A Daily Painting: 8" x 10" Daisy Field No. 2

For the last couple of days, I have been busy with a few new projects. I thought that it was time for me to share at least one of these.

I had previously entertained the idea of painting another view of the daisy field - a smaller, more detailed version of my larger "Daisy Field" painting, posted earlier this week. This 8" x 10" painting was finished yesterday. The paint is acrylic, quite heavy in some places, providing a textured look to the flowers.

Also, I began work on another acrylic painting this week: a marina scene inspired by my recent travels to the Gulf coast. I am pleased (so far) with the way that this one is progressing. I hope to post it this weekend, along with another forest landscape from Wednesday.

Again, thanks for your interest!

Wednesday's Thoughts

Thanks, folks! I appreciate everyone who is looking at this blog, especially those who have chosen to "follow" my progress as a painter.

Yesterday I entered an art contest for the very first time in quite a while. I had been thinking about it for several weeks, as this gallery's website is one that I frequently visit, and from which I often draw inspiration and artistic energy.

I believe that the goals of the painters belonging to this gallery are well aligned with my own, as they strive...just as I do...to continually improve and inspire, posting new art each and every day, sharing with the world.

I will keep you updated as to the progress of this art contest, as entries move from one level to the next, either progressing or being eliminated. I am excited about the possibility of joining this talented group of artists, and I am really looking forward to the results.

Please stay tuned...

Pears with Dark Border

16" x 20"

Acrylic

Here is one of the few still life paintings that I have recently completed, as my concentration has been more on landscape and plein air creations lately. This was a commissioned small acrylic painting in which I chose to use large, loose brushstrokes. The idea was to show contrasting colors as well as texture. I added the 4 inch dark burgundy-esque boarder last, after much consideration, because I thought it "grounded" the subject and helped to tie the color palette together. This was a fun, new effort working with an old, popular subject matter! I think I will try some more of these on even smaller stretched canvases.

Daisy Field

16" x 20"

Acrylic

Happy Monday to all!

As promised, I completed "Daisy Field" this weekend. I am thinking about doing a smaller "detail" painting of these cheerful flowers, using thick acrylic paint.

It has been a challenge, though, to keep the yellow centers off my boxer's nose. Lucy loves to sniff flowers...buttercups are the worst...and daisies are no exception. And each time she sniffs flowers, a gigantic "projectile" sneeze follows. Why doesn't she ever learn?

Back to the painting: I enjoyed the loose style and contrasting colors. I may try this again, using a palette knife instead of brushes. This would keep the color fresh and the painting really loose. H'mm...maybe tomorrow...

This Weekend: Daisies, Daisies, Daisies!

This weekend I shall be completing a painting that I am calling "Daisy Field". I began this painting last night, from a photograph, and decided that I needed to do a little paint layering. Of course, this means that I need to let this first layer dry before continuing. Therefore, I probably will not post it till Monday. (We'll see). I do like the contrasts that I am using, though, of the lightly colored petals against the dark green background. I am still a prude when it comes to posting "paintings in progress", so I will await the posting until I feel that it is "finished". Have a good weekend!

Another Cactus Painting

Detail from
"A Desert Family"

16" x 20"
Acrylic

I decided to try something a little different from the norm. I was scanning through old desert photographs when I discovered a number of close-up pictures of several different cacti. I was particularly inspired by prickly pears, Joshua trees, and Sedona plants. I researched them a bit,to become more familiar with their structure.

My goal was to create a painting that was loose and colorful, with perhaps a lot of contrast to give it a playful look. My studies led me to paint several different venues. Two of these I have already posted on this blog, including "Prickly Pears" and "Cactus Mountain". I am posting here a close-up of a third painting featuring several cacti highlighted with multi-colors. I really did not add a lot of detail to this one, keeping it very loose. It was fun to create. In fact, I plan to create another one as soon as possible, a larger perspective painting, featuring the incredible Joshua trees.

Painting Wildflowers under Cloudy Skies

I typically choose to paint bright, sun-drenched plein air venues; however, I decided that I wanted to use lots of blues and purples for a change. Combining these thoughts with my love of wildflowers, I began this painting with the purplish-blue background in different cool shades of acrylic. Greens came next, as I blocked in the naturally growing wildflowers from a close-up perspective in this extraordinarily colorful field.

