Fiery Flair Tulips

 

12"x12" oil on gessobord

For more information, or to purchase, click here. 

I am continuing to will it to be warmer weather up here lately (with these hot colors I've been painting with!).  I think it's working. I actually went outside without a jacket on and didn't freeze! I'm guessing it must have been in the upper 40s? Our own tulips are about 4 or 5 inches out of the ground so far! I'm hoping they'll come up in a beautiful display like they have the last several years! It's such an incredible sight to see! Don't you just love it when Spring really starts to show her face? It'll be time to start digging in the dirt once again! 

Sunny Hunny

6"x6" oil on gessobord, $100

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I hope you've been enjoying the holiday season. I've had the good fortune to enjoy the company of my daughters for a few days! Now that January is just around the corner, I thought I'd share a bright sunflower with you- to brighten up the dark days of winter, and chase away that case of "the Januaries"!

Roses By North Light

12"x12" oil on deep cradled birch wood panel (sides painted, not necessary to frame, but of course you may if you prefer).

Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity. ~John Ruskin



I've learned to not always listen to the weatherman. They predicted it would rain all morning and begin to clear in the afternoon. I awoke to find it perfectly sunny and clear this morning, but I had cut these roses the night before. Of course I was determined to paint them. I had re-arranged a bit of furniture in the studio (which I have pretty much abandoned all summer and painted out-side) so I could have just the right natural light fall on them from my north-facing windows (which allows nice even light in all day). Then by afternoon, there came the pouring rains! Glad I didn't listen to that turned around forecast!

To purchase this painting directly from me, please visit my DailyPainters.com gallery or contact me here.

Gimme Some Sugar

6"x6" oil on archival panel

"Joy is the feeling of grinning on the inside."

- Dr. Melba Colgrove


"Gimme Some Sugar" is the name of this little painting. My southern granny would say this to us as we'd be loading up the car to go home. We couldn't leave without a good-bye kiss. We'd try to stifle a giggle, try not to roll our eyes. Now, my grannies are long gone and I think of that saying every time I see a sugar bowl, like my little blue & white one. Hope the thought makes you smile and think of your Granny, too!

Spring In Your Step

6"x6" oil on archival panel

"Spring is a heart full of hope and a shoe full of rain."

-author unknown


I got my first shoe-full of rain today, leaving the gym. It was monsoon-like weather, except colder, but to me it did feel like Spring is trying its hardest to show up for me. Lots of melt-off happening, fast-running water every where! Maybe just the thought of it has put a spring in my step? Sometimes it doesn't take much....a small cheery bouquet, a bit of hope, the promise of turning that corner at some point.

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Sunny Escape - Lemons & Blue Glass

6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite archival artboard

"The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring."

-Bern Williams

It's good to be back in the studio again! As I was arranging this bowl of lemons, one seemed to be trying to make it's escape (off to the right), so he wouldn't get sliced up like the ones on the left! But the most wonderful thing about posing your models (these lemons) in a strong light, is looking for the wonderful color reflections and the colors in the cast shadows. It's the thing I've really been pursuing in these recent still life set ups! And yes, each painting always makes me look forward to 'the next one'!

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Full Swing Spring

12"x16" oil on linen mounted on museum quality board

"No matter how long the winter, how hard the frost or how deep the snow, nature triumphs. No season is awaited so eagerly or welcomed so warmly as spring."

-Sheila Pickles

I do hope you've missed me over the last few days! I've been in San Diego with my husband (he's here on business travel). When we were packing for this trip rain had been forecast for both days we planned on being here, so I didn't pack the paint gear this time. But I had the most wonderful opportunity to meet up with some dear friends that were a big part of my life when I lived here ten years ago! It was SOOO much fun to catch up - a lot goes on in ten years time...but funny thing, I think only our children have aged! My friends looked GREAT as ever! Those years seemed to fall away pretty quickly & it was like I had only been gone a short time. Thanks Anne & Wendy!!

