Tag Archives: representational art

Painting #18. Toothiness I ~~ the Start of Another Intermittent Series

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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

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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!

 

Painting #17. Back to Painting the Big Flowers ~~ Another Pull-Out-the-Stops Hibiscus

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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

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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.

Touching Up an Oldie-but-Goodie ~~ a Favorite Painting from a Long Ago Workshop

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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.

The ‘7 Palettes’ Kicked Off a Summer-long Exhibit Yesterday!

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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

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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).

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Painting #14 ~~ Screaming Red Hibiscus!

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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.

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Painting #12 – Another Yellow Flower (Squash Blossom) & Friend

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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

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Painting #11 Yellow Lilies

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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