End of Summer Paintings, Blues, Deux, and Transitions

30"x24"x1.5" oil on gallery wrapped canvas

To purchase "Delphinium Blues", or for more information, click here.  

The colors in my summer garden are long past now, but I'm just getting around to sharing the new of what I made of it! First - a whopping bundle of thank-yous to my hubby (my personal garden guru) who had the good foresight to try delphiniums one more time! We usually manage to kill them off, pronto. But this time, their survival mechanism kicked in, so that they could actually look great in the yard for a while AND get to be in a painting! 

16"x20" x1" oil on gallery wrapped stretched canvas

For more information, or to purchase "Deux, S'il Vous Plait" , click here.  

 Summer in New England is rather delightful. My back deck is always beckoning, hydrangeas have been spectacular this year! The good thing is, there are always plenty to cut for another painting!

Like this one:

 30"x24"x1.5" Oil on deep gallery wrapped canvas. 

For more information or to purchase "Transitions", click here. 

If you haven't guessed it by now, or you are new to my blog, you know that I love painting flowers from life. This batch is nearing the end of the summer season, and funny thing, all these came from the same bush! Sort of symbolic, I reasoned. We all go through our seasons in life. "Transitions" really resonated with me, as we've been through some of life's big transitions this year, among them; travel, a funeral, a wedding, and some new work changes my hubby is taking on. This painting really is my heart-felt favorite of the year. 

But then, there are small pieces that I do love, too!

 

10"x10"x1" oil on cradled birch panel

For more information, or to purchase "Deep Blue and Copper" click here.  

Some of the last hydrangeas of our summer garden are in this bouquet, before an early frost got to them. They are just one of my favorite garden flowers - I'd miss them like crazy if we didn't have them! So I paint them, so that we can all enjoy them year round. I do hope one of these resonates with you, too!   

 

So You'd Like to Commission a Painting?!

So here it is! This was so much fun ~ having the opportunity to collaborate with some one and make it special, just for them! Cindy had a large space to fill in a room that she was re-doing.  The large bank of windows to the right opened up onto her garden.  Each season, new colors and textures unfold.....it's so beautiful out there, a wonderful, private space. But she was not enamored with the colors and textures of winter. She wanted bright color in her room of soft neutrals, with a bright pop to really draw your eye to this focal point....and celebrate the garden that she enjoys so much in the Spring and Summer. 

 

When Cindy first came to me for a commission, she wasn't sure where to start. She said, "I love your paintings - I love looking at them when I receive your emails, but I'm just not sure where to begin".  This is a normal question! My job is to help you determine the colors and theme of what you prefer, narrow some choices, and hone in on a design meant for your space.  I have a list of questions for my collectors to help me determine what may fit their space.  If the collector is local, I can go to their house with sample canvas sizes, so they can "lay eyes" on how that size canvas fits the space...and if they prefer framing I can provide that as well.  

 

My prices are based on price per square inch.  I send the list of "price per size" immediately when someone first makes a commission request. That way they can determine what will fit their space, and their budget. Once the size and format is agreed upon, I write up everything we've discussed in an email - so the project is clear, beginning to end; and request a 50% deposit before I begin. That allows me to purchase not only materials for the painting, but the time to put into it that won't be used painting other paintings! 

 

Once a basic format is decided upon (square, or rectangular, and the size),  I will draw up to four various designs to help narrow down the selection.  Once I make a basic drawing, I'll work up a smaller painting as a 'color study' to scale, so that the collector can imagine the finished piece, make any color corrections, or design changes at that time. Only once those are finished, and presented we can discuss which might work best in the space for the painting.  

 

For this project - which was to be a 36"x36"x2" deep, I did the paint sketches on 8"x8" panels. Here's the four we considered:

Study for Cindy's Garden

 

Coral Begonias

 

Cherry Tree Fantasy

 

Blossoms in Shade

 

These gave us some various ideas to discuss. Mainly- a good idea of how color will look.  She knew she wanted a coral-orange color within the design to bring a big pop of color to the room, that she could repeat with various other accessories (pillows, etc). Each of these had the color in there to some degree. We both love florals, but to have this design (#2-begonias) as a 36x36 was just overwhelming. So that narrowed things down to 'just landscapes'- still a broad category!

