Ladybugs
8inx6in oil on canvas panel $135.
Purchase HERE
I love the ladybug.
Somehow, I always feel I have
been given a gift
when I hold one in my hand.
Artist Note.
I painted this using
some photos and the watercolor
sketch below.
I was in Scotts Valley, CA.
visiting our son and family last year
when I saw this amazing group of
colorful hydrangea plants.
I discovered all the ladybugs
when I started to paint.
Gleaming spots of red on the green leaves.
Pure eye candy...
be still my heart!
Does anyone else like them, too?
Yes, I see the ladybug and I also see a gorgeous bouquet of hydrangeas. It's amazing Julie and another favorite!! WOW!
ReplyDeleteHi Hilda - bless you. Always so encouraging with your comments.
DeleteI keep meaning to ask if you have been to the new Whitney Museum? Your latest portrait says you were in Manhattan when you saw him and I remember thinking...lucky, lucky, Hilda, she has access to world class art.
Love ladybugs and my four year old granddaughter loves them even more. I think it is called fascination. Your hydrangeas plants are wonderful, colorful.
ReplyDeleteMy delight with the ladybug stems back to childhood for sure. Fascination is the perfect word. Thanks for the visit, Helen. Any more high key paintings in the works?
DeleteSo many in my mind. Waiting for my body to catch up. Still need to rest lots. I think the saying is "all in good time"
DeleteAnother outstanding piece, Julie! Just love it.
ReplyDeleteSeeing ladybugs reminds me of my mom. She never "decorated" her refrigerator door, but always had one small ladybug magnet on it somewhere. She said it brought her luck. I think it did. Beautiful post, Julie! Thanks.
Love the story of your moms ladybug magnet. I like the idea so am going to look for one. I never have anything on my friedge either but an exception will be made!
DeleteI really enjoyed your blog on making the items from concrete. You are so handy...and patient too.
This is one of your 'special' paintings, and I really love it to bits!
ReplyDeleteAs you will remember, they are ladybirds to us Brits,
We were in Cyprus once when it began to 'rain' ladybird/bugs ... amazing, but ruined our glasses of wine :0)
Glad you reminded me about lady"birds". I was laughed at for calling them that when I first arrived here. Talking about laughing...I love the motto of of the two eighteen - bearing gifts. Wonderful
DeleteI visited the base on Cyprus when I was a younger lass. (1961) With a friend helping with the supplies to Kenya during their terrible famine. No ladybugs then.
The ladybug is a beautiful touch to your painting Julie. Unfortunately, there are many somewhere in our house and we are constantly carrying them outdoors. We have a ladybug house outside but they seem to like this one better. There are worse things, smiles.
ReplyDeleteOh wow - I never knew they could live indoor like that. Do you have an atrium with lots of plants? Anyway - thanks for letting me know about your husband. I totally understand why you have not posted. Sending the warmest wishes for good health to you both.
DeleteJulie, both paintings are just lovely. We have an overabundance of lady bugs here.......do you want some?
ReplyDeleteNope - but thanks. I enjoy keeping them special.
DeleteYou sure have beautiful photos on your blog. I enjoyed seeing the video you made on your other blog. Fun - you are a natural.
Yes, love them. Amazing hydrangeas too.
ReplyDeleteNeat - glad you do and thanks for the visit.
DeleteI was thrilled to see your new painting. It kept me fascinated for a while with the rhythm of those trunks and branches. Always a good sign.
Ladybug symbolizes good luck for Italians. So a garden with ladybugs is like a garden blessed. For this reason often precious objects, gold and silver, are decorated with ladybugs. Who receives as gift these jewels will be lucky, wearing them.
ReplyDeleteSo we love ladybugs and we never would think to hunt or kill them because then this action would bring the opposite of luck.
Your hydrangeas are so alive! I think it's wonderful how you manage to paint such beautiful compositions, in small space.
Your info made me happy, dear Rita. I like knowing the Italian people
Deletesymbolize the ladybug with good luck. Thanks for the lovely comment on my painting and I am waiting for the pleasure of seeing your next watercolor.
I love ladybugs and your paintings are gorgeous! I agree, they do feel like a gift when you see one.
ReplyDeleteHi Celia - glad we feel the same. Thanks for the visit.
DeleteI enjoyed seeing all your sketches - especially the herb bottle.
I love lady bugs too and I always think of the movie Under the Tuscan Sun...having lots of lady bugs crawl on you is a blessing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful painting Julie! Be still MY heart!
Neat to hear you like them too. I forgot all about that movie. Thanks for the reminder.
DeleteI really found your whole post just engrossing.
Love your new portrait. Really fabulous.
The yard is beautiful and your studio...well... the studio is perrrrfect!
Gorgeous hydrangeas Julie and the ladybugs make such a beautiful addition.Lovely :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Bhavani - pleased you like the addition of the ladybug.
DeleteYou new painting with the trailer is totally brilliant. I love it!
Beautiful hydrangeas and the added ladybugs are so special. They are a treat when you find them since they seem to be so rare...at least around here.
ReplyDeleteHere too!
DeleteI like your new lighthouse painting very much.
I've always been scared of bugs! LoL And now I've heard that the ladybugs I see aren't the American ones but some other country's version of them and that they bite! And the house always got inundated with them...so not my favorite. Anyway, these hydrangeas are just gorgeous and I love how you've varied the colors in this painting. My heart goes to that soft blue color so exquisitely surrounded by pinks and lavenders. I believe when I bought some a few years back, I was told the color is determined by the type of soil they grow in...acidic versus base...or some such.
ReplyDeleteSome bugs scare me too!
DeleteThese are harmless and only bite into the insects in the garden!
I understand the acidity of the soil has a lot to do with the colors and some gardeners feed for the different colors.
Glad you are all moved in Sherry. Hope you like it there.
Rich color, free wheeling, lush brush strokes and a touch of charm. Beautiful. Your freedom with these little ones is inspirational.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda. Working small has allowed me to discover so many areas of paint. The hardest is making it look like a large painting. Some I paint in a different manner than others - looser and tighter. It doesn't matter because so easy to wipe off.
DeleteI ADORE the colors in your new portrait.
Hydrangeas are just my favorite, and these are superb , the extra touch of the little bug is genius :-) I think most people like ladybugs...here they are considered to bring good luck.
ReplyDeleteRita told me they bring good luck in Italy... and I really like that thought.
DeleteYour provocative nude painting has me asking many questions.????..
Both paintings are so beautiful, Julie. Complete with ladybug! You take me back to my grandmother's hydrangea hedge and the summers playing next to that magnificent beast of a plant!!
ReplyDeleteThey are magnificent aren't they? My jaw dropped when I saw these and screeched to a halt. Knock, knock...may I paint your bushes please!
ReplyDeleteHope life continues to be good. Sending a hug.
Wow - so beautiful. There is a delicate softness to this painting. We have several hydrangea bushes in our garden - I love them so much. You've captured the essence of those flowers.
ReplyDeleteYou are so fortunate to have some. I would be camping outside painting them all the time - for their lifespan, anyway.
ReplyDeleteYour sunflower paintings are so full of life and beautiful colors. I can tell you enjoyed painting them.