As the petals fall...

Oil on canvas, 11" x 14"

My roses are petering out, so I think I'm done with them for awhile. I keep thinking I should get outside and do some "plein air" while the weather's warm, but every new flower blooming in the yard seems to require its own painting.

Strawberries and roses

Oil on canvas, 6" x 8"

Blue stripe pitcher-sold

Oil on canvas, 6" x 8"

I think this is my favorite so far of this strawberry series.

Yesterday I posted a link to a new blog by Kathy Hodge. She's done a lot of artist residencies in the National Parks which she writes about on her blog and website. Check it out!

Strawberries and cream-sold

Oil on canvas, 6" x 6"

Strawberries on yellow plate-sold

Oil on canvas, 6" x 8"

June is strawberry month. This is a fruit that is so ridiculously easy to grow that I don't know why everyone doesn't. I've got a little patch of them so you'll be seeing more.

Tomatoes-NFS

Oil on canvasboard, 6" x 8"

I just needed to do something simple today... round red things on a green background... I think I can handle that...

Lunch Break-NFS

Oil on canvas, 6" x 8"

Woman waiting-sold

Oil on canvas, 6" x 8"

Roses: Day 2

Oil on canvas, 10" x 10"

Same roses, different day...

Roses

Oil on canvas, 10" x 10"

It's easy to make a painting dramatic when it's mostly dark, with an area of light, but I really admire artists who can paint something beautiful while keeping the values really light. 

Paul Raymond Seaton does this really well- he's a British artist who paints florals. I saw his work in New York a couple of years ago and just fell in love with it. 

Yellow rose-NFS

Oil on canvasboard, 6" x 7"

Backyard Bouquets-sold

Oil on canvas, 22" x 30"

I set this up in my backyard in the shade yesterday morning, knowing I'd only have an hour or two to work on it before the sun came around, When it did, I snapped a couple pictures and brought everything inside, since direct sunlight is usually fatal to cut flowers. I ended up finishing it from the photo (although I might go back and fuss over a few details.) I'm pretty happy with it.