Cabin Fever Flowers

With the thermometer pushing over 100 this week, cabin fever motivated me to  use the indoor time, and outdoor time on the deck in a wet bathing suit, to paint from flower photos I've taken.  Here is the finished hibiscus and large red poppies.  I'm pleased with how I kept the hibiscus fresh leaving the white of the paper to give the airy effect I wanted.  The poppies, on the other hand, turned out a little heavy.  I'll try them again, and make an effort to leave more of the white paper highlights.  It's going to be warm next week as well, so I'll keep the cabin fever series going!

Hibiscus

Okay, so I go for days without painting or posting and now I may be beginning a marathon.  Hibiscus flowers are starting to blossom...

Cabin Fever Cone Flower

It's record breaking heat outside, 106 degrees, but inside it's nice and cool and after a nice afternoon nap I finished the cone flower painting.  I think it's done, take a few photos out on the deck, bring it inside, study it from a distance, add some touches, then take a few more photos.  After doing this several times, I do think it is finished.  At least I need to stop adding one more thing or I'll risk overworking it.   Also, the sun is going down and the colors in my photos are becoming more muted by the minute!

I'm on a roll.  I've decided to do a series of paintings from flower photos I've taken that I've saved to paint "later."  Later is now!  So I just sketched some hibiscus flowers from my flower photo file. I'm also trying to push the values, the colors and the techniques beyond my comfort zone.  We'll see what happens.

"Rise and Shine" - GEAG Award

Rise and Shine won the Kerchner Memorial Award for the best transparent water color at the Gateway East Summer Art Exhibit this afternoon.  The competition was very stiff, and I'm appreciative for the recognition. You can see all the art featured in the exhibit by going to: http://geag.net/gateway/index.html.

 I'm not selling this painting - I'd like to decorate our next kitchen in these colors of yellow and blue like Monet's kitchen in Giverny.  Hopefully as we downsize there will be room to hang it! It is rather large....32" x 26".

Cabin Fever Cone Flower

It's been over 100 degrees now for several days, and it's going to stay that way for a few more.  It's like reverse cabin fever!  There are many photos I've taken to use as paint studies, so Thursday night I pulled up these cone flowers on my computer and made the initial sketch. Sketching and painting from my computer screen is the next best thing to painting "plein air."    Friday I took a dip in the pool and sat on the deck and painted in my wet bathing suit - the only way you can stay outdoors in this weather. Normally I use American Journey watercolors from Cheap Joe's, but to get the pink I'm looking for, I'm using Opera - a very bright pink, from Holbein.  I'm also painting on Cheap Joe's 140 lb Kilimanjaro water color paper. I'm thinking of painting a series of some of my favorite florals.  We'll see where it goes.

Last day of painting until August

The mural is well on the way to being finished.  Tomorrow Steve and I head back home and Mom will continue to paint the trees in the foreground.  She painted in the smaller details we decided to include like the wild turkeys, an old rusty truck, a farmer and his tractor and some horses.  Several of these details were suggested by residents.  They continue to stop by and see the progress, reminisce and encourage us in our endeavor.

An official "unveiling" of the mural is planned for August 14 from 10:00 - 11:00am with coffee and donuts for the residents and their families and staff.  I'll come back a few days before and add the finishing touches that I need to make - the train tracks are bare, they need some trains moving along the country side.  The far side of the Wabash still needs trees and reflections in the water among other things.

Painting a mural is physically demanding work - but very rewarding.  Mom and I are so grateful we are able to do this together.  It will be nice to have a couple of weeks break before coming back to finish the project. I'm still challenged by how to best take a photo of a 17 foot painting!

5th full day of mural project

Wild life, trees, court house, train depot etc painted today plus mom and I went through her files to pull out studies for some wild life, tractor and old truck among other things to add details to the mural.  I went on line and pulled up some photos of  subjects that I don't have.  We are making great progress.  We'll be painting tomorrow afternoon before I head back home.  I'll be back in August to put in some finishing touches.  Mom will be able to take her time to go downstairs and work on the trees in the foreground and further details as she wants to take the time.  Tonight we are tired again like we were on Monday.  Tomorrow - 1/2 day to paint and give ourselves the morning off.

This has been a very rewarding experience - the senior residents in Friendship House have been delightful.  We are thrilled to give them something they will enjoy for a long time. 

On the banks of the Wabash - mural is moving along

Today is the 2nd full day of painting and we've come quite a way.  When we cleaned up tonight we were able to throw away the cardboard and plastic floor and wall protectors since the large surface painting is completed.  We are now into the details.  Here is where we are, even started painting in some of the shadows.  What doesn't get done by Thursday, I'll make a trip back in August to finish.
Mom and I had fun pulling up on YouTube "On the Banks of the Wabash" this morning and listening to old gramophone recordings from the early 1900's.  Friendship House will have some kind of open house when it is finished and we're thinking that song will need to be part of the program!

Off to hear an open air dulcimer concert this evening.  We are in much better shape tonight than last night to have the energy to go.

Monday evening mural update

Well, we quit painting at 3:30 and we were ready to put up the brushes for the night!  The Friendship House residents are so sweet - we've had fun hearing them reminisce about the places they are seeing the mural.  The florescent light is not giving the true colors in the photo - need to figure out how to take photos without it.

Heading to my sister's for dinner that we will appreciate because we could not do one more thing!

We'll rest up tonight - tomorrow is another day!

Mural Progress Report

Mom and I were up and ready to paint at 6:30 this morning.  After five hours, here is the progress we have made.  Stopped for the resident's lunch and our own and a welcome break!  The mural is a subject of great interest among the residents who are watching the progress and giving some good suggestions.  One man wants a wild turkey, so mom will be adding that detail at some point.  I took photos of bridges on the Wabash yesterday and will be adding those.  One of the residents insisted bridges were necessary and I agree.  Mom is doing her magic with the tobacco barn painting.  The barn no longer exists in West Lafayette, but Mom had her original sketches in different sizes and the original photos my dad took that she used to render this favorite subject in watercolors many times.

Well break time is over and we're heading back down to the dining room!