The full set!

Sunflower 3, 5x7" Oil on canvas

Here is the 3rd in my series of sunflower studies. This one was a sunflower laying on a surface, which cast a shadow... I showed the shadow in a cool violet blue, which is complimentary in color to the flower colors. Overall, I'm pleased with the results of these 3 paintings. I have now started laying out the larger series I'm working on - which will also be 3 canvases measuring 14 x 14" on the 2 ends and 14 x 20 in the center. These 3 larger canvases will feature larger sunflowers (of course) and a few more than are shown in these bottom 3. I'm off to a good start - and look forward to revealing the end result!

The full set! This week's work in the studio. I really like these as a set of 3, the dimensions of
which are 5 x 17"

SOLD

The second of 3

Sunflower 2, 5x5" Oil on canvas

This is the 2nd in my small series of sunflowers! Also a study of sorts before beginning my larger set. Once again, the background is still in question. Again, I like the way the petals seem to twist and have a sense of motion and fullness. And this time, you can see the dark center. Its a little harder to see here, but the center does have some nuances of shade within it.

Oh, you probably noticed! I made some changes to the way my blog looks.... the content is still the same - just the colors are a little different! Sometimes its good to update!

The first of 3

Sunflower 1, 5x5" Oil on canvas

As I mentioned, I've been working on sunflowers this week. This is the first of 3 ... the rest to come this week as paint dries!

I like the values and hints of complimentary colors in this one. This is a preparation painting for some larger paintings of sunflowers I'm just beginning. I learned a lot about this flower as I did a smallish painting. But, I'm still working out the background colors - I'm not 100% sure about what the background should be, yet.

I also like the things this painting shows about sunflowers. The back seems almost prickly - and the flower itself seems like it is turning and twisting in the light. It is a thick, wet into wet application of paint. The style is a bit reminiscent of VanGogh's style as well, though I didn't plan it that way.

What I hope this painting reveals is something of the intricacies and structure of the flower - but also the way that it has been "clothed". When you think about it, its pretty amazing!

Preview - while paint dries!

If you have been following my blog, you know that I enjoy painting flowers.... sometimes just because they are beautiful - but - I also am working on some other purposes for my paintings.
I'm working on ideas having to do with Matthew 6 - the passage where we are told that if God clothes the flowers of the fields in such glory, when they are here today and gone tomorrow, how much more he values and cares for us! (quite paraphrased!)

Sketchbook drawing - graphite

This graphite sketch has led to several small paintings of sunflowers, which I'll be posting when the paint dries. I may do another one or two in preparation for a triptych of sun flowers I am planning in my studio - a much larger version. Here, you will see, I'm trying to work out the shapes within the flower, but also looking at values and where those values occur. (Value meaning lights and darks). Color will come into the mix - but not yet... before color can be dealt with well, value has to be addressed and (for me) understood.

Its been a little overwhelming to think about working large again. (I used to work much larger than I have been lately! ) Composition needs to be thought through carefully - and then the physical task of laying in paint takes much longer ... with a little different way of thinking about painting! Well there you have it! This is what is happening in my studio this week.... actual paintings to be posted soon!

Black Calla Study

Black Calla Study - approximately 5x7" - Watercolor/acrylic on paper

As I've mentioned, these last few weeks have been crazy! But, I'm coming back to reality and here is a small study I just completed. This flower - a black calla lily - (who knew they came in this color?) - is actually more in the dark purple tones. This was one of the flowers in the bridesmaid's bouquets in my son's wedding last weekend. [I could go on and on - it was held in beautiful S. Lake Tahoe ... so, hopefully, from photos I'll be doing some landscapes soon!]

I started this small study there - and finished it back at home. The water color paper - I don't know what kind it is :( - isn't the best paper. In fact, I don't like it very much at all! It works more like blotter paper - with everything soaking in immediately rather than sitting on the surface a little bit so it can be moved around. Also, the pigment seemed to want to soak in in splotches, so it took quite a bit of working with it to make it even. I know - I'm no help at all - (to you or to myself) since I don't know what kind of paper this is.

The composition changed a bit too. I started it as multiple flowers and decided to focus on one - and to emphasize the shape of it. Therefore, it is abstracted somewhat. Everything seemed to rotate around the central "eye". It is not a realistic representation - but rather something of an interpretation of the shape and movement of this flower!

Crazy Days of May and June, 2008

Purple Petunia - 8x12" Oil on canvas

It's been crazy around here these last few weeks! And the craziness won't be done for another week or week and a half! All kinds of things are happening here with my children, including a high school graduation and a wedding! (2 of my 3 children). Throw in my own activities with finishing our school semester as a teacher and the finish of a graduate class I took ...(what was I thinking trying to do 1 more thing with all the rest of this going on?? But, thankfully, it is done now too.) Needless to say, I haven't been painting as much as I'd like to be... but I have been working on a larger painting. I hope to have it finished and posted soon after things settle down here. So, I'll be taking about a week away from blogging ... for my son's wedding - and a little recuperation! Look for new work by mid June!

Meanwhile these 3 little paintings found a new home together this week! They will be living at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin! As an artist, it's always fun to know that your creations have found a good home where they will be enjoyed and appreciated!

