Rainy Reflection

Rainy Reflection

Abstract mixed media in blues, greys and brown with a splash of orange/red.
The weather forecast for tonight is heavy rain.  I hope it also brings some thunder.  I love the thunder at night.

"Rainy Reflection"
20" x 24" mixed media on stretched canvas
This painting is available at my Etsy store.

30-in-30 Day Three -- Cage Free 010

"Little Nipper"
Cage Free Series 010

Hummingbirds are amazing creatures.  The glow of their feathers just takes my breath away.  We have a few hummingbirds in our yard from time to time but I have never fed them.  My neighbor feeds birds and that will have to be good enough for me.  I seem to attract squirrels when I put out feeders.

I woke up this morning congratulating myself for being so organized.  I jumped up, turned on the tea pot to start it brewing while I went in to brush my teeth.  Feeling rather tired from staying up a little late, but glad for all I have accomplished this week.  When I got back to the kitchen, the tea pot was quiet and nothing had brewed.  My heart sank as I wondered,  "Is it broken?"  Then I realized, nope... I forgot to fill it last night.  Ugh.  The rest of the day has to go more smoothly than that, right?  Let's hope.


"Little Nipper"
6" x 6" oil on gessobord, unframed.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.
See the rest of the artists participating in the 30-in-30 on Leslie Saeta's blog.



.

Cage Free -- 30 in 30, Day Two

"Evening Male"
Cage Free 009

Photographing my art so that the photo looks like the painting has proved to be quite an adventure.  Every time I think I have it looking really good, I see some thing I want to change or tweak just a bit so it looks even better.  I don't have a ton of money for photography equipment and I think I have figured out my new camera enough to make it work really well (for now).


"Evening Male"
6" x 6" oil on gessobord, unframed.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.
See the rest of the 30-in-30 paintings for the day on Leslie Saeta's blog.

Excitement of 30!

"Pride of Baltimore"
Cage Free Series 008

Happy September.  Today starts the challenge to paint 30 paintings in 30 days.  I completed my first 30-in-30 challenge in January of this year.  It was a wonderful experience.  Not every one of my paintings in the January challenge was a winner, but I learned a lot and enjoyed it enough to go for it again.

I decided to use the opportunity of 30 paintings to work on my Cage Free Series since it will give me a nice step toward the goal of 100 (though I never said how long it would take to get to that 100).

Being from Maryland, I couldn't put off painting the Oriole for long, especially with the O's doing well in baseball (ohhh... don't let that jinx it....).  For those who are not from this area, let me tell you one thing that is so fun about visiting Camden Yards.  It is the song they play for the 7th Inning Stretch:  "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" by John Denver.  Maryland is barely in the South and Baltimore is hardly a Country/Western kind of town but the city LOVES that song played at the O's games and everyone has a great time.  Just a bit of trivia.


"Pride of Baltimore"
6" x 6" oil on gessobord, unframed.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.
See this painting and all the rest at Leslie Saeta's blog.




.

Cage Free Series 006, 007

"Winter Couple" female and male Cardinal

This couple is in my yard all winter.  My lovely neighbors feed them.  I tried a feeder but the squirrels tore it up almost immediately and that was the end of that.

Male Cardinals have quite a sharp call and I can always tell when they are in the hedge directly below my window.  I often try to sneak a peek but if they see any movement, they are gone.


"Winter Couple"
Each is 6" x 6" oil on gessobord, unframed.
This set is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

No. 2 Sunrise Virginia Beach

 No. 2 Sunrise Virginia Beach

No, you're not seeing double.  I liked this sunrise so much I wanted to paint it again.  A few changes in this one from the first.  Both have admirable qualities and I truly do like them both.

"No. 2 Sunrise Virginia Beach"
12" x 12" oil on canvas board, unframed.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

Sunrise Virginia Beach

Sunrise Virginia Beach

If I can wake up early enough, I often find some really brilliant sunrises.  This painting is from a photo I took in Virginia Beach, VA last summer.


