Moon Flowers

These moon flowers bloom at night on our back deck.   I've always wanted to paint them, so I caught them last night. 

Lake Hartwell View

A view off my friend Mary's back porch on a cloudy day.   The water was iridescent today.

Sailboat

Rome

Sailboats on Lake Hartwell

Grape Vines

Deer

Deer in the field at Dusk

Sailboats

Hartwell Marina

Sail Boats

Grand Canyon

This was painted from a photo taken long ago at the Grand Canyon.  

Grape Harvest

Lake Hartwell Island

Lake Hartwell

Burano Island, Venice, Italy

This was painted from a photo I took years ago in a colorful little city outside Venice.

Creek Bed

Creek just south of Lake Lure NC

NC Creek Bed

Creek Bed just south of Lake Lure NC

Shrimp Boats

Shrimp boats on St Helena

Lake Lure

View from Lake Lure

Sailboat on Lake Hartwell

Sailboat on Lake Hartwell

Lake Lure NC

Lake Lure NC

Old Barn in the Neighborhood

Lake Hartwell Island

This is a view from an island on Lake Hartwell, Georgia. 

Hunting Island SC

Hunting Island South Carolina

Wave

Wave

Local SC Beach

Local Beach at Coffin Point South Carolina  

Ocean Tide

Ocean Tide

Marsh View

View from the marsh in South Carolina... one of our favorite places!

Lake Hartwell

It's been several months since I last posted.   I've been painting off and on but not regularly, so I decided to take on a painting challenge to get back into good habits.   I struggle with landscapes.   So, this month, I'll be painting a small landscape every day in September in hopes of a break through.   

January's Paintings

Collage of January's Paintings

Pink Grapefruit

I didn't have to push hard to get color going with these grapefruits.  They are very sweet and colorful. 

Nandina

I was hoping to find a few crocuses this morning walking the property, but none have budded yet.  The only color I could fine were the numerous nandina berries. 

Jagermeister

I pulled this bottle of Jagermeister out of our freezer because of it's intense green color.  It has a taste very similar to an herbal remedy I gave one of my dogs for years.   

Oil Lamp

Marbles and Copper

I have trouble painting copper so I'll keep trying.  The marbles were fun... sort of like painting grapes. 

Big painting hug to Dyanne

One of my very best buddies today suggested that perhaps I'm not loosening up because I'm painting daily.   She has noticed that many of my paintings have wine bottles and wine glasses.   Just for clarification Dyanne, there is no drinkable alcohol in this still life today.  It's garlic, olive oil and vinegar (ops... red wine vinegar). 

Strawberries

Wine and Glass

Wine and Strawberries

Two and a half Apples

We've been getting really pretty apples lately, so I decided to paint a few. 

Light Bulbs

Espolon Tequila

This was a quick study of this very cool looking bottle of tequila.  I plan to paint it again soon. 

Lime Gathering

I wanted to paint something with high contrast today, so I grabbed a bunch of limes and tried to really push the color. 

Stuff from the Studio

I'm starting to have a lot of fun with this, and I think I am loosening up.  I find I no longer psychoanalyze each object before I choose to paint it.  I just quickly reach for colors, color contrast, abstract shapes and textures.  I hope this doesn't sound esoteric or artsy, because that's not me and that crap turns me off.  

Grapes

I didn't have a lot of time last night so this was quick and wet, but I'm pleased with the results.  This is day 16 of 2015.  I'm feeling a difference in my painting by doing these daily paintings.  I'm making decisions quicker with more confidence.   It's been a crazy year so far.  If I hadn't made a commitment to myself to do these, I probably wouldn't have seen much of my studio so far this year.   

Piranha

I purchased this little stuffed Piranha from a little boy in Peru years ago.  I enjoy it's vivid color. 

Red and Black

I like to paint art objects.  These are objects from an ink set I purchased in China.  I set them on a glass on top of a piece of bright red construction paper.  The way the light hit the glass dramatically skewed the intensity of the red to a milky pink. 

Lemon Ginger Tea

One of my favorite night time teas.  I pretty much like anything with Ginger and Lemon. 

Painting Materials

I particularly enjoyed painting this little painting.  It had a very abstract feel to it when I began working out the details of the reflective shapes.

Apple Slices