Morning Glory

I don't know that much about plants and flowers, but when I lived in Atlanta I did try my best to grow things. I loved growing both Morning Glories and Day Lilies. Both have blooms that only open for one day and by late afternoon they have already started to fade. This time of year the Morning Glories start to produce their seeds in little papery round pods that are fun to gather up and toss about the yard for next spring. It is a flower where time is counted, spent and is waiting.

As far as the painting goes, I loved painting the tissue just as much as the velvety bow. I enjoyed layering all the rainbow of colors that actually make up this "cream" tissue. What fun!

I am starting to prepare for an up-coming show in Atlanta which will be taking place December through February. This painting will be available through this show and I will keep everyone posted as the time draws near.

Thumbnail sketches

Oh my gosh! How gorgeous is this vintage plum velvet!?! Okay so I've had purple on my mind as of late, likely caused by a collision of many ideas and sources streaming in all at once showing me purple. I so wanted my next painting to contain several presents in the same composition. I played around with several presents trying to figure out a theme or idea. But this guy just seemed soooo very demanding, so right now he's got all my attention.

I've been starting these demo posts by showing the set up and beginning oil sketch, but I realized that is leaving out a bunch of steps. First step for me is inspiration, and I see it everywhere. I have ten paintings being painted in my head all the time, so I keep a personal journal where I keep these thoughts. Then suddenly one idea, thought, color, feeling singles itself out and wham.... purple velvet. Next are these tiny thumbnail sketches where I play around with composition and see which format will best suit what I'm trying to say. The top two sketches I envisioned as another split painting. I like the middle idea, and may come back to it, but have settled on the bottom right hand corner composition. Hope this hasn't been too boring.