QUEEN ANN'S LACE, 5X7, OIL, SOLD

I love wildflowers.  I don't know why some people call them weeds, just because they grow where they want and not always where YOU want them.  I would much rather see a sampling of pretty little flowers scattered about instead of miles of manicured green grass.

I always try to take at least one long walk with my camera when I am in North Carolina, you never know what you will find.  Last time, I found these pretty little flowers next to the road.

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POPPY FIELD, 8X10, OIL SOLD

I stumbled across this field of poppies in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

SOLD

ROSE OF SHARON, 5X7, OIL, SOLD

Today is a special day.  It is my mother's 89th birthday.  She is one tough lady and has overcome much in her life.  When she was born she was only two pounds.  My grandmother fed her with an eye-dropper and carried her on a pillow.  Can you imagine that she could survive that 89 years ago?  She is not doing too well now and may not be with us much longer, but I thought this would be the perfect way to honor her on her birthday.

There are not too many plants as tough as Rose of Sharon.  In Western North Carolina, you see them everywhere.  The are pretty tough plants.  A neighbor trimmed her plant and brought the trimmings to me last summer.  I stuck them in the ground and watered them for a week and then left for the winter.  Today they line the front of my vacation home, covered in flowers, all summer long.  They only stop flowering when the frost comes.  When I am there, every morning I love to get a cup of coffee and sit in the rocker on my porch, surrounded with these beautiful flowers.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

PS:  Today is the last day of my Blog Visitor's sale.  Check the previous post for details.

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HIBISCUS BLOOM, 5X7, OIL, SOLD

A couple friends and I went to St. Cloud, FL for a few hours last week.  We did a little shopping, found a wonderful place for lunch (Diane's Tea Room, served homemade quiche and the absolute best homemade cranberry, walnut and orange zest scones with devenshire cream) and on the way out through the courtyard, I found this beautiful, perfect hibiscus bloom.  It proved to be a challenge for me, but in the end  I am happy with the results.

This painting has been licensed and reproduced as a hand-distressed solid wood plank wall decor.

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SOLD

QUEEN OF SUNFLOWERS, 6X8, OIL, SOLD

I think that sunflowers are the personification of summer.  The stunning and huge flowers always remind me of a queen looking down on her subjects.  I can never look at one without smiling.  I have always admired  sunflower paintings (starting with Vincent) but never tried one until today.  Such fun!

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ANOTHER POPPYFIELD, 5X7, OIL,SOLD

Every once in a while I just have to do a red/green combo. I think poppies are probably my favorite flower, especially in the wild. They just knock your eyes out! This one is about 1/2 abstract and 1/2 impressionistic. I no longer know what I am doing, or maybe never did...but I am enjoying it more!

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WILDFLOWERS, ACRYLIC, 20X24, SOLD

This is definitely not my usual painting! A few years ago, I took a month long workshop with Fritz VanEeden. Fritz is a very well known and respected artist from Holland who has been living in our town at least part of the year. I was fortunate enough to work with him for over a month, 3 days a week, for 4-5 hours. Fritz is obsessed, and if he is awake, he must have a paintbrush in his hand! He is also a wonderful man. I do enjoy this type of painting, but I just couldn't get the hang of painting out of my head. So this is my one and only true abstract!

Now, my varnishing question got several replies, both here and on facebook, and the winner is......retouch varnish! I have run to my art supply store to grab a can and now feel much more confident in my technique. So, thank you all very much for your replies!