White clouds

Crab Apples in Bloom, 11.75 x 8.25" Oil Pastel on paper

A bit of departure from my other work of late... but, kinda back to some things I used to do more often. This landscape is done in oil pastel... and it is based on the crab apple bloom that happens every year about this time. The trees are absolutely covered in blossoms - so much so that they do resemble clouds - and it is often difficult to see where the tree stops and the sky starts. The clouds of crab apples are accompanied with a smell that is indescribable... even sweeter, I think, in the evening. The style I've used is rather impressionistic, and the technique is a building of layers of color to a thick application. It is then sprayed with fixative.
I really enjoy landscapes, especially when I can play with and push the colors a little bit, as I've done here.

Dancing Hearts

Bleeding Hearts, 5x7" Oil on Canvas

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This is the time of year (for just a few weeks) that the beautiful Bleeding Heart Plant blooms. The small bright pink flowers look like little ballerinas hanging from a long stem, dancing in the breeze... But, when you look closely - you see something more. They appear to be heart shaped puffed pillows, which have split open in the lowest point and are dripping out a white teardrop. (Thus, the name, I suppose.) They are very delicate - very beautiful!

Finally finished

Red Poppies, 8x8" Oil/gold leaf on canvas

SOLD 

Here is the final version. The colors are pretty right in the flowers and below the flowers... the photography looses some of the color definitions above the flower and in the gold leaf at the upper right. I'm especially unhappy with the glare in and above the left flower... very tricky photographing these with the reflective gold leaf! The painting is done, except for some varnish which will not be applied for several months. I did go back and coat some of the more vulnerable looking areas with liquin. It may be a good idea to do that before applying any paint! This has been a fun experiment ... I hope to do more with this idea.

Guarding the Innocent

Guard Duty, 4.25 x 5.5" watercolor and ink

I haven't been completely idle here! But it has been awhile since I've been able to post.... there have been some other things - including family and preparing for another exhibit - on the front burner. Also, it is the end of the school year, which of course means that everything is crazy as we get things finished up! Well, here is another cat picture - the 8th now - in an apparent series! I hope that within the next few weeks, things will be back to some semblance of order and normalcy!

The work continues:

Red Poppies on Gold - still in process
8x8" Oil on canvas w/gold leaf
(color differences between this image and the earlier image are due to digital photography - earlier - and
scanning this time. The color is redder and more vibrant than it appears here.)

I'm progressing on this small painting - and think that it is nearly finished. I see a few more areas that need a bit of alteration... and it needs to dry thoroughly. I think it will also be very important to varnish this painting before handling too much. It seems to me that the gold leaf creates a more delicate painting, with possibilities for chipping and peeling than just an oil on canvas painting. (You can tell, I'm learning and thinking as I go on this!)

The gold leaf is still visible, but toned down quite a bit - however, when viewed from an angle, still very clearly metallic. Also, this painting is a deep gallery wrap canvas, meaning the canvas extends around the sides by about 1.5". For this one, I've painted it around the sides, so that the poppies and stems and greenery continue. No need for framing with such a painting!
I hope by mid week to have its final version posted.

As I've mentioned before, I'm working on ideas for a series of paintings now - botanical/floral in theme... (which is something I've always been interested in) ... and with the Matthew 6 verse as its motivation, "Consider the lilies of the field....if God cares so wonderfully for them, will he also not care for you?" For me, this is such a central theme to my own life. I see how the hand of God has stretched over my circumstances and situations in a very personal way - to provide, to gift, to touch! I want to portray that through an image that is understandable and in some ways quite common - but painted in an uncommon way!

New materials in the studio

Still in process - Red Poppies
8x8" Oil on canvas with gold leaf

Here is a glimpse of something new I'm working with, experimenting with, learning about in my studio. You can see it to some extent, but the background is gold leafed and the poppies and green background are painted with oil. The whole thing is a complete experiment for me - I've heard about artists using gold leaf with oils - painting right on that surface ... but I've never tried it before. There isn't a whole lot of information available, so I'm following my own trail here. So far, I'm happy with the outcomes - and yet - I realize there may be a lot that I need to refine.

You may notice that the gold leaf isn't perfectly smooth... in fact, it is rather textured. This is because the under surface was rather textured. I wasn't sure if I'd like it with that bumpiness, but it seems to add an interesting dimension.

Well, I'll be posting the finished (or maybe nearly finished) painting in a few days. I hope to continue learning about this - and trying new ways of using this material. I have some ideas for where I'd like to go with this.... more on that later, though!

More sunflowers!

2 more 8" painted bowls

Also 2 commissions completed this past busy week! It seems to have been a week of sunflowers!

4 small commissions

A closer view of 1 of the 4 shown below.

4 ~ 8" painted wooden bowls

It may seem as if things have been quiet here - not much going on ... the reality is, however, that I've been busy all week! I've been working on these 4 small commissions and 2 others, which aren't shown here. And ... it has been an extraordinarily busy week at work. This week we are putting together our 35th Annual Student Art Show at school ... the entire school library is closed down - cleared out except for the book stacks - peg board is installed - art work from several hundred students (matted and tagged) is hung - awards are presented - and finally, the whole thing needs to be supervised with several thousand students viewing it during the school day and then about 1,000 visitors in the evening (tonight) and the afternoon tomorrow...
whew... need I say more? It is heavy and physical work - but very worthwhile to see the students glow with pride over their exhibit. Of course, I am only 1 of 5 art teachers at our school - and we don't do this every year without a lot of student help ... but.... nevertheless, it is an exhausting week!