They’re coming! My beautiful coneflowers have buds, but this is the first bloom to show a hint of the color. I cannot wait to see them all in bloom. It will take a while for the coneflowers on the side of the house to bloom because some of them have been eaten by the deer. Grrrr! I sprayed everything with the deer concoction yesterday afternoon after spending a long time outside pruning, pulling poison ivy, and weed whacking.
Don had a wonderful birthday. He had a gig in the afternoon and the audience was wonderful and 6 of his friends showed up, so he was very happy. Singing and playing for an audience on his birthday? Perfect. I’d already given him one of his gifts – a desperately needed new pair of jeans – earlier in the month. After dinner, I put candles in a rich and dense chocolate cake (purchased at a local store) and sang Happy Birthday to him. He opened up a gift from a friend, then my card, then a new journal that he really needed, and then this:
As I explained on Instagram, I haven’t painted in oils for a few years, and – as you know – in the midst of this process I was sure I was going to have to throw in the towel. At first, I was going to paint the shed in winter, and I still want to, but snow is a tricky thing and so I stopped. (I’ll work on it again later.) Then I thought of the cottage. Don loves this place, especially in the spring and summer. Since I can’t paint a straight line to save my life, I decided that ‘impressionism’ was the way to go. And I sort of like painting this way. I wanted to show everything lush, and green, and in bloom. I used a photograph I took a while back as the inspiration, but I added lots of extras.
This is always my favorite view of the house, which looks very different from the front. I love our big old maple tree and the big garden bed, and the porch. So does Don. I was going for an almost magical feel.
Anyway, I was very nervous about it. Very insecure. But, he loves it! He went on and on about how much he loves it and he’s a real lover of Impressionism, so I think it was successful!
Until it totally dries, it’s on the piano, but eventually, Don wants to have it framed.
Hurrah, we had a lovely day.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
I think the painting came out so well, Claudia. I love all of the colors you used to make those blooms pop. Well done you!
Thank you, Ellen.
Stay safe.
Of course he loves it! So do I. It really is a wonderful representation of your home and garden. I like the impressionistic technique. It can hid a multitude of sins (like the line that is supposed to be straight but somehow never is — ask me how I know!). And no sins here — It is everyone one could hope it would be and I can’t wait to see it framed.
It sounds like a lovely birthday. I suspect in a week, that flower will be in full bloom — and joined by its friends!
Thank you, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
I love the picture you painted for Don’s birthday! A treasure for sure!
Thank you, Judy.
Stay safe.
so glad for don to have had a happy birthday, with a good gig, cake, great gifts and especially you singing for him and painting a lovely, loving portrait of the home you have made together and share! :)
i agree with don about getting that beautiful painting framed, and hung on the wall in a place you see it all the time.
a paint question for you: what do you like about them that makes you choose oil paints over (for example) acrylics? asking as someone who’s never tried oils (and sadly hasn’t painted with anything for at least three years … need to change that). i like acrylics because they are just easier to use (dry quickly and are very easy to clean up after). and i love watercolors because they have such beautiful colors that can be layered for great depth and they dry very fast so require me to focus (a good and needed thing) and especially because my beloved mother painted primarily and beautifully with watercolors. :)
thanks, claudia.
hope you, don and everyone else have a nice day. stay safe.
kathy
I chose oil because my dad painted in oils. Simple as that.
That being said, I love the texture of oil paint – that it can be layered and three-dimensional. I also love the smell of oils because it reminds me of watching my dad stand at his easel in our tiny living room, painting away.
Thanks, Kathy.
i love that something you do so well (painting with oils) brings happy memories of seeing your father do the same thing also so well. :)
thanks, claudia.
kathy
xo
Well Done Claudia! You followed your inspiration and you captured the warm happy glow of your Home which will be there to look at for years to come! Very beautiful! I think it is a little like the Grandma Moses style too… it tells a story with those brush strokes. Accurate perspective and straight lines are not required! I love this view of your home too, it looks so inviting! Well done!
Thank you, Betsy.
Stay safe.
I am happy that Don had a nice birthday. I love the painting! Good work.
Thank you, Kay.
Stay safe.
Sounds like a delightful day for the love of your life! That painting is pretty great, too. Enjoy your day! ;)
Thank you, Donnamae.
Stay safe.
I love your painting. What a wonderful gift for Don!
Thank you, Julie.
Stay safe.
Lovely painting!
Thank you, Mary Ellen.
Stay safe.
Claudia, your painting of the cottage stopped me in my tracks. You didn’t just capture a house-you caught its BREATH. The light, the quiet, the lived in soul of it….it feels like the home is exhaling. It’s painterly, intimate and beautifully alive. I hope you keep painting, because the world looks better through your eyes.
With admiration,
Maria
Oh, thank you, Maria.
Your words really touched me.
Stay safe.
Beautiful beautiful day all around for Don. You should paint more!
Thank you, Wendy.
Stay safe.
It’s a wonderful painting! So charming, pretty and made with love which is the best kind of present! No need to have been nervous at all.
Happy Friday
Thank you, Dee Dee.
Stay safe.
I love the painting! Congratulations, Claudia. Don couldn’t help but love it. Bet he was surprised.
Thank you, Shanna.
Stay safe.
It is beautiful! What a thoughtful gift. Chris
Thank you, Chris.
Stay safe.