I loved poppies and had previously painted two poppy paintings. When I started this painting, I painted the three flowers first. Then I put the painting aside. For several years, I pulled out the painting to finish it. However,every time I couldn’t decide how to paint the poppy leaves and background. One day last summer, I pulled out the painting again. After staring at it for a while, I decided to paint the entire background a “poppy leaf pale green” and negative space paint the dark color between/behind the actual lacy leaves. I am very pleased with the results.
Rancho Gaujome Adobe is in Vista, CA. At one time the rancho was part of the Mexican land grant. In 1936 it became a California Historical Landmark. The California Conservation Corps helped restore the adobe. It is a beautiful place to visit and well worth the drive.
While driving through a local neighborhood, we drove by a a curb side cactus plant covered with beautiful red flowers. We stopped and took a dozen or so photos. I definitely enjoyed painting the flowers and I am very pleased with the results.
While camping in Yuma, AZ in late spring, we decide to visit gift shop that also had delicious ice cream. Outside surrounding the parking area, were hedges of rose-of-Sharon all in bloom. They were breathtaking. I had to add there painting to my flower series.
Smoke trees seem to be Mother Nature’s desert sculpture project. The tree trunks twist, turn, bend and come back. The color of the foliage is a unique color. It isn’t just green. It isn’t just grey. It isn’t silver. And for a while I had no idea how to make the proper color. Thanks to a great art teacher, I know how to make it from my limited palette.
I spotted these shoes setting next to a fence outside a work shed. As I looked at the shoes and took a photo of them, I began to wonder how many jobs they had been on. Or how many time they had been to the same hard labor job. If they could talk…..
As you can tell, I seldom indulge in abstract. This was an exercise with tool other than a paint brush. The bright colors where applied wet into wet wet paper covered by wet paint so the paint moves and blends together. I created the leaf look by applying paint to actual leaves and using them for stamps. I also used textured matt board cut into roundish shapes to stamp rock shapes. A tooth brush was used to spatter different colors into the wet paint to add more texture. Once all that was completed and the paint dried, I sat it across the room to see if a theme would emerge. I decided it looked like a stream. I add the plants and it was done.
If you spend a few years in the high desert you, will, no doubt, experience a summer thunderstorm. I have been so delighted by the monochromatic colors as the storm forms. Everything seems to turn to whites to grey blue to dark grey.
This past summer we traveled along the Payette River, ID. At the campground the river formed a small lake. Our campsite backed up to the edge of the lake which made a spectacular spot to enjoy this sunset.
This barn is in northern Californias cattle country. The barn is very sad and in need of much repair. That is probably why I was attracted to it. The older and more run down, the more I want to paint its portrait.
Rancho Gaujome Adobe is in Vista, CA. At one time the rancho was part of the Mexican land grant. In 1936 it became a California Historical Landmark. Each of the rooms in the Adobe have been furnished with period items. When I went into the eating nook I was delighted at the blue table. It is such a great contrast to the wall and floor.
I notice the ruins shortly after we moved to the area 20 years ago. I fell in love with the different colored rock of the walls. Being able to see the valley through the windows created a picture inside a picture. Fortunately, the ruins are still standing with very little abuse other than a bit of tagging. Hopefully, its somewhat unnoticed location keeps it safe for many years to come.
We often drove from San Diego to Julian using back roads. On one trip, we passed this old wooden water wagon parked beside the road. We stopped so I could take photos. Now it is part of my old wagon series.
In the 50s, real estate developers took advantage of the homestead act to sell five acre plots. While the sprawling desert community didn’t materialize, many of the homesteads were abandoned. Many of the homes are still standing but in s state of ruin. I think they are begging for attention. I enjoy giving them a second life.
The contrast between the white, orange and green in this arrangement is striking. I wanted the painting to look just as striking. Here, again, the trick is to create the white rose with out using white paint. I left the space for the white rose the white of the paper. The last step was to paint the shadow between the rose petals with light green paint. This technique is called negative space painting. This technique can be tricky since it is like thinking backward. For me, it requires uninterrupted concentration.
This succulent spends the mild weather on our patio. In the winter it lives in the green house. When the plants come out in the spring, this one always celebrates with a few gorgeous blooms.
I came across this wild hollyhock growing along the Sacramento Delta. We didnt know what the flowers were, so we had to ask the campground owner. We took several photos so I could tackle the painting when we got home.
While looking for my annual Christmas poinsettia, I came across this wild poinsettia. I had never thought of where poinsettia originated. This poinsettia helped me realize that all fancy flowers have a beginning from a beautiful wild variety.
