Old Fashioned Roses (WIP)

Last painting of 2012
Old Fashioned Roses (WIP)
18x24
When my daughter saw this she remarked --oh I like this one--it looks old fashioned--so name stuck--this is not quite done but almost there.

HOLLY HOLLY

I think I am finished--Of course these are Hollyhocks but being 2 days before Christmas, I like Holly Holly for the name--what do you think? This was fun to paint---I really strung it out- and painted it more in my head than anything  else but finally got my painting that was in my head onto my canvas. 10x20 $300 plus s&h
Have a Very Merry Christmas! My Hollyhocks wish you well. 

Holly Holly (still on the easel )

Just a beginning , 1st or actually 2nd pass--I wanted to post this before I worked more on this little painting. I love these "old-fashioned" flowers. I am working from pictures that I have gathered thru the years to do this as I am painting this in December. Please realize this is in the "ugly" stage, (i'm sure I did not need to tell you) It can only get better--anyway that is what I have in mind. I think I like to show at this stage so that the finished stage will look better---lol--you know show ugly the the less ugly will be prettier! You know it goes with something seems bad till something worse happens! It's all in your perspective.
But we will see if this works out--if it doesn't it will dissapear mysteriously--hohoho
Merry Christmas

Onions Etc....

This is a painting I painted a long while ago--i did not like it and did not finish it. I found it the other day while looking thru my closet for something else. I thought -hey, this has possibilities & decided to tweak it and finish it. I like it better now, and hope you do too! There is a lesson here--don't throw away a painting ever! Some day you may like it again!~! This paninting is available for sale~ $425 + S&H

Makin Memories (The Boys)

I think I am finished now. I reworked and refined most of the painting, mostly working on the water. I wanted the reflections to show more. I can't wait for this to dry so I can varnish and frame and give it to Jaime for the boys. They (mostly Andrew -the oldest) were excited. That makes me smile! Happy painting!!!

The Boys (Making Memories) 1st & 2nd &3rd pass

3rd pass--getting closer--a little more and I will be done! Can you see the difference between this and the 2nd pass? I hope so---its a little more refined! Happy Painting!

Here is the 2nd pass--this is still not nearly done but one step closer (easier for me to think of it that way! lots more to do--as I work on it, i can see more clearly what needs to be done--but that takes several steps to get there. Happy Painting!

1. 
   First block-in of my grandsons Andrew and Alec. I finally finished their sister (Alyssas') painting and my daughter told me Andrew said "why can't grandma ever paint us--she painted Alyssa now she should paint us. I said oh no! I cannot paint another face for awhile--I had struggled with Alyssas', I decided I would not quit till it looked like her--I wore myself out--painted and repainting correcting and re correcting--aargh--i was exhausted! She said--"No, mom--i have the perfect picture of the boys fishing--she sent it to me and I loved it. This is just the first pass--it can only get better from here--That's my story and I'm sticking to it! lol Happy Painting!

Little Louie

Oh my goodness!  (I say that alot) I forgot to post this--it was my last painting of 2010! I forget this alot, apparently, as I don't post it too much on fb as he is so black, he doesn't show up real well. (It does look better in real life, you can see him better) But I loved how he was looking at me and got a photo that I painted from. This is 6x8 and hanging on my son's wall. He loves Louie.

PEONY SUNRISE

Peony Sunrise
16x20
I started this painting in 2011--i loved it when I started it and hated it when i finished it. I just now got in the mood of redoing what I did not like about this painting--which was the leaves and the background. So that is what i worked on. & here it is!

  This is available for sale.  (16x20)  $650 + S&H

A little background story: The summer of 2011 we had lots of rain. I found these peonies laying on the ground! I picked them and plopped them in the old bowl and pitcher that I have had FOREVER. Anyway I was struck by how the lights & shadows were falling on the whole set-up. I was also struck by the flowers falling in such a pleasing position all by themselves! (I always get a warm feeling of help from above when that happens) Thank you Lord.

