Thursday, May 31, 2012

Favorites Collage



Yesterday I reached 150 straight posts of new paintings or paintings that had never been posted before and this collage are of some of my personal favorites since I began in January.  I had originally said that I wanted to do this for an entire year.  One of the things that Dreama said in our workshop in Cary was that we need to stack the deck in our favor and know our own personalities.  I love to paint and paint often but every single day was a bit much and I was feeling a bit out of balance.  So I have revised my goal to paint often and paint happy!  I would like to continue to post most days but sometimes may break down the process of a painting into three sessions or I might do something unrelated to art.  The wheels are turning so it will be a summer of discovery and growth I am sure.  I really am pleased that I did 150 paintings so far this year and it is fun to see them arranged in a grouping like this.  Some are sold and some are still available if you want to get in touch with me by email or go to my available works and see and even purchase one on the spot.  I ship my paintinga gift packaged and they come with a black metal display
easel.  


If you have not already signed up for my newsletter you can do that above on the right side of my blog.  When you are a subscriber either to my daily posts or my monthly newsletter, you are eligible for my monthly free painting giveaway!  I just sent emails to two people for April and May but have not heard back yet.  They may be on vacation.  Have a super duper Friday!!  








Wednesday, May 30, 2012

#150 Purple Iris

#150 Purple Iris 
6" by 6" original oil on panel
150.


Another cheery flower with wonderful rich color.  It is so enjoyable to pay spend time really focusing on a beautiful flower as you paint it!  Today was a busy day of sending out my newsletter and painting with Claudia and Adele.  Then I headed to Trader Joe's to stock up on this week's healthy food.  I found a really pretty bought that may find its way into a painting.  Hope your day was a good one.  I contacted my winners for April and May giveaways but have not heard back from them yet.  As soon as I do, I will post the paintings they will be receiving and announce their names.  I always like to get their permission.  If you have not subscribed to my newsletter yet, you too can be eligible for my monthly painting giveaway and receive my newsletter too!  Just sign up at the top right of my blog!  Have a great Thursday!






Tuesday, May 29, 2012

#149 Memories of Ocracoke Outer Banks


#149 Memories of Ocracoke Island, North Carolina's
Outer Banks
Original Soft Pastel
Sold

After sharing my pastel yesterday I felt a bit nostalgic and decided to post another one that I did awhile back after a visit to the Outer Banks.  I love the softness of pastel and the way it reflects light.  I have been busy today working on my newsletter and will be sending it out tomorrow.  If you have not signed up yet, you can do so at the top of my blog on the right.  I have chosen the winners of the free painting giveaway for April and May and will announce it tomorrow night in my next blog post.  Hope you have a great Wednesday!




Monday, May 28, 2012

#148 College Pastel Portrait


#148 Name This College!
11" by 14" original soft pastel on paper

I promised to post something every day and REALLY wanted to take today off so I decided to post this pastel that I have never shown before and also talk about the possibility of painting your college or university or the graduate in your life.  It is that time of year when people are graduating and moving on in their life and it would make a lovely gift and momento.  I cannot for the life of me remember this school.  It is a long story how I came to paint it but I am relying on a reader out there to recognize it and let me know!  If you do know the school and are interested in purchasing, just send me an email at normasart@cox.net.  Hope you had a fantastic weekend.  I just walked the beach and had my camera to get some great photos with the wonderful late day light and my camera ran out of a charge half way into my walk...when will I learn!  At least I had my memory card.  I am excited about the week ahead and the painting possibilities that await.  Thanks for visiting!

Sunday, May 27, 2012

#147 Fish Tale




#147 Fish Tale
150.


Happy Memorial Day!

Hope you are doing something that makes you feel like a kid again...like this painting did for me!  Doesn't she look like she has a story to tell!


Saturday, May 26, 2012

#146 Table For Two



#146 Table For Two
9" by 12" original oil on gallery wrap canvas with two inch sides
295.


As I sit to write this evening the fireworks are going off and a lovely breeze is coming through my window.  The beach has been buzzing with activity all day and I have been listening to all the fun while I paint.  Even though this is a "working weekend",  I am so lucky to be able to take breaks and go up to the beach and see what is happening.  I counted fifteen bikes parked at the entrance to the beach today.  My son Sean and his girlfriend, Ashley, went to a winery in the mountains this past weekend and took a photo that was the inspiration for this painting.  Such a pretty view they had to sit and sip some delicious wine!  Hope you will be able to do something fun this weekend.  I want to go for a bike ride tomorrow.  Thanks for checking in with me!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

#144 Tulips Seranade


#144 Tulips Serenade
9" by 12" original oil on 3" gallery wrap canvas
295.


