Spotted Orchid

Spotted Orchid
Watercolor on paper, 9x6

This amazing orchid has been blooming for five months already!  The white faces are spotted with the red violet markings as if painted on by an artist!  This just may be my favorite variety!  I think I need to do these in oil to do them justice!  I have two other orchids just getting ready to bloom - so exciting!  They really like the light in my north kitchen!  This is painting number 1203 in as many days.

Barky Dog

Barky Dog
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5

This little Barky dog pull toy is SO sweet!!  This has been a day full of dog activities!  First, I had to wrestle Chewy into the bath - he was super dirty with his long hair and all this rain!  He soaks up that dirty water like a mop!  Then, once he was dry, it was off to the vet for his shots - which he did not care for!  He didn’t mind the vet last time, but this time, he shook all the way there, and all the way home.  When he was finally out of the car, he was so happy to return to the cats!!  So, tonight finds me keeping with the dog theme for painting, but alas - I switched to the cats for my daily sketch!  This is painting number 1101 in 1101 days, and Day 7 of the current 30 Day Painting Challenge.

Prancy Pony

Prancy Pony
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
purchase here

What is more nostalgic than a well loved antique toy?  This fabulous Prancy Pony pull toy is another of the great ones by Fisher Price.  Wonderful, warm expressions grace each one of their faces.  The eyes on this pony are so like the eyes of the Buzzy Bee - so full of life!  I am still painting with a limited palette, with a small addition of permanent green for the very primary color of the green bridle.  I also found myself using the ivory black here, instead of the mars black.  Very often, the painting subject just calls for what it needs - and I always listen!  Always good to go with your intuition!  Painting number 1099 in 1099 days.

Little Snoopy

Little Snoopy
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
purchase here

I love browsing through antique shops, and I especially enjoy the vintage toys!   Sometimes, I even find toys from my childhood - and I long to paint them.  My mom was so good to keep some of my favorite toys, and those toys bring back so many memories from childhood!  I remember playing with this toy, though I don’t think it was new at the time.  I remember how the tail sprung back and forth when batted at, and the way it would roll along on it’s wheels when pulled by the string.  I even remember the feel of the cold plastic wheels, slick under my little fingers!  It is amazing how such a thing can take me back in time!  I think I’ll spend some time this month painting some of my childhood favorites - when its not snowing that is!  That will take me right out to capture the landscape in oils!  Painting number 1095 in 1095 days and Day 2 on the newest 30 Day Painting Challenge :)