A Day For Daisies

Wow! Well it's been an eventful day. I got this watercolor painting done today. I usually work from my own photographs, but last week a blog friend sent me this up close photo, and wow- I loved working with it. I'm thinking the title will be "A Day for Daisies". I think they are daisies- What do you think? Any comments?!

An opportunity came up today to hang a show of my work here locally. I am so excited about this, and yet there is so much work to do in order to get ready. I will need to have 20-25 pieces ready to hang within a few weeks! About two thirds is ready-

So, back to work I go.....  SOLD

Simplicity

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Good Morning! Well, I spent yesterday cleaning my studio. At times it seems to help my mind to clean or reorganize something, sort of like a decluttering. Anyway, it did feel better to get in there and rearrange and throw some things away. It's really hard for me though. It's kind of like cleaning your closet, (that really needs it) I'm always telling myself I will use that someday, even though I haven't for years. I guess the closet is next. Perhaps it's the new year coming that is bringing on these feelings.

So, I thought it would be appropriate to post this small painting I did which I titled "Simplicity". This one just sort of seemed to just happen and flow. I felt as if I was working loosely and abstractly. It's a very simple painting that seems to have a big impact. I believe, the design element "Less is More" applies to this one. Maybe I can apply this to my closet!!

If anyone is interested, I just listed this one on e-bay last night, and can be found by running a search on my name-elizabeth chapman (paintings, watercolors, realistic,original, floral)

Homemade Christmas

Well, mostly just sitting around today recuperating. I painted for a little while, a floral painting that I had started rather loosely a few days ago, and totally messed it all up. (Not a painting day) But,never know though, sometimes those total mess ups can become beautiful works. I really doubt that this one will!

This year we pretty made everything for Christmas and had a lot of fun with it. I thought I would post some of these handmade items. The girls got purses, the guys got scarves, and a few paintings were given away. Oh- and my husband made a gourd lamp for each one of our kids. Each one seemed to have a personality of it's own. Lots of fun!

I did paint a couple of abstract paintings a few days ago. It's really neat when it just sort of happens and there isn't a lot of struggling with it. One of them happened quickly and is done, but the other will still needs to be resolved.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and are recuperating well!

Family

Well since I've had so many of Elsie's followers find my blog, I thought it might be fun to post this picture today. I took this picture last fall at Cider Days. We are such a pug loving family. The pug is Love Love and that is Emma's dog. My husband and I are pretty sad because Emma has decided to take him back with her to L.A., We've been keeping him for her while she's been establishing herself in L.A. Best dog ever!!

I spent most of the day cleaning house. I love to clean. Not really, just kidding, but with having all the family around this week, well you know how it is. Emma is on her way back today and will be here tomorrow afternoon. We are all so very excited to see her. So today, I spent alot of time thinking about family, and how special they are to me. May each one of you have a very special family time and a Merry Christmas!!

I hate to admit this, but I called Elsie to find out how to answer my comments. I am not very technology minded. Ya, it's a part the generation I'm from. I am proud to say though, that I have learned so much over the last few months. So anyway, I did go back and answer comments, and may have gotten a little comment crazy with my new found knowledge. Thanks for the comments! I've enjoyed it!

"Small Wonder"

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Now and then there will be a spiritual connection with a work of art I've created. It doesn't happen everytime but when it does it really is pretty exciting. Sometimes it may be the initial inspiration, sometimes it may be as I'm working or it can even happen long after the piece is finished. That is the case with Small Wonder, which was actually titled by my husband. I chose to work on this because I loved the contrast, the placement of the flower, and those buds! and so I painted it.
Yesterday morning it struck me, it's Christmas time! Over 2000 years ago a small wonder was born to a virgin in a manger, his name is Jesus the son of God. He would grow up in this world and later sacrifice his life so that all who believe could live life abundantly and not parish. This is love, a gift for all, a small wonder.
Anyway, it's pretty exciting to me when these connections occur and the work seems to take on a life of it's own, with a message.
I thought I was going to take a break from e-bay during the holidays, but I got so excited about this one, that I just listed it, kinda of sort of as my Christmas present to e-bayers!
Merry Christmas!!

