas with color and letting the rest fall into the background. I am drawn to this limited color palatte but am feeling I should try and branch out a bit! Change is difficult!

Takes Two to Mango  8 x 8 Oil on Panel

Green and Yellow  8 x 8 Oil on Panel

Single Rose

This was a cropped image from one of the still lifes set up at my workshop in Texas.   I zoomed in on the photo and choose a small part to paint in 6" x 6".   This single rose makes me imagine how one feels after a wonderful evening out ... coming home with a single rose ... and sitting and remembering the night.   Sometimes the memories are better than reality!

6 x 6" oil on panel



Roses

 I attended a workshop given by Qiang Huang in New Braunfels, Texas about a week ago.   We had a wonderful group of painters, a fabulous host in Mary McIntosh and of course a great instructor with Qiang.   These are the three paintings I did while studying his methods of using dark grey backgrounds with a bright focal point in the foreground.  I will continue working in this style until I feel I have captured my intention!   Hope you enjoy.

Jar with Fruit

Pear

I am preparing for a workshop at the end of the month with Qiang Huang.   I am very excited to see how he approaches painting.   

I watched his video:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLZQf3P2rkg  then set up a similar still life and tried to follow his steps.   I am fairly happy with the results but plan to do several more for practice!