Picking Dhalias

Last night, I worked on this large canvas and added the Dhalia farmer to the equation. His son is in the background pushing a wheelbarrow.

Large Pink Dhalia and Wild Carrot

Spent the weekend in Quebec City. What a great place to go! Saw some inspiring work and had a great time except for the hurricane coming, hanging over our heads.

When I took the dog for a walk yesterday, I picked up this beautiful single dhalia which had been cut and discarded-too far gone to sell, I guess. Now, it's giving us a few days of pleasure. Actually painted in my studio instead of in the kitchen.

Bales-Late Evening

Our computer was down and the last days have been painting in a different way. I have done a massive reorganization of my studio. These things just need to be done sometime and it does give some creative satisfaction. Was washing windows yesterday and refilling bookshelves. The whole room looks so much brighter with the shelves all decked in white. I will post some pictures or come and take a look!

The evening light is very challenging and beautiful because it changes so fast!

Bales,Evening Light

After supper, I took some time to paint and this was the warm-up-just a little 8X10 . There isn't near as uch time as in June before the sun is down. The changes in the light on the field are absolutely gorgeous!

Straw Bales on the Back forty

This painting was great in taking the mind off our little one leaving! She left this morning and now I can paint all day and night if I want-silly. It tells us to be careful what you wish for! This was an absolutely wonderful scene and the shape of the bales is fun to do but challenging. The field does glow in the sun. When you look closely at the earth there are cracks in the soil because it's so dry!

The Barn and the Back forty

Jack baled the straw and yesterday was another beautiful day to drown my sorrows with painting. My husband told me to see the view from the hill at the back and he is right, it truly is something! This smaller painting was looking towards the barn. The field was just glowing in the sunlight. Tried a larger painting later. There was a great breeze which doesn't always work with a larger canvas.

Straw Field and Sky

I was waiting for Jack to bale the straw before painting this scene but the sky on Tuesday beckoned and challenged. This painting was done on a thin piece of plywood and the wind was drying the paint quickly and I found it very difficult to pull the paint across the board.

Dhalia Farm

The second painting done on Monday morning. The sky was overcast at first but later it cleared and cast lovely shadows on the dry earth.

Orange Dhalias

This Monday morning I had to go out and paint in order to take my mind off the imminent departure of the little sweetheart we've looked after for almost two years. Just four more nights and this one she's staying overnight at her home.
Our neighbour has a Dhalia operation-cut flowers and he let me know last week which days there would be the most flower. Everything cooperated and the time flew by! This was the practise painting to get a feel for the subject matter and the light reflection this morning.

Sunflower

I had to paint this sunflower this morning before the squirrels, chipmunks and birds finish it off or it falls over. Very interesting leaves and stem!

Hydrangea on Lid

This was painted on the lid of a memory box.

Single Sunflower

Here's a bit of sunshine on a gloomy day. The rain is sure welcome! We seemed to have missed out on many a shower that other areas received but now we're having a beautiful shower. Thank you!

Vase #3

This is the last attempt for now. The sunflowers do last in a vase!

Vase #2

This was the second attempt at the vase. Have a wonderful Sunday! Praise the Lord!

Sunflowers and Hydrangeas

This is the first of a series of sunflower paintings(lol). The painting surface hasn't changed but the vase has. Found the transparent flat glass to be very challenging and have tweaked it several times. See tomorrow's post.

Red Hollyhocks

This is a large hollyhock painting done as a commission. Rather than do the hollyhocks lengthwise, was asked to do a horizontal painting because that would suit the location on the wall.

Garden Rudbeckias

Painted these in the garden after our little one went to bed. They are always such a pleasing splash of bright colour that draws your eye-ahh "eyecatching" is the word!

Rudbeckia Bouquet

Seeing as it's too hot to paint outside, I gathered some flowers and a vase and "Voila!" more painting material and I can keep going after dark too. The flowers are fun to paint but find the vases a challenge!

Echinacea summer '11 brush

This is the same flower done with a brush and usually the second one is done with more confidence. Found myself getting frustrated with the lack of control with the knife and therefore breathing a sigh of relief when I had a brush in hand again. I found a florescent orange to tip the top of the cone.

Echinacea summer '11

I tried this little painting with a palette knife. Should have bought the really large jars of paint!