Before we left CT on Tuesday, I had just finished painting, "Full Swing Spring", a 12"x16" oil on linen mounted on museum quality board. The days are getting a little longer there finally, and we've had a couple of surprisingly warm days (for late winter anyway). I'm looking forward to a 'full swing Spring' and was just thinking how a visit with dear friends is just like a sunny day in Spring! Keeps you smiling - that's for certain!

For more information about this painting, including pricing, framing, etc. contact me at this link.

Slices Of Sunshine

6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite

"It's the artist's business to create sunshine when the sun fails."

- Romain Rolland


I was so hooked on painting orange slices after painting the one I posted yesterday (Sunshine State Of Mind). So of course I had to do a small one, with a few slices & a cup (since I brought my coffee mug into the studio). My coffee grew cold, as once I had placed it 'on stage' I didn't want to move it! "Slices Of Sunshine" is a 6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite archival artboard. You can start every day with a bit of sunshine, no matter what the weather brings!

"What's Cookin'?" Copper Pot & Red Onions

6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite artboard

"After all the trouble you go to, you get about as much actual "food" out of eating an artichoke as you would from licking 30 or 40 postage stamps."

- Miss Piggy

I feel like I've been keeping secret some of the new things I've been working on. These still-life set-ups have been so fun for me this winter. I've been more deliberate than ever about considering what actually gets to be "on-stage", and still considering every nuance of color complements. I've also been working on a variety of sizes, some as small as 6"x6" and going up to 12"x12" so far. If winter lasts really long, who knows, I may go even bigger on some of these!

"What's Cooking" has a favorite little copper pot with three red onions. It's a 6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite archival artboard. I am especially fond of red onions over white onions in most everything I cook. And of course, they had a task waiting for them as soon as I was finished painting! They went into a fine batch of Bermuda Fish Chowder! I hadn't cooked this in a long while, but I had recently found some "Outerbridges Sherry-Pepper sauce" at a specialty cooking store and couldn't wait to make this again! What's going into the soup-pot at your house?

Welcome to my latest new subscribers! I do hope you enjoy the paintings, photos & stories! I always love hearing comments from my readers!!

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $125 USD plus $10 USD s/h
Or, send me an email

Dueling Grannies

6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite archival artboard


"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. Christopher Robin to Pooh"
- A.A. Milne

Today I took up the challenge of my artist friend, Norma Wilson, of painting fruit. Following the pink & green kick I've been on...and the fact that I had a bag of Granny Smith apples in the fridge, the biggest part of the challenge was how to keep this simple, yet interesting! I really like setting up a strong light source for interesting shadow shapes...and the colors are always the most fascinating part to me!

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Price: $125 USD plus $10 USD s/h
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Shoveled a good bit of snow on Tuesday. One of my friends suggested this for quicker snow removal! She suggested just cranking this up & backing out of the driveway would do it pretty quickly! hmm, it just might work! Don't know if I can get one hooked up on my van in time for the next storm though ;-) I do love my brilliant friends, I had the best belly laugh over this!

Roses Of Late Summer, Crystal Vase & North Light

6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite artboard

"Flowers are words which even a baby can understand."
- Arthur C. Coxe

We've had a second round of blooms on our Eden rose. It's putting out some big canes- next year this thing should be quite magnificent! They have a delicate fragrance but a full ruffly bloom head - soo nice to cut & bring in the house.....and paint.

To purchase, please visit my gallery store on DailyPainters.com

I'm going to be starting another commission next- a pair of dogs- Australian shepherds, that are part of a wedding party!! and they are sooo pretty! I'm really looking forward to this! Thanks for following along as this artist's life unfolds!


****For all my Virginia & Maryland friends: I'm headed down to Chincoteague, VA this weekend for Seventh Annual Plein Air Event sponsored by the Chincoteague Cultural Alliance! The artists will be out & about on Chincoteague & Assateaugue Islands painting in the open air. Saturday evening ends with a reception, exhibit and sale of the artists' work. This year the event will move to the spacious Paschal Hall at St. Andrew's Church - 6288 Church Street on. The reception is 6-10pm, Saturday, September 11th. Make your summer last a little longer with a delightful trip out to the Eastern shore this weekend!

