101 - PAWA Tulips

 

Yellow Tulips

Oil on Gessobord

5 x 7

 

This was painted at the Plein Air Washington Artists (PAWA) Paint-In

on Sunday. I had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed

painting this still life designed by Janice Kirstein. I wonder if I could

get her to come over and set up some more still lifes for me. Or I suppose

 I could drop in one of her classes too. Hmmmmm....

Day 100 - Really?

 

My Bed Calls

Oil on Gessobord

5 x 7

 

I told my husband Don that this was my "Damn it! I just want to go to bed"

painting. It had been a very long day of fixing paintings, starting paintings,

family activites - happy and sad, and prepping paintings to put into a show.

At 11:30pm when I started this painting all I desperately wanted to do 

was crawl into bed. I guess that's what it takes to get me to loosen up. 

Day 99 - Can't resist those tulips

 

Tulips with Small Blue Vase

Oil on Gessobord

5 x 7

 

I know, I know, I've complained heartily about painting tulips. You'd

think I would know better. Believe it or not these flowers

actually move while I'm painting them!

They must be reacting to the heat of the lamp. Honestly!

Still, I just can't seem to help myself. Furthermore, since

I live so close to some of the most amazing tulip growing fields in

 the country, I've decided to succumb and embrace them. So

please bear with me while I figure out how to paint these seductive

jewels of the flower world.

Day 98 - Karen's Quimper Platter

 

Karen's Quimper Platter

Oil on Gessobord

5 x 7

 

I had never heard of Quimper pottery before but here you have it.

This is a piece Karen picked up in Quimper, France. The limes

are a perfect addition to this lovely piece. Also, my favorite

Hardanger embroidery again with a little more detail.

 

Check this out! While I was there Karen served tea on her Russian

china. Beautiful and delicious, what a treat! I would love to do a

painting of the china but it's definitely not suitable for a daily

painting. Someday.....

 

Day 97

Renee's Copper Cup

Oil on Gessobord

6 x 6

 

Another one of the cool antiques I borrowed from Renee. Copper

or brass, I'm not exactly sure which it is. Renee could probably enlighten me.

That pear has been an absolute workhorse. It's my star model at the

moment. I wish I remembered what variety it was.

Day 96 Karen's Place #2

 

Karen's Place #2

Oil on Gessobord

5 x 7

Click here to view auction

I love this placemat Karen's mom made. It is called Hardanger embroidery.

I understand she did a lot of this type of handiwork and Karen has absolutely

no intention of carrying on the tradition. I really like the white on white. I painted

it in more detail in the next painting.

I'm excited to mention that Karen is the author of the book

" The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use"

As Karen has a terrific sense of humor and a wonderful way with words you

know this book is a great read. Click here to visit her website.  

Day 95 - Karen's Place

Karen's Place #1

Oil on Gessobord

5 x 7

 

When I had originally made the teasing comment that I was going to invade

friend's homes in my quest for still life props I was surprised to find that a

few were actually excited by the idea. Lucky me! On Friday my friend

Karen Burns opened the door to her lovely home and let me invade with

paint bag in hand. As it turns out she had so many beautiful things I

couldn't choose, so I spent the entire time taking photos of many different arrangements. 

Day 94

Two Apples

Oil on Gessobord

5 x 7

 

The reflected color of the apples is what I liked best about painting

the copper kettle. This is a close up of that phenomenon. I like the

way it makes the background become very abstract.

Day 93

Visiting the Anitque Rose Garden

Oil on Canvas

5 x 7

Plein Air

 

Today, due to technical difficulties (dead battery on the camera),

  I am posting a painting from this fall.

There is a lovely little antique rose garden in Snohomish on Springhetti

road. I highly recommend a visit there. The staff is very friendly and

the roses are gorgeous. This is a view of a little building attached to

their barn. The barn is impressive too and it's next on my list to paint.

