Birthday Party

Today would have been my mama's birthday, so I painted a piece of cake in her honor. I'm sure she would have enjoyed chocolate. Who wouldn't? I placed the cake on a clear glass plate with little ridges and it turned into a labyrinth - a good reminder to me not to get to caught up in details. And now my prize awaits!

Over Indulged

I would say sake is an acquired taste. I happen to like it and, as I staged this little story, it occurred that some hot sake would be pretty nice on a cold January night. Hmmm.  Alas, this bottle happens to be empty.  Oh well.  I got a little more out of my bouquet and I think I have yet another idea for tomorrow. 

Well Read

Those little packets of white powder that come with flowers really work!  I've shortened the stems and ditched a few, but this bouquet has lasted almost a week! Up past my bedtime again with this. Too many play dates during the day.

Starring Role

I'm just squeaking by with this one.  I didn't get to start painting until 8:00, due to "life".  Anyway, some of the previous flowers departed, so now a supporting actor gets a starring role in tonight's drama. 

Flowers, Second Act

So nice to spend the days with flowers when its bitter cold and windy and my driveway is coated with ice.  I wanted yellow today.  I think I can get one more painting out of this bouquet before we get tired of each other.  A few of the flowers are beginning to complain so I sent them to the back.

Attention Seeker

There is a bit of glare in the photo. It's from the medium combined with dark paint in bright light.  I use my iPhone for almost everything, but maybe an SLR camera could do better. Or the lighting could be different... Full disclosure:  I struggled with this painting and I just wanted to be done painting it, take a picture, and post it. But - there will be more florals to come.  The flowers are still fresh. A few days ago, we were in Minneapolis and we stopped at Trader Joe's on the way out of town. I bought a bouquet because they were so beautiful and inexpensive. Trader Joe's is such a treat! There are so many snack items and the wine store next door.  Anyway, I will take full advantage of the opportunity and improve my flower power. 

Cheers Darling!

Back at it! This is the first day of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge and I'm going to try it again.  Not only that, but I'm planning to double-dip.  The makers of Strada Easel are hosting a similar  challenge.  The Strada challenge asks that participants paint 31 paintings in January and post each one on Facebook. All of the paintings must be from life, not from photos. Those that succeed in painting all 31 will be entered in a drawing for a Strada easel. Strada easels are awesome! I have one, but I would love to add another to my collection;-) I actually do prefer to paint from life anyway, but I was planning to paint a few things from some photo resources.  Guess that's out until February. Anyway, all of us who give this a shot will be winners for painting more!  I felt really rusty when I painted this little guy and it took way longer than it should have.  I think I always start out that way, so maybe tomorrow will be easier.