Oh my gosh!

Well, I just got on my blog to check it out and oh my gosh! I've got some followers!
Thanks to all of you that left such kind comments after having found me on Elsie's blog. She is a big inspiration to me, I'm very proud of her and we have a lot of fun together. So, thank you all for welcoming to the blogging world!

My cousin from Australia is here for a few days, so we had Christmas at my mom's house today. That is always a very interesting time followed by the traditional yearly family picture! This usually takes a long time with getting everybody together and then my mother (who loves to take pictures) has to get many different shots. This doesn't sound very bad except that it's usually very cold, and she wants these done outside!

No painting today. I started the day cooking food to take out for the family gathering. I had just gotten twice baked potatoes and a green bean casserole done when I decided to take a little break and have a cup of tea. Well, I turned the wrong burner on, and by the time I noticed it, well it was too late- there was a huge explosion with glass and potatoes shooting out everywhere. My wonderful husband helped me clean it all up and we started the cooking all over again, and still made it out there in time.

So anyway, I thought maybe I was going to take a little break from blogging over the holidays, but when I found so many wonderful comments I got inspired again!! I will try to continue, but I'm not sure how much painting I'm going to get done during this time. I'm not complaining, I love Christmas!! We are all looking forward to seeing Emma who will be arriving from L.A. Christmas Eve!

I've been listing and selling paintings on e-bay, and thought I was going to take a little break from that as well, but then this morning I got an inspiration for one of these paintings and so I will be listing it soon. It is titled "Small Wonder" and although I wasn't thinking of this when I painted it, I now see a Christmas story in it. So,
I will probably blog it tomorrow. (I think I'm getting addicted to blogging!)- and then list it on e-bay for Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!

Jazzie Blues

Feeling kinda blue today with the weather being so cold, cloudy and gloomy. Sat down and painted this purple iris this afternoon to kinda chase the blues away. I think it helped get into the colors and listen to some jazzie music while painting. I listened to Jeremy Larson's new CD "Salvation Club" three times while getting this one done!! Beautiful painting music!

Lilies and Buds

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Really cold day today. I went through my pile of photographs again this morning, chose and drew three flowers. I'm thinking I can't wait until spring to get out and get some fresh shots, but that's a ways off. I felt like working with the warm orange colors today, so this is the painting for today. I like close up shots and working with shapes, breaking up space in interesting way. I especially liked the two buds in the background. Anyway, tomorrow need to work on wrapping Christmas presents!

Simplicity

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I love to paint! How to I know this, because I find myself painting everyday. I really didn't think I would paint today on Saturday, but I found myself doing this one. I pulled out this photograph (gladiola?) that I've been intrigued with, but really wasn't sure about how to approach it. Today, I just decided to try it.
This is one of those where the saying "less is more" fits the piece. There was very little drawing to it, and it was painted very loosely with just a bit of detailing.
I love the effect! I decided to call it "Simplicity" because sometimes it is the simplest of things that create the greatest impact.

Drama Queen

It amazes me how much faster and the improvement that is occurring simply from painting everyday. I slept in this morning. (It's hard to get out from underneath the flannel sheet on these cold winter mornings.) Then we went to the grocery store, I had to go to the veterinarians and then take our foster daughter, Rachel to work. I really didn't think I would get much done, painting wise. But, check it out- I squeezed this one in and I love it! I am really into thinking about the design, which basically means how a space is filled in order to create the biggest impact.
I took this close-up photo of a purple iris last fall. I was attracted to the way the shapes filled the space in the photo, as well as the dramatic contrast between lights and darks. This one will go on e-bay before to long. For now it gets pinned up on the wall, along with a few others I will have to let go of before to long. I absolutely love when I hear from someone who says they are really enjoying a work. That is a blessing!

Coneflower

Well, I managed to do a small painting today. Not sure that it is all that I would have liked it to be, but it was a challenge. I really wasn't sure how I was going to approach doing the center of this flower. That is were problem solving comes in, and with a little experimenting I managed. So, anyway that is my painting for today. Tomorrow is another busy day in the morning. Forecast is calling for an ice storm next week. So, we need to go to the store, bring wood in, check the flashlights and get ready.

