"Last Burst"

8 x 6"

oil on linen panel (Ray Mar)

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I started out painting very thinly with this one in order to get all the values down correctly.  Some places worked well thinly painted, so I left them.  Others I added progressively thick paint.  I'm very pleased with the results, but I'm glad this was a daily painting because I could see myself wanting to perfect every little detail, which may have resulted in overworked areas.

Reference photo was December 23.  Right before the big snow - thus the title.  It was windy and cold.  Not much blooming except for these hardy pansies.  I laid on the ground to take this shot.  Pansies are my father's favorite flowers.  So, here's one for you, Dad. 

"Passage"

5¾" x 5¾"

watercolor on mounted Arches Rough (Art Board)

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This one is a bit of a departure.  No little blurred circles in the background.  I was just taken by this photo.  I never move or arrange anything I photograph, so these two leaves were just sitting like this on the rock.  The rock, by the way, was a bit of a challenge to paint.  I probably spent too much time on it, but at least it shows the texture I wanted.  

Reference photo was November 17. I know. It's not very seasonal, but I promise to get better about painting from more current photo sessions in the garden.  In fact, today I had a great time taking photos in the snow.  We'll see how those turn out.  For now, enjoy the ginkgo.  It is my favorite fall tree.  This one's right by the Dawn Redwood.

"Feel the light"

6 x 8"

oil on linen panel (Ray Mar)

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I don't know whether or not this one was fun to paint because it was easy or easy because it was fun.  In any event, it went smoothly and quickly.  No frustration here.  I got new paints, linseed oil and brushes, so that might have helped some, as well.  I love the light in this one.  Just that hint of cobalt blue at the top lets you feel the light coming from above.  The photo really is not doing it justice.  I think I need to fix my set up to get rid of the glare on the dark backgrounds.

Reference photo was taken on October 16.  I got very close to these tiny little yellow blooms.  Wish I knew what they are.  They were on the terrace.  Here's a photo:

"Budding genius"

5¾ x 5¾"

watercolor on mounted Arches Cold Press (Artboard)

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Sorry for not posting on Friday, but I took a short break for my birthday.  I thought I'd have this one ready to post, but it just wasn't quite there.  I added a few details this morning to get it where it needed to be.  I'm very pleased with the contrasting colors.  The dark blue background sets off the bold pink bud nicely.  

Reference photo was taken on October 16.  You would not normally expect to see azaleas budding in the fall, but there it was.  I believe it was one of those year round azaleas.  It was located just above the wall right past Azalea Court.

"Ascend"

6 x 8"

oil on linen panel (Ray Mar)

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First, I want to apologize for the quality of this photo.  It has a little more glare on it than I like.  The weather has not been cooperating in giving me the optimal painting photographing light. This image presented some real challenges.  The morning sun was casting that blue shadow onto the stones.  I also saw blue in the shadows of the yellow rose.  What I saw and what my brain was telling me I should be seeing where not the same.  Who to listen to?  It was a bit tricky.  Nice result, but I'll want to try a similar one to see if I can capture it with more ease.

Reference photo was taken on October 16.  It was that bright morning of rose photos.  I love how this one shows the steps leading down to the rose circle.  I also like seeing that cobalt blue shade. 

"Together but One"

5¾ x 5¾"

watercolor on mounted Arches Cold Press (Art Board)

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I played around a lot with the composition on this one.  I wanted it off center, but I also wanted there to be some interest in the background that draws the eye.  I was a bit worried that the background and the focal flower would compete too much.  It's a tight balance. This was the first time I tried the self adhesive board from Art Board.  I wanted to see if the Arches Cold Press would be different if I adhered it myself.  It was a little different, but not by much, so I'll probably go back to using their pre-mounted Cold Press.

Reference photo was taken on September 26.  Again on the terrace.  And again, I don't know the name of these little yellow flowers. 

"Sangria"

6 x 8"

oil on linen panel (Ray Mar)

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I got bright and active with this painting.  I worried at first that there might be too much going on in the background that takes away from the primary peppers, but I think the droplets added enough sharp interest to keep the focus on the main five.

