Original Oil Painting Vintage Rose

Vintage Rose

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12" x  12"

Painted on Ampersand Gessobord.

Original Oil Painting Double Header

Double Header

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12" x 12"

Painted on gessobord.

Let me first state: I have a love / hate relationship with dahlias. I love the beauty of their multi color petals but I struggle trying to capture it. I feel this is one of my better attempts. 

Original Oil Painting Halo Geraniums

Halo Geraniums

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10" x 10"

Painted on gessobord.

This is a still life painting in which I used a halo orange and a piece of my last geranium of the season. Right now the geranium is in the garage but I do not think it will last the winter. We had such a warm fall that I did not have the heart to throw it in the recycle bag when it looked so great. This is my way of preserving a piece of it. As for the halo oranges they have become my favorite fruit now (since I can not get fresh home grown strawberries in the winter). The halo oranges peal so easy and taste so good.  

Original Oil Painting Rose #3

Rose # 3

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8" x 10"

Painted on gessobord.

My goal with this rose was to capture the strong light and dark contrasting areas. It is the areas in-between the highlights and shadows that I found to be very challenging. The pink petals have tints of orange and violet. The leaves have a wide variety of yellow green and blue green not to mention the hints of red and orange lines. I thought for a second to leave the hints of red, orange and yellow lines out but it creates this wonderful unity with the petals. Challenging but fun. 

I love color!    

Original Oil Painting Hollyhock Hummingbird

Hollyhock Hummingbird

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12" x 12"

Painted on gessobord.

Original Oil Painting Hummingbird Bee Bop

Hummingbird Bee Bop

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10" x 10"

Painted on gessobord.

Bee Balms are one of my favorite flowers. I love their pointing petals and crazy tops. I am not crazy about all the bees they attract so I paint them rather than plant them. When I saw a photo of a hummingbird with bee balms I had to paint it. The hummingbird with its' long beak compliments the pointing petals of the bee balm so well. I used Linda Anderson's photo posted on PaintMyPhoto as a reference. The photo is posted below. Thanks Linda for sharing your wonderful photos!

Original Oil Painting Daisies and Lilacs

Daisies and Lilacs

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12" x 12"

Painted on gessobord.

These are the first flowers of the season from my yard except the white daisies which came from the field behind my house. I was so happy to see that my lilac bush looking so good after last year. I was very close to yanking it out and I am glad I didn't. I really need to be more patient. 

Original Oil Painting Intense Pink

Intense Pink

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12" x 12"

Painted on gessobord.

Are the colors too intense?? I do not think so. I hope my viewers agree. I tried to keep the strongest contrast on the focal lily on the right. To capture the intense sunlight on an intense pink was not easy but I do love a challenge.  

Original Oil Painting April Bouquet

April Bouquet

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10" x 10"

Painted on gessobord.

I love the variety of shapes in these flowers. The tiny little white flowers with their dabs of color, the daisies with their strokes of color and the pink flowers with their fractured color. I made a lot of premix color for the pinks. Taking a petal at a time painting each color I saw. It drove me a little crazy with all those bright colors but I do love color! At first I thought they were a little to shocking but the colors grew on me. Probably  because we had so may grey days lately, the bright colors give me hope that brighter days are ahead. When I posted this the sun was out, yeah! Bring on the sun!!!

Original Oil Painting Creamer with Fruit

Creamer with Fruit

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12" x 12"

Painted on gessobord.

I painted this from a still life that I put together. I wanted a warm harmony but found that the objects I was viewing were not all warm. The white creamer and plate were a cooler white. I added yellow ochre and lemon yellow to the white areas to warm them up. I tried to change the petals to a darker green but then they blended with the green leaves in the background. I knew if I tried yellow green or brown petals I would run into the same problem. So I compromised and use a combination of blue with yellow green accents. The blue tints here and there are a discord to my warm harmony but they also make the warms they are next to pop. I posted a photo of the still life I was working from. I hope you can understand my struggle. 

Original Oil Painting Rose Blossoms

Rose Blossoms

16" x 20"

Painted on linen panel. 

