Italian Sunflowers, North Light, Gray Day

8"x6" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

$200 unframed

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A really nice one from 'the vault' that I had almost forgotten about! We planted this variety of Italian Sunflowers in our garden in previous years. I think I do miss them! They are a smaller flower head, and a creamy - buttery - pale yellow that goes really nicely with the hydrangeas we grow. Hmmm...already thinking about what I'd like to grow next summer!!  Cut flowers are so wonderful to bring into the studio to paint!

Blizzard Buster - sold!

6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite artboard

"There's one good thing about snow, it makes your lawn look as nice as your neighbor's."
- Clyde Moore

"Blizzard Buster" is what I'm calling this little gem. It is truly the redeeming part of my day. Earlier in the day during a slight lull in the blizzard, we went out to shovel and clear the driveway. This snow was heavy, wet, and about 18" DEEP! That's an exhausting workout! It was so nice to come in and have flowers to paint. I'm especially glad my flowers are holding up, although the blue agapanthus are starting to drop their little flowerets.

I saw on the news where there is snow in 49 out of 50 states (you lucky Floridians!). Even Hawaii had snow on one of its mountains! Not that it makes me feel any better, but knowing there are flowers at the grocery store, waiting for me to paint is some consolation! What is your blizzard buster?

Italian Sunflowers North Light Gray Day

8"x6" oil on Belgian linen mounted on museum quality board

"If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers."
- Doug Larson

It was gray and overcast today, which makes for a nice cool silvery light in my studio. I'm still thinking about Hensche's teachings from Camille Przewodek's workshop. Cool light, warm shadows...there's a lot of wonderful color in shadows on gray days.

In the meantime, I have a commission painting started (hints....wedding, Ireland, hmm, what could be more romantic??) I head out tomorrow to go 'fetch my mom' and bring her up here to visit....so it looks like my posting will be a bit dicey for the next several days...unless I find a Panera....and a good bit of free time. I think I might have some 'chores' with mom before we head back up here. Hubby will hold down the fort up here & keep the flowers growing.

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Price: $150 USD plus $10 USD s/h
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Beautiful, Bountiful; Italian Sunflowers & Brandywine Tomatoes

16"x20" oil on canvas mounted on museum quality board (Raymar)

"Without faith in what you and others can achieve, you cannot even begin to make your life speak."
- Robert Lawrence Smith, "A Quaker Book of Wisdom"

I finished this on Friday, but haven't had a chance to write or blog about it until now. Today's painting is, "Beautiful, Bountiful; Italian Sunflowers & Brandywine Tomatoes" and is a 16"x20" oil on canvas mounted on museum quality board (Raymar). We're at my favorite part of summer, where the yard & garden is bursting forth with flowers and finally veggies! This variety of tomato is so delicious. We tried these out last summer & decided this year we'd have a few extra plants. Looks like I'm going to be making some kind of sauce...there's quite a few tomatoes......And one can never have too many flowers! It's really nice to bring in fresh ones every day or so, and still have plenty in the yard.

We also grew these little pumpkins, I think the variety is called "Jack-be-Nimble". Well the vine is HUGE and taking over the planet! or at least the driveway! (gives new meaning to 'Smashing Pumpkins"). We've had to cut the little monster back as it was climbing up the butterfly bushes and other shrubs and was headed for the neighbors! Now what to do with all these cute little orangey things! It's a long way 'til October. Who would've thought they'd be popped up & ready in August? When I hauled in the basket of tomatoes, pumpkins, and flowers, that thing was so heavy! What a haul!

Looks like it's going to be a very busy week. I am beginning another commission :-) and later this week going to bring my mom up from Florida to visit CT for a little while. So my postings may be erratic over the next two weeks as I tend to these things!

***I've had several readers ask about impasto techniques lately. During one of my upcoming posts this week I'll be talking about that for my artist readers!

Bountiful, Beautiful - Italian Sunflowers & Brandywine Tomatoes

About This Painting:
The best parts of summer, a bountiful garden with good food, and flowers for your house.

Media: oil on canvas mounted on archival board (Raymar)
Size: 20 in X 16 in (50.8 cm X 40.6 cm)

How to Purchase:
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