Getting in the Springtime Mood

My recent foray into gardening has brightened the front patio quite nicely. This year I was determined to find new perennials that hopefully will last through our blazing summer sun and sometimes winter snaps.

So I picked out some purple and yellow Marguerite daisies, petunias, and lavender to put me in the planting mood. 

Had to set up my blooming angel designed by Shara Reiner and painted by me.  It seemed the perfect setting to greet anyone coming to the house.

I love how my iris and roses are blooming their heads off this year.  Must be doing something right.

Geranium design by Kim Hogue, painted by me.

Painting up a Storm

    Last week I attended the Creative Painting convention, which happens here every year about this time. The convention took place at the Tropicana Hotel, but I slept in my own bed.  After all, it's only 25 minutes away.  There are so many exciting classes going on and a tempting trade floor to stroll, that I had a hard time deciding where to go next. I had a great time taking a few classes during the convention and one the Saturday before. 

 Here are two that are works-in-progress. The butterfly basket was a class with Lynne Deptula and amaryllis box with Ginger Edwards.

 I painted this blooming iris on a textured canvas with Diane Trierweiler, whose work I really admire. The canvas surface has a rough texture that was applied with a palette knife. It was an interesting experience to work on this gritty texture. 

I did finish my Song Sparrow painting with Shirley Koenig, even though she is a quick painter and am very happy with my new little bird painting. It was such a fun week and I even managed to learn a thing or two about painting technique.

Domino kitty is enjoying her new post by the window and naps in this snuggly spot whenever most mornings. 

WOYWW.....My First Wednesday Reveal

Well you are probably saying, it's about time I post about my work desk on Wednesday, so here goes.  I don't know what took me so long.  For a while it was a mystery to me what WOYWW really was.  Ha! or Lol, depending on which generation you are from!!

This week I have been working furiously to finish some new pieces for First Friday in the Art District.   Actually not all of them are for FF. I started the little pansy box a few months ago at our painting chapter meeting. And have been thinking about the perfect finish for it. The pansies looked pretty but there was too much empty space left around them. So I solved it with some stenciled leaves and dots for a lacy look. Now all it needs is the latch.

In between coats of varnish on the jewelry box, I finished two Monarch butterfly pictures with ordinary acrylic paint in tubes.   These will be displayed for Friday's Art walk.  Fun to do more than one at a time and sort of bounce back and forth with the paint.

"Visiting Monarch #1" 5x7

 

 

"Visiting Monarch #2" 8x10