November Musings

I love drinking tea and recently I have been collecting flee market finds (tea cups and saucers) so that I can paint them. When I can, I also love to host tea parties so that those I know who love tea too can enjoy fun and finger foods while being a little bit fancy. :)

Lately I've been longing to have a party but it's so hard getting everyone together these days. I find that sometimes all I have is memories to hold on to. My work as a teacher takes up much of my time and I am growing a bit weary. Like a good soothing cup of tea I long for the solace of friends, or just time to recharge and paint. Being creative brings me such joy whenever I feel helpless or alone. And I am thankful for it. When I can't be with the ones who love me or doing what I enjoy, a good cup of tea and time to pray & meditate is a big help!

"One Lump or Two" 6 x 6 inches, (oil on board)

Another little painting I created....

"Pear'nts" 6 x 6 inches (oil on board)

Red, White and Blue

July just came to an end and thankfully I am finished with this patriotic-colored still life. I have a dear missionary friend who lives overseas who like myself, has a fondness for blue and white china/pottery. So per her request, I finished another still life painting using my favorite blue and white pitcher which I purchased years ago while living in England. I am happy to have it hang in the home of my dear friend and her husband. They have been such a blessing to our family for many years so I had to give them this token of remembrance of our friendship. They have lived many years in Austria but hopefully when they look at this painting they will think of all the many friends and family here as well. :)

"Red, White and Blue" 14 x 18 inches, oil on canvas panel

Finished Works

Below are some paintings that I completed lately. Will post ones that I am still working on, in another post. It's been a very busy summer. I find that I am constantly yearning to create but that desire, like so many others, needs temperance provided by other necessary pursuits that a mom must give loving attention to. Balance is a very important thing in life as well as art!

"Girl with a Gold Earring" 16 x 20, oil

  

"Single Rose" 6 x6 inches, Oil





Little Orphan Girl

I am currently working on a couple of little paintings from reference photos that I took while visiting an orphanage in Nicaragua. It's a sweet little place where I had visited with high hopes of making a difference in some child's life. Instead they blessed me more than I could have ever blessed them. A very humbling experience when you realize your priorities are more disordered than those who are "less fortunate" than you are. The children loved to have their photos taken and this girl who would be much older by now...was mesmerized while just looking at the beauty of a palm branch. Need to work on the arm length...not sure if proportions are quite right.


"Palms" at Verbo Orphanage, Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua

Still Life In Blue and White

This still life was painted using fake flowers and so it was a bit difficult altering the color of the flowers so that they didn't look too yellow. Wanted a more delicate off-white. I really love some of the still life paintings by William Merritt Chase. Also admire the old Flemish still lifes but would personally like to paint more loosely....I haven't done many floral paintings in oil--have mostly worked with watercolors over the years and painted people so need to be a bit patient with myself.



"Still Life With Scottish Pitcher" 14 x 18 inches, Oil on Canvas

Three Little Paintings!

Small Paintings are such fun! They are warm-ups to bigger things. These are three that were completed over the past couple months. I love things that sparkle and glow. The one in the middle is no longer available but you can purchase the other two by looking my name up at www.dailypainters.com. 



"Lemon Tea" 6x6 inches, oil on board



"Silver Cup and a Strawberry" 6x6 inches, oil on board



"Sweets" 6x6 inches, oil on board