Thank You, Callaways!

Well as some of you know, red is my favorite color.

 I really turned the red loose on this one. This little painting is on a gallery wrapped 8x10 canvas and was inspired by one of summer's endless trips to Callaway's garden center. I got a little tighter on those yellow sunflowers in my previous post and decided to leave this one a little loosy-goosy.

  What to leave in/out is always a challenge. I couldn't decide on the pot racks but just couldn't leave them out.

Did you know Gaillardia blanket flower is the state wildflower of Oklahoma? Who knew? Who knew states had official wildflowers?

I am working on a 16x20 still life which is taking a little more time..

as well as a pet portrait of my niece dog, Molly.
So there is a lot going on in my kitchen, hmmm.....studio.

Have a great weekend,
Lana

Successful art?

Hi Friends!

My daughter came over Wednesday to swim, play with her pup and paint. Although she is very good with watercolors, she had never tried oils. We grabbed a couple of canvas sheets and shared a pallet full of color and brushes. We talked about color and technique and flowers and dogs and of course, guys! Our work will never hang in a gallery or may never be finished. But because we had a good time learning something new and being together, I would call that successful art. How about you?

"Your work may not be what curators want to exhibit or publishers want to publish, but those are different issues entirely. You make good work by (among other things) making lots of work that isn't very good, and gradually weeding out the parts that aren't good, the parts that aren't yours.  It's called feedback, and it's the most direct route to learning about your own vision. It's also called doing your work.  After all, someone has to do your work, and you're the closest person around.
 -excerpt from Art and Fear by David Bayles & Ted Orland

Feeling Sunny and at last, a price guide.

Hi Friends!

These sunflowers were so fun! Sunflowers symbolize gratitude (or haughtiness- I'm going with gratitude). I love how they turn to face the sun. They are simple, but so lovely! I'm feeling grateful that I am able to paint and that it brings me so much joy.

I used Nancy Medina's color recipe from my workshop notes but pushed it a little more toward realism. I'm happy with the results and think I'll keep it for myself. The composition could be a little better but I like the movement in the leaves.
If you have never seen Nancy's work, google her. The best sunflowers ever! Dreama Tolle Perry is another artist with incredible sunflower painting ability!

I used a 10x10 thick gallery wrapped canvas and I really liked working on the deeper canvas.

Now, for those of you who have ask, yes, I would like to sell some of these! I have had a hard time deciding how to charge for them. Since I have recently returned to painting I have decided to pay myself as an intern as I am experimenting with different styles, surfaces and paints. They are basically priced minimum wage for time spent, plus materials.

 This is how it works out:

• 8x8 - $40
• 8x10- $45
• 10x10-$50
• 12x16 - $75
• 16x20-$100

I'll post the price with the pic and and if you want it , Facebook message me!

Have a great day!
Lana

Birthday Echinacea Coneflower and Some New Discoveries!

Good Morning!

This little 8x8 baby is a gift for a friend. Echinacea stands strength and health in flower language and that is what I pray for her.

I tried a cradle mounted gesso board this time but it had a really gritty surface that I probably would not use again. I like the cradle mount though, because you don't have to frame it!

I couldn't get the color just right so off to Hobby Lobby one more time, it's only money right? And found these two new friends,

                                                  Magenta and Quinacridone Magenta.                                                                                                   Which probably  every painter in the world  has already but hey, they are new in the arsenal and           I Love Them!

Oh, and for my friends who have ask if they can purchase a painting I have figured out a price list and yes you can!

 More on that tomorrow!

Porch Geraniums and my first post!

Good Morning!

This is my first post on this blog about my painting journey!

Porch Geraniums