One More For The Road

I was less interested in composition and creating yet another painting that won't sell than I was in just enjoying that last pink lily and creating something pretty that I can put on stickers and stamps when I can afford them. This was an interesting effort that kept my mind off my troubles most of the day.
That's the wonderful thing about painting. It shifts your focus, you relax and your breathing slows as you slip away to a happier and calmer place for a while. That's the most healing thing about it.

The Latest Lily and my best effort so far...at least I think so...

The surprise from the back yard

Somehow in moving things around between the front and back garden this Stargazer Lily got separated and forgotten. I found it yesterday under a raspberry bush and was excited to find that it had opened and bloomed today just in time to help me with that last painting that I had started.

A Little Fun Between Projects

I couldn't resist "playing" with bits of that last painting and used both of these details on products from postage stamps to shoes at http://www.Zazzle.com/julia_art*

You wouldn't believe how cute these pencils made up on a pair of kids shoes with red, green and blue bindings and yellow laces. They were so bright, fun and cheerful that I couldn't help but smile the whole time I was designing them. I'll bet they give you the giggles too!

The garden lilies are fading fast so I thought I'd better come up with a more dramatic background for my next attempt to capture them this season. I haven't quite decided which end is up with this but I'm pleased with the progress so far. What do you think?

The first finished Still Life in DECADES!!!

The last few days have been more or less a blur as I worked on this painting every day and night but it's exciting to combine objects and challenge myself to do a wider assortment of subjects. I'm not sure whether or not my style or technique are improving but I do know the effort has been good for me in many ways. The flowers are nearly gone now but I've sketched out 2 more paintings that I'd like to start. I may have to resort to photos but I'm hoping not. It's either that or working the backgrounds and waiting until next years garden. I'll let you know which way it goes.

I couldn't fit the whole painting into the scanner so I'll be shooting some photos of it tomorrow when the light is better.

Still Life Painting in Acrylics

I started this painting as soon as I cut my stargazer lily from the garden. Since I was working with the same vase as was in my last painting I turned it to get a different angle (the base of it is actually square) and I added a few of the other things I had with me to make a more interesting grouping. Many people have told me that the backgrounds I like To paint are too "busy" and take away from the flowers so I'm going for a more neutral and simple background here. This collection of photos is from the first 12 hours of work on this project and I'll post more as I get more of it done.

Stargazer and Friends

Julia's wild style painting

Early Morning Photos

I went out to do some weeding and move some pots in the garden at 6:30 AM planning to beat the heat but it was already pretty steamy by then. I started pulling weeds out of the mulch up by the house and wished I'd used gravel instead. I find it easier to rake through gravel to pull out the weeds than it is to deal with the mess you get with wood chips. What are your thoughts on the subject?
I pulled up one of the extra large pots from the back yard but there are no photos of the ugly stuff because I just want to look at the flowers. I couldn't decide whether or not to cut some to bring in and draw or paint or just leave them out there until I get a firm idea of what I really want to paint today.
It's a good thing that I gave up and headed for the house after an hour or so because it was raining like
mad by 9:00. Hey, on the bright side of things-I didn't have to worry about watering anything.

Garden Update

It's still to warm outside to suit me but I figured I'd better look things over in the garden and get a few things watered. The rain barrel is running low so it takes a bit longer to fill my watering can and get the job done but it's better for the environment, the budget and my heath (I need the exercise).

I lost a few plants to the heat but others seem to be loving it.

I'm not sure if this photo quite captures the size of this rosebush. (the fence behind it is 5 ft. tall so that should give you some idea.) Believe it or not I pruned it down to about 2 ft. tall just a few months ago. I just wish I'd gotten pictures when it was really covered in roses. Is it just me, or has the season just flown by?

The lilies continue to go strong and I'm planing to to get back to drawing and painting them as soon as I finish this post and get some dishes done. It's amazing how fast the day goes! 

Staying Cool

I've been staying indoors where it's cool during the recent hot weather and was really excited to see the blossoms open on the little orange tree in my dining room. It seems that even when I'm not out in the garden I've always got something to do with plants and flowers.
Being indoors gave me a bit of time to scrapbook about the drawing that I did on Tuesday and all of the things I've been making with it since then.
I'm feeling like painting and have a few ideas in mind so there should be new work and photos soon. There seems to be a bit of time and process involved between the idea in my head, the feeling in my heart and the way it shoots out of my fingers. I wish I could share a real sense of the experience for you. It's a very special place in space and time that consumes everything else. When people say I get carried away-they're right.

Four Hours of Colored Pencil Drawing

I haven't quite finished this drawing yet. I plan to darken the stem on the hosta flowers and may do a bit of other work on it as well. I'll post the latest picture as soon as I'm done with it. My current plans are to scan it into my zazzle store and see how many things I can make out of it starting with stamps, stickers and greeting cards and I'll let you know where it goes from there.

As well as designing a lot of things with this drawing on Zazzle. I made a card for my sister out of a photo of the drawing and then did a little drawing on the envelope to go along with it. Yes, I'm sharing it with everyone in every way that I can think of and hoping we'll all enjoy it.

Triple Treat

I cut 3 varieties of lilies in the garden today. It's nice to have different sizes, shapes and colors to work with. I haven't started the drawings and paintings yet but I should have something new to show you tomorrow.

Steam Heat

I wanted to get a few pictures of the latest lilies to open here but as you can see the weather was no help at all. It never occurred to me that it would actually steam up the camera.

I was also attempting to show the actual size and height of my hosta so I pulled this chair over to campare it against.
Being married to a photographer can come in handy because as you can see Doug was able to clear up a couple of the photos for me on the computer.