Hollyhocks, Purple Kale and Zinnias

"Hollyhocks, Kale and Zinnias"
12" x  12"
Acrylic on canvas panel 
Her garden was a riot of color. I could see snatches of it peeking between the pine boughs on the other side of the fence where I was visiting. She clustered her flowers so they looked like the cover of a magazine, and she let me photograph them. 

I was well enough to cover more than a six inch canvas today. Things are looking up!

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
Carolkeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com

More of Mary's Garden

"More Of Mary's Garden"
7" x 5"
Acrylic on canvas panel
I used the shapes and lighting of the flowers in Mary's garden, but swapped out their real colors for ones I wanted in my painting. And I painted it very early in the morning, against a white building. This isn't exactly how her garden looked, but she didn't seem to mind receiving the painting as a gift. 

I either need to plant hollyhocks or befriend someone nearby with the same penchant for them as I've developed.

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
Carolkeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com

At the Fence

"At the Fence"
7" x  5"
Acrylic on canvas panel
Here are more hollyhocks from my trip to Door County, Wisconsin.  They were nodding their pretty heads at every bend. I love adding spiky plants and flowers to my little landscapes.  

By the time this posts, I will have been painting in Wisconsin again. I'm hoping to find more lovely things to photograph and bring back to my studio.

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
Carolkeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com

White Hollyhocks

"White Hollyhocks"
7" x 5"
Acrylic on canvas panel
When the sun rose, I was able to see the color of the pale hollyhocks I had found the night before — white. They were in full bloom and luscious, ripe for painting.  

I'm preparing for another competition. This one is for small art, either 4"x 6" or 5"x 7" postcard size.  I'm excited to be going up to Wisconsin again, this time to a plein air competition sponsored by the Kohler foundation.  We'll see how it goes!

Carol

Brushstrokes@comcast.net
Carolkeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com


Hollyhocks

"Hollyhocks"
6" x 6"
Acrylic on hardboard
Hollyhocks were prevalent in Door County. I love their spiky stalks of color and the shape they afford in a composition.  I grew up with hollyhocks in the yard, but haven't seen many in recent decades.  I photographed several, so you'll see them popping up over the next few weeks.  

As promised, this is a new way of handling my knife painting. I "squeegeed" the paint as I applied it to the black background. It took courage, but I did it… to some extent. The next time won't be as terrifying.  Or if it is, I know I won't die trying.

Carol

Brushstokes@comcast.net
Carolkeene.com
Dailypaintworks.com
Dailypainters.com