No. 761 Palette Knife Poinsettia 2

Palette Knife Poinsettia #2

Oil on Canvas Panel

6" x 6"

Good grief! Could Christmas really only be a week away? 

More experimenting with the palette knife. It's easy to create a lot of interesting texture with this tool.

~Susan

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No 760 Ruby Red Poinsettia

Ruby Red Poinsettia

Oil on Canvas Panel

6" x 6"

Another palette knife painting. Considering how very awkward a palette knife in my hands can be I'm surprised how well this came out. One thing I've noticed is how it encourages me to see more abstractly in shapes instead of lines. If you can get yourself in an abstract, shape making state of mind it usually ends up in a better painting even if the goal is realism.

No. 759 Glass Ornaments in Glass Bowl

Glass Ornaments in Glass Bowl

Oil on Gessobord

 6" x 6"

I've been trying to learn how to paint with a palette knife recently. Interesting learning curve there and like everything it has it's pros and cons. This piece was painted almost exclusively with a palette knife.

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No. 758 Shropshire Lad with Blue Vase - The Warm Version

Shropshire Lad with Blue Vase - The Warm Version

Oil on Linen Panel

7" x 5"

Yep, that's right. This is the same group of roses as the last post, just painted under a warm light. I did mention how much I miss these roses?
~ Susan

No. 757 Shropshire Lad with Blue Vase

Shropshire Lad with Blue Vase

Oil on Linen Panel

7" x 5"

Oh my I miss these roses. Painted under cool light. At this point I can't remember if it was daylight or a cool light bulb.
~ Susan

No. 756 Roses and Hydrangeas Off Center

Roses and Hydrangeas Off Center

Oil on Linen Panel

7" x 5"

Another piece from my rose painting spree this summer...

Already looking forward to next year's rose painting spree. :)

~ Susan

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No.755 Carol's Peonies

Carol's Peonies

Oil on Linen Panel

7" x 5"

This super sweet little bouquet was brought in by one of my super sweet students. Thank you for letting me paint your bouquet, Carol!

~Susan

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No.754 Italian Tonight?

Italian Tonight?

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

The magnificent onion in the back was actually the inspiration for this still life. Somehow it was pushed to the background. The moment I saw this onion in the famous Mazama grocery store on the eastern side of the mountains, I knew it had to come home with me. It has not only inspired me but several of my students as well. I salute you beautiful onion!

~ Susan

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No. 753 Pansies with Support

Pansies with Support

Oil on Linen Panel

7" x 5"

Gosh, I hate to admit I painted this quite awhile ago. Perhaps it was late spring? As the days get shorter and shorter, I'm really longing for late spring.

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No. 752 Valley View of Mt. Baker - Plein Air

Valley View of Mt. Baker - Plein Air

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 7"

A lovely fall afternoon painting one of my favorite local views of Mt. Baker,

No. 751 Sunday Morning

Sunday Morning

Oil on Linen Panel

7" x 5"

What a treat these geraniums were. They brightened up my back deck all summer long. Back lit in the afternoon sun, the leaves as well as the flowers just glowed.

~ Susan 

No. 750 Baily's White Truck - Plein Air

Baily's White Truck - Plein Air

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 7"

It was a very fortunate thing that we got outside to paint in September because October has been a VERY soggy affair. I only had the opportunity to paint in a pumpkin patch twice this year. How disappointing!

 ~ Susan

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No. 749 Bailey's U-Pick - Plein Air

Bailey's U-Pick - Plein Air

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

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When the weather is fine my wonderful students let me drag them into the field to paint - literally. We were painting in a field. :) I enjoyed the view so much I stayed after class to paint it myself. Thank you to the Bailey family for always being so gracious about us painting on their farm. Also, a huge thank you to my students for taking on the plein air challenge.

Here's a little video of our experience:

And a link to the 1 minute video, just in case you can't see the icon:

Click HERE

~ Susan 

No. 748 Lilies and Hydrangeas

Lilies and Hydrangeas

Oil on Canvas Panel

6" x 6"

But wait there's more! Flowers from my garden that is. Needing subjects to paint has given me a whole new level of appreciation for my flower beds. I actually even weed them sometimes. :)

~ Susan

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No. 747 Summer Garden

Summer Garden

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

Another collection of flowers from my garden this summer. Until next year my beauties!

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No. 746 Hydrangeas and Roses

Hydrangeas and Roses

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 7"

Hydrangeas and Roses from my garden this summer. Yep, that's all I'm going to say because the last season of "Doc Martin" is calling me and I might be able to squeeze one episode in before bed. :)

No. 745 Roses in a Coffee Pot

Roses in a Coffee Pot

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

Oh my, I've gotten rusty on blog posting. I have so much to share that I get overwhelmed and don't share anything at all. Sad, really. Do you ever have something like that happen to you? The solution is to start simple I'm told. So this is one of my favorite rose paintings of the year. It sold pretty quickly at the Coupeville Arts Festival. I was sad to see it go and almost refused to sell it to the nice young lady who said it was calling to her. Okay I'm not that heartless. I think it went to a good home.