I painted this using a combination of photos. One for the vase and another for everything else. Of course there are little ideas of my own all over the place.  I made the bowl the flowers are lying in silver, to reflect the colors around it. The ties hanging off the pot help pull the viewers eye in. The background which I did first was a bit of a challenge. I wanted it to use all the colors I plan to use in the painting put making them a darker shade to help them recede. The pattern I painted as if it was on a shear transparent fabric, something elegant to go with the roses. Now the roses are more like bush roses. Those I stuck mostly to the photo reference but just push the color contrast more. I was going for a warm, elegant, look. 

Thanks for viewing my painting.

This is what it looks like framed.

Original Oil Painting Hummingbird

Hummingbird 

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11" X 14"

Painted on stretch canvas.

I finished my hummingbird painting this morning, enhancing the lights and working on the edges of the bird. I used my petunias as reference and a photo reference from wet canvas for the bird. This time of the year we see quite a few hummingbirds. They like petunias, so I plant them in the front porch baskets and in the back patio containers. In fact I saw one when I was painting. Never could photograph one myself, they are so fast. Thank the lord for all the nice people who donate their photos to sites like wet canvas, paintmyphoto and others.  

Original Oil Painting Peony Sisters

Peony Sisters

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12" x 12"

Painted on gessobord. 

I painted this using a photo I took of my brother's peonies. My brother has two sisters so the title: Peony Sisters really works. The pink on peonies is really intense. I must of mixed a dozen shades of pink and red violet to get the shades I needed. I am pretty happy with the way it turned out. 

Original Oil Painting Cosmos Wild Flowers

Cosmos Wild Flowers

9" x 12"

Painted on ampersand gessobord.

  I really like how the cherries have circle around to see the wild flowers. This is a very playful painting with dramatic lighting. The sparkle in the glass also has a very playful quality. Thanks for viewing my painting. 

 

Which parts do you like? Comments are always appreciated.

Originial Oil Painting Pink Zinnia

Pink Zinnia

9" x 12"

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This painting was 100% fun! Getting to paint with wonderful shades of pink and to top it off adding a golden crown. I have always loved zinnias and this was painted using one of my garden photos. I guess I will be planting zinnias again this year.

Original Oil Painting Pink African Violet

Blue Bird of Happiness

12" x 12"

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With all the warm weather this week I thought a new plant was in order. So I went to Stein's and bought this wonderful pink African violet. I added the glass blue bird of happiness because (you guessed it) I am so happy to get a break from the winter cold. There is such a contrast between the blue bird and everything else but I like the tension. 

Yes, I did change the title a month later to Blue Bird of Happiness instead of Pink African Violets. I have no idea why other than I kept thinking of it as the painting with the blue glass bird in it.

Here are some process pics.

 I first start lightly sketching things in.

 I usually start with the background when mapping colors in.

This is what it looks like with colors mapped in. 

 After I mapped in the subjects I noticed the foreground need some details. I used a Q-tip and marked a place for a leaf and fallen flower. Then I started painting the details in the flowers.

I continue with leaves and glass bird next. After looking at it I decided the table color was wrong. Next morning I tried something lighter which gives the composition more contrast. Since the right side looked unbalance I added another flower in the background. This time I added a long stem and bud.

Original Oil Painting Three Pinks

Three Pinks

9" x 12"

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I think G+ is working again. I am sorry if anyone did not receive a posting. In this painting, I am trying a layer technique Dan Edmundson taught in his master class. It is a technique that Richard Schmid uses so well. As you layer the background to create volume you add more paint. So the first layer is just scrubbed in. The next layer you add a little more paint but keep it some what light or should I say transparent. The top layer is more opaque and detailed but do not forget to let the other layer show through here and there. 

Original Oil Painting Hot Pink Geranium

Hot Pink Geranium

10" x 10"

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This is my porch geranium this year. I took many photos for references plus I brought the plant in when I painted this. I like have both to paint from, more options the better. 

 I always remember my Aunt Lucille potting red geraniums and placing them on her front steps. I grew up across the street and they are forever etch into my memory. The blossoms of geraniums always stand out against their wonderful, large green leaves.

Original Oil Painting Pink and Yellow Rose

Pink Yellow Rose

9' X 12"

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Original Oil Painting Little Big Rose

Little Big Rose

12" x 12"

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