Yellow Keeps Watch

 

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Here's one last little single sunflower painting. I tend to go for lots of color, but I liked the subdued palette of this one. Because of it, the sunflower is the clear star.

After Brunch

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One of the very first paintings I ever got super inspired by was a simple still life of some flowers in water in a glass vase by one of my art hero's, Jill Carver. It was all done with just minimal brush strokes, and while nothing was overly-defined, it still read like flowers|water|vase. I wish I could find it to show you. But anyway, I've been inspired ever since.

Finding Solace

 

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I found this cute little potted plant at the grocery store the other day when I wasn't even looking. Those are generally the best finds - when you aren't expecting anything. He pointed out the sunflowers on the way out, and I just knew somehow that they were going to be buds.

Loyal Subjects

 

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Small cups (and vases) are especially loyal to the sunflower queen. Don't ask me why. They give me all kinds of trouble.

Sadly

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Here is one last sunflower before my batch gets tossed. Sunflowers have several great qualities - they don't move or change very much AT ALL, even when you shine a bright light on them (unlike tulips other flowers I won't name). And they last a really long time. Thank you sunflowers.

Quarantined

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I couldn't help myself.

Sunshine Flower

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Even though this current series is about the sunflowers, I am most proud of the green vase and the plate and spoon. Go figure.

Three Amigos

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I heard a quote the other day by Edgar Degas. He said, "Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do." I love it.

Sunflower Sidekicks

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And here's another sunflower study, but with texture added via palette knife. The new stuff is fun, but it requires a lot of thinking in ways I'm not used to. Ugh - my brain hurts!

Sunflowers on a Cloudy Day

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Here's another of my sunflower studies. The pig just snuck in there last minute. Stinker.

Frenemies

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Recently I went looking for some flowers to do a large painting of. I tried the grocery store first but their selection was paltry. And what they did have looked very sad. So my husband suggested we stop by the florist at the bottom of our hill. How novel - a florist!? And what did I find? Happy flowers!! Sure, they were a bit more pricey, but well worth it for me.

I decided to take pictures for the large painting. And so that I fully understand the colors that the photos won't capture, I did several small studies from life, of which this is the first.

Drinking Tea in the Sun

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You can see I'm trying to get the most out of these sunflowers! But they're still holding up. Maybe next year I should grow some myself. Duh.

Sharing the Red Dress

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Here are two more of my spendy sunflowers, along with a red vase from the thrift store. I've painted the vase once before, from above. Glass depends entirely on the little subtle shifts, and most importantly, the highlights! If you over-do/exaggerate any of it, it ceases to look like glass, in my experience.

Too Sexy For My Bottle

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I had to buy a whole bouquet of other flowers just to get some sunflowers. The ones that were just sunflowers were sad and dilapidated. You can picture it, right? Me, shuffling back and forth in front of the flower section trying to make up my mind between the cheap, sad flowers and the perfect pricey ones. Arms crossed. Brow furrowed. I am so cheap. But in the end, art persevered!

Escape From Alcatraz

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Another fabric from Spoonflower, this one stripes. Any votes for a stripe challenge on DPW?

Reaching Right

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One great thing about sunflowers - they are unwavering. I've had these guys for about a week and they are still going strong. For this reason they are probably my favorite still life flower.

Letting Go

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I found this cute vase on a recent trip to Portland. I still can't believe I live 2 hours from Portland, OR. Not that I'd rather live there, but it is pretty cool to visit.

Hipsters

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I love this one! There, I've said it. And I think it mostly has to do with this cool patterned fabric I just got from Spoonflower. To start with I ordered some existing patterns, but my next step is to design my own, which I think is just a brilliant idea on somebody's part.

The workshop I mentioned yesterday is now full but I wanted to mention that the wait lists are very often consulted! Don't hesitate to get on them. In my last class about 3/4 were on the wait list and got in anyway.

Sunny in Blue

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I got this blue vase on Ebay recently. It suddenly occurred to me I could probably find some cool ones there. Duh.

WORKSHOP: April 15-19, 2013 in San Francisco - this is a special workshop, different from what I usually do. We will spend the mornings painting and the afternoons wandering/exploring the city taking photographs of people/buildings/things to paint, with one day of full painting. Someone will be on hand to print out reference photos. Register with the Sedona Arts Center.

Just Ignore Him

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Tonight I am posting a little early because my lovely husband is taking me out on a date! A much needed break for both of us. Toodles!