Welp. I’ll be a donkey. I just realized it’s been a week since my last post, which isn’t a huge deal but it’s probably the longest break I have ever taken since starting this site in 2010. Hee-haw. I would love to say it was because I’m too busy, but honestly it’s because I’m selfishly devouring every last morsel of summer, being lazy, and procrastinating deadlines. This is also the big ‘pre-season’ for autumnal/holiday bidness, so there are things going on that I’ll publish when the time comes. Nobody needs to see glittered snowflakes in August.
Also. My painting binge continues…
I’m going to be honest with you. There was a particularly bad day last week…negative feedback from multiple directions, a deal feel through, and then technology decided to throw up on me — you know, that sort of day….and normally it would have put me through the emotional ringer, but you know what? I just went out on the porch and painted. For like an hour. And I don’t know why, and I don’t know how, but it made everything okay. Nothing improved, but it untangled my brain enough to straighten out priorities. It was incredible. It was also another reason why I want to keep on putting time and creative energy into my painting. I’m hoping to get a little online store up to sell a few of the better pieces, but in the meantime, I’m just digging flowers. Lots and lots of flowers….
If you follow me on Instagram you know I have been doing this #followersfor30days. It started August 1 with the intention of going through the end of the month, but I’m thinking about carrying it over another month or two. There are a handful of days in August when the work never made it to a photo before sundown, or, I just didn’t feel like sharing (not every day is a winner), and I don’t want to cram it in this week (remember – I’m being purposefully lazy). These aren’t masterpieces, but more elaborate doodles. I do all my work from life observation, which also means I’m giving myself an excuse to keep fresh flowers around at all time. In fact, all four of the photos in this post are taken from the same vase of flowers. One vase – four days. Sometimes I’ll finish a piece a week later, but I’m liking the challenge of doing ten variations of the same scene. My hope was that this exercise would help me build a consistent body of work, but I’m finding that it’s making me generate more variety than ever. We’ll see how this goes…
In any case, if you are on instagram, feel free to follow along. And if you are doing any sort of daily creative challenge on Instgram let me know about it so I can follow along!
I’m sorry you had a crap day last week. If painting helps you figure out how to deal with all of it, that’s the best therapy I can think of.
I like all of these paintings, too. The second one, especially–I want that as the wallpaper on my desktop just so I can see all that color every day. It’s striking.
“Ten variations of the same scene”…Monet did a lot of that, especially in Venice and around the Mediterranean, so you are in good company.
i absolutely love the last painting you included here 🙂
i agree with Mary! 🙂
omg. I love them all. I found your instagram and it is just so freakin’ gorgeous.
In fact, we’re moving in a year or two and my hubby was telling me we should be writing down what to look for in our next house- both functionally and style-wise so we can hit the ground running with paint colors, etc, and not be paralyzed with indecision. Anyway, I was looking at your instagram and all i know is that in my next house, I want to design my whole dining room around one or a series of your paintings… They are just so gorgeous!
So, that gives you a couple years to get that website going…
I hope you do set up an online shop, because I have been drooling over some of your paintings on Instagram and would love to purchase one! Hope this makes up for some of the negativity you might have experienced because you are amazing and very talented!
Keep them coming! I love your work.. When you are ready to sell let me know.
Very sorry to hear of your lousy dad. You, of all people, most certainly do not deserve it. Your artwork is lovely, and I’m happy for you that you have such a creative outlook for your frustrations.
OMG I am so pleased you are going to sell your paintings!!!! I love them all, but there is one in particular that I am completely in love with- I IGed you about it a couple of weeks ago….. Is it possible to kinda put it on hold until you’re ready to sell????? It’s sort of burning a hole in my brain with its awesomeness!!!!!!
So I’m guessing by your lack of reaction on two separate platforms , that’s a big fat NO. That’s fine, I’m sorry for suggesting it, I didn’t mean to make you angry or upset, I promise not to mention it again.
Please accept my apologies if I pissed you off, I didn’t mean to.
Sorry Alexandra I thought I replied by email. A few folks asked this/similar, and as flattered as I am, I’m not doing ‘dibbs’ on any of them, even for friends and family. In part because I haven’t decided which ones will be for sale, in part because I haven’t set prices, and in part because I’ve only shown a fraction of what I have–You might see something you like more, but feel obligated to buy the first one. In any case, I’ll let you (and anyone else reading this) know that if you are signed up for my email list you’ll know when the shop opens 24 hours before everyone else. So hopefully that might be the edge you need. In any case, thanks for asking.
Thanks Peaches- I really thought I’d pissed you off! Glad to know I didn’t!!
I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed!!!!!
zippity do dah for all black vases and orange flowers….brilliant oninstagram, all of the photos. Happy is how I feel!!! Thanks!!
Peaches, when you open your shop, you should put all of your flower paintings up. Even if you don’t like a particular painting, it might be someone else’s bread and butter. And this way we will all have a better chance of scoring a sweet Peaches original.
I’m looking forward to seeing what you offer up, but boy howdy am I not looking forward to fighting off the other fangirls to get my hands on one.
Much love. Keep those creative juices flowing.
These would look great as silk scarves too! Love ’em all.
Just curious. It looks like you use a lot of water color, but what kinds of paints do you use when you paint? I’m usually an acrylic painter (water color scares the crap out of me) but I was just wondering!
Thanks!
Love all of these paintings! It’s great to hear someone else taking a break and I hope your future days get better. It’s never any fun when everything seems to fall apart.