Lastest funny off the easel — in my occasional effort to humanize toothbrushes! Composition is a bit too busy but . . . it is what it is.
Toothiness 2 – NO, Mama, NO! Oil on Primed Arches Oil Paper. 8″x10″.
Continuing with my flower binge, here’s another I finished today — of some sweet white calla lilies.. I hope you like it!
#19 White Calla Lilies. Oil on Primed Arches Oil Paper. 10″ x 8″.
It would be impossible to retrace our workshop footsteps and recount all of our painting triumphs and pratfalls, so I’ll just say: WATER and WILDLIFE! We spent every day painting by beautiful waters ~~ the old Ocean Springs harbor, the gentle marshes of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, the sparkling Ocean Springs beaches and the marshy streams meandering down to the shore. Here are a few shots of the waters we enjoyed.
And as for the wildlife, there was a feast for the eyes ~~ from bombardier pelicans, sunning alligators, eel-gulping herons, osprey, crab and who knows what else. And I guess we have to count as ‘wildlife’ the daring youngsters, male and female, who paddle boarded within feet of the alligator after he decided to take a dip in the harbor.
In writing my last post, I realized I hadn’t described our recent workshop in any detail. It was great ~~ a delightful mix of ‘7 Palettes‘ painting buddies and Kathy Stowe, another Maryland-based friend; two of my sisters (Ceci & Susan); and three other Coast-based artists — Marylyn Gibson, Sherry Carlson and Curtis Jaunsen. And of course our most excellent instructor, Marc Hanson.
Marc and Terry Miura are two of my most favorite landscape painters (not to take anything away from our outstanding MD-based artists). Painting ‘rock stars’ in my book. I’ve taken workshops with each of them and our 7Ps group sponsored a workshop with Terry not long ago. It was fun to learn that they both trained at the same school in California! Must be something in the water (or the OMG) out there!
Here are the beautiful demos that Marc did during our four day workshop. I bought ‘On Canal by Old OS Harbor’ as a memento of the wonderful experience.
My hubby and I stick our toothbrushes into a tarnished old holder in between brushings. Awhile back, I started paying attention to how they’re standing ~~ are they facing each other leaning in for a kiss? Are they turned away from each other? Is one facing away while the other looks on?
It’s been fun anthropomorphizing these humble objects. I’ve even started noticing brush positions at other folks’ homes — family, mind you, not friends!! I’ve taken photos of some of these little vignettes and even crafted some arrangements. They’re a form of truthiness — errrr toothiness, right?? Or am I just crazy?
Here’s a painting of our ancient holder and current brushes, from life . . . .
#18. Toothiness I. Oil on Arches Oil Paper. 8″ x 10″.
Before the recent workshop on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I tried to get in the groove by painting one of the places we would visit there. I call it ‘Susan’s Marsh’ because it was based on a photo my sister took in showing us potential venues. I didn’t finish it then, but did so a couple of weeks ago so I could include it in our new Maplewood Exhibit. I decided to spice it up a bit by adding a heron — it was looking a bit too tranquil without it!
This hibiscus was growing in my sister’s yard. I generally shy away from screaming colors but, hey, this one was trying SO hard I just had to snap its portrait and paint it. We may need sunglasses for this one!
Neon Hibiscus. Oil on Primed Arches Oil Paper. 20″ x 8″.
Reference Photo
We’ve got a beautiful fluffy pink smoke bush in our front yard. It’s only a few years old but it’s grown huge. Its color is very interesting. Not ‘PINK pink’, but something fairly indescribable. I can show you better with my brush than with my words. I also give you a few photos below to get a sense of what I was looking at when I painted this one live.
Some years ago I took a workshop from nationally known artist Carolyn Anderson. One of our tasks was to paint an interpretation based on one of her stash of photos that she uses for inspiration. I selected the one I liked and did a nice start, I thought. I’ve always liked that old painting and decided to finish it up last week. It only took a few minutes. Ahhhhh. That felt good! Here it is and below that, its state before the touch-up, as well as the reference photo.
Yesterday, some friends and I, who collaborate on all things art as The 7 Palettes, opened a new exhibit in Bethesda, Maryland. Our art — some 40+ pieces — will be displayed for three months at Maplewood Park Place on Old Georgetown Road. Come see our pretties, please — any day between now and August 24, from 10 to 4 daily. And congratulations to Sara Becker, whose large abstract painting sold during the Opening Reception!! Way to go, Sara!
