Birthday Flowers #2 and Set-up.

(Yellow colors appear brighter than the original)

Birthday Flowers #2

6x8in oil on canvas panel   $125. SOLD

More flowers from my b-day stash.
My friends know I love to paint flowers and have told
me it makes an easy choice for them on my birthday.

Artist Note
I set up small still life arrangements on a shelf in my studio.
The shelf is only 7 inches deep and I use about 16 inches of it.
It is just below eye level as I stand, and right in front and just
to the side of my easel. The small area gives an intimate
feeling to a still life.
First, I have the all important light source.
I use an Ott-Light. (Hobby Lobby sells them )
and for a small space they are perfect.

It fits nicely on the shelf.
It can be turned on its side
for up-lighting
I use colored papers for the
backgrounds. The scrap
book papers are perfect.

I lift up the arm and
I love the color of the
light on the set-up.
I place my centerpiece
on a mirror for
reflections. This is
smaller than my usual
mirror ... it broke!

I start with the
placement of the
roses.
I have the color
harmony I want
in mind.

I need the back
rose lifted up so
I place my bottle of
WhiteOut under it
...just the right
height. I use
anything that will
do the job.

I added more flowers.
As I am painting, it
usually takes on a
life of its own and I move
things around with
paint... remembering
some of the Golden Rules.

I do not have room in this studio for a large box set-up - like the ones
I have seen on other blogs, but this has given me some absorbing
painting times.

Birthday Flowers

Birthday Flowers
6x8in oil on canvas panel   $125. SOLD

No - not feathers, but it was my birthday on Saturday
and I have so many flowers to paint before they die.
These are from my daughter. A beautiful mixed bouquet.

Artist Note
I received some fabulous suggestions for my painting
of the eagle feather. It has set me off on a whole new
way of thinking about how I want to paint it.
Thank you all so much. Keep the ideas coming and it
will lead to a new series.

Watercolor Weekend - Feather Study

Feather Study

 6x4in  watercolor on Arches paper

Artist Note
This is the first study I have done
of an Eagle Feather. I want to try
painting it in oil.
It is such a long feather at 11 inches
I feel I need to find a way to show
the scale of it. I understand now
why an inkwell is usually shown
with a quill.
Any ideas - or do you think it really
needs to show the size?

Feather Series - Assortment.

Assortment of Feathers

8x6in oil on canvas panel NFS

Continuing  painting
my feathers....
Guess what a friend of mine, who is an
American Indian, brought in for me to paint?
A real eagle feather. It is very old and unpainted.
The other ones passed down from his father have
symbols painted right on them.
It is on loan to me for three days.
I will be very reverent with it.

Watercolor Weekend - Garden Bounty

Garden Bounty

6x8  watercolor on arches paper

This is a study for an oil painting.

Artists Note.
I got this image from a magazine, tore it out
and have no idea who to give credit to. I added some
items and altered the colors.

Andrew Wyeth has always been a hero of mine.
No one paints windows like he does and here
are just a few of the many, many he did.
My personal favorite is not here.

ANDREW WYETH - paintings of windows

 The denim jacket on the
wall has inspired
many an artist.

These are just a few from magazines and clip outs.
All different. With some you see the view out
of the window - others are just light shapes,
 but they all evoke a mood. A sense of place and time.

Watercolor Weekends - Aspen Grove

Aspen Grove

7x5in watercolor on Strathmore Bristol.

Yes - we have aspens here in
Southern New Mexico and they are
only a couple of hours away in Ruidoso...
the same area we have skiing.
The colors were not
as brilliant this year so I focused
on the bush at the back for a bit of color.

Artist Note.
I am trying a smooth Bristol paper and
finding it buckles a bit with the washes.
I want to try the Yupo paper. I am intrigued.
I see some lovely paintings showing a wide
range of the usual or interesting techniques
out there in our blogging world.
Here are two recent ones.
Colorful Coonections
Painter'sProcess
Please let me know if you have any
other artists to recommend or
helpful pointers to start me off.

Our winter is off to a slow start.
Look what I found behind a friends pot.
He should be hibernating.
No manners -  sticking his tongue out at me
like that!

Rose and Porcelain

Rose and Porcelain

6x6in oil on canvas panel  $100. SOLD

Something beautiful to paint is always calming.

English Wild Rose

English Wild Rose

8x9in  watercolor on Strathmore  NFS

Artist Note.

I painted this a few years ago while sailing on the
English Norfolk Broads with my sister and her
husband. Both avid sailors and owners of a handsome
yacht called, The Gallant.
I have vertigo and my safe viewpoint was
happily in the galley where I painted this little rose after
plucking it off a hedgerow on one of our daily
"moor and then walk to a pub for a meal."
It brings back very special  memories so I got it
out and added some more characteristic, Julie brushwork.

Watercolor Weekend - Apple Trio

Apple Trio

6x6in watercolor on Strathmore NFS

A painting I actually finished!

Artist Note.
I have been trying all week to paint and
could not focus to finish one. It feels really
good to be able to pull this one off.

Thanks to everyone for the sensitive and
touching comments and emails. I am amazed
how many other of you have recently lost
a loved one and the losses to breast cancer
are many. I am reminded we have to appreciate
every day and truly love family and friends.

The magnitude of what has happened in the
Philippines is beyond comprehension. My
prayers are for help to reach the surviving men,
women, mothers, fathers, brothers,
sisters and all the animal life.
I know Daily Paintworks will be having an
auction to raise money like they always do.
They are wonderful and I will be happy, along
with all the other artists, to participate.

Sparkling Sun - Sparkling Water

Sparkling Sun - Sparkling Water

12x9 oil on canvas panel SOLD

This painting is from a set up I did at a
a close friend's studio in Santa Fe.

Artist Note.

This is an older painting. I decided after a week
of not painting or blogging I should at least post
something to get me going.

In the photo, the glare on the window blocks out
the beautiful colors outside. I was drawn to the
warm, sunny green next to the cooler blue/green of
the Pellegrino bottle label.

I am still not painting. The loss of my friend is still
acute. I have tried to paint, but my mind is not there.
I tried all weekend, but nothing seemed to go right.
 Lots of "off with its head" moments which makes
one question if they should be an artist at all!
I am missing the blogging world though, and I have
started visiting and commenting.  It is very good, on a
deep level, to belong to a group of art minded friends.

The understanding support from so many has
warmed my heart and I thank you.