Girls Just Wanna Paint June Challenge

"Lotus Flowers"

8x10 acrylic on canvas paper

I love lily pads and waterlilies also known as lotus flowers. They are prevalent in Asian art and culture. The flower opens with the sun and closes at dusk.

*The main meanings of Lotus flower are: Beauty, Grace, Eloquence, Direct and deep spiritual contact, Mysticism, Faithfulness, Patience, Love, Compassion, Purity, Rising out of suffering, Enlightenment, Self-awareness and Rebirth. 

There is a time when we think there is no way out of a situation, like we will stay stuck there for eternity. However, all the pain we are coming through will be soothed. Lotus flower is here to remind us that we mustn’t give up, but fight against all the difficulties. We have a chance to rise out of the pain, but first of all remember that no one will do it for us, but ourselves.

Check out Girls Just Wanna Paint to see the paintings of the "together apart" challenge.

*except for the first paragraph, this text was copied from myflowermeaning.com

"Still Life" GJWP challenge

"Still Life" Acrylic 12x12 

$350 click link to buy

I'm primarily an oil painter, sometime watercolor painter and dabble in other media. I picked up acrylics a couple of years ago when I took a workshop with my friend and fellow GJWP artist, Page Pearson Railsback. 
I love the creaminess of the paint and the way I can create transparent layers over previous passages. The color is rich and not chalky as I remember it from my long ago, art student days.
I'd been working on this abstract piece which seemed like a metaphor for life coming to an abrupt stop. Placing careful brushstrokes next to one another, as I worked out the color harmony on this was fun and meditative. I plan on doing more.
I'm still in Naples and don't plan on returning home until the insanity subsides. 

A Good Egg

Remember when people referred to someone as a "good egg"? What the heck was that all about?

Anyway I did this in my Carol Marine class. She really knows how to paint eggs. This one is sold but there will be more of this subject. I had to hide all my saved eggshells in the back of the refrigerator so Don wouldn't throw them away ;)

Two Tomatos

I should be planting tomatoes, on this beautiful Memorial Day, not painting them. But this is what I do. I'm heading out right after I post this, though. Remember our soldiers and their loved ones and thank God for Freedom.