First Blush-Rhododendrons In Sunlight by Roxanne Steed

8"x8" oil on gessoed masonite archival panel

"The real painter humbles himself and looks at everything with a fresh eye. For him every painting is a journey of discovery." -Henry Hensche

It's just warm enough to be outside painting- and I've been craving these high-key scenes full of sun-light. These rhododendrons are among some of the first things to bloom in our garden. I especially love the light coming through the dark translucent cobalt glass vase, and the effects of light on the tablecloth.

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Memorial Day Mist 2011 by Roxanne Steed

"Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves."
-Albert Einstein


6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite archival panel

This morning I set out to paint my annual 'Memorial Day' painting, with the bunting on my front fence....when thunder started rolling. The skies were already dark, but I thought I could get a small painting in before anything blew through. Well, the wind picked up, too. So I picked up my gear & headed to the front porch where I could just paint another section of the garden. Glad I did, I wasn't painting very long before a light rain started falling.

The day did redeem itself, the sun came out in late afternoon, and I am getting ready to cook for some good friends who are coming over this evening.

Yes, I've been away for almost two weeks now, no blogging or painting happening here. Like Einstein says in the quote above, there are things you just need to give full attention to. I've been down at my mom's house in Florida, helping her move to a smaller place. She's moved to smaller digs in a retirement community, and the house she's leaving is where we grew up, she'd been there for forty-three years. It felt so strange to say good-bye to the place. But mom is ready, and chose the place where her new apartment is, saying she wished she had done this last year. And as one dear friend reminded me, "Home is where your mom is" (thanks Norma!).

Looks like it will be a very busy week. Tuesday, I'm headed to a plein-air paint out in Danbury, CT at Tarrywile Park and Mansion. Hoping to get some good painting time in this week! More about the show and sale in my upcoming blog-notes!

This painting is available in my DailyPainters.com gallery. (will show up Tuesday morning)

English Garden oil painting by Niki Gulley

Springtime Reflections ©2011 Niki Gulley

18” x 48” traditional oil on wrap around canvas

Pink, white and purple plump rhododendrons line the paths at the lake’s margin. Heavy blooms drowse along the peaceful pond, its still waters broken only by a swan sailing past. Lush bushes, Arcadian landscape, a rock bridge and a classical Greek temple are serene and silent under the overcast sky. Sunlight starts to peek through the cloud-cast and sparkles across the pond. Painted in traditional oils on a panorama canvas using soft edges and dreamy colors, this is a painting of tranquility and a tribute to the classic English landscape.

To see "Springtime Reflections" and more of my contemporary impressionist oil paintings in person, stop by my booth at Cottonwood Art Festival May 7th and 8th in Richardson, TX. Visit CottonwoodArtFestival.com for details.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on impressionist landscape paintings.

Or visit my website at NikiGulley.com.