No. 591 Tulip Mini Plein Air

 

The Poet's Tulip Painting - Mini Plein Air

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 3"

 

At 9:30 this morning I sat on my couch thinking, "Do I or don't I? Do I or don't I try to paint tulips today?" The website said the tulips were ready (they are very early this year) but the weather looked iffy. As you can see I decided to go. The weather was definitely "iffy" but the tulips were gorgeous.

 

I finished two small plein air paintings and sold both right of the easel. One to a poet who recited one of his lovely poems as a thank you. The other painting was sold to one of the most adorable young families I've ever come across. I would say an excellent days work.

 

 

 

The Young Family's Tulip Painting - Mini Plein Air

Oil on Gessobord

4" x 4"

 

 

If you decide to visit the tulip fields be sure to bring your boots! Tulips and mud are constant companions.

 

 

 

No. 590 Tulips with Silver Vase at Night

 

 

 

Oil on Linen Panel

7" x 5"

 

Okay, I'm seeing a series here. It just occurred to me that I could do this on a regular basis. I could take a particular still life subject and paint it in natural daylight one day and  then in dramatic lighting the next. Not only would the contrast be fun but it would save me from designing a new still life everyday. Hmmmmmmmm. I'm really liking that thought!

 

 Below is the daylight version of today's dramatic still life.

 



No. 589 It's Hard to Be Subtle

 

 

White Roses with Watering Can

Oil on Gessobord

7" x 5"

 

My first shot at a regular daily painting after the workshop. I tried to be subtle, honestly.

 

 

On a separate note, there is once again a large installation of my daily paintings at Quail Park. This years crop is what I like to call it. I didn't count how many but I would guess over a hundred little paintings are on display.

 

 

My favorite wall.

 

Hanging with my paintings.

 

The "cool" side of the room.

 

The "warm" side of the room.

They will be on display until the middle of April. If you are interested in visiting them the address is Quail Park of Lynnwood, 4015 164th St SW, Lynnwood, WA 98087



No. 588 Ruffled Tulip

 

 

Ruffled Tulip

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 7"

 

An up close study of a lovely ruffled tulip.

No. 587 Post Zimin Workshop Study

 

 

 

Spring Still Life

Oil on Stretched Canvas

11" x 14"

 

Okay, this one was completely designed and painted by me using ideas I gleaned from the workshop. Hopefully it looks like I learned something. :)

No. 586 Zimin Workshop Study #5

 

 

Zimin Workshop Study #5

Oil on Stretched Canvas

11" x 14"

 

Last day of the workshop, last study. We discovered, after trying to add a red apple to this still life for some color and Mr. Zimin calmly removing it again, that this still life is supposed to be light and airy. The apple, he told us, would have just weighed it down. He often commented that we are trying to paint the air around the objects not just the objects themselves. Something to ponder.

 

 

 

On the right is Alexander Zimin. On the left is our translator Olga. In the middle is the woman that made this workshop possible and a fine painter herself, Jan Jewell. A huge thank you to all three for a wonderful workshop.



No. 585 Zimin Workshop Study #4

 

 

Zimin Workshop Study #4

Oil on Stretched Canvas

12" x 16"

 

I struggled long and hard with this one. I had this lovely textured background which was what I thought it was all about. Then, Mr. Zimin came by and scraped it all off to make the roses stand out more. Okay, maybe thick beautiful texture isn't always what it's about. Sigh. Back to the drawing board.

 

 

 

Zimin Workshop Study #4b

Oil on Gessobord

7" x 5"

 

After making all kinds of mistakes on the first study, I did this small version pretty quickly.

 

 

Okay, here is the master painting his version. It was exquisite.

 

Mr. Zimin doesn't speak fluent English and so had a translator. This made the workshop interesting and a bit challenging. The translator was a lovely lady, eager to help you understand. I couldn't help but feel, though, that I may have missed out on some great information. I will say the language barrier would not keep me from taking the workshop again if I had the chance.