I do love red!  And tulips...a perfect combination.  I spent some time in the garden today planting some more lilies that Claudia brought the other day and planting my Shasta Daisies.  My herbs are growing nicely and the cucumbers and strawberries.  The weather is so wonderful this time of year.  Not too hard to keep things growing and happy.  I will have to be vigilant when the heat of summer arrives.  Hope you have something fun planned for the weekend.  I plan on heading to the beach one day to sit in a chair and do nothing...just for a couple of hours.  So happy you stopped by!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

#143 Cupcake Fantasy


#143 Cupcake Fantasy
8" by 8" original oil on panel
225.


I think this has to be my favorite subject which will have to be developed a bit further....so many icings, so many toppings..only so many days of the week...it's a rough job but somebody has to do it.  Happy Thursday!







Tuesday, May 22, 2012

#142 Captivating

#142  Captivating
9" by 12" original oil on 3" deep gallery wrap
295.


What's not to love about a sea gull walking along the beach basking in the sunlight totally immersed in the moment?  They are associated with all my childhood and adult memories of times at the beach and if you take the time to really check them out...they are so very different from one another.  Each has its own markings and colorings and they come in all shapes and sizes.  I worked on him while painting with my friend Scott who runs London Square Gallery in Norfolk.  He was working on a heron and we listened to some awesome music while we painted.  Tomorrow I will be painting with Adele and Claudia in my studio and we will be working on a still life set up with either hydrangeas or shasta daisies.  More fun to come.  Hope you will check in a gain and see what we create!  



Monday, May 21, 2012

#141 Daisy Day!


#141 Daisy Day!
5" by 7" original oil on panel
150.


Today was a daisy day.  I planted some shasta daisies in my garden and had them on the brain.  I had painted a daisy in this cobalt vase before but wanted to do one with the transparent oils and working it a little more loosely.  It was fun!  Also planted some portulaka and some cucumbers.  Went to another yoga class today.  We did a pose where we were seated and one knee up.  We were supposed to put one arm around the front of our knee and reach for our other arm that was behind our backs....wow.  Quite the humbling experience as I struggled to even get my arm around my knee.  But we are encouraged to work our own practice and find our personal edge or wall as the case may be.  I do know that I feel great afterwards and I am in the right place!  Hope you have a fantastic day!


Sunday, May 20, 2012

#140 Poppy Profusion


#140 Poppy Profusion!
6" by 6" original oil on panel
150.


Today I had a hankering to paint a poppy!  Anything with red always makes me happy and a happy flower that stands straight and tall for all the world to admire...well that is perfection!  If you haven't signed up for my newsletter yet, now is a good time.  This coming week I will be choosing 2 winners for the past two months of free painting giveaways!  Each month I give away a painting to one of my subscribers!  You can sign up on the top right side of my blog.  I hope you have a fantastic Monday!

Saturday, May 19, 2012

#139 Moon glow


#139  Moon Glow
6" by 6" original oil on canvas with sides painted.
150.


More fun reinventing a painting using the transparents first and changing things up.  She started out with a dark nose and black ears.  I played up the light and like her glow.  Hope your weekend is going well.  I got some more plants today and found some fun containers for painting some still life paintings soon.  I found an old blue canning jar like the one from my workshop.  It is getting late.  As my mother used to say...tomorrow is another day!  Night Night.


Friday, May 18, 2012

#138 Buongiorno! SOLD



#138 Buongiorno!
SOLD
6" byl 6" original oil on panel



Available As A Print In My Print Gallery!

It is late on Friday night and I am just finishing up so I won't say much except thank you to Susan Hecht for allowing me to use a photo as inspiration for this painting.  It was from her recent trip to Italy and is authentic cappuchino!  Hope you have a fantastic Saturday.  Guess what I will be doing?  You got it..painting!  I hope to get in a walk on the beach or a bike ride too.  Buongiorno!


Thursday, May 17, 2012

#137 Iris Delight!


#137 Iris Delight
6" by 6" original oil on panel
150.

SOLD

What a fast week!  Just came back from another yoga class which was called "Mellow" yoga.  If that was mellow...I won't be going to any intense classes any time soon!  I have been really working on painting more earlier in the day so I can have my evenings for dinner with Andrew while he is home for the summer and for evening yoga classes.  I was successful today and it felt great.  It also allows me to get a better photograph while it is day light.  I began this painting using transparents again as I learned in my workshop last week.  It allows the pure color to show through after the more opaque paint is put on and also shows in places that have not been covered at all with other paint.  At this point it feels like I have to focus more the whole way paying attention and being more mindful of each stroke but I think that it s good thing as it keeps it from being overworked.  Hope you have a fantastic Friday!  So happy you stopped by!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

#135 Cows Headed Home


#136 Cows Headed Home
6" by 6" original oil on canvas with sides painted.
150.