Farmers Market Flowers

This is the latest version. (2 other versions have been deleted) Brought this to the next level that I couldn't see I lived with it - I feel it is a little more refinedI reworked all the flowers and the pot-I tweaked the leafs--I always felt comfortable with leaves--but lately, I felt they were getting boring--so I changed them and made them a little brighter without getting too bright--a growing in my art--I sure hope so--so many times it can be a step back--just have to keep trying! Happy Painting! :-)

FARMERS MARKET FLOWERS

Here are the steps to this painting--It is not finished --but it is getting close--I need to live with it for a while before I finish it. The flowers were bought at the farmers market--I plan to go back as they had a very nice selection. I wish this comment would go up at the top--but I am not too good at this posting--i did want to have them all together.Happy painting everyone.  ;-)  I worked some more and i think it is closer to being done--I posted this one bigger--Just a little more work and I will post it by itself. I added some lemons to give all the blue a little relief!

House Blessing with Sunflowers -1st place(2012) (Sold)

Had to post this again! Found out today I won 1st place in our annual art competition at work--Happy Dance--WOO-HOO
It is now at Union Station for competition with all the companies who participated in Art @ work, go to their website and you can vote on The Peoples Choice  Award-here is the link- http://artskcartwork.org/house-blessing-with-sunflowers/ thanks for your vote!!!

Celebration of Light (With Carnations & Roses)

After I posted the previous photo-I posted it on fb--I did not like something after I posted-and guess what? I realized the color of the curtain was bugging me--you know how you tell yourself--oh its ok-blah blah blah --but as soon as I posted I knew what was wrong--that is always the way--I like this better!!

A Celebration of Light

I think I am finished (or almost) but first I want to tell you what happened last night--my computer got a virus (my first one) and I lost all my pictures on my hard drive. I also lost my everything on my favorites--aargh! I still had this blog and facebook. I think I am going to get a Mac.
Back to my painting--I am not thrilled with the colors in the photo--in person the painting looks much better. (I promise)The curtain, especially, is prettier in person. I took alot of liberties with this painting--I opened up the roses. I changed the curtains a little and but, hey! It's my painting! :-) I always change things to make it better, don't you? I loved the roses with the light shining thru the window--that is what caught my eye--I loved the little carnations sprinkled thru the bouquet--the buds.
Hope your Memorial day is fun and that you will remember all those who have gone before--and say a little prayer for our fallen soldiers and our soldiers who are in harms way. May God bless & protect them and May God bless America.



Sunday,
changed it again, now I am not sure I can paint--I have to live with this before I can tell what I want to change--I think I am close to being done-but who knows....:-)
Ugh I think I see things I want to change but will wait till tomorrow--
today I got purple from one end of me to the other--got it on my pants my shirt my arm, hands & I don't know-how I managed to get it everywhere--but you know there are days like that. That's when I started thinking that I can't paint--so I stopped before I did more damage. Do you ever want to start another painting when you are not finished with what you are currently painting--My mind was wandering that way-aargh--time to stop and try again tomorrow--Happy Painting!

Window With Roses & Carnations (16x20)

I apologize that the photo is crooked, it was sitting on my easel slanted. Got to work on this again since this morning--still not done but further along--I am working in the kitchen still so I can look at my computer. I wish I had more stamina--I had to stop awhile--I may do more tonite or wait till tomorrow--I am off work for Memorial day & I am taking off Tuesday so I do have lots of time to paint--I hope I will not be lazy and that I will get up and PAINT! You will know this is done when it is posted on fb, lol--of course I will post here first! God bless & Happy Painting everyone!! 

Moms Day Bouquet

First pass--(everything is covered)I found I liked the roses more open then they were when the photo was taken --I am going to open up the one on the left.Wouldn't it be nice if we could change things to our liking in every day life? Oh maybe that would not be so good..Please realize that there will be many changes (I hope) the next time I post this. Happy painting

Mothers Day Bouquet

This is the first time I have painted while looking at photo on my computer. Always before, I printed out the photo and painted from the photo--I suddenly realised I could do this (it takes me a long time to discover things), I could take the computer into my studio (spare bedroom or kitchen) and paint from it! What a concept! (I worry about myself) lol This has opened a whole new world for me--if i want to see something better, I can zoom in---I can look at alot of things --the world is at my reach. Now the next step when I finally do  paint faster, I am going  to paint from life!

