Day 12 - Tea for Two

I have painted so many birds in my career as an oil painter.. but it's so strange that I don't think of myself as a painter of birds.  It's just that they often seem like the right thing to add into a composition.  They are often colorful, which makes it easy and fun to choose the perfect accent.  In addition, they are perchable, flyable, poseable, come in all sizes and add life to what could otherwise be a 'dead' composition... And, birds are revered by cultures the world round.. they appear in stories both ancient and new, as symbols, talismans, spirit guides and companions helping to weave a story within my work ..So Versatile are birds that no wonder they end up in many of my paintings! 

Cardinals are brilliant and very common here in PA.  Whenever I see one, I think of the belief that, when you see a cardinal, you are seeing a messages from loved ones who have passed and they are letting us know they are here, checking in... true or not, it is always soothing the soul to think about.

This cardinal is joined by an even smaller brilliant friend, perhaps a message to the cardinal, or perhaps coming in for a sip..  And so it is a cup of Tea for Two..

"Tea for Two", oil on panel, 8"x8", click here for purchasing details

Day 18 - One Enchanted Tea Party

 As I've mentioned before, I have a penchant for painting teacups with things in them or perched upon them. Seems the more I paint teacups, the more ideas I have for how to tweak this motif. This painting is of a teacup with a cupcake nestled inside and a birds nest replete with eggs on top.  Interestingly, many species of birds lay blue eggs, but the one I chose to adorn the top of this nest of eggs is a house finch. House finches are plentiful in my neighborhood and somehow I did not know that they too came from blue eggs..  I liked the neutral gray of this little bird, along with the warm neutrals in much of the rest of the image, the main pop of colors being the blue eggs and the warm tones in the shadows.  As I was about to write this post, the word enchanting popped into my head and I thought, yes this would be one enchanted tea party to attend, should something like this be served! :)

One Enchanted Tea Party, oil on panel, 10"x10", click here for purchasing details

Day 9 - A Quiet Multitude of Little Miracles

 Sometimes a painting turns out so adorable and sweet, it just has to have a title that reflects what my heart feels when I look at it. This is one of them.  I know the title seems big and perhaps a bit much for this sweet little piglet on a cupcake in a teacup... with raspberries. But, here is the quote that I borrowed the title from - 

"It's a quiet multitude of little miracles that makes life sweet" - Marjorie P Hinckley

When I read this quote, it seemed the perfect pairing with this painting, and the painting seemed a perfect visual to metaphorically describe it.  I couldn't agree more with Marjorie's sentiment.  Yes there are big, monumental events in life that can make life extra amazing and special, but most days are just not like that.  Most days are mundane while we go through the routines and moments that make it up.  I find that there are, however, multitudes of little miracles sprinkled through out every single one of my mundane days that indeed make my days sweet and good.  This little painting (only 8"x8"), quietly packs in a multitude of unexpected bits of joy, and it amounts to a sweet composition of yum! ♥

A Quiet Multitude of Little Miracles, oil on panel, 8"x8", click here for purchasing info 

Day 13 of the 28 in 28 - Do You Like My Hat?

 When I was a child and then when I had children of my own, I read a book titled "Go Dog Go" by P.D. Eastman.  It is one of my all time favorite young reader books.. In it there is a dog couple who meet several times in the story.  Every time they meet, the girl dog is wearing a different and very wild hat.  She asks the boy dog, "Do you like my hat?" and every time but the last time he says, "No. I do not like your hat." and he rides away in his little car.  I laugh every single time I think about that senario, and looking at this cow, it is exactly what I think she is asking us... "Do you like my hat?" :)

I've painted Cows (and donkeys, giraffes, rabbits and pigs) inside of teacups before.. but, I've never balanced a teacup on one's head.  A seemingly trite and minor thing to change up, but it does make all the difference in the end result!

"Do You Like My Hat?", 9"x12", oil on panel
to purchase, please click here