Sweet Scent

Sweet Scent

Today the morning was for painting, the afternoon was for being outdoors.  These Hyacinths have been so enjoyable in the kitchen with their heady aroma that makes me dream of more gorgeous spring days ahead.  My friend and fellow blogger Debbie Taylor has been painting the prettiest florals recently and when I saw her recent Hyacinth painting I just had to try one too. ( Also it gave me an excuse to buy one in bloom, which Bill did for me recently.)

6 x 6 in. oil on panel

January Tulips

January Tulips

Same tulips as yesterday, different pot, lighting, and style of painting.  This one is going to a show in Chapel Hill next week.  

5 x 7 in. oil on archival panel

Summer House

Summer House

This house stays empty all winter and one of the first things that lets you know it is occupied for the summer is the sudden transformation of all the window boxes which someone comes and takes care of one morning in May, just before Memorial Day week-end.  It's fun to see all the instant flowers planted around the house because the workers also do all the flower beds around the house on the same day.

6 x 6 " oil on panel

Pepper Jack And Plums

Pepper Jack And Plums
My friend Teej can sure put together a pretty snack plate!  This is one of those delicious red plums that I painted on Monday along with some cheese and grapes.  We have had a lot of fun this week and I really hate to leave Bald Head .  Below is a picture of me hard at work in my satellite studio.

6 x 6 in. oil on Gessobord

Plum Delicious

Plum Delicious

I am at Bald Head Island painting this week and we just went to the Maritime Market and found luscious plums.  They are the deepest shade of red and are really large.  Tomorrow I will have  a beach painting for you!

The Surprise

The Surprise

It is so great to live with someone who brings home surprises to you for no special reason other than he thinks you would like it.  This orchid was one of those unexpected gifts and I am so happy to have it because all my other orchids I was growing are with me no longer. They all bit the dust.

Thank You, Bill!

Stargazer Lily

Stargazer Lily

These lilies are blooming in the garden right now and they are very fragrant, with wonderful color.  I read something helpful today, just before I cut some to bring into the house.  Pollen sacks, technically known as anthers, should be removed from the blossom filaments as soon as the flower opens. Removing the pollen sacks prevents pollen petal staining of the flowers. It also keeps the pollen from falling on the table and staining the tablecloth. 

I bought these bulbs about ten years ago and they bloom every year and seem to be spreading.  They are very easy to grow.

6 x 6 in. oil on panel

Baby Face

Baby Face

This is what I worked on today and it is not yet finished.  I have some changes I want to make in several areas, most of all I want to show more of a distinction between the tongue and the lower lip and also give the lips a little more of an upturn to show the pretty smile on her face.  I will post it again later when it is finished.

6 x 6 oil on gesso board

Color Mixing Exercise

Color Mixing Exercise

This looks like an abstract painting, doesn't it? Actually, it is a painting of the knitted patchwork blanket that I just finished making for Maggie.  I brought the blanket into my studio, then I tried to match the yarn colors by mixing the colors I saw with oil paints.  It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.  The color I used for the background is an approximation of the wall color in her room. If you would like the knitting directions, e-mail me and I'll send you the link!

6 x 6 in. oil on archival panel

I Love Peaches

I Love Peaches

Here I go bragging about North Carolina again.  We have some of the best peaches grown anywhere. I am so happy to live in one of the best peach growing counties in the state, Moore County. The Sandhills have long been known for great peaches, especially the ones from Auman Peach Orchards in West End, just a short drive from Pinehurst.

There are a couple of places out that way that have great homemade peach ice cream, too.

6 x 6 in. oil on gesso board

Boats In Cassis

Boats In Cassis

I'm not sure what got me started today thinking about these boats and how beautiful they were on the May morning that I snapped some photos of them.  I guess something just triggered thoughts of France and my memories started flowing.  I love painting boats, no matter where they are.

6x6 in. oil on gesso board

Two Cups

Two Cups

This is a study for a larger painting and a taller stack of cups that I have already collected and tried as one of my setups.  I want to experiment a little bit with the arrangement and the final painting will be tall and narrow, probably 12" x  36".

6x6 in. oil on gesso board

Bullfrog In The Fishpond

Bullfrog In The Fish Pond

The high temperature here today was 96 degrees.  I did some yard work early this morning and just before going in the house, I took a look at the pond where we have our koi and there next to the edge sat Mr. Bullfrog.  He looked extremely comfortable in the cool water of the shady pond. I heard him this evening making as much noise as ever.

 6 x 6 in. oil on gessoboard

Flowers On The Porch

Flowers On The Porch

Summer is made for sitting on the porch and enjoying the view and I did plenty of that this week( in addition to painting on the porch.)  Fortunately, the breezes cooperated and I was comfortable even when temperatures rose.

6 x 6 in. oil on panel

Sandwich Fixin's

Sandwich Fixin's

I can already taste those delicious tomato sandwiches that I'm

going to be making all summer!

It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato.

Lewis Grizzard

6x6in. oil painting on panel

Available framed at One Eleven Main, Aberdeen, NC

Ready For Bed

Ready For Bed

I'm talking about these flowers, and maybe me, too.

I just love it  that so many of the containers  bedding plants

are sold in now are as colorful as the flowers. These Petunias need to be

planted soon but they have kind of had to wait in line.  I think it just might be their

turn tomorrow.

6 x 6 in. oil on panel

Upside Down Stack

Upside Down Stack

Bright colors for a bright and wonderful day!

Happy Mother's Day!

6x6 in. oil on panel

Southern Magnolia

Southern Magnolia

Rainy morning turned sunny early so I did get to go out and pick some magnolias.

This is the one I chose to paint and I achieved exactly what I was aiming for by

doing a very quick study and focusing on the shapes and contrasting light and dark areas.

I did not allow myself to think "magnolia" because I aimed to paint what I saw

and not what I expected the flower to be.

Tomorrow I will do another variation of this.

6 x 6 in. oil on museum quality panel

Big Pine Cone

Big Pine Cone

I was doing yard work with Bill and picking up pine cones.

Many had fallen during the storms on Thursday.  I decided to do a painting of one.

I'd never tried this,  but I really had fun doing it.  It was 

beside my easel with a  spotlight on it. What a good lesson in

observation!  I think I will do this again just to challenge

myself.  This pine cone is a full  eight inches long, but skinnier than most.

6 x 6 in. oil on museum quality panel

Tulips

Pink Tulips  SOLD

I don't have tulips in my yard, but found these

bright ones at the market. Looking at this

really makes me feel like Spring has finally arrived!

6 x 6 in. oil on gesso board