"Bird on a Wire"

Ended up painting this a little bit more graphic than I usually paint, and had lots of fun. I am very excited to have new followers from Friday Paint Party and new followers by email.  Have a great rest of the week!

8 x 10 inch oil on canvas panel
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Giveaway winner!!

Thinking of and praying for all families who have loved ones who have sacrificed 

their lives for our freedom. 

Hope everyone is having a good day!! My son drew the name for the giveaway this morning and the winner is Julie Haynes, congratulations Julie. You have inspired me so through the words and paintings of your blog,  It's a Colorful Life. I hope everyone will visit and see Julie's beautiful work and her always inspirational words.  It has been so much fun having the giveaway that I want to do it again very soon!

This was a painting I recently won in a drawing from wonderful artist Diana Marshall. Be sure and visit Diana's blogs: Painting the Day Away and Just Animals. Diana's painting looks so beautiful next to this colorful bowl on my countertop. Thanks, Diana!!

"Saturday In the Park"

This was painted from a photo I took in Millennium park in Chicago. We had just had a nice dinner in the park and then it was twilight, that was about six years ago and I still remember the feeling of being in the park that night and the beauty of this garden. I love painting from a photo that has such wonderful memories. I kept singing the Chicago song, Saturday in the Park while painting this hence the title. This weekend will be a busy one in all the city parks - everyone have a wonderful weekend!!

Don't forget this Memorial Day I will have a drawing for one of 3 paintings - see the post below. Hopefully my followers will show up again in the side column by then-must be a blogger glitch. If you have been trying to become a follower and can not, please leave a comment and I will be sure to include you.

6"x 8" oil on canvas panel.
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"Golden Girl"

I took on an 18 x18 panel this week. I must admit I really enjoyed listening to music and moving fast on this one. I am still tweaking some, but I like the loose feeling I finally started achieving with it. I used my palette knife on the background, but it was not what I was wanting- so I used a kleenex to soften edges and blend a little. The Guernsey cow was the first cows on our farm, and they are really sweet cows. This one had the sweetest face, so I knew I had to paint her.

18 x 18 inch oil on Ampersand panel with 1 1/2 inch sides - natural wood.

Children on the Seashore, after Sorolla by Carol DeMumbrum

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Sorolla-
"I hate darkness. Claude Monet once said that painting in general did not have light enough in it. I agree with him. We painters, however, can never reproduce sunlight as it really is. I can only approach the truth of it.”


I always go to a book I purchased in college of Sorolla when I need inspiration, he painted light so well and it was often on little boys in the water, which I left out of this painting. (LOL) Love the mood and emotion in his painting, which I find more and more I am drawn to the more I study his work. Colors, subject matter, brushstrokes, etc. there is so much that bring about a mood when you view a painting. I looked up green to see how it makes us feel - Green symbolizes: life, nature, fertility, well being Green is the color of nature, fertility, life. Grass green is the most restful color. Sorolla used lots of green in this painting, and probably would not be colors I would have chosen, but I love the feeling it evokes. 


6x6 inch oil on canvas panel

"Her Majesty"

6x6 inch oil on canvas panel

SOLD

Another DPW Challenge, this one from Dreama Tolle Perry. I so admire her work and as many artist I am so thankful for her weekly Blog Talk Radio show, on the artists helping artists blog. Dreama along with Leslie Saeta are doing so much to help others by sharing their artistic journey.

Pixel Berry Designs

This week I met another incredibly generous and talented Etsy artisan willing to share her blog with so many other artists. She was so generous in promoting my giveaway. Be sure and visit Pixel Berry Pie Designs to see all of Tarissa's beautiful designs as well as many other Etsy artists. (..:.:.Etsy Shop  .:.:.Blog  .:.:.Facebook  -) Don't forget to follow my blog to be in the drawing (see two posts below for details)

Monte Ulia, San Sebastian, after Sorolla

SOLD

This is the closest I can get to painting plein air with Sorolla. Wow, just studying his paintings makes me really think through each brushstroke and imagine what it must have felt like to stand in the very spot he stood and painted this beautiful area of Spain. Came across this article -5 reasons why a workshop artist is like a Scuba Instructor. (Great article and glimpse into Scott Christensen's studio.)

I was so excited to learn I am the feature artist this week on "Top Artists' Directory" . Be sure and check out Kim's work and the beautiful directory she has designed.

6x6 inch oil on canvas panel.

Summer Painting Giveaway!

The beginning of summer always seems to be on Memorial day when the pools open, school is out and everyone is ready for a little rest and relaxation by the beach. This Memorial day I will be drawing a name for a free painting! These 3 paintings say summer to me- if you win, you get to pick which you would like.

How to get your name in the drawing:

• Sign up for on the top right column of my blog to receive emails as soon as I post.
• Follow my blog.
• Let me know in the comment section, or email me that you would like to receive my new upcoming newsletter. 
• If you are already following or receiving emails you are in the drawing. :)

All 3 are 6x6 inch oil on canvas panel.
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Let us continue to remember those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

Peony Impressionistic Painting

Peony flowers are so beautiful!

This was painted from very realistic artificial flowers, I really wish I had a real bush to paint from. Painting flowers is so much fun because you layer on all the different colors and shapes and when you step back it looks like a flower. Spent the day painting from one of my favorite artists Sorolla, hope to finish and post tomorrow. My favorite way to learn is to copy the masters, it is so relaxing and inspiring.  So glad blogger is back up, I was having withdrawals from my dashboard. 

6x6 inch oil on canvas panel

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"Garden Fresh"

Another great DPW Challenge!

12"x12" oil on gallery wrapped canvas

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Pick a vegetable and paint it from life. Direct painting. Take a break from those photos for now. Not only will this be good practice but healthy too. Really look at your subject, study it closely and you'll see colors and shapes you never noticed before. Have fun with it and when you're finished... eat your subject.

Diane Mannion

Loved seeing the many colors of all the veggies. 

Great fun, ready for dinner with fresh veggies. A little dried out now.:)

Franklin Square

This is the town square of Franklin, Tennessee. It holds lots of memories for me since my mom worked in the courthouse corner office, right across from the statue. This is still a work in progress-I usually see things I want to work on when I post.

11"x14" Oil on linen canvas
Email me if interested.

"Yellowstone Spa Treatment"

Love the geyser pools of Yellowstone, if you have never visited I highly recommend. There are bison all around and lots of photo opps. Realized after we were there that it is not too safe to get too close. Duhh..., my son and I were only a few feet away from one while taking photos. We probably almost became someone's YouTube video.

12"x 4" oil on gallery wrapped canvas

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