Shiny Ornaments

 

It's fun to squeeze in a painting during all the fun holiday festivities with family!  I LOVE this time of year! This day started with a goat emergency, one was being chased by the others and was limping.  After calling for reinforcements. I was off to Casper's Christmas party at preschool.  I arrived home in time to prepare for Aunt Diana and Uncle Ed to come visit. Danny and boys, Mom, Tiffany and family all joined the fun, too, which we watched Kirby and Casper.  The campfire was also fun, though we didn't stay out long in this cold night!  Painting number 5044 in 5044 days. 

Night on 2nd Street

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This watercolor batik is of a dear friend's house in Sainte Genevieve, and is a special surprise for our Mother-Daughter weekend visit to our favorite inn!  Following the starry night theme I've used for two other special paintings in the area, I paint this in multiple layers of ink, watercolor and hot wax on delicate tissue thin rice paper. The effect is luminous, and always unpredictable, making the final painting one of a kind indeed.  We had a marvelous trip full of adventures, and this painting will have a new home tomorrow as a Mother's Day gift!  Painting number 5039 in 5039 days. 

Three Ornaments

This painting and local plein air work will be at the Holiday Open House at the Oliver Building Gallery tomorrow night in the historic West Bottoms from 6:00 to 9:00. What a wonderful way to celebrate the season!  I'll be featuring two paintings from the Inaugural Historic West Bottoms Plein Air Event in May as well as 4 holiday paintings, one of the Country Club Plaza, one of Union Station and another Christmas ornament painting.  It promises to be an evening full of good cheer with friends and local businesses.  Painting number 3985 in 3985 days. 

Holiday Ornaments

After spending time with the Nolan, Quinn and Layne, I find a little time to paint before bedtime.  Oh what fun it is to paint these shiny, colorful ornaments!  This large bowl of balls waits on the back porch for little hands to adorn them, and hang them on our outdoor spruce.  I will help the little ones dip their hand into acrylic paint - and then grab the ornament, leaving a lasting impression of this year's Christmas handprint. I hope to paint these a few more times before I put them away in January!  Painting number 3983 in 3983 days 

Shiny Ornaments

As I deck the halls, I find a bowl of old ornaments that I keep for painting! Where fancy and ornate adorn my trees, the shiny colored glass balls make great subject matter! Reflecting colors off of each other, they are happy, bold and bright! I use acrylic paint for these baubles - and can't wait to paint some more.  Perhaps this will be my Christmas card theme for the season?! Painting number 3975 in 3975 days. 

Zinnia Garden

Oh my!  I love painting a zinnia garden in full bloom!  What a glorious sight to capture in paint, especially in oils.  Carefully marking the masses with color and value, this painting unfolded as I worked.  Getting to use full strength oil paint on those vibrant blooms is so much fun - as seldom do I get the chance to do that.  These zinnias are really a celebration of color - and I'm so happy I get to paint them!  Painting number 3899 in 3899 days. 

Tropical Croton

 

LOVE finding bold, vibrant tropicals in the landscape to paint!  These are so colorful I just had to try them in ink and watercolor!  Arriving just this afternoon, I NEEDED to spend time outside in the fresh air.  My first experience on a trip in a Jeep (rental) have all but driven me insane!  So, to unwind, I took my supplies outside and got to work.  Becoming one with the landscape and centering on color soothes my soul.  Now all I need is a good run to melt the stress away.  Painting number 3684 in 3684 days. 

Colorado Sunrise

Sunrise is magnificent in Estes Park!!  Day 6 of my Artist Residency and I'm exploring why Colorado is the COLORFUL state!!  After a late night waiting for our youngest son to arrive in town, I planned to sleep in a little.  The early dawn light woke me, and the outrageous red orange in the clouds had me popping out of bed and grabbing my paints!  Sunrise waits on no one, so I threw on clothes, a heavy jacket and my winter coat, turning on the teapot for my return.  I started first with the color notes, wanting to mark them accurately, then the darks and highlights.  One must work fast with big brushes and deliberate brushwork, to match the movement of the clouds.  What a glorious morning, even at 37 degrees!   Day 16 of the #stradaeasel painting challenge, and painting number 4336 in 4336 days. 

Inked Butterflies

After a full day of Easter celebration with family, I work in a little play time with my fountain pen inks.  I am playing with the inks, trying new things to explore just how the different colors mingle. I feel more expressive somehow, untied to the strict lines and angles of my ink and watercolor work.  It's liberating how this media simply takes off - like another personality jumping forward to play with reckless abandon.  It's all about the creative process, and I LOVE it!  Painting number 3392 in 3392 days.

Spring Rain at Crestview

When the day started cloudy and gray - I knew I wanted to take my fountain pen inks!  Making dramatic shifts between masses, I dropped in ink with a dropper, then floated in water with a wash brush. I took a small glass dip pen and 3 other fountain pens with different colors of inks loaded. I was sheltered from the gusting wind, so those wet inky puddles could dry without being blown right off the paper!  So unpredictable, it was exciting to watch the ink do it's magic as I worked on the next mass.  I'm known for keeping everything clean, but tonight I'm sporting a little garland ink on my fingers from the dropper spurting erratically!  I may have to wear it off, or maybe try bleach next!  I know it's crazy for an event, but some days you just have to jump in boldly and embrace what drives you!  Painting number 3383 in 3383 days. 

