My best friend Luann gave me this lovely mini orchid.  I decided I would use it for a still life before I killed it!  I can not grow these plants successfully.  

I set up the booth with the plant, some silver and fruit.

Color blocking

As you see I added a flowering branch for balance.

The difference a photo makes.  Neither one is true to the color or value, but hopefully you can get the jest of  it.  

underpainting

Yellow rose with silver

I wasn't as crazy about the yellow rose.  I scraped and repainted it several times.  Now I am 'satisfied', for now.

Floral

After watching a video on Daniel Keys, I had some fresh ideas on how to approach a still life.  I usually used an underpainting with Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna, thinning with Gamasol.  Daniel Keys had a different approach, and I think it was easier, and way more effective.  This comes on the heels of my workshop with Adam Clague, who inspired me in this still life direction!

Guardian Angel….smile….nudge

My but I am having fun with the still life motif.  This was again, the recycled funeral flowers.  The lilacs were so wonderful, but wilting the day I painted them.  This is a very old square glass jar, I love it.  I know it doesn't appear square in the painting.  I took a long hard look at Adam's recent post on a painting of carnations.  They are rather tough to paint.  The light yellow green pom is some kind of hydrangea.  It is actually rooting!  So is the lilac!  Yeah.  This is such a win/win bunch of recycled flowers!  A new life!  Hum…..there is a LOT to say about this.  ( I just got a little smile nudge from my Guardian Angel.)

Flowers, still life.

Still in my still life obsession, here is another.

BEfore I borrowed Deralds little photo booth box, I couldn't control the light.  

This painting actually changed.  I have worked on the dogwood flowers to obscure them more.  Too white here.

Back in the saddle.

I have been on a blog vacation.  Time to get back in the saddle.  I have been painting almost daily since January, after the holidays.
A couple of weeks ago I was in charge of doing the arrangements for my church.  Upon arrival, I found about 5 HUGE flower arrangements to disassemble.  The flowers were gorgeous.  I made 4 small arrangements, and brought several various flower bunches home to paint.  Thus the current posts are all of flowers.  Also, in Jan. I took a fantastic workshop for a day with Adam Clague.  He is such a strong influence, full of patience and kindness.  He had several golden tips of advice and guidance.  I have never really enjoyed painting still life arrangements.  UNTIL….the workshop.  Now I am head over heels in love with them.  Lighting always the same.  You are so in control of the subject.  Well until the flowers start wilting!  I added a couple of pieces of my mom and dads silver cream and sugar items.  I realized during painting the date was Jan. 26th.  Both of my parents died on the 26th, and we buried both on their anniversary….Jan. 28th.  So it was bitter sweet to paint the silver wares.  Mom and dad both LOVED flowers.  Mom was in garden club for all her life.  Dad planted and cared for lots of varieties of plants and flowers in our yard.  Enjoy.

Still life at the workshop with Adam Clague.

I actually did a second painting at home the next day!  I used my painting and photographs as reference.  The one on the right is from the workshop. It is interesting to see them side by side.

Underpainting/ workshop.

Adam helping with the lily.

#2 close to finished.

#2, unfinished

Here are the two finished.  Workshop on right.  There are parts of each I favor.  What do you think?