Capture the last flowers of summer

“Earth laughs in flowers.”

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Enchantment of Forsythia, 24 x 24, oil on linen

After the Snow, 16 x 20, oil on linen

Mums and Merlot, 12 x 9, oil 

Winter Blossoms, 11 x 14, oil on linen

Contemplative, 16 x 20, oil on linen

Peonies and Brass, 16 x 20, oil on linen

Sake and Pokeberrys study

Sake and Pokeberrys study, 5 x 7, oil (click to bid)

Pokeberry weed. Pokeberry wine, pokeberry salad, pokeberry for your arthritus, pokeberry ink, pokeberry all over my white t-shirt from running into it when mowing. Even though a weed, I do have a fondness for this plant. I love to see the resident mockingbird in the top of it eating the berries in the summertime. Somehow, the weed also seems to love me as I have it's purple stains on several items of my clothing.

I like to use things like pokeberry weed in my still life paintings. Things like weeds or other common plants seems to me to be a bit unexpected compared to items included in many paintings. That's what I want in my painting, something unexpected, something that makes it real.

Thanks so much for dropping by.

Forsythia and Bowl study

Forsythia and Bowl study, 5 x 7, oil (click to bid)

The forsythia is in full bloom making a bright spot in my otherwise unkempt winter yard. I always know (feel guilty is more like it) that it is time to get out and do some spring yard work when I see that blazing bush.

It is such an intense, bright, yellow color and I purposely tone the chroma down a bit so as not to overpower the painting. I do that (mute my color) quite a bit when painting. It gives a calmness to a painting that I like. Yellow is a happy color - I got the following from a squidoo.com web site: "Yellow shines with optimism, enlightenment, and happiness. Shades of golden yellow carry the promise of a positive future. Yellow will advance from surrounding colors and instill optimism and energy, as well as spark creative thoughts."

How the color yellow affects us mentally and physically
* Mentally stimulating
* Stimulates the nervous system
* Activates memory
* Encourages communication

Sounds like we all need a bit more yellow in our lives.

I love to paint forsythia. It lends itself to a loose style that I like in still life paintings. I plan on doing a large forsythia painting next week after finishing another project I am currently working on. 

Thanks for your visit - I hope you enjoy!

"Sugar and Cherries"

Click to bid

Still life artist are always on the hunt for objects to use in their still life studies. Some items literally call out to be used. This small sugar server has been one of those objects for a long time.

I always enjoy the challenge of painting white objects. If we look beyond the obvious white of the object, they tend to have a multitude of soft and colorful pastels and greys in them. It is these shades added into the white that really gives life to the objects. The sugar sever has had it's day and is now back in service, beside the coffee pot. Thank you so much for your visit.