Kitty in the Drawer

Honestly, Buff...
Is an open drawer an invitation to lounge in a new space?

I take that as a yes.

Inspiration Collaboration - March 2021

 Happy March!

This month's images couldn't be more different! We hope one of them will inspire you to create some art of your own. 

Click HERE to read the thoughts behind each image.

It's easy to be a part.  Click HERE for instructions.  

We look forward to seeing what you create!

Chicken Soup

When doing a still life like this one, there are a bunch of steps before paint ever goes onto the canvas.

• Gather ingredients and make a pot of soup.
• Set everything so that it looks pleasing.
• Take a photo, move a cracker, take another, move the spoon, take another, move the light, take another, stir the soup, take another... take way too many photos. (Honestly, they all look almost the same anyway.)
• Reheat the soup (Since you spent all that time taking pictures, it got cold.) then eat it while you look through all those photos and decide which one to use.
• Draw the image on the canvas. (Maybe you can draw well. I can't.  Tracing paper and carbon paper are my friends.)

Here's the view from my seat. 

See the photo on the left?  It's a photo viewer. You know, one of those electronic frames that people buy for their grandparents, but their grandparents never use... There will probably be one at the next estate sale you go to, and it will most likely still be in the box.  Buy it!  It's perfect for reference photos.

Also, notice those two plants in the window...

Do you see him?

Oh, Buff!  For the 100th time, you can't sit there, and you can't bite the plants!

Questions along the way. Why did I paint that teal first, now everything it touches is turning green. How are these squares ever going to look like crackers? What color is boiled chicken? What color are noodles? How do I make it look like everything's sitting in broth?

This was the first version of "I'm finished!" Then I noticed that the bowl looked like a plate. Boo!

My art challenge for this week was "Home Made." This soup did not come out of a can.  It was home made.

Original Oil Painting on 8"x 10" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

Fanciful Spring Landscape

This one makes me think I'm walking straight into a scene where there might be some unicorns grazing just on the other side of that rise.

I painted this for my weekly painting challenge.  The theme was "Spring Landscape."  Why do I never paint spring landscapes?  I did some counting and a little math. I've done a little over a hundred paintings that could fit into the category of landscape.  I discovered that I have not treated my seasons equally!   

This is what I found:

Summer: 50%

Autumn:  45%

Winter:    10%

Spring:     5%

What?  How did that happen?  I need to keep my camera handy in the coming months and take some pretty spring landscape reference photos.

Thanks to Thanks to Paint with Shiba for a great YouTube tutorial. 

Oil Painting on 11"x 14" Wrapped Canvas.

[SOLD]

14 Year Painting Birthday

 

On February 22, 2007 I  went to my first painting lesson.  

I painted a tree!  

And, it looked like a tree!

I couldn't wait to begin the next one.

I still feel that way... I can't wait to begin the next one.

I'm forever grateful to my art teacher/mentor/friend. 

To date, I've completed 558 paintings. There are only 8 of those that I'll never sell. This first painting, Summer Trees, is one of those 8.

These are my first 10 paintings.

Hangs in my niece's home

Given to a student

Sold

Sold

Sold

Hangs in my daughter's home

Sold

Hangs in my son's home

Sold

A Good Book to Read

A patch of sunlight...

A favorite quilt...

A quiet corner...

A good book to read...

What more could you want?

I painted this for the weekly art challenge "Looking Down."  I think the intent was probably to paint something from the perspective from above, but I went with the subject looking down. I love this image (and this little one).

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 16" Wrapped Canvas

[NOT FOR SALE]

Chickens in Winter

It's hard being a chicken farmer in the winter.
I better not complain.

It's harder being a chicken in the winter.

Ha... I guess I'm not much of a farmer
with my rainboots and pajama pants.

Before the snow began, they
congregated around the back door
watching me in the kitchen.

Brrrrr... It's been some kind of cold cold here.

How Do You Say Peony?

Is it PEE-uh-nee?

Or is it pee-OH-nee?

I didn't even know that first one was an option until a few years ago!

Either way, it looks like somebody turned the volume up on this pretty pink peony!

It didn't start out this bold.  It's been through a few "I'm finished" moments.

I've always hated... been afraid of... avoided... been challenged with painting what I call "fancy, fluffy flowers" like roses, peonies, carnations, etc. so I turned to a YouTube lesson for some help. (YouTube's a great teacher when you don't have a teacher handy.)  I picked a YouTube artist whose peony painting was beautiful, and her instructions were easy to follow. 

Day 1

I did my best to follow her process, match her strokes, use her colors. At the end of the session, it was a good try. It looked like a peony.

But, it was ugly, and I was frustrated. 

I wiped it off. 

Day 2

I determined to try again.  I followed her, but not as closely.  Somewhere during that time, I began to understand that I was painting one flower, not twenty separate petals. That sounds silly to say, but it changed my mindset. 

