Sunflowers for Ukraine, 10x8 Original Oil Painting

 $155

I am so horrified that Russia is waging war on Ukraine, and one of their tactics is torturing and killing civilians. Tyrants and bullies are terrorizing innocent people. I was inspired to paint this symbol of their country and their spirit, and I pray for them to win this war.

Carmen 

Italian Girl With Flowers, 11x14 Oil on Canvas, after Sorolla

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I've had no time for painting this week, so I am posting a throwback to 2008, when our painting group, Pieces of Eight, decided to copy Impressionist masters as a learning exercise. I love Sorolla, so I copied one of my favorites, with the above result. Below is the original by Sorolla.

I also copied John Singer Sargent, the master portrait artist. The best thing I've ever done is team up with seven women with the same passion for painting that I have. It has been such an enriching experience in so many ways, and I have learned so much.

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Spring Island, 10x8 Original Oil Painting

 I have fond memories of the Pieces of Eight artists' trip to Spring Island, North Carolina. We painted en plein aire on two islands, and one morning we were so inspired by the light that we painted the scene from our porch while still in our pajamas. I hope that, post-pandemic (will there ever be a post-pandemic?) we will be able to go on an artists' retreat again.

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Baby Laundry, 8x10 Original Oil Painting on Canvas Panel

 $125 on Etsy

Our Pieces of Eight painting group was challenged by Donna Vines to paint laundry. This is my effort. The bunny reminds me of my granddaughter's stuffed bunny that she carried all through her young childhood. 

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Sunset Palms, 8x10 Original Oil Painting

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This was a fun thing to paint, looser than I usually am. 

 

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Glorious Sunrise, Original Oil Painting Skyscape, 12x9

$180

My husband called me outside early one morning to see this beautiful sky. One good reason to live in Florida.

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Backyard Swing, 10x8 Landscape Painting on Canvas Panel

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This is a cool and peaceful spot, surrounded by flowers. What is better than a swing? It brings back childhood memories of a great place to read.

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Beach Sunrise, Oil Painting on Canvas Panel, 10x8 Seascape

 

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We may be trapped inside for months, but there is always the beach, as long as it isn't crowded. Early morning people tend to be true beach lovers, with a true appreciation for being in a beautiful place.

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Florida Jungle, 10x8 Oil Painting on Canvas Panel

This was a very complicated landscape. I do like the thick and tangled jungle look of Florida woods, and it's always so tricky not to have everything green, green and more green. I'm pleased with the way this one turned out.

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50 Strokes of Chicken 5x7 Small Daily Painting Oil on Canvas

Our group challenge for the Pieces of 8 for December is to paint a painting using only 50 strokes. For those of us who have trouble simplifying, this is a great exercise. You have to think about each stroke and make it count. For areas like the ruff around the chicken's neck, I used one zigzag stroke for each color. That covered some territory with one stroke; however, the dot that is the eye is also just one stroke. At the end, it is hard to stop because you want to do just one or two more--but you must resist!

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Onions, 7x5 Oil Painting on Canvas Panel Still Life

 $75

The Challenge for this month for the Pieces of 8 group is to paint a painting in 50 strokes. I've been enjoying that exercise. Below is my 50-stroke painting of these onions, smudges and all. I decided to refine it to a finished painting. Which one do you like best? I think the 50-stroke one is more exciting. 

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Shady Cows, Original Oil Painting 8x10 Landscape

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It's been a while since I posted. I've been very busy working on a book that will be coming out in April. You will be hearing more about that later.

This painting is all about the light. I love the shade in the foreground, with a tiny couple of slivers of light on the pasture.

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Patchwork River, 16x20 Oil Painting Landscape on Canvas

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The Pieces of Eight were hiking in the woods on an artists' retreat and came upon this peaceful scene. This was in North Carolina, the same mountains where we went whitewater rafting and bonded over a near-death experience. Below is my drawing commemorating that scene.

Carol, Donna, Denette and I were airborne. We were The Flying Grannies.

Man O' War, 5x7 Oil on Canvas, Beach Series

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This is a Portuguese Man O' War, and it is quite beautiful in a weird way. It has tentacles with a painful sting, and even when it's lying on the beach those tentacles need to be avoided. Now here's the weird part: this is actually four organisms living in cooperation (wish Congress could do that). The sail is a gas-filled bladder (now that sounds like Congress); the tentacles are the killers that deliver prey; then there are two other organisms that do digestion and reproduction. I feel that such a remarkable example of God's handiwork deserves to be painted on gold. I wish you could see the metallic gold background on the computer monitor.

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Peach Canna Lilies Original Painting, 5x7 Oil on Canvas Panel

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This is another of my "Pool Paintings," a portion of my garden viewed at eye level from my pool. There are peach Canna Lilies, little blue Plumbago flowers, and in the foreground, bromeliads. When I saw the early morning shadows behind the Canna Lilies I knew I had to paint them. The bromeliads look big because they were much closer to me. 

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Summer Sunrise Oil Painting on Canvas 24x18 Ocean Art

I decided it was time to paint something larger, a dramatic sunrise. I live across from the ocean, so there's no reason not to paint a sunrise. 

When I'm not painting I seem to be gardening more and more. I've come to realize that I am an Overgardener. By this I mean that I get so carried away planting things that I create a garden that I can barely take care of. This is not my fault; it is what my family calls "The Chulie Gene." My grandmother, who the whole world called Chulie, had a nursery, and she knew everything about plants. This gene runs through the family, and if you ever see my daughter Suzanne's posts on Facebook about her plants, you will know what I mean. She can grow vegetables, something I fail at. I specialize in weeds and flowers, both of which are thriving in my yard.

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Little Tourists, 8x8 Original Oil Painting on Gallery-Wrapped Canvas

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I took a lot of pictures in the Smokies, especially in the great spot known as The Sinks, but this last one was the one I knew I would paint.

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Jellyfish, Original Oil Painting Marine Life 5x7 Daily Painting

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Jellyfish are so weird. The bell height and diameter can range from one millimeter to nearly two meters, depending upon the type of jellyfish. The tiny little box jellyfish is one of the most deadly, and practically invisible in the water. The lion's mane jellyfish has tentacles that can extend 36 meters! Surprisingly, the cosmopolitan hydrozoan jellyfish lives in fresh water. It is less than an inch in diameter, colorless, and doesn't sting. 

The jellyfish depicted above is the Pacific sea nettle.

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Hello Kitty, 7x5 Original Oil Painting Animal Portrait of Cat

This is my daughter Suzanne's cat, an imperious creature, as you can see. This cat bit me once, but I have a very forgiving nature and honored it with a portrait anyway. Also, I happened to take a dramatic photo that I couldn't resist painting. By the way, the cat's actual name is Hello Kitty.

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Shore Scene, Original Oil Painting 10x8 Seascape on Canvas Panel Beach Scene

 

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Spring is here and that means it's time to go plant-crazy. I get carried away with buying new plants and it's in my genes, so I can't help it. It's also time to walk on the beach and look at the beauty of the ocean. Even when I can't see the surf, I can hear it from my house. What a nice sound.

Carmen