"Florida Sunset"

5 x7 acrylic on canvas panel, framed in narrow oak frame $45

This is the kind of scenery I see everyday here in Okeechobee. We have so much beautiful "old Florida" scenes around here and the sunsets are always gorgeous!

If you are new to my blog, please click on older posts at the bottom of the pages and go back to the beginning. Enjoy and pass along to your friends! SOLD

"Giant Roses"

9 x12 acrylic on stretched canvas, framed $150

Someone gave me some photos of roses that they had taken and I painted from them, but I don't know the kind or name of the roses. They are huge, though with so many petals that they resemble Camellia's or some other flower. The background is really dark, so they pop.

"Passion Vine"

4 x 6 colored pencil work on Crescent board,

mounted on mat board $65

Passion vines and flowers are so pretty and exotic and I had a lovely one on a trellis in the back garden, until the caterpillars began eating it!

I also never know how much water and fertilizer to give it--my gardening talents are limited and I never looked up information on it until too late. All I did was enjoy the blooms and paint it! Now it is about gone and probably too late to restore it. Still, it made a nice painting--hope you like it!

"Garden Gate"

8 x 10 acrylic on gallery stretched canvas $175

The town of Hillsborough in Northern Ireland is one of my favorite places for interesting subjects to paint. Down little side streets and cobble stone paths are beautiful gardens and quaint houses covered in vines. This painting was done from reference photos from there. The canvas is painted on the sides so there is no need for framing---it is ready to hang.

When Queen Elizabeth visits N. Ireland, she has a castle in Hillsborough and last time I was there it was open to the public. I actually got to sit on the royal throne!

Click on painting to see details.

"Kitty-Kitty"
6 x 8 watercolor on Arches paper $40

A few years ago, a beautiful cat showed up here and stayed. She was older, sweet and gentle, definitely an outdoor cat and she lived here about 7 years and then just disappeared. She stayed outside during 3 hurricanes, moving to a safer location as the hurricane moved. It was amazing! She only answered to "Kitty-Kitty". So today I just did a fast little watercolor of her. SOLD

"Old Irish House"

8 x10 acrylic on stretched canvas, framed $185

A few years ago my daughter and I went to a painting day in Northern Ireland at Ardess House. We had a good day, sketching and painting, taking photos, and having a nice tea/luncheon in the house. I painted this from photos of the back courtyard. The house was stucco and it was interesting to paint the texture and colors in the stucco. The painting is framed in a wide frame that compliments the stucco colors.  Click on the painting to see the details.

"Tree Shadows"

12 x 16 acrylic on canvas panel, framed

$175

Another plein air painting from Heathcote Botanical Garden, it is framed in a nice gold frame. The shadows are very striking in this painting--it just looks like a place one would like to sit and quietly observe nature. Click on it to see details.

Hope you have a great weekend!

"Brown Pelican, Preening"

5x7 acrylic on hardboard $75

It is amazing to see a pelican preening with that great bill! I just had to do a close up from one of my photos. Birds are truly one of God's special creations. I see many, many different birds here in South Florida and find them always interesting and beautiful. This morning, at the pool, I was kept company by a pair of doves, drinking from the pool and cooing. I "cooed" back at them and they tilted their heads as if listening.

We still have Love Bugs everywhere and I was told that Bounce or other dryer cloths easily remove them. You first wet the car, of course. I used WD40 yesterday and that worked well, too and gave the car a nice shine. Rinse either of these off, I'd think!

"Pelican" $75

6x6 acrylic on hardboard SOLD

I found a bunch of pelican photos I have taken over the years and have painted from them now and again and always with pleasure! Pelicans are such interesting and beautiful birds. I have some close ups of them at different angles and I probably should do a few more while I am in the mood. It seems that I always want to explore a subject more, once I get started. The feathers are amazing as well as that powerful beak. Then, there are the shadows in the water--always fun to paint. Hope you like this one. Click on it for a detailed look.

