Tulips
Most of the time, something is before my eyes when I paint; this time it was a figment of my imagination. Tulips, with their cup-like shapes and wonderful colors make attractive bouquets… and paintings also.
Black-eyed Susan
A close look at a field flower on a small canvas… that is the experiment here. The deep yellow oranges of this flower make it a complement to any bouquet. I have seen other painters do well with the black calligraphic line to finish off a work; I was also trying that, but so far, I think, I haven’t mastered an appealing or additional flourish yet. No matter; the next attempt awaits.
Fruits and Flowers
A group of painters, bright morning sun, and this table set up outdoors spurred the brushes into inspired activity. What attracted me the most was the plaid pitcher; it too had a hand painted design. So roll in some fruit and toss in some flowers, add the classic bottle of wine, and you have traditional subject matter in a creative present moment.
Teapot
On a shelf sat a small teapot for two; by painting it on a 4×4″ canvas, it became even tinier. As usual, the hand painted design drew my attention, and so I did a painting of the painting. It is one way to appreciate what another artist does.
Pretty Portulaca
In late August, the garden outside the retreat center was abuzz with bees and hidden activity in the bright light of the sun. The deep yellows and oranges of this favorite edge-plant caught my eye, and their spherical flowers were too tempting to ignore. So I plucked from their abundance and put them in a small glass bottle. The challenge was completing the work before they closed and fell. I fear they were not so happy with me!
