Still Life Painted

So, I didn't impress myself with this painting - I liked my sketch of it much better, but it gave me some more practice and it also helped me to know that I like painting landscapes better than still life.

Paint Exercises

I found another paint book that has exercises in it, and am trying out a few of them. They're just exercises, and not anything I would hang on my wall, but still I felt that I should post them here, as this is a place to note my progress and not just flaunt my art! I plan to complete a few more of these practice exercises before moving on to my next masterpiece (ha!) I still have my still life painting to do - I've prepared the canvas and traced the picture on to it, but am feeling a bit intimidated to paint it; maybe if I procrastinate and practice other things first, I might be more encouraged...

Eagle Mountain

Soar on wings outspread
Above horizons bathed in glory
Lifted by the currents
That bring us closer to home

still life

I'm going to try a still life painting next - but just in case it doesn't translate to paint well, I thought I would post the sketch first. I'm going to trace this onto the canvas and then paint it - I hope it comes out. I'll let you know!

Spring Park

I think this one is my new favorite; I love the detail and the vibrancy of the colors. I almost didn't paint the tree because the background was so fantastic, but decided to go ahead and take a chance with the tree. I think I did good!

Summer Tree

I painted this two weekends ago, just didn't get around to posting it. I had already painted this picture once before, but thought the practice would help and perhaps I could improve my style. I think I succeeded.

I have two other paintings going right now, both have a lot of detail and are taking time to complete, which is ok. It seems like there is a lot going on in my life and it's nice to be able to take a break from the busyness and lose myself in the details of a painting. I'll post them as they are completed.

Waterwheel

Ok, so this is not my favorite painting; it was frustrating and dissappointing - but, still part of the learning process. I'm learning that I don't like Bob Ross' wet-on-wet technique, but it took a few of these paintings for that lesson to sink in.

Blond Moments

I haven't been inspired to paint much lately, but I've been creative nonetheless. I've ventured into the realm of beer brewing - here we are in the final stages of bottling and capping our Blond Moments:



We were supposed to let the beer sit in the bottles for 10 days, but could only hold out for seven - we put two in the fridge and let them get cold, then cracked them open and had a try - oh my goodness! We did good! It was a treat to taste this lovely beer that we had created in our own kitchen. We'll be doing it again as soon as we have enough empty bottles to fill up again. Yummmmmmy!

Breakfast?

Teepee Island

Beach Party

I imagine we're all hanging out
on the other side of those rocks
We've lit the bonfire
and barbecued our fish
Now we're sipping drinks
And waiting for the sun to set

More shared Joy of Painting

Kimberly and I painted together again - she had a school project to turn in, in which she was to display items that portrayed her personality. She decided since she likes art so much she wanted to turn in a painting, and so we hurriedly painted a bob ross painting.

Kimberly's glacier is so much better:

Although I like my clouds and trees better:


I don't care as much for the bob ross technique as I once thought I would. It's fun, but I can paint better using a different technique.

Bicycle

Imagine yourself on vacation
Somewhere in Europe I would guess
You've ridden your bike to the market
To get a bottle of wine perhaps
And a loaf of fresh baked bread

Summer Shade

I painted this from a picture I had taken a few weeks ago on the patio boat when my brother and his wife (from Thailand) came to visit along with my sister and her family (from Paradise). We were lazing on the boat and I saw this scene and I thought it was a good subject to paint. I didn't do a great job capturing the coolness of the shade, but I'm happy with the painting anyway.

Desert Glory

This one was fun to paint - I love the striking colors

Dear, Sweet Charlotte

I went to visit Charlotte today
Who always greeted me
With a smile and a gladness
That filled me with joy

Today I found dear, sweet Charlotte
Sitting alone in a wheel chair
Barely able to turn her head
To see that I had arrived

Her eyes smiled with familiar warmth
Beaming happily when she saw me
But then she soon became frustrated
Unable to remember who I was

It breaks my heart to see her like this
Lost and trapped inside her head
But dear, sweet Charlotte is my friend
I can't give up until she's gone

Morning Commute

The sun rises over the fog
Lights up the skycrapers
Like candles on a cake

The fog muffles the city
Lends an illusion of quiet
Like the calm after a storm

The train arrives at the station
Ushers in the morning commute
Like a child ready to play




I wowed myself with this painting - I love the colors and the detail and the intensity!

Springtime Bridge

This one came from a book with step by step instructions - I enjoyed painting it, but can see all the flaws in it. I am anxious to learn my own technique, so I don't have to rely on someone else to tell me how to paint.

Beach Chairs

One of these days I'll be confident enough take my easel outside and paint what I see, and not just paint from a picture. For now, I'll stay indoors and keep on doing what I'm doing.

Fog

I used Bob Ross's technique to paint a scene from a picture I had taken off Bill's deck one foggy morning. It's not very good, but I did it without a book telling me what steps to take.

I'm also learning to mix my own colors and to paint on a dry canvas. I'm liking that technique better, because you can leave a painting unfinished, and even start another one until it's convenient to go back to the first one. I have two paintings started right now - hopefully I'll finish one by the end of this week and post it here soon.

SeaScape

I enjoyed painting this one, though it took some time before I was finally satisfied enough to tell myself to put the brush down and leave the painting alone. I like the play of colors and the hint of movement that I've seemed to capture.

Bad Trees

I painted this painting back at the end of March, but didn't think it was good enough to post. I finally decided it didn't matter if it was good or not, it was enough that I had painted it.

