Sketching Today

Partially because I'm irritated with myself for running out of white paint. And black. Not quite out-out, but close enough that you don't really want to use that last bit of it.... Oh, well- it's a wonderful reason to go out to the art supply store.

And get some more of those cute little panels, and some more of those larger ones.... don't know why I'm so enamored with painting on firm surfaces after all that time on canvas, but I'm really enjoying it. Taking pleasure in the little things, thankfully :)

Experimentation

Water soluble pencil and acrylic paint and some gesso and scratching and generally having fun with more stuff with the roses from Duke Gardens. It's a good, peaceful feeling at the end of a very pretty day.

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and Monday.

Horizon Storm

5"x7" acrylic on panel

NFS

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Sunday

Spreading my Wings

5"x7" acrylic on panel

NFS

#168

Saturday

Scatter

5"x7" acrylic on panel

NFS

#167

Friday

Rising

5"x7" acrylic on panel

NFS

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the pretty things

"Glow"

5"x7" acrylic on panel

NFS

Roses from Duke Gardens again, looking at some ones I'm doing a larger piece on- and really trying to focus on the light coming through the petals, how wonderfully bright it has been here lately. It surprised me by looking kind of pastel-y in the end, very pretty and feminine. I think I'm going to try her out in a frame tomorrow- beautiful.

Oh, and I'm going to be out of town this weekend- down in Georgia for my aunt's wedding :) Really looking forward to it, but I'm not planning on doing any painting in the hotel room, so I'll probably be posting sketches when I get back instead. Love me anyways?

Resounding snores are echoing from the bedroom, and morning comes early- goodnight, ya'll!

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PS- just figured out how to do the linking thing- ridiculously pleased with myself, especially when you consider how simple it is. hehe.

Imagine

"Tropicana"

5"x7" acrylic on panel

SOLD

Well, it's been a very productive Wednesday, all things considered- a bit odd, but you accept those days as they come. As for this painting- quite unlike me, isn't it? And yet I think it came out beautifully, very much the little punch of color. I'm content, this evening- hoping you are, too.

And now Dixon has gone and climbed in bed with Mark, and I'm thinking it's about time I follow him. Provided, of course, I can get this blasted image to upload.

Seashell Silhouette

NFS
Or however you spell that. Finished on lovely piece, started on another I am really looking forward to seeing finished- and kind of experimented on my daily here. But that's what they're for, right? (If you want to see the other two from today, then http://kellie-hill.blogspot.com/ ) Goodnight, everybody!

Lime Wedges

NFS
Fun with greens today :) Aren't they wonderful and bright and glowing? Lots of fun. Backlighting citrus fruit is a wonderful thing.

and Sunday

"Crossing"

5"x7" acrylic on panel

collection of Kelly Wallace

Happy little painting for a beautiful day- everything this weekend was from pictures I've been taking at the farmers market- it's a great place, yes? The heat has turned the light all silvery-white lately, and it's leaving me perfectly relaxed- and unfortunately a bit lazy. But I got a lot done today, and hopefully we'll have some beautiful new stuff for tomorrow night :) Took some gorgeous reference pics at Duke Gardens today, especially of the roses, braving triple digit temperatures for them. It was beautiful.

Saturday

"Waiting"

5"x7" acrylic on panel

NFS

And, again, unfinished. As of yet. Noticing a pattern? Well, tonight's is finished anyways. Coming up next :)

Friday

"Sunflower"

5"x7" acrylic on canvas

NFS

And still waiting to be finished- bad me.

In the sun.

"Solace"

5"x7" acrylic on canvas

NFS

Went with a dried rose as a subject tonight, of all things- no real formula for it, it was so hard in some ways, but I really enjoyed it, and I really love the result- and how about those colors? and the strong shadow? Love love love.

