The Music is Good.  That's what she said as she got comfortable in her pose.  Then I could see that she was into it.  I love the graceful lines and unusual color scheme.  I took just a few colors to attempt my first acrylic painting at our life painting session.  I will make  a few changes, but I don't want to lose the freshness of the direct painting experience.  The music is good. 

My inspiration! 

These are Ranunculus.  As you can see from these two photos, I continue to paint shapes that redefine areas and create the illusion of space.  The flowers have color on them, but still have the appearance of being soft and white.  I am not quite finished with this painting, but I need to stop and study it before adding the last touches.  I may scrub out some of the dark shapes and I am still not sure about the background.  I originally wanted to cut the paper to make it smaller, but then added the lattice work for contrast. 

Process, process, process!  Here is the beginning of a new watercolor.  I feel the need to get as much out of the flowers as I can.  And they change so quickly that I need to complete paintings, or at least get them to a stage where I no longer need the real deal to finish.  I love to work from life, whether it be a flower or a figure.  I don't mind a photo, but definitely prefer studying a thing or person sitting with me.  It is just a fun way to discover the shapes of things.  Anyway, I plan to add to this one and show the process.

I started on a piece of watercolor paper that I thoroughly wet on both sides.  I used some nice thick, juicy paints, since I had so much water on the paper already.  I used a lovely green gold  and added orange and cerulean blue.  I didn't draw on the paper before I started, but I knew where I wanted the flowers.  I wiped out the white areas with a clean wet brush.  As the paper began to dry, I was able to add purple to the shadow side of the flowers.  I thought about the shape of the petals and the warm side and cool side of the shapes. 

I am at a good stopping place because the paint should be dry when I go back into the painting.  Tomorrow, I will continue to carve out my shapes and design my painting until it looks finished.  With any luck, someone will take the brush out of my hand before I overdo it.   

Orange Slices is my first in a new series of acrylics.  I am using realistic, organic shapes, and contrasting geometric shapes for added interest.  Again, I am using secondary colors with whites and I really like this combination.  This one has a little more gray than most of my works have, and I like it and plan to use gray more often.  I picked this bouquet up at the grocery store.  They put together some wonderful combinations.  After the orange daisies wilted, some nice yellow lilies blossomed.  I had flowers for inspiration for many days. 

Here is a new painting for spring.  I am calling it Whites in a Jar.  I am having fun with shapes these days.  With this piece, I not only added the geometric shape for contrast, I also added the round, lacy doily too, and that was fun.  I will definitely be using that doily again.  I wanted to let a little process show through, so I didn't paint over the drips.  The colors are my favorite element in this piece.  I am loving secondary colors these days.

I call this one Sues' Favorite because my good friend Sue likes it best of all my poppy paintings.  This one is watercolor and acrylic on watercolor paper.  I wish I had a booth at the Poppy Festival this year, but I don't.  You'll just have to see my paintings at Stinger Studio or Franklin Fine Jewelers in Georgetown.  I will be having a show with Sue Gray at the Vineyards in Florence next month with the opening on April 13.  It should be lots of fun.  I am off to paint more flowers!

It is that time of year.  We know that a drive around certain parts of Georgetown will soon bring us to these unexpected spots with brilliant red poppies and then our big festival is just around the corner.  I love the Poppy Festival and I also love to paint poppies.  This watercolor is called Georgetown Poppies.