Flower Girl oil painting

I painted this from a picture I took at a wedding.

"Tulips in Red Vase" oil painting

I completed this oil painting under the direction of Jacqueline Gnott's instructional DVD found here.  I'm pretty happy with it and learned some great techniques from her. Even though I've done several paintings in my life my knowledge is limited.  I was an Art major in high school but that was many years ago.  I've painted a couple paintings using Bob Ross instructional videos.  He had some good tips also.  The glazing technique Jacqueline used was new to me and I like it.  She also had some very good tips.  Visit her blog here and check out her awesome paintings.

Sensation Lilac

We finally got some blooms on this Sensation Lilac planted a couple years ago.  Beautiful.

Life Lessons

 " Living with integrity means:  Not settling for less than what you know you deserve in your relationships.  Asking for what you want and need from others.  Speaking your truth, even though it might create conflict or tension.  Behaving in ways that are in harmony with your personal values.  Making choices based on what you believe, and not what others believe. "        ~Barbara De Angelis

     A life lived doing what others think you should do is no life at all.  The quote above does a good job of summing that up.  Lately I've been asking myself what it is, exactly, that I truly value?  I'm shocked to find that I need to sort it out some more.  Perhaps because I've been letting what other people want determine what I value.  Not cool.

Chickadee Acrylic paint by number

Well it took a couple months but I finally finished this detailed paint by number.  Very tough and made me realize my eyesight isn't what it used to be!

Matted and framed.

Acrylic Paint by Number

Do you know new Oil paint by numbers are no longer sold?  I bought an Acrylic one and finished it finally.  It had some very detailed areas, tougher to do than I thought.

Repaired Paint by Number Paintings

It's so concerning what's happening in Japan today, my heart goes out to every one there.  I thought sharing some art would lift spirits.  Here are three paint by number oil paintings that I found in the shed of our home when we moved in 14 years ago.  I almost threw them away because they were dirty and scuffed up but decided to bring them in the house.  At first I thought there were only 2 paintings because one was stuck to the back of another.  It was only when I decided to repair them last October that I discovered there were actually 3 paintings.  I had intended to just touch up the damaged areas but was unable to get an exact color match.  Mixing the paints was extremely tedious and time consuming for me.  I have no real experience other than a high school art class and watching Bob Ross on TV and his instructional videos.  I've done a handful of oil paintings, nothing spectacular.  I ended up repainting everything with colors I mixed and here are the results.

This one is my favorite.  I had already started repainting the background when I took the before picture.

Honorable Mention

I didn't win but was pleased to see that my milkweed seed photo received an honorable mention in the Gardening Gone Wild Picture This Photo Contest of 2011.  See the post here.  David Perry gave a very nice and positive comment on the photo and I'm very grateful for the opportunity to learn from him.

Remembering the "Sunshine"

“Loss and possession, death and life are one, there falls no shadow where there shines no sun.”

 Hilaire Belloc

I first heard this quote while watching the movie "Catch and Release".  Kevin Smith's character did a beautiful reading of it in the film.  On Wednesday Scott and I lost our beloved Festus unexpectedly.  It's been a painful time for both of us.  This quote popped into my head and reminded me that it wouldn't be so awful to deal with if it hadn't been such a great, loving friendship.  Here are some pics that reflect the sunshine of Festus.

Soaking in the warm sun and dirt in last springs garden

Enjoying a spring sun bath.

Enjoying the smell and feel of a new carpet

Enjoying the deck with Dad

Taking a lovely nap

Soccer anyone?

Enjoying the feel of sun warmed pavers

Hanging out with Sissy

Hiding in the closet on Dad's clothes

Giving Pa a kiss

Trying out a new bed.

Our faithful companion, loved evermore.

Thank you!

Wow, I've gotten some wonderful comments on my photo entry, it warms my heart, bless you all!

Gardening Gone Wild Picture This Photo Contest

I decided to have some fun and try something new so I'm entering the Gardening Gone Wild Picture This Photo Contest.  The contest is being judged by David Perry who does A Photographer's Garden Blog.  I found out about the contest from a blog I follow called Leaping Greenly.  I'm entering the first picture below.

My entry

I took a lot of pictures trying different things and that was fun.  The tough part was figuring out which picture to enter.  Below are the elements I used to create the photo above that's being entered and some of the other pictures I considered.

A small mason jar, a milkweed seed pod being saved for propagating in our yard in the spring, some gauzy tissue paper from a flower arrangement that hubby got me for Christmas and some clothespins to hold the tissue paper in place around the jar.

This larger mason jar seemed too big for my subject.

 

 

The smaller jar wrapped in a lace curtain

Here I dipped the jar in snow, set it on our porch in the sun and took the picture.

I had some fun and learned a few things, hopefully I can figure out the link thing and enter the photo correctly.

Cardinal Rescue

The day after Christmas this unfortunate female Cardinal flew into our living room window.  A few seconds later her mate hit the window also.  The male flew off.  I grabbed my camera and took a quick picture of the female thinking she would fly off soon also.  She didn't.  After a couple minutes I grew concerned as it was very cold out that day with temperatures in the teens.  I went outside to check on her and she was blinking her eyes but not moving.  I slowly reached for her and gently picked her up.  She didn't struggle at all.  Even for an injured bird that was unusual.  She was very stunned.

I thought it would be best to bring her in out of the cold until she recovered.  I placed her in the box above, covered it with a plastic cake pan top, brought her in the house and waited.  After about ten minutes there was some rustling and when I came near the box she tried to get out.  I brought her outside and lifted the cover off the box and away she flew, off into the sky with my best wishes.  Hopefully she is okay.