Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Sunflower Bouquet

A flower is just more beautiful if you put the seed in the ground yourself, watered the sprout, kept the weeds away, and noticed the first bloom.

Labor Day is just around the corner - the signal for summer's end..... sigh.....


Original Oil Painting on 12"x 16" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

Friday, August 27, 2010

Summer Trees

What makes this painting special?

Hmmm... Well, it's not very good... The shadows aren't really right... The colors are a little garish... The shapes aren't realistic... The background is pretty contrived... Hmmm...

So... Have you guessed? This is the very first painting I ever did. It was on February 22, 2007. I spent three hours being nervous, frustrated, stressed, tense, worried... then proud! I had a finished painting! And... I thought it was lovely!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Mother's Hands


How many stitches have these hands sewn? How many ears of corn have they shucked, pods of peas have they shelled, or green beans have they snapped? How many babies' bottoms have they patted or storybook pages have they turned?

Aren’t they lovely hands?

Original Oil Painting on 9"x 12" Canvas Board
[GIFT]


Friday, August 20, 2010

Comfort

How many books is enough? Hmmm....

A friend who was a librarian sent me a card well over a decade ago. I have long forgotten whether it was a thank you note, a get well card, or a birthday card. Many years ago I tore off the back part of the card and taped the front on the wall behind my desk at school. It just had such a cozy, comfortable feeling. Glancing up to see that little picture could give a moment of calm in a stressful day. I'd love to give credit to whoever first designed this image and thank them for the little moments of peace it has given me through out the years.

This painting was recently featured in an Etsy treasury (collection of art and vintage items) celebrating "Story Time." Click to enjoy the treasury.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Peaches and Brass Candlestick

Sometimes painting just amazes me. I remember when I went to my first painting lesson about 3 1/2 years ago; my teacher said, "You're going to train your eyes to see things in a different way." I wondered how in the world I could do that and really didn't understand what she could possibly mean.
But, I do see things in a different way now. As I was working on this, I just couldn't get the brass right. I looked again... and I saw it; there was green in the brass! Hmm... Who knew! Suddenly a blotchy, yellowish, lumpy stick became a brass candlestick! Voila!

I painted this as a challenge piece for Rookie Painter. I love the concept of this site - an image is presented then artists are invited to create and share art inspired by that image. It's so interesting to see the diversity in style.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Iweus Rose

Have you gotten roses lately? They're lovely, of course. But, how come they barely have a smell anymore? Did the smell get engineered out as their traveling stamina got engineered in?

Luckily, some people still grow beautiful, natural roses that also smell heavenly. This one was grown by my brother-in-law.

If you'd like to purchase blank note cards with this image on
the front, follow this link to my Etsy shop.

A single rose adds a feminine touch to anything. Have a look at this fabulous necklace I found on Etsy. I love it!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Lemonade

I painted this as a challenge piece for Artistic Sentiments.  I love the concept of this site - an image is presented then artists are invited to create and share art inspired by that image. It's so interesting to see the diversity in style. The image used for inspiration for this challenge was a painting by Van Gogh called "Still Life with Pitcher and Lemons."

I know that mine is a lot more realistic (less loose and artsy) than his, but it's more me. The goblet and saucer are from my cupboard, and the paisley silk scarf in the background is one I often wear as a wrap.


Visit Sweet Summer Lemonade, an Etsy treasury (collection of art pieces and vintage items) celebrating all things yellow.  Or click on It's Gonna Be a Hot One to sample a look at all things hot and how to avoid the heat!

[SOLD]

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Hello, Buttterfly

How long do you think this little one had to be still to get a monarch to flutter so close?

Original Oil Painting on 16"x 12" Wrapped Canvas.
Click here to purchase the original.
Click here to purchase a giclee.
Contact me if you'd like a giclee or print in another size.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Light Yellow Sunflower

Why do I love this particular sunflower so much?

Because it's balanced - symmetrical, but not really - just right? Because it was the biggest, tallest, strongest one in the garden? Because it's bright and fiery even though it's a soft yellow? Maybe because of the memory of how hard I laughed (and how mad I got) at the squirrel who climbed up the stalk for a feast on its seeds - while spitting seed shells all over the tomato plant below. Somehow it's just the right symbol to represent me.

Yes, it's for sale on my Etsy site, but I put a price too high on it and hardly ever renew it all in the hopes that no one will ever buy it. Is that silly? Wouldn't it be better to just take it off? Hmmmm... Maybe I should. Maybe I will.

If the day comes that someone else loves it enough to buy it, I'll probably cry as I package it up to ship.

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 12" Canvas Board
[SOLD]

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Mama's Kiss

I love this little bright-eyed baby. I think it's pretty clear that his Mama does too. I hope she takes every opportunity to give him kisses. In no time at all, he'll think he's too big.


Guess what... I remember when it was this Mama that was being cuddled and kissed on the cheek!





Click below if you'd like to purchase "Mama's Kiss." It is available in several forms.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Hummingbird

What do you get someone who has everything he needs?

My sister and I each got my dad a hummingbird feeder for Father's Day this year. They were very simple and inexpensive... and the best few dollars we could have spent.
I'm sure there is a correct way to feed these little guys, but we mixed their food a little extra strong the first time - just to let them know where the new restaurant in the neighborhood was located. Within hours they were hovering around and sipping that syrupy nectar. Yes, they are elusive. No, they don't have names. But, they have become pets all the same.

This particular little bird grabbed my attention at the bus stop outside the airport in San Diego. He and his many brothers and sisters were the exact color and shape of the leaves growing on the wall. At first, they were completely camouflaged to me. But as soon as I spotted the first one, I realized they were everywhere! These little Dr. Suess-looking puff balls seemed to be their dinner tables.

Have a look at these artsy hummingbirds that I found on Etsy - very different, but I love both of them!
For a lovely little stained glass hummingbird to put in your window, click this link.
For a way cool (kind of funky) mosaic mirror with a hummingbird inspiration, click this link. http://www.etsy.com/listing/39284921/humminggbird-in-light-green-mosaic

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Monday, August 2, 2010

Grandpa's Smokehouse


This was the little building behind my grandpa's house that the cousins were never allowed to go in; however, I know that when my mom and her brothers and sisters were young, it was an important part of their farm life - the smokehouse.

Just as important as the smokehouse was the garden beside it. I do have many memories of the garden. When I was very small, I got to ride on Prince, the big brown mule, while Grandpa plowed the long rows. (I know that tillers were usually used by that time, but Grandpa and Prince worked the rows just as they had done for years.) My strongest memories from the garden involve dealing with its produce. Strawberries to slice and cover with sugar to freeze... Peas to shell... Beans to snap... Cabbage to shred and salt for kraut... Tomatoes to blanch for canning... Egg plant to, hmmm, I don't remember what we did with the egg plant...

"Grandpa's Smokehouse" was recently featured in an Etsy treasury (collection of art pieces and vintage items) celebrating Pawpaw's Place.

If you would like to purchase a giclee or print of "Grandpa's Smokehouse," contact me.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Jansen Park

I saw this little bridge in the park every week as I was growing up. It was a sort of boundary, "Don't go past the bridge!" I never noticed how lovely it was until going back years later.

I thought that would be the end of the story for this painting. But after it was finished, my niece saw it and said, "That's Duck!" One year her husband brought her a little duckling for Easter. Duck became fast friends with their poodle, but after a while Duck needed a better home. They got permission to move him to the park. (He's the white one in the painting.)

"Jansen Park" has been professionally framed with backing and hanger. If you would like to purchase it, this link will take you directly to its listing in my Etsy store.