a perfect match

Some things are just magical together, like peanut butter & jelly, like chocolate and wine, like complementary colors. They have such great energy as a team. I took this photo at Lancaster Central Market (which is worth a visit of you are ever in the area). Of course they caught my eye and I couldn't help but shoot some painting reference while making my purchase. Some people walk through market looking for something to eat, I walk through market looking for something to paint :)

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

Here are a couple of work-in-progress shots and my palette.

fresh

I have to be honest, thinking of what to say in my blog post is rarely my favorite thing to do. Far from it. Even when I have something worthwhile to say, putting it down on paper, so to speak, is never easy. Putting paint to paper, now that's a different story. This morning I read a blog on Lori Putnams blog by Jennifer McChristian which was a great morning painting lesson. There is always something to learn, just never enough time to fit it all in! So each day I try to learn new things and apply them. Some mornings, like today, I felt interrupted too often, and felt like my painting just wasn't coming together. The moment came when I had to move on to the next part of my day, and when I came back to take a second look, I was happy with my work. Sometimes you just have to walk away to gain perspective, a fresh perspective. In painting and in life... This 6" x 6" original oil painting is SOLD.

more and more gourds

Painting gourds has been such a fun adventure. No pressure, just pure fun. Gourds and gourds and more gourds. Each and every one is totally unique. Which adds to the fun. It's like a 3-dimensional canvas! And I love the mix of painting and design. These are a few for an order that I shipped out to a friend on Friday. I worked on more this weekend to take to Building Character later this week, just in time for First Friday in Downtown Lancaster!

running buddy

I came across this beautiful guy on my trail run a few weeks ago, and he was kind enough to stop and pose for me ( I always bring my phone on my runs just in case I find something beautiful to photograph!) This is a larger painting, 12"x12".

pumpkins

I worked on this a little bit more this painting this morning. I tried to let loose a little bit, and trust my "intuitive flow." See a great article on this here. Always one of my biggest challenges. I am hoping for lots of intuitive flow…something to aspire to! This painting is available for purchase, $55, unframed. Have an amazing day full of intuitive flow!

pumpkins

Every single painting I do, I learn so much, but when I begin I am never sure what my lesson will be. Not at all sure what I think of these pumpkins. Maybe just too monochromatic? Is it not loose and free enough? Not enough depth? I do love the little stem on the left, it really seems to come forward. I'm just not sure...

savannah's pumpking

This is a commissioned painting that I did over the weekend. It's starting to feel a little bit like fall!

colors of fall

My painting this morning is for "The Paint The Fall" Challenge on Daily Paintworks. You can go check out all of the entries from my link. It is nice to feel excited about fall, this is the wonderful part when everything is beautiful and the weather is great. Hope you have an amazing day! This painting is available. 7"x5". $65 unframed.

pumpkin

I painted this for the first day of fall (yesterday). Pumpkins are one of the wonderful visual treats of the fall season.

Of autumn's wine, now drink your fill; the frost's on the pumpkin, and snow's on the hill. - The Old Farmer's Almanac, 1993

This original painting is 5"x7", $80 unframed.

rough around the edges

So I found this pinecone while on a run the other day and just had to stop and pick it up. Great painting inspiration but it wasn't easy running the next three miles with it in my hand...well worth it in the end, I think. Maybe I need to carry a cute running bag to put things in that I find along the way. 4"x4" $50 unframed.

falling

So now I've had two painting in a row that I'm not pleased with. I will post them on my blog, because maybe someone will be kind enough to give me pointers. And I may try painting each of them again so see if there is anything to be learned in the process. I do think it would be good to paint the same thing again and again to see what happens. I guess that really is a luxury of working on these tiny pieces of artwork...so any pointers or comments are welcome. Here's to half-way, day 15!

collapse into fall

and all at once,summer collapsed into fall

7"x5" $80, available for purchase.