"Wisteria"

"Wisteria"

11 x 14 Watercolor

$75

A Plein Air painting done at Heathcote Gardens in Ft. Pierce, Florida.  Purple blooms are always my
favorite in the garden and this Wisteria on a rustic fence was stunning. It had to be in a painting! I hope you enjoy it.....the painting seems to invite you into the garden to sit on the bench and enjoy the beautiful day.

"Pink Poinsettia"

"Pink Poinsettia"

5 x 7 Watercolor

$45

I have always loved Poinsettias and now there are so many color variations that are lovely. I saw a pink one with tones of yellow, too, and it just had to be captured in watercolor. Hope you like it! Do you know how easy it is to purchase your favorite painting? Just click on Buy Now in the right hand column and you will see how simple it is. Paintings make wonderful lasting gifts!

Merry Christmas Card

Merry Christmas Card

Watercolor  NFS

Hi everyone, I have been painting some Christmas cards. In this one, I tried to capture an old fashioned look sort of like cards from the 40's....not that I remember them, but I have seen some in antique stores. Hope each of you has a wonderful Christmas!

"My Secret Cottage"

"My Secret Cottage"

18 x 24 Acrylic on Canvas

$400

Our little dream cottages are tucked away in our imaginations and this could very well be one of them! Nestled in lush greenery and flowers, this cottage suggests peacefulness! Click on it for a closer view.

"Blue Heron"

"Blue Heron"

5 x 7 Watercolor

$45

Always stately and watchful, the Great Blue Heron is one of our favorite birds. In this painting, I did a loose background in tropical colors, leaving some of the white of the paper to add sparkle. 

"Autumn Gourds"

"Autumn Gourds"

8 x 8 Acrylic on canvas

$45

It is the time of year when you see all kinds of interesting gourds and pumpkins. The white ones are interesting and when I saw these with orange stripes against the white, I had to paint some!  This painting is nice to sit on an easel and help welcome Autumn into your home! To purchase, look in the right column at "Buy Now" and click on PayPal. 

"Old Irish House"

"Old Irish House"

8 x 10 Acrylic on canvas, framed

$185

Painted from photos and sketches from Norther Ireland, the courtyard around this old Manor house was so relaxing and full of plants and flowers. My daughter and I had a fun day of painting here, complete with a healthy lunch from the owners' gardens.

"Autumn Sunflowers"

"Autumn Sunflowers"

16 x 20 acrylic on canvas

$250

In the Fall I always think of sunflowers, gourds, blackbirds and pumpkins! The colors of those things always inspire me. I liked the colors in this painting and to me, it says "Autumn". To purchase, please go to Buy Now in the right column and click. It will take you to Pay Pal and it is easy to complete your purchase. 

"Harvest "

"Harvest"

8 x 10 oil on canvas

$65

Today's post is number 25 in the 30 in 30. I had done this a while back, but redid part and tweeked it, so it is improved. This will be my last post in the challenge, as I have several obligations in the next few days that will prevent me from being able to paint. However, I feel that it was a fun experience and I have enjoyed meeting many artists and friends online. Such a challenge (painting one painting a day) has its' pros and cons. Obviously, seeing other artists daily work and meeting them on line is a plus, but the downside to me is that it seems the quality of my paintings suffer because of trying for quantity. Other folks may not agree, but I find that my small works are rather insignificant and I had rather spend more thoughtful painting time on larger works. So thanks for looking and hope you'll come back to my blog, as I continue to post paintings as I do them.

"End of Summer"

"End of Summer"

8 x 8 oil on panel

$55

This is number 24 in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Only a few more to go and I  will be glad when I can go back to watercolors! Of course I could finish the challenge doing watercolors, but I am committed to the water soluble oils. Still, my watercolors lie in wait......

"Begonia with Garden Rocks"

"Begonia with Garden Rocks"

8 x 8 Oil on Canvas Panel

$65

This painting is number 23 in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. It is a bit bigger than I have been painting, but I am out of my favorite 5 x 7 size. It is harder to photograph this size, and may take a bit longer to paint, too. Have you ever heard of "Artist Elbow"? It is basically like Tennis Elbow and I've had it a few times from long hours of painting. But I am progressing not only to a sore arm, but the whole shoulder! My doctor blames everything that happens to me (mostly allergies on my painting) and even  once asked if I would quit for a while! I laughed. Ha! How can an artist NOT paint? I'm sure the shoulder and arm will get better on its' own. Pass the W-D 40 please!

