Mother's Lilies

 

In a day full of gardening, I just had to paint the prettiest lilies in the beds today!  I moved these from Mom's home in Ohio when she moved back to Missouri. I remember digging the bulbs from the front corner of their brick Victorian home, as we were preparing to move Mom to the house she found near us.  It was a bittersweet time of loss and heartache, and the grueling task of packing up 35 years to return so close to where she grew up.  Putting them in a large pot with soil, they made the journey to my place, Mom's childhood home, to spread gloriously in several beds.  I think of those times every year when they bloom, knowing they are one of Mom's favorite flowers from a place she loved.  Painting number 4890 in 4890 days. 

Butterfly and Lily

 

This afternoon finds me painting in my flowers - in between the many garden tasks!  I have been told this variety of lily is very old - pre-civil war, in fact. I have them everywhere, and have only seen them in another old property  - the home of Amelia Earhart in Atchison, Kansas.  Very full and vibrant, the butterflies love them - and this cloudless sulphur danced among them today.  With only a tiny painting window, I am painting small today, 3x4, and the texture is very rough.  A bit of a challenge on a small piece, to be sure. The very best part of this size is that I am quickly done!  Painting number 5096 in 5096 days. 

Mother's Lilies

In late November, I plucked these bulbs from my mother's garden, as we prepared to move her back to Missouri.  They flourish now in my garden growing and multiplying each year as I move them to other spaces.  As I paint, the memories of the move and all that surrounded it come back to me.  Though I am painting, my mind races on, reliving past days in vivid memory.  I'm so thankful to have Mom living close to me now, and happy to make so many new memories together with the family.  But each year as these bloom, I step back in time for a little while.  Painting number 3075 in 3075 days. 

Stella D'Oro

 Oh how I love growing and painting these Stella D'Oro lilies!  They never disappoint, and continue to bloom as long as one deadheads the spent blooms.  Perhaps their bright and cheerful color is their greatest gift as they shine in the gardens.  Choosing a miniature paper, I ink and watercolor the lilies quickly on this cold and drizzly day.  Not a fan of the cold, it takes me a while to acclimate to weather changes - and a few layers of clothes!  I'm really looking forward to the warmer days ahead this weekend!  Painting number 2802 in 2802 days. 

Lilies!

Seizing the cool morning to reclaim my front flower beds from pop up weeds, I worked hard until late afternoon.  It's so hard to stop the forward progress when I'm on a roll!  With heat indexes in the triple digits, I finally threw in the towel, but oh those beds are shining!  So, my sweet reward is a little time spent in the lilies, with ink and watercolor.  These beauties have been going strong for three weeks already, and are among the very first daylilies I ever planted.  Love their bright presence in the garden!  Painting number 2753 in 2753 days.

Firecracker Lilies

Oh these firecracker lilies!!  With large blooms that stay open long after dark - I can still paint them even at midnight!  Though, by 3am they have closed their petals for a few hours of rest!  I bet you're wondering how I know this.  Sometimes, Beau wants out in the middle of the night.  Other times, I'm awake, and it's very pleasant to sit out on the porch and listen to the fountain, helping to quiet my mind.  I am late to my easel once again, and I'm using ink and watercolor on handmade cotton paper for this miniature floral painting.  Three other varieties are also calling my name - but they all stand in the dark at this hour!  Lol!  Love this peaceful time of night, with the fountain, crickets and frogs to serenade me!  Painting number 2738 in 2738 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!

Stella D'Oro and the Bee

The very best thing about Stella in the garden is her long bloom time.  A reblooming daylily, this one has an extended bloom time.  And that cheerful bright yellow is a real show stopper in the beds!  Shorter and more compact that my tall vintage ones, I place these towards the front of my beds.  Working larger, I first ink my composition, adding in the watercolor afterwards.  I had every intention of washing in a dark background to represent the shadows, but I hesitated.  So, if in doubt, don't.  I'm not sure if that was the right decision, I may just do another in that way.  Painting number 2718 in 2718 days.

Red Orange Lilies

These red orange lilies that mom and I brought back to Missouri in the dead of winter, have really taken off in my front garden!  This bunch is glorious while I await the bloom of several others.  This day has been very full of baby shower preparations, so I've sneaked in a tiny sanity break with my watercolor half pans to rejuvenate.  Now it's back to work for me!!  Painting number 2705 in 2705 days.

