New little painting

Limon

oil on linen

8 x 8.25

available for purchase at my etsy shop!

This little painting was a fun one. I think I'll do a larger version soon. I've been working on a couple landscapes lately that haven't been going so well... let's just say they're very purple. Not that there is anything wrong with purple, but they are very purple. I haven't even been able to look at them in a week. So I've been working on smaller paintings and painting the edges of older paintings, sketching, writing down ideas... anything to not work on these other dreaded paintings!! I know I can always start over, but there's just something in me that wants to be able to finish them! I'll keep you posted...

Watercolor Studies

Palm Study

5 x 5.5

watercolor

Palm Study 2

4.75 x 5.5

watercolor

We've just returned from a vacation to beautiful Puerto Vallarta. I have hundreds of inspirational photos to work from now :) The sunsets were fantastic! I considered the possibility of becoming a beach vendor just so I could have an excuse to paint that view everyday! Alas, I chose to come back to the beautiful midwest. I actually do love the midwest landscape, especially in fall. Don't be surprised to find a mix of midwest and tropical landscapes on my site though. I just can't pick one over the other! These are just some little palm tree studies that I did in watercolor. I love the way each palm tree has it's own quirky shape!

Jones Beach

Jones Beach
16 x 20
oil on canvas

I finished this painting today of Jones Beach, NY. It felt a little different for me, maybe because there was no water to paint! I've been painting a lot of water lately which I love and I have also been painting mostly figures in a landscape. Doing all this landscape painting makes me feel a little like Bob Ross! I used to stick solely to portraits, but I am now branching out and, I have to say, I am really enjoying it.

What I love about water-filled landscape paintings is that they are calming and remind me of some of my favorite places and favorite things to do. They also generally include many shades of blue which is my favorite hue :) So, with this painting I wanted it to still have the same calming effect minus the water. I hope it worked. It does remind me of a fun trip!

One of the (many) goals of my painting is to create a "scrapbook" of this life. To thank God for the beautiful places I've seen and the amazing people I've met. I absolutely love painting, but sometimes it feels like I give up so many other things so that I have time to paint. When I look back at the paintings I've done though, I am so thankful for the life I've been blessed to have. That is when I am reminded of all that God has done and I don't ever want to stop thanking Him.

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him." 2 Corinthians 2:14

Bring Your Rain Again

Bring Your Rain Again
8 x 10
oil on canvas panel

Available for purchase at my etsy shop!

These are definitely my favorite colors. I don't know about you, but I see blues, greys and blacks and I am instantly calmed down and transported to a beach or something. This was the most amazing rock beach in Costa Rica before a storm came in. There was so much wildlife too! Pelicans, snails, crabs, toucans even! Such a beautiful memory.

Milagro (detail)

Milagro (detail)

oil on canvas

Here is a detail shot of my most recent painting.  There is an amazing story behind it, but you will have to wait to see the whole painting... maybe tomorrow.  I had a lot of fun doing this one, I feel like I am venturing in a new direction with my work and I am really excited about it!  I will still always do portraits and pet portraits but I really love working on a painting that tells a story.  So, I hope that gets you excited to see the rest of the painting!

Ahh... Punta Uva

Punta Uva

watercolor

5 x 7

I love Nebraska with all my heart, but I have posted this painting at a current temperature of -9 degrees outside!  Oh how I love Costa Rica and it's deserted beaches... maybe I will paint more beach scenes so I can dream of warm weather!

Danny On the Beach

I know I haven't posted in a while, but it's not because I'm not working! I was thrown off a little by an amazing vacation to Santa Fe and a wedding and increased hours at work! On top of that, our wireless internet died and I have to go up to the attic to get online! Anyway, I was so inspired by Santa Fe and Taos though and feel invigorated to continue to explore painting and doing what I love! So I have picked up watercolors and I really have had fun in a different medium! It is so different from working in oils, but I love it just the same! This is from an old vacation photo of my uncle Dan. I believe at least two others in my family have done their own version of it. It's just such a great image! It really captures the joy of vacation! Keep posted to see more watercolor work! I plan on doing a lot of it!

Welcome!

Hello, welcome to my new blog, liquid birdsong. I decided on that name because I consider painting to be like a birdsong. It's my way of celebrating creation, the way a bird does when she sings. I have a favorite quote by Georgia O'Keeffe, "Singing to me has always seemed the most perfect means of expression. It is so spontaneous. And after singing, I think the violin. Since I cannot sing, I paint." I will be using this blog to keep track of how my paintings evolve and to make note of inspirations, new artists, anything that pertains to my daily art making! I don't know where this blog will take me, but it will be a fun adventure and hopefully it will spur me on to work hard, paint a lot and generate new ideas.

I just got back from Costa Rica a few weeks ago, so I have been inspired to paint beachy scenes even though I am a landlocked Nebraska girl. I love the ocean though! So here is my first posted painting!

Punta Uva
11 x 14

Oil on Canvas

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