zinnias in yellow vase 4"x6" watercolor on paper

This is not what I painted today-its a back up done a couple of weeks ago.

I did paint, but its too dark to photograph and I want to work on it a little tomorrow-

I stood out in my garden at 7 AM and painted my sedums and daturas-they are looking wonderful and here on October's doorstep I feel the impending end of all my flowers. I actually am excited about the cold weather- artists love to NOT feel guilty being inside their studios, and artist LOVE being in their studios so it's a conflict at times. Strange.

I had a nice random experience today- I bought a couple of throw rugs at Bed Bath and Beyond- paid too much for them and the cashier asked if I had a coupon- no- I never think to save those- but she was nice and said I could redeem them on the receipt anytime- nice.

I paid and left.

In the parking lot a woman came up to my car and I thought uh-oh!- what does she need?

She said she thought she had a couple of coupons in her car- and yes indeed she did and gave them to me! it was the sweetest thing- a rare occasion of someone going out of their way with kindness ( saved me $30 bucks!)

Thanks random lady- I promptly bought myself new shoes.

I'm going to pay it forward when I get the chance.

It was Bed, Bath and BEYOND the everyday retail experience.

Mushroom love 6" x 6'' watercolor on paper

I belong to a cool painting challenge group- Girls just wanna paint! This months challenge was mushrooms so I wanted to get back to my "whimsical " side and did this at my kitchen counter.
I put flowers in it so it counts as a flower too.
I  struggled today in my landscape painting class- I had to wipe off my landscape it bummed me out too much!...but Sue Charles's lesson was to do a Diebenkorn style warm up  (end of post)  which was fun- and the only good painting for me. it was a beautiful day though so I washed my car to feel better about myself- LOL.

"little house" oil on canvas 12"x12"

Today was a perfect 10! I left my Mother in laws house in Bristol and met my friend Kelley MacDonald at coastal roasters for coffee and sat outside in the sun.
We painted at her friends home in Little Compton-it was so nice to be invited there to use her property-and it was the sweetest place on earth and in my next life I'm totally living in that town. I'm learning so much painting with Kelley and blessed to know her.




This is a really quick little study done to warm up.
My husband has a telephone pole fettish- this one's for you Al.
Kelley treated me to a delicious lunch at the Commons in Little Compton- ate a few too many onion rings...mmmm
The light was getting great as the day wore on but we had to leave- sure hope to return there sometime really soon!
Thanks Kelley!

breakfast at mimi's 8" x 8 " oil on panel

I stayed over last night in Bristol RI at my Mother in laws house.
It's got a wonderful screened in porch and this sweet patio is just outside.
Her trumpet vine is spectacular, and stood out well against the greens.

It was a gentle rain today- Loved it- Mimi played piano in the house while I painted this one.Sweet. Not the best photo but you get the idea....again, this is on black.

farmers market Sunflower 8" x 8" oil on panel

I bought this little sunflower at the Marshfield Farmers Market yesterday. it was sunny and brisk and as usual I saw lots of friends there. I love it-its another simple joy in my life. I only had the cash for one of these babies- and it is my first flower to buy for my daily painting.I was excited to get up today and paint it. Its on a black panel , which is why the outlines are so prominent-something I love to do. I know- Elvis paintings on velvet,but it's so gratifying.I think painting on black brings me back to being in school and getting to draw on the blackboard (when they were still black!) and getting praise from the teacher. I didn't get a lot of praise for my academic work so it must have been a shining moment for me....

copy cat nasturtiums-oil on panel-8" x 8"

Sometimes artists beg borrow and steal- today I looked at Diane Hoeptner before heading out to the studio.

Her flowers are just wonderful, so I was inspired to emulate her here.Thanks Diane for inspiring me!

Not sure I got very close, but it was fun to try....these late bloomers are in a sweet little vase found at the Marshfield dump yesterday!

geraniums in vase 8" x 8 " oil on panel

Since I only had 20 minutes before I had to get ready for work this one was short and sweet. I worked till 4 and then went out for an early dinner with colleagues at Burtons.
Now I'm watching tv with my husband.
And that- is it. Simple and sweet!
All I can say is that I feel good- I painted  today- no matter what I make time for it!

dilly dahlia 8"' x 8 " oil on panel

Today I had to work . I do love my job at the Art Complex, and I am lucky to have it.
I would rather paint in the morning but had to be there for yoga at 8. Not bad at all- LOVE my yoga and in the gallery under the lovely Tiffany window it's wonderful.Ahhhhh- Namaste. So I had to paint this afternoon instead of my preferred morning session. I took a  power walk after lunch with my dear friend Carol who works at the library.
She walks faster than any human being I know- and she kicked my butt! We talked the whole way. Of course.
I love my friend Carol friend- she works down the street at the library and we click so well we  are "logical sisters"! On our way past the gas station in Duxbury we saw these awesome dahlias- I wanted to pick one- so Carol asked the guy if we could - I would never have done that! And we had a nice chat with the gentleman there and it was one of those simple, nice exchanges. Good peeps.
Its what its all about- and its the flower that made it happen.

