Peony Shadow Touches Plate

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Here's another peony from my garden. It looked especially good from above, and I used these blocks of blue (paper) for contrast.

Pick Your Peony Cup

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I took a break from painting people scenes to take advantage of my blooming peonies. I missed some of them, but better late than never.

A while back I did a little color chart to help me understand my pink and red options. I used only the colors I have, and played around with different mixes. Camera's don't pick up the subtle differences between the reds, so they all look the same in the picture. Unfortunately it's the same for reds in my reference photos. That is why I paint from life whenever I can, so that I understand what is missing in the photos.

Dive Into Peonies

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

We had some really lovely peonies this year. Not only do I have a few plants myself, there is a wonderful place in town that has a lovely display every year. I got photos of the ones in town (like this one), and did a few from life of my own (you'll see those soon). They are some of the few flowers you can grow here that the deer don't devour.

Picket Fence Roses

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

When I was teaching my workshop recently in Apex, NC, I wandered some around the neighborhood of the airbnb where I was staying and took a few photos. My goal is always to keep my eyes peeled for anything and everything that appeals to me. It's like a treasure hunt that way. If instead I have my mind set on - old cars - for example, I'll miss other stuff. And I'll be disappointed if I don't find any old cars. This time I found these luscious roses in the morning sun with a white picket fence backdrop. Happy happy.

Sea of Green

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

One more balsamroot painting, even though they are completely done now IRL. We had a very wet spring and all the grass and other plants are extra lush and tall. I love the abundance! Makes for some lovely walks.

Petals Waving

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

One thing that I think is really cool about these Balsamroot flowers (wild here in Montana) - every plant has a unique theme. The petals are big and fat on some, and skinny on others. The middle part is a little bald in the middle (like these), but then full on others. Sometimes there are notches in the ends of the petals, and sometimes not.

Another thing I've always liked, about flowers in general, is the odd petal that sticks out in an unusual direction. Like they're waving hello. These two have one each. Hello.

Nestled Between

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

This is another wild Balsamroot that grows in my area (Missoula). I especially like the leaves on this plant, which provide a lovely backdrop. For every painting I have to edit the leaves a bit because they are never arranged perfectly. I usually try some things on my ipad first - painting over the reference - before I start painting IRL. It's a pretty handy tool.

Quiet Yellow

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I am just home from teaching a workshop in Apex, North Carolina. I had a really wonderful group of students. They listened, asked great questions, and make big leaps. I miss them already. Here they are ->

After the workshop I went to the beach for a couple of days with a friend. I brought my camera just in case I felt inspired, and wow, was I! The people on the beach were just ... well, they were just begging to be painted. The bodies of every type, the water, the reflections - so cool. I took a million photos, completely forgetting to reapply sunscreen. But the sunburn was totally worth all the material I got!

I have some paintings left from before that I will post for now. This one is another Balsamroot flower - wild here in Montana.

Delicate Buds

 

Click Here to Bid - 5x7in. - oil on panel

Here are a few more thimbleberry flowers, just peeking out from the foliage. I adore the light on this one. Very minimal. As soon as these start blooming next month, you can bet I'll be out taking more photos!

I'll be heading off soon to teach a workshop in North Carolina. Unfortunately this means I won't be able to ship paintings or prints until after I get home - June 4th. If you need something fast, please let me know and I'll get my husband to ship it. Otherwise, I apologize for the inconvenience!

Backlit Yellow

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Here's another Balsamroot, a wildflower that is just finishing up around here (Missoula).

I've been inspired lately by Christina Weaver's floral paintings. I think she mostly sets up outside and paints them from life, which is braver than me. But I really admire her style. She's got some great drawings too. Check her out on Instagram.

Thimbleberry Flower

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I've always thought of these as wild roses, but the internet tells me it's a Thimbleberry flower. They aren't blooming yet this year, but I've gotten a lot of pictures in the past. I've seen them on hikes in the Bitterroot Valley, south of Missoula, and I hope to get more pictures soon. They are positively adorable.

Balsamroot

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

For the past 6 years, since we've lived in Montana, I've seen these yellow flowers around and never gotten my act together to go and photograph them before they're done. Until this year! They're called Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), and are abundant if you know where to look. I passed some on the highway and stopped, but they were on such a steep hill I was afraid I would fall. I finally found some very accessible ones about 20 minutes away on a trail called "Sound of Music" (how fitting!).

EBB Tulips

These were the tulips that did me in. Ok, not really, but painting them I think kicked off the dreaded EBB. Or at least, this is what I was painting when it started. I said to my husband, "Should I wipe these?" He said, "No, I like them." I couldn't see it. And that's part of the EBB for me - nothing looks pretty. So here they are for you to decide.

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel - "Five Tulips"

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel - "Four Tulips"

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel - "Two Tulips"

Dainty Daisies

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

NEW ARTBYTE (online tutorial) ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

I've been asked a bunch of times over the years to make a tutorial about painting glass. I started working on it about a year ago and it is finally done! Unfortunately the nerve damage in my neck still makes it difficult to sit for any length of time, so editing the videos is what took so long.

In the ArtByte I talk a lot about the particular challenges of painting glass, and all the tips I've acquired that make it easier. There are 2 demo videos - one of this painting above, and another composition with colored glass. This one >

The cost is $15, and you can find it here: Painting Glass ArtByte.

Gathering

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

This is my example for this month's Daily Paintworks challenge: The Gathering Challenge. You know, since it's the time of year where we get together. The prompt is pretty simple. Please submit your work! You don't have to be a member. : )

Sweet Nothings

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

When I bought these roses I was most attracted to the fact that some were pinkish, and some leaned more peachy. I find those kind of analogous colors incredibly yummy.

Water Lily Buds

 

Click Here to Bid - 8x8in. - oil on panel

Remembering summer with this one, and the trips I took with my kayaking buddy. Already looking forward to next year!

Dive into Pink

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

This summer I went kayaking with a buddy on a little lake in the area. To my delight it was half covered in water lily's, and they were all blooming! At first I was trying to be polite and just enjoy the kayaking with my friend. But eventually I asked if she minded if I took a few pictures with my phone. She said "sure!" and joined me. We found quickly that the trick was to propel yourself into the lily pads, which quickly made it very difficult to paddle, but get yourself right near a flower, without overshooting. It was quite a challenge! But we enjoyed it, and I came away with a few good pictures to paint from. Here's the first one.

Busy Bee

Click Here to Purchase - $300 - 6x12in. - oil on panel

Missoula has a tiny public rose garden. Nothing compared to the great ones I had access to in Eugene and Portland, but at least it's something. Something, anyway, to this very busy bee.

Old Friends

 

Click Here to Purchase - $250 - 8x8in. - oil on panel

Here are two peonies from my garden this year. I cut them when they were first blooming (they were a pretty dark pink) and took a million photos. Then one day I came into my studio and found them looking like this. The colors had changed quite a bit, and they were wide open. It was a whole new look, and I loved it!