**Now....for the big secret, if you haven't learned this about me already- just one of the reasons I LOVE going to Chincoteague is because I grew up as one little 'horse-crazed' girl....and "Misty of Chincoteague" was a favorite story of mine. I'm always surprised when I meet folks who don't know of the story- so here's the wiki article!- this is a classic, and a Newbery medal winner (literature for children). Of course- the other reasons I return each year to paint there are: good food, fun friends, and fine art in a beautiful natural setting! What else could you want?! I hope to see you there!


Welcome to my latest new subscribers! I do hope you enjoy the paintings, photos & stories! I always love hearing comments from my readers!!

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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A New Season (commissioned work) - sold

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

"If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden!"
- Claudia Ghandi

One of my collectors posts the most wonderful quotes on Facebook... this is one she listed that I had not heard before & thought was profoundly beautiful. Thanks Jamie, for sharing these wonderful thoughts! It goes so well with the story I'm about to share!

I had promised at some point I would share the 'big reveal' of a recent commission. This was a very special occasion and meant a lot to me to be able to fulfill this. A dear friend of ours was retiring from the Navy after many years in the Navy's submarine force. He wanted to commission a painting as a gift to his wife (as I well know, when the service member serves, the whole family serves). She is a master gardener and for the longest time the running joke was, "I want to live some where long enough to grow asparagus." (as apparently it takes at least 3 years to get a decent crop of it). As submarine service members, we are usually transferred at the 2 or 3 year point to the next duty station. So....in this painting, he requested a still-life with these 3 elements - red roses for love, an anchor symbolizing the Navy, and of course asparagus- symbolizing the stability from moving they hope to now have! Ohhhh- this would be a challenge to put these three together, but once I had sketched out several ideas, I could easily see what composition would work best. I am so excited to share this picture and story with you...and am honored to be a part of such a wonderful gift for a couple that is very special to our family! "Fair winds and following seas!", and all our best wishes in this 'new season' in their lives!

Today's painting "A New Season", and is an 8"x6" oil on oil-primed linen mounted on museum quality board. It is a commissioned work for dear family friends we are proud to have served with in the US Navy!


Hope you get a chance to get outside and smell the flowers today! ****Tomorrow I hope to show you what I pulled in from my garden! ....woohoo, what a bounteous harvest!! Yeah, gotta love summer!

Welcome to my latest new subscribers! I do hope you enjoy the paintings, photos & stories! I always love hearing comments from my readers!!

Monday Sun & Shadows, Plein Air in the Artist's Garden

10"x8" oil on Belgian linen mounted on museum quality board

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
- Eleanor Roosevelt

It's so good to be back home. As I mentioned in my last blog post, I've been away at a workshop with Camille Przewodek over the last week, down in Easton, MD. I plan on writing a summary of the week for fellow artists that are interested in her work...and explain our link to Monet! Look for that in the next day or so. I'm still playing catch up here at home, trying to make time for both the painting AND the blogging!

When I set up Monday to paint here in my front garden, I thought back to the previous paintings I did there last year. My peegee hydrangea has gotten thicker, but a bad wind storm the other week really was destructive to this poor thing. It broke a couple branches, and the remainder of them seem to sag a bit under the weight of the flowers. The basil I planted is hiding some of the phlox, and is the size of a small shrub! The big blue pot with the purply,reddish grasses is doing well, but I preferred the plantings I had in it last summer. Sooooo- in gearing up for next years flowers (and paintings), I can see I need to start moving some plants, open up some space for other plants (more lavender, too, I've found a great location where it thrives!).

Monday Sun & Shadows, Plein Air in the Artist's Garden

About This Painting:
Catching the front garden in partial sun & shadow, glad to be back home!

Media: oil on Belgian linen mounted on professional artboard
Size: 8 in X 10 in (20.3 cm X 25.4 cm)

How to Purchase:
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Cottage Windowboxes

5"x7" oil on gessoed masonite

"Nothing determines your creative life more than doing it. This is so obvious and fundamental, yet how much energy is wasted on speculation, worry and doubt without the relief of action."
- Ian Roberts, from Creative Authenticity


I know there's a trend here. I've always painted what I love- whether places, people, or things. The gardens I'm most attracted to are little vignettes of cozy places, that feel like home....nothing too stuffy or formal, something you might see from the comfort of your lawn chair....or a sight that invites you in....