I finished the peony!

I was pleased.

Then I stepped back and looked at it.

It had the right shape, but it was cold and lifeless.

Well, that was disappointing...

Day 3

I took a photo to look at it on a screen and get a different perspective, and I decided it was worth saving... my way. 

I brought it to life... and maybe put it on steroids... but I do love this "fancy fluffy flower" now.

This week's art challenge phrase was "Lots of Pink." I certainly did use lots of pink.

Oil Painting on 8"x 10" Wrapped Canvas

Click Bold Pink Peony if you'd like to purchase this painting.

Tools of the Trade

 

I've heard the "old timers" (people who've farmed and gardened for their whole long lives) say that the day to start thinking about and planning the garden work is Groundhog's Day (February 2nd).  I'm not sure that working on a painting of gardening tools counts, but I did work on it on Groundhog's Day. 

Since I'm too lazy to start my plants from seeds in the house

Since I prefer to purchase my plants after they're ready to put in the ground, I give myself a few extra weeks before putting gardening on my mind.

The "old timers" also say not to put anything in the ground until Tax Day (April 15th) if it can't tolerate a freeze.  I will be ready to plant on Tax Day!

This week's painting challenge was "Tools of the Trade."  I first thought of painting supplies, or writing utensils, or kitchen equipment.  But, since it was Groundhog's Day when sat down to the canvas, gardening tools seemed appropriate.

Original Oil Painting on 6"x12" Wrapped Canvas

Click Tools of the Trade if you'd like to purchase this little painting. (Until that happens, I sure am going to enjoy having this one on my own wall.)

Sweet Iced Tea

Y'all can find all kinds of lists about living in or visiting The South. (Things You Should Know about the South... What Every Southerner Knows... What I Learned When I Moved to the South.... Best Southern Foods... Traditions of the South...) They may all vary just a little, but there's one thing that'll show up on every... single... list... Sweet Iced Tea or Sweet Ice Tea.  And, it'll probably be number one on that list.

Unsweetened tea??? What??? No...

A cup of hot tea??? What??? No...

Y'ain't havin' that!

It's a strange thing when you realize that something that's such a normal part of life is only normal where you live... not in the whole world!  It's like discovering you speak with an accent that you didn't even know you had!

I did this painting in response to Sara's Inspiration Image, Friend for Tea, on this month's Inspiration Collaboration. I wonder... If, no when Sara and I actually meet in person one day, will we each have a cup of hot tea or a glass of iced tea?  I suppose that will depend on where that meeting happens. 

Original Oil Painting on 10"x 10" Wrapped Canvas

If you'd like this painting for yourself, click Sweet Iced Tea.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird V

 

This little hummingbird is a good friend.  He's visited my painting canvas a few times.  I have a few go-to images that are perfect for a one-day-art-with-a-friend painting.  He's one of them.

If you look it up, you'll find that the hummingbird is symbol of joy and happiness.  It's said if you see one it gives positive energy and good luck.

I think we could all use some joy and happiness, some positive energy, and a bit of good luck these days.

Original Oil Painting on 5"x 7" Wrapped Canvas

Click Ruby Throated Hummingbird V if you'd like to purchase this little painting.

Inspiration Collaboration - February 2021

Happy February!

We hope these rosy images inspire you to create some art of your own. Click HERE to read the thoughts behind each image.

It's easy to be a part.  Click HERE for instructions.  

We look forward to seeing what you create!

Orange Zest

I had a double art challenge this week.  The challenge was to incorporate texture as well as radiating lines.  Citrus slices would meet the challenge, and I don't think I use my orange paints often enough.  Orange is such a happy and energetic color, and I love the way the complements of orange and blue work together.

This was actually my second attempt.  The first one was a nighttime scene of a Ferris wheel and fireworks done with a palette knife. It was the perfect idea for texture and radiating lines! And, working with bright colors on a black canvas was so much fun.  Once it was finished, I could not stop looking at it. I think I was trying to decide if it was so loose and painterly that I should be proud of branching out... or if it was just plain tacky.  After a couple of days, I realized the truth... It was just plain tacky.  So... sadly, the lights went out on the carnival scene, and that canvas is now black once again.  The orange slices are much more "me."

Original Oil Painting on 6"x 8" Wrapped Canvas

To purchase this little painting, just click Orange Zest! 

Cool as a Cucumber

How do you like your cucumbers? In a salad? Peeled and sliced? Pickled? Or, on someone's plate besides your own?  I don't eat them (from the grocery store) from about August to May.  But, in June & July... Summer garden cucumbers every single day!

I train my cucumber vines to grow up inside tomato cages.
The deer leave them alone pretty well if I keep them tucked inside the cages.

I love how the kitchen counter looks on summer days.
There is a limit to how many fresh cucumbers you want eat in a day.  
 HERE  is my favorite pickle recipe for the extras.

So why this summer painting and post in January?