Day 92 - The Island

We just spent a couple of days on the island. This is the first time I've tried painting our little cabin. She is a massive 300 square feet (yes there are only two zeros after that 3) structure and was built by the previous owner, Ron. He is quite a character. He lived in that tiny cabin without electricity or a bathroom for 15 years! He had really strong opinions and a very long beard. After he sold the property to us, he packed up his little truck and headed off for the great unknown. We often wonder what happened to him.

Day 91

 

Copper Kettle - Round Two

Oil on Gessobord

5 x 7

My first attempt at painting the kettle didn't thrill me so I

thought I would try again. This time on gessobord instead of canvas.

Painting on gessobord really is a different experience than painting on

canvas. The surface is much less absorbent, so your paint

really slides around. It takes getting used to. The end result being, 

I liked my first painting better. Try, try again!

Day 90!

Recouping from Painting Brass

5 x 5

Oil on Canvas

 

Sometimes after painting something really difficult it's nice to just

paint one single, simple, little item.

Day 89 - Kettle Woes

Renee's Kettle #1

Oil on Canvas

5 x 7

 

My good friend Renee has come to the rescue again.

She has graciously agreed to let me borrow some of her antiques for

still life props. This brass/copper kettle is the first victim of my artist's eye.

I'm here to tell you, it gave me a run for the money.

I almost felt like my eyes had crossed before I finished.

If you would like to purchase a painting click here to visit my Paintworks Gallery.

If the above painting hasn't been posted yet, no need to wait, email me at dsmcm678@yahoo.com.
My "daily" paintings start at $27.00. Thank you!


Day 88

Lone Tree

Oil on Canvas

5 x 7

Plein Air

 

I got so caught up in Valentine's Day preparations I forgot

to photograph my recent paintings. So today we will return to last summer.

This was painted at a campground near LaConner.

A big beautiful tree sits all by its lonesome on a little island

just off shore. A frequent roosting spot for eagles and a beautiful

silhouette against a summer sunset, it is the subject of many a photo.

Here's to you Lone Tree!

Day 87 - Florida Feather

 

Florida Feather

Oil on Canvas

5 x 7

 

This image is from a trip to Florida we took a couple of years ago.

We were there to see one of the last space shuttle launches. What an

amazing experience to see it take off in the pitch black of early, early

morning. Of course we hit Disney World while we were there.

Shuttle launch, Disney World, Florida beaches, and not being in Washington

in the middle of February - best family trip ever.

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a painting click here to visit my Paintworks Gallery.

If the painting hasn't been posted yet, email me at dsmcm678@yahoo.com.

My "daily" paintings start at $27.00. Thank you!

Day 86

 

Primrose #3

Oil on Gessoboard

6 x 6

 

Third in the series. I'm surprised I'm not dreaming of primroses.

The last one is larger than the first two. That wasn't my original intention.

I ran out of 5 x 5 panels after the second one. Hopefully the UPS guy will deliver

new ones tomorrow and I will do another 5 x 5. Below is an example

of how I think they could be hung as a group. Very spring like, no?

 

If you would like to purchase a painting click here to visit my Paintworks Gallery
or if the painting hasn't been posted yet, email me at dsmcm678@yahoo.com.
My "daily" paintings start at $27.00. Thank you!

Day 85

Primrose #2

Oil on Gessobord

5 x 5

 

There are three things I really like about primroses.

First, their no-holds-barred, smack-you-in-the-eye color.

If I were to characterize primroses, shy would not be in the description.

Second, during the dark, dreary days of winter primroses are the first flowers to show up

outside our grocery store reminding me that, yes, spring will come.

Third, I'm enchanted with their light sweet fragrance floating up to me as I paint them.


If you would like to purchase a painting click here to visit my Paintworks Gallery
or if the painting hasn't been posted yet, email me at dsmcm678@yahoo.com.
My "daily" paintings start at $27.00. Thank you! 

