Peonies and Roses, Still in Progress

Last night's work makes three times I have worked on "crocheting" this doily on the painting... It is really great fun, especially on hot days, to work on tediousness which requires little but repeat of a pattern.

Roses & Peonies continuing....

As it was when I finished painting on Friday night....Some work with the peonies and some with the roses ~ hoping to get them painted before they fade completely...

Saturday I was able to work until nearly 9:00p.m. when my dear nephew, David, came for a visit with Carmen, his wife and their two wonderful children!  Their second child, Naxully, is nearly 18 months old and I have only seen her once when she was a tiny baby.

 It is wonderful to have them in my home!

We plan to make a sight seeing tour tomorrow to Twin Falls. What fun to travel with them. I will be a total zombie by the time we return home, but that is OK. I can rest in the days that follow with happy memories of our time together and get back to my painting when possible.

People, especially family take first priority!

Here is the progress of Saturday... I got it signed (rid of the white place in the lower right....). And more flower work. Now to pull it all together.... and finish the other Still Life elements.

And a photo of the family playing with blocks! Everyone was tired from the trip, so playtime was quite short...  Nephew, David on the floor with the children, David Alexander and little princess, Naxully. Mom, Carmen looking on. How I love having them visit!

Roses & Peonies, a begining....

At last! I began the day with a new painting, first time with my brush and colors in three weeks!!!! After such a time, one wonders if it will ever work again.... This morning has been dreamy! New color relationships are developing. New observations are being made. Feelings are flowing onto the canvas.

Here is a preliminary peek......

...and a bit further along.... Am I feeling joyfully alive? Oh, yes!!!!

Iris, Peonies, and Poppies

Iris, Peonies, and Poppies

Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas 42"x 96"

Finished, at last! When a friend purchased my painting of a tulip garden hanging in our kitchen, my Mother remarked that would be OK only if I promised to do another floral to hang there.

I began this canvas soon thereafter and it did hang above our kitchen table for many years while she was living. I chose to make it large so she could see the colors. She had lost most of her vision to Macular Degeneration. I chose to use the flowers she had grown through the years because we both loved them so.

After she died in 2004, I started to rework it some, but had not yet completed the rework. I decided now, while the same flowers were in bloom, would be a good time to re-complete it. Today was the day!!!

Below are two detail photos of it.

Detail #1 of "Iris, Peonies, and Poppies" Detail #2 of "Iris, Peonies, and Poppies"

 

On the day I began this painting, I brought my painting materials, the canvas, and a big easel (the painting is 8 feet long....) out into the garden to make the preliminary placement of flowers and colors from the border of Peonies, Iris, and poppies in the garden. Joan, one of our wonderful neighbors at that time, came dashing over to see what I was doing. We had a great chat that day and she enjoyed watching the progress of the painting.

When I completed it, I brought it into the kitchen where my Mother who was partially blind could enjoy the colors. It still hangs here in the kitchen even though Mother is no longer here.

This week, it will take a trip to the studio to be on view when guests come on Thursday.