Sunflowers on panel 16 x 12

These Sunflowers were volunteers this year. I bought a packet of seeds this year, but didn't plant them until today. I decided today would be a great day to do some plein air painting. It was extremely hot so I had to paint quickly. A few years ago we had some volunteer sunflowers and I just loved them. I guess a chipmunk or bird dropped of the seeds last year. In front of the Sunflowers are Black-Eyed Susan's, but they haven't bloomed yet. The Gold Finches were not happy with me today when I was painting. After I finished they were flying around just waiting for their chance to eat the sunflowers. They have already eaten the first one that bloomed.

Antique Sugar Bowl and Fruit 11 x 14

In this painting I wanted to have one or two objects and more fruit. I was trying to emphasize the sugar bowl and the light in that area. In the photograph the background turned out dark and actually it is a more of a dark teal color. The lady apples are still the ones I bought in November and I have kept them in the refrigerator. I can't believe that they have lasted this long :)

Simplicity 20 x 16 SOLD

Thank you Anita for your purchase at the Chastain Art Show.

Twisted Branches 20 x 16 SOLD

Thank you Kathy for your purchase at the Chastain Art Show.

Good Morning 14 x 11 SOLD

Thank you for purchasing this painting at the Chastain Art Show Kathy.

Summer Bouquet 12 x 12

These flowers from our garden were so pretty that I had to take advantage of their beauty and paint them quickly. I wanted to have a black background to bring out the color of the flowers and for it to have the old masters look. My mother has referred to the black background as a black velvet painting. Hopefully it doesn't look like that. At first there were too many details in the oak leaf hydrangea, and they looked a little hokey so I simplified them. Before I could even finish the painting and look at each flower some of them had moved toward the light I was using; especially the purple flower at the very top it was standing straight up. At work I have a few small prints that I purchased at the National Gallery of Art of detailed bouquets painted in the early 1900's. I wonder how they got the details without the flowers either wilting or moving in different directions. Maybe they painted them in sections and then put them all together.