Reference photo was taken on October 16 which was the same day that I took the "Droplet" photo.  I was initially attracted to these bright little ornamental pepper plants in September when I took the photo below, but I did not feel the lighting was right for a painting.  The early morning sun helped bring out the highlights.  These were on the terrace as well.  

"Mum's the word"

5¾ x 5¾

watercolor on mounted Arches Cold Press (Art Board)

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I think I'm just trying to make it more difficult for myself.  What was I thinking with this image?  Lots of little detail.  I was just drawn to the buds and blooms at various stages of opening.  Love how chrysanthemums just explode with color. Individual blooms working together for one big pow.  Chrysanthemum, chrysanthemum, chrysanthemum.  A mouth full and a great book by a nice Wisconsin boy.

Reference photo was taken September 26.  Mums out on the terrace.  Love how Duke Gardens pairs them with this spiky spider grass (? - sorry I really should learn the names). Nice contrast of textures.

"Heart's done busting"

6 x 8"

Oil painting on linen panel (Ray Mar)

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I love the color combination in this one.  That green is one of my favorite colors these days.  The background went quickly and smoothly.  I felt very confident sketching thinly with the yellow ochre before going back in with the thicker paint.  Very enjoyable.

The reference photo was taken on October 16.  I know this is a strange little plant, but I just love it and plan to paint more of them.  In fact, I have a very large black and white acrylic on paper painting of a hearts-a-bustin' I did a while back tacked to my dining room wall. Here's a photo of the large bush on the path leading to the Epimedium Collection.

"Droplet"

5¾ x 5¾"

watercolor on mounted Arches Cold Press (Art Board)

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What did I say about wanting to paint loose brushstrokes?  Guess that did not happen here.  I don't know why I kept it so tight.  I was really drawn to these lovely little water droplets, especially the one at the tip of the leaf.

Reference photo was taken on October 16.  I decided to go the the Gardens early to catch the morning sun.  They had just watered the plants on the walk down from the rose circle.  I took many photos of leaves with water droplets, and liked this one the best.

"The New Kid"

 6 x 8"

oil on linen panel (Ray Mar)

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I struggled a bit with this one and ended up re-doing the flower because it had gotten too tight.  I'm trying to keep the brushwork loose.  The background, however, came easily and I'm very pleased with my circles.  The softness is a nice contrast.  This new kid would be a great match for "Longing."

The reference photo was taken on September 26.  It was a great day for roses.  Please note that I've added some share buttons to each posting.  Use them to spread the word and share with friends and family.  That would really help me out.  Thanks!

"Turning Japanese"

 

6 x 6"

watercolor on aquaboard (Ampersand)

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I'm back after a fabulous Thanksgiving vacation with family.  This painting went slowly due to all the details.  I'm pleased with branch lines that keeps the viewers eyes active.  I love how this aquaboard makes it easy to pull the whites out.

Reference photo was taken on September 26.  These are Japanese wind flowers.  They are located on the lower terrace.  It's fun watching them all sway together, but of course I like to zero in on the individual.

"Here's Looking at You"

 

6 x 8"

oil on linen panel (Ray Mar)

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I know I should be painting another fall flower, but here I am with a honeysuckle.  Sorry. I was attracted to the orange and the contrast.  I'm very pleased with the painterly quality of the brush work on this one.  My goal is to stay loose.  So, the tiny details in the two flowers drove me a bit crazy.

Reference photo was taken on April 10. I don't know how I jumped so far back. I'll try to stay more seasonal. This vine was right before the pergola on the path down from the rose circle.

"Hearts-a-bustin'"

 

6 x 6"

watercolor on aquabord (Ampersand)

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Thought I'd post one with more fall colors.  Back to the aquabord, I enjoyed working on the background circles and liked how the thin branches moved through the composition.

