Behind the studio
Posted in Reference Photos
Two weeks ago I picked up a container of frostbitten pansies for $1 at Lowes. The flowers had been pinched off leaving just the leaves. Pansies can handle the frost and will reflower. I was curious what color they would be. What a treat when they bloomed – take a look:
I've taken lots of photos and am sketching these wonderful beauties for later paintings. Can't wait to paint them!
My newest painting is finished and matted. I've painted a number of small Monarch butterfly paintings recently. They are such fun to paint. This time I wanted to paint the monarch on the butterfly bush, with all the wing detail on display, the way they look in the summer when they show up in my yard. The butterfly bushes are not in bloom here and this is where the reference photos and sketch book come into play.
I've taken a zillions photos of the butterfly bush over time. I pulled a few that showed a single stem up close to use for this painting.
I also pulled out my sketch book that I have detailed the butterfly bush during the summer for a larger unfinished painting. I've seen some artist's "rough" sketches that are gorgeous and look ready to matt and sell for a premium price. Mine are not…… not at all. However, they provide the mechanics of what the flower and stem look like for me. I rough sketch each, and then detail the colors and where the colors are on the flower and how the leaves grow off the stem. These are the finer details that I can't always see in a photo.
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Here is the finished painting:
You can find this painting at my Etsy shop. And that is a peek behind the easel.
Posted in Reference Photos
How gorgeous is this flower?
Texas Scarlet Quince
I bought three small quince bushes about 9 – 10 years ago to plant along the backyard hill. The bunnies LOVED them! Our yard is overrun with rabbits who normally leave most of the plants alone…..except for the quince. They could not get enough of these bushes, nibbling them right down to the ground. Somehow one managed to grow quietly when they weren't looking. For whatever reason, this year it went wild and bloomed! It is so loaded with flowers, the branches are sagging. I just love seeing this beauty, full of red flowers, standing out like a wonderful sore thumb in a sea of yellow and pink spring flowers.
I can't wait to paint these flowers!
Posted in Reference Photos
The late spring daffodils are in full bloom here in Pennsylvania. It looks like to me, that these are the prettiest and the most colorful daffodils. I love seeing the bright yellow after a long winter. But my favorite daffodils are blooming now with wonderful pink, orange, yellow, and white centers, and even all white daffodils.
When I paint daffodils, I usually paint the all yellow ones or the yellow with orange centers. My favorite to paint is the yellow with orange gradated centers. I will have to look at the pink centers and all whites for future paintings. They could make a very pretty painting. For a black and white drawing that I am working on, I look for a photo that shows a lot of contrast between lights and shadows, rather than color. The 1st photo is the one I am using for current drawing. The drawing is finished, I'll be sure to post it here.
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and from the 2011 Philadelphia Flower Show :
Posted in Art Work
Hi Everyone
There are two new paintings in the past week up on my Etsy shop. One is very small and the other very large. Painting opposite sizes this month. : – ) .jpg)
One is a ACEO sized painting – 2.5 x 3.5 inches.
The other is a very large 24" x 48" abstract painting. I am painting today – back with new blog posts tomorrow. Enjoy the day!