Blue poppies

Painting in the darks behind the flowers I ran out of steam!

Benny's Landing, 2

A second attempt made in the comfortable, if hot, confines of my studio.
Houses are still too prominent! May do some lifting, under them especially.
Even with the dark undernesth, the houses seem to be floating!
I think I will pull some of the grass color up into them; perhaps that will integrate them better.

plein air group

Last summer a few friends and I started a plein air group; this summer we're folding into a larger group with a greater range.
We met yesterday afternoon at Benny's Landing. Beautiful afternoon.

 

Right off the bat, I messed up the line of houses: it's too big, and the rooflines were mostly at the same height. Also, I began by painting the shadowed side of the houses; should have started with the lighter side, I think--then I might have seen the drawing error and been able to fix it.

Since I wasn't happy with it, I decided to mark corrections on it with a marker, so I could try the scene again.

I changed the roofline, and added more dark shapes along the base of the houses.

When I paint it again, I'll much reduce the prominence of the houses too.

Roadside lilies

Some naturalized lilies-- my favorite flower I think when they're blooming everywhere--I found in an empty lot on a bike ride. I should go back with a shovel and grab a couple!

thinking ahead

 (8x10)

Every year when the holidays roll around I kick myself for not having had cards made: not this year!

Here are the three paintings from this past winter that I've chosen to have printed.

bird of paradise wip

 (11x15)

Inked drawing waiting to be painted.

 

(11x15)

More from class

 

Something different, and fun.

The paper is stained with tea: blot a hot, wet teabag on it till you get the stain you like.

Let dry, then paint.

This is a kind of tea plant.  

The class is 8 Flowers 8 Ways with Val Webb.

geranium

Spent last week enjoying the warm waters of the Gulf with a friend; this week catching up on my work!
This geranium keeps calling to me, and I'm trying to make time--especially since, now that my irises are done, I regret having put them off.

St Pete

In St Pete with a good friend for a few days ...
Here's the view from the hotel!

Crocus

I'm taking another online class with Val Webb. This one is 8 Flowers 8 Ways--eight flowers each done in a different technique.

Iris

I've been doing so much work in my yard, I haven't been making much time to paint.
But my irises are almost done, so I've got to make time!
Starting with this drawing ...

Plein air

Visited Fort Dr Soto, a great state park in St. Pete, Fla. A favorite place of mine.
As I always do, I took a small watercolor set and some 5x7 paper.
It usually goes unused, but this time I actually managed to get the paints wet, which makes up, for me, for any deficiencies in the results!

Daffodils ...

The current challenge at Peintures de Evhi.
A week ago today I adopted three cats. One still runs away every time she sees me, but I'll win her over.

Magnolia

I have a magnolia that blooms beautifully and briefly. I look forward to drawing and painting the undulating flowers every year. But this year a snowstorm killed all my buds--not one bloom.
So I painted this using a couple of the many pictures I've taken in previous years.

Daffodils

I keep trying. For this one, I tried to keep it looser, wetter ... No drawing.
I need to work on varying the greens more.
Next time.

Forsythia

I love today forsythia. What a beautiful yellow, and how it stands out in early spring.
Here are a couple of free hand studies, and a bird feeder I made in pottery class.

Color charts

I was looking for frame for my color charts--eight sheets from one full sheet (22x30). Didn't find one, but did get a poster frame (24x36) ... Which works perfectly if I turn all the 1/8 sheets 90 degrees and add one more sheet.
Now I have to decide what to put on the final sheet. An exploration of grays? A color wheel?
Looking forward to finishing and getting it hung in my art room.

Daffodil wip

I've been going about this one a little more deliberately than usual.
No drawing. I paint a flower, then add another, just working my way down the page.
I had planned to add stems and or a vase, but I may just keep going to the bottom of the page!

Pjms

A few sprigs from my mom's pjm rhododendrons.
She has several varieies of rhodos, all gargantuan. For some reason they just won't grow in my yard.

Daffodils

A few daffodils painted yesterday.
They are holding up pretty well in the returned cold weather, but I think the last snowstorm wrecked my magnolia buds.

Brussels sprouts

Interesting shapes and subtle colors ... A good subject for a little practicing.

Still life in progress

Trying something a little more ambitious; trying to keep these first washes looser and wetter.
I think it needs just a bit more--darks in the daisies and a bit more development of the hydrangeas; some lifting, too, if I can manage it.
(10x10)

Swatches

Every color I have ... Except the one I overlooked: opera!
I think I'll use the last 1/8th sheet for some mixes, then frame it and hang it in my studio.

Daffodils, cont.

Working on more daffodils, and thought this one was going pretty good, but there's something wrong with the paper. This happens now and then...the paper's too absorbent and looks "pilly." Bad sizing? Too much humidity? Quien sabe.

This last one is the no-pencil-line start shown in my previous post.

I wasn't happy withe actual vase, so I

 made one up, but it's not exactly what I hoped for!

Daffodils...

My first attempt at daffodils this year. Three bloomed before it got cold and snowy.

My neighbor, who is a summer resident, has dozens blooming in her yard. As I am every year, I'm terribly tempted to go and take a few! She's not here to enjoy them, I reason, why would she mind? But I can't bring myself to do it, never have.

  (9x14) 

With (left and above) and without (right) pencil.