Catching Up!

Crane and Crows. oil. 16"x12"

After four years of caretaking and not painting, I am  going to try the old way 

of getting back into my art world. and for me, that means blogging. 

This is my first painting that I felt something was right about it.

I like the color harmony...

but it is not a "'Julie painting.  I cannot relate to the way I painted it.

Nothing is flowing off the brush.  

I am going out plein air painting once or twice 

a week, producing ordinary work which is nothing

like how I painted before covid.

I wonder how long, if ever,  it will take me to get back into the flow?

My question is - has anyone else had a long break from painting 

then had difficulty resuming in their previous vision and style?

Gray Day At The Pond

 

Gray Day At The Pond

8”x8” oil on stretched canvas.  $200. SOLD

Artist Note.

Can anyone tell me why some water lilies 

have long stems and others do not?

Is it anything to do with how deep the water is?

Curious mind wants to know.

It was a misty morning when I first painted

this spot (in watercolor) 

and I remember thinking,

wow...

how bright a gray sky

 could be without the sun.

I was looking through some of 

my old watercolor sketchbooks

when I came across this view

and it stirred up some spark to paint it.

Nice when that happens

Poor Texas... 

I have really felt for her.

Some lovely friends live there.

The stories they have told are unbelievable.

Sending many prayers.

Question...

Besides donations, how can a person help?

My Violets

My Violets 

6"X6" oil on raymar panel  $125.

Purchase SOLD

Artist Note

Thank heavens for the  

beautiful African Violet

which will bloom all year long,

providing a lovely touch of color.

I remember when I first 

started owning violets being told,

  they were just like children-

 the same care didn’t mean 

they would behave the same way.

So true!

 

I have had a bad cold...a regular winter cold.

Remember the days when you had a cold 

and you could just hunker down with

drinks and cosy blankets?...not anymore. 

I was scared out of my mind it was covid

so I was masked 24 hours a day...

and lugged my studio air purifier in my arms

everywhere in this small apartment 

so hubby would be protected. 

Major anxiety ruled the day.  

The first covid test

took two days 

before I was told it was

"damaged in transit" 

...and as my oxygen 

was in the 80's, and I felt major fatigue,

I hauled myself 

(and my hubby this time) off for another test, 

waiting another two days to find out 

the glorious news- both of us were negative.

It was a load lifted. Happy dance!

I had reasons for concern due to living where 

our next door neighbors 

had just been in quarantine for having covid

and quite a few living here having had it.

We get the first vaccine on Friday

and the anxiety will 

disappear a week after the second one.

Maybe my painting time will pick back up?

One can only hope.

Stay safe, my good friends!

Morning Glories

 

Morning Glories 

8”x6” oil on Raymar panel. $150. SOLD

Artist Note

I started this one plein air in my friend’s yard.

(It was when I painted the pomegranates.) 

They were a beautiful 

purple color 

but as I didn’t take any photos 

I had to resort to some old pics

from a few years ago. 

Georgia O’keefe painted several paintings 

of morning glories and had one where she 

positioned this delicate flower

next to a large Ram’s skull! 

I have never forgotten the painting. 

Such an unexpected pairing. 

Any comments?

 I could not find a secure link

for you to visit 

Rams Scull and Morning Glory

But if you have nothing to do you may want 

to look it up and 

find out the interesting symbolism. 

Stay safe please. 

 

Happy New Year!

 Mockingbird Pride

12"x12"

Artist Note

I am still working on this painting. 

Taking my time to think it out.

Tweak or not to tweak...

that is the question!

As the sun sets on 

2020

I  want to thank you 

for the support you gave me and my art

during this weird year. 

It has meant so much.

My painting habits have changed 

due to being at home with a

dear hubby - who is delighted to have

me around due to him being able to enjoy

regular meals served on time.

(I do not kid myself it is 

due to my scintillating personality!)

I have always worked and been a do-er

so learning to be idle has been quite a feat.

I miss teaching and the wonderful artists 

I was around. BUT... I am grateful to be healthy

and in a position where I can stay safe and

 thanking heavens for Walmart grocery pick-up.