Selection #3 (Cherry Tree Fantasy) was painted thinking of all the great shapes in her back-garden landscape. Each season something new comes into bloom...but here I played a "what if". What if the blooms of the cherry tree were a bit more coral, rather than soft pink?...and what if it bloomed the same time as the hydrangea? For gardeners of course this question is ridiculous, but from a purely artistic question- an expressionist/colorist question it begged to be asked.  

The fourth color sketch chose another area under the delicate limbs of yet another weeping cherry tree in their yard. Yes, their landscape has some wonderful shapes and textures in there! 

 

Finally, the first sketch was chosen and the next part of the work continues- onto the large canvas itself!  I always tell my collectors, the longest part of the time takes place in the planning.  Once everything is in place and the actual commissioned work begins, things come together rather quickly. Then it's time for a viewing! The final bill is due when the work is finished, prior to delivery. For local collectors, I can come and hang the painting for you. It's a special privilege for me to take part in these "collaborative commissions".  It brings me great joy to help collectors celebrate and commemorate a special time in their lives! 

 

 For the collector in our story above, there will always be a colorful reminder of the beauty that exists under all the snow during winter; a celebration of all her hard gardening work the rest of the year; and a joy to share with family and friends.   I am extremely grateful to be a part of that shared happiness!! 

 

 

 

 

Cindy's Garden-Commission

36"x36"x2.5" oil on deep gallery wrapped canvas

Commissioned work

Commissions are such fun - and this one was incredibly fun- a friend's beautiful garden. Now she can have her wonderful blooms year round! No problems with deer, snow, etc.  The room has a long bank of windows looking out on the gardens. Our goal was to bring the garden indoors/extend the view so it could be enjoyed throughout the year.  When a painting is a major focal point of a room, color was the main thing we were strongly considering. The room has a blue-grey color theme, and her decorator suggested a strong pop of orange or coral...and by any chance did she know a local artist? My friend had always wanted to have a "Roxanne Steed" painting, but never could decide which one as she looked in her email box every morning at the things I would paint.  This gave me the chance to do something specifically for this very space - and really be the focal point of the room.  Taking on a commission is a special collaboration. You get to learn someones likes and dislikes, and together you come up with an idea that will greet them every time they come and go from their home.  In my next blog post I'll talk about the commission process and share the four studies I presented for consideration. They were the "jumping off" point to help us finalize our plan! She has come over to my studio to visit her painting while it was drying.  I always keep in touch with emails during the process, so they can see their painting "come to life". This week I'll be installing her painting in her home. I'm humbled and honored to have had this opportunity!

ACEO-Coral Begonias - Day 8 #jan30in30

3.5"x2.5"

Click here to bid!

 

This one is a color study for an upcoming commission (not the same design, but will have coral colored flowers in it).  So after painting a snowy scene, I'm back to my bliss, flowers in my sunlit garden. My neighbor had one of the most gorgeous begonias I had ever seen. The thing was huge, with these amazing flowers draping down. It's been on my mind, and another one of those things that I wanted to paint during this 30 day feat!

 

For those of you not familiar with the acronym ACEO, it stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals.  The miniature paintings are the size of a baseball trading card, 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches.  This category of art has become increasingly popular on eBay the last couple of years.  These can be displayed on their own, or with a tiny little easel (like the kind you can find in Michaels Arts & Crafts type stores) on a display shelf, or these beautiful gems can be elegantly matted and framed with perhaps a mat of 4 inches wide. 

ACEO - Coneflower Explosion - sold!

2.5"x3.5"

Click here to bid! 

Cone-flowers are a reliable favorite in our garden. Best part is, they keep coming back year after year! We've added some unusual colors to the normal pale purple variety...some are like a tropical sunset. I do love this explosion of color next to the white picket fence! ah summer....you do keep me dreaming through a cold winter!

  

For those of you not familiar with the acronym ACEO, it stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals.  The miniature paintings are the size of a baseball trading card, 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches.  This category of art has become increasingly popular on eBay the last couple of years.  These can be displayed on their own, or with a tiny little easel (like the kind you can find in Michaels Arts & Crafts type stores) on a display shelf, or these beautiful gems can be elegantly matted and framed with perhaps a mat of 4 inches wide.  

