Risky Swinging

8x10 inches

oil on hardboard

I saw this tire swing hanging from a dead branch, in fact half of the tree was rather dead.  My thought was "why would you put a swing there?"  Then I realized it would make a great painting subject!

Lilacs

8x10 inches

oil on hardboard

Magnolia

12x9 inches

oil on canvas

I've been wanting to paint magnolias for several years, but it seems like they either froze and turned brown or were blown down from wind and rain.  This was a good year for magnolias and they lasted a long time.  So I took pics of a tree just down the street and have many "poses" to choose from for future paintings.

French Market

12 x 16 inches

oil on canvas

From Nancy Medina's workshop.

Hydrangea, Pear and Ivy

14x14 inches

oil on canvas

Another painting completed at Nancy Medina's workshop.

Peony

14 x 14 inches

oil on canvas

Completed at the Nancy Medina workshop I attended.

Daisies

8x10 inches

oil on hardboard

Painting flowers with oils to get warmed up for Nancy Medina's workshop next week!

Morning Joe

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on hardboard

It's been a while since I posted.  I have been doing home renovation and moving my "studio" to another area of the house.  Getting back into painting now.  Will post more soon.

Two Still Life's

9 x 12 inches

oil on canvas

These are two of the paintings I completed last week at a workshop with Qiang Huang.

http://qiang-huang.blogspot.com/

He is a fantastic instructor and provides excellent individual feedback.

Looking For a Home

7 x 5 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

Where Did Orange Go?

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

Little orange is hiding from the lemons.

 Red Rose

4 x 6 inches

acrylic on canvas paper

I have always found roses a difficult flower to paint, so I thought I would try small paintings on canvas paper.  The painting above is the most successful.  The best attempts are below.

 1                  2

3                  4

Tulip Practice

5 x 4 inches

acrylic on hardboard

I wanted to try painting the same subject several times and make improvements with each attempt, as well as try to paint faster.

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge Collage

You can see the collages of hundreds of artists who participated in this challenge at 

http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/

Spring Teaser Tulip

7 x 5 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

I stopped at a local florist that has 50% off all flowers on Friday afternoons to find flowers to paint and found some beautiful tulips.  This pink tulip was teasing me as it hung over the edge of the container.  It's nice to have some spring flowers around when snow is in the forecast.

It's day 30 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  I actually did it!!!  It sure made the cold month of January go by quickly and was something to do in the winter rather than hibernate and wait for spring.  

http://www.lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/ 

Pink Lady

7 x 5 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

I saw this very pink Victorian house in Ft Wayne, IN and couldn't resist taking a pic for a painting.

Orange A-Peel

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on hardboard

Greenie

6 x 6 inches
acrylic on hardboard

Red Bell

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on hardboard

The produce was calling to me again while grocery shopping.  Who can resist the rainbow of colors?  This pretty red bell pepper just begged to be painted.

Can I Go Home With You?

7 X 5 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

A friend of mine rescues cats and takes them into her home until she can find a permanent home for them.  This is Sonny, one of her foster cats looking for a home.

Shared Garden

12 x 9 inches

acrylic on canvas

I saw this beautiful garden in the small space between the houses.  I waited for the sun to come from behind a cloud to capture the glow of the red brick house on the white house and the lit up garden.

Will Rogers

8 x 6 inches

acrylic on canvas panel

I loved the colors and interesting architecture in this old theater located in Charleston, IL.  

Double D's Ice Cream

7 x 5 inches

acrylic on canvas board

This giant sized ice cream cone was right at home with the drifted snow.

Chicken and Egg

4 x 6 inches

acrylic on hardboard

This little blue glass chicken figurine seems to be contemplating the size of the egg.

Four Eggs Meeting

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on hardboard

Day 20 in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge on Leslie Saeta's blog.    

http://www.lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/ 

A Little Light Reading

8 x 6 inches

acrylic on canvas panel

Sunflower Trio

7 x 5 inches

acrylic on hardboard

A Sunflower for my Daughter

8 x 6 inches

acrylic on canvas panel

Olivia

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on hardboard

Warrior

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on hardboard

Warrior is the neighbor's cat, who would always invite himself into my house.  Of course, the fact that I fed him and he could find a quiet place to nap was also a reason he visited. 

Day 15 in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge on Leslie Saeta's blog.    

http://www.lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/ 

Mama and Babes

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on hardboard

Green Apple Tea

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on hardboard

I found this orange teapot in a yard sale and just had to buy it for a painting.  

Autumn Trail

8 x 6 inches

acrylic on hardboard

Coffee and Bagels

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on hardboard

Day 11 in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge on Leslie Saeta's blog.  I'm learning a lot and trying out some ideas in smaller form before doing a larger painting.  

http://www.lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/

Abandoned

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

I have driven past this abandoned farmhouse for several years.  It has been left to decay.  It is the farmhouse for the Haunted Barn (posted July 29, 2014).  I snapped the pic for this painting when driving past when the sun was beginning to set.

Three's a Crowd

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on hardboard

Half Cooked

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

Waterlilly 2

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

Cutie and Raspberry Friends

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on hardboard

Clearly Contained

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on canvasboard

Water lilly 1

7 x 5 inches

acrylic on hardboard

Coneflowers

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on hardboard

Day 3 of 30 paintings in 30 days.  

http://www.lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/

Study in Blue

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on hardboard

Pasture Corner

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on hardboard

I stopped to take a pic of the blooming grass and the layers and textures of colors

 in this farm field to paint.

This is day 1 of a 30 paintings in 30 days challenge on Leslie Saeta's blog.  Thought I would give it a try.  http://www.lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/

Christmas Cards

4 x 6 inches

Acrylic on paper