I am also becoming a ping pong player!

Let me know how YOU have adapted

to the new routines 

with any helpful hints you may have.

 I want to wish you all

 a much better new year than this last

one has probably been.

May 2021 Bless YOU with 

Health, Joy and Peace

12"x12" oil on gallery wrap 

Afternoon Pleasure

 Afternoon Pleasure 

6”x8” oil on Raymar panel  $150.SOLD

Artist Note. 

I named this Afternoon Pleasure 

because my

memories of visiting

this lily pond 

are still very pleasurable. 

I have done quite a few paintings from this 

lovely spot and I always enjoy the time 

painting them...well that is not exactly true. 

I start off fast and hopeful

then in the middle begins a struggle. 

and it usually goes through several changes

before it comes together in a way I like. 

This was no exception. 

How are you all doing?

This is a time like no other

and even though my hubby and I are safe

we are very aware how dangerous it

could be for us if we go anywhere crowded. 

 So we will be sharing a short outdoor 

picnic with our daughter and her hubby 

for Thanksgiving. 

This way there will be many more 

to share. 

Please stay safe and still enjoy a 

Happy Thanksgiving. 

Sunflowers At The Ranch

Sunflowers At The Ranch

6"x8" oil on Raymar panel  $150. SOLD

Artist Note

I joined a few of the guild artists

on a plein air painting trip

to the wonderful Nichols Ranch and Orchards.

Altitude 7,000 ft.

(Link at bottom)

This building is over 100 years old and was

the original home of the Nichols family.

Look what a fabulous view they have...wow!

The line of white in the distance is

the amazing White Sands National Park. NM

I was fortunate enough to enjoy 

a couple of the family pets

joining me in the shade

I did a couple of painting starts and decided 
the sunflowers were worthy of attention. 
I eliminated the porch for the sake of balance.

The new Blogger format is 

certainly different. 

I just spent over an hour 

trying to get the spacing

back to what I am used to. 

link to Nichols Ranch

 

Pomegranate Duo

Pomegranate Duo

8x6" oil on raymar panel $150.

Purchase HERE

Artist Note

Every year I paint the pomegranates 

when in season. 

I got a call from a friend telling me 

her poms were gorgeous 

and she invited me over to paint.

It had been quite a while since I had painted 

so this was a real treat. 

Hope you are all surviving these

powerful and awful events...

Covid, the protests, the fires and hurricanes.

Who would have every thought it 

was all possible when

wishing everyone 

A Happy New Year...

Sheesh!

Please stay safe and sane.

Profusion Of Hollyhocks

Profusion Of Hollyhocks

8"x6" oil on Raymar panel SOLD

Artist Note

This painting was started after seeing 

the hollyhocks on my morning walk.

I came back with hubby who napped

 in the car while I got a start.

   I finished it at home.

I wonder if any of you still get my blog

because it has been almost

 three months since I last posted. 

I have never gone that long before.

AND...what months they have been.

Covid has turned them into 

an anxious time of worry 

for our loved ones and ourselves...

The lucky artist can work at home

 IF 

the creative drive is still flowing.

 I am happy 

to feel mine is slowly returning 

to where I am 

at least "thinking" painting

as I go about my day.

I am sending warmest wishes for 

safe and happier days 

while we adjust to the new norm.

Blessings.

 blogger has a new format which I am not having

much success with. Please go to 

www.dailypaintworks.com

If the link to purchase does not work.

 

abstracted waterfall

Abstracted Waterfall

6"x8" oil on canvas panel $150.

Purchase SOLD

Artist Note

This was inspired by the same photo 

as shown on previous post, 

but approached 

in an entirely different way.

First...

I zoomed in on a smaller area of the photo

and let my imagination create the shapes

plus a different color harmony.

Play and Discovery

This was a lot of fun.

It became all about the process

because I was not worried about 

making it exactly like the photo.. 

I made notes of what I liked,

 technique wise,

and equally important...

did not like. 

I will repeat in another painting 

the parts of what I liked and maybe

it will be as enjoyable as this 

one was to paint..

Stay Safe everyone