Tonight, I decided to have some fun with a painting that I had done and was not happy with yet.  I added the transparent paints over the already painted cow and then went over it with opaque paints.  I like the glow it give to the painting and I am much happier today.  I had a great day today painting with Claudia and Adele.  We worked on cupcakes and had lunch together at my favorite restaurant...the Surf Club Grille at the Wyndham hotel at the oceanfront.  They have great food and a gorgeous view!  Have a great Thursday!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

#134 Italian Scooter Park


#134 Italian Scooter Park
5" by 7" original oil on panel
150.


Ever since my workshop last week with Dreama I have been smitten with her favorite subject matter which is idyllic scenes in Italy and France.  I looked at Wetcanvas.com where people give photos for people to use for painting with no worries about copy write so I found one of a yellow scooter that I decided to make blue and added took some other color liberties but really enjoyed it!  I have been to Italy many years ago and LOVED it!  In fact, I really, really, really want to go back and would love to ride a scooter too!  Perhaps I am planting the seed with this painting and will water it and keep it going.  Wonder what sights we could see on this scooter if we rode down the hill and around the corner....perhaps a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean and a villa in the distance?  Perhaps we should linger for one more cup of cappuchino and a pastry...we have all day!  

Monday, May 14, 2012

#133 Look Into My Eyes!



#133 Look Into My Eyes...
8" by 8" original oil on canvas with sides painted.
225.


You are feeling very sleepy....zzzz  This kitty's eyes were putting me in a trance this evening as I worked on her.  Or perhaps it was the three miles I walked on the beach and the hour and a half yoga class.  I seem to go to extremes when I commit to working out again.  It was an overcast day but gorgeous none the less with a beautiful breeze.  I am treasuring the breezes as I know we will soon have the air conditioners going and really hot weather.  When you read this is will probably be Tuesday.  Hope you have a good one!  Thanks for checking in with me!

Sunday, May 13, 2012

#132 Tulip Rhapsody!

#132  Tulip Rhapsody!
6" by 6" original oil on panel
150.


Hope you all had a lovely Mother's Day!  I spent the morning having brunch with two of my sons who live in the area at Rockefeller's on Rudee Inlet.  We ate outside and watched the activities on the dock.  Even watched as my camera lens cap floated down into the water.  Oops.  I wasn't allowed to hold my camera or my phone for that matter after that.  We came home and I took a Mother's Day power nap and then began painting.  This flower is from my friend, Barbara Lively Mastaglio's garden down in Norfolk. I love the rich colors of these tulips and the new transparent colors helped capture it in oil.  Here are a couple of pictures from my morning that I wanted to share with you.  Miss Bailee's new hairdo is the first.

She wanted to go to brunch but had to stay home. :-(

The view at Brunch...should have included the water!

We all agreed this looked like a pretty fun place to live!
"Sleepless In Virginia Beach!"

Have a wonderful Monday!  I am committing here to go to yoga tomorrow! One day at a time and I will build the habit! :-)



#131 Gull On The Loose


#131 Gull On The Loose!
8" by 8" original oil on panel
225.
x

Happy Mother's Day!

Hope you have a wonderful, relaxing and restorative day today!

Friday, May 11, 2012

#130 Cary Cow


#130  Cary Cow
12" by 12" original oil on canvas with sides painted
350.


One day while I was away, Susan and I saw this cow grazing at a farm on the way to her studio.  She pulled over so I could get a picture and the light on her was just beautiful in the late day sun.  She stopped eating long enough to pose for me and I love how the transparent oil colors helped me capture that glow.  Today was a fun day with Andrew's buddies here to celebrate his birthday and enjoying the gorgeous day at the beach.  I got back to yoga finally and had a great class.  Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

There are 3 ways you can make a real difference on this blog: 1. Tell a friend. Share the link to this site with just one other person. 2. Post your thoughts in the comment section. 3. Email any questions or suggestions to me at normasart@cox.net. My blog: http://normasdailypaintings.blogspot.com. My website: http://www.normawilsonfineart.com

Thursday, May 10, 2012

#129 Cupcake Delight! SOLD


#129 Cupcake Delight! SOLD
8" by 8" original oil on panel
225.



