Koi Painting

So, I know you haven't heard from me in a while... this koi painting is why. It was last week's "mystery painting" which Stacy guessed correctly! It is a painting that I have been working on for too long, but it is a 6' long painting so that makes me feel a little better about it. It is a commission for friends and luckily they were willing to wait for it. It is actually a triptych (painted on three separate canvases). They haven't seen it yet so don't tell them it's on my blog. I know they don't follow my blog... so as long as no one directs them here, I'm safe posting it! These pictures just give you a little taste of the final product... I still have to go back into some areas and add finishing details.

Mystery Painting

I'm working on a fairly large painting for some friends. It has taken me forever and finally this week I am determined to get it done! It is not a subject I normally paint, which may be why it's taking me so long. Here is a sneak preview. Any guesses?

Poudre River

Poudre River

20 x 24

oil on canvas

Available for purchase at my etsy shop!

It seems fitting that I post one of my paintings of boulders and water because I have just colored my first landscape design for Olive Branch which included many boulders and a very large water feature. I found that I really enjoy that type of drawing and coloring with markers and I am looking forward to learning more about it!

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for." - Georgia O'Keefe

Inspiration in D.C.

While in Washington D.C. I was able to visit the National Gallery of Art and the National Portrait Gallery which were both beautiful and enormous museums. I really enjoyed seeing the Vermeer paintings at the National Gallery and there was a beautiful portrait by Cezanne of his father reading the paper. Inspired me to do more portraits. It was also fun to the Hope campaign poster of Obama... it is a really beautiful piece of artwork when you see it in person. I had no idea it was a collage with layers of patterned paper and ink. I have always been intrigued by collage and printmaking and want to do more of it! We also went to the Botanic Gardens where I took a million photos! So, there was not a lack of inspiration on my trip! Now I just need to get back to work!

Washington DC

Spent the day sight seeing in DC including a tour of the capitol - very cool. Here is a shot of the rotunda.  I am hoping to see as much art as possible in the next couple days! I could use another week here!

Books by Susan Vreeland

I don't have a painting to post today (I helped my husband lay a flagstone pathway) but I will tell you about a great book that I am reading by Susan Vreeland called Luncheon of the Boating Party. It's a story written around the painting by Renoir. I know it's kinda funny that I ready novels about painters, but Susan Vreeland is such an excellent story teller... I enjoy them a lot. I also highly recommend Girl in Hyacinth Blue and The Passion of Artemesia.

Red Tulip

Red Tulip
9 x 12
oil on canvas

Available for purchase at my etsy shop!

Since we bought a new camera, I have been going crazy taking photos of our garden. This was one of the first flower photos I took this spring. It was fun to use so much red paint... I don't often get to do that! It was also nice working in a new studio space. I have much more room to back up and look at what I'm doing. Stay tuned for more garden inspired paintings!

Take It Outside

We have a new blog at Olive Branch called Take It Outside! If you enjoy gardening and appreciate garden design you will like this blog! Make sure you become a follower so you don't miss anything! We will be updating often with tips, ideas, local happenings and anything else that inspires us! Check it out today at http://olivebranchoutdoor.blogspot.com

Leia at Olive Branch

Here is a little of what you'll see at Olive Branch these days! I still have so many ideas as far as display and merging our two businesses, but I have to take it one day at a time!  If you're in the Omaha area, please come visit us! We are located in Rockbrook Village across from Great Harvest (free slices!) Olive Branch has great containers for the garden, outdoor sculpture by local artists and beautiful outdoor furniture! It is also fun to take a look at some of the designs and projects that Mike has been working on.

Wayne Thiebeau

I love the work of Wayne Thiebeau. I was fortunate enough to see his Retrospectives exhibit in Kansas City about 5 years ago. His work is beautiful and he reminds me of my great uncle Bruce who died in WWII. They would be about the same age if he were still alive. Bruce was also an illustrator and an artist in the army. He would paint pin-up girls for the officers. In one of his letters he wrote he said he wasn't in the war to draw! I think he brought beauty and distraction to men that were serving our country and missing home. Anyway, that's what I think about when I see Wayne Thiebeau's work.  This video tells his story. If you love art or dessert you'll like this video! 

Art and Landscape Design

Today was a big day! My husband and I have officially joined forces and I will be helping him at Olive Branch (his landscape design studio) as well as painting at Olive Branch from here on out. We are very excited about this new venture and what this next chapter of our lives will bring. Today I helped him organize and make room for a messy painter like me! The shop looks great, it is still full of outdoor furniture and accessories, but now is featuring some of my paintings! I will post pictures of the it next week. All of this has me thinking I need to do some landscape-inspired paintings! Stay tuned!

sketch of my cat

Jesse in the Window

9 x 12

charcoal on paper

Available for purchase at my etsy shop!

Just a quick study of my cat. I just loved the way the light hit her fur. Hopefully, I'll get the chance to paint it.