Piled up. Lydia Host daily painting a day 11x11

Had to give these lemons another go. I went to see Lyle Lovett this week, and it was so great, watching people do what they do best is so inspiring. Somewhere I read or heard that all visual artists are jealous of musicians, because they make such ethereal art that can be so infused with emotion that a listener hears it and weeps, or is elated or charged up, invigorated. I think about that idea a lot. I love to listen to music and it has a great effect on my mood...visual art can also evoke emotion, trigger a memory etc. I guess its the ethereal, or intangible part that is most intriguing. Have a great weekend- give out lots of candy! Lydia

Cupcake conference Lydia Host daily painting a day 8x10

I painted with Mary Elizabeth, she has these lurid cupcakes that were a blast to paint. Lydia

Camellia. Lydia Host daily painting a day 8x8

I thought I'd give these classics a try! Pink camellia's .....sigh.... what a symbol of the south. Lydia

Lemons in a bowl. Lydia Host daily painting a day 8x10

I painted with Joan E. W. this morning. We are having fun painting together. Lemons are a classic subject that could be painted over and over with something learned everytime.

Lydia

S. Lydia Host daily painting a day 8x10

This is on board again. I took a picture of this girl reading for the reading show, but then didn't get around to using it...but her face is just so beautiful I had to paint it! Lydia

Seated Figure. Lydia Host daily painting a day 8x10

This is from a figure drawing session sketch. I am painiting on hardboard here, which is textured so that paint 'grabs' on to the surface...I like it so far. This particular pose had opposing light sources, one from each side, and one warmer than the other, which was great fun to paint. Lydia

Berry Happy. Lydia Host painting a day 11x14

Painted with Joan again this morning, and it was nice. I have not been happy with any of my previous attempts at painting strawberries, and so I went with a different approach today and it worked. These are definitely my best berries to date! I am learning so much by doing this daily painting exercise, I highly recommend it to anyone who paints, or wants to improve in painting. Cheers, Lydia

Day off . Lydia Host daily painting a day painting 8x8

A day off .... wind in your hair, sun on your face. Bliss! Happy weekend. Lydia

Masks. Lydia Host Painting a day 4x12

I went to the Mobile Mardi Gras Museum yesterday, a friend has a commission for a jester, and so we thought it would be a good place to get some information. If you live near here you probably think you already know everything about Mardi Gras! Still the next time you have out of town visitors....take them, and go too. It was an informative tour and I did learn some interesting things. They have lots of old photographs and some wonderful pen and inks of very early parades. Definitely worth the five buck admission.

I have always been ambivalent about masks, and so it was especially fun to paint these. They are such a symbol of theater, and also they are sort of extreme emotion personified,which is both intriguing and a little disconcerting.

Lydia

pie in the sky. Lydia Host daily

Another pumpkin pie set up. I have tried to paint eggs in the past, and been frustrated with the result...these eggs I didn't really even think about, and I like them....funny. Lydia

Making pies. Lydia Host daily painting a day 8x8

I have always wanted to make a pie from little baking pumpkins. I love to make pumpkin pies, and then eat them, I sort of feel like they are healthy...not much sugar or fat etc. Yeah right!

Lydia

Truth Beauty Knowledge. Lydia Host 11x14

This was a painting that I started for the show at the library...but didn't finish in time. I love symbolism in paintings, and even though I don't usually make that a priority, it is something I'd like to explore a little bit. One of my favorite paintings that is filled with symbolism is the 'The Annunciation ' By the Master of Flemalle (Robert Campin?) it is the center panel of the Merode Altar piece. It is positively filled with symbolism from the shape of the kettle hanging in the background representing the womb, to the lilies on the table representing the purity of Mary...almost every item in the painting represents something! Fascinating. Lydia. pomegranate; Fertility, abundance. Roses of this color; love,gaiety. Lemons; longevity and friendship.

Make mine a manhattan. Lydia Host

This is a comission, I thought I'd share it with you anyway! Thanks for all of your thoughts and suggestions about my puppy....I have begun a morning walk (was already doing evenings ...mostly). Also wanted to share this info; a friend Joanne, suggested antler's as chews, they don't smell or get yucky and when they get too small you throw them away...brilliant suggestion...never heard of it, and can't wait to try it. Hope you have a happy weekend. Lydia

Home grown. Lydia Host daily painting a day 8x8

Home grown peppers are so pretty, they are always tempting to paint, usually its a big pile which becomes complicated, so this time it was nice to have a manageable amount. I didn't feel overwhelmed.

We have a new puppy,he has been around for about a month. He is the most strangely destructive dog I've ever encountered (well, owned)...the total so far is thus: rung of chair (that was made in the coal camps of West Virgina), Back door ( about four square inches), 40 dollar gallon of paint (spilled thankfully in my studio/concrete floor), corner of my big expensive easel, tube of fancy new 'golden glow' paint and tube of yellow zinc paint (it was old and dry at least) I called poison control about it....he apparently will be no worse for wear. ( he did have a bath in Murphy's oil soap to get orange glow off). And of course countless empty water bottles, rawhide chews, Kong toys and stuffed animals!

I think I understand why his last owner dropped him off without a collar to run loose in the streets! (not that I am considering that...today).

Lydia

Cheers. Lydia Host daily painting a day 8x10

I am working on another large painting of this subject, and so I just painted my daily from the same set up. I think that martini glasses are easily cliched and I tried to avoid that.

Cheers!

Lydia

Storytime. Lydia Host daily painting a day 8x8

Wow, have you eaten an apple lately? They are spectacular right now....crisp sweet a little tart. I love a good factoid, and supposedly the 'apple a day.....' is not a myth and it really is a superfood, well especially the peel...you probably already knew that! Lydia

Collective. Lydia Host daily painting a day 8x10

I painted with Joan E. Whitespunner again this morning, she had these persimmons with their stems and leaves still attached which made a simple and yet beautiful set-up. I put both of our studies up, because I think its always fun to see what two artists do with the same subject. In this case I decided that hers (the top image) looks like a 'painting' and mine (below) looks like an 'illustration'. And that is okay....as artists we have to embrace our 'hand' because its what makes us who we are in paint! Not that we don't all strive to be better than what we currently are.

Lydia

The best of times....Lydia Host daily.

I painted this watercolor for a show at the local library called 'The Art of Reading'. I immediately had this image in my head. My lovely friends posed for me. I am happy with it in the sense that it is my realization of my vision. I think it is a little looser than it appears on screen, but still pretty much an illustration, which is not a bad thing, just not quite the vibe I wanted. However, I love all the curves and how they echo and link. Happy weekend to you! Lydia

Bell trio. Lydia Host daily painting a day 8x10

Adding bell peppers to certain meals makes all the difference, for instance; what would gumbo be with out bell peppers? Certainly chili is not the same with out them. They give such a deep smokey flavor to those dishes. These were bought at the local fruit and veggie stand, and will be cooked down with onions to make a delicious topping for bratwurst. Yum! Lydia