On my last day in Cary, Susan taught her class at her studio and I worked on this cupcake using Dreama's technique of underpainting with transparents paints.  It was from a reference photo used in the class.  I had so much fun doing it...I am already planning a trip to the local cupcake place for my next subject...yummy!  After the class, I packed up my paints and headed back to the beach. It was fun to pick up Bailee from Petsmart Hotel.  She was freshly groomed and had a good report saying she ate well, slept well, and showed no signs of separation anxiety!  So what is up with the scratching of the paint off the door when I leave her to go to the grocery store?  I think she put on her best behavior for them!  Tonight, my son, Andrew came home from college for the summer so I am over the moon to have him here and to share the fun of being at the beach with him.  He is playing sand soccer tomorrow with some friends.  I will be going to yoga and getting busy in my studio!  Thanks for checking in with me.


There are 3 ways you can make a real difference on this blog: 1. Tell a friend. Share the link to this site with just one other person. 2. Post your thoughts in the comment section. 3. Email any questions or suggestions to me at normasart@cox.net. My blog: http://normasdailypaintings.blogspot.com. My website: http://www.normawilsonfineart.com

Wednesday, May 09, 2012

#128 Day Three Dreama's Workshop French Flower Market


#128 French Flower Market
12" by 12" original oil on canvas with sides painted
325.

The party is over...how wonderful it was to spend three days learning with Dreama and even though we are all so excited by what we learned and soaked up from one another, it was sad to say goodbye.  Today we worked on individual pieces.  In the morning we did a fun exercise where we switched easels and everyone got to paint on each other's painting. We would have about four minutes at each painting and then we would move one to the right.  It was very freeing and so fun to see how the last person had worked on the piece.  That will find a cherished spot in my studio as a remembrance of our time together.  In the afternoon I worked on  this street scene and working to keep shapes simple and the focus on the people and the flowers.  As I look now, I will probably add some yellow flowers in front of the two and do just a bit of tweaking before I leave for home tomorrow.  Last night, Susan and I went to a yoga class which was not something I have done for months so today I find myself happily exhausted from the workshop and dreaming of an epson salts bath....calgon take me away!!  What a treat it has been and I am so grateful for the time to spend with Susan, my fellow artists and of course, Dreama.  Awesome teacher and lovely person!  

There are 3 ways you can make a real difference on this blog: 1. Tell a friend. Share the link to this site with just one other person. 2. Post your thoughts in the comment section. 3. Email any questions or suggestions to me at normasart@cox.net. My blog: http://normasdailypaintings.blogspot.com. My website: http://www.normawilsonfineart.com

Tuesday, May 08, 2012

#127 Dreama Tolle Perry Workshop Day 2


#127 French Balcony Garden
12" by 12" original oil on canvas with sides painted
325.


Another wonderful workshop day here in Cary.  Today's painting presented us with a bit more challenge
painting one of Dreama's signature style Italian scenes.  The first stage of our painting session we begin by using  only transparent colors with some gorgeous colors such as Carribbean Blue and Indian Yellow.  They set the stage for the more opaque colors that are added next and peak through as well as mixing to create wonderful unexpected passages as one color transitions to another.  Tomorrow we will be playing musical easels in the morning before jumping into our own subject matter to round out the third and final day of the workshop.  Our workshop organizer, Lynda Chambers, delighted us again with her wonderful gourmet meal! At the end of the day, it is so much fun to walk around and see what everyone has painted and how different each of our painting styles are even though we all painted using the same subject.  I am very excited to bring home all the inspiration and enthusiasm from this experience and apply it to my daily paintings.  Hope your week is going well! 


Monday, May 07, 2012

#126 Dreama Tolle Perry Workshop Day 1! SOLD


# 126 Our First Assignment!
6" by 6" oil on panel SOLD

I am oh so delighted to be attending a Dreama Tolle Perry workshop in Cary, North Carolina.  My friend, Susan, and I who actually began painting with the same teacher and at the same time are taking this class together and having so much fun catching up and painting together again.  Our first day of meeting Dreama and getting settled in could not have been more fun.  She is a wonderful teacher that is funny and very approachable and attentive to everyone in the class.  We all painted from the same image after she did a demonstration for us in stages.  Tomorrow I hope to have a picture of all of our work to share.  Dreama works with a lot of transparent paints in a wonderfully colorful and rich palette.  Our workshop leader, Lynda Chambers pampered us with cakes and a gourmet lunch that she made herself. I am hoping to get the recipe for the asparagus soup that had fresh herbs in it. This workshop will be a hard one to top and it is only the first day!  It is so refreshing to get away from the usual routine and to study with such a talented artist.  Hope you have a wonderful day!

