Yes, I finally painted a large landscape with bluebonnets (30" x 40").  I love the soft colors of spring and with a little rain and these cooler temps, I can't help but think about a walk through the wildflowers.  Aaahchoo!  I might as well get that out of the way.  It is too bad that just looking at a painting of wildflowers makes me think of allergies.  Oh well, I hope it is worth it.  This one is Walking Through Bluebonnets, and it will be hanging out at the Vineyards in Florence, Texas along with other floral pieces by Sue Nosler Gray and me.  The opening is next Friday and I am going to enjoy a nice glass of wine.  Yeah!

I made a few changes.  I am probably the only person who will notice them, but I am happier now.  Aah, those negative spaces!

Breezy Poppies is my newest poppy painting.  I just finished this one and it a large acrylic piece that I hope conveys the feeling of a windy, spring day.  I always want my poppies to feel light and airy and affected by their surroundings.  My process these days is to start loose, go tight and then lose edges that attract too much attention.  As loose at it is, every stroke is carefully considered and intentional.  Lol.  I also go from warm to cool to warm again.  I wish I could find a shortcut! 

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.