First Camellias

"First Camellias"

10 x 10 inches

oil on canvas on panel

$400

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It's pseudo-spring in Oregon, and things are starting to bloom. I spotted this bush breaking out in blooms on my running route, and went back later in the day with scissors!

Rogue Valley Honey

 "Rogue Valley Honey"

12 x 12 inches, oil on canvas
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I went South last weekend to spend a couple of days hanging out by a large, beautiful river. It rained the entire time, which kept me from even attempting to paint plein air. To be honest, that was more than OK with me, since there was a Camellia bush in full bloom right outside our front door - and this gorgeous, glowing jar of honey, calling out to be painted from the moment I spied it on the kitchen shelf. So this still life is the product of true serendipity; my artistic journey is like a never-ending scavenger hunt with so many precious treasures hidden along the path, absolutely guaranteed to be found by me if I just keep looking. It's still exciting every time I find one.

 

When I did eventually brave the rainy outdoors, I was rewarded with visual treasures of another sort:

Oregon is amazing! After ten years of living here, I'm still in awe.

Bud and Blossom

"Bud and Blossom"

9 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

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On A Pedestal

 "On A Pedestal"

16 x 20 inches, oil on canvas

$700

Available here

Instead of taking a photograph, I painted these blossoms in first - and quickly. They opened fast! Once I got those down, I had plenty of time to work on the rest of the painting. The white blocks weren't going anywhere. Though the sphere did manage to roll off the table overnight....I blame a mischievous kitty.

 

Here's an on-the-wall shot:

It's my Blogiversary!

 "Big Reds"

12 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

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More red Camellias! I have a larger painting in the works with this setup, but in that one the blossoms are still mostly closed. I thought they looked lovely the next morning as they opened, so I started a second painting. 

Eight years ago, on February 21st, 2008, I wrote my first blog post - and it wasn't much! Looking back at my work over the years is fun, and I see some subjects I'd like to revisit...

Fleeting Blooms

 "Fleeting Blooms (Camellias)"

12 x 24 inches, oil on canvas

Available here

I will not rub it in that it's the second week of February, and I picked these outside, growing in a very springlike manner. It never ceases to amaze me, though - even nine years after leaving the Midwest - how early things bloom here in Oregon!

Here's a time-lapse video of this piece. I wasn't painting quite THAT fast, but I did have to hustle on this one. The flowers were opening and dropping off faster than I could paint them - literally! I'm glad I had a grisaille sketch to work from - it helped a lot. 

"Fleeting Blooms (sketch)"

6 x 12 inches, oil on Arches oil paper

Spring Pinks: a floral still life oil painting

 

 "Spring Pinks"

9 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

Click to buy

The colors of spring on my street, including a sprig of exuberant purple Azalea. I stayed very loose and suggestive on those purple blossoms - I'll tell you it was my way of keeping the focus inside the composition, but really it was to keep from making myself crazy!

Here's a work-in-progress:

"Fallen Blossom" A floral still life oil painting of red Camellias

 "Fallen Blossom"

12 x 9 inches, oil on canvas

Camellias don't last long as cut flowers - especially if you're constantly fussing and rearranging to get the perfect bouquet for a painting. Luckily, I liked the look of this blossom on the tabletop, and was able to capture it before its petals began to shrivel. I'd love to do a really big still life of Camellias, but I'd have to work fast - a photograph could never do these amazing colors justice - my palette barely can, and I've been using four different reds!

Pretty Larceny

 "Early Camellias"

approx. 12 x 9 inches, oil on Arches oil paper

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The scissors in my glove compartment strike again! This beautiful Camellia bush lives on the front lawn of a real estate office downtown - conveniently located along my morning drop-off-the-people route. I'm sure the friendly realtors would be happy to know they'd donated some excess bloomage to the cause of Art. Not that I'm telling them or anything. 

In Which I Confess

 

"Bountiful Camellias" 

12 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

$450

Available through The Gallery at the Watershed

A funny thing happened last Friday.  Hanging out at my new gallery during the artwalk, I was randomly introduced to the very same neighbor of mine from whom I've been stealing these gorgeous red Camellias for the past four years. I immediately came clean and thanked her profusely (some Japanese-style bowing was involved), but she laughed and thanked me. I assume for helping tame a slightly out-of-control bush. Or possibly for making her an unknowing, (but valued) patron of the arts. 

So, Anna, now that I actually know who you are I can publicly thank you for all the flowers. 

*Thanks*

 oil sketch for "Bountiful Camellias"

 6 x 6"

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Alas, Poor Leelou

"White Camellias with Skull"

12 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

$300

click to buy

When you have the rare luck to be leant a real human skull, it kind of becomes the only thing you want to paint.  Tearing my soul in two this week is the fact that it's also Camellia season. My favorite flower, and one I make sure to pilfer from the neighbors paint every year. Naturally, my only choice was to put them together, and why not? Makes for a classic Memento Mori.

Not that reminding you of your mortality is really what I'm all about.

Here's my progress. Contrary to my normal practice, I painted this one ALL WEEK. I only seemed to be able to snatch an hour here and there in the studio, so I think I did three or four different work sessions on this one. It wasn't as painful as my moaning and groaning (audible over twitter worldwide, I'm sure) might have lead you to believe.

What did you work on this weekend? Link it up in the comments - I'd love to see!