Lemons

"Blue and Gold"

5"x7" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Back to something more summery, brighter. More hopeful. Not sure if it's actual optimism or just trying to force the issue, but I feel good about the painting, the textures and the way the shadows play off the rounded shapes of the lemons. And there's always believing that tomorrow will be batter than today. *hug*

Cup and Saucer

Cup and Saucer
NFS

Fun with blues, and a little bit of brown.... they makes for the most wonderful greys, don't you think? I believe I messed up with the ellipses, but I'm quite proud of some of the modeling, and those fun little highlights there at the bottom of the cup, those are very nice.

Bits and pieces, always. Sometimes I'm very happy with the whole, but sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be terribly in love with every inch of the canvas. Maybe I'll find out at some point :) Until then- in love with certain parts, and varying degress of satisfied with the rest. That's still a good thing- I've got that I'm my own worst critic thing going, usually.

And a happy Tuesday. It really felt like it ought to be later in the week, but of course the calender is somewhat more reliable than my fickle emotions. Good thing we have calenders.

Apples and Other Things

"Half"

5"x7" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Something a little different tonight, going back to some higher contrast still life stuff. And probably going to do some sketching after this, to try and work up the nerve to do some more work on a beautiful commission I'm working on. Gr. Hate it when my own paintings intimidate me.

Here- like I said, something a little higher contrast, but still with very neutral colors. The flesh of the apple was particularly fun- I feel like I've learned so much lately about all the little bits of color that hide in white. Happy Monday, everyone!

Reflecting

Seagulls
NFS

Daydreaming. Summertime and getting away, watching the seagulls on the beach. Sitting in the sand making drip castles and chasing sand fleas. Then spending most of the day floating in the ocean, ignoring the entire world. Listening the the pull of the waves on the shoreline.

And just getting away from everything. It's a nice idea, isn't it? Wonderful. And yet, tomorrow is still Monday. Oh, whatever. Happy tonight anyways.

Memory

The Chapel
NFS

Just thoughts and memories already. Sad, and soft, and experimenting with greying down the colors, seeing how to create a complete impression without adding all that detail and contrast- it just felt wrong, on this one. But it turned out right, this way.

And more shells

Overlap
NFS

Just glad that it's Friday, at the moment. Had fun with the shadows one this one, all the little ridges and peculiarities. And right now I'm having a fantastic time being half drunk and watching Jeff Dunham- freakin awesome comedian, absolute must watch. Love all of you, and looking forward to tomorrow's painting too, huh?

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Fade Away

Starfish
NFS

More of the pale on pale- it's really drawing me in. Oh, and if you're curious, I posted all of my dailies that involve shot glasses over on Moment by Moment ( http://kellie-hill.blogspot.com/ ) Not that many of them, really, but I was curious and thought I would share.

At any rate, a tiny starfish- looks like it's reaching up, doesn't it? I focused more on the play of light this time, rather than the texture and all of its intricacies- save that for next time, I guess. Hope you're all having a beautiful evening. Me, I'm glad the week is almost over.

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Summertime

"Magnolia"
6"x6" acrylic on canvas

All about the pale-on-pale lately, aren't I? Nope, no idea where it's coming from, but I like it- pleasent, and makes me looks really hard for all the colors within the whites. Like all the greys and greens and browns in this magnolia blossom.... and once again I find myself wishing that I could paint smells, that flawlessly rich and yet delicate, citrusy magnolia scent. It's intoxicating.

And in case you hadn't noticed- yep, it's in a shot glass. Had it in a wonderful big bistro shot glass, but changed my mind and moved it down to a regular one- it played the blossom itself up more, that way. We'll see what tomorrow night brings.

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And goodbye again.

"Pale"
6"x6" acrylic on canvas
NFS

Came home from my Aunt's funeral, and my orchid had started shedding blossoms- and this one, sitting there on top of the bookcase, looked like it would be a good challenge. Well, it was a challenge at any rate. More cursing of those tricky little flowers centers- and an ever growing appreciation for the alchemy of light, how it transform everything. And now, thank goodness, I am sleepy. So I'm going to go turn my incense off, take a shower, and crawl into my nice soft bed- and I'll think about tomorrow when it gets here. Good night!

