PENGUIN CACTI

Cacti
oil 20" x 24" canvas
click on image to enlarge

A friend of mine who is a photographer visited my studio a few weeks ago, and when I showed him the photo I used as reference for this painting, he thought the cacti looked like penguins. I have to agree...they do! Since I don't know what type of cactus this is, I'll just think of them as penguin cacti for now. :-)


I just picked up some more canvasses on Friday, so I am ready to begin a new piece...but I'll have to wait till later in the week. I have lots of meetings and appointments over the next few days.

PROGRESS IS BEING MADE

still working on this...click to enlarge

This piece is coming along beautifully. I can just FEEL the hot sun beating down on these cacti. I just need to let this set up for a couple of days, and then I will be ready to add the dark edges and spikes, and a few other details. Yay!!!

CACTI IN PROGRESS

On my easel; click to enlarge

I am so happy because I actually got to paint today! I was feeling a bit "down" the past few days, so I knew I really needed to get into my studio, turn up the music, and just paint! A few hours later, and this is the result - about 2/3rds done with this 20" x 24" cacti piece. I am so pleased with how it is coming along.


Last night my dog was barking in the back yard, so we went to the window to see what was the problem. There was a large female moose, with 2 scars - one on her neck and another on her side. (She was here again this afternoon, so the kids have named her Scaretta. Creative!) Later in the night, just before bed, I heard something at the bird feeders. It was another porcupine. Time to put the dogs were inside for the night! Even though they may be a nuisance to our dogs, it is really special to see and enjoy the wildlife that visits us. I want to never take that kind of experience for granted! 

THIRD AND FINAL CACTUS

cactus in progress - oil on canvas

"Another cactus?",  you ask. And I answer, "Yes - but I'm pretty sure that this is the third and final one." You raise your eyebrows, and I can't bring my eyes to meet yours...for I am really NOT sure that this is the FINAL final painting of cacti. But it COULD be, if I don't take any photos of cacti that I like, and if my friend Donna doesn't send me any more of her beautiful photos of cacti. Yes - it just might be the final oil painting of cacti for a while. But for now, I am really enjoying the greens and blues, and the bright hot sun on the curled leaves of the plant. Hmmm - are they called leaves when it is a cactus? I have a sneaking thought running around the back of my head that they are called something else. If you know, could you tell me so that I am knowledgeable about that too? Thanks!

SLICES

"SLICES"
20" x 24"
oil on standard canvas

Thanks to all of you who expressed concern about my husband! He is very gradually getting better, but still in pain, and still with those terrible sores in his mouth and on his lips. He is able to eat better today, and has a follow-up appointment with the dentist on Thursday.


So, today I got a chance to stand at my easel and finish this oil painting of a cactus plant. I am waiting on my friend, Donna, to let me know what kind of cactus it is, because she gave me the photo to work from. I tell you, that girl takes great pictures - and I could be kept busy the rest of my life between hers and mine as photo references. :-)

SLICES - still in process

working on the spines

I have now hit the slower part of this painting. The detailing of the spines and the edges of this cactus painting are taking more time than I anticipated, but I love how it is coming together. :-) This is just one corner of the piece. By the way - thanks for all the guesses as to what this painting was. I had some very interesting comments, but a couple of you got it right. Good for you!!!


I'll be working on this throughout the week, along with teaching. Most of my students finish their 6 weeks of lessons this week, with two finishing the beginning of next week. After that, I have a HUGE project which is going to be scary, fun, amazing, did I say scary, and a first time ever for me!


I'll tell you more about it later. Closer to the date. Have a great week, everyone!

CACTI IN OIL

CACTI
20" x 24" oil on standard canvas

This painting is finished!!! Yay!


I am very happy with how it has turned out. This time I felt like I understood how to paint with oil paint - finally! The blending and placing colors next to one another went really smoothly. 


Thanks to my good friend, Donna, for giving me her photo to work from for this painting. Can't wait to get started on the next one. :-)

NEW WORK ON THE EASEL

I have begun a new painting - and a new series, in oil paint.


This is the first of this series, which is all from photos a dear friend (Donna) sent to me to use for painting. She and her husband were in Arizona, where she took several pictures of various cacti. She has a real "eye" for the dramatic in a photo, and so I love having access to many of her great shots! I am already excited at how this one is coming along after a day of painting. 


Ahhhh...happiness is being at my easel. I love what I do!