These window-boxes are from the shops where I have some of work, "Artisan Framing & Gallery" up in Marlborough, CT. It's such an inviting colonial style/farmhouse looking structure, with a nice front porch! Our plein-air exhibit is up through August, if you haven't had a chance to see it yet!

Well, as I mentioned in a recent post, I'm off to a workshop this coming week. Not sure if I'll have time to post or not. I'm going to study with Camille Przewodek! I've admired her work for so long and can't wait to learn some new color insights from her! I'm so looking forward to this! Hope hubby can fend for himself in the kitchen while I'm gone!

Late Day Sunlight On Coneflowers - SOLD!

7"x5" oil on gessoed masonite archival artboard

"Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are certain times of day when it's fun to see what gets illuminated in the garden. As the light moves around the house from sunup until dusk, it's like a showcase of various points in the garden. Around late afternoon the stems of these coneflowers become lit up, and seeing the colors that come out of this is really fascinating to me! Our childhood brain might say "flowers have green stems" but if you really look at how light hits certain ones, you really have a lot of color in them!

Red Day Lilies

6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite archival artboard

"None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm."
- Henry Thoreau

Well, this quote really gave me cause to grin...and yet give some forethought as to how awful it would be to reach the point of not being enthusiastic about anything! One thing that I'm definitely enthusiastic about is summer- flowers, food, sunshine, heat! all of it! There is just an abundance of wonderful things to catch my eye and paint this summer, my neighbors RED day lilies are just one of them. And another one of those things I notice every morning on my daily walk.

Contact me roxannesteed@gmail.com for more info or to purchase this painting.

Sunny Side Of The Sunflowers

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

"Grab your coat, don't forget your hat
But, leave your worries on the doorstep
Life can be so sweet, just direct your feet
To the sunny side of the street."
- Jimmy McHugh


On my morning walks with my neighbors, we pass by this big display of sunflowers. Right about quarter of eight when we pass by, the side of the house is lit and the front is in shade. It's such a wonderful contrast, and it catches our breath every time....that is on days when we stop talking long enough to look! It is rather funny, there's 3, sometimes 4 of us, (and all gardeners & flower lovers) so when there's some new unusual bloom, conversation stops...oohs & ahhs abound. It's a great way to start the day, a walk with friends, to take in all the sights of the season.

Grey Day, Boats At Inis Mor (Ireland)

5"x7" oil on gessoed masonite archival artboard

"To be happy, drop the words, "if only" and substitute instead the words "next time".
- Smiley Blanton, M.D.


A grey day on Inis Mor, little boats for a big Galway bay. On my travels over in Ireland I was always attracted to the hull shapes of these colorful boats.

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Price: $100 USD plus $10 USD s/h
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A Llittle Elbow Room; Portmagee Summer Sunset

12"x16" oil on linen mounted on museum quality board (Raymar)

"May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live."
- Irish blessing


Still on the armchair travels to Ireland this week! A little elbow room is the expanse of space I feel standing on Valentia Island looking over to Portmagee. Wild skies, and wilder cliffs, long expanses of green, and this view during the late sunsets of summer is so wonderful, a continual color-show until the sun finally sets (realllllly late by the way!). I also took a 'tongue in cheek' elbow room with stepping up to a much bigger palette knife- a trowel actually, and used it in a more painterly fashion - painting with the 'whole arm' rather than just the wrist. What freedom- a more expressive paint handling (reminding me of how Dan McCaw moves paint with a big brush).

Will try to re-photograph this one tomorrow, I find the larger ones difficult to get accurate color.

A Little Elbow Room; Portmagee Summer Sunset

About This Painting:
Media: oil on Belgian linen mounted on professional artboard
Size: 16 in X 12 in (40.6 cm X 30.5 cm)

How to Purchase:
send me an email