Okay thats a little sappy.

garden nasturtiums, 12" x 12 " oil on canvas

Today was a warm but foggy day. I went to my painting class and did a field scene-it was so fun and there are a lot of great artists in my class. The fall colors are just beginning to appear. When I returned home I felt the pressure of needing to get some chores done in the garden, and I hadn't done my flower painting so I did both at the same time.

I like to  do things in a circular fashion, not linear like some people ( my husband!)
Here's my set up.. I didn't show the unfinished garden work...

fish pond 12" x 12" oil on canvas

Today I didn't get to paint till this afternoon- It was my day off from work but I had too many chores to do- studio a mess, house is torn apart due to my daughters bedroom floor being re-finished- kitchen was not good-eeeesh. And I'm not even talking about the laundry...It's hard to go out and paint while so much needs to be done- yet- I can't NOT paint now can I?

Also- it is glorious out today and the beach had to be walked. SO- I finally got out there after lunch and a teeny nap and attempted this one- I have a lovely fish pond that I made in may back yard- its a joy ...and soon will be put to bed for winter . I have tried to paint this before and never have been happy with the results. I gave up with realism and got REALLY thick with the paint- ended up having a blast.

I thought of a teacher I had  a couple of years ago, Abby Zonies, who inspired me with her juicy thick florals.

Here is Winnie at my pond-she will never catch that damn frog!

my kitchen sink,watercolor on paper,5" x 14"

I love watercolor- and, unlike oil, I can paint in my kitchen. When my kids were little I had a business painting images for pins and sold them through their schools. It grew into a cottage industry and my friends Mary Curran, Karen Biagini, Elizabeth Finkenstadt  and Patty Mulkern helped grow it into a bonafide fundraising business called "Pin Pals".We created seasonal pins for school fundraisers. It eventually  morphed into more of an ornament making business, and then it finally sort of dwindled down and disbanded. These women believed in me and we worked side by side producing my art into marketing product.I am so thankful for them and having had that period in my career, they gave me a lot of confidence and support. I loved painting the original images in the mornings in my kitchen while the kids were little and sleeping in their beds. Now and then, even though I have a studio in the back yard, I still like to sit there and paint.
Its peaceful and comforting.

farmers Market Zinnias 8" x 8" oil on panel

This week I went to a farmers market in North Marshfield put on by the North River Garden Club.
I was a guest of Nancy Colella who made a fabulous picnic lunch for me and my artist pals. It was in an authentic Vermont barn that had been moved and reassembled on a beautiful spot near the North River, surrounded by lush gardens and geese and chickens. We shopped the handmades and garden goods- all profits go to charity.
I bought this sweet zinnia arrangement -and painted them the next day. Thanks to some helpful tips from my artist friends  I  painted the darkest dark  first and lightened up later. Oils are opposite from watercolors-which are light to dark.Im always learinig- sometimes the most obvious stuff!

It was a very special day! Pictured here is Joan Brancale, Kelley MacDonald, Bonnie Hobbs, Jeanne MacFarland ( all amazing artists) and me! ( not sure who's in the background..)

Columbine 8" x 8" oil on panel

Last evening I attended "Rachels Challenge"at Marshfield High School.
Rachel Scott was the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Her acts of kindness and compassion coupled with the contents of her six diaries have become the foundation for one of the most life-changing school programs in America. 

Powerful video/audio footage of Rachel's life and the Columbine tragedy holds students spell-bound during a one hour school presentation that motivates them to positive change in the way they treat others.

I left in tears as did many others and immediately had to call my daughter who is away in college. I wanted to call everyone else in my family too!

It was a hopeful message and Craig, her brother, was an inspiring speaker.

My daughter had seen the presentation that same day and sent me, as did many other students, a text that simply said she loved me.

She told me that this has made an impact on her in a way nothing ever has before.

She found an image of the columbine flower ( since mine are long past) and suggested I paint it for my daily painting. So I did! 

mum in vase 8" x 8" oil on panel

I loved doing this one- simplify!

Fall is in the air today-brrrrrrr

found some forgotten sweaters and had to heat the studio this mornin-

I love fall! Bring it on!

Still life with flox and goldenrod 8" x 8" oil on panel

I love the peppery sweet smell of these late blooming flox-they remind me of my grandmother ( those and lilacs- ahhhh) this is one of her teacups

and the vase is from a potter in Rhode Island.

I am enjoying spending time with the objects as much as the flowers.