Eventually, I did add a few golden colors to warm it up a bit, but I wanted the overall effect to be inspired from a primarily cool palette.

Wildflowers under Cloudy Skies

24" x 30"
Acrylic

I really like the way purple and green work together. I think that I shall try more challenges in this color scheme, with energetic brushstrokes to enhance the "loose-ness" of style.

This painting actually took 2 days to complete, as I had to allow some drying before finishing the details of the flowers to circumvent that yucky "muddy" effect.

Again, thanks for looking!

Reflecting on my Reflections...

Large Tree with Red Border

30" x 36"
Acrylic


Well, I admit that I got a little long winded yesterday on this blogspot. But I have an excuse... I had a particularly productive weekend painting, and I was in a reflective mood, thinking about how I came to the conclusion that painting every day is a "good fit" for me. I am also discovering that this process has made me more color-conscious, and my brushstrokes more purposeful and deliberate. (That has to mean that I am evolving...doesn't it?) Anyway, here is a new one for you to view. Comments are welcome, as always.

Another Daily Painter is Born!

Fall Foliage

8" x 10"
Acrylic

I am really excited about my newest painting challenge. I have decided that daily painting is both enjoyable and helpful to me! For some months now, I have been painting daily; however, my paintings have typically been reasonably large canvases.It was quite difficult to complete such a painting in a single day, much less a single sitting.

I have always considered anything under the dimensions of 24" x 30" to be "small". In fact, I just couldn't imagine forcing my art - particularly my landscapes - into an 8" x 10". It seemed to me rather like forcing a square peg into a round hole. But, then I decided to try a "painting a day" challenge.

I felt like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs...nervous and tentative, I thought that I would first attempt a very simple still life acrylic painting on a 10" x 12" stretched canvas...H'mmm, let's get these green apples rendered correctly...are the shadows right??? Bold color is needed over here...that's looking pretty good...Hey, what's going on here? This is actually fun! And I am not limited creatively, as I thought I would be. I can choose the level of detail that I want. Wow!!! This is also challenging...I can complete impressionist images, quick and loose, or detailed images in this smaller format. WHY DIDN'T I TRY THIS BEFORE? (H'mmm... "there is nothing to fear , but fear itself").

Apples led to more apples. Then I decided to try a smaller carousel horse painting. Can I really complete a whole painting in a 6" x 6" space? That just seems so impossible! Take a deep breath. Is my paint ready? Brushes ready? Okay, now, breathe in and out, in and out. (So far, so good.)

H'mmm... I think this landscape is developing nicely. A few more highlights here and there. Oh, my goodness! I have completed a painting in a 6" x 6" space. And it is colorful, fun, and creative! I AM AMAZED! I can actually do this.

To make a long story short (oops - too late for that), another "Daily Painter" has been born! And I absolutely love this new challenge. It is so new to me that it has refreshed my art and my attitude toward the creative process. For weeks now, I have been completing daily paintings - many of them small 6" x 6" or 10" x 12" - but I still find time for my larger "sweeping landscapes".

I am so glad that I started doing this. I really want to share this journey with others, developing as a contemporary artist who truly loves the challenge,the profession, and the gift of life!

Path Through Aspen Forest

Happy Monday, once more! A friend asked that I post one of my large landscape paintings,"Path Through Aspen Forest" on my blog in a different format because she was having difficulty viewing the small picture in the previous webpost, and she thought that might be the case for others. I downloaded it this time as a large JPEG. I believe the clarity is improved. Here it is below. Hope you enjoy. I had a lot of fun creating this colorful one!

Colorful Forest Landscape

Landscape paintings are probably my favorite. Perhaps that is because I like to give myself a lot of leeway for artistic interpretation when I seek to record a sprawling natural landscape. My landscape art tends to go through many evolutions within a single setting. For me, this evolution process is the most enjoyable part. I don't simply want to mimic photography - I want to incorporate my own personal perspective - and create something that is really new.

Recently I completed this large and colorful acrylic painting. I use the term "completed" very loosely here, because I have not decided whether it actually "feels" finished. I will think about it for a few days while I work on some more smaller "daily" paintings.