Shared Joy

Kimberly and I shared the joy of painting a few weeks ago, and though we ran out of time to put the finishing touches on our paintings, I thought I would share our paintings here. For an eleven year old, I would say that Kimberly has such a natural talent, as evidenced by this first painting. We read the instructions out of the book and then applied them to the canvas. The results are quite amateurish, but we enjoyed the activity and the time together, and really, that's what counts, right?

This picture shows both paintings side by side:


Here is Kimberly's painting - I just love her clouds!


Of course, I wasn't happy with my own clouds. I thought that Kimberly did a much better job, over all, but I am still pleased with the painting


We still need to go back and put the finishing touches on the paintings - shadows and highlights on the trail, and more bushes and plants at the waters edge, and of course we still have to initial them, but who knows when that will be so I figured I'd post these now.

Howling Winds

She's home alone where it's warm inside and quiet
Wrapped in a blanket with a book and a mug of cocoa
Outside it's getting dark and the storm clouds gather
Wind whips around the trees and batters the house
Forcing it's way through the space around the windows
Howling like a lonely wolf desperately seeking it's mate
Replacing the tranquil solitude she'd been feeling
With a sense of loneliness and a need to be held

A Shield of Love

I'm learning to think of love like a shield
That can be wrapped around myself and my love
Projected like a force field around the two of us
Protecting us from outside influences
That might bring harm or disharmony within
For inside the shield there is only each other
Wrapped in a cocoon of warmth and safety
Strengthened by the force of the shield
That allows only love to penetrate

Love me for who I am

I want to be allowed to be myself
To be loved for who I am
I want to be accepted, flaws and all
Despite the mistakes of my past

I want to live beyond our past
To spend our time looking forward
I want to celebrate the goodness in each other
Offering the gift of forgiveness and trust

I want the opportunity to grow
To show off the person I've become
To shine with the love that's in my heart
For you to tell me that it's enough

Numbers 15:38

The tassels dangle from the corners of the afghan
So soft and fluffy and colorful
And as I wrap the afghan around myself
Caressing the fabric of the tassel
I'm struck with a memory of God
Who said to put blue thread in the tassels
As a reminder of His commandments
So that we might turn from the promptings
And the sinful inclinations of our hearts
Denying ourselves instead and changing our ways
Becoming holy like God is holy
And so I wrap the afghan around myself
Caressing the fabric of the tassel
Feeling myself enfolded in His love
And knowing that He is near

Emerald Waters

This is another Bob Ross technique - it's my new favorite

Autum Stream

This painting took several days - not my best, but worth posting, I guess

Between Fear and Hope

Fear ricochets across her thoughts
Hope echoing within her heart
Emotions vying for domination
Leaving her exhausted and confused

She want so much to hope again
To let her walls down and trust
To let love in and let it grow
And nurture and blossom and bloom

She's afraid of going back
Only to find things haven't changed
Of putting herself in the path of pain
And getting hurt yet again

Fear and hope struggle inside
Neither emotion strong enough
To claim victory over her future
And so she'll wait and do nothing

Arctic Beauty

This is my favorite so far - another Bob Ross.
The photo doesn't do the painting justice
I'm loving this new hobby!

Goodbye

Her lips brushed his
ever so gently
tentatively
reluctantly
tasting of tears
lingering
letting go

Winter Scene

Here's my latest painting - I think I did a good job, although I can see all the flaws...

Sweet Slumber

The rain kept me awake last night
Pounding against the window
Like the aching sorrow inside
Resounding against my heart

Perhaps it was my thoughts
That may have kept me awake
Like the unceasing rain outside
Thrumming in my brain

Eventually the rain did stop
As did my thoughts
Sweet slumber overtook me
Brought you to me in my dream

Joy of painting

I tried Bob Ross's joy of painting technique
What Bob could do in 30 minutes on PBS
I did in an hour
Maybe if I took a little longer it might have been better
But for a first try, I'd say it's not too bad
My camera kind of washed it out
It looks better on the actual canvas
I still need to practice painting trees

Am I an artist or what?

What do you think of my first real painting?
I thought it was better before I put the darn tree in the way!

Rays of Hope

Sunshine lingers beyond the horizon

Casting rays of hope and promise

In the colors of the clouds

And though night is falling

And it will be dark soon

Still she has the assurance

That a new day will dawn

And though there is the possibility

That the sun won't shine tomorrow

Yet still she knows the sun is out there

And eventually it will shine again

degrees of forgiveness

Every person alive has done evil

at one time or another

But who is to say

that one evil

is greater than the other

when they both leave wounds

and have a need for forgiveness 

Does forgiveness come in degrees

or is it all equal

Is my sin more deserving of 

forgiveness

or is yours

Only God can say

We both need it

Hurting and Alone

My tears keep flowing

And I feel so alone

I think of you and the tears come

And I know you're alone too

Probably thinking of me

And crying inside as well

How do we let go of each other

When I know we're still in love

When the feelings run as deep 

As they ever have and they're real

And we both know it

And we're both hurting and alone

We remember that we keep hurting each other

Time and time again

The pain is real and it hurts 

Each time we play this out

And though we want to be together

We both know it's time we moved apart 

Streaks of Emotion

The tears have dried
Though sorrow remains
Mixed with anger and regret
A feeling of loss so profound
Echoes within my heart
Warring with the doubt
That struggles in my thoughts

Hello World

Here I am again
Starting a new page in life
Looking for a place
to share a piece of myself
in a safe environment
where I might touch
other souls
who might connect
with my thoughts
or my dreams
or my fears