Some progress.....

After working on other paintings, I'm back "on" my motorcycle!

This painting is going to definitely challenge me!! Most of my motorcycle paintings are not filled with so many different colors as this one will be. From the bright vermillion cloth underneath to the various golds and glowing blues, this will for sure be a departure from the others!

One thing I have decided is the background will be dark. I'm not sure yet when I will lay in the dark background colors, but I do want to get more of the bike done before I tackle the deep background. Once I lay the background in, I'll have to adjust the values of the colors throughout the piece. It is unusual for me to be working in reflections with lighter colors, and not the normal deep grays and blacks that I've used for most of the other motorcycles.

Man........I must have felt like I needed a challenge! Well, I've got one now!!

Pink hollyhocks....

With all the summertime busyness....I was so thrilled to be able to finish another painting. Not a biggie, but one that is a favorite of mine. I have done a couple paintings from these beautiful hollyhocks that were growing in my friend's yard. So gorgeous! I can picture these growing in many an English cottage garden, along rustic stone walls, or bordering white picket fences in the countryside.
I began by laying down a very light wash of Windsor Lemon, then I used layer upon layer of Rose Madder Genuine. I know that many artists prefer Permanent Rose or Opera, but I adore the specific texture and hue of Rose Madder. One of my favorites, and one the captures the color of these beauties to a tee!
The stem and leaves are Sap Green, along with some Windsor Blue and Lemon Yellow. I also like to throw some Dragon's Blood in the stem and leaves for some interest and contrast.
Now if only I could grow one like this in my garden!! Veggies I can do.....flowers I seem to have more trouble with!

A new hollyhock.....

With the summer art festivals in full swing, I haven't had as much studio time as I would like! With the outside temperature reading 92 degrees right now....I'm happy to be ensconced in my air-conditioned home studio!

The painting in progress on the left here is a commission. A few years ago a client purchased my "Hollyhocks II" to hang in her townhouse in Las Vegas.

She came to my recent show in East Aurora and wanted a smaller companion piece to hang along side the original. SO happy to oblige! I love to paint hollyhocks, and it is so wonderful to know that she loves the original painting so much that she wants another to hang right along side it.

It is about 3/4 done here. Washes of rose madder genuine make up the petals, while my favorite sap green -Maimerblu- is the "go to" green for most of my the stem and leaves. I used some dragon's blood and some burnt sienna as well, in the leaves, stems, and for some of the deeper shading on the petals. I will be finishing the stem and leaves, then adjusting the values to make sure the flower looks as 3 dimensional as possible.

It's wonderful to know that soon this will be going to a new home!