I wanted to do this painting of flowers as just flowers without a vase--for a change.We will see how it comes out.

So, this is the initial lay-in (I know it's hard to see, but I wanted to show you from the beginning) and I like it so far--stay tuned for the next installment. Happy Painting!

Bloomin Lilacs

I think it is finished (sometime it is when I post and sometimes it is not--I may be sleepy--) But for now, it may need a few tweeks but it is close. That was fun. It is an oil-11x14--$450

Bloomin Lilacs

I planted my lilac bush over 10 years ago--it had not bloomed till this year! A bloomin miracle! I, of course wanted to paint them, but I waited too long--when I went out to pick them, they were already turning brown :-(

I did, however, photographed them  while they were bloomed so I did have pics of them still on the bush. Sooooo, I kinda sorta made up this little painting, but it is with my lilacs in mind. As you can see, I have just started, the lilacs on the right, of course, are not done neither is the foreground--well actually nothing is near done, I just wanted to show you my start. Happy Painting everyone!                     Here it is 3 hours later--thought I would show you my painting with everything covered--I call this "the first pass--I will work on it tomorrow, I hope, and it is the part I like best--(I can hopefully zone in now that I have everything covered and find my mistakes and again hopefully put the icing on the cake--what I mean is I hope I can enhance it--sometimes it works & sometimes it doesn't, so cross your fingers for me! Come back and see the next installment--Happy Painting!

Memories

I reworked the whole painting again and I feel now it is nearly done--I always have to live with it a while before christening it completely done. I hope the family will be pleased--I wish the photo was true to the colors--maybe I can get a better picture later after I varnish it. Well fast change of mind--I see something I want to change--will post later! Its back....This post prob makes no sense whatsoever! but I put the painting back--I want to tweak a little more but it is almost soup-whatever that means! lol

Memories (updated)

This is getting a little closer to being done--I cropped the right side with the haybale a little to close--there is more room on that side--I intend to let this dry then  go over it one more time (I think)
I just am so frustrated that I cant get a good picture of this painting--the colors are not true at all--for some reason--I will get a better picture when I am done. I Hope...

Memories

Finally I had time to paint this week-end--I still am not done but I think some things in the background are done but not too many--I need a couple of more days to get the foreground and the main tree and dog and hay bale---eek--maybe I need 4 or 5 or 6 more days. I need time to adjust colors, there are some changes I want to make-but everything is covered and it is easier to change now--I can see what works and what doesn't--I am never afraid of trying a new thing as I know I can change it....Happy Painting everyone!

Loyal Dog

This was painted long long ago after a painting by A. Archer which was featured in a magazine article--
I even taught this when I offered painting lessons.
I felt it was a painting that had alot of heart and I really enjoyed painting and teaching it.
My son fell in love with it and has it hanging in his bedroon along with the painting of our cat Bubba--he loves animals!

PAINTING TODAY

I named this post "Painting today" to make myself to quit napping and go to my studio (extra bedroom) and paint--I want to paint on my commission, I got side tracked painting (or repainting) a painting that I was unhappy with--I think it is hard to get started sometimes in fear of making a mess--why is that? It is always fixable and it is not the end of life if you toss it in the trash! You can always start another--since I work with computers every day and sometimes wish I had the "undo" button--wouldn't that be great????
This morning, on the way to an appointment to get my nails done (love that) I drove by Metcalf South Shopping Center on 95th here in Kansas and there was an artist set up on the sidewalk painting some beautiful trees (I think) that have bloomed --I wanted to pull in so bad and see what she  was doing but since I was running late, I went on to my appointment--BUT I did go that way on the way home intending to stop and see what she was painting--but was too late-- :-(
-I think it rained some when I was getting my nails done so prob everything was gathered up and packed in the car. I would be so excited if that person was on face book and they post that painting--I am so curious.....
Well- off I go ----I will keep you posted-- Happy Painting

Soft Breeze



The curtain was actually a drape with a shadow cast by the glass basket--after I painted it, I decided it looked more like a curtain gently blowing in the breeze-so be it!

