Journaling the Quarantine

Since I have been remiss in my journaling lately, I decided to catch up. There's not much to say since we have self-quarantined since March. Click on the picture to see it better.

I did finally make some successful masks, and since we have never had this much time to work in the yard, it's looking really good now.

Carmen

Everything's Coming Up Roses in our November Challenge

The challenge this month was roses. 

I think every painter, has painted a rose.  It must be the most loved of all flowers.

I have chosen to post two of my favorite rose paintings today, with two different techniques and two very different effects.

The first and was done using lots of liquin added to my paint, which produced a soft, almost watercolor feel. 

 The second was done with a mix of palette knife and brush, and does not depict a perfect rose, but in my eye, it is still a beautiful flower.  It feels much more structured.

Which do you prefer?

Carol Schiff

www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com

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Kathy Garvey

I have a favorite rose painting from years ago that took quite a few hours to create. It's one of my Mom's knock-out roses painted in acrylic on 11x14 canvas.

Knock-Out-Rose
11x14 Acrylic on Canvas

But, for this  month's challenge, I took a few old photos of my Mom's gardens and a lot less time to create what look like a colored pencil sketch and a watercolor. The technique uses custom brushes on a mask followed by several filters in Photoshop, and is extremely versatile and easy. (Click to enlarge.)

A Visitor
8x10 Digital Print

Yellow Rose Watercolor
8x10 Digital Print

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Jean Thomas

Wine and Roses
Oil on Canvas, 10" x 10"

The small wine glass in my painting was made by my great grandfather, Joseph Locke. He was a glass artist first, and also a painter and print maker. He invented and patented a type of art glass called Amberina, when he worked for New England glass company.  Amberina,  a two-toned glassware, was originally made from 1883 to about 1900. It is still made today. 

Also, he loved to paint and flowers were a favorite subject. I'm fortunate to have a few of his paintings and glass. Here is one of roses. (image coming) 

Jean Thomas 

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I decided that paper rather than paint might be the way to go for the challenge this month.  I found some beautiful red tissue with the words love printed on the paper and that was what inspired the collage.  I had to use the tissue in a special way and what symbolizes love more than roses.

Donna Vines

www.donnavinesart.Etsy.com

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"Rosy Outlook" by Carmen Beecher

8x10 oil

 "Why is it no one ever sent me yet

One perfect limousine, do you suppose?
Ah no, it’s always just my luck to get
One perfect rose."

 --from a poem by Dorothy Parker

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This painting is of a photograph I made while on a trip to Canada.  We visited the summer home of President Roosevelt where I found this beautiful multicolored rose.  The painting is now in my guest bedroom.  Enjoy.    Denette Schweikert. 

www.denette.net

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Mary Warnick

I love painting roses, and keep trying to do a better job of it.  Some are better than others, but i keep trying to be perfect every time.  This is the latest one, with this challenge is mind.  I am trying to keep it loose and watery.

A Day in the Gardens

L

Left to right, Denette, Kathy, Donna and Fay

My journal page 

Carmen Beecher

Challenge for January, Paint a Flower Quickly

The challenge for January was to paint flowers in watercolor quickly and simply.

Carmen's Response to the Challenge

I did several paintings but got 'fussy' with them. It's so hard to stop!

Yellow Rose

Lilies

Pink Poppies

In all honesty, I believe the very simplified painting below fulfills the intent of the challenge. A few strokes quickly applied, and a flower appears. 

Carmen Beecher

Carmensart.etsy.com

Carmenbeecher.com

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Donna's Response to the Challenge

This was a tough one for all of us impatient oil painters. I have to say that I spent lots of time on this one.  It wasn't a total loss though, through the frustration of trying to do something so simple I realized that I had gotten very tight and fussy.  I joined a 5 day 20 min. painting challenge and it really felt great to just paint.   I think I learned a lot, loosened up and made some progress.  This painting was done after I had painted a 20 minute oil on day 2 of the challenge.

OH Happy Day

donnavinesart.blogspot.com
donnavinesart.Etsy.com

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Carol's Response to the Challenge

Watercolor is, indeed, a challenge, for me.  I only do about one watercolor a decade!

I was attracted to this image, because of the strong shapes and colors.
Thank you, to Donna Vines, for allowing me to use your photo reference.

I have to admit, I do feel inspired to try another!

Carol Schiff

www.CarolASchiff.com

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Kathy's Response to the Challenge

I stopped at Walmart on my way to Ralph’s to pick up some lilies and a Gerbera daisy for our flower painting challenge. Below are my results. I’m glad we were able to do this    challenge all together during our session as I will miss painting with The Pieces during the rest of the month.