Monday

Calla Lilies
5"x7" acrylic on canvas
NFS

Sunday

Calla Lilies
5"x7" acrylic on canvas
NFS

Saturday

Calla Lily
NFS

Friday

Calla Lily
NFS

Ghost Tree

NFS
Peaceful, but lonely. And a beautiful, hopeful light shining through.
#144

Wandering....

Work in progress, though probably almost done- isn't that a great sense of atmosphere? And the light coming through.... as to why the queen anne's lace is pink, well, I have no idea. Perhaps it'll be a little more traditional when the painting is finished :) Until then, well, I'm here in the shadows.

#143

Goodbyes

NFS
#142

Daydreams

"Peonies"
6"x12" acrylic on canvas
NFS

Trying to figure things out- or maybe that's just what I'm telling myself because I want to explain away this dismal mood, act like there's no reasons behind it. Bleh.

At any rate, those same peonies from last night, donw much bigger and all focused on the flowers instead of the whole bouquet and how it relates to it's surroundings. Loved the idea- not thrilled with the painting as it is right now, and not for sure on why. Oh, well- there's always tomorrow's. And I ceratinly got an appreciation for how impossible peonies can be to paint- and I thought roses were tricky!

Stormy Springtime

"Peonies"

8"x10" acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Got these be-e-a-utiful peonies at the farmer's market on Saturday, and the whole apartment smells of them right now. It's funny, because I usually would have gone with white ones with the getting-flowers-to-paint thing, but I fell into temptation with these glorious, overabundant violet-red beauties, and I love how it turned out with this painting, how these seem to fly above all that dense foilage, the heavy glass of the vase, the fragile tracery of the shadows..... seeing so much tonight, and it's nice.

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Espresso

"Saturday Morning"
8"x10" acrylic on canvas

Spent much longer on this one than I originally intended, but I just got too engrossed in it to do otherwise. Isn't red a wonderful color? And then the little espresso set had that thing going where something that is white and shiny is actually every color except white, which is just infuriating and fascinating and wonderful.

Grateful for weekends, tonight :)

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and Friday.

"Fold"
6"x6" acrylic on canvas
NFS

I used to wonder how people could paint the exact same thing over and over again.... well, no more. Even if the pieces themselves aren't better each time (thoug if you look at it more overall than individual picture, I'm definately getting better), I learn something new each time, and that in itself is immensely encouraging.

Now I just need to find a way to add a few more hours to each day. Can we vote to slow the earth's rotational speed?

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Thursday

"Center"
6"x6" acrylic on canvas
NFS

Happy Tonight

"Shine"

5"x7" acrylic on stretched canvas

NFS

Ridiculously pleased with myself on this one- called out my favorite shell, and didn't use a speck of true white until the very end of it, and got the most wonderful, glistening surface on her as a result- very proud :) The most lovely cool greys.... ought to try to find a more iridescent spiral one like this, to try. Or maybe try some oyster shells, I know I've seen some other artists trying them and it looks like a fascinating challenge....

Ideas, ideas, ideas. *happy sigh* Well, it's time for sleeping right now- there's always tomorrow.

#136

Shadows and such

"Segments"
6"x6" acrylic on canvas
NFS

Another look at what I did yesterday, approaching the colors a little differently. Oranges are an interesting fruit to paint- surprising, more than anything. It might help if I had a decent orange paint, but yellows and reds are lots of fun, I know. Mixing colors and the way it makes you see new things and all that.

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Mimosas

"Sunshine"

5x5 acrylic on panel

NFS

Wanted something strong and summery today, something taken straight out of someplace even more delightfully southern than North Carolina- and some beautiful oranges, stee-raight from the grocery store seemed just exactly right.

As for the blog post's title.... ah, well, who doesn't love mimosas? And now I'm off to move some clothes into the dryer, take a shower, and crawl into bed next to my adorable husband, who is fast asleep and snoring under a mountain of bed linens. Good night!