East Meets West

I worked on this painting all day, off and on in between doing a lot of other things. I had so much fun with it! I enjoy working in an abstract style as well as realistically. I've wondered that maybe I need to choose one style or the other, and just dedicate myself to one particular style. I've kinda just let that one ride, and still go back and forth. But this one was so much fun because I totally got into an abstract mode as I worked with the background and then switched to realistic for the flower. That kinda worked vice versa and at times both.
So, what shall I title it?

Tiger Lily

Well, we got the Christmas tree up today and I did alot of baking. Still have some presents to make, and can you believe only two weeks away! I better get busy.
I sold a painting today on e-bay, which inspired me to paint some more. I'm always excited to sell a work, but then sad to let them go. Anyway, after yesterdays overworked painted, (seriously, I spent the day on it) I thought I would post what I started today. (it's by no means done) I only worked on this one for about thirty minutes. I was attracted to the variation in yellows against a dark foliage. I like the looseness and the fresh feeling that it has. I hope to be able to keep this freshness throughout the completion of the painting. I'll post the finished one later.

Overworked Fushia

I can't believe I nearly spent the whole day on this, and ya it looks way overworked. I wasn't happy with the background and just kept going over and over it. Very dissatisfied with this one. I think it's time to take a break and do something different. I'm thinking about starting on a really huge canvas with acrylics and doing some abstracts on canvas panels next. We'll see.

But tomorrow we're going to put the Christmas tree up! This year we made most all of our Christmas presents. I was going to post what I made for the kids, but then I found out that our daughter Elsie had found and read my blog. I really didn't think anyone was reading my blog but me. Anyway, don't want her to know so can't post my cute presents-yet.

Letting Go

Oh how hard it is to let go. Of course, this is something I learned as we were raising our kids. There were always so many letting go moments, from the first overnight trip to grandma's, all the in between's and then the final leaving home. All were such difficult times, and still are in many ways.
I never thought I would begin to feel this way about my art work. It's been one of those learning experiences. I find that I just want to hang them on the wall, sit and admire all those pieces. It saddens me to think of them leaving. This last one is one of those. I posted it yesterday unfinished and now here it is unfinished. I believe the photograph is good, but it still looks much better hanging on the wall. It will soon go on e-bay. Ya, I've got to eat!

Waterlily

I'm not done with this one yet. Thought I better photograph before the sun goes down. It's only 2:oo in the afternoon, but it's winter and the good light doesn't last very long. Anyway, I'll work on the background some more and then fine tune some details and almost done in one day. I do alot of other things as well while I paint. If I'm going to get one done, photographed and blogged guess I better get up and get started real earlier. Probably not!

Red Velvet

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Luscious and rich! I tried to post this one last night and I found out there is a difference in photographing using florescence lights and photographing outdoor. The natural lighting brought out the richness and depth in this rose, whereas indoor lighting flattened it out. I loved the white tip on one of the petals. Amazing, how such a small bit of white can attract so much attention. I'm thinking a white matt would really make this one pop.

Daily Painting

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O.k here is another painting that I actually did last weekend. It just seems like it's getting busier and busier around here. I've challenged myself to a painting a day, but now I'm thinking this might actually work better as a New Year resolution! Today, I need to work on Christmas presents. Also, I'm working on keeping my blog up each day, which is something new to get use to. I hope to at least get some drawing for new paintings done today. I really love this little painting. We have a few orchids that my husband loves to take care of. These beautiful blooms have lasted as long as five months for us. I've taken several photographs of them. I was attracted to the contrast and the way the flowers and the one budding bloom filled the space. I listed this one on e-bay last night. My username is colorsplashes.
http://www.ebay.com

Green Leaves

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I'm cheating just a bit. I actually got this one done day a few days ago. I decided to do a daily painting and blog and then guess what- we had some sort of a flu bug hit our home. So, needless to say I haven't felt like painting. This little piece is one that I did in order to work on painting green leaves. The photograph that I worked from had this pretty pink rose sort of peaking out from among the leaves.