weekend in Cape May

We spent a lovely (very warm) weekend in Cape May.

My daughter and I try to go every year,

we love Cape May!

From the largest Victorians

to the grand houses,

the gingerbread cottages

to the little cottages,

and right down to the bird cottages,

we love to visit here.

I painted this one and always like to stroll by.

We also visited the bird sanctuary,

so many swans and beautiful egrets.

Back to my stargazer lily this week.

starting a new painting : stargazers

The steps of the beginning of a painting:

Gathering reference photos, planning the composition,

working out the color palette,

d  r  a  w  i  n  g (takes a while),

masking the flowers, stems and leaves

and then finally starting to paint.

The background, though it looks black, isn't.

It's a mix of alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue and viridian.

Up close, the alizarin crimson is more prominent in some areas

and glows through.

My petal colors will be permanent rose & quinacrodone rose.

red parrot tulips finished

sold

all done & in the shop!

These tulips were a joy to paint!  I usually follow my reference  photos

pretty closely, but not this time.  I just had fun painting frilly petals.

I listen to audiobooks while I paint.  This time it was Maeve Binchy's A Week in Winter.

Very enjoyable!

parrot tulips continued

I'm really enjoying painting these parrot tulips!

Two tulips done and one to go.

This will hopefully be my Christmas card this year.

The original painting will be in my Etsy shop after completion.

I was side-lined just a bit with a broken toe & a dying computer. 

Replaced the computer (hooked it up myself and got the tower & all the cords off the floor).

The little toe will mend in a few more weeks.... oh, the hazards of barefoot woodwork painting.

Thanks for stopping by!  I have a lot of blogs to catch up on!

progress

My progress so far.  I painted yesterday morning for a few hours

and will work on it again this afternoon.  I'm very happy with the reds:

alizarin crimson, carmine & ruby red. 
I've added a bit of ultramarine for depth and shadow.

We've just had our best month ever on Etsy!  Who-hoo!

beginning a new one

I'm beginning a new painting of parrot tulips

that will hopefully be my Christmas card this year.

Last year, I was right up to the wire getting my painting finished

and off to the printer in time.  I painted the swan in a two day panic!

I was very happy with the painting, but not the stress!

I promised myself this year that I would start in August

and so I have.

navy blue butterfly and garden visitors

5" x 7" 

on Etsy

Tree frogs have decided that my patio umbrella is a great tree!