Reference photo was taken September 26.  This is one of my favorite blooming fall plants.  It's a bush that lives in shaded forests and has these cool scarlet pods that burst in the fall. Native to North Carolina, I had not seen one until moving back here and discovering them in my backyard.  There are several in the H.L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants section at Duke Gardens, though the largest one I've ever seen is in the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum along the path leading up from the North Pond.  I'll post one done in oil soon.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

"Longing"

 

6 x 8" 

oil on linen panel (Ray Mar)

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This one went fairly quickly.  I started by putting down a sepia ground and then rubbing out the lightest shapes with a cloth.  Then I sketched with a brush using a dark alizarin crimson.  After the shapes were how I wanted them, I painted the darkest colors and background, keeping it soft.  The next day I completed the flower.  The highlights worked out very well.  This one will be hard to part with.

The reference photo was taken on August 8.  It was the day of the rose path.  With so many beautiful subjects, the trick was to find pleasing compositions.  I liked how the background flowers look ghostly. 

"Rose for Texas"

 

5¾ x 5¾"

 watercolor on mounted Arches Cold Press

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I'm trying this Artboard mounted watercolor paper again which really soaks up the color.  It has a softness to it. It felt good to be working on paper again because you can layer it.  Seeing through the various layers gives a nice glazing affect.  I am very pleased with how I was able to make the tiny roses pop using the contrasting colors as well.  

Reference photo was taken on April 10.  These rose bushes were right at the end of the rose circular path over the higher wall.  They are small clusters of blooming tiny yellow roses.  The lusciousness of the blooming bush is a treat.  Zooming in on the details that creates that is what I love to do.

"Rose Path" 6x8" oil

 

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This one went quicker than many of the others.  Maybe I'm gaining a little more confidence with these oils. I'm not as fussy and tentative.  I really like how the sky turned out.  It has a plein air feel.  So does the path. 

Reference photo was taken on April 10.  It was nice to pull back a little.  Those who are familiar with the gardens can place yourselves on the circular rose path.

"Georgia's Type" 6x6in watercolor on Aquaboard

 

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Took a little tropical detour from the promised roses.  The aquaboard just loves red, so when I saw this lovely bloom, I knew it was destined for a watercolor.  Have you figured out the title?  Georgia, as in O'Keefe.  This flower just seemed like one Georgia would have chosen to paint, though she would have done it huge and straight on instead of a small profile.  Back to roses tomorrow.

Reference photo was taken on July 25.  There were several of these blooms, at the bottom of the terrace where the temporary barrier was put up while they work on the pond.  Most of these (again not sure what they are) were past their peak.  Even this has a slight hole in the petal which I liked.  Beauty. No perfection.

"Coming Up" 8x6in oil

 

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I'm carrying over the focus on the background circles from the last painting in a big way in this one.  I wanted to paint them loose and thin at first, and then add thicker brushstrokes.  They definitely became prominent.  The vertical worked well as the bud is coming up.  Can you hear that little bud singing to Diana Ross's "I'm coming out?" (of course replacing "out" with "up").  

The reference photo was taken on August 29.  There were so many beautiful blooming roses it was easy to take many photos.  The trick was finding ones with a little more interest either with composition or light. 

"What's Red for?" 6x6" watercolor

 

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I love how the aquaboard handled the red.  So vibrant! This one also took longer than one session.  I got wrapped up in the background circles.  I also wanted to make sure the greens were right.  Greens can be tough.  The trick is to always, always, always mix your own greens.  No tube colors.  Using a variety of hues adds depth and interest.  

This reference photo was taken on August 8 in the rose garden.  They are all blooming beautifully.  You'll be seeing more roses.

"Bubble Yum Field" 6x8" oil

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I know the title is a bit goofy, but the colors just reminded me of Bubble Yum bubble gum colors. Do they still make that gum? Anyway, I had fun with this one.

The reference photo was taken on July 25.  The terrace was just full of colors.  I love how they layer the plants so that you are bombarded with complimenting colors.  Always breathtaking.

"Reaching" 6x6" watercolor

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This one took longer to paint than the others.  I experimented with layering the paint a bit on this aquaboard.  I am very pleased with the results.  If I'm going to do a painting a day, however, I may need to choose subjects without so much detail.