"Irish Cottage"

51/2 x 8 watercolor on Arches paper $65

There is nothing prettier than a little thatched roof Irish cottage, so quaint and pristine against the blue sky. I painted this from a photo I took. The back of the house faces the Irish Sea which is gorgeous, too. The scenery in Northern Ireland is stunning and so clean and fresh---makes me dream of going back, which I hope to do this summer!

"Koi Fish"

16x20 oil on stretched canvas $350

Here is the finished painting. At least I think it is finished. Sometimes an artist has a hard time deciding when a painting is finished and at other times you just know when it is finished. There are times you do too much. So in this case, I feel like there is still something undone, but I'm afraid to mess with it too much more. So I will look at it again in a few days with fresh eyes and decide. Still, there are parts of it I just love. Your comments are welcome.

This painting still is not finished! I still have some details in the fish and the water has to be glazed overtop the fish, which means more drying time. The problem with oils, in my opinion, is the slowness of drying, but some artists prefer that. I am considering doing a similar painting in watercolor or egg tempera and compare the results. Anyway, maybe tomorrow it will be finished. Stay tuned!

I'm posting what I am working on today---it is an oil of koi fish and I have a long way to go! When I start an oil, I try to get paint on the canvas--get the canvas covered---as soon as possible and then refine and work on the parts, changing values and shapes, etc. as needed as I go along. I am a little frustrated by the slow drying time of oils. I prefer paint that is fast drying, such as acrylics or egg tempera, even watercolor, but I do like the finished results of oils. The richness is unsurpassed! Hopefully, I will have this finished for tomorrow's post---we will see.

I found out today that Love Bugs are actually from South American, so thought I'd clarify that. It doesn't matter where they are from, we still have them around and they are a mess!

I'd love for you to pass my blogspot address to your friends!

"Little Irish Girl with Rabbit"

8x10 watercolor on Arches paper $150

While visiting Northern Ireland, I was captivated by this wee (as the Irish say) girl holding a rabbit at a petting zoo. She looked up for her Mum (as the Irish say) to take her photograph and I took one, too. I loved the peaceful look she has--perfect contentment. I added the colorful flowers to offset the placement I chose for the figure. When traveling, I take lots of photos and do alot of sketching for later use. I'm planning another visit to Ireland this summer! Click on her to see larger view and enjoy her contentment!

"The Garden Path"

18x24 egg tempera on hardboard, framed $600

Another painting from Heathcote Botanical Gardens, I did this plein air in egg tempera! That is something you don't see happening very often. I had to do a little finishing up in the studio, but I really had fun being outside, even though a little hot.

We are still fighting "Love Bugs" in S. Florida. I heard they were brought here from China to control mosquito larvae, but they didn't like the larvae when they got here. Sometimes you wonder why scientists try to introduce things into our country when it is apparent that if we were meant to have them, they would be here already! We sure do have a bumper crop of Love Bugs this year---wish we could send them back to where they came from.

"Floating Family"

9x12 oil on stretched canvas $125

I've decided to leave Key West a little while and do some other things! I have started a large painting, too, so there are plenty of projects going! Several people have requested more paintings with water, so here is a little one to start...our little duck friends.

If you are new to my blog, please click on "older posts" at the bottom of each page to see my complete posts of paintings.Leave a comment on my blog. I started this blog the last of March and have posted a painting a day with the exception of two days. Please pass my blog url to your friends so I will have a large network of blog followers. Thanks and keep looking!

"Key West Cottage on the Beach"

5x7 watercolor on Arches paper $45

I'm still in the vacationing in the Keys mode. Imagine cool ocean breezes and swaying palms around a cozy little beach cottage! I'm ready to pack my bag! In fact, it is time for my early morning exercises in the pool, so that is as close as I can get, so I'm off! Hope your day is full of sunshine and happiness! SOLD

"Key West House with Rooster"

8x10 watercolor on Arches paper $75

In Key West there are free roaming chickens and roosters everywhere that are tolerated, even protected! Even at the sidewalk cafe, they roam around searching for crumbs. Key West is interesting and fun and I hope if you haven't been there you'll try to go! I'm enjoying painting some of the old houses there and have a few more to go before I leave the Keys and head in another direction. Enjoy!

