china and art journaling

So my daughter flew to China on Thursday. Life gets interesting when your girl is on a plane for that long, flying abroad for the first time ever. I'm a mother. That should explain how long that flight felt to me. She will be in Beijing participating in a Harvard University language immersion program for around eight weeks. Apparently she was ready for something more than Epcot. ;)

Although it feels like just another summer project with her being missing from the love seat and the table set for only two, the challenge this summer is finding time to skype, especially considering the 12 hour time difference. At least my squirrely sleeping habits benefit me in this regard. I am often awake at 3:00 am, so there ya go! There is a divine plan.

Since she's been home, I've had little desire to pull out the art supplies. Most days we just enjoyed hanging out--it's funny how the day can turn into nothing productive, yet be so fulfilling when you get to spend it with people you love. So, now that I am basically planning my life according to the little green skype light, I am finding time for some art journaling during the day while she is sleeping on the other side of the globe.

I even read an entire work of fiction yesterday. It is so rare that I find books worth that much of my attention. I prefer non-fiction, but I was happy to escape yesterday into Blue Asylum.

Now for more mind dumping into the art journal...

Daily oil painting. Solo Lily. 6x6 inches.

Daily oil painting. Solo Lily. 6x6 inches., originally uploaded by studio318.

Today's oil painting warm up. A water lily on a 6x6 inch canvas panel. I picked up some small format square panels at Sam Flax this weekend--seems like the square is a popular shape these days.

"Solo Lily" was painted in oils while listening to Diana Krall and Frank Sinatra. ;)

Juno Beach, Florida. Small format oil painting.

Juno Beach, Fl. Oil painting., originally uploaded by studio318.

The cold morning temperatures here in Florida these past few days inspired me to paint a small beach scene from a photo I took while visiting Juno Beach, Florida.

I'm waiting for the sunshine to warm us up once again.

Daily oil painting. Kiwi and Grapes.

Daily oil painting. Kiwi and Grapes., originally uploaded by studio318.

One lonely kiwi fruit innocently sitting on the window sill became the victim of creativity today. Paired with some luscious red grapes, a still life was birthed in the home studio.

Oil painting on 8x8 inch stretched canvas.

Then, I ate them. ;)

Orange tulips for Wetcanvas Floral Plant Parade Invitation

One of the best parts of belonging to the wetcanvas website are the opportunities to work from photographs that are presented as part of a group challenge or invitation. Other artists use similar photographs to interpret their artistic version and present their finished work at the end of the decided time period. The March floral challenge was one based on several orange/yellow subjects, and I chose to use the orange tulips as my inspiration. This is a 5x7 inch oil painting on a canvas board loosely based on the photograph provided. It was exactly what I needed to jump start my creativity after a long, fun spring break with my daughter.

A small slide show of some of my recent studio paintings done in oils.



Find more photos like this on Downtown Arts District of Orlando

Fruit still life. Oil painting.

Fruit Still Life. Oil painting., originally uploaded by studio318.

Since it was raining a few days this week, so I spent some time setting up still life subjects in my home studio. This is my most recent small works oil painting painted from life--fresh fruit that I had in the house.

It took a few hours to complete, then I ate the strawberries. :)

Finished azalea oil painting.

Finished azalea oil painting., originally uploaded by studio318.

I was happy to put the finishing touches on this little floral after breakfast this morning. I started it last night before dinner, but I only got it blocked in before I called it a night.

The azaleas don't last very long, at least not this kind--they bloom once, and that's basically it, so I'm happy I finally recorded the beautiful pink and magenta shades that I get to enjoy in my courtyard each spring.

5x7 inches on canvas board. Oils.

Oil painting detail.

Oil painting detail., originally uploaded by studio318.

I snipped off a fresh azalea stem from my front garden in order to compose a quick oil painting study. This is a close-up of the brushstrokes--oils on 7x5 inch canvas board. See above post for the full-size photo.

Anastasia Island, Florida oil painting.

I painted this 12 x 9 inch oil painting in my home studio from my own reference photo. This past fall we went tent camping on Anastasia Island and came across this gorgeous sight on the way out to the beach. The purples were amazing--I was completely captured by this serene landscape with all the pastel hues blending together under the subdued morning light. 

Daily oil painting. Wekiva State Park.

Daily oil painting. Wekiva State Park., originally uploaded by studio318.

See progress photos here: www.facebook.com/studio318

I completed this in the studio from my own reference photo of a great scene in Wekiva State Park here in Central Florida. 10x8 inches on stretched canvas.

Nuthatch miniature oil painting

Before we started staining our monster pool deck today, I had a few minutes to put the final highlights and eye detail on my bird painting. This miniature measures 7 x 5 inches and is painted on a canvas panel. As for the pool deck, it was a grueling job. Unfortunately, it will require 2 coats, so I guess I have more pool deck painting fun to look forward to.

Oil painting. Second stage.

Sketch for a bird oil painting