Continuing with my flower binge, here’s another I finished today — of some sweet white calla lilies.. I hope you like it!
#19 White Calla Lilies. Oil on Primed Arches Oil Paper. 10″ x 8″.
Painting #19 – Calla Lilies.
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Category Archives: Oil Paintings
Remembering Our Recent Workshop on Mississippi Gulf Coast – Part 1
In writing my last post, I realized I hadn’t described our recent workshop in any detail. It was great ~~ a delightful mix of ‘7 Palettes‘ painting buddies and Kathy Stowe, another Maryland-based friend; two of my sisters (Ceci & Susan); and three other Coast-based artists — Marylyn Gibson, Sherry Carlson and Curtis Jaunsen. And of course our most excellent instructor, Marc Hanson.
Marc and Terry Miura are two of my most favorite landscape painters (not to take anything away from our outstanding MD-based artists). Painting ‘rock stars’ in my book. I’ve taken workshops with each of them and our 7Ps group sponsored a workshop with Terry not long ago. It was fun to learn that they both trained at the same school in California! Must be something in the water (or the OMG) out there!
Here are the beautiful demos that Marc did during our four day workshop. I bought ‘On Canal by Old OS Harbor’ as a memento of the wonderful experience.
Painting #18. Toothiness I ~~ the Start of Another Intermittent Series
My hubby and I stick our toothbrushes into a tarnished old holder in between brushings. Awhile back, I started paying attention to how they’re standing ~~ are they facing each other leaning in for a kiss? Are they turned away from each other? Is one facing away while the other looks on?
It’s been fun anthropomorphizing these humble objects. I’ve even started noticing brush positions at other folks’ homes — family, mind you, not friends!! I’ve taken photos of some of these little vignettes and even crafted some arrangements. They’re a form of truthiness — errrr toothiness, right?? Or am I just crazy?
Here’s a painting of our ancient holder and current brushes, from life . . . .
#18. Toothiness I. Oil on Arches Oil Paper. 8″ x 10″.
Pre-Workshop Painting of ‘Susan’s Marsh’ Got Some Touchups Pre-Exhibit
Before the recent workshop on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I tried to get in the groove by painting one of the places we would visit there. I call it ‘Susan’s Marsh’ because it was based on a photo my sister took in showing us potential venues. I didn’t finish it then, but did so a couple of weeks ago so I could include it in our new Maplewood Exhibit. I decided to spice it up a bit by adding a heron — it was looking a bit too tranquil without it!
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- Susan’s Marsh. Oil on Linen. 20″ x 16″
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- Reference Photo by Susan O. Snyder
Painting #17. Back to Painting the Big Flowers ~~ Another Pull-Out-the-Stops Hibiscus
This hibiscus was growing in my sister’s yard. I generally shy away from screaming colors but, hey, this one was trying SO hard I just had to snap its portrait and paint it. We may need sunglasses for this one!
Neon Hibiscus. Oil on Primed Arches Oil Paper. 20″ x 8″.
Reference Photo
Painting #16. Painting Smoke Outside the Kitchen Window
We’ve got a beautiful fluffy pink smoke bush in our front yard. It’s only a few years old but it’s grown huge. Its color is very interesting. Not ‘PINK pink’, but something fairly indescribable. I can show you better with my brush than with my words. I also give you a few photos below to get a sense of what I was looking at when I painted this one live.
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- Smoke Bush with Oakleaf Hydrangea. Oil on Primed Arches Oil Paper. 10″ x 8″.
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- Our Smoke Bush and Sidekick Hydrangea
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- My painting set up next to the window. . . .
Touching Up an Oldie-but-Goodie ~~ a Favorite Painting from a Long Ago Workshop
Some years ago I took a workshop from nationally known artist Carolyn Anderson. One of our tasks was to paint an interpretation based on one of her stash of photos that she uses for inspiration. I selected the one I liked and did a nice start, I thought. I’ve always liked that old painting and decided to finish it up last week. It only took a few minutes. Ahhhhh. That felt good! Here it is and below that, its state before the touch-up, as well as the reference photo.
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- After the Dance. Oil on Canvas Board. 8″ x 10″.
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- After the dance (unfinished).
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- After the dance. Reference Photo.
The ‘7 Palettes’ Kicked Off a Summer-long Exhibit Yesterday!
Yesterday, some friends and I, who collaborate on all things art as The 7 Palettes, opened a new exhibit in Bethesda, Maryland. Our art — some 40+ pieces — will be displayed for three months at Maplewood Park Place on Old Georgetown Road. Come see our pretties, please — any day between now and August 24, from 10 to 4 daily. And congratulations to Sara Becker, whose large abstract painting sold during the Opening Reception!! Way to go, Sara!
Painting #15 Maple Leaves from Life — an Experiment with Rubber Widget
Last week I painted purple irises atop leaves from the Japanese Maple out front. I focused on the irises rather than on the leaves in that one. After the irises faded, the lovely tangle of leaves and stems continued to hold my attention. So I painted them – or tried anyway. The leaves are mostly very dark — deep reds and greens, so I wanted a light background, but what color?
I tried one color; nah. I tried another; nah. The next morning, I covered it all up with a creamy yellow/white and didn’t like that either. In frustration, I picked up a rubber wedge tool and scraped off the top layer of background, trying hard not to wipe off the leaves themselves. I was left with all sorts of interesting marks around the leaves. They’re weird but I like them and thought I’d keep ’em. Let me know if you like them or hate them!
#16. Tangle of Japanese Maple Leaves in a Pitcher. Oil on Arches Oil Paper. 10″ x 8″.
The leaves and vase I painted (from life).
Painting #14 ~~ Screaming Red Hibiscus!
This is another beauty from our garden, continuing the ‘big flower’ theme for a bit. Fortunately our three hibiscus plants made it through the winter and we might have more of these later in the summer. Yum.
Painting #14. Screaming Red Hibiscus. Oil on Primed Arches Oil Paper. 10×8.