Rainy Day Peonies

Rainy Day Peonies
Oil on panel, 10x8

After a very busy day, I come to my *new* easel late - and I’m trying out this “French Revolution” easel table top!  I rarely sit at a table to paint, but thought I would give it a try.  It worked beautifully - which also means it will also work if I need to paint in the car, due to rain or hail or the many other conditions that arise mid-painting!  I loaded my new palette, minus a few colors, as this one is smaller.  I also chose a few brushes (several of them from My Artscape), but I have yet to add small tubes of paint to the box.  I tried out both angled brushes tonight - and I like them!  I rarely stray from my brights and flats when in the oils, but I liked the strokes I could achieve, especially when it came to leaves and petals.  This painting makes 1230 in 1230 days - and what a wonderful day it was, Baby Nolan came home!

still life set up

Poetic Poppies

Poetic Poppies
Oil on wood panel, 5x7
auction - bid here

So much of painting begins with a feeling.  This morning, the brush strokes rolled off the brush in soft, gentle waves.  With a very busy day ahead - full of family, cooking and cleaning, I needed a little quiet time to myself - to express.  Choosing a small size (as time is of the essence) I first look inside myself to see what I FEEL like painting.  I just painted poppies yesterday, bright, happy, cheerful blooms.  Today, feeling more withdrawn, I am looking for calm, gentle and delicate.  So, I am using the same subject matter but handling it in a more subdued way.  There is quite a bit of texture here, as I have used the palette knife throughout to push and pull the paint at my whim.  The palette is cooler and softer, and the composition is more airy than yesterday's poppies.  I think I will call this one done.  We are having Mike's birthday gathering today, so this little bit of painting time is my therapeutic "art fix" before jumping into the chaos.  It is simply relaxing to pull from within and create, and then go forth and pull together a family dinner.  It is like yoga with brushes and oils!  Where would I be without art?  Probably a loony bin.  Painting number 799 in 799 days - wowza, tomorrow makes 800!