This week's art challenge word was "cool."   After thinking through a list of ideas of things that are cool, I decided, "Cool as a Cucumber" would be a fun little painting.

Original Oil Painting on 5"x 7" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

Thistles & Butterflies

In early September we went for our first day trip since the beginning of COVID-19. 

Staying mostly on rural roads, we left NW Arkansas... drove down Western Oklahoma... crossed into and over the Ouachita Mountains ... circled through my hometown... made our way back up to our home in the Ozark Mountains.

I love the Ouachitas.  I grew up right  in the middle of them.

The Talimena Scenic Highway is the best way to view them from the top.

Beautiful, I know.

But, what does this have to do with the painting?

The Talimena Scenic Highway has many pullouts or overlooks so that cars can stop and people can enjoy the view.  Of course I had my camera so I could take pictures of that view; however, I got distracted every single time.  At every stop, the ground was covered with thistles, and the thistles were covered with butterflies. I think I ended up taking about five photos of the mountaintop views and 50 photos of the thistles and butterflies.

The word for the weekly painting challenge with my art mentor Cheri was "lavender."  I went through several ideas for what I might paint, then I remembered these gorgeous lavender-colored thistles. Since we're making the rules up as we go, I decided that thistles would be the perfect response for "lavender."

Original Oil Painting on 8"x 10" Canvas Board, Framed

[SOLD]

Turtles on a Log

 

Nothing to see here… can barely even see the lake… just a bunch of twigs and branches and logs. Unless… Unless you look more closely!

You never realize how many turtles are living in a pond until the sun is shining brightly on an otherwise chilly day. Then they crawl up on the logs to bask in the light and try to soak up the warmth. (Somehow this makes the idea swimming in a pond or lake a bit less appealing to me!)

**You’ll just have to trust me that there were three times as many turtles on those logs seconds before I took the reference photo.  You see, I was on a hike with about 50 ten year olds.  Kids don’t really come walking around the bend in a quiet and peaceful way that would encourage turtles not to slip off the logs and back into the water.

Sara's inspiration image for January's Inspiration Collaboration showed a tangle of maple branches against the background of the cold sky with one thing that didn't belong, a pinecone perched there on the maple twigs. My response was to paint twigs and branches and logs on the cool lake with something at the center that doesn't... well, actually does... belong.

I' enjoyed seeing this one on my own wall for a while.  My country girl spirit finds something very calming about it.

Original Oil Painting on 9"x 12" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

Nurturing a Love of Books

It's obvious that she's special to this little one. She's special to so many others too.  You see, back when I took my little ones to the public library every week, she was always there behind the desk with a book and a smile.

I was asked to paint her with her grandson and was given several reference photos to choose from.  Once I saw the one with her reading to him, I didn't need to look any further.

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 12" Wrapped Canvas

[SOLD]

Inspiration Collaboration 2020 - Final Project Completed

Dear Friends,

12 months
15 participants
48 inspiration images
134 works of art created
 

Our magazine is complete!

Here’s the link that will take you to it.

https://www.blurb.com/b/10524970-inspiration-collaboration-2020

 
The link will be good to enjoy the preview or to make a purchase for the next two weeks. (This was not a money-making venture.  There is a 0% mark-up on the cost of the magazine.)
 
This project has been a pleasure of 2020.
Now… it’s 2021!
Are you ready to create once again?
Most parts of Inspiration Collaboration will stay exactly the same. 
You may have noticed that there are two (instead of four) inspiration images.  We hope you’ll come up with some wonderful submissions in response to them. 
You may also have noticed that the blog looks completely different.  We hope you like the new layout.
 
In case you haven’t visited lately…
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirationcollaboration/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/wordweaverart/inspiration-collaboration/
Blog: https://inspirationcollaboration.blogspot.com/
 
Helen & Sara

House of Blues

The story of a mama's life...

Whether it's a bluebird or a tiger, a fox or a human, mama's have to keep the babies happy, dry, and fed. And, sometimes those babies aren't so patient while waiting.

Thank you to Tom of Piks of the Day, and Stuff! for letting me use his beautiful bluebird photos as reference for this painting.  Click the link and spend some time looking around. His photographs are amazing, kind of like flipping through a National Geographic only without the articles.

This week's art challenge  was "Flight." After searching through my reference photo folders, and almost giving up and deciding to paint a "flight" of stairs, I thought of Tom's blog. He's allowed me to use his photos before, and I knew he had many with birds in flight.  That's where I found this sweet little bluebird in a series of photos he called "Food Delivery."

Original Oil Painting on 8"x 8" Wrapped Canvas

Click House of Blues if you'd like to purchase this little painting.

Inspiration Collaboration - January 2021

New year! New images! 

We hope you're inspired to create art of your own.   Click HERE to read the thoughts behind each image.

It's easy to be a part.  Click HERE for instructions.  

We look forward to seeing what you create!