YELLOW AND WHITE IRIS

I've been pretty frustrated, in the past, trying to paint Irises the way I wanted to. Dozens of Iris paintings have ended up in the dust bin. Lately I became so determined...I had to figure them out. It just takes alot of trials, I guess, cause I'm finally getting some of them to come out the way I like. This one has Windsor & Newton Transparent Yellow, Gamboge, and my favorite greens (Sap Green and Hookers Green).

YELLOW FLOWERING MAPLE

Flowering Maple make the most unusual flowers. First of all, they grow on TREES, for goodness sakes! They also come in such unusual shapes and such beautiful colors. There seems to be alot of variety in these blooms. I love this yellow variety. Available in my eBay shop.

WHITE CROCUS

There is something so brave and so pristine about white Crocus. They pop up their beautiful heads when all the other flowers are too cold to come out. It's kind of like they are advance lookouts. Available in my eBay shop.

YELLOW CROCUS

These flowers would be wonderful teaching lessons for beginning watercolorists. The simple shapes allow you to focus on the play of the colors, and the movement of watercolors.

PURPLE BEARDED IRIS

I'm trying to really get a grip on painting the Iris. I've got to keep working on it. I'm finding them quite a difficult challenge! But what a wonderful play between the purple and the green colors - they are so much fun to mix together.

ZINNIAS

Another set of Zinnias. There's just something about the play of pink and orange and green that keeps me interested in these. Plus I love this cheerful, honest flower!

MORNING GLORY

Another white one, available in my eBay shop.

WHITE MORNING GLORY

I'm not tired of painting Morning Glories yet. Pretty soon, though. I love the contrast of the white and dark green!

RED PINCUSHION

This is a re-do of another pincushion that I painted recently. I loved the first one, and I wanted to try it again, only a bit looser and more "watery". I think I'll try a bigger one as soon as I have time. The colors are so great to work with!

Yellow Bearded Iris

There aren't many flowers that are more flamboyant than the Bearded Iris. First of all, there are the colors. Then, that unique little beard thingy. Their only fault is that they don't bloom long enough. Lovely, though, while they last.

Purple African Violets

I love African Violets. After several botched attempts to grow them, I accept defeat. I will be content to just paint them. This one is available in my eBay shop.

STRAWBERRY BASKET

I don't know what possessed me to paint fruit. I usually paint veggies, for some reason. But I love the sweet little baskets that strawberries come in. Have you noticed the gigantic strawberries available in the grocery stores lately? They're like bionic strawberries. Where are they coming from? Are they safe? They wierd me out, a little.

PURPLE MORNING GLORY

Last summer I kinda fell in love with Morning Glories, when I saw a huge mass of them sprawled over a privacy fence. I don't think I'll ever forget that sight. I stopped my car to look. Since then I've been looking them up in flower books and thinking where I might plant some. I learned that Morning Glories, Petunias and Four O'Clocks are very similar. It can be difficult to tell them apart, just from the bloom. This one is available in my eBay shop.

RED HIBISCUS

It's funny - so many people tell me that the Hibiscus is their favorite flower. I guess it's just so exotic and compelling. Imagine how the bees must feel about it! This is available in my eBay shop. I used just about every red on my pallette on this one. And my usual Hookers Green Deep and Sap Green.

Veggies #1

I was painting a larger painting of kitchen vegetables and a crock pot, for my daughter's Spanish-style kitchen. I was so thrilled with all the vegetable colors! It occurred to me, I want to paint a series of veggie close-ups, just to have fun with the colors. I think a series of minaiture veggie paintings would look great along a kitchen back-splash, or vertically beside a pantry. These butternut squash were the first that I did - they are so sweet! All of these minaitures are available in my eBay shop - there are 6 so far (see more below). I highly recommend vegetables as a wonderful teaching subject for beginner watercolorists. The butternut squash have Naples yellow, Hookers green light, and yellow ochre.

Veggies #2

Watercolor Veggies #2. Tomatoes and zucchini. What a great combination, color-wise.

Veggies #3

Watercolor Veggies #3. Purple, yellow and green onions. Are green onions always called scallions? I have never figured that out.

Veggies #4

Watercolor Veggies #4. Zucchini square and carrots. Have you ever tried a zucchini and potato casserole? Yum!

Veggies #5

Watercolor Veggies #5. Red, green and yellow chillies (hot peppers). Very hot! The long red ones are four-alarm hot!

Veggies #6

Watercolor Veggies #6. Bell peppers.

PINK HIBISCUS

So many people say that the Hibiscus is their favorite flower. I can see why - they sure do put on a show. They are also the perfect opportunity for painters to use the most fabulous pink ever invented: "Permanent Rose". This is an ACEO available in my eBay shop.

Pink and Orange Zinnias

Have you ever noticed how rarely you see paintings of Zinnias? I can't understand why. They give us such a great opportunity to use bright pinks and oranges, in combination with very complimentary greens. These are the sweetest flowers. I wonder why their leaves are so stickery. Available in my eBay shop.

Pink Daylilies

This one has Quinachrinone Pink, Permanent Rose, and Sap Green. I love those colors together. Pink and green must be the most complimentary combination ever.

Dandelion

I've been wanting to try a real close-up of a dandelion. I love the combination of Hookers Green and deep Indigos. Available in my eBay shop.

Zinnias

I'm on a zinnia kick at the moment. Something about these unabashed old-timers. They grow in such beautiful colors! My friend Lee gave me a tube of Daley-Rowney Warm Orange, and zinnias are the perfect opportunity to use it! Thank you, Lee!

Dandelion

I love painting dandelions blowing in the wind. Reminds me of making dandelion wishes as a child. Oh, wait, I still do that!

Wabash Iris

Don't know why they call this the "Wabash" Iris, but I like the name. It kinda reminds me of an Iris in a tuxedo. Formal and crisp. What a beautiful flower! Available in my eBay shop. This one was so much fun to paint - I'd like to paint a whole bouquet of them.

Adirondack Chair

I love those old Adirondack chairs. The more coats of green paint, the better. So nostalgic and sturdy. Greens are hard, though. All artists search for a green that they can live with. My greens are definitely Hookers Green and Sap Green. Available in my eBay shop.

Zinnia

I don't know why artists are reluctant to paint Zinnias. I guess it's all the petals. But they're such an old favorite, they deserve more recognition. This one is available in my eBay store. I used Permanent Rose and my favorite greens (Hookers Green and Sap Green).

Shasta Daisy

A Shasta Daisy, painted in watercolor. I think the best daisy paintings are very loose and watery. I used Hookers Green and Sap Green, and Schmincke Paynes Grey Bluish - one of my favorite colors.