Yellow Rose of promise

The weekly DailyPaintWorks challenge is to paint a Rose. I have a few neglected Rose bushes in my backyard. The heat has probably chased away even Mrs. Greenthumbs. I found a few blooms and a couple of buds to photograph.

Another look

I did this painting in watercolor from a photo taken of an impending storm. This is my oil version. It was the atmosphere of electricity that I was feeling while working on the sky. I have been thinking of focusing on skies and seascapes. There is just a range of moods conveyed in the sea and sky. Serenity, peace, calm, meditation paradise. In a moment that can change to angry, turbulent, blown of your feet, crushed by waves, all wonderful emotions!

The color spectrum is always changing in the clouds and sea. My favorite color palette is the gloaming at sunset. I love the reflective color in the crest of a wave and the pink, orange hue in the foam at sunset. Even in the deep grey of Winter, you can find color at sunrise and sunset, well, only a few in the Great Lakes region.

Rantings of a beach person.

Primary Colors

This DPW challenge was very deceptive. At first glance painting this photo in primary colors and using 3 values, seemed so easy. I am very out of practice, and probably spoiled, regarding color mixing.The biggest challenge for me was not using white. I did some scraping, added more medium. Very difficult. I decided it was impossible to avoid not using white and only used a dab here and there.

I love this subject. I have twin Grandsons that in a few days will be 6 months old. Can I tell you I hope to spend many summer days at the beach with the boys when they get a little older? I lived in Florida while my own children were growing, our best memories are at the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. No electronics, just discoveries, wonderful conversation and buckets of laughter.

Summer Breeze

I know a lot of people are not fans of the summer heat. Beach people tolerate the heat better than most creatures. My cats stretch out under the ceiling fan, how nice to not have to move, ever. In another life, I hope to have a small cottage on the beach. I could listen to crashing waves and the snap of the brisk wind thru the curtains all day, every day. A glass of wine would complete this picture in my head.

Here are my recent grocery store treasures.

Small Painting

The challenge this week is to paint very small. 2.5 by 3.5. Made popular by The Artists Trading Cards of recent, this is harder than it seems but fun.

This painting was inspired by a group of Birch trees on Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania.

Inspiration in the grocery store.

I only hope that there are other people who shop the produce department of their local grocery store for painting inspiration. The next subject will be that perfect bunch of asparagus with its lovely blue rubber bands.

I found these wonderful cherries in the sunshine hard to resist.

Excitement

My muse is definitely Lake Erie. Misunderstood, in the past the object of many jokes. I find it's beauty mysterious, ever changing, and a constant source of inspiration.

If I was not a painter, my second choice in life for favorite past time would be a storm chaser. On the day I took this photograph, a severe weather statement was issued for Presque Isle. I grabbed my camera and took an amazing set of photos. I love when a storm bellows in across the lake. You can see it coming, the winds pick up in seconds and a colorful sunset can change its pallet in a blink. I love it.

For the DPW challenge of painting my muse, Lake Erie Storm Warning.