No. 584 Zimin Workshop Study #3

 

 

Zimin Workshop Study #3

Oil on Stretched Canvas

11" x 14"

 

This lively, loose, colorful study is from the third day of the workshop. The weather was beautiful so we went outside to paint. I was really excited because I hope to paint still lifes in my own backyard and was very interested in how Mr. Zimin approached this situation. You can see some of his palette knife work on my painting. It was an interesting combination of scraping paint off to simply and unify while adding thick, variegated strokes for interest. I know one thing for sure. I need to use a lot more paint.

 

 

 

Alexander Zimin in the middle of painting an outdoor still life. It turned out beautifully.

No. 583 Alexander Zimin Workshop Studies

 

Zimin Workshop Study #2

Oil on Stretched Canvas

11" x 14"

 

A couple of weeks ago I had the great good fortune to attend a workshop taught by Russian, master-impressionist, painter, Alexander Zimin. It was a week long workshop running from 10:00am until 5:00pm each day. Every morning started with Mr. Zimin painting a demo with great enthusiasm. After lunch it was our turn to paint one of his beautifully designed still lifes. I would've attended the workshop just to have the opportunity to paint one of his still lifes.

 

 

 

Zimin Workshop Study #1

Oil on Stretched Canvas.

12" x 16"

 

 

New friends Maria and Steve and old friend, Margaret participating in the workshop.

No. 582 Potted Tulips

 

 

Potted Tulips

Oil on Linen Panel

7" x 5"

 

We have had an incredibly mild winter this year. Spring appears to be here and I understand the tulips will bloom a full two weeks early.

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No. 581 Tulips and Teacup

 

 

Tulips and Teacup

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

 

I have almost a two week backlog of paintings to post! Time can sure get away from a person. Sorry, I haven't gotten any photos from the Zimin workshop on here yet. The paintings from the workshop are dry enough to photograph. Now we just need a nice overcast day...

 

In the meantime, this is one of my favorite tulip paintings so far this year.

 



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1st Place Winner!

 

 

Grapes in Silver

Oil on Gessobord

 6" x 6"

 

I am sharing this painting again because I'm very proud and excited to announce that it won first place in Gallery North's Small Works show! I've won honorable mentions before, even a couple of second places but this is my very first 1st place. Can you tell I'm kind of over the moon about it? I was told it competed against 250 other paintings to receive this honor.

 

The Small Works show will run through the month of April if you would like to check it out. The address is 401 Main St, Edmonds, WA 98020. Edmonds in a great little seaside town full of cute  shops, cafes and galleries. Well worth a visit for it's own sake.

No. 580 Tulips with Silver Vase

 

Tulips with Silver Vase

Oil on Linen Panel

7"x 5"

 

I just spent a week taking a workshop from Russian, master-impressionist, painter Alexander Zimin. It was exhilarating, occasionally frustrating, always awe-inspiring and most definitely exhausting. Which  is why this post will be short. I will share some photos tomorrow. For now, though, I'm crawling off to bed.

 



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No. 579 Yakima River Canyon

 

 

Yakima River Canyon - Plein Air

Oil on Linen

5" x 7"

 

On my way home from Pasco I stopped to do a winter plein air. It was a good way to break up a four hour drive. I tried to use some of the concepts from the cool light/warm light workshop I took recently to add some extra color to a largely grey landscape. Below is a photo of the location I painted. I prefer the composition of the photo but the color of the painting.

 

 

 

I went to Pasco to attend the memorial service of my uncle. An extremely colorful fellow was my uncle. He had very strong opinions, a huge gun collection, an even larger arrowhead collection, taught rifle safety, loved to fish, collect antiques and sing in the church choir. He was married five times, twice to the same lady.  I'll always remember his loud, warm greeting, "Hello, Susie!"

 Rest in peace, Uncle Clare.

 

 

No. 578 Spring Still Life

 

 

Spring Still Life

Oil on Linen Panel

7" x 5"

 

Daniel J. Keyes is probably my all time favorite still life painter. His lush compositions amaze me to no end. Occasionally I attempt a lush still life along the same line. Sadly, they don't come even the tiniest bit close to Mr. Keyes paintings but it's worth the stretch.

 



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