Another week, another painting

Desert Oasis
12 X 22

I completed another painting this week.  It is one of my classic desert scenes.  I have  no idea  how many of these I have done.  Each one features mountains and a saguaro and other desert plants.  They are all very colorful.  Although they are the same subject matter each one is different.  I just freehand a drawing on the canvas and choose colors as I paint.  I never know what the finished painting will look like until it is done.  I haven't done one yet that hasn't sold so I guess people like them.  I enjoy painting them!

New Saguaro Painting

Ruffle & Ribbon Saguaro
9X19

Another painting done.  This one is done on a wood panel.  Actually it is a cupboard door that I bought at a yard sale.  I painted it all gold then flyspecked the background.  I decided the color combination of shades of turquoise and ochre would look good with the gold.  I went with a "frilly" pattern of ruffles, lace and ribbons on the saguaro.  I have a vision of this one hanging in a young girls bedroom or maybe a powder room.

I am ready to start another painting but not sure what I will do.  Thinking, thinking....looking for inspiration.  I have a frame picked out and ready, now I just need an idea.  Hmmmm....something will come to me.  I'll post photo when it is done.

Large painting completed

"Red Torch"
20X26

Here is my second painting of 2012.  It is a large version of a red torch cactus.  I have done smaller paintings of this cactus with different color backgrounds.  Every time I paint one it seems to sell fast so I decided to try one in a larger size.  I am thinking of future exhibitions where I will need large paintings.  I like the red background on this one.  It reminds me of fire which goes along with the torch theme. Below is a photo of one of the smaller paintings I did in the past.


This one was 11X14 and was the first painting I sold at the Western National Park exhibit I did a couple of years ago.  Since then I have painted at least 3 more versions and they have all sold.  I don't have any photos of them to show you.  I get so busy that sometimes I don't have time to take a picture of all my paintings. 
For those of you who are new to my blog, the reason I do many versions of the same painting is that I don't do prints.  All my paintings are original.  While the subject matter might be the same, each painting will differ in color and arrangement.  Someday in the future I may consider having prints made of my most popular paintings but for now I will stick to doing original work only.  After having said that I will mention that I do make copies of paintings on greeting cards which I sometimes sell at art festivals.

First painting of 2012

Queen of the Night
16X20

I completed my first painting of the new year.  This is another version of one I did before.  I changed the background color and added more flowers.  Actually the only thing in common with the other painting is the type of cactus.

 I  started background work on two more paintings today.  I am not really sure what the main subject matter will be.  I just played around with some color combinations, one is shades of red and the other is metallic gold.  I will stare at these canvas and something will come to me.  Sometimes my paintings are a surprise to me because I have no idea of what I will be painting until I start paintings.  Other times I get an idea of a subject I want to paint and do research before I ever start the painting.  In either case I have fun with the creation process.  That is why I enjoy this time of year when I am painting for the sake of creating something new and not doing commission work.  There is no pressure just the fun of doing.

Speaking of fun...I had my nails done today and the artist in me came out.  I decided on purple polish.  My birthday is in a few days and I thought why not do something wild and crazy to celebrate.  I guess that shows you how tame my life is when I think purple nails are a daring thing to do.