Blooming Sunshine

 

This is the first year I noticed the delicate budding of the Black Eyed Susan. Usually they appear from one day to the next and this year they took their good ole time!

En Plein Air

I've been waiting for good weather and the flowers to bloom so we can take inspiration from one of my favorite American artists, Georgia O'Keeffe. 

I'm so excited that this day in June became the perfect day for it...sketching and painting outdoors with dear friends! The flower garden was at its peek for peony, Japanese iris, poppy and blue flax. We all found a flower that spoke to us, sketched it and began painting. All the paintings spoke beautifully of the strength of the delicate petals and the boldness of color.

Japanese Iris

Budding Peony

This one was painted by Mila and hours later when everyone was headed home, we noticed the bud, had flowered!

Fruit Bowl

I finished the Japanese Iris painting over the next couple days and while I was painting, Enzo took a canvas and painted Fruit Bowl.

Georgia O'Keeffe: http://www.okeeffemuseum.org/natural-and-still-life-forms.html

Dots

A rainy day was spent with dear friends painting and chatting around a large wooden table with brushes filled with many colors transforming the gray day into a creative colorful experience.

Blue Whale

 Sting Ray

 Fox Long Ears

The following beauties painted by my daughter, Mila.

Flowers

Circles

Pink Splash

Painting à la American artist, Vance Kirkland was not only meditative, it reminded me of the hours upon hours filling in multiple images in the coloring books of many years ago.

The process began with a painted layer of different colors, followed by a splatter of color and then for the relaxing part, placing dots close together to create additional varied shapes.  As I was covering the canvas with dots, I noticed images begin to emerge and was compelled to accentuate them as the titles suggest. 
I would like to add that the bubble gum pink in the first three painting were perfectly inspired by the sweetest three year old girl sitting next to me.

Also, the "splash" in the last art work, painted by my daughter, reminds me of the David Hockney painting, A Bigger Splash. 

  

Take a peek at Vance Kirkland art: http://www.kirklandmuseum.org/pages/collections/main.php?page=vanceKirk

Also, David Hockney, The Bigger Splash, 1967. http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/hockney-a-bigger-splash-t03254

Windows to the Sky

    

While driving out in the country we notice a structure being built on the upward curve of the road. The tall white walls command the space while all the fields fall by it's side. At this moment, the openings frame the sky like a painting. Along with this thought, the blue and white colors and the sharp lines remind me of the American painter, Georgia O'Keefe. 

I forgot my camera today, but will be back.

Driftwood

I love creating and what better way to enjoy making art is with others... I had a few ideas and all the materials set up outside on the patio. A beautiful warm sunny day surrounded by driftwood, beads, chatting and nibbling on yummy foods. We began with constructing mobiles with wire, beads and driftwood. Everyone was so pleased with what they made and as they finished, knew the exact home for them.  My daughter's creation above, glows with the evening sun.

 

There were a couple more ideas that we didn't have time to make, though I continued to be in the creating mood and began to paint, paint, paint! I began with a pastel palette which was inspired by artist, Jessica Turnbow. When collecting art ideas earlier this year, this was one that I was drawn to explore! One, because I have a large collection of Lake Superior driftwood and secondly, I love "candy color"!

While painting with the pastel colors I began looking at a couple different colors of paints that were sitting next to each other and concurrently thought about my daughter's creation in which she drew a geometric design on a white leather wristlet. I had to try it! 

As I wanted to experiment more, I thought about other patterns and color combinations that attract my eye. I knew I wanted to use a herringbone pattern, but what colors? I decided on colors that make up one of my favorite outfits to wear at the moment, gray, dark blue, red and mustard yellow.

For the last idea I found inspiration from artist, Jewell Praying Wolf James. When looking through the driftwood, often an animal image would come to mind or sometimes it would be a boat, a figure or even a teapot. For this one I initially saw a bear, though as I was painting, it turned into this cute little one, a chipmunk! 

If you are interested to know more about the artists mentioned....

Jessica Turnbow, http://www.jessicaturnbow.com/  https://www.etsy.com/shop/bonjourfrenchie/about?ref=shopinfo_about_leftnav

Jewell Praying Wolf James, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices/exhibition/healing-totem/about-the-artist.html

Spring Color

 

Rain showers really do bring flowers and paints the outdoors with a vivid green. Every year the color arrives differently and this time the vibrancy was unforgettable. It seemed that the change was not to arrive and then all of sudden it was magnified, popping and unfolding quickly from day to day.

One of my many joys is to stroll and pause among the gardens or to look out the window for a few moments while passing from one activity to another and notice the beauty of nature. 

It's a breath of serenity.

If you like puzzles, I noticed two little creatures. Let me know if you find them or even a third one!

Goat and Rabbit

Goat

Rabbit

Rabbit with Flowers

A fun time was shared creating these paintings! Two ideas were united as one, a crackle paint technique for the background or frame and an animal portrait using paint and old pages from a book.

While making several crackle paint bases for the cut out images, an exciting discovery was made. Depending how the glue is applied, vertically or dribbled on in randomness, the cracks followed. The ideas are overflowing! 

To create the crackle effect, paint on a thin layer of paint so it will dry quickly. Next, dribble or smear on an ample layer of Elmer's glue. It needs to stay wet while gently painting on the last layer of color. The paint begins to pull apart because the glue and the paint dry at different rates. The results begin to show relatively quickly though the entire drying process may take several hours.

Glimpse of a City

Driving through Minneapolis, quick snapshots through the car window delighted the senses.

Painting with Photography

This series began with a happy accident...and turned into an exploration in photography.