Pink Tulips on a Snowy Day

The big blizzard they predicted only produced a small amount of rain followed by snow this time. We're seeing a true "Winter Wonderland" this morning - the trees are painted with white, the new snow covering is clean and bright, the sun is shining, and the sky is blue! Time for me to paint some snow!

These delicate pink tulips were a Valentine's Day gift from my husband. I chose soft pastel this time (instead of oil paint) because I tend to paint faster with pastels and I knew the blooms wouldn't last long, and I was eager to paint them before they faded away.

An artist's challenge is to find inspiration in the perfect scene or subject to paint, and sometimes a painting opportunity just presents itself and you have to jump on it before the moment passes. With still life, you can usually take your time (because the subject isn't moving, and the lighting is controlled). With flowers you need to act fast.

This painting is currently on display in the juried Floral Exhibit at Studio Pintura Gallery, 1500 Jackson Street NE, Minneapolis. Opening reception is Saturday, March 16 from 1-5pm.

Better late than never...

I missed a lot of blog time, and realize I never posted my paintings from the Plein Air Grand Marais last September (2018).

As always, the 9 days at the beautiful and inspirational North Shore painting in the competition flew by and I covered a lot of miles, and a lot of canvas. Here are my painting efforts:

(P.S. I promise to post more often!) 

 Yellow Doors 

11x14, oil on panel

 

 Fly Fishing at Lutsen

14x11, oil on panel

Quick Paint

(90 minute timed painting)

9x12, oil on panel

 

Bally Blacksmith

Nocturne (night painting - yes, I stood out on a street corner and painted in the dark!)

11x14, oil on panel

AWARDED BEST HISTORICAL PAINTING 

by the Cook County Historical Society

Superior Shoreline

14x11, oil on panel

Making Lemonade Out of Snow

Making Lemonade Out of Snow 

... snow...

... and more snow!

Shown above, from the archives: "Blue Lemon Lime", soft pastel, private collection

 

Last weekend my husband and I ventured out in the snow to run errands. After several stops, including lunch and a visit to Grand Hill Gallery to see fellow artist Tom McGregor's show "Big Paintings for a Big River", we drove around and happened upon a sign enticing us to a "sale" at a beautiful old Victorian duplex. As you can imagine, the rooms were filled with beautiful crystal, pottery, kitchen ware, furniture…when…wait, what's this on the table? Art supplies!!! You can imagine whatever had my attention up to that moment was forgotten as I was drawn towards my new-found treasures. An unused box of 72 Prismacolor Nupastels $10. A box of Sakura oil pastels, only a couple of them had been "tried" - $20. A boxed set of Prismacolor colored pencils, set of 120 for $10 (only the lime green pencil was sharpened and barely used), a 14x18 Arches watercolor block (with a partial sheet torn off) $10. Tube watercolor paints (mostly Old Holland, some Windsor-Newtons, retail $6-15 each) 40 tubes in all for $5 including a cute little plastic box to keep them in. I asked the gentleman at the register if the owner was an artist. He told me she just "dabbled". Well, she certainly dabbled with quality materials. When I got home I researched the retail prices and figure I got over $800 worth of art supplies! All of this cost me a mere $55. 

If you're looking for me the rest of winter, I'll be in my studio playing with my new toys.