Mom's Orange Lilies

A friend of mine posted this 30 day direct watercolor painting challenge a couple of days ago.  I know nothing about this technique except that there is no sketching first.  So, without my beloved ink, I begin this 30 day adventure to see what rewards I can glean from this practice.  Most days I will be painting a normal painting and a challenge one, but probably only posting one here. I am seriously thinking of embellishing this with my normal ink work.  In fact, I may be uploading a revised version real soon!  Lol!  You know I can't resist a challenge, even when I don't know what it is!  Painting number 2701 in 2701 days.

Hybrid Lilies ATC

Lilies are one of my favorite flowers, and this dwarf variety is my earliest bloomer.  Nestled amid other blooms, this one is the show stopper - begging to be painted!  I have used both India ink and my favorite Levenger Raven Black ink for the lines, and watercolor for the masses.  One must be careful when using that raven black with watercolor - as it will spread readily, spilling right outside it's boundaries if to much water is applied.  But, ohhhhhh, that rich, velvety black!  It is worth all the trouble to attain those deep blacks.  So happy I found a black to absolutely LOVE!  It only took me 30 or so samples to get there!  Painting number 1962 in 1962 days.

ink & watercolor on paper, 3.5x2.5
purchase here

Daylily Dance

What a busy day!!  Pilates, running, shopping, painting class, housework, so much weeding(!), and squeezing in a painting - totally filled my day!  I hoped to get another painting in, but I've simply run out of time.  The daylilies are beautiful right now - and they always remind me of my grandmas!  Some of my starts were from Grandma Frank, some from Grandma Bessie, and still others from other friends, and each year when they rise and bloom, I think of them again.  I love how flowers in my garden bring back so many wonderful memories.   Painting number 1264 in 1264 days. 

Daylily Dance
Oil on panel, 7x5
purchase here

Water Lilies

Water Lilies
Oil on panel, 14x11
purchase here

This is the second painting of the Stems event that I began with a dark primed panel, as in one I would normally use for nocturnes. In such a dark scene, I think it may easier to simply work towards the light.  In the case of this painting, I had the grandsons with me - and I was VERY distracted with the whole "boys being boys" thing! By the time Michaela finished her painting and took the boys to play by the train garden, I was nearing completion.  It took me twice as long to finish this painting as it should have.  To get the boys used to this whole "plein air" thing, we are now scheduling family plein air days.  This painting is the 1254th in 1254 days.

Pink Calla Batik

Pink Calla Batik
Watercolor, ink, hot wax on masa rice paper, 7.5x5.5
purchase here

A couple of years ago, my youngest daughter, youngest son and husband bought me two bunches of calla lilies to plant in the beds.  They are tropical, and should be dug out each winter. Well, I never did get around to that task - and for two years running, they have come back on their own - and bloomed beautifully!  I love it when that happens!  I've added a bit of hot wax splattering to the waxing stage on this one.  I like the loose effect - I will try a bit more on the next one!  This painting makes 931 in 931 days :)

Orange Lily Batik

Orange Lily Batik
Watercolor batik on rice paper, 9x12

I have the most beautiful lilies in my yard.  Year after year, they keep growing and spreading - and I have given many starts to friends over the years.  The first ones came from my Grandma Frank's neighbor, Betty Ruhl.  Shortly thereafter, I got more starts from Grandma Bessie.  Each year when they bloom, I think of these special women and their loving and giving natures.  Choosing the single daylilies for today, these blooms are very challenging to paint.  Their elongated petals twist and roll away in the wind.  I set paper toweling under the rice paper to soak up extra moisture.  On the next couple of paintings, I went to wax paper underneath, thus allowing the paint to move and mingle.  How much I crumple up the rice paper directly affects how much cracking occurs in the wax, and how much watercolor can get through the cracks and onto the surface of the rice paper.  On this painting, I crumpled only once.  This technique is so unpredictable - and the results are different every time.  Every painting is a lesson!  Painting number 642 in 642 days.

