Long time no speaky

I want to keep up with my blog a bit more, but work has been crazy these past few weeks. As far as art is concerned, I've been excited about the new works I've been developing. I'm finding how much I enjoy creating floral works. Flowers, in terms of art, have their own personalities. You can show a lot of emotion by the way they're positioned on the canvas. Showing a bright and bold flower in the foreground with little to no stalk brings the flower up close to the viewer. Those are the types of things I've discovered just by painting this week. It's exciting. I'm enjoying working on a commission from a previous buyer. I've worked on it daily, and I'm happy with my progress so far.

On a field trip, I picked up a book on Texas wildflowers. The book has been quite inspirational in the different types of floral pieces I can create.

Here is a link for the book: 1oo Texas Wildflowers

Lily Spiral in Progress

After a disappointing experience with the Cowboys...I got busy. From the sketch of a lily, I was interested in how the flowers crisp corners and points seemed to curl into infinity. From the curl found in a nautilus shell, or inside a canna leaf, deriving from a point that humans can't visibly see is truly unbelievable. Nature has so many quirks. This just gives me more motivation to put it down on canvas.
As Christians, we believe in living forever. Our physical bodies die away, but our soul remains. Again, that stuff really wigged me out at a young age. If you sit and think about it, there is never an end. I will continue forever. At the risk of sounding like a nutty painter, eternity seems to be so excepted in Christianity. Does this bother anyone? The only satisfaction I derive is knowing I'll praise Him forever.

finished "Orchid Stalks", new Reyes Leaves pics.

A new detail shot...I'm psyched about this painting! So much motion, and I think the leaves are such a strong contrast to what surrounds it.

Lily Charcoal Sketch

Can you believe how gorgeous a lily is? Looking at something like this always gives me such confidence in my creator. Here, the lily has fully extended it's petals away from the stamen. The petals wrinkle and curve creating a sense of shape.

School starts back tomorrow...and I have mixed feelings. I truly miss my kids. I also know it's incredibly hard to get back in the swing after having so much time off. Give me about two weeks and I'll be back in the groove.

Orchid Stalks in Progress

The last day of Christmas vacation...In many ways I'm happy to see it go. I'm ready to get back into the groove of things. I'm thankful for the time off, but I get a bit antsy after more than a week.
I wanted to create something along the lines of my "Grey Blume," but had been toying with the idea of using orchid stalks in the background.
After about thirty minutes in the garage, my hand almost froze off. I took it in doors, and Ben got paint everywhere!
The stalks probably seem a bit comical, curvy and grossly out of proportion. We turned up some kids music, and after several M.C. Hammer moves, followed by a pathetic running man, this was the result!
I'm not quite finished with the bottom, but it's almost there. I don't know why, but it reminds me of Japanese cartoons.
Could it be? Kansas might take the Orange bowl? What a weird season...