Petunias

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Loved how leggy these petunias got, and decided to paint them. There was a movement and airiness to them that I found so beautiful. Not to mention their color.

Hostas

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This past summer I decided to get out of my studio and go paint in the great outdoors. For this painting, I only went as far as my own backyard. I am not going to lie, this was a struggle. The white extensions of tiny bell shaped flowers seemed to paint themselves but the hosta LEAVES were another story. In general, leaves are difficult, after all, they are green (a tough color for me,)  and without much variation from one to the other. What made matters worse was that in this particular composition, they also took up over half the canvas. I tried painting them in full sun in the morning, but then as the day progressed and they started to fall into shadow, I liked that too. So then I started over and painted them in the shade. I literally chased the light for about three days when I finally surrendered to what it was and decided to "leaf" it alone. In the end, I am happy with this dancing flower bells painting. I am certainly better acquainted with "green" and am much less daunted by leaves in general. Oh, and I'm betting there is another hosta painting in my future ... next summer.

Cascade of Yellow Roses

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This was painted in plein aire in my front garden. On the first day of painting, I got in a good sketch and a smattering of color and felt pretty good about my start. After all, a 30"x48" canvas is a very big canvas for me. Later that night, the skies burst open in a downpour of torrential rains and in the morning, my beautiful yellow roses looked a mess. They were drooping and in spots their stems were broken. I don't remember what annoyed me more at the time, the battered rose bush or my now defunct painting sketch. I had been thinking about making this painting since the summer before and I was determined not to let a deluge get in my way. I propped up the broken branches with brooms and rakes from the garage and proceeded with the painting. I was now painting heavy clusters of yellow blooms, cascading downwards in a spiral. It was actually quite beautiful... even more beautiful than the original sketch of perky upright roses. In fact, when my art dealer saw the finished piece, she commented that what made this piece special, was that the roses were facing downward. Of course, this was not my original plan - Fate?, Mother Nature?, Dumb Luck? Something? intervened and the plan got better.  Hmmmm... I find that painting, like life, is funny that way.

Set for Spring

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I stood very close to the table arrangement as I painted this piece because I had two goals in mind. One was to create a table set with inviting breakfast items placed so as to create rhythmic points of color on the white table cloth. Second, I wanted to capture how a person approaching the table might scan the setting. So initially, it appears that you are looking directly down onto the egg and the grapefruit. You, the viewer, then look up passed and across the orange slices, glass and blue jug and finally through the water pitcher and the glass vase of tulips.

Yellow Rose in Glass Bottle

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The color of this old bottle is so wonderful as are the imperfections within it. I think the overall composition of the painting would have been better served if the rose was a bit more upright...but then again, maybe not.

Lattice Roses

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This is a little painting I did last week in preparation for the plein aire workshop I am taking this week with artist Ben Fenske. Ironically, this painting was not really helpful at all. What I am learning this week about my landscape painting, is that I tend to miss the "big picture," by focusing on a "detail" in the scene. (I not only stop to smell the roses, but I get too close and paint them, too.)  It has been difficult for me to paint with a wide range of vision. I am working on it, and will post more paintings from the workshop in the next few days.

Orchids and Apples

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My grocery store sells small orchid plants. I bought a few the other day. They are perfect for still life. The blooms last quite a long time and the buds open slowly. I think I feel an "orchid series" coming on.

Kelly's Carnations and Fruit

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I was lucky enough to "win" the centerpiece at my friend Kelly's baby shower. The bouquet of pink carnations came wrapped with pink and blue ribbons. For this still life, I removed the blue ribbon. Yes, it could be that the blue ribbon just didn't work in the composition, or....  it could be that I think she's having a little girl!!  ;)

Lilacs from Lucy

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I received this beautiful little bouquet of lilacs from my friend, Lucy, last night. When I went up to bed, I put it on my nightstand so I could smell the sweetness while falling asleep. Then, today, when I still could not get enough of its gorgeousness, I painted it.

Roadside Sunflowers

All around my little village of Sag Harbor, are wide open fields that in the summer sprout the most loveliest of things such as these sunflowers. I painted this from a photograph that I took of the fields last summer. This coming summer I am plan to give it a go, plein aire.

Daffodils in Art Glass

                                           

I am readying for an art show in Sag Harbor, NY, one that will celebrate flowers. These two yellow beauties came straight out of my garden. The turquoise glass vase was a purchase I made in the Arts District up in Saratoga Springs, NY... another beautiful, artsy town.

Delicate Orchid

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When I was arranging this still life in my shadow box, I noticed how cautiously I set the pitcher and placed the orchid in the water. The reason for my steady movement was the absolute delicacy of both the fine glass and the dangling blossom. When I started painting, the awareness of their fragility stayed with me. I found that more than capturing shape and color, I was concerned with capturing that quiet essence.

Saved Orchid

                                               

Okay, so somebody broke my orchid. The plant was sitting on the desk in the den. Someone must have banged into it - inadvertently, I am assuming - because there it was with the bloom almost snapped off, just dangling. At first, I was really angry because it meant the death of something so beautiful. Then, I had an idea - the new turquoise glass pitcher I had been waiting to paint. So now, the orchid has a new lease on life for a bit longer in the pitcher.... and a whole lot longer in this little painting. I love happy endings.