White Hydrangeas, 6x8 Oil on Canvas Panel, Floral Painting

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I had painted this in a different color scheme, and it never appealed to me. Every time I looked at it, something went ick in my head. This was the previous version:

I didn't like the rusty color. I'm just not a rusty person. Creaky, maybe, but not rusty. I decided to give the painting a makeover. I barely touched the flowers themselves, but look how different they appear by changing the colors around them. 

Carmen

White Hydrangeas, 6x8 Oil on Canvas

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These flowers always remind me of my grandmother, who could grow anything. She was completely in sync with nature, unbothered by the snake in the garden. She was surrounded by flowers, birds and butterflies. She was like a heroine in a Disney movie, with beautiful things fluttering around her. I really miss being able to get her advice about how to grow a certain plant. I quoted her so often that when I lived in Bermuda, one of my neighbors asked me, "What does your grandmother say about planting this tree?" I replied, "Don't put a ten-dollar plant in a five-dollar hole."

My friend Qiang Huang had a quotable line on his blog the other day: "There is no shortcut in art. You just have to paint more." To all you Daily Painters: Rock On!

Coconut Palm, 6x6 Oil on Canvas

I can see this palm over our backyard fence. I painted it before in my painting, "Palm Before the Storm." I like to catch it in different light. Yesterday was so blistering hot and sunny and these clouds were building near the ground. They had that "just watch what I'm going to do later" look about them. Sure enough, we had a much-needed good ole frog-strangler in late afternoon, so I was glad I got the palm in  bright sunlight while I had the chance.

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Rainier and Flowers, 6x6 Oil on Canvas

Big news: Contemporary Fine Arts International just posted an interview with me on their site, at http://www.cfai.co/colors-on-my-palette/carmen-beecher/. Also, I was awarded third place in their Tropical Days art challenge.

My husband and I just visited the Pacific Northwest, along with my Pieces of 8 buddy Denette and her husband. What a wonderful time we had! I visited my family there and we went to Crystal Mountain, where the above picture was taken. A gondola took us up the mountain, where we saw five volcanoes from our vantage point. It was amazing. I have never seen anything so spectacular.

Those are not wildflowers; they were cultivated, but there were plenty of wildflowers, too, including masses of lupine.

The Happy Group

On the Upside, 6x6 Oil on Canvas Panel

"Ocean"

Upside down, "Whitewater"

This is two paintings in one. Rightside up, it is an ocean scene. Turn it upside down, it is whitewater in a river. I am feeling very original today. This can be set on a little easel, or if framed, put two hooks on the back of the frame, and you have an absolutely unique work of art. What fun!

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Black Swan, 6x6 Oil on Canvas

I was so lucky to catch this swan in this light. It turned and made a nice swirl in the water, and gave me such a nice composition. Sometimes all you have to do is paint what you see.

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Zenya, 5x7 Pen and Ink

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My Zen Pen just goes off on its own sometimes and I never know what will come out. This was a lot of fun. This pen and ink drawing is matted in an oval double mat. I just finished a large oil painting commission, so this is a nice way to wind down and still be creative.

Zenqueen, 11x14 Matted Pen and Ink Drawing

This is an 8x10 matted to 11x14. These Zendoodles can be very time-consuming. Also, with this technique, more is more, not less is more. It's hard to figure out what the price should be on something that takes so many hours, and that brings me to a great quote from a noted artist in the Blogosphere:

"...pricing has little to do with time and effort. Besides, the per-hour rate for painters ranges between that paid to falafel folders in Casablanca and plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills."  Robert Genn

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Winter Sunset, Oil on Canvas Board, 6x6

This was the view outside my house the other night. It actually was more vivid than this, but looks so unbelievable if it's painted that way. Florida sunrises and sunsets are just so hard to portray without looking exaggerated, because sometimes they are so dramatic that you feel your eyes are deceiving you. God's paintbrush uses some loud colors very effectively.

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Tree Frog Collage, 10x10

 This is the collage version of my previous tree frog. This way is much harder. It is more tedious, and strains my brain. Still, I enjoy it.

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Pathway to Art, 5x7 Original Oil on Board

The Pieces of 8 were on Grandfather Mountain, scattered about painting, and I saw Mary at the top of the path painting a big view. Since I enjoy dappled light it I was more excited about painting the path leading to Mary. It was such a beautiful spot.

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Train to Firenze, 24x20 Oil on Canvas

My friend Carol Schiff reminded me that I have not yet posted this painting or uploaded it to my Etsy shop. I saw these ladies from a train window in Italy, and the light shining on their heads made me very happy. It's all about the light.

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Spoonbill Ballet, 10x10 Collage on Canvas

This is another Spoonbill by request. I love doing these things, but they do make my brain tired. First, I draw it; then I scout the magazines for the colors, shapes and values I need; then I have to picture whether each piece will create the proper illusion. Then I make a huge mess and get glue all over my hands. I have dispensed with the waste of time and effort caused by trying to use a brush. Fingers work quite well and are much more easily cleaned.

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Another Detour: A Mural

My husband and I painted this mural (the one in the entrance) this week. This is the children's building at River Run Christian Church. The mural in the hallway is one I painted a few years ago. I have not painted a daily painting this week, but I am working on a Spoonbill collage and a portrait. Also, two of my darker works will be in the exhibit at EGAD! Art Lab's Show Just When I Found You on July 20th from 6-9 pm. EGAD! Art Lab is on Highland Avenue in Melbourne, Florida.

Spoonbill Collage, 10x10

I've done this guy in oils, and I have to say, this was much more of a challenge. Sometimes I find the perfect piece of paper but the quality is not good; however, in the end my paper scavenger hunt worked out.  I am very happy with the result. I never tire of Spoonbills, with their gorgeous plumage in my favorite color, and a face like a spoon. Nature has a sense of humor.

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Dream Boat, 8x10 Oil on Canvas Board

Going for a dreamy effect here, because the original scene was quite dull, in very flat light. In reviewing my work of the past two weeks, it looks like I don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

I used to have a friend who would say, "When you grow up, you grow old, when you grow old, you die." Let's hear it for immaturity!

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Blue Funk, 5x7 Acrylic Abstract on Canvas Board

I see this as coming out of the blues into the light. This is an experimental work, using a stamp, pouring,   painting, and spattering. In other words, it was a lot of fun. Daily Painter Karen Margulis calls it a "detour" in her blog this week. It's good for the artistic soul every now and then.

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Artsy Shoes

Been in a blue funk lately and decided not to pick up my paint brush this week. The idea for decoupaging my shoes has been simmering for a while, so yesterday I did a little torn-paper therapy.

Ocean Shadow, 18x24 Oil on Canvas

It amazes me that the colors of the ocean are different every day. Sometimes this same view is quite turquoise, but that would be on a calm and sunny day. Other times the sunrises are so vibrant that it's no use to paint them as they really look--they just don't look real.

All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the the streams flow, there they flow again. 

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Ecclesiastes 1:7

Artist at Work, 8x6

I like the warm sunny aspect of this painting. This was at an art show, and I loved the concentration of the artist in the midst of the excitement around her. She is focused and at peace, and she is making--think about it--an American product.

I heard this week that if we all buy 1 percent more American-made products, we can add 200,000 jobs right here in the USA. One percent is not much, but would have big results. The problem is, just try to find a product made in the USA. And by the way, hint, hint, all of the art I do is made in the USA. Sometimes it's inspired in Italy or France, but it is American-made. Three cheers for the Red, White and Blue!

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