Day 84

 

Primrose #1

Oil on Gessobord

5 x 5

 

I bought these primroses a couple of weeks ago. I've

been pondering how to paint them ever since. They

don't work as cut flowers at all. Once cut, they almost instantly start

to droop.  It dawned on me to cluster them together and

look straight down on them. Then I got a really exciting

idea. How about a series of three to be hung together?

What a great way to anticipate spring!

Day 83

 

Detail of Almost Spent

I prefer this crop to the full piece.

 

 

Almost Spent

Oil on Gessobord

6 x 6

 

Yesterday's tulip past it's prime but still lovely in it's

own way. I was feeling sad about my mom's most

recent trip to the hospital so this seemed like fitting

subject to paint.

 

Day 82

Tulips and Pear

Oil on Canvas

5 x 7

My third attempt at tulips and I think by far my best. 

Actually, I'm very happy with the purple tulip!

We had nice foggy weather for photographing paintings this

morning. Still came out with a bit too much shine. 

Curse you shiny oil paints!

Day 81

 

Tulips 2

Oil on Canvas

5 x 7

 

Ugh. The shine on the painting in this photo is terrible. Back

to the drawing board. I would've tried to photograph it again

today but the sun actually came out. Sun in Western Washington

in the winter? What's the deal with that?

This is my second attempt at tulips.

Day 80

 

Cyclamens and Teapot

Oil on Canvas

5 x 7

 

Your first peak at my beloved teapot I found in an antique

store in Stanwood. I will paint it much larger next time. I spent

a good chunk of my childhood being dragged through antique stores

with my mom and dad. Until very recently, I avoided them at all

costs due to memories of intense boredom. Now with  my quest

for still life props, I see them with a whole new eye. How shocking!

 

A second note, why do cyclamen always look like they just woke up?

What a wild and crazy plant.

Day 79

 

Tulips with Green Vase

Oil on Canvas

5 x 7

 

I picked up an innocent little bunch of tulips at the grocery

store a few days ago. I've been wrestling with them

ever since. My first dilema was sorting out a composition

I liked. Then I had to figure out how to paint them!

This is my first attempt...

Day 78

Skagit Valley Swans

Oil on Gessobord

6 x 6

 

This on is also from our road trip to Bellingham.

In the spring, the Skagit Valley explodes with color from field

upon field of brilliant tulips. In the winter those fields are full of

thousands of Snow Geese and Swans. Skagit Valley is

a very special place with the Puget Sound on one side of farm land

and the mountains, like Mt. Baker, on the other.

Day 77

Silvana
Oil on Gessobord
5 x 7

My friend Renee and I took the back roads on our way
 up to Bellingham for the mom's getaway. Silvana is one of the
small towns we passed through. I was thrilled by Renee's willingness
to stop and take photos at the drop of a hat. We took lots of
photos that day! What a beautiful area we live in. Thanks Renee!

Day 76

Inner Peace

Oil on Canvas

5 x 5

 

This wonderful little jar is another recent thrift store find. I'm

not exactly sure what it is. My guess is it's an incense burner. I

asked my husband Don if he knew anyone at work who could

translate the characters. Who knows what I could be painting!

A petite, Asian chemist was so kind as to help us out.

 The characters on this side mean,

you got it, inner peace.

Day 75

Blue Sake Bottle

Oil on Gessobord

6 x 6

All I can say is it's been a long week full of appointments

for vets, doctors, dentists and hair stylists. No where in 

the world sounds more inviting to me right now

than my own bed.

Goodnight.

Day 74

African Violets with Lavender

Oil on Gessobord

6 x 6

I was out painting at the Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental

Stewardship on Whidbey Island a few months ago. A very nice

gentleman said, "Help yourself to some lavender!" And so I did.

The Pacific Rim Institute is a wonderful stretch of prairie land east

of Coupeville. It's gently rolling hills are open to the public and are a

great place to take a walk. For more info click here.