"Sunrise Virginia Beach"
12" x 12" oil on canvas board, unframed.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks auction.

Spring Breeze

Spring Breeze

A slightly abstracted floral.

I have lots of flowers all over my yard.  Some are cultivated and some grow wild.  The white flowers in this painting are the flowers from wild blackberries.  They are full of thorns and the petals are so delicate they fall off with the slightest touch.  They say an artist has to suffer for their art well I certainly did with plenty of pokes from these flowers.


"Spring Breeze"
9" x 12" oil on gessobord, unframed
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

30 in 30, Day Thirty

"Sundae Best"

Doesn't she look delicious?

I found a drawing of this dress on Pinterest but could not find who the artist was (I tried).

The 30-in-30 Challenge is complete.  I'm surprised that I finished.  Surprised, relieved, exhausted, proud.  February is nearly here and January is a blur.  But in a good way.  My mother said she gets a little down in January since all the holiday festivities are over.  I told her to try a 30-in-30 Challenge.  She would not be bored.

Tomorrow I will be back to let you have a peek at my studio after a 30-in-30 Challenge and give a tally of all the supplies used.

"Sundae Best"

9" x 12" oil on Raymar panel.

This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction. 

30 in 30, Day Twenty-five (SOLD)

"Winding Path"

Dreaming of Spring and lazy walks in the garden.

I'm tired of the cold weather and yesterday I saw no less than SEVEN Robins on my roof.  Boy, did they look mad that I was keeping all this snow in my yard!  I hope they have somewhere warm to shelter.  It certainly is not in my yard.  Not for a couple more months, anyway.

"Winding Path"

6" x 6" oil on Gessobord.

This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

30 in 30, Day Sixteen

"Breathe"

What better time to do a bit of experimenting than a time when I'm doing a bunch of paintings?   Up to now, most of my paintings have been very bold with strong colors.  This time I wanted to do something really light and I think this turned out great.  I will definitely try this again.

Outside the studio, I am just learning how to ride horses.  Last night was my fourth lesson, but the first one after three weeks off  (they just happened to land over Christmas and New Year's Days, then last week I was a bit sick).  Some others in my class were out this week so it was myself and one other rider.  I was telling my instructor about being apprehensive after a few weeks off.  She is great and she wants these lessons to be fun.  "Breathe."  She kept telling me.  "Just relax and breathe."

Exactly.  We can use this advice.  All.  The.  Time.

Breathe.

"Breathe"

6" x 6" oil on Gessobord.

This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

30 in 30, Day Fifteen

"Forbidden Love"

A little peck on the cheek.  Perhaps to say, "Goodbye.  I'll never forget you."  They come from different worlds, these two.  Their families do not approve so they must part.  They have just a moment of tenderness to remember.  Lemon and Orange.  Romeo and Juliet.  We love a good love story.

I think I need more sleep.

I hope I can make you smile.  Art should be fun.  Sometimes artists are too serious.  At least in the movies.

"Forbidden Love"

6" x 6"  oil on Gessobord

This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

30 in 30, Day Eleven

Pumpkin Cutie doesn't know what will become of her.  She didn't become a Jack-o-lantern at Halloween.  She didn't become a pie at Thanksgiving or Christmas.  She's still here.  Waiting.

"Hello, Pumpkin"
8" x 8" oil on Gessobord.

This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

30 in 30, Day Six

Still pining for warmth and sun when it's grey and cold, I found a beautiful ceramic plate at a local shop that made me think of the soft, lovely colors of sea glass.  To go with it, some oranges that come of course, from Florida and Mexico.

The name of this one is fun, and I hope it gives you a little smile.  Use your imagination.  As with human cousins, some are eager to get close to the baby, while others hang back and wait to see what will happen.

"Meeting Baby Cousin Valencia"
6" x 6" oil on Gessobord.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.