Little beauties, S of S 2:2

5x7 linen on panel

Posted on Daily Paintworks

This was a fun painting. The small size allows confidence and a flow of the image to remain as the painting is completed. These day lilies have a big show in my yard for about three months. I felt like saying "thank you" (because I don't have a green thumb) in a painting.

Lily Bunch, 1Kings 7:19

Lily Bunch, 1 K 7:19

12x9 on Raymar linen board 

Listed on DailyPaintworks

Click here to see

These day lilies are happy visitors to my yard. They continue to bloom for months during the summer in San Diego. They remind me of wild flowers. I was inspired by Schmid, a master artist whom I admire.

Mountain Dogwood, 16x20 on linen

I was in the California central coast and caught this beautiful sight of small dogwood blossoms contrasted with the dark bark of this huge tree. It might have been a Monterey Pine. It made me smile and I knew that this would become a painting. Dogwood blossoms are like butterflies and each one has it's own color and shape. I tried not to get too much into the details of each flower, but wanted to paint the liveliness of the group. My mom fell in love with the painting, and so, what mom wants, mom gets! I am thinking of painting the scene but closer up to enjoy the individual blossoms. We will see.

Old Glory

OLD GLORY   7" x 5" 

Premium oil paints on archival, oil primed linen board.

One nation, under God, indivisible, with justice for all. 

As I see American flags flying around San Diego, and especially at this time of year, I am reminded of the pledge of allegiance that I used to say in school with my hand over my heart. I was taught a love of all people of this, my, country, who were united, indivisible, striving for justice for all.

 I still hold to this ideal.

Detail

Available on Daily Paintworks

Butterfly Iris, Isaiah 40:8

Butterfly Iris,  5" x 7"

Oil painting on archival ol primed linen

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of God endures forever.

• Available on Daily Paintworks.

These flowers are popping up all over San Diego They propagate very easily and are very hardy, so I see them around the neighborhood.  I am inspired by their dance like shapes and confidence. Each flower is short lived, but no matter they seem to be a positive influence on me and others.

 

 

Roadrunner Blue 8" x 8"

Matthew 6:26

I was so excited to find a roadrunner in my backyard.  I am now infatuated with the species.  You can expect to see some more of these, sometime...

Bluebird Thoughts 8" x 8"

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

 

 

Shadowbox Heart and Paper

8" x 8"

Yesterday's blog entry applies to this one too. This one goes on auction February 7, 2021.  

see in Daily Paintworks

Shadowbox Sunflower and Paper

8" x 8" Oil on Board

This one looks much better in person. It is difficult to photograph a painting inside of a 2" deep box.  This was a fun interpretation of my sunflower with metalic striped paper.  I like the box for setting up on  a shelf or counter.  I even have some cute little acessories that are cute in the box in front of the painting. This will go on Auction for two weeks starting the 6th of February, then it doubles in price.

see at Daily Paintworks

Lily Pads inspired by Schmid

8x8 in recessed birch box 2" deep

We have a lovely and large lily pond in Balboa Park in San Diego. Lily pads and ponds have been a common subject for painting since Monet.  This version was inspiring from Schmid so I decided to study his which you see here. This would not be considered an original by me, but a fun image to enjoy nonetheless.

I have a few paintings in this box style. It is nice since it sits on furniture or a shelf by itself and no frame necessary. You can get creative and add small accessories inside the box.  I have a tiny vase, and  carved rock animals that look cute. I have also just added special rocks that I find while hiking. 

These boxes do not have the accessories on the back to allow them to hang on the wall, however if you choose to, there are stick-on hangers at hardware store that will work. I also kept the box the natural birch (personal preference) and for those of you that want to paint or finish it to coordinate with your interior, that is available to you. 

For more information, see Daily Paintworks

Dotted Weave Pink, and Beige

24" x 24" streatched canvas

I was playing around with a long forgotten canvas that I had created with orange pink and grey underpainting. I decided that I wanted this underpainting to be remembered and reimagined. I was inspired by Albert Handell to used a dry brushstroke technique to create the dimension of the weave in the dotted paper. The dots were created in different colors to bring attention away from the randomness of the underpaiting. 

See in Daily Paintworks

The beige image is meant to be a companion peice, one of a series of four (I am working on the last two). Since bright colors are not my "thing", I chose a quiet and more subtle image while still utilizing a dry brush teachnique for the paper dimesion and a direct paint for the dots. 

See in Daily Paintworks

North Carolina View, Psalm 72:3

Oil Painting on Linen, 5" x 7"

We had a lovely trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway / Smokey Mountains in October 2019. We hiked up Mount Mitchellthe tallest peak near us. This is such  a popular site that the trail is paved. During the hike down there was a beautiful site through a forest of trees that captured my attention. This painting is how I perceived the view even though there were many more trees. The lighting and the colors beckoned my attention, and especially the small branches without leaves that highlighted the sunlight so gracefully.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/1094514 

I Love Stripes!

