These photos aren't very exciting. Today I helped to choose the colors for and to paint The Olde Coffee Mill in Stevensville, MT. The owner is remodeling with new paint and new carpet. The walls were originally white on top with blue sponge painting below a chair rail.
I haven't been able to paint every day lately. I had another art show this Saturday: the Bitterroot Birding and Nature Festival Art Show. Sunday through Wednesday, I was vacationing in Seattle. While in Seattle, I shopped at the Daniel Smith art supply store. Since it's nearly impossible for me to paint while travelling, I took lots of photos hoping to get some reference shots for painting.
I finished the background for this painting. Next I get to do the fun stuff.
Yesterday, I mapped out the drawing for this 16"x20" oil painting on canvas. Today I worked on the background. This is it so far.
"Pretty in Pink" is a 2.5"x3.5" acrylic ACEO on illustration board. It was painted June 19, 2007. Sold.
"Maternal Love" is a 2.5"x3.5" acrylic painting on illustration board. It was painted June 18. Sold.
When I was a teenager, I was fortunate to watch a luna moth come out of its crysalis. It took quite awhile for its wings to unroll and fill in. It was an unforgettable sight to see that huge moth take flight!
I've been very busy preparing for the Western Heritage Days Art Show which is going on June 15-16. During the artists' reception yesterday evening, we had a quick draw. Each artist in the quick draw must complete a piece of art within one hour and it must be ready to hang at the end of that hour. Then the pieces are auctioned off. This swallow was my quick draw painting.
I started this one yesterday and finished it today. I used the same reference photo that I used for the watercolor blue heron on May 1 (see my posting).
Well, I painted from 9am until 4:30pm with a 1.5 hr break today. I helped a few other women paint the Salish games mural. Some of the local children pitched in after getting out of school early for their summer vacation. A boy 
visiting from Arkansas helped out, too.
Thought I'd try the India ink again. "Swallowtail & Lilac" is a 2.5"x3.5" ACEO painting. It was painted on June 6, 2007, with acrylic and India ink Sold.
I was painting all day with the 6th-graders and other artists on the mural at the park. When I came home, I painted this little gem.
I have some serious painter's block! Just to try something new, I created this "Tropical Nymph" from magazine clippings and acrylic. I began looking through a magazine with nothing planned. This painting evolved on its own. It was a good exercise for me.
I purchased flowers and vegetable plants from a nursery this morning. I love the colors and shapes of the African daisies. They were the inspiration for this fun little painting.
