Lastest funny off the easel — in my occasional effort to humanize toothbrushes! Composition is a bit too busy but . . . it is what it is.
Toothiness 2 – NO, Mama, NO! Oil on Primed Arches Oil Paper. 8″x10″.
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″.
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″.
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
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).
After painting that cauliflower a few days ago, I started regretting that my collector had selected my dinky mushrooms as part of her four-veggie series for the kitchen. I decided to do a more ‘fulsome’ substitute for her consideration — celery! Here it is. She’s happily taking it instead of the ‘shrooms!
Celery. Watercolor and gouache on paper. 11″ x 14″
Celery Painting and Subject.
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.
I decided to try another yellow flower — even bigger this time. I took the reference photo in our garden one morning — I couldn’t believe that the bee posed long enough for me to lean in for such a closeup. I was pumped. And I guess I got pumped up again while making this painting — it’s one of my favorites of the daily paintings so far! Hope you like it too.
#12 Yellow Squash Flower & Friend. Oil on Primed Arches Oil Paper. 10×8
Reference Photo
For my next painting I decided to channel friend Helen Gallagher with some BIG flowers, painted from life from a bouquet a friend sent me for Mother’s Day. Haven’t ever done any large scale, straight-on flowers. I don’t think I captured the color of the shadows very well. I’m also not crazy about the composition, but it was a good experiment. I used the palette knife a fair amount, but not for everything. . . .
I painted from life rather than the photo below — which I snapped to record what I was generally looking at while painting.
Yellow Lilies. Oil on Primed Arches Oil Paper. 8×10.
Reference Photo
One of my collectors has bought three of the veggie watercolors I painted last year as a consequence of a workshop with Wendy Artin. And she wants a fourth so she can group them in her kitchen. What to do? A pretty cauliflower was in our fridge so this is how I spent my evening in front of the TV. . . .
I made a few mistakes since I was painting it direct — without a pencil sketch, as Wendy had taught. So I resorted to a bit of gouache so I wouldn’t have to start over!!