After months of viewing this painting. I realized that my original intent was to have a mostly "white" painting did not allow for the painting to be a part of the process. Art is a give and take. This interplay produces the best outcome.

Be flexible, don't cling to your own understanding, let God into all of your daily decisions.

And, trust in Him!

Edited March 2020.

As I see these progress paintings side by side it is clear that the photgraphy of the former was outdoors, and the photograph of the revised painting is indoors. They both don't exhibit the true feeling of the painting. I prefer the original at 3'x3' plus the gold floater frame.

"I Love Stripes"

Psalm 37:4  "Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

36" x 36"

oil on canvas

I can't deny it. Basic geometric shapes...all kinds,

and maybe that is why I paint crumpled paper.

This image is more taupe of a background. It shows as more cool grey when I pull it up on this blog.

I am thinking of looking into polka dots. As other still life artists might mention, sometimes it takes longer to arrange an image you feel is worth painting than painting it. I seem to be slow a both right now.  So, let's see if I an pick up the pace!

Available on Daily Paintworks. After Action the price is $3,500

Small Mouth REVISED ! The artist's Perogative

This piece was hanging around in my studio for over a year when the vision of something better finally became available to me. The upper left corner was too dominant. The centerpiece was weak. I like the movement, the texture, and the unexpectedness of the focal point lacking contrast but more color. Still, it wasn't done yet. It didn't feel right.  I greeted the canvas once more and revealed the balance that I was waiting for. Can you find what was changed? 

"Small Mouth" James 1:26

36" x36" oil on canvas

Antoher thing to notice is about how difficult it is to get accuracy in color with a monitor. The above digital image is more accurate in color. The background has this purple tint.

This latest painting is a nice accomplishment for me since I haven't painted in the past few years. Yay!

It is larger than what I had been doing before. This is 36"x36" and a re-visit to my Paper series.

Striped Metalic Paper Warm and Cool

Warm Striped Paper with Sunflower and Cool Sunflower with Stripes

both are 24" x 48" 

Matthew 6:28  “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

Capistrano Canyon Yelllow

This study I am interested in the subtle way that Edgar Payne uses color and creates distance with such a narrow band of color range. The softness against the geometrical shape of the tree branches contrast so nicely. It is different than his other compositions that are large big shapes. I also have been to this painting spot I think, and I believe that he invented this tree. Good idea!

Capistrano Canyon 5x7"

Available at Daily Paintworks

Eucalyptus Landscape

Another study of Edgar Payne's work. Besides his balance and use of large shapes, I appreciated his use of color in this composition. The tree shadow areas are all the same color so that the foliage is distinctive. The red stroke at the base of the tree is genius! It ties in and balances the red roofs and gives us a rhythm. The brightness and contrast at this area  brings the eye back to the farm. There are so many more elements to this composition.  The design of the trees, trunks, branches, sky and foreground all support the view to the farm beyond. Each and every brush stroke is supportive to the full image and message.

Eucalyptus Landscape 6x6"

Available at Daily Paintworks

Switzerland Village

Switzerland Village is another study of Edgar Payne. The perspective of the village and grand scale of the mountains is gorgeous. All of the mountain and snow shapes point to the church steeple. Available at: ow.ly/Aq9h30hpu6d

Switzerland Village 6x6"

The warm light and cool shadows are consistent. Even the house shade side is of the same color family as the shade of the trees and mountains. This provides unity and clarifies the main focus of the steeple. It also makes the green foreground hold your attention to the village. There are so many (and more) details of support to his focal point, and that is what makes studying his work so much fun for me.

Composition Studies

It is good to be back painting. Since it has been awhile, I decided to study how to strengthen my compositions, and Edgar Payne wrote a book called, "Composition to Outdoor Painting" in 1941 that is a very popular book on the subject. You can find it on Amazon (it is almost 4 times more expensive now than when I bought it five years ago...probably because of this post, right). Amazon link to Edgar Payne's Book

Here are few of my studies that I painted for you to see what I am talking about. Some are available for sale at Daily Paintworks. Link to Southwest Clouds

 Southwest Clouds 6x6"

 Uppermost Crags in the Sierras 6x6" SOLD

Twin Boats 5x7" GIFTED

"Contrast Leaves" oil painting 6x6

"Contrast Leaves"

6" x 6"

Available on auction at Daily Paintworks

More leaves for you.

Ezekiel 47:12 "Fruit tress of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river.Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fall. Every month they shall bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."

Appropriate after C Diff!