WIP Day Lily

Day Lily

18"x24"

Oil on canvas

I have been working on this off and on for about two months. I wanted to try painting like the old masters. First I drew the rough painting in pencil than outlined it with burnt umber thinned with turpenoid. Next I added shadows using the same method. Lots of undercoats and building of layers happened after that.

At the moment I am calling this a work in process. I am not at all sure if it is done. The photo actually looks better than the painting (even with the glare because it's still quite wet). I'm going to have to live with it a bit before I decide.

I'd be interested in what you have to say, please do share your comments. Painting in a vacuum without feedback is not always fun. You can either blissfully love everything you create or be your worst critic. The truth is probably somewhere in between.

So, am I done?

Columbine

One summer one of these single columbine plants appeared in my garden. It was a surprise from nature, nothing I planted. Over the years it has spread randomly throughout the garden. I let them grow wherever they seed themselves.

My garden is not very ordered. I plant things and hope they will survive. If something pops up that I didn't plant, I am extremely grateful. And I always let it grow, sometimes even the weeds.

I don't have the heart to pull out the wild strawberries that have taken over the hill on the far side of the house. They provide food for birds, squirrels and chipmunks. I don't even begrudge the deer my shrubs in the winter, but I do wish that they would leave the Hostas alone in the summer. After all there is plenty more for them to eat. This year I planted some double pink columbines. I hope they like the garden as well as the wild purple ones.