The Rose

My first attempt at painting a rose. A dear friend bought it at the Kingfisher Festival of Arts this past spring. It also produced a commission to do one just like it! Who knew? I have done several since this one and it is true....The more you paint a specific item, like this rose, the better you get at it! With this 6x6x size, I have found it difficult to find frames. So I am using little miniature easels. Anyone have a source for this size of frame? Happy painting everyone!

 Proverbs 3:3
"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart"

Old Door

Here is a painting based on an old door in Spain I saw a couple of years ago. I loved all the flowering vines up against the door. The door itself was kind of rough and worn out looking. With deep carved out panels. Fun to do. I have my eye on some more doors to do. I don't know what it is, I am fascinated by unusual looking doors!

Mathew 7:7
"Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you."

Canaries

I did this one last year and had fun with the bright yellow of the birds. I suppose every artist has had "mishapes" or an "oops" moment with a wet canvas. This canvas had a few oops'. Somebody just smeared one the poor bird's head off!" I came home one day after a sweet lady had cleaned my house. I guess she grabbed the wet cnavas and did a real number on it. This painting has alot of thick textured paint.. Lots of paint. Well, needless to say, I had to fix the poor bird's head! Ahhhh... the beauty of oils. You can just wipe it off and do it again!

Matthew 6:26
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Contemporary Landscape

This was a fun one to do, with the bright, strong fall colors. I can just feel the cool crisp air. I did this one last year in the fall and wanted to show an exagerated purple color of the hills in the distance. I also had fun with the varied color of the tree trunks and underbrush of the trees. If you magnify the photo and look at that area, you will see I just kept on going with the color! I am also pleased with the curve of the dirt road. When I painted this, I did not know that the style was called "contemporay".  Meaning not a realistic painting and not exactly an abstract, using unusual or different colors. At least that is my understanding from my limited art education so far!

Psalm 18:32
"It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure"

Aspens in the Fall

This is a painting I did last year in the fall based on a Colorado photo I have. I love Colorado in all seasons but the fall is so pretty with the bright  colors and the stands of aspen trees with that wonderful bark. I treated the leaves in an abstract way with indications of the blue sky peeping through. Another peaceful place.
A scripture from Lifeway Church service this past Sunday.
Colossians 3:10. "Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him".

Garden Door

Another Door painting. This one was a challenge. Under all the vines is a brick wall that I did first, then added the narley vines over the top of that. Lots of texture to this one. In Spain all the little towns and cities have these parks that everyone goes to at every opportunity when the weather is nice and sunny. Charles took us to one that he used to love to go to. Beautiful lawns, with stately trees. people would be sitting or laying out in the sun, playing with their dogs, visiting. I look at this door as a kind of door to a  little garden that is a peaceful place to rest and relax.

Psalm 68:19
"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who bears our Burdens"

Red Church Door

This is an old Church door based on some photos taken in Spain, visiting our son, Charles, a couple of years ago. I love the vibrant red color. The bricks were fun to do. I took a little liberty with the color. I used a flat brush using lots of paint for each stroke. I had to resist brushing over it a second time! Had fun adding a little color with the tiny little flowers on both sides of the door. Spain is great with all the old doors and buildings. Such character and color everywhere. It was so funny, walking around the old cities with Kent (my husband) and our son Charles. I constantly had my camera up taking photos for painting reference material. I must have looked like one of those crazy tourists and embarrased our son!
I am looking at joining the "Daily Paintworks" online gallery. This will give me an opportunity to show my work and offer paintings for sale. Will keep you posted.
In the meantime, I will keep painting and renewing my soul!

Proverbs 16:3
"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans"

(I believe you can click on the painting image to enlarge and see it in more detail. I am still learning the mechanics of all of this!)

Old World Door

This was one of my first attempts in my "Door series". I liked the rugged look of the door with the contrasting blue tile. I gave this painting to a dear friend of mine I work with.