Same Song, Second Verse

12 x 16 oil on stretched canvas

A re-do of same reference photo (my hydrangeas from last summer).  They haven't started blooming this year.  I am trying to get some paintings ready for a show this weekend so I thought I would pull this one out again and try, try again!  

Hodgepodge

12 x 16 oil on canvas panel

Today's post is really a hodgepodge of techniques and experiments I attempted.  I had an OLD panel that has had about 4 previous paintings on it.  I used it to try out some new techniques such as mixing the paint on the painting itself straight from the tube, using some new brushes I picked up in Atlanta this past week, palette knife work, thick paint applications, etc.  The end result is ok but not something I am thrilled with.  I began by trying to paint in high key but abandoned that idea - just don't really know how artists such as Nancy Franke can achieve that....my strokes all blend into the background when I attempt.

Sanders' Hydrangeas

5 x 7 oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

This is a new painting from last summer's photograph of my pink hydrangeas.   It is mostly the same painting except with an additional year's practice at the easel.  My niece wanted the original but it had sold so I painted another for her.   There is a glare on this photo in the middle on the left side that isn't there in real life - late afternoon sun coming through my studio window.   The sun is shining brightly today - temp 98 degrees with a heat index of 105 - 108; it's HOT and HUMID!!!!!

Blue Hydrangeas

 5 x 7 oil on linen panel

Back to painting today - first time in a week!  I love hydrangeas but they are bugaboos to paint - so many petals!!!!   Mine were beautiful this year but have lost most of their color and are either drying out or just greenish looking.  These were from earlier in the summer.

Signs of Spring

12 x 16 oil on stretched canvas

More hydrangeas.....can't wait for mine to start blooming!

Hydrangeas II

 12 x 16 oil on stretched canvas

Still working on painting hydrangeas.....and still haven't gotten it yet.  They are blooming so beautifully now, I wish I could capture their subtle color changes.

Hydrangea Practice

 5 x 7 oil on gessobord

The title says it all!  I need major practice on flowers - something I love but have difficulty painting.  I get hung up on all those little petals :(   Two summers ago I bought what I thought was an "old fashioned" hydrangea bush but in reality it was some sort of miniature hydrangea and it only has pink blooms with tiny clusters closely knitted together.  I really wanted the older version that I remember from my childhood  that has blue, purple and pink all on the same bush!