First Rose of Summer

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"First Rose of Summer"  20" x16"  Oil on wrapped canvas 

The white roses are blooming, but they've been beaten and bruised by the heavy rains at the Botanic Gardens.  When I was there on Thursday, I found this one under shelter. She was sensual and beautifully fragrant next to a building. There were plenty of buds, so there will be more to photograph as the summer progresses. And it finally seems to be here!  

I hadn't painted a rose in a long time. I was hankering to tackle one when I realized how beautiful my photo was, so I started her last night and finished her today. Painting her was as comfortable as being with an old friend. I just knew intuitively where to begin. 

This rose, if she doesn't sell first, will be in a solo exhibit I have scheduled for the month of September. It will feature roses and chocolates, so you'll be seeing more of these and several new chocolate paintings. 

Carol

Phlox and Tulips

"Phlox and Tulips"  7" x 5"  acrylic on panel

The wind blew through the garden, whipping the tulip heads about like they were watching a tennis match. The phlox, pretty much, remained stoic. Perhaps it was because they were against a wall, or maybe they just didn't like... tennis.

This one wears a lot more paint than I normally put on a canvas. I couldn't decide, then when I did, it got thicker and thicker. It is definitely not my thinnest work. 
 

Tulips and Foxgloves

"Tulips and Foxgloves," 8" x 8" acrylic on panel

There was no time to paint from the photos I shared, while at my workshop.  So once I mopped up the water that flowed in through the window well into my studio this morning, gathering dozens of paintings off the floor, I painted some of the gardens my students painted.  

As the women discovered, I like to paint "spiky things."  There will probably be more as I work through this series of knife paintings.

And here, my friends, is a video of the workshop. Now that I know what is possible, I'll take better photos. The music, "Angelina," was written and performed by our friend, John McHugh.

Peony Demo

Peony Demo, 6" x 6",  acrylic on panel

I taught a two-day knife workshop in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin last week. The ten attendees were, for the most part, watercolorists with a willingness to learn to: #1 paint vertically; #2 paint with thick acrylics; #3 use a painting knife; and #4 paint on a black background. None of these things were at all like what they were accustomed to.

 
Below are two photos. One is from day two of my workshop.  The women are holding their second paintings. Many of them began a third or fourth — wishing for another few hours of painting time, or perhaps another day.  My husband is compiling a slide show of many more of the photos I took.  So look for it in the next few days.  

Day two of my knife workshop

The last photo is of me with Texas artist, Qiang Huang. Qiang was teaching a workshop in the neighboring town of Lake Zurich at the Mainstreet Art Center.  Since he had traveled so far, and I have followed his blog and his career for years, I stopped by during his lunch break to meet him. His oils are inspiring and Qiang is getting the recognition he so richly deserves. Director Frankie Johnson brings in the BEST artists from around the country.  I've taken several workshops there. Find out more about Qiang here.  Learn more about Mainstreet Art Center here. 

Meeting Qiang Huang