Sedona Light: Still Life with Teacup and Blueberries

Private Collection

After spending a wonderful week painting in Sedona at the Abbey Ryan workshop, it is nice to be home! I have a lot of catching up to do today, but I wanted to share this painting with you. My focus for the week was painting highlights. Commit and simplify.

The weather in Sedona was perfect. Temps in the low 70s and partly cloudy skies. Mark and I enjoyed hiking, sightseeing and celebrating his birthday. Tons of fun!

Have a great week! Happy painting!

Lighthouse Rock - N/A

Today, I painted from a photograph taken at the Palo Duro Canyon state park.  This 300 foot high formation is entitled "The Lighthouse."  It is always breathtaking, but the area is especially pretty during autumn.  Red cholla cactus berries cover the landscape then, and the view is well worth the 2 hour hike.  I'm hoping to spend a little time there painting en plein air this spring/summer. 

I hope you're having a relaxing Saturday!  :)

Sliced

Ready for the weekend?  Me, too.  I hope you have a great one!  :)

Sugar-Free

My apologies for the poor image quality today.  In an attempt to add the highlights, I applied the paint too thickly, and the cream pitcher didn't scan well.  Ah, technical difficulties. 

I hope your week is off to a nice beginning!  :) 

Granny Smith's Creamer

The apples are a comfort prop.  The white cream pitcher, well, it is more of a discomfort prop.  White continues to be my nemesis.  ;)

An Apple a Day

The heavy lines in this painting go against everything that I've ever been taught, but I cannot seem to resist them.  When I take the time to do a complete underpainting, I always find myself wanting to add the dark details back into the painting.     

I'm a victim of the 2011 cold and flu season, and let me just say, its not pretty.  Let's just blame the cold meds for the heavy lines above, okay?  Thanks. 

I hope you are all safe.  And well.  And warm! 

Have a great weekend!  :)

Cochise - N/A

 

Today's painting is a portrait of Cochise.  He is the beloved horse of a very sweet friend Cris Yost.  I did an underpainting in a bright apricot shade.  I'm hoping it reflects some of Cochise's natural coloring and the dappled sunlight, too. 

Chilly Dog

Painted from a photograph taken last winter, this is a portrait of my little dachshund.  Our weather is much the same today.  Chilly -- 24 degrees -- with a light dusting of snow.  Its not a great day for walking outdoors, but it is perfect for staying indoors to paint.  :)

Memories of Fall

Painted from a photograph of the sun coming out on a rain-slick street.  Today's weather is similar except that it is winter and not fall.  And an icy mist is falling instead of rain.  And there is no sunshine. 

Okay, on second thought, maybe it isn't very similar after all.  ;)

I hope you're all having a relaxing Sunday!  :)

Sweet & Sour

I'm so happy that it's Friday.  Have a great weekend, everyone!  Stay warm!  :)

Lemon Cruet Quartet

Cruet: 1
Darla: 0

How can one little vessel be so difficult for me to paint?  Ouch.  Vowing to try this one again, but perhaps in a different setting.  Forging ahead.  :)

Cone of Silence

Don't you wish there was a Cone of Silence in real life?  I know.  Me, too.  ;)

Lemon Glass

My concentration appears to have been focused solely on the glass in this painting.  The lemons just aren't very lemony.  And I won't even go into the composition.  Ahem.  ;)

As I was posting this, I was reminded of the quotation by Flora Whittemore, "The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live."  The great thing about choosing to paint daily is the creative freedom.  The freedom to experiment, the freedom to make mistakes and the freedom to learn.  I've had such fun with these glass exercises this week, and I'm truly enjoying this wonderful new "door."  :)

Have a great day, everyone!

Lemon Jelly

No lemons were harmed during the making of this painting.  ;)

Happy Monday!  :)

Hot Lemonade

I'm trying out a lot of new things these days.  A new system for numbering my daily paintings, and a fancy set-up (a cardboard box) for painting still lifes.  Oh, the possibilities! 

Today's painting brought back one of my favorite childhood memories.  Dad's hot lemonade.  When we were kids, my dad would make this "special" drink for anyone with a cold or sore throat.  It was a delightful concoction of fresh lemon juice and honey carefully heated and served in your favorite mug.  The hot lemonade -- and all of Dad's spoiling -- were guaranteed to make you feel better.  And they always did.  :)

Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday!

Sandy

After the holidays, it is wonderful to be painting again.  I've missed this...and today feels like a fresh beginning.  Wishing you all blessings of good health, prosperity and much happiness in 2011.  :)

Day's End

I am late in posting today, so you may receive two blog posts in your daily email.  I apologize for the delay.  I waited until late this afternoon to paint, because I wanted to work outdoors.  The hills are actually more gray than green now, but sometimes, my paintbrushes have a mind of their own.  It was chilly but fun.  :)

Marshfield Garden II

Pears in Blue

Patchwork Pears

A little canvas toned with black and a big brush...oh, the fun!   :)