Sunflower Steps

I thought it might be fun to record a painting in progress, so here's a step-by-step of this sunflower & peaches still life.  If I was really smart, I'd do a video!  Maybe one day! :)
*SOLD*

Summer Things

"Summer Things"

14"x14"

Oil on Canvas

 

So....Yesterday I set up this still life in my studio.  This morning I'm cleaning the kitchen and see one tomato on the counter.  I'm the only tomato-eater here and I knew I hadn't eaten any.  I couldn't imagine why my husband would throw out perfectly good tomatoes!  Did someone break in and eat the tomatoes?  Did my husband give someone the tomatoes?  I just couldn't figure out how a bunch of tomatoes just disappears!  I guess I've been inhaling too much turpentine or something because, I swear, it took me a few minutes before I remembered where they were!!  Good grief!

 

ANYWAY, I'm getting a lot of mileage out these sunflowers and I'm really enjoying painting them!

 

If you're in my area, I'll be at "Art on the Lake" this weekend at Children's Harbor on Lake Martin and I would love to see you!  It's Saturday from 10-5 and Sunday from 10-2! 

 



Day 23/30: "Sun Protection" *SOLD*

"Sun Protection" *SOLD*

12" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

Painting my sunflowers before they become a memory!  So....this included my glass challenge, my flower challenge....and, today, limited palette challenge!  I had the paints on my palette that I have asked my students to bring this weekend to the skyscape workshop I'm teaching (cadmium red medium, cadmium yellow lemon, ultramarine blue, transparent red earth and titanium white).  Since it was already on my palette, I thought I'd be lazy and give it a whirl!  

Thanks for looking!

Great Workshop with Qiang Huang!

My painting from the second day of the workshop; 16x12

I just had to write and let everyone know what a wonderful workshop Qiang Huang gave us in Montgomery last weekend.  This very talented artist from Austin, Texas is also a very kind gentlemen and a giving teacher. 

 

I highly recommend his workshops!  He lays everything out thoughtfully and carefully; has great presentations; wonderful demonstrations; and an art business presentation as well.  He was generous with information and we all were just so thrilled to have him here.  It was a pleasure to get to know him and see him paint!

 

Although I am mainly a landscape painter, this foray into still life was so much fun.  I will be doing many more after this workshop!

Follow the Sun *SOLD*

"Follow the Sun"  7"x5"   *SOLD*

One of my favorite movies is "Calendar Girls".  It's hysterical, the scenery is gorgeous (very paintable landscapes!), some of my favorite British actresses are in it, and it celebrates something that usually doesn't get much celebration - aging!  That's right, aging!  In one scene, horticulturist John Clarke, the husband of Annie, recites what he has written in honor of the women of Yorkshire and thereby decrees another big player in the movie: the sunflower..... 

The flowers of Yorkshire
Are like the women of Yorkshire.
Every stage of their growth has its own beauty,
But the last phase is always the most glorious.
Then very quickly they all go to seed.
Which makes it ironic my favourite flower
Isn’t even indigenous to the British Isles, let alone Yorkshire.
I don’t think there’s anything on this planet
That more trumpets life than the sunflower.
For me, that’s because of the reason behind its name.
Not because it looks like the sun
But because it follows the sun.
During the course of the day,
The head tracks the journey of the sun across the sky.
A satellite dish for sunshine.
Wherever light is, No matter how weak,
These flowers will find it.
And that’s such an admirable thing.
And such a lesson in life.

...so whether you're over the hill, on top of it, or just eyeing it suspiciously from below, here's hoping today finds you embracing life at whatever stage you happen to be - something I have to remind myself to do pretty often!

Sunshine on a Stem *SOLD*

Just a little sunshine for you - this painting was offered for sale yesterday at the annual bazaar held by St. John's Episcopal church here in Montgomery. I love sunflowers and the way the blooms follow the sun's light - bowing their heads as the sun goes down.