Another finish to 'This Just Made Me Smile'

I spent another hour or so today tweaking this painting. I felt the white flowers (or white, negative space) needed some more work. I also got lost in some line and color work (applied by large watercolor crayons, no less!). Now I feel better calling this completed.
Thanks for sharing comments and opinions on my last post. I found it interesting that a few more of you enjoyed the more representational painting.
I am finding that this looser, feeling-type of style suits my moods anymore. The tighter, photorealistic paintings were a big part of my past, but my paintings lately seem to be filled with a sense of abstract color and large, flowing brushwork.
This painting is now matted, propped in my studio and guess what? It still makes me smile!

Attacking the Leaners

Getting ready for a show that will be up in August. I have all of the paintings that will be hung at the framers, and now I am working on paintings that will be in mattes (in a bin) in the gallery during our show. The past 2 days I have worked on 2 paintings that were started previously. They were filed away (along with ~50 others!) waiting for further inspiration. I have completed these 2 paintings. They are in 2 different styles, representing 2 different periods in my painting life---or 2 different days of the week!

I would like to have your input as to which one you prefer. Don't be shy, it's just 'us' here! Your feedback is both interesting and valuable. Please go to the top of the right hand column here to cast your vote.

The top painting is a more traditional floral (no name yet) and the bottom painting I have titled 'This Just Made Me Smile'. I think you can tell by my title attempts which one I enjoyed the most!

Stylin' Leo

Today was a day that started out hard. It was raining and I was thinking alot about my nephew, Ben. I went out to my studio to finish up a piece for an upcoming show. Then got started on a warm-up exercise that kind of took over my day. I have a series of giraffe sketches and photos that keep coming to mind as I paint. I LOVE giraffes. I have a 12 foot one in my back yard who proudly displays holiday lights every year. Anyway, this guy was started by drawing with a small bottle filled with black gutta as I swayed along to a couple of Jack Johnson CDs. Then I flooded the Aquaboard with water and started painting with watercolor, large brushes and loads of water. A few hours later I was ready to sign this project. It ended up being a good day that was full of warmth, some fun, a few tears and lots of color.

Puccini's Dance

I have been traveling, painting, and painting some more. This was completed a week ago. I picked some hydrangeas (don't tell my husband!) and arranged this still life as an art friend was coming over to paint. I went into this painting thinking "this will be a quick study" and soon liked what was happening, so kept going.

I was happy to finish this study in a couple of sittings (before those gorgeous flowers wilted). This Am I will soften a few hard edges on the teapot and a few other places. I may add a small stroke or two on that paint brush, but I do believe I better stop after that.

My highlight was finishing this to Puccini's Tosca.

Traveling a bit...

I just got back from some wine events and traveling in the wine country in California (well, somebody had to do it!). The day before leaving I needed to get rid of some flowers 0n our table that still had wayyyy to much beauty to just chuck in the garbage. Instead of packing, etc., I headed out to my studio for 'just one sketch' and here is what evolved. Needless to say I fell in love with this gorgeous bouquet and fell a bit behind on my schedule. My goal was to finish this the day after I returned, but a family emergency is taking me to the airport today, so this project will be waiting for me a week or so longer.

I will finish, photograph and enter this when I get home. In the meantime, my goal is to continue to get 'just one more sketch' in daily while I travel.

"Bon Voyage"

Amana Bamboo?

Last weeked I spent in the Amana Colonies studying Sumi-e painting with Karen Kurka Jensen. She has been practicing Chinese brush painting for 20 years and has studied under Susan Frame. Karen was fun, energetic and informative on the issue of Chinese Brush Painting. We painted orchids, bamboo and learned much about Eastern philosophy in art.

This was a study that I thought was so-so, until I did some negative-painting with sumi-e ink. By doing this the highlights in the bamboo just popped. I am happy with this piece; and am thankful to meet and study with another talented artist.

Pondering the Game

Tomorrow I am entering this painting in a juried show in Omaha. The show is centered around an Alice in Wonderland theme and is to be displayed at The Hot Shops Gallery in Omaha.

I have combined several techniques and am quite happy with the results of this process. This is an oil monoprint, with collage and an encaustic coating. I mounted this monoprint on hardwood and then coated the finished piece with beeswax and a damar varnish coating. I then had this framed in a matte-black shadow frame. I love the look! It is contemporary in style, yet the young Alice is a powerful piece. I will try this process again.

I am thankful for themed art shows. They truely are fun to prepare and paint for.