Ornament Impressions

I do love getting loose and impressionistic with these shiny vintage ornaments!  Using my acrylics in a dry brush manner, I can layer in the values and colors.  The heavy body acrylics dry quickly, so different from my oils.  I rarely pull out my acrylics these days, but doing so puts all kinds of ideas in my head!  How fun would it be to paint this large and hang out over a sofa?  I know the perfect spot - if I can find the time to get it done before Christmas!  Painting number 3258 in 3258 days. 

Baubles!

I really love getting expressive with the paint on these shiny, reflective Christmas ornaments!  There is something so liberating about grabbing full strength paint from the tube and dropping it right onto the canvas - to work in additional colors at will!  There's no right or wrong, only the marks as they land, sometimes with wild abandon!  After a very full day, it is just the art therapy I need to unwind a bit at day's end.  Love these stolen moments away from my duties!  Painting number 2912 in 2912 days. 

Croton Petra

Waking early to walk out and have my hot tea by the pool, I was drawn to the brilliant color in the foliage of this tropical plant!  I've never seen these growing in the earth before - and it's size and color were dazzling!  So, I set up my easel with my hot tea at my side, and started laying down thick paint to define those fabulous leaves!  I really do love applying that thick, juicy paint - it is very satisfying indeed!  What better way to start my day?  Painting number 2614 in 2614 days.

Turquoise Wreath

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I can hardly believe there is already four inches of snow outside here in northeast Ohio!  After a very full day of packing boxes, I can unwind with a cheerful wreath painting in ink and watercolor.  I like to sketch out my lines loosely with India ink, following with my favorite Raven black for those grays.  Next, I add those juicy watercolors to liven things up!  Christmas seems so close in the midst of this winter weather!  Painting number 2511 in 2511 days. 

Sunset Glory

I'm trying to paint either sunrise or sunset each day, for 30 days, in an effort to improve my skills.  The bold colors seem so loud when I'm laying them down, striving to match what I see in the sky.  The masses change so quickly that nearly every time it is too dark to get a photo as I finish, and the color reads so differently in the artificial indoor lighting!  Each time, I find the painting lacking, tossing it aside to dry.  As I walk by it, doing those household chores, I begin to see something in each one.  A fresh eye is a calmer judge.  Perhaps I'll be a little more content in 30 days.  Practice can only help!  Painting number 2069 in 2069 days.

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Sunflower Sway

My favorite thing about rainy days is how saturated the color is in the landscape!  With hues so rich and vibrant, the rather wild patch of sunflowers was a natural choice.  I tilt the panel downward a little until I can get that surface completely covered with paint, as it is raining lightly.  I pop those colors in where I see them, working all over the surface.  It looks pretty messy until I start bringing those edges together, and start defining some of those edges.  Another loose one, but I think I like it!  Painting number 2056 in 2056 days.

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August Sunset Study

Planning to paint my hydrangea, I started to prep some veggies and wild rice for tomorrow.  One look out the window had me grabbing my paints and turning down burners!  The most glorious sky was unfolding - and the near peak color had me painting fast!   Light is SO fleating at sunset, even if I was painting the eastern sky.  I used one brush per main color, so I wouldn't have to clean any of them until I finished.  It still took me nearly 20 minutes, and it was almost dark before I could take a photo!  I really need to do this often to improve my sunset skills!!!  Painting number 2046 in 2046 days.

Christmas Balls ATC

This was a fun experiment in very small scale - ATC at 2.5x3.5!  Super fun!  I started as I begin a sketch with an ink drawing. Next, I went in with acrylic on this linen textured paper, liking the feel of the brush over this surface.  As with any uniform texture, I do wish I could do my own as I always prefer my own texture.  But, for an ATC, this worked very well, and I will buy this pack again - which I picked up at Creative Coldsnow, my favorite local art supply store!  I will be sending some of these to Mexico to trade with other artists there.  How fun it will be to receive their artwork! Painting number 1794 in 1794 days, as I burn the midnight oil yet again!

Shine of Christmas

How can I possibly cram so many things in one day?  Burning the midnight oil, this is my first chance to post today's painting done as a demo for painting class.  After arranging a few Christmas balls in the center of the table, everyone could then draw and paint from their own spot. It truly is so much better to see the ornaments before you vs looking at a photo.  Saving the highlights is paramount in watercolor, so that is the key while laying down the colors.  Once lost, it does not return like it was never painted.  One could use a masking fluid, but I almost never do.  It simply isn't spontaneous enough for me, too controlled, almost contrived.  Watercolors lighten as they dry, so I add more paint as needed while the masses are still wet. I love the mingling that occurs wet on wet, and try not to lose that.  I wonder what medium I'll choose tomorrow....... painting number 1787 in 1787 days.

Holiday Brights

I LOVE painting these shiny, bright Christmas balls!!  Though I LOVE to paint them, I don't have a single one of these on any of our Christmas trees!  I prefer fancy ornaments of all kinds, especially blown glass.  I once was given a large glass globe shaped vase with a tall candle in the center, surrounded by all of these glass balls!  After all these years, it is these balls I am pulling out of my Christmas box for the sole purpose of painting them!  In fact, I think I'll keep a few out in a bowl just for that impromptu holiday painting!   To the person who have me that gift - it is the gift that keeps on giving!  Painting number 1786 in 1786 days :)

currently available at the Belton Art Gallery