:) A Very Merry Christmas

Just what I wanted!  
...a hand-crafted stained glass.




...family together for dinner.
...to surprise my husband.
...my son joining us from the other side of the world.

Snow Cardinal II

Shouldn't things be easier the second time around?


That wasn't the case for me and this painting.  I'd actually painted this little guy before, (Click "Snow Cardinal" to see the first version.)  but it sold.  Usually I'm thrilled when paintings sell, but I really missed this one.  I decided I'd whip out another one just like the first; however, I ran into all kinds of frustrations - problems with the colors in the background, issues with the snow on the branches, headaches with the balls hanging from the tree... one thing after another.  I had to put it aside and almost gave up several times.  I was about ready to scrape the whole thing off when I received my Tip of the Week video from Daniel Edmondson: the title was "Don't Scrape Off Your Paintings."  Perfect timing... As it turns out, the whole thing wasn't a mess, just a few parts.  I'm not sure he's perfect, but I'm glad to have him back on the wall - at least until someone buys him for their own wall.  

 
This little bird and his wife teased me during a snow day last winter.  Right outside my window they'd flit and fly.  They'd rest on a perch; then off they'd go.  Finally, just once, he sat still long enough for me to snap his picture!


Also visit a lovely Etsy treasury (collection of related art pieces)  celebrating winter called Winter Wonderland where this little cardinal got to be a part of the collection.

Pitcher and Pears

Where do I begin?

Well, in the case of still life paintings, this is where I began.  I learned... make that... I began to learn about soft edges and shadows.  It was also my first attempt at a metallic color... yeah, looks like I needed a little more practice at that; my pewter is a little (ok, a lot) purple-y.  I did learn about placing the objects in a pleasing way (overlapping, not straight on), but I hope my next lesson was to use the whole canvas - not just the middle!
I love looking back.  Right now I'm very discouraged with the painting I'm working on.  Seeing how I have grown as a painter reminds me that learning is hard!  Maybe looking back is the encouragement I need to move forward.

[SOLD]

Pink Daisies

What's in your backyard?

These pretty little things grow in my parents' yard.  I think they're called echinacea - pretty fancy name for a pink daisy. 


[SOLD]

Remember When

Do you remember when...?

That's a phrase that begins many conversations between family and friends.

This chimney sits along the road that goes between my two brothers' houses.  It just sits there in a little field all alone, but it's not lonely.  Imagine what this old chimney has seen.  I can imagine it kept  a family's cabin warm for years and years.  I can imagine the farmer who stacked the logs and built the fire.  I can imagine his wife who poked the logs and kept the fire going.  I can imagine the children doing homework in front of it.  I can imagine a cat curled up on the hearth.  I can imagine stockings hanging from the mantle year after year.  I can imagine... can you?

Click "Christmas Past"  to see this chimney at at Christmastime.

[SOLD]

Fuschia

What's your favorite color name?


Fuschia, chartreuse, magenta, azure, viridian, cerulean...


I painted this as a challenge for Artistic Sentiment.  Go see the varied artistic styles of this lovely little flower.

Original Oil Painting o 5"x7" Canvas Board
[GIFT]