Peony Pom

"Peony Face"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
My peonies are blooming! Full, fragrant and flamboyant are these hussies!  Here is a closeup of one of mine from last year. I love her roundness, her full-bodied lusciousness. 

I have wanted to paint this one for a while, but all those center petals scared me.  I made as much sense out of them as possible.  It looks a lot like what I remember.  

Thank you for looking in on me today. 
Carol 

White Peony on Black #2

"White Peony on Black #2"
10" x 8"
Acrylic on canvas panel
Here is another in the series.  The patterns are arranged differently, yet the essence and elegance remain the same. 

This is another example of my faux finishing background.  I love pattern, texture and decorative art.  And it's a super way to feature a painterly, single bloom.

See it on DPW.  Buy it there, too.

Thanks!

Carol

Peonies in Water

"Peonies in Water"
12" x 12"
Oil on canvas panel 
I gathered every last bud and bloom from the bushes outside my back door, as if rescuing them from something horrific. Wind and rain was forecasted, and we know what those two can do to peony cups balancing on spindly stems. Yikes! 

This crystal bowl is just the right size to contain peonies.  I don't think I'll tire of using it.  The roundness of the vessel repeats the shape of the blossoms, and it creates a lovely dark base to my paintings, too.

Find this one, too, on my gallery page of Dailypaintworks.  It's also for sale there.

Thanks for visiting.
Carol

Winged Frog

"Winged Frog"
8" x 8"
Oil on canvas pane
To the right of the hobnail vase sits a winged pewter frog holding a glass vial with a daisy in it. He was the add in when I set up this arrangement. I needed something to go in that space that was not to heavy, not too dark, but Baby Bear... "just right." 

I set it up, shone a light on it and did a quick study.  I realized I would never paint it again. I wouldn't want to have to explain the winged frog. He doesn't read well unless you happen to know what he is. I love the colors, so maybe I will paint another, but not with him. 

Mr. Winged Frog will be listed with, and for sale through a DailyPaintworks Auction.

Thank you for stopping by today. Ribbit. 
Carol 

Peonies, Lilacs and Limes

Peonies, Lilacs and Limes
18" x 24"
Oil on canvas 
I filled my favorite bowl with the last peonies of the season and the first of the hedge lilacs in my neighborhood. The fragrance was heady while I shot my reference photos. When I finished I sliced a lime to squeeze into a glass of seltzer.  One of the key limes rolled into my setup, so I shot one last photo.

The composition of this painting is daring.  It's an inverted triangle, to begin with. There are soft balls, hard balls, pink balls, green balls, crystal balls, ruffled petals and rumpled cloth. And it's painted in my favorite set of complements, red and green.  It's also cropped just like this—equidistant from every edge.  Formal in its presentation, yet casual and inviting.

Thank you for visiting,
Carol