# 18 of 60 paintings in 60 days for $60

Number 18 is one of my favorites! Peonies are such short lived flowers and like lilacs, I just love their fragrance.

 

 The best way to preserve their beauty and the joy they bring is to paint them!

 

 

# 18 Peony Rose 6 x 6" oil on panel (from life)

 

 

$60

 



Red Kiss #1

I have been planning to try these little paintings for quite some time, but somehow they just never materialized. I so wanted to paint on some large paintings yesterday, but my neck and shoulder had other ideas. Now normally, I would just remind them who is boss and do what I want anyhow. They have proved to me enough, that they are really in control. So I decided a compromise and do this little kiss painting.

What fun!                                                     Red Kiss #1

           
                                                            2 5/8  X  2 7/8"     oil on wood

I love painting on this surface! Rather expensive for a full sheet but worth it! MDO sign board.
It has a paper surface that is a golden brown midtone and it takes the oil paint beautifully. I don't have to prep it any way. Just cut it to size, sand the edges and ready to paint! I think I will have fun coming up with something from the home improvement store to act as a frame.

Give a kiss to someone YOU love...........................: )       Ruth Ann

planning studio time

Why does it seem that most men artists have no problem getting to the studio to work? Is it because they have tunnel vision and don't get distracted? Is it because they are not usually responsible for cooking, cleaning,doing the laundry, taking care of the kids, etc on a daily basis?

I wonder if it is gender related that they can have such focus. I truly wish I knew the answer to that one.I am hoping by planning, that I can get more effective and productive studio time. I am working at eliminating some bad habits and trying to develop better ones; such as developing some "tunnel vision".

I dislike being able to be so easily distracted. Once I am 'in the zone', that rarely happens but there is so much preliminary work to be done before I can reach that zone. So today I decided to speed it up a little by using a set up for my oil painting series '30 paintings in 30 days', for my watercolor class.

It was wonderful! As I had already decided to keep it simple and use only three primary colors; New Gambouge, Permanent Rose and Antwerp Blue......it sped things up and I was able to get to 'the zone' fairly quickly. What fun! Now the sample for the class is done. It took SO much more time to get it all ready and type up the sign up sheet than to paint the painting! That is the part that I wished I could hire someone to do. I think I will have to brainstorm on that idea!

This was great fun to do in watercolor! It needed to be simple and quick.

 I am providing all the supplies for a 2 hour class...one fee....show up with enthusiasm and go home with a painting!

Now...................back to the studio!

Thanks for looking............good day, Ruth Ann

Shipping your art

I am catching up on things, gearing up for another burst of energy in the studio. One of those not planned, was our "baby", Sedona, a tri-colored cockapoo, wasn't feeling well and needed to see the vet. She is fine after some meds, but just couldn't get started on much today, as I was hovering over her, just like a worried mother does.

So I was able to get a painting to be shipped. I love this part! Trying to present it in the best way possible, so it is a real treat when they open it. This one is being shipped to a B & B, so I hope the owner   gets a look at it before the recipient leaves with it.

I had to make a new 'certificate of authenticity' today, since my old programs won't work on this laptop. All that work has to be done again! Computers...a love/hate relationship.

I did manage to get it done and packaged the painting up in special paper with a gold seal and tied with a delicate ribbon. I always include my bio and a couple of business cards. A thank you card is also usually included, featuring an image of the purchased painting. These little touches mean a lot and are great fun to do. Tomorrow it is off to the post office! I use USPS for the smaller ones and then UPS or FedX for larger pieces.

I will head to the studio tomorrow to start on a watercolor of the tulip that I did in oils. I will be teaching that one soon.I was also able to snap a few photos of the tulips today as the sun would peek out, sending wonderful shafts of colorful light through the stained glass windows in the dining room.

May the sunshine always shine on your face and may the wind always be at your back,,,,,,,,,

until tomorrow...........Ruth Ann

Painting # 23 Sharing the Spotlight

Shopping is fun, but sure takes up a lot of studio time!  People probably thought I was really strange, as I picked through the cherries to get just the right ones; some really dark, some with great lights and of course, many with stems!

That was only part of it...then to choose how to present them! I tried several containers and may paint a few of them. Today, the little cut glass was the one to 'share the spotlight'.

I started out using too much medium, so I had to wait to let it dry; as we were having a thunderstorm and torrential rain with howling winds, it was taking a good long time to dry enough so that I could work on it. Still not quite what I was going for but not a bad effort for the day...

...............now I go eat those luscious cherries!  Have a wonderful evening!

Sharing the Spotlight     5 x 7" oil on panel   

Painting #22...... Taking Time to Smell the Roses

As I promised earlier this week, I was going to paint some of my favorite gifts.

This is my most treasured gift from a fellow artist! Gary Hovey presented me with this rose, at a show that our art group put on, as I had asked him to be our featured artist, with his stunning and amazing silverware sculptures.

May you be blessed as well and often as you bless others, Gary!

Taking Time to Smell the Roses       5 x 7"  NFS

The hummingbird was a joint venture that Gary and I did, as he tried, so graciously, to teach me to weld. I think I will leave the welding to Gary!

Thanks for the memory,,,,,,,

#15 Good Morning, Sunshine

Sunshine! What a beautiful thing! Even when it is barely in the teens outside, I find it so uplifting to see the sun shining brightly. My husband bought these tulips for me yesterday and I wanted to capture them in the glow of the morning sun and the stained glass windows of my dining room.

It is a very high key painting; quite different from yesterday's, but it was how I felt today. I learned a bit from it and although it isn't perfection, it turned out okay. I think tomorrow's painting will be much simpler.....

Good Morning, Sunshine     5 x 7" oil on panel  

Here's hoping there is a ray of sunshine in your day..........

#11 "Hangin' on by a thread..."

Some colors are just elusive to me. I needed a studio buddy today to be there to hold my arm with the brush and just say "STOP!".................."look"...........................then "listen"........ to what your instincts tell you. All of that after a good break to cleanse the eyes and relax the arm and brain!

Instead, I was alone and chose to "fiddle" with the colors, etc..., until I had muddied most of it up. All I can say is, I sure put in the work today.

The bright side is, I am thoroughly enjoying the process ( most of the time). It is pretty impressive to see how much work I have done in January already.

"Hangin' on by a thread..."      5 x 7"      oil on panel     

The colors aren't quite right on this but I can't seem to get them like the painting.

Some pigments  are just that way.

Thanks for looking....