Sunday, June 15, 2008

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.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

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 :)

Thursday, June 5, 2008

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.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

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.