No. 744 Schack Pumpkins

Schack Pumpkins

Oil on Cradled Wooden Panel

12" x 12"

Last week, I went to the Schack Art Center in downtown Everett for an arty party. The goal was to create paintings for an auction to raise money for children's art programs. Jennifer provided these glass pumpkins as a subject to paint. The Schack has a hot shop, a place to blow glass, and they are known for their glass pumpkins. Schack-tober Fest starts next week, complete with a pumpkin patch in the gallery containing over 700 glass pumpkins! Can't wait to see that!

For more info on Schack-Tober Fest click HERE.

No. 743 Peonies in Blue Vase

Peonies in Blue Vase

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 7"

 Another piece from my peony painting stage earlier this summer.

No. 742 Peonies with Possibilities

Peonies with Possibilities

Oil on Linen Panel

7" x 5"

Festivals and travels over for the summer. Anika is settled in her dorm at the University of Washington. Meg is getting ready to start high school. Sigh. What do they say, "The only constant thing is change?"

Time to refocus and get ready to resume oil painting classes. I missed my students and am really looking forward to laughing and painting with them again.

No 741 Stehekin Nocturne

Stehekin Nocturne

Oil on Linen Panel

9" x 12"

Returning to the Stehekin trip, I painted this on the deck of the house we rented.

Aaahhh, what a great trip.

Running around working on last minute details for the Fresh Paint Festival tomorrow. Don and I did most of the set up this evening. Thank goodness for tall, helpful husbands with long arms!

 

If you can come to this great waterfront, art festival be sure to stop by and say hi!

For more info on the festival click here.

No. 740 Wallace Falls Hike - Plein Air

Wallace Falls Hike - Plein Air

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 7"

I feel like this is one of my best plein airs to date. My daughter's and I went hiking with friends on a trail not too far from home. I stopped part way in to paint along the river while they did all the hard work hiking up to the falls. I think I had the best deal. This painting sold at the Coupeville Arts festival last weekend.

Here's a little video of the festival:

 

And of course the link if you're not seeing the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-VJxGxA2rM

Now we're on to the fabulous Fresh Paint festival in Everett this weekend!

Here's another link if you would like more info on this great festival.
http://www.schack.org/events/fresh-paint/

No. 739 Teapot and Lemons - Genie not Included

Teapot and Lemons - Genie Not Included

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 7"

I don't know why this teapot reminds me of Alladin's lamp but it certainly does.

Everything is trashed! The house is trashed, my studio is trashed and even a part of the backyard is trashed getting ready for the festival this weekend. Will it all come together? We'll see...

Flash back to last years festival with Meg helping out. Gone are the red curtains, tulip banner and golden backboards.

If you think you can make it to the festival my advice is to come Sunday morning. You also might consider driving up by Anacortes and down the island instead of taking the ferry. If you decide to take the ferry you can keep an eye on wait times via their website. Here is a link to their webcams.

The girls and I will be located near Toby's Tavern in site 197. I'm pretty excited. I have a spot on the water side of the street. You should be able to see Penn Cove right through my booth! Click here for a map to the festival.

No. 738 Perrin Peonies

Perrin Peonies

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 7"

I enjoyed Dennis Perrin's workshop on roses so much I went ahead and took another one on peonies. :)

The big news is our return to the Coupeville Arts Festival this weekend. This will be our third year. Somehow I got a bee in my bonnet and decided to redesign my booth. After spending a couple of weeks on it, I am questioning that decision. Hopefully all the work will be worthwhile. Speaking of that, I'm not done yet and I have two and half days to go! Better get back to work!

If you would like info on this great art festival held on beautiful Whidbey Island click HERE.

No. 737 North End of Lake Chelan - Plein Air

North End of Lake Chelan - Plein Air

Oil on Linen Panel

9" x 12"

A small group of us painted here along the side of the road in Stehekin. Direction wise, the best I can tell is we are looking south from the very northern tip of Lake Chelan. It was a really lovely location. I had fun waving at the locals driving by ever so often.

No. 736 Stehekin Plein Air #1

Stehekin Plein Air #1

Oil on Linen Panel

9" x 12"

I took a dynamite trip with PAWA this spring to Stehekin. This is a tiny town on the east side of the mountains at the northern tip of Lake Chelan. What makes it unique is you can only get there one of three ways - ferry, float plane or hiking through the mountains. How cool is that?

I shot a lot of video while I was there and compiled it into the sixteen minute video below.  The first part of the video (lots of lupine) is shot on the way to Stehekin.

