First Sign of Spring

"First Sign of Spring" 8x10", oil on gessobord

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"There are always flowers for those who want to see them." 

                                — Henri Matisse 

Who needs a ground hog and its shadow? I can predict when spring is about to break free from the grips of winter. It happens suddenly out of the dark stillness of bare branches, when delicate pink blossoms emerge along pencil-thin twisted boughs by the fence behind my studio.   
 
I clipped a small flowering twig to use in today's more complex still life. I filled the scene with some of my life’s creature comforts including a spot of tea from a silver teapot and spoon, an apple, ceramic baby birds, books and of course candies.  

To give you a bit more insight on the blossoming peach tree; it hasn't always abided in my yard. In fact, this wild and wandering immigrant grew up in the woods behind my house where for many years I had admired it from afar. Then one day, to my total amazement, it popped up on my side of the fence. I assumed a seed either floated in on a strong breeze, or perhaps was carried by a bird or a fairy to take root in my garden. Or, if the truth be told, maybe this lonely tree sensing my deep love and appreciation for its annual beauty, fought and clawed its way underground and the 8 foot pine barrier to enter my fecund oasis where automated watering was all inclusive. The law of attraction? Creative visualization? Oh, the power of love ... and the mind. 

Yoshida Kenko said, "Blossoms are scattered by the wind and the wind cares nothing, but the blossoms of the heart no wind can touch."
 
Happy Valentine's Day!
nancy

© 2013 nancy parsons

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"Candied Apple"

"Candied Apple"6x6" Oil on canvas panel

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Happy New Year!!! I'm back and am sorry for the long absence. All the holiday shopping, baking, cleaning, wrapping, cards, entertaining and cooking, plus being hit by a nasty virus sure took a toll on my painting and blog time.

A CHALLENGING CHALLENGE

Still Life

In today's still life, a bit of leftover holiday treat sat relaxed in a candy jar, that is until the big-bully-of-an-apple forced his way in pushing the hard-headed candies onto the floor. Poor little fellows...no telling what sugar-starved predator might gobble them up.

Under painting

Today's painting is another entry to a Daily Paintworks challenge. The way it works is to setup a still life and photograph it (see photo left). Then paint an under painting of the photo in raw umber paying close attention to the values (mid tones, darks, and lights which were rubbed out with a Q-Tip) (see photo below). Lastly, paint in full color on top of the value study, but substituting all NEW colors for the real colors (The end result was "Candied Apple" at top of page).

The moral of the story is, if values are painted correctly, you can paint in any color and it will still hold together as a painting!

Get organized, place an order for my NEW 134-page, Not-So-Still Life-2012 Daily Planner (shown above on right), featuring 13 paintings as seen on Head On Down the Highway in 2011. Available for purchase online, just click to view all the pages and add to your shopping cart.

Thanks for viewing my work.

nancy

SOLD - An Admiring Audience

"An Admiring Audience" 6x6" Oil on canvas board

This colorful group of flowers were captured here, swooning and fainting during the sold-out performance of an enchanting green starlet in a crowded-to-capacity theater. Okay...so maybe that's not exactly right...Actually these flowers are what remains out of an arrangement from a recent dinner party, but the green apple did bully her way onto the stage.

Imagination and creation are so much fun...that's the best part of being an artist. Anything and everything is possible in a world filled with possibilities. All we have to do is to open our eyes and hearts to the wonder, and then feast at the banquet spread before us. What a gift!

In humble gratitude to the Master Creator of it all...Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanks for viewing my work!
nancy

FREE SHIPPING WITHIN USA
I am offering FREE shipping within the U.S. on all paintings in my Daily Paint Works and Etsy stores. These small paintings work great in groups of two or more, and add interest and charm to an entry, kitchen, bath, sitting on a bookshelf, or other small areas.

INTERNATIONAL PURCHASES AND SHIPPING:  Shipping charges are based on actual weight, contact me directly to arrange for online payments and shipping cost.

Codependent

"Codependent" 6x6" Oil on Gessobord

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Have easel will travel, I am out of my box again today! These subjects are on a scenic vacation from the doldrums of their limited cubical existence. As you can see, they are traveling about, doing a little sightseeing around my house and enjoying new vistas. Last night these fugitives spent the evening in my family room sitting atop an old antique desk handed down by my grandmother.

