Butterfly Bonanza

 

The rudbeckia is putting on a show - and the butterflies have noticed!  Of course, I HAD to paint it!!  These blooms really shine as the garden phlox begins to fade.  Though I bought these at a local nursery, they grow wild in every meadow here and I move some up to the gardens each fall. I think this variety has a slightly different shaped bloom than our locals, the brown center more of a ball with dropping petals.  I think the others are flatter, somehow.  I'll have to check that out tomorrow, because they are also in bloom!  Perhaps I should also paint this in oils to see how different they would look!  Painting number 4978 in 4978 days. 

The Cows Come Home

 

No better way to relax than to paint these beauties during the Golden Hour!  After a long day of hard work, immersing myself so completely here, with only the focus of what is before me, restores me in a way nothing else does.  The experience fills me up, and I can go forth with love and light for the world.  Painting number 4977 in 4977 days. 

Summer Herefords

 

I'm working on something new for the upcoming Buttonwood show - and herefords are on my easel! Throughout my painting journey, I feel compelled to move in different directions artistically.  Lately, I feel drawn to western themes.  I've always loved cattle, likely due to childhood memories of Grandma Frank's and Great Uncle Richard's herds. Or maybe because we have horses again..... but whatever the reason, I think I'll paint more of these.  It feels like honoring history and the ranchers that work the cattle still.  Painting number 4975 in 4975 days. 

Stella D'Oro Splendor

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I painted these Stella D'Oro lilies a couple days ago, in a slightly different composition and format.  When I got to the background, I hesitated!  If in doubt, don't - rang through my head, so I backed away from the painting.  So, today, I give it another shot - this time with the background.  I like it both ways!  I could see both visions, and I'm glad I didn't paint in the other.  It's nice to have them both ways!  Painting number 2721 in 2721 days.  I just realized this didn't post - silly cell service.  Sure wish we could get real internet out here....as we were promised in 2008.....!  Lol!

Bees in the Flowers

This Queen's Lace Achillea has been in my family for three generations.  My mother had it first in the home I grew up in, she brought some to my grandmother before moving, and now I have spread it around the yard.  The color and fern like foliage are gorgeous, and the bees and butterflies love it!  I'm working a little larger today than I have for a while - and it was harder!  Using a new paper, it was thinner than expected, and the sizing seemed lighter than normal.  Each batch is different when they are handmade.  Love capturing this bed of flowers in ink and watercolor!  Painting number 2716 in 2716 days.

Hummingbird and Rose Batik

Hummingbird and Rose Batik
Ink, watercolor and wax on rice paper, 12x8
purchase here

Switching gears today, I am experimenting again - this time with a thinner rice paper.  My friend loaned me some scraps of rice paper, and this one is so thin, I have to be careful not to tear it with the paintbrush when wet!  I first sketched this one in with brown india ink, then painted the hummingbird, roses and foliage.  Painting over this with hot wax, I next floated in all background color.  A second coat of wax, and then the crinkling begins.  I had to be super careful here - the thin paper would otherwise be easily torn!  I next painted around the edges and into the cracks with a cool brown watercolor.  This paper was so thin, that even the crack resisted the paint!  I had to crack it multiple times to get the creases to accept some more paint!  All of the other rice papers I have tried worked better than this one - and I think this one came in a tablet.  I will avoid this paper next time, but I have already a second just waiting to be wrinkled up and painted in the last step.  This painting is my 639th painting in as many days and the 29th painting in the 30 Day Painting Challenge.