"Window in the Tropics"

"Window in the Tropics"

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

$55
I am trying to ease back into some flower paintings, so thought I'd do another window with a window box. The trouble with the 6 inch size is:

 I don't know how to change the size on the camera...technology is not my forte. In fact, I love doing a painting everyday, but the computer is another thing! It takes up far too much precious time, I think!! However, the good part about the challenge is that I have met some very nice people who enjoy looking at the paintings and some great artists, as well...all online.

"Little Brown Bowl"

"Little Brown Bowl"

6 x 6 oil on Gessobord

$55

This is number 21 in the 30 day painting challenge. To see the other artists paintings, please go to Slices of Life blog spot by Leslie Saeta.  Gessobord is a prepared panel that is very smooth, without the tooth of canvas, but nevertheless, very fun to paint on. I think it is a bit easier to be "painterly" or loose on Gessoboard, and it is recommended for oils and acrylics.

"BLT Time"

"BLT Time"

6 x 6 Oil on panel

$55

I don't know what happened to my intentions to paint flowers in the 30 day challenge. I seem to have drifted into veggies and the like without a thought! But I will go back to flowers soon.... we will have eaten all the veggie models and I'll have to look in the garden for models! This is number 20! Only 10 to go.

"Freshly Fall"

"Freshly Fall"

5 x 7 Oil on panel

$55

This painting is number 19 in the 30 day challenge. I had the hardest time photographing it! I tried the smart setting and the colors were terrible, so I tried setting it myself and that was a pain. I am not a photographer to say the least! This photo is too orange, but better than all the others. 

"Key West Cottage"

"Key West Cottage"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

This is one of those paintings that just happens. You sit down, don't have anything really in mind, just paint the whole thing some lush color thinly, let it dry, then just START. At first I thought I'd wipe it all off and plan something, but the more I fiddled with it, it just BECAME, so here it is. I guess it works. I can say that I am getting lots of experience with water soluble oils. Number 18 in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

" A Plethora of Peppers"

"A Plethora of Peppers"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

Just love those waxy, shiny peppers! They just make you want to smile! It's the cheerful colors. Every time I buy a bag full, I sit around admiring them more than I do eating them!And I love the green background to make the colors pop. Believe it or not, I gave considerable thought on composing this composition. See the big guy on the left? He leads your eye into the center red one. This painting in number 17..we are moving right along!

"In the Pink"

"In The Pink"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

This is number 16 in the 30 day painting challenge sponsored by Leslie Saeta. There are numerous artists taking the challenge to paint 30 paintings in 30 days. Pretty awesome that so many are willing to paint that much! I would be painting anyway, but I am using this exercise in discipline to paint with water-soluble oils which is a bit out of my comfort zone. I will admit that I am loving the way they handle by using walnut oil as a medium. The other plus is that they hardly have any odor and no allergic reaction so far.

"Blooms and Marbles"

"Blooms and Marbles"

8 x 10 Oil on Stretched Canvas

$135

This painting is number 15 in the 30 Day Challenge, so we are at the half way mark! I actually re-did  a painting completely instead of starting a new one, but it was entirely as much work and certainly a big improvement on the earlier painting! I now like it lots better than I did before. Often an artist will not know when to quit and almost ruin a painting; on this one I had quit too soon and it needed some depth of color, clarification and shadows. 

"McIntosh Apples"

"McIntosh Apples"

5 x 7 Oil on panel

$55

I had just bought some of my favorite apples in the Fall...McIntosh...and washed them when the droplets of water made me look twice and bring them to the studio to paint! This was fun. I was pleased with the way it turned out. This painting is number 14 in the 30 day challenge. We are almost half through the challenge. 

" The Garden Fence"

"The Garden Fence"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

This is number 13 in the 30 painting in 30 days challenge. I loved painting the old rustic fence and thought the result was quite nice. Click on it for a closer view. You also know that all my paintings are for sale. All you have to do is click on Buy Now in the right column and  you can buy through PayPal. Now is a good time to start your own small size paintings collection. They look great grouped together!

"Key West Porch"

"Key West Porch"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

Oh, the Tropics! Don't you just love the look of a welcoming porch nestled among Palm fronds? And it doesn't hurt that the houses are painted in lovely colors, either. Long windows, colorful doors, shady vistas all beacon one into a tropical paradise! I enjoyed painting this and hope you like it. It is # 12 in the 30 day painting challenge.

"Green Pots"

"Green Pots"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$100

I wanted to paint loosely using bits of color next to each other without mixing in areas and then dabbing color on top of color in other areas. I also used a sponge a bit to loosen things up a bit. I liked the result and hope you do, too! Comments are appreciated. This is #11 in the challenge.

