possum haw berries

Just the other day I was asked to exhibit my paintings at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center! I feel very honored.
In keeping along the lines of the Wildflower Center's mission, I went out this morning and photographed my native Texas Possum Haw tree. I planted it about 5 years ago, and this year it really did it's thing; red berries galore! Everything else in my yard looks horrible after the freeze, but the Possum Haw dropped all it's leaves but held onto it's vibrant red berries. It looks beautiful. I haven't quite figured out how to capture that yet, but I did so some Possum haw berry still lives.

painting: table grapes #152

Leon was away and work has slowed down for the summer, so I had a lot of time on my hands last week, (heaven, I barely left the house). I started and finished this small 12x12 inch painting of table grapes. I am enjoying the challenge of painting sun flare, and the out of focus, pushed right up against the lens transparencies. I might put this one in the women and their work red hot dot sale in September.

painting: pomegranate blooms

I just finished this 30x30 inch oil on panel painting this morning. When I first began the process of creating the image, I wasn't quite sure what I was attracted to about it. After working and sitting with it for many hours I had many thoughts.

It's a strong image, and maybe not quite as obvious as some of my previous paintings. Most definitely feminine.

Here I have focused on the bloom as it has fallen. Past it's glorious prime, but still vibrant, gushing fourth it's seed and at the same time beginning its decay back to the earth.

I enjoy how the water serves to make the colors more vibrant and simultaneously hastens the decay. How the bloom is so open palmed, surrendering gracefully. How the sharp detail of the seeds dissolves into the blurriness of all around it, visualizing life energy as form becomes formlessness.

#149 & #150 - pyracantha diptych

I just finished the second half of this diptych today. They are each 16x16 inches, oil on panel.

#149 pyracantha

O.K., this is the newest latest. I believe it will be one of a diptych but i couldn't wait to share.
It is 16x16 inches. I really like it. I think it has a nice flow to it that pieces that take me much longer tend to lose.

pomegranates #148

I just finished this piece this afternoon. It is a fairly large painting for me, 30x30 inches.
As usual I have mixed feelings about it. It is so hard to see your work when you are this close to it. I actually had to stop working on it for a week before I could finish it, before I could see it whole again.

Wildflower Center Art Auction

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center will be holding it's annual art auction this spring. I have decided to donate this small pomegranate still life painting. Check back in the next few weeks for details on the where and when of it all.

up close

oranges

I finished this painting of oranges yesterday. I especially loved painting those 3 green ones up front.

florida oranges

Just got back from a trip to Florida to visit my parents. I am always on the lookout for fruits and berries to photograph, so I was very excited to find this amazing orange tree in one of their neighbors yards. A lot of the trees didn't look so good, my Dad said due to the recent hurricanes.
This particular tree seemed very happy though, loaded with some of the most perfects fruits I have ever seen.

So I am thinking I might have to paint some oranges. What do you think, have a favorite?