orchid study

Orchid Study

6x8in oil on canvas panel NFS

Artist Note

Repost...

this one goes back years.

The first time I painted an orchid
I knew I would have

to get really familiar with its structure. 

Their center is very intricate and precise...
not easy for someone like me
who paints very loosly.

I don't think I ever posted this study 

when I finished it because I

wanted to keep it for future reference.

We have a moving date!

Let Heaven and Angels Sing!

House appraised full VA loan 

and a lovely family will be moving into

what has been our very happy home.

 Moving in two weeks.

Downsizing from 2500sq ft

to 850sq ft!!!

hahahahahahaha

  Think of me, please, and

remember us in your prayers or

just send good vibes 

for a smooth move. 

This will be my last post 

until after

it is all over with.
Well, maybe one for Valentines Day!

I will keep posting my 

old images on Instagram

juliefordoliverart

just to keep my name out there.

Happy painting days
😍 good friends. 

Water Lily Study - Yupo

Waterlily

Yupo study

Artist Note

Painting the waterlily on Yupo and 

am enjoying it. Still at the experimental 

stage of discovery... 

seeing what works, and more importantly

what doesn't.

I think this is a better design 

 when cropped this way.

(below)

(There is a good reason)

Please tell me what you think.

Figure Session - Day 19 in the Challenge.

Figure Session

12x9' oil on gesso board 

NFS

Artist Note.

The water-media workshop was great and

it gave me a feeling of freedom

in my oils. I had an opportunity 

to paint the figure today and went

at  it with a very fluid paint quality.

No drawing, but found my angles 

and proportions first with a script brush 

using transparent brown oxide

with Gamsol to make it flow

.

My favorite area is where the chain rests

between her breasts. 

The glare of wet paint caught on the area

her hair 

 in the photo But it doesn't matter as the 

painting is unfinished and 

stands as a study.

The workshop had some good

non-representational artists. 

The collage method was extra powerful

in that and the abstract area.

Here is a photo from the workshop.

at group critique time.

Nancy Frost Begin is holding the

collage and the actual painting is the 

one on the easel.

With Susan Hanssen standing to the left.

It is not one of mine, but I watched 

the experienced artist work on it from 

start to finish and I can tell you 

a strong and beautiful design like this is not easy 

to achieve.

Daffodils and Hyacinths - Study

Daffodils and Hyacinths - Study.

8x6in oil on canvas panel  $125. SOLD

Click HERE to purchase

A friend brought a huge bunch of daffs and
hyacinths to the Guild for me to paint.
Such cheerful colors - I felt my spirits lifting
as I started to mix them.
Thank you Karen Curry. You are a treasure!

Feather Series - Parrot

Parrot Feathers - study

pencil and watercolor NFS

I would like you to meet Bonnie Marie.
She is 17 and ...you have to love this,
a Pionus Parrot.  I am lucky enough to follow
her owner's blog and she follows mine.
Check out this post about the feathers. Blanche Niznik

Blanche was good enough to mail me some stunning feathers.
I am lucky - the timing was great because it is molting time.
The feather with red must be on her tail. I am starting off with
several studies because trying to catch the iridescence is going
to take quite a few attempts.
Thank you so much Blanche - you have a heart of gold!

Goose-neck Study

Goose-neck Study

7x5in oil on linen $100.

Day 10 in the 30 in 30 Days Challenge
My personal goal  for this challenge - to paint only what I have
never painted or thought of painting before.

I am staying with a friend who owns this goose-neck lamp.
I have been using it to light my still life set-ups, but tonight I
thought why not paint it. It fits the criteria - I certainly have
never painted it before and I love the reflective surface.

I have computer problems - again. This time the wireless
is not working. Started this afternoon. Hope tomorrow is better.

Thanks for all the neat comments.  You are all great!

Some Kind of Bean?

Some Kind of Bean?

Study. floral still life. NFS

This beautiful plant was a surprise find on a walk today.
I was with a friend and we were on our way back from our annual,
and wonderful, Empty Bowls fund raiser.
http://elcaldito.wordpress.com/empty-bowls/
What a marvelous
gift to the community the potters do. Over a thousand bowls
are made, sold and funds donated to our local soup kitchen.

I have no idea what plant this is, but I do know it had long, bean
shaped pods hanging from it... as well as beautiful flowers
with delicate, curly, thread like tendrils coming out of the
flower clusters
It was used as an ornamental wall covering.
The pods looked as if they had a pretty tough skin.
Anyone know their name?