Chandelier Light

Chandelier Light
Oil on panel, 9x12

Some nights, when I can not sleep, settings for interiors run through my head.  I almost always get up and set them up, taking photos for reference - to start the next day.  This is one of those scenes!  Some of my favorite things are in this one - one of Mom's china teacups from the set she gave us on our wedding day, four favorite books, an antique dresser from my parents, beautiful old magnifying glass I found while on a trip with friends, and perhaps my favorite lamp in the house.  This chandelier makes me happy just to see it aglow in the kitchen and it was given to me by one of my favorite people!  It casts the most beautiful, warm light - and I've tried to capture it here.  I'm working late this evening - after a day of family fun - sledding with the kids and grandkids, followed by dinner out.  No stress getting this done, though.  The huge amount of snow has cancelled all of our activities across the board - leaving me extra time for painting - and sledding!  This is the 51st painting in a row - and I'm really enjoying the paint time this evening :)

Roses and Royal Albert

Roses and Royal Albert
Oil on panel, 11x14

I absolutely adore roses - in the garden, in a vase, or on my china.  So, this Valentine's Day - I am painting roses!  I found the antique pitcher and Royal Albert teacup and saucer while antiquing, and the book is one of an old set of my favorite poetry collections.  It just makes me feel good to paint these little treasures - like I am in my own world for just a bit (interruptions and all).  I have only done a handful of florals ever - so this time spent was serious study time.  I am finding that roses are complicated and hard to paint!  That certainly means that I need more practice, and since the roses are not blooming this time of year - I will be buying roses to paint!  I feel like I am learning so much - so fast - by completing a painting every day.  There are no limits to subject matter, I only need to keep my sizes down.  I do need to sprinkle in some larger pieces, as I don't think I've painted larger than 12x16 since this painting challenge began!  This makes the 42st painting in a row - Happy Valentine's Day :)

Lamplight on the Table

Lamplight on the Table
Oil on panel, 10x8

I was painting this one in my head all day - while at my son's  basketball game, lunch, shopping with my daughter, and countless other household things on my plate.  I didn't start laying paint until 9:30 at night!  I was so tired, but with the first strokes - the excitement started.  I went into it thinking, I'll just give this painting an hour tonight.........but I just couldn't stop until it was finished!  I am having SO much fun exploring this whole new painting world!  I have already chosen a couple of new subjects to try in the coming days!  This is day 19 out of 30 of the painting challenge - now I'm off to plein air paint at the zoo!