A Rose for Valentine's

This is my entry for this week's Daily Paintworks challenge.  Qiang Huang challenged everyone to paint a rose, and there are so many great entries.  If you haven't had a chance to visit the DPW site, please do.  The site features some of my favorite artists, and the challenge pages are interesting, too.

Sunday Afternoon Apple

Practice.  Practice.  Practice.  I'm still trying to get a feel for painting with oils.  And photographing them.  On a positive note, I am learning something new each day.  And as Winston Churchill said, "Never, never, never, never give up."

Have a great Sunday! 

Pear Pressure



My digital camera adds too much yellow.  I tried to correct this image, and although it is better, it's still too yellow.  I apologize in advance to you.  And to your retinas. 

After a week of below freezing temps, our weather today is gorgeous.  I'm off to enjoy the sunshine.  Have a great Saturday, everyone!

Sunlight

I worked from a photograph today.  I was attracted to the panes of glass and the white trim.  The shadows in the photograph were so flat and dark.  I really struggled with them, but this was a fun piece to paint. 

As a rule, I don't use this forum to comment on current events, but February 11, 2011 is such a historic day.  While painting, I have been keeping my eye on the news coming out of Cairo, and my heart goes out to the Egyptian people.  I am reminded of the day the Berlin Wall fell, and I pray their new democracy will be as successful.

The Ten Minute Challenge

After being under the weather for the past few days, it was really nice to be painting again today.  And the Daily Paintworks weekly challenge seemed like the perfect exercise. 

It has been snowy and cold here today.  After last night's howling winds and blowing snow, we have 3-foot drifts in our yard, and a landscape painted in white.  My husband went out early this AM to clean our walkways, and he thoughtfully cleared a little path in the yard for our dachshund.  Rodeo, however, would have nothing to do with it.  He preferred to run and jump through the drifts...blazing his own trail through the freshly fallen snow.  Animals are so smart, aren't they?  They instinctively know to seize the moment.

I hope your week is off to a great beginning, everyone.  Stay warm!  And take time to run through the drifts.

For Better or Worse

More exploration into the elusive subtleties of black, white and the in between grays.   

Almost 30 years ago as a newlywed, I purchased this little salt and pepper set for a few dollars.  Today, they have a special home in my china cabinet.  Their value is purely sentimental, but they serve as a sweet reminder of days past.  

I hope you're all having a wonderful Thursday.  Stay safe.  And warm!

Imperial

My entry for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge.  It was fun to participate.  I learn so much by studying the work of other artists, and it is interesting to see the same subject interpreted differently.  I'm looking forward to next week's challenge.