Felines with Butterflies and Dragon Flies

I have been working.
Lately I've been combining creatures. Lions and cats with Monarchs. Tigers with Dragon flies.
I'm really concentrating on light and dark.....




There is still a little more work to be done on the dragon fly and Tiger, but I thought I would put it out there.

Still thinking of a tittle.....
 Oil on Linen
24 x 36

What Butterfly
Oil on Canvas
16 x 20

Gingy's Dream Complete

Here's the completed painting of Gingy;s Dream.
I went to the Sorolla Exhibit with a friend yesterday and I was so inspired.

A touch of red......

Monarchs and Kitty's

Milk weed has been planted and Monarchs are abundant. Our yard has become a forest full of fluttering orange and black wings.
They are such beautiful and complex creatures.

 I'm combining those beautiful creatures with other beautiful creatures, together, in my paintings and having a good time.
Love Peace and Happiness....

Here's one of those paintings " in progress".
Gingy's Dream,

Painting Pelicans

Painting pelicans at the Oceanside Pier.

Every painting has it's challenges. Some more then others.
I photographed pelicans and brought them home to my studio to paint.

 Painting from photographs are so limiting. One must draw upon real self experience to make them work as a painting. Creating an image that looks 3 dimensional from a 2 dimensional source  has it's challenges.
But the challenges are fun and rewarding. You learn so much as you go through the process.

Edges and values. Lines and warms and cools. So much to learn  and I'm glad.

Even though I do not look at this painting as a complete success I have learned from the experience.
I used to throw in the towel for the day if I couldn't get it right. Now I talk myself through the difficulties and keep plugging away. Telling myself " I can do this". I'm working on eliminating the excuse " I can't do this".
Flipping the switch, turning the knob to I can do this.

Here is the results of a new beginning. A new process.
I've learned art is a life long learning experience. Probably one that will always have an door open.
That's good.

Note no signature on this painting. Still in the process, not yet complete.

The Messenger The Lion and the Monarch

I decided to rename the painting.....from "A Passing Moment" to "The Messenger".
Why,  well I leave that thought up to you.

So here it is:

A Passing Moment....Lions Tigers Bears ......

Here's a new painting I'm working on.
The lion is from a photo I took at Out of Africa. The monarch butterfly was photographed in our yard. We got some milk thistle and the monarchs have come.

Two beauties ......Which is the fairest of all?

I'm having fun with this painting.It measures 24" x 24" and is an oil on linen.
It's not finished yet....

"A Passing Moment"

Big animals in Small PLaces

The more I see and the more I read it appears big animals are being put into smaller spaces. Whether intentionally like a cage or expanding human/livestock perimeters. Big animals are being forced to assimilate to new standards of living. So here is a painting portraying a Tiger a big Cat put into a small space.
The  total size of the piece is 16" x 16", which is a relatively small support size for such a large animal.

. The tiger could not fit proportionally into this square size so the actual image had to be contained into a smaller rectangular space. Big Animals in small spaces.....

I'm working on the borders of this piece...not sure what I will come up with.