I Heart Spring

With the pollen settling down and the temperatures swinging hot to cold (wish it would make up its mind already!), SPRING is happening in my yard!  

I love seeing the daffodils and tulips in full bloom...

The pansies are hanging on despite the warming temps.  I think because they want to see the lilies bloom. 

 Not only does rosemary make food taste yummy, it blooms!

I hope your plants are smiling for you and that these pics bring a smile to your face.  :)

I Hate Green (and here's what I do about it)

Here is something new for my art blog--problem solving!  I love facing problems head on and coming up with solutions.  The video shows a common problem I have when painting my favorite subjects.  Enjoy!

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Daffodil Promise

I see daffodils sprouting up all over this week! Their bright beauty trumpeting to the world after so many months underground.  

The bulbs I planted months ago are in a shady spot so they are just peeking out as my painting shows.  I can't wait to see them and share a daffodil series of paintings soon!  

5 x 7 acrylics on stretched canvas

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Chocolate Chip Cookies--Yum!!!

In my Top Five Snack Foods List (because I cannot name only one favorite!), chocolate chip cookies are a fantastic selection!  I made a batch a few nights ago and snapped some pics.  Here are three that were eaten shortly after I took the photo.  Evidence they did exist... :-)

Watercolor on 140lb cold-pressed paper

Purple Reigns!

A purple iris to celebrate the Ravens' Super Bowl win--what an event!

Watercolor on 140lb cold-pressed paper

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Clean up Lesson and Prep Work: Underpainting

Yesterday I varnished four paintings ready to go to new homes (yay!).  I used a favorite wide flat brush to keep the finish smooth.  It did beautifully! I rinsed it out thoroughly and set it out to dry.  Well, I thought I rinsed it thoroughly...  


I picked it up tonight for underpainting a few new canvases (Cadmium Yellow...my fave!) and the brush was stiff as a board!!  After a flash of despair at possibly losing one of my favorite brushes, I got out the Pink Soap and went to the sink.  After a good fifteen minutes of swishing and washing, the bristles were nearly free again!  Whew!  So now the brush is soaking for a while to free up the last bits of varnish.  

Hoping for the Best...

So on to the prep work.  I learned several years ago that a stark white canvas can be less than inspiring...scary even!  So I started painting a light color wash first thing.  Used rinse water worked pretty well just to break up that blank white space.  My art mentor, Jill shared a similar concept of underpainting, but with a vibrant color (like Cadmium Yellow...my fave!).  This really makes the painting "glow".  I'm hooked!  9 out of last 10 acrylic paintings are underpainted Cadmium Yellow.  So perhaps an upcoming challenge for me is to try a new underpainting color...?  Stay tuned :-) 

Cad. Yellow Underpainting!

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30 in 30 - Retrospective

I hope you enjoyed the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge as much as I did! It was fun and challenging to create a new work nearly every day for a month...something I have never done before.  I am SUPER PROUD that I DID IT! 

Thank you for celebrating with me!  Follow me to keep up with the fun to come!

30 in 30 - #30: Guacamole Party!

Before, I had avocados.  Now, I have guacamole!  I'm gonna dip on in to celebrate this last painting in Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge!  I am proud of "running THROUGH the finish line"...and proud of the diced tomatoes and cilantro on top. :-)

I make a fast guacamole by mashing two avocados and mixing with my favorite salsa until I like the texture.  To finish I add salt to taste and serve with blue corn chips.  

When I want to take the time to make it from scratch, I consult one of my favorite foodies: Alton Brown.  His version takes some prep time but is sooo worth the effort.  Try some this weekend for your Super Bowl party!  

8 x 10 acrylic on stretched canvas

30 in 30 - #29: Sunflower Fun

In honor of our sunny and brisk(!) day today...a fun sunflower!  

I can't believe this is the 29th painting I've painted in the past month!  I am proud to say "I did it!" :-)  One more to go...  

Watercolor on 140lb cold pressed paper

30 in 30 - #28: More Love and Hearts :-)

More LOVE to celebrate my dear readers and the 28th painting for Leslie Saeta's Challenge!  

Watercolor on 140lb cold pressed paper

30 in 30 - #27: Avocados Much?

Before they went into the guacamole...

8 x 10 acrylics on stretched canvas

Buy this painting on Daily Paintworks

30 in 30 - #26: Love Love Love!

"It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving." -Mother Teresa

I heard the song lyrics "Put a little love in your heart!" and was inspired to paint this fun little gem.  Remember your Valentine(s) with some love from your heart!  :-)

My scanner blew out the background colors so here is a (too dark :-\) photo. You can see the "watery" watercolor effects.  I painted the entire space with water, then dropped watered down colors onto the surface.  I had so much fun I splattered outside the lines...that is totally allowed I say!  

Watercolor on 140lb cold pressed paper

30 in 30 - #25: Sunny Sunflowers

A set of sunny sunflowers to brighten up our blustery day.  

Watercolor on 140lb cold pressed paper

30 in 30 - #24: A Second Dose

If you didn't get well from the first post... :-)  Get well soon to all my friends with sniffles in this WILD weather!

Watercolor on 140lb cold pressed paper

30 in 30 - #23: Echinacea Trio

Sending healing thoughts and a lovely little painting to my friends with the flu.  I hope you all get well soon!  

Watercolor on 140lb cold pressed paper

30 in 30 - #22: Festive Treasure

This is the final week of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge hosted by Leslie Saeta!

I have never painted jewelry before, but I think I will do it more often now!  I enjoyed noticing the light shining on the smooth beads.  The red ones are my favorite with the white ones a close second.  If you have a few fun baubles in your jewelry box I highly recommend composing a painting.  

Watercolor on 140lb cold pressed paper

30 in 30 - #21: Hibiscus I

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I photographed some fantastic hibiscus flowers outside my office building last summer.  The red was so bold I could not resist!  I enjoyed painting this after the sunshine we had today and before the alleged icy rain arrives tonight.  Is it spring yet???

I am very pleased with the values in the painting.  Value is the use of light and dark that gives depth and dimension to a piece.  One way I examine the values is to convert the scanned painting to black and white.  

Next time you see an object in your kitchen or under any light, notice the lightest/whitest spot where the light shines on the object. Follow the gradual darkness on the object's surface toward the shadow cast on the kitchen counter.  Congratulations!  You just did a value study!  Such an artful eye you have. :-)

Watercolor on 140lb cold pressed paper

30 in 30 - #17 - 20: One Two TREE...Four!

A graphic series to celebrate the Green Giant Arborvitae that provide a wind break during our cold and blustery days.  I like the soft, feathery visual texture of the evergreen branches (avoid touching them--they are prickly!).  Here I captured the tapered shape of the whole tree in four different arrangements.

6 x 6 acrylics on canvas board

30 in 30 - #16: Dirty Dog III

The third Dirty Dog.  I enjoyed painting the set!  See his friends here and here.  My scanner did not capture the sherbet orange of the background, so just imagine.  Then let your mouth water over the memory of a Push-Up orange sherbet pop.  Yes!

Watercolors on 140lb cold pressed paper

30 in 30 - #15: Fore!

Golf anyone?  A fun little scene inspired by my favorite PGA pro.

8 x 10 acrylics on stretched canvas