Into the Clear Air  oil  7x5
 click to buy

A friend's yard.  I was trying to capture the effect of the flowers against the dark foliage in the light, with the foreground in shadow. And there were light flowers in the foreground too, adding to the challenge.  It's the idea that the dark t-shirt in the light areas will be darker than the light colored newspaper in the dark.  Clear as mud?

Next spring and summer I'd like to do a series of "Other People's Gardens".  Did a few this summer and found it very satisfying. It's kind of a collaboration- their garden artistry and your painting.

Straining Towards the Light oil  6x6
 click to buy

The cone flowers or echinacea are simply gorgeous this year.  The petals remind me of floppy rabbit ears. I tried to paint them as though the ones closest were leaning in towards me, the ones further away leaning away. I'm going out daily this week to try and capture them.  They're pretty elusive.