I'm sooooo close to being done with this painting called Sunflower #5 but I guess it will have to wait until next week Wednesday... my son will be home soon, and he has off from school on Monday and Tuesday for ML King Day. So that makes me off too! This is actually my new, all-time favorite botanical piece I've ever painted. The sunflower was orange, so the colors are more vibrant than the previous three I painted were. I may have to keep this painting for myself!! (What normally happens is that when I do a painting I feel really good about, it sells right away before I've had time to enjoy it -- not that I'm complaining -- I do paint these things hoping they will find new homes!) Below are photos showing my progress over the past few days. I can tell that my skills were sharpened by the house commission called "archer place" that I've been working on. This sunflower painting came together much more quickly than the previous three. Enjoy the photos!
DAY 2: I started this painting in December. Here's where it was when I began working on it this week.
Here's all the paint I mixed up for painting the petals.
I've painted a few petals. It took a while to get the hang of how to do these again.
More petals...
DAY 3: I've been working on the center of the flower.
The center is done for now. It needs to dry and I'll come back and add highlights.
Now for the closed bud... this part took forever but I'm really pleased with it.
The finished flower bud and stem...
DAY 4: I love how sunny my studio is in the morning. When we built this house, a huge factor in which plan we went with was how the sun would hit my studio. I wanted morning sun since that's when I'm in here painting. My studio faces directly South so I get morning sun from the East and South windows. I am very thankful for this amenity!
This photo shows the leaves I've been working on, as well as my open windows on Jan. 15! 🙂
Here's where I quit for the day... I wish I had had another hour and I would have been done! Next Wednesday I'll get it finished up and post more photos.
I must admit that, while the painting is amazing–as always, the first thing that stood out to me about this post was that your windows are open. I know how happy that makes you, so it made me happy, too!
Kelli
You have a very keen sense of observation! Maybe you should join the CIA. I WAS SOOOO happy to have my windows open today. It was nice to get some of the paint fumes out of the house! But as soon as the sun started setting it got chilly out again. I has been super cold here… all my pansies are dead. 🙁 I’m hoping they will revive as it’s supposed to be warmer again for the foreseeable future.
Love you!
m.s.
I have been reading my spy book that I bought when we visited the Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. Guess it’s sinking into my subconscious. 🙂
gorgeous work! love the sunflower against the blue!
Thanks, Leah! I love your “Creative Every Day Challenge!” found on your web site http://creativeeveryday.com/ I also really like your new pieces “At Sea” and “Listening” http://www.bluetreeartgallery.com/new-art.php
I love how the colors pop in this painting – it just looks happy! nancy
Thanks, Nancy. Aren’t sunflowers such a cheery flower?? I think I’m going to plant a bunch of them in my yard this summer so I can have an unlimited supply.
I love the buds that have not yet opened. It adds “potential” to the image, creating an awareness of time in what would otherwise be a still snapshot.
That is a very insightful comment, Brett. I have such smart friends. 🙂 I guess I shouldn’t be surprised though, since you are genius enough to have programmed my entire web site. http://www.mariescottstudios.com