You know, I don't think artists ever really paint a painting. Paintings are simply small hints of the place where the artist's spirit went once he picked up the brush to paint. 

I named this painting codependent but now I am thinking it should be called charity? The more I look at it, I am seeing the green bananas as a lifeboat rescuing a comrade adrift along the hard dark surface of life. Perhaps I am being influenced by this video I watched yesterday of a dog who fell off the back of a boat at sea and was then rescued by a dolphin http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Yfbchq0xQmQ&vq=medium#t=   What do you see happening in this painting? I'd love to hear your comments. 

Thank you for viewing my painting!

nancy

FREE SHIPPING

I am offering FREE shipping this summer within the U.S. on all paintings in my Daily Paint Works,  ebay and  Etsy stores. These small paintings look great in groups of two or more, and add interest and charm to an entry, kitchen, bath, sitting on a bookshelf, or other small areas. 

                                                                          FRAMES

To purchase online frames, check out the "floater" frames like those shown below. The paintings just gets glued onto it...super easy. http://www.kingofframe.com/6x6-Frames_c_22.html
 

Grape Stampede

"Grape Stampede" 6x6" Oil on Gessobord

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There's a melodramatic mutiny in progress! Grape inmates are making a break from the glass lock up. They plotted for hours, behind my back, to make a run for it. The cherry and apple guards in their red uniforms were totally overpowered and pushed aside by the seething mob. Curses foiled again! This is the first time I have ever painted grapes, and admittedly tortured them unmercifully. A manhunt is now underway. Once I can get them back in the slammer, they'll be all mine, I'll find more vicious ways to punish the entire bunch of little green guys. A-a-ah!!! Oh the trials and tribulations of being an artist. It isn't easy but someone has to do it! (booing and hissing)

 

Thanks for viewing my painting!

nancy

 FREE SHIPPING

I am offering FREE shipping this summer within the U.S. on all paintings in my Daily Paint Works,  ebay and  Etsy stores. These small paintings look great in groups of two or more, and add interest and charm to an entry, kitchen, bath, sitting on a bookshelf, or other small areas. 

                                                                          FRAMES

To purchase online frames, check out the "floater" frames like those shown below. The paintings just gets glued onto it...super easy. http://www.kingofframe.com/6x6-Frames_c_22.html
 

"Lifeguard" 6x6"

"Lifeguard" 6x6" Oil on canvas panel

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From an aerial perspective, this strawberry looks like a sunburned lifeguard with zinc oxide smeared on her nose. She sits positioned on her guard stand at the pool's edge carefully watching as a bobbing apple surfaces for air. A spoon lies in wait in the background should the need for a quick rescue arise.  

 

Thank you for viewing my painting.

- nancy

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"Against All Odds"

"Against All Odds" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

People always ask how I come up with the names for my paintings. Actually, I never know what I am going to title a painting. It's only after they are finished, photographed and ready to save an image file, that I even begin to think what an appropriate title might be. "Against All Odds" popped into my head as the nectarine in the painting seemed to represent the strength, will, determination and perseverance of the Japanese people standing up in the face of overpowering darkness. Against all odds their nation will heal. God bless the people of Japan. The sale of this painting is being donated to the Japanese Red Cross. Click here to place a bid.  

Thank you for viewing my painting.
- nancy

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"Hole in One" 6x6" Still-life, Nancy Parsons O/C

"Hole in One" 6x6" oil on museum quality canvas panel

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How 'bout that All-Star, Pro Gran E. Smith! Although he didn't really nail a true hole in one, this HEB master got within inches of the plate in one swing, before chipping in for the sink. Now doesn't that count for something? The juicy lemon slinking up along side Mr. Smith is an overly-ripe groupie doing a bit of hero worshiping...and hoping to get seen on the evening news. 

PS. The tiny carafe in this painting is on loan from a local restaurant...mums the word. She was kidnapped by her fairy godfather from her dreary life as a maiden vessel. Please rest assure, she is being returned unscathed and breathless to have been awarded this highly coveted cup assignment.   

Thank you for viewing my painting.  - nancy

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"Bobbing For Apple"

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"Bobbing Apple" 6x8" oil on canvas board
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"An apple a day... "I hope you all aren't getting tired of seeing red apples. I love painting them and liked the way this one turned out. This is what real "transparency" is suppose to look like. ; ) Thanks for viewing my work. - Nancy