Saint John Community Garden

Saint John Community Garden
Oil on panel, 14x11
Scarritt Renaissance Coffee Club Demo

Yesterday morning, I was invited to paint and speak to the Scaritt Renaissance Coffee Club, hosted by Becky Koop at the Saint John Community Garden.  Becky's shop,  Backdoor Pottery, adjoins this property.  Behind the swinging bench lies the vegetable garden, with beautiful flowers sprinkled throughout.  These wonderful daylilies were not quite to their peak yet, so using my artistic license - I have opened their abundant blooms!  A lovely, but windy morning, we started with a wonderful breakfast.  I spent time talking and answering questions, until I was prompted with, "you have about 20 minutes left to paint" - yikes!  So, I got busy and let the brush do the work - laying in the masses intuitively, without thought.  Within 30 minutes, I had all the important parts in - and the painting was a true representation of how I felt in that spot.  With just a few touch ups, and removing the grass and debris from the surface (due to the strong winds) - this is what remains.  A lovely memory in oil of a morning spent with the gracious members of the Scaritt Renaissance Coffee Club.  This painting makes 531 in 531 days - Happy Father's Day to all!  Now, I am off for a family gathering!

Hydrangeas by the Arbor

Hydrangeas by the Arbor
Oil on panel, 14x11
Lee's Summit Garden Walk - Plein Air

Oh my goodness, what a full day!  I started this morning as the guest speaker and painter with the Scarritt Renaissance Coffee Club in northeast Kansas City, and next headed for the Garden Walk in the historic downtown Lee's Summit district.  This is my third painting today, and such a lovely spot it was!  The giant hydrangea was begging me to paint it - and after scanning the other gardens on the street and visiting with fellow artists - I returned to my favorite.  As is sometimes the case, I had to tuck myself into a cubby hole of shade to get this exact view.  I wanted the abundant blooms spilling over the iron fence, with the path and arbor leading you right into the garden, so there was no other place to set up. The biggest drawback here is that I could not keep stepping back to check on progress as I worked.  I really could only step to the side along the hedge to get a different vantage.  Once finished, I pulled it out of the deep shade to check the hues, and found it was just what I was after.  The weather was beautiful, though a little windy, and the owners were so gracious and welcoming.  I always enjoy visiting with passersby as I work - and what is better than strolling through lush gardens on a perfect June day?  This painting makes 530 in 530 days, and I will post one of the others tomorrow :)

Spring at Tammy's Pond

Spring at Tammy's Pond
Oil on panel, 14x11
sold

I absolutely love painting garden scenes!  I'm an avid gardener - and the paintings I can find among a beautiful landscape are endless.  All week long, I had wanted to paint a waterfall, but I simply didn't have the chance....until now!  I have taken extra time on this one, wanting to accurately portray the essence of this special place.  With such a complicated composition, drawing is key - so I sketched this one out in detail with a pastel stick directly on the panel.  I have started finishing the areas of my block in more thoroughly before moving to the next, and I am really liking this method.  It allows me to make sure each area is on the right path as I go, a more thoughtful way of painting.  The results portray my vision more quickly than when I blocked in all areas first, and then started working each area.  It just feels right, and so much of painting is just "expressing" yourself with the brush.  I have several photos of this beautiful garden......and I may just do a few more paintings in the future!  This painting makes 491 in 491 days - and I'll be painting all day tomorrow at the Penn Valley Plein Air Fest in Kansas City :)

White Wine and Flowers

White Wine and Flowers
Oil on panel, 11x14

Today was one of those days where it is absolutely a miracle that I could finish a painting.  I had the grandsons all day, the three year old whipping through here like a tornado - stirring up messes everywhere he went!  Once I had fed them lunch, got them settled in with lincoln logs, I set up my still life and started sketching out the piece.  I blocked in the values, in between the damage control, and even got the light in before having to walk away for hours.  When I was able to come back to it, it was now dark behind the set up, with the same warm lamp light from the front left.  I liked the change in lighting, so I started making the changes.  It would have been so much easier to leave it as it was, but you know how it is when you feel in your gut that the changes must be made.  I also had an old pair of scissors sketched in, but I decided against them.  This is one of my Grandma Frank's large Atlas canning jars and a small vintage pink wine glass, from a set, that my mom and I will drink from when we just want a little wine!  Day 43 on the painting trail :)