There’s nothing better than a sunny summer morning. It always makes me smile. “Smile” is an original oil painting of beautiful ranunculus. Hope they bring a smile to your face, too!

This original oil painting is 6″x6″ square and painted on 2″ raised panel with the sides painted gold

This painting is available here. 

You can see more of my original paintings here. Enjoy!

Compassion. It’s something I’ve been giving a lot of thought to lately, and how to tie my art into giving…and compassion. It’s something I do every day anyway, but I’d love to tie my painting into being more than a something pretty to live with, but to grow my art into a way of giving back…

This original painting is 6″x6″ square, painted on 1\8″ panel, ready for framing, and sold unframed, but frame is available for an additional cost…

You can see this and more of my original paintings here. Enjoy!

lisianthus

This original 6"x6" oil painting on gesso panel and is amiable, unframed, for $100 here.

love beyond measure

This original 6"x6" oil painting on panel is available, unframed, for $100 here.

I treated myself to flowers...just because it’s valentine week...just because I love silver dollar eucalyptus...just because I needed something fun to paint today...just because. Will you treat yourself to something special this week, just because? This 6"x6" original oil painting on gesso panel is available, unframed, for $100 here.

Perpetual Optimism original oil painting by Kim Smith

This gorgeous hellebores oil painting on gesso panel is 6"x6" and available, unframed, for $100 here.

Iris, original oil painting by Kim Smith

This original 6"x6" oil painting is painted on gesso panel and sold, unframed, for $100 here.

magic

All we need is a little bit of magic to push us to the next great painting, or the next wonderful opportunity, keeping our eyes wide open, we don't miss it is all it takes. Be still, be quiet, and listen for it, it's just around the corner. Trust me!

This original 6"x6" oil painting on ⅛" gesso panel is available, unframed, for $100 here.

ranunculus

Ranunculus is an original 6"x6" oil painting on ⅛" gesso panel and is sold, unframed, for $100 here.

chasing happy

This original 6"x6" oil painting on ⅛" gesso panel is SOLD.

simplicity

I am always striving for simplicity, in my art and in my life. Why is it so darned hard to achieve?
This original 6"x6" oil painting on ⅛" gesso panel is available, unframed, for $100 here.

purple tulips

Painting Purple Tulips means it's finally it's beginning to feel like springtime. Nothing makes me happier than seeing all the flowers pushing up from the ground knowing that I will have endless painting inspiration right at my fingertips for the next several months. The only challenge is that there seems to be less time to paint because of all the other things that come along with warmer weather...but it's all good.

Purple Tulips is an original 10"x10" oil painting on 1/8" gesso panel and is available, unframed, for $230 here. It can also be framed, for an additional cost, if you'd like, just message me if you are interested.

marigold

Marigold

Here are a few fun facts about Marigolds that you may not know...

1. All in the Family — Based on their golden colors, plethora of petals and pretty, symmetrical shape, you can tell they're part of the Asteraceae family, which also includes such delightful blooms as daisies, asters and sunflowers!

2. A Floral Beauty Fix — Marigolds are known for being healing, especially for the skin and eyes. In ointment form, these flowers are used to help treat everything from varicose veins to skin lesions. Plus, they're often included in cosmetics because of their restorative properties. When it comes to eye health, marigolds are thought to help prevent age-related macular degeneration because they contain luteins, which are important nutrients found in many foods.

3. Aztec Lore — Calendula blossoms are native to the Americas, and the Aztecs loved the charming blossoms as much as we do today. Members of the ancient culture actually believed marigolds were protective, so they carried them during dangerous tasks and used them to help heal critical injuries. Marigolds are also the official flower for Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico because of their vibrancy and aroma!

4. Bugs, Be Gone — Marigolds are resistant to a lot of insects. Because the flowers have such a strong scent, many pests try to avoid gardens and other areas where they're growing. Many people even plant them around the edges of their gardens to keep pests out.

5. The Flower of the Rains — It isn't just the Aztecs that have attached lore to this pretty flower. Some believe that the flower can predict when it will rain – if the blossoms open in the morning, it's said there will be rain later in the day.

"Marigold" is an original one-of-a-kind oil painting on 6"x6" gesso panel. It is available for purchase for $100, unframed, here.

cattywampus

Cattywampus. A great word. One of those words that sound like what it means. What are those words called? Cattywampus means not lined up or arranged correctly. Just like anything truly beautiful in life. All of the good things in life are cattywampus...

This original 6"x6" oil painting on ⅛" gesso panel is sold, unframed, for $100 in my Etsy shop here.

Peony

Peony, my early morning painting, and a great thought for all of my artist and freelancer friends from Seth Godin...a great way to start the day...

Freelancers (and artists) of all kinds need to be in a hurry. Not a hurry to give in to one-sided deals and lousy clients. Instead, we need to be in a hurry to share our bravest work, in a hurry to lean into the opportunity, in a hurry to make work that people would miss if it were gone.

I, for one, am always in a hurry, not because I want to be, but because I feel I need to be to keep my head above water. I do think I'm in  a hurry for the wrong reasons...I'd much rather be in a hurry to make work that people would miss if it were gone...

Peony is an original 6"x6" oil painting on ⅛" gesso panel, and is available, unframed, for $100 in my Etsy shop here.

sunny side up

My daily small paintings give me an opportunity focus on learning different aspects of painting. This morning I focused on creating dimension. Sometimes it comes naturally, and sometimes I can't make it work. I feel like there's something about it that doesn't always click with me. Maybe it's the warm/cool thing, which I can't always clearly see. Maybe it's transitional values that challenge me. Not sure. But I think it worked in this one. And I also focused on putting down a brush stroke and leaving it, not moving the paint around on the canvas. Success!

Are you challenged with these same things? Or something different?

This original 6"x6" oil painting on ⅛" gesso panel is available, unframed, for $95 here.

hydrangea

A perfectly nestled hydrangea flower. Too beautiful not to paint! I was trying to keep loose brushstrokes but found it super difficult on the little details. My constant challenge is not to overwork it... This original 6"x6" oil painting is available, unframed, here.

trying to find the silver lining

This original 6"x6" oil painting is available, unframed, for $85 here. Click to Bid

petunias

So, quite honestly, I think Petunia is just an absolutely adorable word. Right? I went shopping for annuals for work and for home and found these gorgeous yellowish, greenish, pinkish petunias, a color challenge, for sure! This original 8"x8" oil painting is sold.

smitten

Busy week. Not much time to paint. Good thing is that when I do find the time I appreciate it so much more. Feeling grateful that I have something to do that I love so much. My day job is filled with details...and doing my very best to figure out what my clients want/like/need (not that I mind, I love my clients!) but it's such a treat to have my time to paint and create where none of that matters. Happy Friday! Click to Bid