There are 3 ways you can make a real difference on this blog: 1. Tell a friend. Share the link to this site with just one other person. 2. Post your thoughts in the comment section. 3. Email any questions or suggestions to me at normasart@cox.net. My blog: http://normasdailypaintings.blogspot.com. My website: http://www.normawilsonfineart.com

Sunday, May 06, 2012

#125 An Apple A Day!


#125 An Apple A Day
6" by 6" original oil on canvas with sides painted
150.


What garlic is to salad, insanity is to art.  ~Augustus Saint-Gaudens


There are 3 ways you can make a real difference on this blog: 1. Tell a friend. Share the link to this site with just one other person. 2. Post your thoughts in the comment section. 3. Email any questions or suggestions to me at normasart@cox.net. My blog: http://normasdailypaintings.blogspot.com. My website: http://www.normawilsonfineart.com

Saturday, May 05, 2012

#124 Starlit Bovine


#124 Starlit Bovine

5" by 5" original oil on panel

SOLD




After scraping a horse off tonight, I decided to just play with color and one of my favorite subjects and I love her.  I feel like she rescued mefrom my anxiety of getting ready for my workshop, thinking about the laundry and all the preparation.  I may do more colorful cows in the coming days.  I find them very calming!  Hope you have a wonderful Sunday!

There are 3 ways you can make a real difference on this blog: 1. Tell a friend. Share the link to this site with just one other person. 2. Post your thoughts in the comment section. 3. Email any questions or suggestions to me at normasart@cox.net. My blog: http://normasdailypaintings.blogspot.com. My website: http://www.normawilsonfineart.com

Friday, May 04, 2012

#123 English Lady


#123  English Lady
5" by 7" original oil on canvas with sides painted
150.


As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.  ~John Lubbock


There are 3 ways you can make a real difference on this blog: 1. Tell a friend. Share the link to this site with just one other person. 2. Post your thoughts in the comment section. 3. Email any questions or suggestions to me at normasart@cox.net. My blog: http://normasdailypaintings.blogspot.com. My website: http://www.normawilsonfineart.com

Thursday, May 03, 2012

#122 Cows Come Home


#122 Cows Come Home
5" by 7" original oil on panel
150.



Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.  ~Stella Adler

Lots of paint and textural brush marks.  I was in a cow mood today.  It was fun getting to know her!
I am so excited that I have already begun packing a paint box for my workshop next week with Dreama Tolle Perry.  Had fun today taking pictures with my new camera.  Getting to know more about all the buttons.  Have an awesome day!

There are 3 ways you can make a real difference on this blog: 1. Tell a friend. Share the link to this site with just one other person. 2. Post your thoughts in the comment section. 3. Email any questions or suggestions to me at normasart@cox.net. My blog: http://normasdailypaintings.blogspot.com. My website: http://www.normawilsonfineart.com

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

#121 Painting Flowers In My Studio




#121 Painting Flowers In My Studio!
20" by 20" on wrap around canvas

As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.  ~John Lubbock

My friends, Claudia and Adele, came to paint in my studio today and we decided to paint a floral using flowers from Claudia's garden and a vase I had on hand.  It was fun as always to see what we each painted.  I do not have this one cropped intentionally because it is not finished but I wanted to stay true to posting a painting each day. When this piece is completed it will be put straight into my available works.   
Adele Loomans At Work

Claudia Finn At Work

Hope you have a great day!  Thanks for checking in with me!


There are 3 ways you can make a real difference on this blog: 1. Tell a friend. Share the link to this site with just one other person. 2. Post your thoughts in the comment section. 3. Email any questions or suggestions to me at normasart@cox.net. My blog: http://normasdailypaintings.blogspot.com. My website: http://www.normawilsonfineart.com

Tuesday, May 01, 2012

#120 Little Surfer Girl!



#120 Little Surfer Girl
5" by 7" original oil on panel
150.


Today was a day of angst about beginning to paint and then scraping off my first painting.  Those are the times when I question my saying I would post a painting every day this year!  But the determination kicked in and I found this little girl in a photo reference taken at the beach and I am so glad I did not quit! I made some color changes and simplifications to the scene.  I love her little board and the whole beauty of children at play at the beach.  It brings back such fond memories of all the sights and sounds so unique to a summer trip to the seaside.  I wish I had had a little board like this to ride the waves! :-)

There are 3 ways you can make a real difference on this blog: 1. Tell a friend. Share the link to this site with just one other person. 2. Post your thoughts in the comment section. 3. Email any questions or suggestions to me at normasart@cox.net. My blog: http://normasdailypaintings.blogspot.com. My website: http://www.normawilsonfineart.com