Magnolia and Pear

Oh how I love painting the flowering trees of spring!  After today's rain, the trees are absolutely shining!  I'm using my Richeson palette today and loading it up for this weekend's event while I'm at it.  I spent some time earlier getting frames and panels ready, one of those chores best done when the outdoors isn't calling me!  I'm using a 6x8 masonite panel, which I love.  I've been using quite a bit of canvas lately, and I'm so happy to return to my favorite surface. I hope I get enough time to fully capture the beauty of these trees before the blossoms fly away!  Painting number 3012 in 3012 days. 

Magnolia Chickadees

I love when my tulip magnolia tree starts blushing pink with blooms!  This beauty was a Mother's Day gift years ago from my little darlings, and each year when it blooms I remember that fondly.  I love the connections so many of my flowers and trees have with loved ones, on this earth and not.  Each bloom brings back the memories of those days.  I'm painting in oil on this rainy day, and a sudden rain shower tossed the blooms a bit, changing my composition.  They will brighten again tomorrow, and I might just paint this tree in front of the flowering pear behind it, more from a distance. In between rain, I finished this painting while the birds flew in and out of it's branches.  I enjoy painting to their birdsong!  Painting number 3011 in 3011 days.

 

Tulip Tree

Early this month, my tulip tree was in full bloom. After two heavy frosts and a hard freeze, I thought this season's blooms were over.  The blackened blooms fell off, and so many buds were still emerging from this tree!  It is now heavier laden than it was before, with no end in sight!  I hope to sketch these blooms often, to gain a complete understanding of their cup shaped blooms while I still can.  Like every other blooming tree, once they are finished it is another year before they return.  Painting number 2669 in 2669 days.

Midnight Magnolia

Midnight Magnolia
Oil on unstretched canvas, 4x4
bid here

The blooms on my magnolia tree are larger and more beautiful than they have ever been!  It took years for this tree to grow large enough to really start producing, but wow - what a show!  Still a small tree, I look forward to all the years ahead and the glory it will bring to the yard!  I simply love all of the spring blooming trees - they are such a welcome sight after the cold days of winter.  I started this painting in the usual way - pastel sketch first, followed by blocking in color.  I blocked in the background last, which is just the opposite of the first magnolia I painted, where I did the background first.  Thereby, I negatively painted the blooms.  Sometimes, I just want to change things up, especially when I paint every day.  It allows me the freedom to follow my whims, because if it doesn't work out, its okay, there is always tomorrow! Painting number 869 in 869 days :)

in progress

April Magnolia

April Magnolia
Oil on unstretched canvas, 4x4
purchase here

Each day, it seems my magnolia tree grows more beautiful - so abundant with blooms it is!  I simply can't resist capturing such wonder in oils!  I have used my new brushes on this small painting - and how I wish I had bought one in every size!  There will be no time for going by the art supply store before I leave town, so I will have to make due with what I have.  These connoisseur 2102 brushes are holding their shape so well, and I love the way the paint cleans out of them so quickly with safflower oil.  They are synthetic, which is new to me, but so far, I have not found a single down side. The marks they make are clean and they blend like a charm.  I just love finding new, amazing art supplies!  It feels like Christmas! Painting number 834 in 834 days.

Robin Rhapsody

Robin Rhapsody
Oil on canvas panel, 8x6
purchase here

When I arrived home after a very full day, my intention had been to paint my first tulip - and bright orange bloom.  But, as I unloaded the car near the magnolia tree, the sweetest robin was singing in it's branches!  Inspiration springs up in these precious little moments of life - and I always listen.  It doesn't matter if I have a painting already sketched out, I will switch gears on a dime to rise to the occasion! I began this painting with my normal pastel sketch, and fully painted the robin before moving on to branches, blooms, and finally the sky.  Permanent rose is the main color for the magnolias - a great addition for those spring flowers!  Painting number 824 in 824 days :)

In the Magnolia

In the Magnolia
Oil on panel, 5x7
auction - bid here

I simply LOVE magnolias.  Big, showy blooms, dramatic color in the landscape, and what a fabulous painting subject!  My children bought this magnolia tree for me one year for Mother's Day, and is just starting to bloom.  It is a slow grower, so it is only a little taller than I am, but each year it gets bigger and fuller.  I don't remember ever painting these blooms before.  It seems like it comes into full bloom when plein air painting is kicking into high gear, and I have missed the opportunity the last couple of years.  I will be taking full advantage this year!  I hope to paint some larger pieces while they are still in their glory.  I primed some panels yesterday and the day before, and I mixed up rather a bright color of orange yellow for the wash.  Its a little wild, but I thought I'd just try it out.  It worked out fine, and added a warm undertone to all the colors.  I painted in the lightest lights and then the darkest darks, and blocked in all the rest from there with a large bristle brush.  I did use a smaller flat on the chickadee.  Most of my brushes are flats, until I scrub them into filberts - and I like a stiffer brush to really move that thick paint around. Since I don't use mediums, I truly need a strong brush.  I always use my palette knife on branches, pulling the paint one way or the other to follow the natural shape.  This painting makes number 819 in 819 days.

Magnolia in Bloom

Magnolia in Bloom
Oil on panel, 6x6

The sun is shining, the temperature is coming up, and it is a beautiful day to work in the garden.  I have had a full plate today, only able to find a small painting window before the afternoon picks up again - not to let up until bedtime!  After picking Michael up from track, we have closing ceremonies for basketball, followed by picking up our new puppy - with the grandkids coming over for some play time!  I'm SO glad it is warm out!  My tulip tree is not yet in bloom, but the buds are swollen with the promise of their giant flowers!  I tried several times before finally finding a tree that would survive the harsh winters here - and it is a glorious pink one!  Not sure if I'm done with this or not - I'll look with fresh eyes tomorrow! This is painting number 437 in as many days.  I wonder what our little cats will think of the new arrival....

Blooming Trees

Blooming Trees
Oil on panel, 12x9
Defiance Paint Out

This was painted up the street from the Car Show in Defiance on the day of the Defiance Paint Out.  The yard was grand, with trees on either side blooming in profusion.  It was a lovely, warm day, and the family who lived here was very friendly.  Music wafted up from the show as people came by and visited while I worked.  It was a lovely day spent. With all of the visiting, I did cut it very close to the deadline for turning this one in to the Yellow Farmhouse Winery by 4:00!  Thank goodness I am ahead a painting or two - as I have been very busy today indeed!  Painting number 130 in 130 days.