Romantic Botanicals #12

Shadowy Ms. Purple

Rain, so again I hide out under the pine tree with a bog violet. It is a shady dark patch of the world. Construction workers next door ignore me as I am silent, still and look like a mushroom under the big pine boughs. They are high on ladders and I am low on the ground but we both work on.

The wind it whips the tiny violets and trembles their leaves. This violet is alone in the shadow of the tree while scads of violets hang out together a few feet away in the sun.  I paint this pool of shadow and the distant sunny friends.

romantic botanicals #12, Shadowy Ms Purple , May 11,  2016 oil on canvas 9" x 12"

Romantic Botanicals #11

Stormy Ms. Violet

I was grumpy all day and doubting myself. Why am I doing this.... It rained all day and then it didn't. I started painting at 6:20 pm, a dim and cold time. I had to cancel two evening outings because I wanted to paint.

The only dry spot is under the big pine tree and it's lone tiny violet. Scale is important in this work to show being small in a big world. I swirl the pine needle in storminess. The little clover friend is violet's refuge.

romantic botanicals #11, Stormy Ms. Violet , May 10,  2016 oil on canvas 9" x 12"

Romantic Botanicals #10

The Bouncy Baronetess

The tumbling explosion of things to paint is pressing against me. The weird 34 degree weather a few days ago has made everything bloom at once. I can only paint one thing a day so the plum blossoms, red tulips, pink tulips, purple violets, dandelions and strawberry flowers will go on without me. Budding, blooming and wilting with my back to them. I am painting the pear blossoms.

I like the three cluster pom pom look and the diagonal towering of these blossoms. I chose it because of the full look. I painted a full bouncy look surrounded by lush green darkness. I want to smear and trail the path of the bees in flight. The smearing of the blossom and the trail of it is how I envision a bit of the flower is carried along to the next flower to pollinate it.

romantic botanicals #10, The Bouncy Baronetess , May 9,  2016 oil on canvas 9" x 12"

not painting this

not painting this

not painting this

Here I am painting the pear tree blossoms again.

Romantic Botanicals #9

Astronaughty at Blossom station

Mother's Day. Breakfast in bed, cake, picnic and drawing games. It was a great day - thanks family.

This ball of blossoms is like a planetoid. Bees zoom by and land at the docking station blossoms to fuel up. I like the delicate solidness juxtaposed with the weightless space.

romantic botanicals #9, Astronaughty at Blossom station, May 8,  2016 oil on canvas 9" x 12"

My 10 year old son takes a photo of me. Look at the side of my pallet. I taped a plastic bag there to stop bees from flying  into my paint, It works!

Romantic Botanicals #8

Velvet bee Thang

It is Saturday and I have lots of time to paint. It is the perfect temperature. The pear blossoms are at their maximum bloomage. It is sunny with bees and I didn't read late into the night so I am fresh to the canvas.

I love the crowded bud area pushing up at the top of the painting and the two bees pushing thorough the air in the middle of the piece. I continue the Gothic romance theme with the dark velvety green in the back ground and bright soft petals at the fore as the bees do their bee thing.

romantic botanicals #8, Velvet bee Thang, May 7,  2016 oil on canvas 9" x 12"

Romantic Botanicals #7

Lord Naughty of the bees

Our pear tree is in bloom. It is mad with all sizes of bees. I smash my easel right up beside them to get a close up view. There are clusters of buds and blossoms as this is the first day they are in bloom.  I have decided that because I am aiming for the romantic feel of flowers I am going to start titling them like romance novels.

This painting started with a deep green base and has a Gothic feeling about it. There were lots of bees to paint which made me very happy. I watched them and recorded their flight paths and where they landed on the blossoms. I did a lot of smearing and trailing though wet paint.

romantic botanicals #7, Lord Naughty of the bees, May 6,  2016 oil on canvas 9" x 12"

Romantic Botanicals #6

Psychedelic 34 degrees

It is hot 34 degrees and the yellow tulips were in the direct sun. The only way I managed to paint during mid day was to stick an ice pack behind my knee. It cooled my hot blood.

More more more with hot and swirly undertones.

romantic botanicals #6, Psychedelic 34 degrees, May 5,  2016 oil on canvas 9" x 12"