"Blue Shutters; Key West House"

5x7 watercolor unmatted or framed $45

This is the third Key West house in the series that I am doing now. I didn't get to post yesterday because of it being Mother's Day and I had family here, but this did get finished late last night..I am really enjoying painting these Key West houses. Several more ideas are swimming around in my brain, so I think I will be doing more! Watch for them. When I am all finished, why don't you email me and tell me your favorite!

I'll update you about the Love Bugs......they are still here and probably will be all this month.That means everytime you drive the car, it has to be washed because squashed Love Bugs take the paint right off! Well, I guess you have to take the pain with the pleasure of living in South Florida!!

"Pink Key West House"

7x9 watercolor Arches paper $65

Here is the second painting in the Key West series. I love the colors, but they are actually a little brighter than it shows here. I took the photo inside instead of out in the sun, as Florida is being overrun with Love Bugs. If you aren't familiar with them, they come out in May and do nothing but breed and then die, but they are black pests and love two things gasoline (so they stay on the highways) and they love anything white. My house is white, so they are all over! Good Grief! Anyway, imagine this painting a little lighter and brighter with lovely purplish shadows.

Happy Mother's Day tomorrow.

"Key West House with Cat"

5x7 watercolor on Arches paper $45

I'm starting a new series of paintings of Key West houses and cottages. After painting one, I just have to keep painting them awhile until I think I've exhausted the tropical feeling! I've always loved painting old houses and the tropical foliage makes them really special. I have several sketches and got out all my Key West photos from vacationing last year, so I have alot of inspiration. Plus, it is really hot here in S. Florida today, so it is a Key West kind of day, complete with breezes. Hope you enjoy this series as much as I enjoy doing them. I already have another one completed and a third one almost finished! Stay tuned! SOLD

"Sunflowers"

7x7 watercolor on Arches paper $150

A favorite of everyone, the sunflower is fun to plant and grow, and always attracts the birds!This took me several days, even though it is a small painting. But I kept getting interrupted--you other artists know how frustrating that can be! I was pleased with it and hope you like it, too.

"This Old Truck"

16x20 acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas $500

I was driving through Micanopy, Florida and saw this delightful little house nestled among the Live Oak trees, but the best thing was the old blue truck! I just had to paint it. This painting is extended around the edges of the canvas, so you are ready to hang this. And I want to go on record as saying that Live Oak trees are the prettiest trees ever...so much character and the Spanish moss add to their charm.

I'm still working on the sunflower watercolor, but not quite ready to post it yet, so back to work!

"Bottles and Lace"
10x10 watercolor on Arches paper $100

I brought this spooner and old bottles home from the antique shop and decided to try some reflections. I sprinkled a few glass balls around, too and used some old lace I had. It was fun to do.
Click on it for a bigger view.

I didn't post a painting yesterday (for the first time!) as I was watching the grandchildren. I'm working on a sunflower painting and should have it ready soon.It was great being with the grandchildren--2 boys, 12 and almost 9, but I am tired today!

"Wisteria"

10x14 Watercolor on Arches paper $125

I painted this plein air at Heathcote Botanical Gardens. The old fence is pretty in contrast with the purple of the flowers. Click on it to get a bigger view.

"Hollyhock"

6x6 watercolor on Arches paper $75

This hollyhock bloom was so much fun to paint! I had very pleasant memories of the hollyhocks blooming in the alley behind our house when I was a child and how I made necklaces from them and also ballerina flower dolls. Does anyone else remember doing that? I hope this painting makes you recall some pleasant memories.

If you have just discovered my blog, click on "older posts" at the bottom of the page to see all my paintings. Click on this painting to see a larger view and the details.