fun raiser

"Fun Raiser" 12x12 acrylic on acrylic paper
Last night was Oliver Art Center's Fun-Raiser. I painted live and donated the painting to the silent auction. I tend to say YES before I realize what I've gotten myself into. Let's just say it's a bit intimidating to be painting in front of a large group...and let's just add on the auction sheet sitting next to you... luckily I didn't have to wait too too long before there was some bidding. Aaaack! I worked on two paintings at a time, and the winner get's to pick their favorite after there are a couple of finishing touches, varnished and framed. This one is the first one dry....I'll post the other one tomorrow, and let you know which one they picked.

here kitty kitty

"Here Kitty Kitty"  12x12  Acrylic and oil bar on Canvas Panel
I don't have a cat. I have never had a cat. But I do really like cats. How long do you think this bouquet will tempt him before he needs to swat it?
Add caption
Woke up this morning and decided that the kitty paws could use a bit of a shadow...and added a couple of dotty stuff on the far left to repeat the white dotty stuff... Hardly EVER go back once it's signed, but couldn't leave it be.

bouquet on dots

Bouquet on Dots ~12x12~ acrylic on canvas panel
I'll be painting bouquets for the next week. Practicing for a live painting event at the Oliver Art Center in Frankfort, MI next Friday night. I used a limited palette.... Quinacridone Crimson, Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold, Thalo Turquoise and white. (Mary Todd Beam's favorite palette)
I like painting these...Does it show? :-)

farmer's market

Farmer's Market Bouquet ~ 12 x 12 ~ mixed media
We had some friends come and visit us over the weekend... and one of the things we enjoyed was the Frankfort (MI) farmer's market on Saturday. Our friends bought us this charming bouquet from one of the stalls. It was hard to pick out one... they were all just so fresh and beautiful. I thoroughly love fresh flowers...and a mixed summery bouquet is my favorite.

This painting started out on a bright orange background... and finished up with some oil pastel marks.

I'm trying to get in a painting session each day over the next few weeks... I'm going to be painting LIVE at a fundraiser on August 8th. Need to work the kinks out. (yikes)

Kroger Bouquet

# 67 Kroger Bouquet~ 12x9~ acrylic on Yupo

Yesterday, I intended to drive to a local nursery green house to pick up some potted plants to paint... hoping for flowering plants...Freesia, or something inspiring. I only made it as far as the corner Kroger (our local supermarket). I did this quick (20 minute?) painting at the tail end of my painting day from the bouquet I got there....(I worked most of the day on a large poppy painting that I'm more excited about)
The set up would have liked some more dramatic lighting... a spot light would have been nice. This is what it looks like with flat, even, daylight fluorescents. :-)  I sort of like the color combo though... it's different for me.

Hot Stuff

#27 Hot Stuff  7x5 acrylic and colored pencil
I spent all day yesterday, painting. And I have nothing that I want to show you. Some days are like that... luckily not too many of them. It's painful to watch. Hopefully today will be different. This is one that I hadn't posted from last week. Thanks goodness I have a few waiting in the wings for days like yesterday. :-)

Midnight Bouquet

I had started this one as a demo for my Acrylic 101 class at Crystal Lake Art Center... and finished it last week. Kind of a fun color combo. The painting started on a purple and magenta background, and I think that's why the colors seem to glow. I just put this one up for sale on Etsy if you're interested.

Bouquet in the Grass... Collage!


"Bouquet in the Grass"
6 x 6
Acrylic and Collage on paper

My good friend Sarnia Sue has been my "Food and Drink" magazine supplier for quite a few years. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) puts out these beautiful magazines about 6 times a year. They are full of gorgeous recipes for food and drinks...the photography is fantastic. They even suggest music that you might want to listen to while you eat and drink! My kind of publication...and here's the best part... They are free to anyone that pops into the LCBO stores.

So, what does all that have to do with anything?... Well, the above collage paper was taken from my treasured Food and Drink magazines. Can you spy the onion ring flowers? :) I've saved each and every one she's sent... And since I'm beginning to realize that I can't hold onto EVERYTHING (moving does that to a person).... I've compromised with myself here. I'll be turning my "Food and Drinks" into small collages. :)

Thanks again Sue!

ps... Here's a link to an online version of Food and Drink.... enjoy!

Southwest Bouquet


"Southwest Bouquet"
7 x 5"
Acrylic on college paper

I'm experimenting with different color combination's. A bouquet is just the easiest subject to play around with different ideas.

Have a watercolor class at JoAnn's tonight. Looking forward to meeting new painters. :)

Back to Warm-ups!



"Teal and Golden Bouquet" (catchy title! LOL)
5.5 x 7.5 inches
Acrylic on fabric glued to watercolor paper.

I am still working on the High Road series...but did a few warm-ups today. This one has very unusual colors for me.... I really like painting on the batik quilt fabric (glued to the paper) What a dynamic under-painting! I would be more pleased if I had left just a bit more of the fabric on left side of the bouquet...oh well... I guess that's why they are called "warm-ups!"

Quote of the Day:
Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere.
~Erma Bombeck