Let's Get the Party Started

This one was so much fun to paint.  The grape tomatoes from the farmer’s market were looking for trouble and happened upon the jalapeno pepper who wanted to start a party.  They huddled together and made a plan, then headed off to find the rest of the team (oh, I mean ingredients).  Guess I better go hide the limes I’m planning to paint!

Salsa Plan

This painting will be added to the Daily Paintworks auction on Sunday 8/11.   

Life is joy you make one moment at a time. . . 

It’s All About Me – How Rad!

Okay, you caught me - tongue in cheek title.  Blushing. . . 

You know I love, love, love radishes -- not sure why, but they are so much fun.  Maybe if you eat your subjects, you can relate to them on a much deeper level.  HA, HA.    I get so excited painting a favorite food, in a favorite quirky saucer / bowl, with vibrant colors and the subtle shadows that I find so irresistible!   Simple is so much fun.  I hope you love it too.  

How Rad!

Have you noticed lately that radishes are now being sold in technicolor-bunches?  Our local stores have them grouped with red, white, purple, magenta and mauve!  I don't know what's up with that, but they all taste differently (and delightfully so - try 'em), not like the German white radishes I grew up with that were long and skinny. . . .    

Intrigued, I painted two of the round white radishes out of the bunch.  Will post that one this weekend.  

Meanwhile, here's the big news, I am putting Garlic Four Ways on auction Saturday 6/22.  There's been a lot of interest and I am buoyed by the recent sale of Lemons Four Ways.  What's not to like???

Lemons Four Ways

Putting this cutie on auction with DPW.  A Carol Marine exercise where you paint the same subject, capturing the change in lighting, background, etc.  I also love the Warholesque factor.  In life, everything changes with position and lighting, wouldn't you agree?  When life hands you lemons, do you see the sweet side, or the sour side?  When life hands me lemons, I make lemonade! 

Lemons Four Ways

Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time.

Pretty in Pink

Painted a few new ones, but not happy with them so far - Looks like I'll have to and call in CPR (Creative Painting Rescue) again!    Also, adding two items to the auction over the weekend (one today and one on Sunday).  This is one I really love and have blogged about before – took a few adjustments to get it to the happy place.  

Pink Roses with Silver Creamer

Blog Experiment & The “Bling”

Trying out a little experiment connecting the blog to Daily Paintworks.  Essentially, it’s a test to see if I understand how things work “behind the scenes.”  Wish me luck. 

The Art Club challenge this month was to paint some Bling – That’s right, jewelry.  This is really hard and I had to over-complicate since I apparently think I have too much time on my hands these days.  So here it is, Bling Four Ways.  These are all actual pendants that I love and wear, especially those given to me as gifts.  I think the reason it is particularly hard, is even in its 3x3 square, the object is larger than real life (by a lot).  For some reason, painting actual size or smaller seems "natural", but painting small to bigger just begs me to go back and ask Alice in Wonderland, "How does that all work again?"  

Bling Four Ways

Oh - before I go, we had a great art club get together at a delightful home in Middleburg VA.  Amazing food and camaraderie.   The table was gorgeous and gifts (handmade pottery by hostess GL) are adorable.  A very talented artist in a variety of media!   As a special event, we all headed over to The National Sporting Library & Museum to see Sir Alfred J. Munnings’ exhibit Out in the Open.  Some wonderful paintings of landscapes, livestock and fox hunting.  It is on display through September 15, 2013 (free).  

Life is joy you make one moment at a time. . . 

Slacking Off

Despite not painting lately, lots accomplished in the last few days.  Helped “hang” the gallery for a local art show – a ton of work, but it turned out rather nicely.  Have not done this before and now have a much greater appreciation for those who make a living at it.   If you have a chance, stop by, DECADEnt 2013 All-Member Art Show, April 5-28 410 S. Maple Ave. Falls Church, VA – I have two paintings in the show (see Alice in Wonderland blogs).  Also ordered custom business cards – yet another “commitment” to my art journey. I'm astounded by the amount of free and nearly-free products available via the web.  Psssst, I’m not supposed to mention my awesome business-card-designer, but he has done an outstanding job once again! Sweet, huh?!!!

Painted my "first to bloom daffodils" today – will post next week. 

Meanwhile, here’s another painting I’m adding to the auction list in the near future.  Garlic four ways, inspired by the colors of spring and a day of incredible natural sunlight.