Yellow Pepper Refined

Cutting to the chase - not sure what happened.  I painted this pepper last January and then decided to fix a few things so changed the status to Not for Sale.  Fixed it and then forgot all about it.  Now I see my number one highest hit rate for painting views is none other than this guy!  So it's time to get the new photo posted, re-blog, re-upload, re-connect, and re-auction the new version.   

Yellow Pepper Refined
click here to bid

Reminds me how much I love the dark background and my peeps at PaintMyPhoto.  A great site, no matter what  your interests may be! Check it out here - free to browse and free to register - a fun bunch to connect up with.

Photo credits go to Lilian Bell here 

Enjoy - life is joy we make one moment at a time.  Let the game begin!

Thank you so much for reading my blog and taking the time to make comments.

Interesting Experiment - Is it Spring Yet?

Welcome to the lab-or-a-tory!  An artist's playground when one doesn't have much time for painting, but a place for experimenting and trying out different things.  I liked this painting so much but thought it too white, too raw, so started trying out my new found glazing technique - loved the process and think the results aren't bad either.  

So here's a before and after -- since it's a painting, only the after exists in the real world.  What I would love to know is which one do you prefer?  

Original Painting

I'm split - loved the first one, but it didn't seem quite right and then fell in love with the second one but seems like it should have lighter colors.  

Glazed Painting and final product
Daffodil Two
click to bid

Oh well. Insiders, let me know what you prefer.  I seem to be falling in love too much and becoming a bit fickle! 

Photo credits go to Nicole B  at PaintMyPhoto for the inspiration. Here's her photo:

thanks for reading my blog,

Red Hot Hibiscus

Okay, before we get started, yesterday moring I woke up to quite a thrill - DailyPaintworks selected my coneflower pic as:

"You're one of our DPW Auction picks!"  

That's a first for me!  Funny how something like that just makes your day!  Now back to business. . . .

Was so tired of winter that I started looking around for anything hot, flowery and reminder of my favorite season - summer.  Found this wonderful hibiscus on PaintMyPhoto.  Compelled me into glazing again and love how the layers and layers of red worked out.  I never noticed before, but hibiscus is kinda strange with the pronounced stamen -- finally, thank goodness for high school science/botany class!  I guess they were right - we need to know this kind of stuff! Ha, ha.   

Red Hot Hibiscus
click here to bid

Kudos to marsha woods photographer

see the pic here

Enjoy,

Johnna

Coneflower Do-Over to Auction

Redid this painting just 'cause I love it. Luscious warm yellow crown, bright green background, springtime pinks, floppy petals, just love the overall look of it. Painting objects that have such great presence in their own right and then painting them a bit larger than life just seems to work really well!   

Coneflower
click here to bid

I will always give credit to other artists that inspire me - they do so much of the "work" with composition, color, contrast - I am indebted to their energy, curiosity and talent!  

Photo courtesy of Barbara A. Novak PaintMyPhoto Coneflower  kudos on a wonderful subject!  great cropping, depth of field - what's not to like!

Enjoy - life is joy we make one moment at a time.  Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  Comments much appreciated. 

It's Springtime, Let's Get Hopping!

It seems no matter what culture or religion, everyone embraces spring!  What's not to like with the earlier dawn, warmer weather, beautiful nature evolving. . . .  All I know is there's a kick in the air and we all want to be a part of it!

Story time - My art club challenge was to paint a bunny (Easter/Spring, you get that right?).  Egads, I don't paint animals - well okay a few, but a soft fluffy bunny?  Yikes! In desperation, started researching photos and discovered the most amazing artist -- Hue Li check it out - the gallery is here, look for the "What's Up" painting.   Adorable.

Honey Bunny
click here to bid

On top of having the most amazing bunny, Hue Li was so generous granting rights to me and providing a wise Chinese saying that I will keep near-and-dear to my heart when painting animals.    To me, it takes a ton of talent to visualize something outside of what you see in a still life or photo.  Kudos for creating such a wonderful, animated painting and letting me paint way outside my box.   I love this guy/gal and will be sorry to see it go, but alas this is what I do now.    

Double down, my challenge to my art club is to paint a humorous, animated subject.  Now I have to pursue more things outside of my comfort zone, but that's what is all about.  Woo hoo. 

Enjoy - life is joy we make one moment at a time.  Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  Comments much appreciated. 

Johnna

Getting Re-Started

Blogging is time consuming and yet another creative challenge, but being committed to it seems to compel me forward.  So part of my "catching up" phase is to start blogging and posting a few paintings each week.  Fingers crossed!  My Dad used to tell me, just start writing anything, and your writing gear will kick in.  I cannot tell you how many times I've written, thanks to my Mom, "The quick brown fox jumps over the fence!"  I guess that was my gateway-drug. . . .  ha, ha. 

Experimentation:  This is a first for painting on a cradled panel, which is something I've wanted to try. Basically, a panel with a ½" wood frame behind it.  Artists I admire use them and I wanted to know why.  The panel has a heavy linen texture that was also an interesting adventure.  I like the way it sits in my favorite floater frames!  The flowers were part of a humongous spray of tulips on Valentine's Day.  Happy Girl!  These two wanted to perform in front of the hot lights and throw some serious shadows around.    Kinda reminded me of hand shadow puppets - always a fun thing to play around with.   I think I will try more of these in the future.

Tulip Shadow Play
click here to bid

Enjoy - life is joy we make one moment at a time. Thanks for checking out my blog.  Bunny on the way - it's Springtime!