Nasturtiums {a new small floral painting}

Nasturtiums

{6" x 6" (15.2 x 15.2 cm) – oil on gessoed panel}

Click to purchase

Framed painting: $225.00 + S&H

I am sometimes inspired to explore and experiment with paint handling techniques. I liken it to choosing to drive home by a new route and learning something new about the community I live in, maybe I get to see some beautiful gardens, or learn about a park, or even realize that this new route is better than the way I have always gone before.

For this painting, I decided to try working on a gessoed masonite panel, which has a slippery smooth surface versus the rough “toothy” linen surface I typically favor. Working on this smooth surface was much like trying to spread whipped butter across a glass plate, a challenge but a fun experience because I was able to accomplish a juicy lush paint finish that is not possible when working on linen. So I think trying this again will be a good idea to see how far I can push this technique.

Do you ever mix it up? I hope this inspires you to try something new. Sometimes a change brings about some wonderful results…

{here is the painting framed}

Roses & Wild Blackberries {Bountiful Observations no. 24}

Roses & Wild Blackberries

{8" x 8" (20.3 x 20.3 cm) – oil on canvas panel}

Click to purchase

Framed painting: $400.00 + S&H

Do you like wild blackberries? For me, wild blackberries remind me of summers during my middle school years, harvesting ripe, sticky and sweet berries from wild bushes in the empty lot next to our home. I think of my fingers turning purple from the overripe berries bursting and more berries being eaten than gathered, hoping to have enough to make a blackberry cobbler or maybe some preserves.

The blackberries in this painting were harvested from a little stretch of abandoned land along my morning walk. It was a gift of beauty and remembrances.

I paired the blackberries with more Queen Elizabeth roses from my garden in an atlas e-z seal canning jar, celebrating the abundance this season is already providing.

{14" x 14" (35.6 x 35.6 cm) with frame}

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This is a painting from my Bountiful Observations series, with 25% of the net proceeds of each sale being donated to the American Horticultural Society.

Friday Inspiration: Brilliant Light

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Hello,

I wanted to end the week with these paintings by Abbott Fuller Graves.  The artist was masterful at capturing the quality of brilliant sunlight.  I especially love the above painting with all the hollyhocks and how the light shining through the flower petals creates a dappled effect of intense color and highlight.

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And this second painting with a view of roses in a back garden and a cat perched high on the lean-to shed is magical, I feel like I have been taken away to another time and place.  Somewhere I have never been but at the same time I feel as if it could be my home.

I hope you have a magical weekend filled with sunny vistas and cheerful scenes.

Thank you for stopping by and reading,

Liz

Posy of Flowers {a new small floral painting}

Posy of Flowers in a Spice Jar

{8" x 6" (20.3 x 15.2 cm)) – oil on linen panel}

Click to purchase

Framed painting: $275.00 + S&H

I captured this composition and was enamored by the way each flower had its own distinct form and how the tangle of stems interplayed with the reflections on the glass jar. I love the strong vertical highlights, how the color shifts from a warm white to a cool white all within the same area of white, providing a sense of the outside beyond.

If you get a chance today, stop and observe how the light from a nearby window is reflected in your water glass, see how the light sparkles and plays on the hard surface. Painting is all about the surprise and wonder seen in such moments, captured and conveyed so these instances of insight are not lost but shared and treasured.

One of the joys of being an artist is the opportunity to share the part of me that responds to the world through creativity. My hope is that my work speaks to you as well, encouraging you to absorb the world around you with enthusiasm and inspiration.

This morning my June studio e-newsletter went out into in-boxes across the world. I view these newsletters as an opportunity to give you a sneak peak into the inner workings of my artwork. If you are not a subscriber, please consider signing up here and go and read this month's edition.

Queen Elizabeth Roses {Bountiful Observations no. 23}

Queen Elizabeth Roses

{8" x 8" (20.3 x 20.3 cm) – oil on canvas panel}
Sold

Framed painting: $300.00 + S&H

In celebration of the Diamond Jubilee, this week's Bountiful Observations painting is of a bunch of Queen Elizabeth roses in a pewter mug.

I first got swept into the excitement of the festivities by reading about it on Vicki Archer's blog "French Essence". Then I began to find posts about it all over the blogosphere, one of my favorite posts covering the celebration was by Meg Fielding of Pigtown Design which covered the concert. In her blog post she also included the "Queen's" {aka Elizabeth Windsor} tweets!

Did you get swept up in the celebrations?

{14" x 14" (35.6 x 35.6 cm) with frame}

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This is a painting from my Bountiful Observations series, with 25% of the net proceeds of each sale being donated to the American Horticultural Society.

Friday Inspiration: Beautiful Flowers & Wanderings

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Good Afternoon,

Are you in need of a visual pause?  Want to escape to a different place, just for a minute?  Then take a moment to visit Today's Wanderings, and wander down a path, stop and smell some flowers, or just enjoy a calm afternoon.

Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend,

Liz

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Purple Irises {a new daily painting}

Irises

{8" x 6" (20.3 x 15.2 cm)) – oil on linen panel}

Available for purchase via Online Auction

Unframed painting: $150.00 starting bid + S&H

This painting was completed on a beautiful sunny afternoon, at the end of the day when the light was fading but the golden sheen was still present. I like how the dark purple petals are almost a blue-black in places.

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And I want to give a shout out to Lenny Campello, who I met this weekend at the Meet the Artist's Night at Artomatic, and for the nice review of my still-life paintings on display {scroll down to the heading Best Flower Art} and other artists displaying in this year's Artomatic.

Mixed Bouquet of Flowers {Bountiful Observations no. 22}

Mixed Bouquet

{8" x 8" (20.3 x 20.3 cm) – oil on canvas panel}

SOLD

Framed painting: $300.00 starting bid + S&H

These were from a bouquet I picked up at the Old Town farmer's market. I love the variety of flowers available and it is difficult not walking away with too many flowers. I was disciplined and thoroughly enjoyed having these colorful blooms in my house this week. In fact a few flowers are still holding their own!

{14" x 14" (35.6 x 35.6 cm) with frame}

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This is a painting from my Bountiful Observations series, with 25% of the net proceeds of each sale being donated to the American Horticultural Society.

Back online, just experiencing technical difficulties...

{Shelves in the studio with this year's Mother's Day cards from Naomi and S.}

Hello,

I just wanted to pop in and say hello, and this week's Bountiful Observation painting will be posted later today. Please stay tuned!

{here is my computer saga if you are interested}

Last week was a hard week because my computer totally imploded over the holiday weekend, ie. everything on the hard drive was lost!

Then it took longer than expected to have the computer delivered, so I lost a few days waiting for it to arrive. Most of my files have been able to be recovered because I had been using carbonite to back up my computer, though I have since learned that this sortof covers you but it is not perfect... Because carbonite had a glitch in the restore process and so only a portion of my files made it onto the new computer. My files are now a REAL mess and windows 7 seems to be locking some of my files and I have yet to figure out why as administer to my computer I still do not have the right to unlock them...

Today, marks the fourth day of trying to get my life back into this new computer. I have hit several road bumps, and today I am really feeling them, everything that was routine on my old computer is not on this new one.

I am looking forward to the end of this phase.

See you soon,

Liz