Florida Palms

Oh how delightful it is to sketch my brother's palm trees as I sit by the pool, drinking my morning tea! He has a very tropical lawnscape which is perfect for painting!  I'm running a few errands and doing a little shopping with Mom today while the boys are at work, so early sketching is important.  Mom lunches and naps on almost a schedule, which is also a great time for me to paint.  It seems I am always painting around someone else's schedule, lol. Painting number 5106 in 5106 days. 

Tropical Croton

 

LOVE finding bold, vibrant tropicals in the landscape to paint!  These are so colorful I just had to try them in ink and watercolor!  Arriving just this afternoon, I NEEDED to spend time outside in the fresh air.  My first experience on a trip in a Jeep (rental) have all but driven me insane!  So, to unwind, I took my supplies outside and got to work.  Becoming one with the landscape and centering on color soothes my soul.  Now all I need is a good run to melt the stress away.  Painting number 3684 in 3684 days. 

Arbor at Family Tree

 

So fun to capture this tropical space in the greenhouse of Family Tree Nursery in Shawnee!  The tropical plants, quilted fabric flags and pots made such a wonderful scene, i just had to paint it.  When I started this sketch - clear through to the end, the tables were not occupied. If I'd only  waited, I could have sketched the people that filled the tables, too!  Feels like a vacation to spend a few hours here in January! Painting number 3680 in 3680 days. 

Family Tree Umbrellas

 

It's a tropical getaway each time I sketch at Family Tree Nursery!  My first time back after renovations - I love what they've done here.  There were so many gorgeous things to paint inside, but I just HAD to spend my time in the greenhouse, soaking up warmth and humidity on this cold January day!  LOVE painting here!  Painting number 3679 in 3679 days and day 31 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

Croton Petra

Waking early to walk out and have my hot tea by the pool, I was drawn to the brilliant color in the foliage of this tropical plant!  I've never seen these growing in the earth before - and it's size and color were dazzling!  So, I set up my easel with my hot tea at my side, and started laying down thick paint to define those fabulous leaves!  I really do love applying that thick, juicy paint - it is very satisfying indeed!  What better way to start my day?  Painting number 2614 in 2614 days.

Tropical Blooms

Tropical Blooms
Oil on wood panel, 8x10

Somedays, I am simply too busy to even eat. On this completely packed day, I have been hard pressed to finish this painting, which I started yesterday.  My brother lives in Florida, and had sent me the image of these flowers he had captured while biking through dense terrain.  The wood panel was a previous landscape block-in, which I had heavily textured first.  I negatively painted the blooms, then began to add the pinks.  The knife adds so much interest on this heavy texture since it skips along the rough texture in unexpected ways.  I have no idea what these blooms are - as my brother is no botanist, and we don't have these beauties in Missouri!  Painting number 928 in 928 days.

first block in