Balcony View

11 x 14 oil on stretched canvas

The last two days have been so dark and dreary with the storms from Hurricane Isaac coming through so I wasn't able to photograph outside in the natural light.   That must be why I chose such a "bright" subject to paint because this is definitely out of my comfort range!  

Through the Kitchen Window

8 x 8 oil on stretched canvas

It sure felt good to get back to painting again today.  This is the first time I have painted in two weeks and I have really missed being at the easel.   Thought I would start back with a cheerful bird!   I love painting birds - there are so many varieties with such beautiful coloring.

More Black-Eyed Susans

8 x 10 oil on hardboard - SOLD

My husband said my black-eyed susans from my last post looked upside down so I lifted them a little this time.  Actually they grow that way,  at least in my yard,  but maybe  they could use a little lift! 

Blooming Now!

 9 x 12 oil on hardboard

These are some of my Black-Eyed Susans that are blooming right now around my back patio.   I love their bright colors and wish that they would bloom all year long.  They do multiply though and I have a flower bed full of them.

Daytime on Bourbon Street

11 x 14 oil on hardboard

This is one of the waiters outside Pat O'Briens on Bourbon Street.  I sneaked a pic while he had his head turned watching for potential patrons.    

Pres' Tam O' Shanter

12 x 20 oil on canvas panel

This is my grandson, Pres, posing in his Tam O' Shanter (sp?).  He struck this pose one morning when he came into his parents' room and leaned up against the wall with his juice bottle.  He is real funny and very serious about his clothes - hence the knit shirt with the collar standing up.  He has been wearing his shirts like that since he was about 2.  My daughter in law had her IPhone and snapped this one and sent to us.  The actual painting has richer colors but I still am having difficulty in certain light situations getting the photo to mimic the actual painting.

DPW Rose Challenge

 6 x 6 oil on gessobord

The Daily Paintworks Challenge for the week was this rose.   The photograph was posted on their website and each artist did their own rendition of it.  My personal favorites are the watercolor ones, they just have a delicate, more realistic look to them.  That being said.....this is my oil version - tough to do!  The petals were killers;  this rose was yellow in the middle transitioning to pale pink on the tips and in dramatic lighting!

Caroline and Friends

6 x 12 oil on linen panel

This is my granddaughter at her 6th birthday party (a swimming party) with her good friends enjoying pink cupcakes.   They were having the best time chatting and eating.  I wasn't going for a realistic rendering, just a gestural study actually.  Those are my favorite to paint.  I had to stop myself though to keep from overworking and making everything exact.  Now that I've posted this and reviewed, it's amazing how much better you can see features in the photo when you click on it to blow it up.  I worked from a 4" x 6".    I'll have to remember that in the future:   enlarge photo and then paint!