Vincent Van Gogh

I recently finished reading the book, Van Gogh The Life. I think everyone has heard a few tales about Vincent, the ear and the suicide. There was so much more to this legend, his isolation, madness, and his sense of self. His family. A very interesting look at his entire life, it leaves open the possibility that the artist was shot by someone else, not self inflicted.

I felt like painting one of my favorites. The painting below is my version of the original. I needed a painting with a warm, bright sun. I struggled with the yellow in the fields, very difficult and challenging, but, a lot of fun.

Enclosed Field with Rising Sun. 1889. Vincent Van Gogh, Saint-Remy, France. Private collection.

A Pear in Winter

We are not catching a break here. Tomorrow looks like another sub zero chill factor day and night. I am getting a lot of painting done, I should be cleaning.

This is a 5x7 inch, flat canvas panel. Done in oil and palette knife.

Please make the bitter cold go away.

Chicken Dance 2

I was out between snow storms and saw this new type of canvas. It is gallery wrapped burlap, I like the effect, very rustic. That being said, I found it very difficult to paint with acrylic. It took a lot of time and paint to cover the canvas. If you like chicken dance or chicken dance 2, I'd love to hear your thoughts on which you prefer.

Chicken Dance

My cousin, Kevin, is a Gentleman Farmer in New York State. We are Facebook friends and he posts pictures of his chickens, cats, dogs and they are magnificent. Thanks, Kevin, I totally nicked this one!

Just Before Dawn

My favorite time of the day. After the cats are fed, I have the house, a cup of coffee and time to myself. I have seen several mornings like this.....sun not up yet, and the street lights casting a yellow orange glow on the undisturbed snow. This is from a photo outside my front door, before the polar vortex arrived and decided to stay.

Lighthouse

One of my favorite spots on Presque Isle State Park in Erie, PA. This home is actually occupied by a caretaker. I am jealous, would love the front row seat for all the magnificent storms coming across the Lake.

I painted this in acrylic paint on an 8x10 inch canvas panel.

Patience

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."
Henry David Thoreau

I see the curtains blowing from a balmy breeze. Fresh flowers and a cup of hot tea.

Russian Watercolors

This was a fun watercolor. My son was given some very old art supplies from a friend recently. Antique inks and this pristine, still in the box set of watercolors. The watercolors were made in Russia, they look antique, but it don't know how to find out how old. Tried them out and loved the richness and vibrant color.

Time won't leave me as I am

This line from a U2 song really stops me in my tracks. It's January again, time to purge the clutter in my home and in my mind. It is the clutter in my head that creates the anxiety and throws me into neutral. Small steps to change...

I painted these abstract flowers for a couple reasons. I need color on these grey days and I had left over piles of paint. A few years back someone gave me this very unusual flower vase, it was so quirky I wanted to paint it someday. Finally, now I'm only five years behind on my to do list.

How is your New Year, New. You?

My room

My entry for this weeks interior challenge. My third floor studio. The favorite hide away spot, far from weather, phones and interruptions. The entire time I was painting this I had the beach boys song, In My Room, as an ear worm.

The Wonder Years

I have had this photo of this small boy at the beach for awhile. I remember thinking what is must feel like to be a small child at the beach for the very first time. The sense of wonder.....feeling the sun on your face, the light dancing on the water. How enormous, and yet peaceful it is. The sounds, the feel of warm, wet sand. A nice way to chase the winter blues away.

When Hell Freezes Over

A very weary of snow title for a painting. A little abstract, but not really. The other morning was actually very beautiful. It was just before dawn and still snowing, the street lights were making some magic with the blowing snow. I tried to capture the motion of the snow, it reminded me of a snow globe. I feel trapped inside one right now. My last snow painting, going to focus on Spring, or hide under the covers with a good book.

Veggie Time

The weekly challenge is snow, not for Daily Paintworks, that would be the vegetable challenge. A very welcome distraction during this very challenging winter. One only has to google the snowiest city in the US, to understand. I am very fortunate to have some of the best neighbors in the universe. I can't complain, we dig each other out with a sense of humor.

I miss the summer Farmers Markets. Fresh fruit and vegetables, well, I am lucky we have a Wegmans Market in our area. It eases some of the pain of harsh winters and their wine selection, helps the cabin fever.