Sunday, January 19, 2014

Grape Ivy and Roses

Grape Ivy and Roses
oc 14x23

The gray days of Michigan winter drag on....I'm not a "winter hater", but I do get so tired of gray.  I picked up these flowers, trimmed some vine off my grape ivy plant and brought some life to my day!  I hope it brings some life to your day as well.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Picotee and Clementines

Picotee and Clementines
 16x20   oil on canvas

I saw these beautiful frilled picotee roses at the florist and fell in love with them.  I decided to throw some "pizazz" in the mix and try a pink and orange palette.  I wasn't sure how it would work but I really love the colors together!  It's soft and delicate and wild and exuberant all at the same time!



Sunday, January 12, 2014

The Things of Memories

The Things of Memories

I acquired this trait of "tenacity" from my dear, sweet Mother.  She used to drive me crazy in my youth when she would get an idea in her head, she just wouldn't let it go!  Bless her heart, what I wouldn't give to have her here to "drive me crazy" once again.  I see this in myself now and wonder how many times my own children were pushed to the brink of disowning me for my inability to let go of something!  Maybe someday they will look at that trait as I now do with my Mother with great fondness and appreciation.  I do believe it serves me well at times....driving me forward in difficult times.  At other times it can be a curse, causing me to obsess over something, unable to let it go.  In spite of those times I would not change that about myself.  
So what does this have to do with my art you say?  Well, simply put if I'm not satisfied with a painting I can get really caught up in "making it right". ( Or driving myself crazy trying!)
You've not seen any posts from my blog for over a month now.  That is not because I haven't been painting, it is because I have been determined to get this painting to the place I wanted it.  It has changed a lot.  It is now closer to what I envisioned when I started it back around Thanksgiving time.  So finally here is a new post of a sorta' new painting! 
I promise I will be posting more work soon!
31x35   oil

One thing about working on correcting a painting is that you do learn a lot.  It is an opportunity to experiment and a real chance to see just what happens if you "try something else".  Especially if you have photographed the painting in process it really gives you a true before and after.  
Thank you for sharing my art with me!