I don't know what kind of flower this is, so if anyone can help with identifying it that would be great. I know it was on the terrace. The reference photo was taken on April 10.

"Shine"

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I focused on contrast in this painting not only in the bright yellow versus the dark background, but also in softening the edges of the background flowers versus the foreground daisy. I'm pleased that it made the flower pop.

The reference photo was taken on July 25, 2010.  I was struck by these little yellow daisies shinning through from under the dark purple spider grass (? - not sure exactly the name.  I promise to get better at identifying what I'm painting).  So, maybe not shinning bright, but attempting to shine.  I was also listening to David Gray's "Shine" while painting.  Click and have a listen.  Great song.

"Peachy"

 

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This watercolor is a slight departure in that I've gone back to using watercolor paper.  This is Arches Cold Press paper mounted on a natural fiber board by Artboard.  It is thicker than the other panels and has a slot for hanging on the back.  So, I've gone from working on the aquaboard which is not as absorbent as regular watercolor paper to this mounted Cold Press which is very absorbent.  The mounting process must fuse the fiber with the paper because it has a very soft, almost fuzzy surface.  The painting, therefore, has a very soft appearance which is perfect for this subject.

The reference photo was taken on March 31. Unfortunately, I can not recall where these peach colored blossoms were.  It was either on a small tree on the terrace or on the path walking towards the small iron bridge.  Sorry.  If anyone knows, please tell me.

"Hi ya"

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This is the last of the tulips for a while.  I had fun with the composition on this one.  I felt like the little one was saying "hi" to the larger one - thus the title.  I was also pleased with the contrast of the bright red against the black shaded stone wall.

The reference photo was from that same gorgeous day of the tulips - March 31, 2010. Seeing the stone terrace wall gives you a better sense that this was taken at Duke Gardens.  I may on occasion back away from my intimate moments to give a wider scope of the gardens.  Something to think about for future paintings.

"Sunburst"

 

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Another tulip.  I was very pleased with how the sky peeks through the trees on this one. I'm getting used to the aquaboard and figuring out how best to layer the paint.  Still, I may have to try some on real paper that's been mounted.  Maybe the next one. . .

The reference photo was also taken on March 31.  I just couldn't pull myself away from the tulips on the terrace. Tip toeing??

"Awakening"

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Tulips are so cheerful.  (I know Meg Ryan says daisies are so cheerful in "You've Got Mail," but tulips are a close second.) The luscious oils make it easy to keep things bright, though I had to be careful not to overwork the strokes otherwise it could get muddy fast.  Getting the color right on the shaded yellow of the petals was a bit tricky, but I'm pleased with the result.

The reference photo was taken on March 31.  You really should try to make it to Duke Gardens in the early spring when the bulb flowers come up.  It's lovely.  I even enjoyed it as a child with my sister, Missy.  See the photo on the sidebar.

"Peeking Daffodil"

 

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I'm getting used to using this aquaboard.  You can pick up colors more easily to leave white. It does not allow for the colors to play as much, though, as you would with paper.  I was happy with the vibrant contrast in this one.

The reference photo was taken on March 31.  Many variety of daffodils are showcased on the terrace along with the tulips.  These were on the lower level by one of the stone benches.  A lovely place to ponder.

"Returning Tulips"

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This is the first oil I've done in a number of years and I have to say that it was a lot of fun, but a bit frustrating too.  I have been so used to painting with watercolor or encaustic - both of which dry very fast - that it took a bit of fiddling to get these oils to do what I wanted.  Still it was good to smell the linseed oil and mineral spirits in the studio again.

The reference photo for this was taken on April 4.  The historic terraces at Duke Gardens are just covered with tulips that time of year.  So cheerful.  Hope it warms your cool day.

"Euphorbia"

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So here is number one.  I realize that some of you may have seen it before, but it truly was the very first of this series. It is watercolor done on aquaboard (from Ampersand).  I've enjoyed using this textured board for watercolor. Colors are very vibrant.  The reference photo for this piece was taken on March 31.  The plant is on the right side of the path just before you reach the wisteria pergola.