Finding Your Artistic Voice - Daisy Sunshine

8"x8" oil on gessoed masonite archival panel

"It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent."

- Madeleine Albright

I'm back from a wonderful, though mighty short weekend in Norfolk, VA. I was given the opportunity to present "Finding Your Artistic Voice" and a demo on palette knife painting techniques at London Square Gallery in Norfolk. An enthusiastic group showed up for the demo and talk. Since it was a two hour presentation, I provided a hand-out with information to supplement both these topics as well as a "home-work" assignment! It's an exercise that I found about six years ago, recommended by Kevin Macpherson, which provided a huge breakthrough for me at that time. When I explained the process, I saw heads nodding, wow, yes, that would indeed make a difference! For those in attendance that do try it, I'd love to hear back from you!

One of the fun parts of a demo, is bringing 'the magic' to a blank canvas/empty board.

I'd love to expand this to a full workshop, so that those in attendance will have the opportunity to try their hand at it as well!


I am so grateful to Scott London, of London Square Gallery for hosting this event, and for all those who attended Saturday! Thanks boodles!! If you live in the Hampton Roads area, please stop in to see the eleven new paintings I delivered! They are all part of my 'Sunshine Series' of florals I've been working on the last few months in my anxious wait for Spring to arrive here in New England. They are the pieces that got me through 'bleak winter'. These florals over-flow the boundaries of the canvas with simple, yet beautiful things...which is metaphoric for what I want in my life..the feeling of "good things running over"..... simple but bountiful; full of life, love and light.

London Square Gallery is located at 4410 Colley Ave. in Norfolk, Va. Call for hours: 757-440-0269.

Contact me for more information here.

Afternoon Prelude, Floral

12"x12" oil on gessoed archival panel

“The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.”

- Swedish Proverb


Thursday was windy and chilly, so I stayed in to get caught up with all my framing for the paintings I'm taking down to Norfolk, VA next week. Early Friday morning I went out for some flowers to paint. All the colors they have now that it's Easter week- hehe, they called some of them "Jelly-bean Bouquets", and the colors were just like that! I've set this arrangement up as sort of a tea-break before afternoon- sort of an afternoon 'fortification'. These paintings I've done in this series are a reminder to bring these things into our lives; flowers for the table, a cup of tea, a bit of honey to sweeten, a bit of fruit, and some colorful linens just for the cheer of it. Hope you can make room in your life for some of these things.

To purchase this painting:

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Price: $550 USD
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*****Just a reminder for my Hampton Roads friends; next week I'm headed to Norfolk! Saturday, April 30th I'll be demo-ing palette knife techniques and speaking about "Finding Your Artistic Voice" at London Square Gallery from noon to 2pm. I'd love for you to join us!

Peer Pressure

6"x6" oil on archival panel

"The reward for conformity was that everyone liked you except yourself."

-Rita Mae Brown

My daughters always scold me about laughing at my own jokes. Wednesday morning it was pouring outside, so I set up a still life that I'd been wanting to paint ever since I put the idea into my sketch book umm, maybe a month ago! "Peer Pressure" just reminded me of the things people do when they are egged on by others, whether it's a good idea or not. I had just finished the painting & called my husband in to have a look. So the big guy comes to stand before the painting and the set-up when, kerplunk, the little chunk of orange and spoon go rolling off of the cup. "He did it!" spouts my husband......and how could I help but laugh!

While it's wet;

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Price: $150 USD plus $10 USD s/h
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Since I shared my outdoor set-up with you yesterday, I thought I'd share my current work-space set-up for small paintings.

Chase The Sun

8"x8" oil on archival panel


"A good laugh is sunshine in the house."

-William Makepeace Thackeray


Monday afternoon I came back inside to paint another cheery bouquet. These yellow daisies and purple statice flowers have lasted so long! It's such fun to change the colored cloths around with each arrangement, looking for every subtle color influence, cast shadows, reflections, all interesting to the eye. I chose the name "Chasing The Sun" since I have a feeling we're going to be doing that this week here in coastal Connecticut. The good thing is, all these April showers are going to make for a fabulous May!

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Price: $380 USD
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Bountiful

12"x12" oil on archival panel

"Our ancestors viewed the earth as rich and bountiful, which it is."

-Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama


"Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe endlessly bountiful."

- Mahatma Gandhi


"Take a rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop."

- Ovid, ancient Roman classical poet

"Bountiful" 12"x12" oil on archival panel, framed, $550.
When I went to look up some thoughts on the word 'bountiful', I found it fascinating to come across the quotes of these three.

You bring your 'gifts' to the world each and every day, no matter what your calling is, artist, scientist, attorney, homemaker, engineer, teacher, etc.

You are the 'bountiful' in the lives of others. Wishing you a day filled with beauty.

The Color Of White

6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite artboard

"The purpose of painting is to lift the veil of mystery into consciousness."
- Henry Hensche

I was so jazzed when the challenge was put out by the group of painters, "Daily Paintworks" for 'The Color Of White". Oh- my - gosh- white is like a celebration of color, because it reflects just about everything. Some of my favorite things are white objects in my garden, ie. picket fence, arbor, daisies, peonies, you get the idea. The colors of blooms as well as sunlight and shadow come out in these beautiful objects. This winter I've been painting a fair share of daisies, and just love that turn of color where they fall into shadow...such a simple flower, so much beauty.

I'll try to add a photo here and show you my studio set-up for small still-life paintings. It's a pretty simple rig. A shadow box (made out of a cut down cardboard carton, and various cloths- tablecloths, napkins, anything that might 'set the stage' for the latest characters in my tabletop 'event' as well as a clamp-on shop light to fully illuminate the little 'stage'.

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Price: $150 USD plus $10 USD s/h
Or, send me an email

Sunny Daze-eez

6"x6" oil on archival panel

"It's not true that nice guys finish last. Nice guys are winners before the game even starts."
- Addison Walker

More from the 'Sunshine' series; this 6"x6" oil on archival panel is called "Sunny Daze-eez". I just took a stroll out in the yard with hubby and found that the daffodils are just starting to poke through the ground! Spring really IS on its way.

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Price: $125 USD plus $10 USD s/h
Or, send me an email

Sunshine Preserves - Sold!

8"x8" oil on gessoed masonite artboard

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine." - Anthony J. D'Angelo

Bring your own sunshine...hmm. The thought of canning it up into nice little jars, so you can open the lid and have sunshine any dark day of winter is quite appealing. Of course that's not what the quote intends, we must carry it inside us and then share it - to spread the sunshine! I think I'll be carrying this visual of a little jar of preserves of sunshine, just the thought of it makes me smile all winter long. "Sunshine Preserves" is an 8"x8" oil on gessoed masonite archival artboard. For more information about this painting, including pricing, framing, etc. contact me at this link.



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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!

Orange You Sweet?!

8"x8" oil on gessoed masonite archival artboard

"There is no blue without yellow and without orange."
- Vincent Van Gogh

"Orange You Sweet" is an 8"x8" oil on gessoed masonite artboard. Ol' Vincent sure does have a point, these two colors sure do resonate with each other. Vincent also realized that opposites on the color wheel really vibrate when placed side-by-side. He certainly took advantage of this in his own paintings. I especially loved catching that glow of amber honey reflecting onto to the blue vase. This painting is nice to pair with "Cure For A Case Of the Januaries" that I painted the other day...or they certainly can stand alone. Daisies are so cheery, especially in the dreariest of winter days.

Another cure for a case of the "Januaries"! For more information about this painting, contact me roxannesteed@gmail.com