43- Trio

Watercolor on 140lb paper

My 3rd attempt at watercolor... I am so enjoying this medium! It is quick, it is fun!

42 - Wild Prarie Rose

Wild Prarie Rose

Yes, I know I skipped 41. #41 was my very first watercolor, so please excuse I am not showing it. I'm pretty sure no one will. Most likely it will be destroyed for its own good.

The wild prarie rose is the state flower of North Dakota. This one was done in watercolor on 140lb paper. It is my second watercolor painting. I really kind of like how quickly a watercolor painting progress. An oil would take weeks or even months for me to complete. There is something freeing about a painting that can get over worked very quickly (I learned about over working on my first one).

I hadn't been doing much painting lately. It is a great feeling to have my heart back (and my head back) where they belong.

Art Show

I am generally a shy person. Not outgoing like most of the artists I meet. So it took a lot to get myself convinced to enter my first state wide art show. I entered my last 3 paintings. They were accepted and I rejoiced. Then the nerves hit and for the next few days I was a nervous wreck.

I delivered the paintings at the appointed time and place. So many very nice paintings I felt honored to be accepted at all.

The next night was my first artists reception. I had no clue what to expect. I didn't expect to be told rudely at the door "This is a private party." and be looked up and down like I was street trash. I explained I was invited, an artist, and she let me pass to the next woman. This second woman was handing out name tags. I smiled and said hello and patiently waited. She said hello, no smile and looked away. I waited a few more seconds (which felt like an eternity) and then walked away.

Next I walked into the display area to find my paintings and look at the other paintings. Some of the paintings were outstanding, some were not very good at all. As I looked for my own paintings, I didn't agree with some of the ribbon places, but did agree with others, so it was about the same as any other show I'd been to in that respect. I kept walking and looking. Then looking some more. I'd been around the whole room and couldn't find my paintings. Confusion overcame me, but I continued to look. Finally found one. It was on a narrow wall that you had to go around to look at the regular display area and it was over my head. I looked some more and found my others similarly placed.

I spent some time looking and no-one Else's paintings were hung this way. The whole thing was overwhelming to me and I left after less than an hour. I don't understand why I was treated this way. Maybe because I haven't entered this event before I was considered an outsider and not welcome. I know I was not welcomed. The event was held at the gallery I am represented at, even though I don't spend time with any of the other artists, I don't think I should have been a total outsider.

I felt (and feel) very disappointed and sad. I've never been treated this way before and I pray that I've never treated anyone like this.

On my ride home I pondered the event and debated weather or not I should enter another show. I'm not sure I will. If this is how I'll be treated I don't think so, and I'm not sure I'm up to finding out. It was entirely too hard on me.

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.