Overwatered

Overwatered, oil on gessoed board, 9x12"

While I was busy working on another painting at Patoka Lake, Indiana a couple weeks ago, I took a break to walk several feet away from the easel.  Looking out at the lake I spotted plants growing in abnormally high water, at least 20 yards from shore. Their distance was due to the ongoing heavy rains the area has had since June. Still, they were surviving, thriving and hardy despite being almost unnoticeable. The yellow and red leaves were a beautiful contrast to the greenish reflection surrounding the top half which dissolved into pristine blue.

Lil' Runaway

Lil' Runaway, oil  on gessobord, 6x6 inches

Beautiful tomatoes that I crave in the winter.  Must be the lack of the sun which equals fresh from the garden during the summer. Before they were eaten they had their portrait painted :-)

Stop Copying Me

Stop Copying Me, oil on gessobord, 5x7 inches

This is part of Leslie Saeta's 30 day challenge. 

I did a quick and fun drawing of one of a bunch of flowers given to me over the Holidays.  I hope to do more flowers, which I continually struggle with, because this was enjoyable.

Hidden Dandalion

Hidden Dandelion, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

I look down a lot when I walk.  I am deep in thought most of the time and looking at people during these times would be a distraction, not anti-social :-) And because I look down just as much as look up (sky high), I see a lot of treasures like this. I would never have thought a dandelion could be found still growing after a freeze, but here she was, all bundled up in her blanket of various wild grasses.   

Waterlilies at night

Waterlilies at Night, oil on canvas, 10x10 inches

The entire time I was painting Waterlilies at Night, I kept muttering sarcastically to myself, "well this is interesting".  I went back to canvas for this one, and for many reasons it slowed me down.  I started out by sketching circles all over the canvas according to the photograph, and it actually made me dizzy! And, as I got more in-depth with the painting, I couldn't figure out if the lilies looked more like green fortune cookies or pac-men :-)

The photo from which I worked had been taken after sunset in a backyard pond. My son won a College Scholarship from the local St. James Art Festival, and the artists were given a nice reception in the backyard of an historic building that houses the foundation offices.  The waterlilies caught my attention as we were walking out, and I snapped a few quick photos.  

Using various tints and shades of the same color does not come easy for me so this subject matter gave me good practice and I have to say, overall it WAS an interesting process.