So, each year I have time to make just a few of these...and there's never any leftover. Here's your chance to join in on the fun and have one of these dear little mini's.  If you've just GOT to have it, and you can get to it before the first bid is placed, you may buy it out-right (and avoid the whole bidding process) at the buy it now price.  AND, my Christmas gift to you, FREE shipping!

Sweet Summer Roses

16"x8" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

For more information, or to purchase, click here.  

Wow, the heat wave finally made it to Connecticut! It was pretty steamy even in the shade.  Lucky for that and some lemonade.  Summer goes too fast around here to ignore it just because of the heat.  I was determined to soak it up while I have the chance.  After all, the roses were calling my name! 

Morning Grace - Monday Mentoring Classes

8"x8" oil on archival panel

For more information, or to purchase, click here. 

I'm enjoying spending time with students in my 'Mentoring Mondays'-leading other artists on their own art journey. At this point in the year, the garden is bursting out with color, the weather is comfortable and a total delight for plein air painting.  In the mornings, the eastern morning light hits this part of the picket fence and the rock wall below it. It's funny, when we planned the garden, I knew the picket fence would be an important feature for me (I've always wanted a garden like this).  But one of the most intriguing things (for me any way) is representing light and shadow on white surfaces. Where they come together is an endless fascination for me.  This painting leans more to the abstract, yet I love the memory of the fuchsia blooms on this rhododendron crawling over and poking through the fence, and the magenta shades in the dwarf Japanese maple below. By the time a week passes, the colors and blooms will be different. The light in the summer sky changing just a bit each day.  I love to hear from other artists & gardeners about your own favorite gardens!

Coral Begonia

 

5"x5" oil on gessoed masonite artboard

For more information, or to purchase, click here. 

Last summer I started collecting begonias of various types. This is a new one, a gift from a friend when I was in the hospital for surgery back in April.  And.....it's still alive and blooming! It hasn't stopped blooming at all, and looks like it will keep on going all summer! I'm not actually sure how long they are able to keep going, as I've never had one last that long - until last summer.  Could it be, that after all these years, I've finally got the knack for growing them? I hope so!

Sunny Spring Seat

9"x12" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

Click here for more information or to purchase.

Oh how I love this little section of our garden! It's like a little room surrounded by a picket fence and a lush growth of flowering plants from Spring through Autumn, right by our front door. In the morning the sun warms the back of this curvy bench, casting shadows on the slate stones below. They are brightened by the warm light.  

As I've painted this space over the last five years, it's been so fun seeing this area grow and mature. The peonies in the upper left corner have yet to bloom, but this year there are so many buds on them. This particular one is white and fragrant!!!! ooh, I can hardly wait for this one to bloom.  The canes of the rose behind this bench now arch across several spans of fencing. When I first bought this plant via mail order five years ago, it was so puny and tiny, I could hardly imagine that it would ever spread this far! The 'creeping phlox' at this edge of the slate circle mounded up with gorgeous wild color again this year.....so exciting to see after the bareness of winter! Ahh- life is sweet once winter is far behind!

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Peach and Raspberry Sorbet Tulips!

6"x6"x7/8" deep oil on wood panel

Click here for more information or to purchase.

Wow, the garden has been great inspiration this year! These two varieties of tulips have been really interesting as they've matured over the last two weeks. They light ones start out a very peachy color (like peach sorbet) and the darker ones quite the raspberry color. As the days have gone by and turned in to weeks.....each of these colors have changed!  The lighter ones have gone to a bright pink and the darker ones to a deep bluesy burgundy! And the blossoms are nice and BIG!

For my fellow gardening friends, we ordered our tulip bulbs in the fall from Colorblends, they ship them to you when it's the right time to plant them.  We've ordered daffodils, Spanish bluebells, and other tulips as well as these.  They've all been very beautiful, but these 2 colors have been spectacular!

Early Morning Spring Color - SOLD!

8"x6" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

Click here for more information or to purchase.

This Spring the garden has been so incredible. The thousand tulip bulbs we planted last fall have come up in colors of "Peach and raspberry sorbet"!  And the purple-blue blooms of ajuga (or bugleweed) luckily timed out just right to come into full bloom with the tulips!