Grand Tulips! (or- Forever Spring!)

 

36"x36"x2.5" contemporary deep profile canvas

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So far, "Forever Spring" is in the lead for 'name this painting' (a poll I was taking on FB & Twitter).  Usually the name of a painting evolves in my head as I'm working on a painting. Sometimes the name comes first and the painting follows. 

Here's how this one began, on a chilly Spring day, when I brought a load of fresh tulips into the studio, and I had this wonderful canvas that I was saving just for a big batch of flowers like this: 

I adjust my lights, and place everything how I'd like it. Then I just sit and look at it, and consider how I'd like these shapes I'm seeing to fit into that large square shaped canvas. I squint down...which helps to eliminate color, so that you can see 'value'- the darkness vs. the lightness of each area of your design & how it relates to each other. As I'm looking at these items, I'm also considering the main colors I want in this composition. I decide that instead of these red delicious apples, they are going to be Granny Smith apples, as I'm thinking I want that particular green.  I've chosen green to be the dominant color in this composition with fuchsia red tulips as my focal point, particularly the one with the bit of orange-yellow on the stem...which is just enough of a contrast against all those blue flowers  for a nice spark. One thing that I've brought into my paintings over the years is the avoidance of 'rendering'. I prefer more of an 'interpretation' so that I might control color and design rather than be slave to what I see in front of me. Arranging a still life to work from has become the 'jumping off point' from which my paintings progress. 

Anyway, once I draw in (with paint) the basic placement of each element in the painting, I being the under-painting. 

I lay in these shapes loosely with thin transparent colors.  Usually with a brush, sometimes with a knife on this layer.  When working large, I set aside large blocks of time, so that I can continue to work wet into wet for as long as possible. As soon as the entire canvas is covered, then I keep the layering going, adding those subsequent layers with a palette knife.

Before I add these final layers, I'll use a rubber squeegee straight edge to break up the edges of hard items in the composition. Building up the layers as I go, I end up with this as my final result:

 If you're a painter, and would like to learn some more of these methods, consider joining in on my "Mentoring Mondays" during the month of March.  I'll talk more about them in detail in the next blog post. I have a limited space in my studio for students, so it's definitely first dibs gets the space!  Right now there is room for YOU! 

Here are some additional closeup details from "Forever Spring" (and yes, to bring this in even closer, press the control button  (on the left) and scroll up!)

Sunny Brunch of Apricots; Cyclamen, Spring Comes Early to New England

12"x12" oil on gessoed masonite archival panel, price is framed & includes FREE shipping/insurance to continental USA. Please email for unframed price.

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Price: $550 USD

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Oh how the first really warm days of Spring make your skin feel electric- and the warmth finally reaches every part of you. This in some sense it how it feels to be truly alive again after winter. Even if your winter wasn't too rough of a winter weather-wise. So even though there's just the beginnings of signs of life in my garden - a bit of green sprouting here and there, it didn't keep me from setting up a still life in my garden. The light has been so strong and brilliant this week! And if the weather keeps it up- I'll keep up this series for a while!

Three's A Crowd

6"x6" oil on archival panel

"Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day."

- W. Earl Hall

I'm finally back home, and have some groceries, had a chance to paint, be overwhelmed by emails, and just in general, feel great to be back in the studio. There's rumors of another round of snow in our near future, so I'm lucky I picked up a nice bouquet of sunflowers & larkspur at the grocery store!

This grouping of apples came from some sketch book ideas - I had been staring at a painting I had done earlier this year of a pair of apples, "Dueling Grannies", and I really loved the color & dynamics between the pair. The color just gave this such dimension, I knew this would be a subject worthy of further exploration. I was in one of those times where "life interrupts" & has other plans, which happened to include some plane & train travel. So I sketched out more ideas for interesting groupings of apples...Funny thing, I kept the focus fairly simple, and the ideas kept coming. Now THAT was a fun way to explore (and for me, use limited time wisely). From these little sketchbook ideas, I still set up the apples, cloth, lighting, etc. (just to make sure my original plan still holds up). It was so nice today to have the thought process already in gear.

Lots of good things coming up; I'm planning a another 12"x12" floral with the flowers I bought today, I've got a wedding commission to start (sketches are already done), and can't wait to paint some more of my fun little apple sketches (exploring color in these have been a great delight!).

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.

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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Weighty Matters, Hydrangeas, Apples & Scale

16"x20" oil on Belgian linen mounted on museum quality board

"I think a painter is happy because he is in harmony with nature as soon as he can express a little of what he sees....."
- Vincent Van Gogh

I am so happy we planted hydrangeas! This is their second summer in our yard, and they are doing really well! We've got two varieties, a peegee hydrangea, with the white puffy heads that are so heavy with blossoms, they are draping magnificently over our picket fence! The other variety is a beautiful purply blue...with some of them going a rather hot-fuschia color depending upon the soil! I was experimenting with changing up my knife technique on this one...and of course studying the way the light falls in my studio window that faces north (seems to be a constant source of delight for me!).

Hope you get a chance to get outside and smell the flowers today!

Weighty Matters, Hydrangeas, Apples & Scale

About This Painting:
As always, intrigued by the north light through my studio window....and so glad we planted lots of hydrangeas!

Media: oil on Belgian linen mounted on professional artboard
Size: 20 in X 16 in (50.8 cm X 40.6 cm)

How to Purchase:
send me an email