Glass Balls

It must by Christmas time if I'm painting ornaments!  I picked up some antique glass balls at a local antique shop while attending a holiday open house, because I LOVE to paint them!  I'm painting on gallery wrapped canvas, so I'm using acrylics and a dry brush technique.  In reorganizing my supplies I found several of these canvasses, and they are perfect for this subject.  I got my tree up today, and attended Christmas on Main with my Mom and sorority sisters, and so the Christmas magic is strong tonight!  It will be a few more days before everything is decorated, and I'm so thankful for the wonderful weather!  Painting number 3236 in 3236 days. 

Glass Pumpkin

 I love blown glass, and I have collected a few of these gorgeous pumpkins through the years. Tonight, I come to my easel late, after an autumn evening spent by the bonfire with hot spiced cider and family, roasting marshmallows for s'mores, and enjoying Tuscan pumpkin soup and pumpkin crunch dessert.  An impromptu gathering, it was fun to unwind by the fire and visit.  A little ink and watercolor on a miniature handmade paper is the perfect way to end the day.  What better way to spend an autumn night?  Painting number 3221 in 3221 days. 

Peony Impressions

Oh how I love these pink peonies!  The fragrance is intoxicating, wafting through the house as I paint.  Stormy weather has kept me inside, and I'm so glad I saved these beauties from the rain!  I draw my composition with paint, using a 10x10 format for this one.  I needed the square shape for those big round blooms to balance.  Then it is all masses and values until I reach the place where that little voice pronounces, "it is done! " Painting number 2326 in 2326 days.

Marceline Wine Stroll

Marceline Wine Stroll
Oil on masonite, 12x9
Marceline OPA Paint-Out - purchase here

By 3:00, the main street through old town Marceline was closed on either end.  Tables, chairs and tents were placed up and down it’s width.  Wine vendors started setting out bottles, and adorning their tables for eye appeal.  As I walked from one end to the other, scouting for a painting spot, several things caught my eye, but I kept returning to the St. James Winery table.  There was something about the light hitting the glass, with the grapevines and grapes resting around the ice container - so I set up my easel and did my sketch.  After first participating in the wine testing, I returned to my set up to find I could no longer get a good vantage on those bottles from the front

on location

corner, due to the crowd awaiting their wine!  Moving to the side, I started laying paint.  Bottles were constantly picked up, poured, and set down in different locations.  I liked the disarray of the bottles - it made for a more pleasing composition.  Focus was a little challenging as I was in the thick of the crowd, with all their conversation, wine sharing, and merriment surrounding me!  This was a fun paint in a charming town - who could ask for more?  This painting makes 972 in 972 days.

Merlot, Please

Merlot, Please
Oil on canvas panel, 7x5
purchase here

There are simply not enough hours in the day.  Try as I may, I never seem to find enough time for everything I want to accomplish in each day!  Today’s agenda is almost unending, but perhaps my best find was Dave at Lowe’s - who expertly cut two sheets (8’ x 4’) of masonite into 8x10’s, 9x12’s and 11x14’s.  As a daily painter - I am in constant need of panels.  I stop in (whenever my schedule allows) to my local hardware store, and just recently Lowe’s.  Twice now, my panels have been expertly cut at Lowe’s - after many, many times of haphazard cutting “elsewhere”.  In fact, the last time I went “elsewhere”, nearly every panel was wrong, and I had to recut them myself, often going to a smaller size because of the short cuts.  How pleasant it is to have perfect panels to start priming tomorrow.  You know, it is the little things that make life so sweet.  Cheers!  This is painting number 968 in 968 days :)

Red Wine and Glass

Red Wine and Glass
Oil on canvas panel, 5x7
sold

Today started with Zumba, watching the grandsons, and preparing for the “family send off” for Michaela’s first year of college.  After most of the company has left, and the kitchen is finally clean, I come to my easel late.  What do I paint when I am too tired to think?  Wine and a glass - for the second day in a row!  I may have a theme started here........who knows what I’ll have time for tomorrow.  I like to be a painting or two ahead - but I am not, which leaves me in a pinch tomorrow.  Oh well, I’ll think about that tomorrow.  Painting number 956 in 956 days. 

Rex and a Glass

Rex and a Glass
Oil on canvas panel, 5x7
purchase here

This day has been heavily scheduled from beginning to end.  With so many duties yet ahead of me tonight, I find very little time for creativity.  So, in an effort to unwind just a bit before carrying on, I am painting what is before me - my empty glass and a bottle of merlot!  I have a love of all things antique - and this special glass is one of several that I bring out for a little indulgence.  There is something timeless about drinking from a wine glass that spans the decades. When it comes to painting the glass - I simply paint the colors and lights as they appear before me.  I am thinking about the object - just where the masses of color and value fall.

Natural light gone as I finish...

In the end, that turns out to be a good representation.  This is painting number 955 in 955 days.

