40 - Bird Of Paradise

16" x 20" oil on canvas

My mother died May 1st. When I was growing up she let me play dress up at her vanity. On this vanity was always several bottles of Avon Bird Of Paradise perfume. She would let me play there for hours while she sewed away in her little sewing area a few feet away. We would talk. I painted this in honor of my mother. I miss her.

39 - Humane Society

Back in March the plein air group I paint with went for an outing. Winter lasted longer than normal here in Indiana so there was not much living to paint. Most of the group went on to paint historical building, but I couldn't bring myself to paint a painting without something alive in the painting. So when myself and another painter came across the local humane society we knew we had to paint it. If you look back to painting no. 33 you'll see the plein air version of this.

I just love the looks on both the cats faces so I really didnt do much to change the plein air in that way. What I did change was add the reflection at the top. Hopefully it adds to the painting. I'm not sure about the name though, so it might change.

Humane Society Oil on canvas 11" x 14"

38 Oklahoma Rose

Still working on the state flowers. Obviously this one is for the state of Oklahoma. I had a difficult time with this one. The background of the reference photo lent nothing to the composition. And kind of stole attention away from the rose so I changed it. Then I didn't like it either so I changed it again and so on and so on. I finally decided the sky as a background might work. I've not painted a lot of clouds or skys but gave it a wirl. I kind of like the way the blue in the sky plays off the pinks / and oranges int he flower.

I'm almost done with roses for a while as I'm running out of states that have roses as official flowers. Iowa and North Decota both have the same flower as their state flower so I don't know if I'll do two versions of the same flower or just one and call it good.

11" x 14" Oil On Canvas

37 - Cherokee Rose

Oil on Canvas - 11" x 14"

This painting took several weeks to complete. I can't even tell you how many layers of various color I painted very thinly.

I like the way it turned out, and even did something that I consider brave with it. On the website wetcanvas, there is an area I have often viewed, but also where I have never posted a painting. This area is called critque forum. I have a statement at the bottom of all my paintings that C&C (comments and critique) are always welcome, but few in wetcanvas post any critique. It is more like " well done" type thing. But in the Critique Forum they tell you what they really feel about your paintings. So I am feeling either brave or crazy and I am just not sure which. Time will tell. But I know if nobody tells me about a mistake, I can not correct it.

36 - Pink Tea Rose

This is one of my larger paintings 18" x 24" Lots and lots of very thin glazes...

35 - Blowing Kisses

I love this one...just wish I could get better photos of it! To me, it looks as if the rose is blowing kisses.

IT'S OFFICIAL! I'M IN A GALLERY!

Well I did it! I am now, as of this afternoon, in a gallery! Represented even! In November/December the plein air group I paint with had a show at the local art gallery. One of my 3 paintings sold. This spring the same art gallery had a spring flower show and I receieved an invitation, the only 2 paintings I put in it, sold. Sold within 2 hours of the show opening.

Since the last paintings sold we have been in discusions about my joining the gallery... Today I took my paintings in and watched them get hung on the wall...under the sign that has my name on it!

I only took in 4 paintings... I only had the 4 completely ready. I have several more almost ready, but working in oils, it takes a while to dry between layers... so as soon as I get more ready I can take them in.

Oh, and I was looking around at some of the other art/artist's work, and I realized something...I think I need to raise the price of my paintings. They were much lower than all of the other artists.