The Evolution of a painting

Lilacs and Peonies

The Evolution of a Painting

I did a painting back in June that I thought was done.  It came off the easel and got prepared to frame.  In August I took another look at it and thought.."ugh, this painting has some real issues!".  So it went back on the easel and acquired a new life.  Once again I felt satisfied and off it came from the easel and back in the stack of "waiting to be framed" pieces.   Today I realized it still felt awkward to me and back on the easel it went!  Now some of you may like the first version best, some may like the second version and still others of you may think , "what a hideous painting, why does she bother!" none the less, for me it is a learning process and sometimes it's just necessary to make the journey! 

I thought you might find the steps interesting so I decided to post all three along with a bit of an explanation as to what I saw as I progressed through the changes.  I think I will start from the beginning.....

In June I painted "Peonies, Iris and Lilacs".  I liked the delicate feel of the flowers and wanted to keep the background light to follow through with that sense of delicate lightness.  I tried something different with the little plant stand in the composition.  It's a pretty little plant stand and the flowers seemed to sit just right on it.

Peonies, Iris and Lilacs   17x21

Now in August I realized that the background was too light and had no real interest in it.  The table while an interesting shape felt awkward and distracting to me now, as did the heavily saturated color in the Iris......so, along came part two.......I could no longer call it Peonies, Iris and Lilacs, because well, it no longer had an Iris in it, so it got a new name with it's new life.  Spring Bouquet.

Spring Bouquet    17x21

Well, with time that vase wore on me.  It just wasn't comfortable.  It felt stiff and contrived, so I thought, "just a little tweaking...."  Once I got involved it felt that some other problems existed as well so here it is...life number three.

Lilacs and Peonies   17x21

Is it done?  I think so. But hey, one never knows for sure about these things!

Bucket of Sunflowers

Bucket of Sunflowers

oc   11x14

Bucket of Sunflowers was done on location this summer.  It was a beautiful sunny morning and the sun falling on the sunflowers made them glow.  It was like multiple little "suns" shining.  I kept the painting loose as I wanted to catch the sense of the light rather than an exact rendering of the flowers. A customer came and took a handful of the flowers to buy while I was painting but fortunately it didn't upset the arrangement much. 

Plentiful Harvest

Plentiful Harvest

oil on canvas         16x20

There is something so beautiful about fruit.  The shapes, the colors...of course.  But it goes deeper than that.  I think it reminds us of something so fundamental about survival.  Fruit is the symbol for good health, prosperity and fertility.  Not to forget..it just tastes so good!

I hope you remember and enjoy in your life all the things that fruit symbolizes!

A Home for Red Amaryllis II

A Home for Red Amaryllis II

Red Amaryllis II  oc  20x40

Last night I dropped this painting off at it's new home.  The fit was incredible...the colors were perfect, the size was perfect, even the frame was perfect!  It fit in the clients home as if it was designed for them!  When I commented on it the new owner pulled up his sleeve and showed me the red amaryllis tatoo on his forearm!

  Now that is a very satisfying sale!

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The ArtisTTable Online Juried Event

Art Des Femmes

I'm very pleased that 3 of my stilllife paintings have been accepted to this online competition!

Thank you ArtisTTable!

If you would like to place a vote for your favorite in this competition you can follow the link to the paintings and place your People's Choice Vote there!

The Steam Iron

https://sites.google.com/a/artisttableonline.com/femmes/adf151     

Red Havens

https://sites.google.com/a/artisttableonline.com/femmes/adf150

Astromelias and Phlox

https://sites.google.com/a/artisttableonline.com/femmes/adf149

Thank you Everyone!

Renaissance Peonies

Renaissance Peonies

Renaissance Peonies  oil   18x28

I wanted to try something different with this painting.  I wanted to give it the feeling of the rich, dark, warm tones of the florals painted during the Renaissance period.  I used  transparent "red oxide" combined with glazes to create a luminous warmth to the darks. That also gave the painting more depth.  While I still love the effects of the alla prima (wet-on-wet) style, it does offer a different feel by incorporating the glazes over top the dried layers.

Thank you for viewing my art!

Spring Bouquet

Spring Bouquet

A little out of season here, but I had this painting from earlier in the Spring that still needed some work, so this is what I worked on today.  The flowers may bloom in the Spring but their beauty is timeless.

Spring Bouquet    oc   17x21

October Charm

Wet paint Event in Rockford Michigan

Rogue River Artists

Yesterday's plein air event thankfully ended up being dry.  There had been weather reports of rain for the day all week long, but it didn't happen.  Still it was a cloudy day and the paintings all showed the grey tones of a cloudy fall day.

Several paintings sold as the public wandered in about 3 pm.  There was a nice reception with wine tasting from Red's and food tasting and live music.  Good friends and some great conversation about art and you have a formula for a very pleasant day!

 It was a grey day, but the color in the turning leaves still brought some lovely glow to the scene.

October Charm  oc 8x10  en plein air   SOLD!

Cheery Tomatoes

Cheery Tomatoes

Cheery Tomatoes  oc 6x6

I am gradually getting caught up and back on a routine.  The summer was extremely busy.  I had a great summer....a combination of fun, family, friends, and art....but, I need some structure back in my life for a while!

These happy little fellows are like red and orange dancing balls..I had so much fun painting them!

I hope to be more regular with my blog posts now that the activities are winding down a bit...I look forward to hearing from you!

Expressions in Paint/ Six Women Artists

Expressions in Paint

The reception at Frames Unlimited Gallery was a wonderful time!

The show was hung beautifully, the food was great and the music by the Paschke Trio was sublime!

Everyone had a great time and the turn out was very good! 

Thanks to everyone that helped organize, those that participated, and all the friends and family that took the time to support us!

The Show will be hanging at the Gallery through October 6th....hope you get a chance to check it out!

Frames Unlimited Gallery

Frames Unlimited - Kentwood

Southridge Center - 2964 28th St. SE
Kentwood, MI  49512 (South side of 28th street just west of Woodland Mall); Ph: 616-942-0091; Hours: Mon - Fri: 10 am to 9 pm, Sat 10 am to 6 pm, Sundays: 12 am to 5 pm

NOAPS Best of America

NOAPS Best of America

So pleased to announce that my painting has been accepted to the

 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society "Best of America" exhibit!

The Marble Jar   19x25  oil on canvas

NOAPS Best of America

2013 National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society Annual Juried Art Exhibition

Best of America

Since 1991, the National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society (NOAPS) has been showcasing the remarkable talents of thousands of oil and acrylic painters.  NOAPS along with the Dunnegan Gallery of Fine Art and The Vine Gallery invite oil and acrylic painters to submit original work for the Best of America 2013 Exhibition.

October 13-27, 2013--- Dunnegan Gallery of Fine Art, Bolivar, MO

November 2-20,2013---------------- The Vine Wine Bar and Gallery,

Osage Beach/Lake of the Ozarks, Mo

thank you NOAPS!