Seven UP!

7-UP

6" x 12" 

Stretched Canvas

Finally!  I found some time for paint therapy again.  Life has been busy and very complicated lately and I am so grateful to all of my friends who are bearing with me throughout! Life was much easier when I was a kid, that's for sure.  In keeping with that notion, I borrowed a photograph from a fellow Etsy seller, Pieces of Olde, because it reminded me of summer in the 70s.  If you want the real thing, please visit her at http://www.etsy.com/listing/76843556/vintage-7-up-pop-bottle-soda-70s .  A big thanks for giving me permission to use the photo.  It was fun and fabulous to paint!  I have some touching up to do here and there, but I couldn't wait to get it posted, so I just went ahead and posted the UN-finished product -- heh, heh!

Moody Blues

"Moody Blues"

5" x 7"

Stretched Canvas

I was feeling like I wanted to paint something with a little drama or feeling to it.  I know, I know, a candle doesn't seem very dramatic all by itself, but this candle photo I found on my favorite photos-for-artists site had a mood about it.  I wish I could credit the photographer, but her name was not on the site. At any rate, it wasn't the Zen-like painting session I thought it would be--it was a relatively difficult painting.  Who would have thought something so simple would be so troublesome.  I thought the flame would be the worst part, but trying to show the glow through the actual candle body was a real bear! Hopefully, I managed it well enough.  I think I might be able to evaluate it better after I step away from it for a day or two!

Orange Ya Glad?

 "Orange Ya Glad"

6" x 6" 

Stretched Canvas

This one was fun!  I love using saturated colors like these -- they are so rich and yummy.  It is unusual to see them altogether in one place -- usually there is a dull background highlighted with pops of color.  This one seems to work, though.  The orange looks so juicy you can almost smell it!

Epiphany!

"The Epiphany"

8" x 10"

Artist's Gesso Board

I painted this abstract piece on a day when I was feeling inspired about painting on gesso boards! They have such a wonderfully smooth surface and the paint seems to have a mind of its own when the brush hits the surface. I suppose I could control it more, but then...why? We all have to be so controlled in life -- isn't it nice to let go once in awhile? Try it, and see!

More Birthday Watermelon!

"Watermelon Slice"

6 x 6

Stretched Canvas

Look for me on Etsy soon!

As the birthday nears, I get more and more excited about the "Birthday Melon".  This year, I think I will have candles in mine, as suggested by my friend, Anne (here comes another shameless plug), from Etsy at The Chunky Mermaid.  

But I digress.  No candles in this painting, but still a whole lot of melon.  Try as I might not to be a "blendy" painter I am still at it -- blendy blendy blendy all over the place.  I did try to NOT blend this one to begin with, but it didn't look like much of a melon -- it was just a Christmas-y sort of blobby red-and-green abstract.  *Sigh*  I guess I might have to resign myself to painting like a frou-frou blender drink instead of "straight up".  Hmmm.  I guess birthday drinks might be on my mind, too!!

The First in a List of Things I Will Never Paint Again!

"Popcorn"

4 x 4

Stretched Canvas

I thought it would be a lot of fun to paint a few kernels of popcorn, so yesterday I popped a bagful of Lime & Salt (yum! my favorite!) and threw a few on my table to photograph.  I also used an old movie ticket to complete the vignette.   Fun does not quite describe the experience I had painting these things.  Plus the table was wood, but reflective, so I had to deal with a reflection of each kernel as well as painting the kernel itself.  They say whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, but this just made me frustrated!  At least I scored a bag of popcorn in the process....I should've ordered extra butter, though...I deserve it!! 

Happy Mother's Day!!

"Apples for Sue"

8 x 10

Stretched Canvas

Look for me on Etsy soon!

Okay, it IS a day earlier, but I am going to take a mini-vacation from posting tomorrow to celebrate!  This painting is dedicated to my mother-in-law and my kids' favorite Grammy, Sue.  She loves painted lace, and I did this one with her in mind.  She has an earlier painting of mine of some hydrangeas in a vase with a lace tablecloth that I think it is just about the ugliest painting I have ever seen!  Just goes to show, when you look at something with eyes of love, it always shines!   We love you, Grammy Sue -- Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

BIRTHDAY WATERMELON

"Watermelon Still Life"

8 x 10

Stretched canvas

Look for me on Etsy soon!

Ok, ok, I know -- what do birthdays and watermelon have in common?  Well,  I LOVE watermelon and instead of birthday cake every year on my birthday, I have a watermelon -- even though it isn't usually the best of melons (my birthday is May 29 -- hint, hint) because they aren't technically "in season" yet!

I did use a photo for this, but I bought a little icebox melon to set in front of me for extra added effect.  It was hard to depict how juicy the melon looked.  I will have to practice and maybe do some studies of just melon!  Of course, that will only work out if I don't get distracted and eat my set up!

Cupcake!

"Cupcake"

SOLD

5 x 5

Stretched Canvas

Available on Etsy soon!

This cupcake is a result of a new Facebook friend's comment on the lemon painting.  K.C. said her daughter reached out for the lemons for her tea and maybe she needed some cookies to go with!  I didn't have time to bake cookies, but I ran to the little cupcake shop down the street and came back with this decadent treat.  I added the cherries myself and messed around with the frosting a little to get it right and then, just for kicks and grins, spotlighted the side cherry.  It was fun to paint and even MORE fun to clean up afterwards!  Mmmm-mmmm!  This is why I love painting food items....

When Life Gives You Lemons...

"Lemony Goodness"

5 x 7 

stretched canvas with sides painted

Available on Etsy soon

Well, in this case, I made iced tea.  And when I cut into the lemon for a slice of lemony goodness in my glass, they just looked so....uh...well...yellow...I just had to paint them!  Love yellow -- such a happy color -- it is hard to be a sourpuss looking at yellow, even if it is in the tart form of a lemon!  I am not sure if I am finished with these -- I am going to sleep on it and check it out in the morning!  Oooh!  Plus I figured out how to post these to Facebook AND how to ship a painting from home!  This goes to show that even an old dog CAN learn new code!!  Sorry about the glare on the painting -- photographing at night will do that!