Peace in the Valley

"Rhodedendron"

6"x6" acrylic on stretched canvas

SOLD

Content tonight, and hopeful, and rather proud of this little guy- this is the first rhodedendron I've ever tried to paint, and they are notoriously difficult, but it went very well. Trumpet shaped flowers have always been a challenge for me, and a whole group of them arranged in a ball like this, with wonderfully thin, transucent petals and an intricate shadow full of greens and subtleties was a wonderful Sunday project. Oh, and Happy Mother's Day!

Right now there is a glorious storm going on right now, and that's always nice, with the lightning and thunder and the wonderful sound of the rain.... I'm also doing a pretty good job of tuning out the car alarms that have been set off by the aforesaid lightning and thunder :)

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Quietly

"Interior"
16"x20" acrylic on canvas
private collection

Looking forward to lots of sleep tonight, peace and quiet and rest- and tomorrow, to getting back into the dailies more. I'm thinking bones would be really intriguing, actually- like shells, except more poignant and stark. But still the shells, and the flowers, and I'd like to try some old fashioned clock components- more ideas tonight, for some reason :)

A good thing- something to look forward to, to grow into. At the show today one lady told me that what I bring to every show is so different, and that it's a good thing. That intrigues me.

#132

Almost done.... I think.

Pretty painting, that I'm happy with. And my little brother is all graduated now, rocket scientist that he is, and my wonderful Aunt has decided to fight her cancer and looks a whole lot better- she's going through radiation, and starting some physical therapy, and I'm so glad she's being so remarkable and strong and inspiring, and I am really hoping it all comes out okay.

Hope with me :)

Kicking myself.

Managed a fairly pretty painting tonight, and then guess what I realized I went and left at work? Yep- my camera. So, no pretty picture until tomorrow night. Forgive me?
"Magnolia"
6"x6" acrylic on canvas
NFS

Yay! That's better :)

Sketching tonight

Out of sorts, and decided I couldn't manage a decent daily- one of my aunts, a wonderful woman who has always made me feel loved, someone I love and trust unconditionally, has been battling cancer for a while now, and now they're looking at hospice because it's just spread too much, and I'm heartbroken, and feeling lost. Angry at how stupid and unfair all this is, frustrated by my inability to help at all.

Sketching like this- it's simple, kind of drives everything else away, and I appreciate that.

#129

Flowers in shot glasses again

"Lilies"
6"x6" acrylic on stretched canvas
NFS

Sad tonight, worrying over things I have no control over. But there are always small joys- hold on to them.

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Sunlight and sand

"Spire"

5"x7" acrylic on panel

SOLD

More of a traditional conch shape, tonight, with that familiar glow coming from within the shell, and the strangely blue relected lights, the surprising ridges.... I'm a long way from capturing everything about the shell, but I'm happy with the discoveries I'm making.

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Beacons

"Sweet Home"
5"x7" acrylic on panel
SOLD

The same little guy as last night, with a change in position. I love the striping coming through on the inside of that curve, the rainbow color transition along the surface of the shell itself, the hollows and contours of it all, so human, in a way. Like a fossil, some sort of fetishist artifact.

#126

Seashells again

"Shadows"
5"x5" acrylic on panel
SOLD

It's a new one! I went and got some seashells from One World Market today, more subjects to paint, more pretties and ideas and ways to fantasize about being at the beach :)

#125

Quiet tonight

It's a WIP of one of my larger paintings, because my daily was truly unbearable and I refuse to share it. Hope you guys arehaving a good night- as for me, I'm tired, stressed, and it's now midnight, and I've been up since five since I was at work at six.... yeah, I'm going to bed. Hoping for a beautiful day tomorrow.

#124

Taking a breath

"Duckie"
6"x6" acrylic on stretched canvas
SOLD

Something happy tonight, a smiling little rubber duck looking up at all of us, the contrast between the yellows and the purples just singing, and the shadows being loads and loads of fun. Smile, everyone!

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