"Red Cottage"

"Red Cottage"

5 x 7 Oil on panel

$55

Adapted from a photo I took of a cottage in Ireland, this red house with window boxes is quaint and interesting. The curtains give it a homey feel. Click on it for a closer view. This is #10 in the 30 paintings
in 30 days challenge. Check out all the artists' paintings in the challenge by going to Leslie Saeta Blogspot.

"A Snuggled Bouquet"

"A Snuggled Bouquet"

12 x 12 Oil on Canvas

$135

Hydrangeas are a favorite of mine and I have finally got several plants going in my garden. I love to bring the blooms inside and also to hang them upside down to dry. They dry beautifully. I added some  Fall looking zinnias to this arrangement of blooms, all nestled together. The color combination is nice and the shapes of different petals interesting. Hope you like this painting and your comments are very appreciated! This is number 9 in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

"Blue Shutters"

"Blue Shutters"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

Sorry to say that I missed #6  and #7 in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge, but happily I was on a mini vacation and gathering painting ideas, photos and sketches. So I did some things, but I was unable to post and really was too busy having fun in the quaint little village of Micanopy, Florida.
I will get right back on tract, though, so hopefully I can do a painting every day throughout the remainder of September. I hope you like this one, done loosely. It was fun to paint!

"Hibiscus Duet"

"Hibiscus Duet"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

The Hibiscus is one of the prettiest tropical flowers of all! Yesterday after my morning swim at KOA, I noticed a huge pot newly planted with a beautiful Hibiscus bush and I had to pick a bloom. Forgive me, KOA! The blooms only last one day, so if you want to capture one on canvas, you must get to work and I did, making it a duet....isn't the harmony of two better than solo, often times? So this is painting number 5 in the 30 in 30 challenge. Your comments are appreciated. Buying it will  be even more appreciated!

"Tea in the Garden"

"Tea in the Garden"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$45

Yesterday, for painting # 4, I went into the garden searching for some flowers to paint and saw that I still had a few miniature zinnias in bloom. I put them along with some plumbago that resembles hydrangea in a little china teacup, thinking that I would do a little delicate floral still life. I painted for hours and to my dismay, it looked quite awful. I finally simplified it somewhat and with tongue in cheek, added a tea bag and named it happily, "Tea in the Garden". I even painted dirt around the tea cup! Sometimes plans just change and even though I am not amazed or over-joyed with this effort, at least it has a bit of humor! On to bigger and better things, I hope for tomorrow. 

"In From The Garden"

" In From The Garden"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

Here is number 3, on the 3rd Day of 30 Paintings in 30 Days! I still have the beautiful sunflowers in the studio and for this painting, I partnered a bloom with a little boy's vintage boot. Not only do sunflowers make me smile, but think of some cute little boy of long ago wearing leather boots like this, picking him mother a pretty sunflower. Paintings that tell a story or evoke pleasant memories are always the most special! Hope you enjoy this. Your comments are appreciated.

"Sunflower Solo"

"Sunflower Solo"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

Here is the second painting in 30 in 30 challenge for September. The studio sunflowers are still looking quite pretty, so today I will be painting them yet again, or at least one of them, lounging with another object. I haven't planned too far ahead on these paintings as I like to keep things a little surprising, even to myself. I thought "Sunflower Solo" was from a little different vantage point, simple, yet interesting. Hope you like it! Your comments are appreciated.

"Sunflower Trio"

"Sunflower Trio"

5 x 7 Oil on panel

$55

Today is the first day of 30 Paintings in 30 Days, a challenge started by Leslie Saeta and in which many artists are participating. I have committed to try and do this challenge and this is my first painting. Each day, all month, I will attempt to post a new oil painting. They will be small, as I will be working in oils and will also be doing my regular large scale watercolors, too. For this first painting, I bought some sunflowers at the market for models and they are so beautiful that I will keep using them in different ways as long as they last. I will feature flowers in all 30 paintings in some way, whether as the main subject or to enhance other subjects. Flowers make me smile, so need I say more? I hope they also make you smile and your comments are welcome. Pop over to http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/  to view other artists paintings and follow what is happening for the 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge!

"Summer's End Still Life""

"Summer's End Still Life"

16 x 20 Watercolor 

$250

The summer flowers in the garden are winding down and the plants are turning brown. It is time for Fall plants and the end of zinnias and cosmos. It was fun working with all the colors in this still life set up and I always enjoy painting crochet pieces. Click on this for a closer view.

A new painting started....

I have been working on a new watercolor on hot press paper and am finding it to be exciting to work on. I have been using cold press for years and just thought I would give the hot press a try. I am loving how vibrant the colors seem and how nice wet into wet works on this smooth paper.