Kathy Garvey

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Fay's Response to the Challenge

Now I know for sure if I want to do water colors, I need to take some lessons. Not that I didn't try. I just didn't get the results I wanted. To wit. 
Here is the photo I wished to portray.

In doing a watercolor, I wanted to capture the intense color and the interesting formation of the leaves. The following are the tree best of what I managed to produce after six tries. Although none of the ones I finished really pleased me, I have a favorite. Can you guess?

Back to collage for me!
Fay


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Jean's response to the challenge

Tried painting from a real orchid, not a photo. The challenge for me is to paint fast!
I tried, really I did, to paint more quickly. 
There is a lot of truth to the expression, "knowing when to quit!"
So I did after the second one. 

The Last Azalea, 3x4 Oil on Panel Floral Painting, Framed

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The reason for the name of this painting: we toured Bok Tower Gardens and the camellias and azaleas had finished blooming; however, in my wanderings I found this late bloomer. I have always thought of myself as a late bloomer. I started my government career a bit late, and upon retirement I threw myself into my art career full-time, but very late. I can relate to this flower, the last azalea.

I did this one backwards; I had a beautiful gold frame and wanted something dramatic to go in it. That's not how it usually works, but I like the result.

The little squiggly things at the bottom of the painting are Spanish moss. That's how it looks up close.  My teacher Elio Camacho would call that "licking the painting." I like it though--it looks a bit fancy, as befits such a fancy flower.

Carmen

Prelude, 36x48 Oil on Canvas by Denette Schweikert

This painting documents the prelude to another glorious white hydrangea blossom from the now light green buds.

daily art, floral painting, flower art, pink peony,

This is a small study for a larger piece.

SOLD

 Step 1:  Pick peony and hydrangea from garden.

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Step 2:  Paint!

This little piece has everything I like.....flowers, pinks, purples, blues.

I'm a happy girl :)

To be continued............



www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Floral Still Life on Linen, Daily Painting, Small Oil Painting, "Mary's Vase" 9x12" Oil

I did this painting a few weeks ago with my paint group, Pieces of Eight.  Mary brought in a set up of fresh flowers and her favorite vase.

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 I wanted to keep it free and loose, so I started painting with both and palette knife and a brush.  I was painting on a linen covered panel, and left much of the background unpainted for added texture and interest.

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I have never seen a mum in this colors before, white petals and a purpley blue center.  This is where the knife action came in.

Thank you Mary, for bring these beautiful fresh flowers and thank you to all who are reading my blog today.



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Flower Painting, Floral Still Life, "Mixed Blessings" by Carol Schiff, 8x8x1.5 Oil SOLD

It's spring.....sigh!  The perfect time to paint flowers...........

SOLD

I don't know about you, but I was beginning to think that winter would never go away!  I now what you're thinking...."she lives in Florida???)  Well. true, but even in Florida we have seen day after day of piles of snow and cars sliding off the road, although it was on the nightly news.  We feel for those of you who had to suffer through it first hand and we are happy that it is gone.

detail

So lets all celebrate a new beginning.

Hope you pin it!




www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com
www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Flower Painting, Floral Still Life, "Mixed Blessings" by Carol Schiff, 8x8x1.5 Oil

It's spring.....sigh!  The perfect time to paint flowers...........

Purchase here
140 + shipping

I don't know about you, but I was beginning to think that winter would never go away!  I now what you're thinking...."she lives in Florida???)  Well. true, but even in Florida we have seen day after day of piles of snow and cars sliding off the road, although it was on the nightly news.  We feel for those of you who had to suffer through it first hand and we are happy that it is gone.

detail

So lets all celebrate a new beginning.

Hope you pin it!




www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com
www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Flower Painting, Floral Still Life, "Jar Full of Sunshine" by Carol Schiff, 10x10x.75" Oil

I'm still in flower mode, so I hope you enjoy today's flower painting

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It seems the longer this winter drags on, the more I want to paint flowers...especially orange and yellow flowers! Have heart, winter will soon disappear!

It is already spring here in Florida.  Yesterday I went to Sebastian Inlet State Park for a little summer jump start.

To finish off the day, we had lunch on a big deck at Sebastian Beach Inn, only steps away from the waves.  P*E*R*F*E*C*T

Enjoy the day....spring will soon be here, and don't forget to pin my flower painting!



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