It's all about lilacs...

Every year I paint at least one or two still life paintings with lilacs while they are in bloom. "Jugs with Lilacs" incorporates three antique jugs given to me by a friend recently, and the setting is my pantry counter. The light has not been very cooperative since I began this painting several days ago... we've had alot of rain and clouds, not the bright light coming across the counter which inspired this setting. Of course, the original lilacs I cut have since passed, so I'm having to rely on photographs and newly cut lilacs which are considerably lighter in color than the original lilacs. This french lilac begins as a deep burgundy/magenta color and fades to more of a lavender as the blossoms age. This is a challenge! I also began a second painting of lilacs on my kitchen windowsill.... those lilacs have also passed.
The painting "Spring Light on Whitford Street" was completed over the weekend and accepted into a juried exhibition entitled "A Sense of Place" at Sylvan Gallery in Clinton, CT (May 30th - June 28th).

Too busy painting to blog!

The days have been so full with painting that there is no time to blog... finally, here's an update.
"Spring Light on Whitfield Street" is my newest painting... almost finished. I painted plein air in Guilford on Wednesday with painting buds, Nancy and Pam, in an attempt to create a painting for an upcoming juried show. Since it needs to be dropped off tomorrow, I've been working on every day since then, and it's just about done! I was drawn to paint this scene because of a beautiful glowy light effect through the newly leafed out trees. In between, I've been painting lilacs... they have all been abloom for the past week, and I have two paintings in the works which I will post the next time.

My not-quite daily painting journal continues...

Over a week has passed since my last entry, though I have been painting almost every day. I've been focusing on finishing a commission which I will share in a future blog. Yesterday and today were spent working on a colorful new still life, Violas and Quince... hopefully it will be finished tomorrow. Earlier this week, I visited Toplands Farm in Roxbury for a CT Plein Air Painters' paint-out. I didn't get there until late in the day, and all the other painters had gone. I enjoyed the peace of day's end at the farm and the company of these calves as I painted a very quick start... too unfinished to share... more of a recording of color notes and values.