I finally reworked the roses and cloth that had bugged me for so very long--I think I like it better now. The roses before were so tight and I wanted them softer--also the cloth ended abruptly and I hated that so I brought it over the edge and I think I like that better.

 This is 14.5x18.5 Original Oil (including custom frame) ($750)

DIARY of a Painting

I always show my progress to my friend at work (who commissioned the painting)--He likes to see the steps --It is kinda scary as they always start out so questionable to me--I never know till I'm done how it will turn out--sigh--sooo with a little nervousness I gave him the address to this blog--He was very gracious and said he was very happy with it---he also said that this was probably going to be the most important present that he has ever given to his mother but he added "no pressure". LOL He sent the blog address to his wife and sisters so they could see the progress. His wife wrote back "I think it looks amazing.  I feel like I am there when I look at it......" That made my day, makes me feel like I am on the right track that it is getting a  little heart (that is what I always hope for--we will see........

I told him that I am very brave to show the bare bones of my painting--that he must realize that this is still in the starting or beginning stage and not near done. He wrote back:

"You are brave, I am keeping a copy of the images as you progress. My Drill Sergeant, Sgt. C---, his best quote was : "Don't be scared.:

 

Isn't that such a great thing to say? I adore him--- I adore everyone that has commissioned me to paint for them--I adore the people that have loved my paintings enough to buy them---I adore everyone I work with, I, of course, I adore and I am crazy about my  family--I am so very very blessed! THANK YOU LORD!

so sorry this was posted so many times --I was having so much trouble with this post but with my friend, Kelly, I finally  got it fixed.

Here We GO!!!! again

It snowed here in Kansas this morning so I didn't go to work. Soooooo, I finished the first go around--which is everything covered. I wish I could say the rest is easy cause it is not. The next steps may take the longest as it is a series of adjustments. I am hoping that each thing that I do now will make it better (I hope I hope) :-)

I need to clean my brushes--yawn--it must be cold out cause my nose is cold--it is really cold in my "paint room". I think I would paint better if I cleaned my room and put in a little heater.
You know we (I) always have to have an excuse. I love to ramble.

Here we Go---STILL start

Worked a little more this weekend-by no means am I near done--I just got the sky and back part of the composition sort of blocked in with out much value change but kinda--the next pass will be easier--but i want to get a first pass on the main tree on the left and the foreground grass--then and only then can i zero into the details and enhancement.
This has been a sad weekend--it was announced that Whitney Huston died. You have to feel so sad for her to see how far she fell from what she was. sad sad what drugs do to people.

Here we go...The Start

Why are the starts so up and down ?? mostly down..I hope everyone realizes how BRAVE I am to show my starts--they are sooooo bad---but i just have to get things covered so I know where I am.
I think I am brave cause no-one ever reads these---
H E L L O.... is anyone out there?? I sure wish you would comment sometimes--Just a Hi--let me know what you think--I hope you look at the finished ones too--Hope you will follow me too---eek I sound so needy--well at this

starting point I feel needy- People I am bearing my heart here! Ha.

I am going to show this to my guy--then he can back out and I won't have to worry--you know I am not real sure of myself on landscapes. I always want to produce a good painting--I want my tree not to be just any tree -I want them or one,(the important one on the left)to be the "splendid", super-duper tree--but that does not always happen--aargh..........

It is so weird how I slop on the first pass---I actually loose my drawing in places--the way I paint--I tear down and rebuild--tear down redo and I do, I really do know when to stop--well not on my granddaughters painting I tore that one down so many times and redid so many times that my daughter got  angry and someone on fb said that is good to just walk away sometimes... 

I was mortified but determined--I never want to do that again! Well, if you paint, you understand--i think. Well Happy Painting..

The Beginning

I am going to start a new painting today--It is a commission. It is of a little farm with a beautiful tree and a fence --He wants me to put it on a 24x30 canvas---you never know what it will turn out to be--I have a vague picture in my mind of what I want to do--landscapes don't come easy to me--I so want this to be special as the brother and sisters want this to be a present for their dear mom--I think he said she is moving from the little farm and they wanted her to have this. So I simply have to do a good job and make this a special painting. I wish I could make it magical--but that happens very rarely. I will post as I go along, I think.........wish me smooth sailing!