Sunflowers and Vinca On the Deck with Dad

 

On Dad's Deck-10 x10 $50.00

I recently visited my parents and took the paints along. We had breakfast al fresco and Dad ask me to bring the paints out and paint on his deck, which is covered with pots of flowers. Mom joined us and they both found it riveting. At least till Mom had to carry in the breakfast dishes! I loved it all and got out of the dish cleanup. Painting in the shade of a giant cottonwood was great as the leaves rustled to the hymns on Dads music box(IPod) and the dappled light was wonderful! 

No wonder Dad enjoys it so much!
The challenge for me was to incorporate a flower from one photo reference into another scene. The pot and the vinca were there but the sunflowers were in another town. Hope you enjoy seeing the painting!

I have been working on commissions this week. I have two 18 x 36 inch panels drying in the dining room and I'm adding the last whiskers on a giant white german shepherd!

Enjoy a sunny weekend!

Lana

Good News about This Puppy!

This piece, Baby Nora, was accepted to the Irving Art 2014 Wildlife & Domestic Animal Juried Art Competition! I was hesitant to enter a piece of art in a contest but I really wanted to see how I was stacking up. So I went out on a limb and gave it a try. There are a number of entries by people whose work I respect, so it is exciting to be included.

There is a bit of risk involved in entering a contest. First, you feel presumptuous to think your work might be acceptable. Secondly, you risk feeling foolish if you don't get accepted. But finding out you were accepted, if only by a stroke of luck, is very exhilarating! I think risking feeling foolish is worth it. So my advice this week is risk it. You'll never know if something nice might happen unless you try!

Rising Above and the Great Portrait Debacle

Rising Above It-16x20 $100

Hi Friends!

Yes, I know I have been a bad girl and have not done a post in a couple of weeks!
But I've got a life you know?
And I make a few messes, more about that later.

My daughter and I went to the Arborteum on a smoldering day. I couldn't resist taking a bunch of pictures. The waterlilies were so beautiful and so unique. They seem to rise out of the murky water on nothing but a whisper of a stem. And such brilliant color! I really hadn't tried to paint water, so I thought the ripples and reflections would be great fun to paint. And I needed some fun painting!

In the last couple of weeks I have had the opportunity to visit with several people that have recently been faced with some of the toughest things life has to offer. The death of a child. The very public betrayal of a spouse. Illness. These things seem insurmountable, but strangely these women are thriving. There are tears, yes.  There are questions, yes. But surprisingly they are strong, maybe stronger than ever. They are bold in their faith. They are so very thankful for friends and family. And yes, they are joyful! All three women told me about standing on the slender reed of faith and thriving and how God has sustained them. How they can't imagine life without faith in God and fellow believers. They have risen above all the bad stuff and shine above it, perhaps more brilliantly because of it. I know I'm preaching, but that is what I was thinking of when I did this painting. I want to always  Rise Above and Shine!

Now for the true confessions. I didn't post because I spent 4 days on a portrait and this is all you will see. It got worse from here. It appeared to be my model wearing my nose. Then a stranger, then it looked like the mean girl on little house on the prairie. The husband suggested that I stick to my strengths. My model was not amused.. and honestly it was quite scary by the end. I tell myself every painting doesn't have to be a masterpiece or even good. I will live to paint another portrait! But next time maybe not a family member, SO BEWARE!

The Careless Gardener-10x10-$50

Did I post this little baby? Not sure if I did. I've sold a couple more paintings and have 3 commissions in the click. Yeah!!

Have a super weekend!

Lana