In Praise of Sunlight

"In Praise of Sunlight"
24" x 36"
Oil on wrapped canvas
On June fifth of last year the sun performed her duties brilliantly by lighting this peony so that I could document her for this large painting in the middle of January. This large painting took me several days to paint, unlike the small pieces I normally do to post. 

 I bet you thought I was on holiday in some balmy paradise.  Nope. That's next month.  And in preparation for that trip, I've been experimenting with some new watercolor products. I hope I have something interesting enough to post in the next day or so.

Carol

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

Peg's Peony

"'Peg's Peony"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
The peonies are finally blooming in my neighborhood.  I cut my own pink ones and brought them in the house, but Peg keeps hers outside where everyone can enjoy them. And yesterday I captured her candy-striped ones just as the sun was going down.  The shadows were colorful and made the white and red flowers spectacularly fun to paint.  

I love painting these twelve inch squares, as I can complete one in an evening.  It felt good to get back to my easel after a very busy weekend, which included a pastel-making workshop in Chicago. I met eight talented artists and have new friends, too.

Carol

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

White Peony

"White Peony"
8" x 8"
Acrylic on canvas panel
I found a companion flower to the pink one from yesterday and painted her in a similar fashion, also on a decorative background.  I enjoyed painting her ragged petals.  


A white flower on a nearly-white background depends on shadows and greenery to make her pop.  I feel this is a successful piece, despite the limited palette.


Thank you for being here today.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Peony Swirl

"Peony Swirl"
8" x 8"
Acrylic on canvas panel 
Spring was just beginning when I found this blossom in a neighbor's yard. I photographed her and her buds and placed them on a decorative background.  

I adorned many a wall with flowers like this one when I painted murals throughout Chicagoland. It's acrylic, I painted only in acrylic in those days. 

Thank you for looking today. I appreciate it. 
Carol

Plain Peony

"Plain Peony"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard
Someone had picked her close to the bloom like a dandelion in a child's bouquet, then dropped her on the ground near my house. I brought her inside, trimmed her stem and set her in a crystal bowl of water. She opened in the heat of this beautiful May day to expose a very simple center, compared to Friday's ruffled one.  


I cropped this peony to make an almost abstracted view of her center.  I liked the many colors of red that the halogen light shone on the petals.

Thank you for being here today.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My DPW Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Lusty Month of May

"Lusty Month of May"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
I visited a friend yesterday who had just purchased many pots of peonies that looked like this—glorious for the lusty month of May!  I went there to photograph the migrating orioles and came home with shots of peonies instead. The orioles were in the canopy of her magnificent trees, sheltered from the rain.

The coloring and interior structure of this lovely lady intrigued me.  I began painting her using a sponge, but felt more comfortable within the small spaces using my Rosemary & Co. brushes.  She's painted on all five sides of the wrapped canvas, as are all my wrapped canvases.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my art today.
Carol

Dailypainters.com
Dailypaintworks.com
My DPW Gallery
Brushstrokes@comcast.net

Party Peony

"Party Peony"
24" x 36"
Oil on wrapped canvas
She cupped the stamens in the hollow of her bowl, like confetti about to be tossed.

Once the darks were established in the corners, I sponged layer upon layer of color toward the center of this full-blown peony.  I connected the petals without regard to the interior goings on.  Then once the architecture was correct, I began brushing one stroke at a time to create the "celebration."  The addition of Radiant Turquoise on the stamen tips added life to the party.

This painting is listed with, and for sale through Dailypaintworks.com

Thank you for visiting,
Carol

Peony Vase

"Peony Bowl"
10"x 8"
Oil on wrapped canvas
I have two bushes of pale pink peonies tucked in close to the south side of my house. They thrive in that protected environment, and I revel in their early blooms. By the time spring comes to the suburbs of Chicago I'm not only grateful for their robust blossoms, but their fragrant surge of spice.  

This small painting is a study for a larger piece. I addressed some of the problems of its reflections, values, buds/no buds, cool light, warm shadows, etc.  I know what I want to do now.  I hope to begin the large piece in two weeks, at which time I'll post the progression from photo to drawing, through finished piece.  Goals. I love goals.

Thank you for visiting,
Carol