The link if you can't see the video icon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhvFCnQDtmI

And a couple of photos of the lake...

 

 South end. 

North end.

No. 735 The Lavendar Farm's Purple Chair - Plein Air

The Lavender Farm's Purple Chair - Plein Air

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

How could a person pass up painting this?

 

Carol painting in the distance.

 

 

A late afternoon shot of the field.

A little video I shot of our day at the lavender field.

And the link if you can't see the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXQ2JjdChPY 

No.734 Lost Mountain Lavender Farm - Plein Air

Lost Mountain Lavender Farm

Plein Air

Oil on Linen Panel

9" x 12"

The grand finale for my Monday oil painting class was a trip to the lavender fields on the Olympic Peninsula. Wow! What a great day. Thank you very much, Connie, for the inspiration. A big thank you also, Diana, for doing all the driving. And last but certainly not least, a big thank you to Carol for the great ice tea and willingness to come along! I think a grand time was had by all.

Bubble blowing on the ferry ride over to the peninsula.

 

Anyone see any lavender around here?

 

 

Diana giving it her best from a nice shady spot.

 

No. 733 Peggy's Pear

Peggy's Pear

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

Peggy, one of my students, selected one of the class pears and put it in this colorful set up. The woman loves lots of color. As class progressed I fell in love with the reflected light on the shadow side of the pear.  Thanks so much for the inspiration, Peggy, you color lover you!

This is the last of the class inspired still lifes. We are on break for the summer. Time for occasional trips out of town, spending time with family AND getting ready for the Coupeville and Fresh Paint festivals!

No. 732 A Change of Pace

A Change of Pace

Oil on Linen Panel

5" x 7"

Another leftover still life from class. This time I supplied the pear. You just can't go wrong with pears.

No. 731 Connie's Roses

Connie's Roses

Oil on canvas panel

6" x 6"

My students come up with the best still life subjects! And they are kind enough to let me paint them too. When Connie walked around the corner with some of her beautiful roses in her hands, I immediately started drooling. Thank you, Connie!

No. 730 Persistence Pays

Persistence Pays

Oil on Linen Panel

9" x 12

Back painting under the skylight in the bathroom. For a long time I didn't think this painting was going to work but I persisted. In the end, I felt this one caught the spirit of my roses the best.

No. 729 Oh, Julia!

Oh, Julia!

Oil on Linen Panel

9" X 12"

Roses from my Julia Child bush. Oh, what a vigorous and pretty much disease free bush it is! Just spectacular.

No. 728 Two on the Cool Side

Two on the Cool Side

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

Almost exactly the same set up as yesterday. Only this one was painted during the day with cool, natural light. Whereas yesterday's was painted under warm light in the evening.

No. 727 Then There Were Two

Then There Were Two

Oil on Linen Panel

6" x 6"

Taking baby steps here, moving from one flower to two.

No. 726 One of the First

One of the First

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

Before there were enough roses in bloom to paint the big bouquets, I tested the waters with just a single one.

No. 725 I Can't Believe You're Mine

I Can't Believe You're Mine

Oil on Stretched Canvas

12" x 12"

Can you believe these are more of my very own home grown roses? I just barely can. A huge thanks to the gals at the Antique Rose Farm for helping me select and care for these beautiful roses. I'm still amazed these are mine.

No. 724 The Wait is Over

The Wait is Over
Oil on Linen Panel

8" x 10"

Ever since I took an online workshop on painting roses with Dennis Perrin in January I had been waiting on pins and needles for my own roses to bloom. This was my first attempt to paint my own home grown roses with what I had learned from Dennis.

By the way, I hope you had an excellent 4th of July!

No. 723 My Day Roses

My Day Roses

9" x 12"

Oil on Linen Panel

These are the same roses as those in yesterday's painting. They are a day older and painted under natural light from the skylight in my bathroom. Whereas yesterdays painting was created under artificial light in the dining room. It's always interesting to see just how much lighting and location can affect your painting.

No. 722 My Roses at Night

My Roses at Night

Oil on Linen Panel

9" x 12"

My dad passed away a few weeks ago. The past few years were extremely difficult for him as he battled two forms of cancer, diabetes, dementia and grief over the passing of my mom. I will miss him but am firmly convinced he is in a much better place.

My dad was an avid gardener and loved to grow vegetables, fruits and flowers. This is one of the many rose paintings I created to help with the sadness of his passing. He was a huge supporter of my painting efforts so I would like to dedicate this painting to my dad.

No. 721 My Mom's Bowl

My Mom's Bowl

Oil on Gessobord

6" x 6"

My mom was hot and heavy into throwing pots for several years. She studied ceramics at Everett Community College and had a small potting studio in her backyard. Once she made so many pots she ran out of people to give them to, she kind of lost interest. A shame really because she was getting quite good.

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