Here's a close up. I still have loads of work to do and this is not something that can 

 be completed in a day. I will probably work another week on this one, so stay tuned to see the result.

Let me know what you  think. Have you used hot pressed paper?

"Cherries and Blooms"

"Cherries and Blooms"

16 x 20 Watercolor

$250

Finished at last! It was quite a project to paint the crochet piece and the clear glass, but it was lots of fun, too. A large painting and, in spite of being busy with many different elements, it is peaceful and somehow draws you into it. Click on painting for a closer look.

Studio Tour and Work in Progress

Today we will just tour my studio. I hosted my watercolor class here for a tour of the studio and while it is a little tidier than usual, thought I would post a tour! I have taught a class of  about 12 people this summer at Peace Lutheran Church. We usually had about 10 there, as vacations came and went.

My studio is fairly large but as you can see, it has a lot of "stuff" in it, too! I have lots of windows and three sky lights and a huge walk in closet with shelves for storage. I am blessed to have such a nice place to work.

Normally, I use this table for framing, but it now is displaying watercolors that need matted and framed!

On my easel is a work in progress.... a still life . Maybe in a few days it will be finished and you can see the finished product. Hope you enjoyed this little tour!

"Old Man with Cat"

"Old Man with Cat"

12 x 16 Watercolor

$150

Both of them seem to be day-dreaming.There is a certain calmness to this painting, don't  you think? Click on it to see the details.

"Hibiscus in the Round"

"Hibiscus in the Round"

8 1/2 round watercolor

$50

A simple, yet striking painting of Hibiscus blooms, which are so pretty this time of year. Click on painting for a closer view.

"Zinnias in the Round"

"Zinnias in the Round"

8 1/2 inch round Watercolor

$50

Zinnias are my favorite flowers for hot sunny weather and I have a profusion of them in the garden. In this painting, I opted to arrange the flowers with a few leaves in a pleasing way to make a composition without a vase or flower container. For a round painting it works well and I could focus on each flower and its relationship to others. It was fun to paint. You can see the white edge around the painting, which can be cut off if it is mounted on a backing and framed, or it can be framed with a round mat and frame. Either way is pretty. Click on it for a closer view.

"Purple Shutters"

"Purple Shutters"

9 x 12 Watercolor

$65

Even though the stucco is peeling and cracked, there is beauty to be found in the brightly colored purple shutters and the flower box at the window. For a closer view, click on the painting. Check out the icons to the right of this column to see  Buy Now or go directly to my gallery. Thanks for looking!

"Red Cherries and Bleeding Hearts"

"Red Cherries and Bleeding Hearts"

16 x 20 Watercolor

$185

For a week I have been painting this still life. It was a tough one, doing all the reflections, lace and white Bleeding Hearts, but it was also so much fun to do. Hope you like it; click on it for a closer view.

"Fresh Picked"

"Fresh Picked"

12 x 16 Watercolor

$125

Most of the flowers in this bouquet came from my garden and the arrangement and painting were both inspired by the caladium leaves, which are so gorgeous and colorful. Be sure to click on this to enlarge and see the detail and shadows. To purchase a painting, click on Buy Now in the right hand column.  To see over 100 paintings of mine, click on the DailyPaintworks icon and you will go directly to my gallery. Thanks you for looking.

"Still Life with Gladiolas"

"Still life with Gladiolas"

12 x 16 Watercolor

$125

I have been working on this painting a week and finally it is finished....I think. Sometimes it is hard to decide if you are finished! I may tweak the shadows a bit and make them darker.  This is back to my more realistic style, from which it is hard to depart! Hope you like this painting; your comments are appreciated.

"From the Garden"

"From the Garden"

9 x 12 watercolor

$65

Still painting florals! This one I am not pleased with as much as the others. It doesn't seem vibrant like I was hoping, although I glazed quite a bit. The paper was a new one and it seemed to absorb the paint like a blotter, resulting in pale colors. But it kind of grows on you! I like the clay pot and the mix of colors.

"Flowers on the Windowsill"

"Flowers on the Windowsill"

9 x 12 Watercolor

$65

Another floral, loosely done with some lace stenciling behind the flowers in the window.  The flowers are sitting on the outside of a window. Love the very dark shadows at the bottom.

"Garden Pick of the Day"

"Garden Pick of the Day"

12 x 9 Watercolor

$65

A departure from my usual "tightly"done realistic paintings, I am purposely trying to paint in a looser style and have a bit of fun doing it! I did this wet into wet, just playing with color, layering and splashing on shapes. That is not to say that it is any quicker or less thoughtful, but the results are different than I have been doing flowers. What do you think? I really like it and hope to do a series of florals in this manner. Your comments are appreciated!