Happy

"Happy"
10" x 10"

I was inspired by my gardens today and reminded of a line from "You've Got Mail."  It goes something like:  "aren't daisies the happiest flower?"  I would have to agree.

Daily Paintworks "Old Mill Challenge"

"The Old Mill"
5" x 7"

If you haven't ever visited my website, you wouldn't know that in addition to watercolor I also paint in acrylics, but in an "early American naive" style.  I have always had a love of colonial New England, antiques, early American folk art and more specifically, the murals of Rufus Porter.  I actually have only recently started seriously painting with watercolor.

This week the Daily Paintworks Challenge provided a photograph of an old mill.  I decided to use the photo to inspire a more naive-style painting.  This painting was painted in acrylics, and "aged" (lightly sanded then stained)  It is painted on panel.  It was a good departure from the watercolors - I haven't painted in this style in a while and it's fun.  I actually have a mural I started in this style, in my house that I need to finish.  Perhaps this will get me going on it again.  So much to paint, so little time!  :)

An Overcast Sunday Afternoon

"An Overcast Sunday Afternoon"
6" x 8"

Here's a little sketch I did this morning.  The photograph was taken Easter Sunday at my brother's house. I actually don't think it was overcast that day . . . but my painting looks that way, so why not go with it, eh?  Have a good weekend!

Easter Lemons?

Easter Lemons
7 1/2" x 10 1/2"

I had a lot of trouble photographing this one. I have to say, the original has a much deeper, richer overall tone to it - the cools are more violet and the lemons, a deeper yellow. It's hard to explain. I tried to monkey with the colors in photoshop to get a more accurate depiction, but couldn't. So alas this will have to do. (ugh - it looks so dull - sorry.)

At Easter, my sister-in-law made the most delicious lemon mousse. And these lemons were on her counter. I couldn't resist taking a snapshot. So here's to you, Hallie!!  Thanks for the inspiration.  :)  (Incidentally, you can get the recipe for the mousse here. It's a fantastic summer dessert - in fact I'm planning on making some later today.)

The Watermelon Challenge

Watermelon Reflections
6 1/8" x 7 1/4"

This week's Daily Paintworks Challenge is to paint upside-down (turning your reference photo upside-down that is -- not to paint standing on your head!) . . .  thereby concentrating mostly on shapes and colors. I used to have my students do this at times. It's a way of training your brain to break down what you are seeing into their simplest forms and forgetting what you previously know about what you are seeing.  The photo of the watermelon and bowl was provided by artist, Carol Marine.  This was a really fun challenge!

Happy First Day of Summer!

Bucket and Bowls
6" x 8"

Here's my little painting for the day.  I'm getting my nerve back to finish up the Big Tomatoes.  Yes . . . I'm still thinking about them, although you may have forgotten about them by now.  They're so close to done . . . but because I wasn't able to paint for awhile and had kind of lost my mojo, I didn't want to jump in and mess them all up.  (although that's always a possibility!)  :)

Anyway, I wish you all a Happy First Day of Summer!  It's been a delightful day here in Massachusetts. The following two photos are of some flowers I picked this morning.  Not a lot of blooms here yet, but I work with what I've got . . . Enjoy!

Pomegranate Tea

"Pomegranate Tea"
6" x 6"

Finished this today.  The pattern was fun.  I've given it the title "Pomegranate Tea" because my husband and father thought it was tomato soup!  Ha!  Could be . . . but in reality it is Bigelow's Green Tea with Pomegranate . . . so yummy.  We're having a little thunder storm right now, so I'm going to go and close the windows.  Later!

Just Finished

"Stillness"
6" x 8"

Just finished this.  I think it's actually a little warmer in person, especially the shadows under the chair.  I just couldn't seem to get those right, without changing the overall tone of the entire painting in Photoshop.  Well, I'm off to run errands.  Hasta luego!

Almost done

I worked on this little painting today in between household chores.  It's about 8" x 10" and almost done; I'll finish it tomorrow.  For now, I'm ready to "veg" on the couch with the dog!

All Wrapped Up

6" x 6"

`Just finished this one.  It's a late entry into last week's DPW Challenge.  Better late than never, eh?  Have a great day . . . more painting for me . . . "I'm rolling!"  (That quote is a little nod to an obscure, old episode of "Welcome Back Kotter."  Besides me, brother and uncle, no one else would probably ever recognize it.)  :)

Teetering Wooden Bowls

6" x 6"

Here's a little ditty I worked on today.  I've been building a website for a friend of mine who owns a Primitive style consignment shop in Sturbridge, MA.  She has great stuff . . . antiques along with newer reproduction items.  Anyhoo . . . I took some photos for the shop and so when the DPW Challenge this week was "The Balance Challenge" I thought this photo would fit the bill.  The rough, old finish on the wooden box was a good challenge for me.  Not my strongest piece . . . but good practice and worthwhile all the same.

All in all . . . it feels good to be back.  :)

Rut . . . and a blast from the past

Well, I seem to be in a painting rut.  I did a little bit more on Tomatoes but not enough to post.  I'll just wait to upload it when it's done.  I've been doing a lot of work outside in the yard, that needed to be done:  lots of weeds to pull and gardens to plant and decks to stain.  By the time I'd finish with my chores, I was just too beat to paint.  I can feel I'm getting inspired again . . . have a few paintings in my mind . . . so hopefully next week I will be able to buckle down and get my painting groove on again.  In the meantime, here are a couple of old paintings that I thought I'd post.  They are on my website, but in case you haven't ever meandered over there, here they are.  Also I've thrown in a photo of the little oasis I made outside my studio door.  The tinkling of the water will be delightful to paint to!

My studio door is to the left outside of the frame.

"American Pride"
10" x 11"

"Egg On A Plate" (what an original title!)
23" x 23"

"Peace" of Americana
8" x 10"