This is the most breathtaking iris in my gardens.  I named it "Iris Royalty", because it truly deserves the title.

Thank you for taking the time to view my art!

Iris Royalty            o/cb 13.5x18

I have a dozen different varieties of Irises in my gardens.  Some do bloom at different times, but most of them are open right now.  I selected a few different colors and arranged them in a lovely Hull pottery vase from my Grandma.  Grandma gave me the vase years ago because my maiden name was Hull and she thought I should have it! (No relation I'm sure!). I do love the vase though and thought the colors were so harmonious with the rainbow colors of the flowers.
It's been a wonderful long weekend and I've accomplished so much it feels very satisfying.

God bless to all those who have given so much and risked everything to make our country the great land it is to live in.  Have a safe and blessed Memorial Day.

Rainbow Falls          o/cb             13x18

I am privileged to have pieces accepted in both the 84th Annual Regional Competition in Muskegon, as well as the Regional Art Competition in Festival of Grand Rapids!
I received The La Vie de la Rose Flower Essences Award for Floral Depiction for my entry, Red Amaryllis....what an honor!

Bleeding Hearts

Red, White and Blue

Tulips and Delft

Red Amaryllis

Thank you for viewing my art!

I was going for the contrast of delicate and rough in this piece.  I thought the rusty old cup made a nice backdrop for the delicate, lovely roses.  Decided the roses really popped nicely with the darker background.  The pinkish, apricot color of the roses was a challenge....but fun.

Roses on an Old Tin Cup    o/c  8.5x11

A quick study today..the first roses to bloom on my climbing rosebush.

Garden Roses        o/cb   10x7

More Irises....these are a lovely, old fashioned color like bubble gum and old lace. (?) Seems like an odd comparison but that's what I think of when I look at them!  I struggled on the background color..that seems to be a fairly typical issue for me.  I think it would have been better perhaps in a cooler temperature, but I just could not seem to make it go that way!  I did manage to keep the darker values a bit lighter and I think that has helped a lot.
Hope you enjoy this wonderful day!

Rembrandt Irises        o/cb   14x18

A really special day!  The sun was glorious and I got to spend the day painting at a beautiful park with a very beautiful artist friend, Kathleen Putnam.
I'm trying to focus on my value shapes.  It's hard for me.  I have a tendency to want to put many value changes in each shape but have been (with much struggle) trying to create more solid value shapes.  I believe it will create a stronger painting.
I had the wonderful opportunity this week to speak with Dan Beck, an artist whose work I really admire! Dan was so generous with his time and sharing some insights.  Of course applying those insights is not quite so easy!  So I just keep trying............

Johnson Park       14x11    o/c

I always look like such a dork in my plein air photos!  I'm sure it's being caused by some kind of camera lens distortion....:)

Twolips and Hearts

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mother's out there.  There can be no more important job in this world than devoting oneself to raising our children!  May you be blessed this day with much love!

The first Irises bloomed this week in my garden.  I have a variety of different iris', this is an old fashion purple that came from the old family homestead.  It is not as showy as some of the later varieties but it is the first one to open and is always a welcome sight.
This piece is a little larger than the small studies I've been doing.  Eventually it will go up for sale, but I'm holding it now as the beginning of the multiple pieces I will be entering in the ArtPrize event in September.  If you are interested in purchasing this piece, contact me with your name and email and I will let you know prior to it going up for public sale.
The garden's are coming alive....although I do have spring bulbs that bloom, the real show begins with the iris'.  From then on it is just a continuos flow of new and changing colors and textures...I love it!

Spring's First Irises            14x18     o/cb

This week I enjoyed the opportunity to go plein air painting with two talented artist friends.  It was a really enjoyable day.  the weather was a bit windy and cool, but the sun was shining and the flowers were beautiful!
We went to Holland, Michigan and painted the tulips!
I haven't been plein air painting in a long time..it felt good.  I recognize that I shouldn't have placed the windmill right in the center of the composition, but otherwise I'm not dissatisfied about the way it turned out.  The second painting of the day didn't do so well...A close up of some tulips turned out too dark.  I think I was tired from the mornings painting.  That painting got scraped...win some, lose some!

A Little Holland            11x7.5    o/cb

Bundled up..it was colder than the sunny day makes it look!