Winter will be here soon and gathering flowers from the yard will end- but a friend just told me that he works at a florist and I can pick through the discards- he says roses get tossed if they open- people like to buy them closed- so you might be seeing some of those too! I might also enter into my more imaginative stuff as well-who knows!

I am taking a painting class at out North River Art Society with Sue Charles

and it's great! Yesterday I painted the water and rocks and a bit of a boat.

and the day before that a marsh scene on Cornhill lane-

my eyes hurt lately- getting used to marathon painting i guess!

studio door 8" x8" oil on panel

Here is my dog Winnie as she sits as sentry outside my door. Oliver is inside holding the couch down! The flowers are impatience outside the door- a little ambiguous here- when its dry I will go Into those a little more....

rose of sharon 8"x8" oil on panel

We had a lovely late summer day today. 79 degrees and sunny-perfect!
I had the day off and enjoyed painting, crafting with my sister -in -law Kelly,walking the beach with my two dogs and neighbor Tori and running into tons of friends out there enjoying the perfect weather, made chili and corn bread, then out to the river to paint again.
Phew! I am tired and happy- more lovely days in the forcast ahead!
This is from a week ago, my paintings didn't get photographed today so I will post tomorrow. This rose of sharon blooms every August and September-always around my daughter Madeline's birthday- so we call it "rose of Madeline" around here!

party flowers 8"x 16" oil on canvas

This is the "day after the party" painting...it was a lovely gift from a guest-

brown eyed Susan with shadows 8"x8" oil on panel

Okay- heres the thing- i really had NO time to paint this ( had to get a party together at my house last night AND work)- so I whipped this off and it shows how little time I had.

I probably shouldn't even share this but the point of this is to be honest and show what I did ( okay I'll stop making excuses!)- and I did paint even for the short time. so thats good.

I was intrigued by the shadows.. might attempt this again. Tomorrow I will post what I did the morning after the party-(eeesh- but what a great party!) 

bowl of nasturtiums 8"x8" oil on panel

Found this lovely white bowl at the Marshfield dump-("swap shop")- and I still love the nasturtiums- they keep coming! My garden flowers are getting a little lackluster as we move into fall- but I can't get myself to do mums yet- maybe after the first official day of fall!

Zinnia oil on canvas 8" x 8"

Im learning a lot about color -the shadows of pink are not as purply grey as I have them here...I love zinnias but they were pathetic in my garden this summer-maybe next year! I have great aspirations, as I always do in September, for next years garden. Maybe we will have a reals summer too- that would help! I have yet to buy any flowers for my blog- yet- but Im hitting the farmers market on friday!

still life with melon 12"x12" oil on canvas

This was my only day off this week to paint so i attempted a tablescape- the  cloth is really busy so I battled with that-but had fun anyway...

also getting all the subtle shades of white was a challenge....

birdhouses oil on panel 8" by 8"

I love birdhouses-they are whimsical.
Here my style is starting to re-emerge-

Today we celebrated my daughter Maddies 18th birthday and my two nieces as well- it was a great end to a perfect Labor day weekend!

hydrangeas (again) 8" x 8" acrylic on panel

I find these almost IMPOSSIBLE to paint but- here I go again. The beauty of the daily painting is- there's always tomorrow!

late bloom "pink dawn" rose- acrylic on panel- 8" by 8"

This is one of my poor poor roses from the vine on the front of my house. It grew huge but got eaten badly in the spring, and the rains didn't help much either- but here is my attempt ..these are really hard to paint! I'm having a challenge fitting in enough time with my work schedule doing this challenge- but loving it- just don't feel like they are quite finished...

soap box-watercolor on paper-6"x6"

This is a copy of what is on a little soap box in my bathroom. It is by Tasha Tudor- a children's book illustrator who, because of whom, I have two of my own corgis- Oliver and Winnie!

Hydrangeas-12" x 12" acrylic on canvas

Okay- I know these are really hard to paint- but I had to try! I used a black background- I do that a lot- so thats why the edges. I will keep trying-

Datura-oil on panel- 8"by 8"

I got the seeds for this plant seeds from a neighbor- I was admiring her flowers that look like angels trumpets-

I threw the seeds in my yard and forgot about them- the next year I was surprised and delighted to see these lovely huge blooms!
I just now googled it to make sure I spelled it right and look what I found-
Datura belongs to the classic "witches' weeds," along with deadly nightshade, henbane, and mandrake. Most parts of the plants contain toxic hallucinogens, and Datura has a long history of use for causing delirious states and death. It was well known as an essential ingredient of love potions and witches' brews.
Uh oh! Better keep an eye on these and tell my sister -in law -across the street- I gave some to her!

Nasturtiums-acrylic on panel-8" x 8"

Nasturtiums are one of my favorite kinds of flowers- and this year they did really well in my garden!
I love to eat them too-and the round leaves are sweet.