There are several reasons why I chose to paint a pomegranate this morning for the first painting in a new series I'm titling: Thankfulness.

My sincere intentions this holiday season is to seek out the joy of the memories and moments of my life that I'm so thankful for and what better time than to reflect on this time of year from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

In Christianity, pomegranates were featured in paintings of Mary and the baby Jesus by the likes of Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael, as symbols of the resurrection and everlasting life.

So for me, my first painting is humbly painted with gratitude and thankfulness to the one who created and saved me... and gave me this talent to be shared with others.

So now that all the fresh cut flowers have wilted and the only thing left in my house that’s green and living besides the mystery meal in the tupperware container in the back of my refrigerator... you know the one everyone in the family just pushes around hoping that someone else will be brave enough to open, make a discussing face and then throw out...

was this Pothos plant I picked up 2 weeks ago at the grocery store. I’m quite surprised that its still alive consider, one, I don’t really have a green thumb and two, our cat, Jac, just loves to nibble on any green leafy plant he can get his paws on.

So why haven’t I been in my studio for almost five days, you ask?

A couple of reasons. First, I’ve been studying, going to workshops, watching video tutorials and attending webinars on art marketing. There’s so much wonderful information on the web and many different organizations are seeing the need to help artists develop and grow their business and sell more art... so they can paint more.

One of my latest addictions is listening to a blog talk radio show called, "Artists Helping Artists".( Links listed below.) Leslie Saeta and her co-host Dreama Tolle Perry, two very talented artists and savvy business women. They are the number one Artist Blog Talk Radio Show and offer innovative, up-to-date information on how to grow your art business. They also interview well-known artists. If you're an artist and want to grow your business... this is one of the best... BY FAR.... places to help you do just that.

This painting reminded me of a colorful umbrella outside on a rainy, gloomy grey day. I love mixing up greys and neutrals on my palette. It's really just mixing a pinch of this color and dab of that but the swirling and mingling of colors to create new ones... makes my heart sing... yes it's the simple things that make me happy but that's ok, life is so overly complicated as it is... why not simply color and singing in the rain.

I’ve been wanting to paint sushi for a few months now. Each time we order it or go out to eat I say “this time I want to paint it first.” But as soon as we get it home, arrange it just so on the plate... we just can’t help ourselves... and dive right in.

I’m not use to painting at this angle and using very dramatic lighting where the shadow are so dark but I hope it comes across as being in a dimly lit restaurant rather than my studio.

There’s a few more pieces in the take-out box...let’s just see if they make it one more day in the refrigerator or get eat’n.

Three of my favorite things! Pink Lemonade from Stew Leonard’s. I always feel so fancy drinking a glass of Stew’s pink lemonade the bottle has a very unique shape and the label feels very french... oh-la-la.

I just love painting lemons and when I cut them open I can smell their citrusy smell throughout my studio.

The Pink Depression Glass was given to Dean and I as a gift from Dean’s Mom. She was cleaning out her basement and came across a box of several different pieces. I’m so excited to paint it... it looks beautiful when the light hits it just right.

On my way into the grocery store on saturday to purchase just coffee, I glanced over at the flower shop and there was a cart in the middle of floor that said “manager’s special”... so of course I had to look.... and what a surprise... these beautiful bouquets for just $3.00! Well, I just had to pick up two... how often do you find such a great bargain!

It was just so much fun to paint these lilies! I love the way they sat so gracefully in their glass container lookin’ so pretty! they posed for a quick painting study that I started yesterday between my marathon road trip ... A total of 7 1/2 hours of driving! The day started at 6:45am with the typical  1  1/2hr round trip drive to West Hartford to drop my daughter off at school by 8am then home again. 

When I returned I found my son lounging on the couch. He had the day off from school and wasn’t expected back in his dorm until evening.  

I set up this still life first in the kitchen using ink and watercolor for a color study sketch and then moved it down to my art table in my studio.

I moved rapidly mix  my colors  knowing that I was expected to be on the road in less than 2 hours.

By 1pm we were back in the car to meet my dear friend Joy for lunch and the art exchange at Main Street Cafe in Cheshire. Delicious lunch along with wonderful company! Love ya Joy!

2:30pm and on to West Hartford to drop off Veronica’s lacrosse stick, a quick trip to the grocery store for snack food. Back to the school and then up Route 44 to Salisbury.  It’s such a beautiful ride through the countryside of Connecticut and I occasionally stop to sketch or take reference photos of the farms, houses and quaint towns we drive through. Dropped off Ray by 6pm and turned around to head home. Arrived in our driveway at 7:45pm... whewww what a day!

I have found that each time I do a preliminary sketch before I dive into the oil paints it gives me a framework or structure to go by. By working out the shapes and contours of an object with pencil or ink first frees me up to think about other aspects of oil painting.
Here's my process: 
1. pencil sketch (usually done in my sketchbook journal)
2. sharpie marker outlines with watercolor wash
3. small color study in oil, usually 6 x6
4. paint larger format, in this cases I painted a 12 x 12

Every year it just surprises me so when I see these sweet little green steams emerge from the brown soil. And over night out busts a beautiful blossom. These daffodils were cut from our garden yesterday and when I brought them inside they just brighten up the kitchen so much! 

Just a few days ago I watch a mini art lesson by Richard Robinson. Richard is a young and extremely talented artist from Australia. His mini art instructional videos are so informative and definitely worth viewing several times.

The video I watched was on The Spotlight Effect and how to create a visual focal point in your painting by using this technique.

I'm not sure how I came across this website, www.livepaintinglessons.com but I love all the freebies Richard has to offer. It's worth signing up for his mini art lessons delivered right to your in-box. Here's a sample lesson...

Last Sunday my step-daughter and I ventured out to the Christmas Shop in Milford. I wanted to poke around to get some inspiration for an Easter painting. but all I could come up with is a bag of sea shells. What shells have to do with Easter, I’m really not sure. But what I do know is, these shells would be delighted to be out of their plastic bag and under a hot spotlight... it might even feel like home to them. So I added a few pebbles and offered them a glass of water while they were “sunning” themselves. I think they’re even smiling?