Welcoming Spring

Welcoming Spring, oil on canvas 8 x 10

I loved the combo here, the daffodils, pineapples and pear. It really wasn’t what I intended it to look like but sometimes a painting has to grow on you.... and I know tomorrow is another day... another subject to explore.... 

Below is a quick study a 6 x 6 on gessoboard.

Welcoming Spring

Welcoming Spring 

oil on canvas board 8 x 10 

I loved the combo here, the daffodils, pineapples and pear. It really wasn’t what I intended it to look like but sometimes a painting has to grow on you.... and I know tomorrow is another day... another subject to explore.... Below is a quick study a 6 x 6 on gessoboard.

Brown Bottle, Green Apple and Rose

Brown Bottle, Green Apple and Rose oil on canvas 9 x 12

My husband loves to collect glass bottle and I enjoy painting them. This time the bottle was a delight to paint and so was the apple... the rose, well that was a bit of a challenge. It’s taken me a few hours to decide I like it and not to fiddle around with it, again. Many times when I can’t quite get something to look just so... I pull out my art books or watch a video, look at other artist’s work..... this time I did all three!

Later this evening I watch a painting demo on roses to see if I could get a few tips. The video was from ArtTVClick and the artist was Heidi Moran, here’s a link:

http://artclick.tv/content/modern-masters-dvd-roses-hedi-moran

her technique is very loose and I love the way she dances the brush across the canvas. What she did say that intrigued me was every painting she paints she starts off very enthusiastic to paint and then there’s a point where she she questions herself and final she gets to the stage where she accepts the fact she’s not as in love with it and says (I’m paraphrasing) “I’ve just learned something for the next painting”. I really this philosophy... it’s saying every painting is a stepping stone for the next painting.

And each painting teaches you something .... so the moral of the story is... keep painting and painting and painting.

Canary Melon, Strawberries and Grapes

Canary Melon, Strawberries and Grapes, oil on canvas 8 x 10

Ok so maybe the strawberries are just a little too vibrant... even for me... and I certainly love bright colors. My initial inspiration was to paint the very yellow canary melon I purchased the other day at Stew Leonard’s in Newington, CT. I had never tried canary melon before and oh so curious to see what the insides looked like. We sliced it open to find a very pale interior that was so mildly sweet compared to the cantaloupe we’re use to. Too bad the strawberries stole the show... maybe next time they’ll stay in the refrigerator!

Nectarine Sliced

Nectarine Sliced, oil on Gessoboard 6 x 6

Third painting of the day... just on a roll I guess.

Realizing this nectarine will turn faster than the avocado and apple.

I went to town... no fooling around here... I’m sure that afternoon 

cup of coffee what the just the right jump start to get this peachy thing rolling!

And my husband’s responds: WOW 

Apple Sliced

Apple Sliced, oil on Gessoboard, 6 x 6

Second in today's series of sliced fruit. Oh, the magic of titanium white paint

helped tremendously to keep this apple looking fresh...;)

Avocado Sliced

Avocado Sliced, oil on Gessoboard 6 x 6

After the pink ribbon series I decided this morning to paint something a little less complicated. So I opened the refrigerator and there sitting so lonely on the second shelf down was this softened avocado saying “paint me, paint me”!

After slicing it in half I just knew it would make a wonderful still life... “Kitchen Art” as I’ve been referencing to my work lately. I scurried downstairs to my studio, positioned the two halves on the top shelf, added a spotlight and whahla ...it started to sing to me! 

Not without a few challenges to face - one, under the heat from the lamp the avocado started to decay quicker than I wanted and two, I wasn’t the right height to see the reflection, so, believe it or not.... I found the perfect object to give me just the right step up... my son’s skateboard! Yes, I stood on a skateboard painting this avocado this morning.... ok, you can call me silly!

Art Marketing - Leaping into Spring

Another dual purpose business card/direct marketing postcard.

White Flowers and Pink Ribbon

White Flowers and Pink Ribbon, oil on canvas, 9 x 12

I fell in love with this shiny little vase in the Good Will Store. Among a sea of trinkets, plates, dishes and glasses, this one jumped off the shelf and into my basket. The shiny vase said, “I know, I know, shiny objects are very challenging to paint... but I think you’ll be very pleased when you’re finish.”

So I smiled. Paid for my assortment of cups, plates and this loud mouth shiny one. Returned home.

A few days later, I could hear the whispers from the shelf where my newly purchased props sat.... “use me in your next painting... place those pretty white flowers inside, add a little bit of eucalyptus and wrap that pink ribbon around my shoulders... and I promise to sit perfectly still so you can paint my reflection.”

Talking vases... who knew?

But the reality is.... the pink ribbon is both a common thread through this week’s paintings which symbolize the hope, prayers and thoughts for Hannah as she faces the reality of breast cancer. Stay strong beautiful one!

Lemon Yellow and Pink Ribbon

Lemon Yellow and Pink Ribbon, oil on canvas 9 x 12

Why the combination of lemon, a bowl of sugar and spoon, daisy and pink ribbon? I can’t even answer it myself. I just started arranging these objects that were sitting around and this is what spoke to me... it said “paint me, please”... what a  well- mannered still life, don’t you think?

What I do know is the pink ribbon reminds me of Hannah and as I paint I pray for her and God’s hand of protection on her as she faces her surgery tomorrow.

Pink Flowers and Ribbon

Pink Flowers and Ribbon, oil on canvas 9 x 12

I didn’t even finish “Pink Rose and Ribbon” and the idea of this still life came to me. Painting ribbons are very challenging but putting it into perspective... it’s a piece of cake next to fight breast cancer. This piece is another tribute to Hannah as she faces surgery next week. Thoughts and prayers are with you sweet thing!

Pink Rose and Ribbon oil on canvas 9 x 12 

I painted this in response to an event that happened at our church on Sunday after service when a few of us ladies gathered in a very small room to pray for our dear sister Hannah. Hannah is this lovely, vivacious, sweet, joyful, young woman, mom, daughter, sister, middle school teacher... who was diagnosed with breast cancer just last month. 

Sometimes brushstrokes come easier than words for me. Hannah, you’re in my thoughts and prayers and big hugs.

First Date

First Date oil on canvas 8 x 10

Here’s another painting I was having trouble naming so again I put it out there, title-less on Facebook to see if anyone had a spark of creative word play. And sure enough my friend Karen came back with something so clever and new to me. She called it Margherita which means daisy in italian ( I didn’t know that) and lots of pizza places serve Margherita pizza which is also a type of tomato... wha-la what a great name! So how did I arrive at First Date you say?

My next post in response to Karen’s clever name was...

Linda Santelle Marino The two young tomatoes met at their favorite pizza place, ordered a margherita pie for two. He surprised her with a handful of freshly picked daisies... She smiled and sweetly kisses him on the cheek.

February 29 at 8:37am · Like · 1

and Karen’s response:

Karen Aldo Brown ‎"First Date"

February 29 at 8:42am · Unlike · 1

So there you have it.... “ First Date”