Inspired by Vessels

 Ball Jar

5x 7  oil

Some times it's the flowers, sometimes it's the vessel.  Inspiration can come from a lot of different things, but this one was a perfect trifecta with an inspirational teacher, Gina Brown, a lovely turquoise Ball jar, and some bright spring daisies. Pure joy.  

There are so many backstories to this one.  It was a wonderful workshop with new friends along with great help from some faithful local friends.  What you don't see is soggy gray weather and the frustration of this painting falling into my palette of wet paint. Slap into the red and blue.  Can you say "happy accident'?  Not at the time, I couldn't.

What a joy it is to paint among friends as well as the expectancy of painting this one again a little larger.

Water Lilies

Water Lilies   16x20  Oil

Inspired by a photo from a friend's koi pond, this colorful rendition was painted over an old painting, which gave it some added texture and a little see through color.  It was one of the few paintings where I have used a lot of green, and felt like I actually  liked it.  Maybe that was because none of the greens are from a tube, but from mixing the blues and yellows on my palette. Pure joy!

Summer in Lavender

Summer in Lavender  16x20  Oil

It's such a treat to have beautiful hydrangeas in my yard.  It is an annual pilgrimage to try and paint them.  I was pleased with this painting because of the softness it presents as well as feeling some success with a brush rather than staying in my comfort zone using a palette knife.  This one is on display at Piedmont Henry Hospital near the Emergency Department.  I hope it brings a little calm to someone there.  

Berry Basket - Strawberries!

                                               Berry Basket - Strawberries     6"x6"
                                                    Oil with palette knife     $35

Seeing these berry baskets recently in our neighborhood market brought back some wonderful summer memories, and I hope this painting does the same for you.  It also gave me a chance to pull out one of my favorite colors, phthalo green.  This is the blue-green color that makes up most of the berry basket.  You see it often in blue Mason jars and ocean waters - more summer favorites. The photo does not quite do the painted colors justice, but then neither can the plump pile of strawberries in a painting quite measure up to the real juicy fruit. I hope to soon paint a series of berry baskets and fresh market goodness.

A Little Bit Bolder

Shasta's II

This is my second attempt of the Lemon Shasta daisies at home.  It is a little bit bolder which I like.  I'm still working on finding the right paint thickness and using limited strokes.  What a great challenge!

Workshop Delight

Lemon Shastas

I had the great pleasure of attending a workshop with Gina Brown in Decatur, Alabama this past week.  This was one of the practice paintings.  She did a fabulous job of encouraging us to be much looser with our paints and use a limited palette to achieve a unified effect.  I can't wait to paint more!  I'm not sure if I will work on this one some more or just save as a practice. 

Marty, Shelia, and Herman

   

                 

Watercolors can be so much fun, especially when you give yourself no rules on colors or lines! I hope you smile when  you take a look at these.  They make me laugh every time.