Birthday Flowers

Birthday Flowers
Oil on panel, 6x12

Today, I am stretching out the birthday fun one more day by painting my "birthday flowers"!  This beautiful arrangement was given to me by a dear friend - and now I am capturing them forever by putting them down in oils!  This arrangement is quite tall, so as I was skimming through my panels, my eyes fell upon the tall and narrow one.  It was just the right size and scale for this composition.  I don't normally like to center a vase on a panel, but with it's tall composition, setting it off to one side or the other just looked wonky.  It is set slightly to the shadow side, so as not to be a direct bullseye, and giving the light more prominence.  I chose the neutral gray as a background, but I may glaze over that later.  The color was actually warmer and browner, but it didn't "sit back" until I cooled it off.  We'll see.  The fresh eyes of a new day may have a better idea.  The flowers are so beautiful and their sweet scent wafts from the kitchen.  I truly love fresh cut flowers, and now that my garden is beginning to wake, I will soon be bringing them in from the beds!  Painting number 465 in 465 days.  Now its off to a meeting on this warm, beautiful evening :)

Flowers for Abigail

Flowers for Abigail
Oil on panel, 11x14
Painting #132 in 132 days

As I arrived home, my thoughts remained on the events of the morning.  I found myself bringing in gerbera daisies which I had not yet put in the ground.  I pulled down Grandma Bessie's old glass pitcher, setting the daisies into it.  The white spirea are just coming into full bloom off the front porch, and I cut a few branches to arrange with the daisies.  After setting up the little still life, I put paint to panel, thoughts still on the morning.  As the brushstrokes made the painting, I found solace in this work.  These pink daisies are for little Abigail, with many prayers for her family.

St. Pat's Brownies

St. Pat's Brownies
Oil on panel, 9x12

For St. Patrick's Day, I wanted to paint something light and fun!  I picked these super delicious brownie bites up at our local shop - Butterfly Kisses Bakery.  The little brownies are iced with "leaves" complete with the most delicious candy flowers popping out the tops!  ALMOST too beautiful to eat!  I didn't want to actually paint every detail of the marble top table - so I tried applying the colors with a palette knife, just skimming the surface to give the illusion.  I wanted to play in the paints a bit - being a little impressionistic with the surfaces.  I like the way the colors "married" in this way.  I just found this frosted glass cake stand at a local antique shop - the top is shaped like a giant leaf!  It is the perfect surface to display sweet treats!  I am trying to finish my painting early today - I wish I could get it done in the morning, but that never seems to work out.  This is painting number 73 in 73 days :)

Orange Impression

Orange Impression
Oil on panel, 10x8

Today, I am painting my breakfast - and  getting impressionistic with the fracturing technique I just learned!  I modified my methods a little, and perhaps the edges are not as broken as on Tuesday's painting.  It is fun to apply such bold color, as this is not my norm.  This experimentation is such a great way to keep inspired and fresh - even if it takes me to some crazy places!  At one point, I set down a brush and went to pick up a slice and eat it!  Big no-no!  No eating while oil painting!  I don't want to ingest heavy metals - and there are a LOT of cads in this painting.  This is the 69th in 69 days.  I hope to work on a large painting next :)

White Wine and Flowers

White Wine and Flowers
Oil on panel, 11x14

Today was one of those days where it is absolutely a miracle that I could finish a painting.  I had the grandsons all day, the three year old whipping through here like a tornado - stirring up messes everywhere he went!  Once I had fed them lunch, got them settled in with lincoln logs, I set up my still life and started sketching out the piece.  I blocked in the values, in between the damage control, and even got the light in before having to walk away for hours.  When I was able to come back to it, it was now dark behind the set up, with the same warm lamp light from the front left.  I liked the change in lighting, so I started making the changes.  It would have been so much easier to leave it as it was, but you know how it is when you feel in your gut that the changes must be made.  I also had an old pair of scissors sketched in, but I decided against them.  This is one of my Grandma Frank's large Atlas canning jars and a small vintage pink wine glass, from a set, that my mom and I will drink from when we just want a little wine!  Day 43 on the painting trail :)

Shakespeare by Lamplight

Shakespeare by Lamplight
Oil on panel, 11x14

I started late in the day on this one, first with a detailed sketch.  I used photo reference for the lamp (thanks, Chris!), using my own Tiffany lamp for the lighting in the interior set up.  I have always been drawn to this kind of art - but I have only just started to try my hand at it.  After the sketch, I had to stop, to later start for 30 minutes - to stop again for a meeting at the high school.  I hated to put down the brush - I was so in the zone!  By the time I returned, there were chores to finish - and I didn't go back to it.  I tried to sleep - but could not.  For three hours I tried - and I kept thinking out my next strokes, the colors, the mood.  It was hopeless, so I got up and finished this painting!  Sometimes, there is just a painting inside me that wants out so badly - I am simply forced to submit to it's will.  It is so exciting to go down this road - just as if the paintings are painting themselves and I am just along for the ride.  This is day 23 of the 30 day painting challenge - and dare I say this challenge may have changed my life?