Ruby

"Ruby" has a tail that is a little bit out of control (and those toes!). 

I enjoyed this big swirl and working on getting the light just right on all the curves of the lizard.

Happy Valentine's Day!
Today is my husband's birthday and he is definitely the Chocolate King.  Happy Birthday, Melenman.


See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Fuschia

This dragon has her eye on something she really wants and there is no doubt she will get it with that laser-focused gaze.


See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Blush

A touch of warmth in the cheek from Love...?  Excitement...?  Anger...?
I loved this eye so much, I wanted to paint it again.


See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Confetti

Ice cream, cupcakes, sprinkles, Jimmies... all things you expect to be pink, purple, and lovely.  But snakes?  Oh sure, there are 'snake people' who adore them and think they are beautiful but Average Joe/Jane would not think of them as lovely.  Would you ? 

I have not even hung this painting in the gallery and it is already spoken-for.  Thanks, Friend!

See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Masquerade

Before I began this painting, I was thinking, "The colors in these paintings are getting a little crazy, maybe I should tone it down a little" and this was the result.  I do love color but tone it down apparently doesn't work very well in my sub-conscious.  I am pleased with this painting even if I didn't tone it down.

See the rest of the 30 in 30 participants here.

Painting One Needs A Name

Part Four

Wrapping up Painting One.  When I'm driving to work pre-dawn, I listen to music and just kind of let my mind wander.  Sometimes song lyrics catch my attention and I note them for painting names.  Here are a couple of possibilities:
"Complication"
"Don't Expect an Easy Answer"
"Burn Out Bright"
...Or maybe you have a suitable name.  Let's hear it.

Black was dry brushed over the area left to bring out the texture from the fork marks.  Then liquid black was added around the areas of white for visual interest.

See the beginning of this painting here.  And some mid-stages here and here.


30 in 30 Blog.

Painting One Continues

Part Three

I was really having too much fun with the Pipettes here and the effect is getting rather chaotic.

I give more "breathing room" to the painting by adding warm grey to about two thirds of the painting.

When I added the grey, I accentuated some texture areas by using a squeegee to remove some of the grey, which also helped to bring a muted version of the original color back so the whole painting was not just one grey mass.  You can see the area of dark purple/grey that had fork marks previously is now very obscured and nearly disappears.

Adding back some blockier shapes for more interest and setting up for the center of interest.

30 in 30 Blog.

Cherry Cordial

30 Paintings of Comfort and Joy, Number Seven

Tools of the trade.  Do you ever fall so in love with something you've made that you just want to keep it forever?  That is this painting for me.  I want to share it and yet I want to keep it.  It's available for sale now, but that might change.

"Cherry Cordial"
6" x 6" oil on Gessobord
This paintings 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.

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.

Cage Free Series 004 Spring Messenger -- SOLD

Spring Messenger

A round Chickadee peers into the Spring flowers.

You thought I forgot about the birds series, didn't you?  Nah.  I have lots of birds I still want to paint.  It's the getting-around-to-it part that I'm having trouble with.  Lately it has been beautiful outside so I have been out taking lots of reference photos that I'll use when it is blistering hot outside and I can hang out in my nice, cool basement studio and paint paint PAINT.

"Spring Messenger"
6" x 6" oil on gessobord
SOLD

Bloom of Youth

Bloom of Youth

We are having a bit of rain again this week and my lawn is loving it though I am dreading having to mow in a few days when the rain finally stops.  In the mean time, I will sit in my studio with the laundry running and paint these lovelies.  The largest bloom is beyond its peak but the petals are so soft I hoped to capture that here.

"Bloom of Youth"
6" x 6" oil on gessobord, unframed.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

Happy Mother's Day -- SOLD

Mother's Day Peony

Peony flowers are so lovely and delicate.  Perfect for Mother.  These were on a huge display one day at the store and by the next day when I went to get more, they were sold out.  We love our Peonies.

A little secret, when I was a child I disliked these flowers because they always had ants crawling on them.  Later I learned that ants actually help the flowers open and become so beautiful.

Mother's Day Peony
6" x 6" oil on Gessobord, unframed.
Available through Daily Paintworks Auction.

Something For My Valentine

"Be Mine"

Chocolate hearts and flowers for Valentine's Day.

We are snowed-in again in the East.  I'm not sure I'll even get out to get hubby a birthday gift.  He is my Valentine-Birthday boy.  Good thing he likes chocolate hearts.

I hope your Valentines gets you something really special.


"Be Mine"
6" x 6" oil on gessobord.
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.