Two new flower paintings

Luminous Orchid
22X18

Took some time off from painting because our son Brian came for a short visit last week.  He came from San Antonio on the train.  He enjoyed the experience so much that we may try it when we visit him and his family in June. 

I was working on the painting I posted below when he came.  It is another version of my Endless Rose painting which sells well.  This one is rather large.  After Brian left I finished it and also did the one posted above.  I had done this one before  and gave it as a gift to our grand-daughter Kara who loves all things tropical.  I am entering both paintings along with 8 others in the new SAAG Sheraton Exhibit which starts in April.

I am now ready to paint another peacock that Brian wants me to do for him.  It will be done on a grey background with red and black borders with accents of red in the tail.  I started working on the background today along with the background of the painting I will do when I finish the peacock.  That one will be of dragonflies.  I was inspired by a T-shirt an opposing team member was wearing at the bowling alley on Monday.  It was covered with dragonflies.  I thought that would be a good subject for my critter collection. 

Endless Rose
20X24

Red Reflections and Mustang Blue Saguaro

Red Reflections
18X24

This painting is a commissioned job.  It is a little different than most of my work.  Maybe a little impressionistic.  It is what the buyer requested. She loves bright colors and the room where it will hang features red and amber.  Notice there is no border and no dots also at her request but if you study it close you will find one dot.  Look at my signature and at the bottom of the star burst is a dot.  Since I am known as the "dot lady" I had to sneak one in there somewhere.  I was happy with the way this came out and plan to do another version of it in the future but with a border. 



Mustang Blue Saguaro
18X14

This one combines both a cactus and horses.  I did a similar one in the past and it sold pretty fast to a horse lover.  Since the exhibition next year is featuring cacti and critters I thought it would be a good one to show.  If I sell it before then I will just do another.

Another fun painting

Desert Dwellers
13X13

What can I say?  I have so much fun doing these crazy critter paintings.  I can't believe how fast I got this one done.  I was listening to a very good book on CD and couldn't tear myself away from it so just kept painting and here is the result. ( By-the-way, the name of the book is  Cutting for Stone.)  I guess also that I am motivated by having another exhibition booked even if it is a year away. Since I have a theme for the show I want to get some paintings ready.  Of course if someone wants to buy one now I will sell it and paint another later. 

I have already started my next painting which will be a combination saguaro and animal painting.  I also have someone interested in a commission.  I will talk to her early next week and get started on that one when this new one is finished.

 I usually work on two paintings at once by starting work on the background of a new painting while I am finishing up the current one.  Since I do borders on most paintings it takes a number of steps to complete the background so I get this started before I frame the painting I am working on.  That way I am ready to start the subject matter as soon a I post the photo of the new completed painting.

 Sounds like all I do is paint but I still find time to bowl a couple of times a week and have lunch with friends and help my husband with the design work of his stained glass projects.  We also try to get to the gym to work out a few times a week.  This is what our retirement is like.  What Fun!!

Dragon Painting

Year of the Dragon
14X18

I mentioned in a previous post that I knew what my next painting would be.  This is it.  I had this bamboo frame and since this is the year of the dragon I decided that would be a perfect subject for the frame.  I did a Google search on Chinese dragon paintings and found many examples and all were different.  There didn't seem to be any tradition to follow so  I decided to just do my own thing.  This is what I came up with.  I wanted to get a fierce look on the dragon's face but no matter how I tried he just kept looking flirty so I finally decided to leave him that way.  He looks more like Puff the Magic Dragon then the menacing dragon I had in mind.  Oh well, what you see is what you get. I guess I can't do mean.  Maybe I will do him again in pastel colors and flying in the clouds and title it Puff.  I'll keep that idea in mind for the future.  For now the next painting will be of desert critters which I may show it the exhibition scheduled for next year.

Good News!

Just found out I have been scheduled for an exhibition of my paintings at the Ranch House Gallery at Agua Caliente Park during the month of April 2013.  That gives me a year to prepare.  I think I will title the show "Cacti & Critters".  I will feature my whimsical cactus and animal paintings such as the one below.

A new cactus flower painting

Red Needles and Orange Blooms
9X22

I had a very productive week.  I finished this one today.  I had to refinish the frame and decided to go with a dark stain.  I then looked at my paints and the burnt orange caught my eye.  I painted in the background still not knowing what the subject of the painting would be.  After staring at the canvas I suddenly could see flowers in the shading of the background.  I started sketching and this is what I came up with.  I am not sure if there are any real cacti like this but I claim artistic license in what I created!

I have an idea for my next painting so there will be no staring at a blank canvas looking for inspiration. This will be something different.  Something I have never painted before.  As always, I'll post a photo when it is done.

Church Motto

This painting was done at the request of our oldest grand-daughter.  It is the motto of their church and will hang in the church.  The size is 18X24.  She also wanted a smaller version for her home.  I did one that is 11X14.  You can see it posted below.

For some reason both paintings look the same size here but the first is much larger.

I was able to do both paintings in less than a week because I came down with a cough and did not leave the house for a week.  Since I don't feel bad just sound bad I spent most of the week painting.  In fact I am working on a third painting that will probably be done tomorrow. 

Southwest Heat in a Basket

"Southwest Heat in a Basket"
11 X 14

I did not plan to do a painting a week in 2012 but so far it has worked out that way.  Even with taking a weekend trip I was still able to complete a painting in the past week.

This one is totally new subject matter.  I love this  rustic frame which is another yard sale find.  As I studied the wood I suddenly could visualize a beat up old basket.  The question was what to put in the basket.  Then the idea of chili peppers came to me.  I did a google search and decided on jalapeno, habanero, and fresno red peppers which gave me a mix of red, green and orange.  I had fun doing this painting because it was something different. 

I am starting my next painting today which my oldest grand-daughter asked me to do for her church.