Trying Something New and a Flower Drama

San Jose Street side 9x12-$55

Hi Friends!

I was in San Jose, California last weekend and the flowers there are out of this world. So BEAUTIFUL!  Just walking down the street inspired me to take a bunch of pictures!  This painting was a stretch for me as you know I rarely paint anything that isn't firmly attached to a bush or a table. I had forgotten everything I knew about perspective so I buzzed on down to Half-Price Books to pick up some info. After studying up on vanishing points and repainting all my ellipses in existing paintings from pointy to rounded (sorry guys, I forgot. Those art classes were a long time ago.) I managed to tackle this street scene. I liked how the vines and hanging basket sort of looked like a heart in front of the window. I was in San Jose for a wedding, maybe I was just caught up in the romance! Speaking of romance, This is the first rose from my new rosebush, below!

Romantica 10x10-$50

Don't you just love that name? It has a million tiny petals and I had to wipe the whole thing of off twice and start over. Then things got more and more intense. Finally had to go buy a different red, yes, more expensive paint. But I can always use red, right? And it helped. And I reinvented part of the flower and turned the dirt purple. But now this little floozy is done!

This has been a super week! I got to have a mini show with my sweet friends at Ladies Night Out. Thanks Vickie. And sold a painting and talked about several commissions. And I opened an Etsy store and linked it and my Daily Paintworks stuff to Paypal, so if you don't live here you can buy those two ways. and ALL my work that is available is on my Pinterest "Gallery of One" board on the side panel of the blog when viewed on the computer. Sorry phone people, don't think you can see the link.

Don't know why but God just seems to be saying yes to this painting thing. Enjoy the weekend!!

Miss Mollie - It's a dog day.

I just got back from a great wedding in California, so I am running a bit late on my post! I thought I would share some of my favorite dogs with you. This is my "niece dog"Mollie. I didn't realize doing a smooth black dog would be so difficult. I tried to incorporate a lot of color in the darks to make her shiny and sleek. The eyes were hard because I was using an iPhone picture with blue eyes and I was pretty sure her eyes weren't blue! I think the dog paintings are hard because they can be quite dull if the dog is sitting posed. I try to include something that is particular to them. I really wanted to get Mollie's little feet right.

Miss Mollie

My painting of Nora is probably my favorite. Things just worked really well on it without overworking. I think I really captured her puppy look. And I like the looseness of her chest and legs in relation to the details in her face.

Baby Nora

Skylar was done first.  I like the cool tones because I think they match her personality. I like her feet too. I think my skills have improved a little since I painted her. Now I need to do Chester so he won't feel left out!

Skylar

I aspire to paint dogs and animals as Karen Mathison Schmidt does.  I am such an admirer! Her paintings are amazing. Take a look at the link the right. Well, it is always good to have inspiration. 

If you would like me to paint your dog, email me at Lanabrowne@me.com. Prices start at $75.00.

Style...

When Bluebells Aren't Blue- 10x10 on Canvas

What is Style? And why do different people like different kinds of art? 
"Style-a distinctive appearance, typically determined by the principles according to which something  is designed"
My oldest daughter immediately claimed this and named it "the best so far...". My husband ask me why I never use long smooth strokes and blend the colors. (And why I never do landscapes). He prefers the more formal arrangements. My youngest says she is waiting for one in cool colors. May be a long wait. I prefer a more impressionistic style myself. The Impressionists laid colors down next to each other so the colors appeared brighter and more light filled. Impressionism is usually done with small strokes used to portray light moving on an image, giving an impression of what you saw or felt at first glance. I find realism a bit tedious, but admire people who are able to paint so life-like.

I wonder if people's style taste reflects their personality type? I need to research that...

I used a tutorial from Mary Maxam on Daily Paintworks to start my painting. She uses transparent colors spread about the canvas underpainting to get happy accidents that she works into the opaque layer. Thanks Mary! I really thought it was a fun way to start.

Ok, I know you are waiting to hear what Texas bluebells symbolize in the flower language. Their official name is Eustoma, which stands for calmness. Well maybe not so much.

Texas Romance

Happy 4th of July!

I've completed this 16x20 on canvas and thought I would show you! The idea was to do a more formal still-life incorporating elements besides flowers. That meant that I would have to give the viewer accurate clues to the different surfaces on the pitchers,cloth and fruit.
Whose idea was that checkered tablecloth,Yikes!

Originally there were three pears but I painted one out. Then I left the arrangement on the table when we left for dinner and when we came back one of the real pears was missing!

No one is talking but someone looked guilty!

I have always loved the yellow rose of Texas, hence the title. The pitcher belonged to my husband's mom and the creamer was my grandma's. Yellow roses represent friendship and joy. I know they made me joyful when I was working on them (most of the time).

I read an article by Richard Schmidt in the Artist's magazine about painting edges and he writes "how can paint be manipulated so it duplicates the look of the edges you see in your subject? Physically, there are really only three ways I know of: (1) by degrees of blending (soft edges), or refraining from blending (hard edges), (2) by mixing and applying intermediate colors instead of blending, and (3) by applying intermediate colors and blending them carefully."

I tried to use all three in this one. Hopefully my ability will improve over time!

Have a fun day today and do a sparkler for me!

Lana