Classic. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x6

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Okay just one more! You might think that I was a fancy artist adding the teal into the red of this roosters back, but there really are teal feathers interspersed...mother nature is the ultimate colorist!

L.

Chicken Chieftain. Lydia Host daily painting a day 5x7

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In real life I don't especially care for birds...they kind of creep me out...I feel as though they are unpredictable in their responses. You know how someone who owns a bird might say " watch out Quakers likes to bite!" like its no big deal, or maybe they use the word 'nibble' well the idea of a bird biting or nibbling is enough to keep me at a distance. yikes. Fun to paint though, intelligent seeming eyes. On to horses. L.

Honey,we need to talk. Lydia Host daily painting a day

Why does nature make the males of so many species more flamboyant than the females? I am sure it is some survival technique!

L.

Doodle do. Lydia Host daily painting a day 5x7

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I went to a really great birthday party on Sunday for one of my sweet little nieces. It was on a farm with all of these tame animals to visit and interact with. I took a lot of reference photos to paint from this week. This is the first chicken/rooster that I have ever painted (I think). Weird. There is an artist who paints chickens that are so lovely they made me want to paint them...and I have been planning to...for years! If I can find her, I'll post a link. Farm animals here I come.

L.

We're in this.. Lydia Host daily painting a day12 x12

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The pecan groves around here are so beautiful in the winter. I find them to be a soothing site for some reason, maybe its because they look so cathedral-esk? I used some exploratory color in these two.

Yesterday I put out a lot of information about tonights happenings, but not the time- 6-8pm. sorry about that. Dinner is not required of your visit, although you definitely ought to eat there sometime because its fantastic. We have lots of wine!- hope to see you there if you can make it!

L.

Out the train. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x8

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This is the view out the window of an open train car that we rode on in Cass West Virginia this summer. It was so green and then with all of the brown verticals-beautiful. I took lots of pictures with the intention of painting them...this was in July!

Tomorrow night Micheal's restaurant downtown will be open for the art walk, both Mary E. and I will be there, and plan to eat!! Please come eat as well, or just stop by and have a glass of wine!

Mary Elizabeth Kimbrough and Lydia Host often paint together in the studio as they work to create "a painting a day." Many of the images in this exhibition were painted by both artists working from the same still life set ups. Specifically, some of these set ups were aimed at capturing Michael Ivy's culinary specialties such as his red beans and rice and coconut cake. Both artists attempt to capture the sensual nature and visual beauty of food as well as the anticipation of eating something wonderful. Michael's Downtown is an ideal setting for the artwork as the restaurant conjures up smells and tastes that are nothing short of delicious. In the spirit of hospitality and celebration, the artists hope you will enjoy their pictures in the same way that you enjoy good food!

Happy days. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x6

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If you live in this area, this is a familiar view. It means good times ahead. For some its the view out the window! My Grandmother had a close friend who owned a bay house where we spent many a day in the summer, playing in the water. I always loved that you could dig clay...real clay up on the shore. There were bunkbeds and only screens on the windows where we slept, and for some reason she had a family of those classic sock monkeys that we thought was really great. Thanks Minnie Lee, those are some happy memories. L.

Good karma. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x6

Well my house is sad and lonely- my son has awakened every day for the past ten days and said "where are my friends?" and jumped up to play with his cousins. I thought I'd post a picture of me and my sister in our bridesmaid gowns that I made- forty something bridesmaids in homemade gowns were a sight to see! Back to reality.

This is a painting of an old friend who had hiked through Europe and worked on a farm while there, and she just had this peaceful strong aura that I wanted to paint...so she posed for me. This may not be finished. I was going for a loose sketchy approach...I might be an over achiever in that aspect.

L.

After the Bath. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x8

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Mothering has its moments. My sister and her four children are staying with me, and we are having a blast. It makes me realise how quiet my house usually is (with just two kids around). Also, I am in awe of how much technical savvy, and what wonderful organisational skills my sister employs on a daily basis to keep her ship running on an even keel! I don't think I could do it...but its fun to witness. Moms rock.

L.

from Chile. Lydia Host daily

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I just finished writing a paper about Cezanne, so what an appropriate subject for me today. I love his work and reading what he has to say about his approach to painting. He thought that paint was to artists as letters were to writers, so that writing about art was 'useless'. If you didn't get it in paint...words weren't going to help you!

L.

Carpe Diem. Lydia Host

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There is a local coffee shop that has made this Latin saying common place. They have great coffee! My Father always liked to use that one and another that goes like this: "Illegitimis non carborundum" Carpe Diem means "seize the day!!!" Which we all aspire to do.

How Now...

I am sure no one else in the 'Divine Bovine' show will title a work 'How Now..."!! But it was just too easy. I am working furiously on a sculpture for this show, but have a few little paintings of cows as well. I went to Baldwin County to photograph some cows, and ran into the nicest man- who's property I just happened to be on. He took me to where the cows were feeding (other wise they kept running off) and I got lots of divine bovine shots to work from. You are cordially invited to come to this show; curated by Joanne Brandt at the West Regional Public Library. The opening reception is next Thursday from 6pm to 8pm. They have a great space for an art display on the second floor, and there are lots of really good artists in this show- it should be fun! L.

The Aquarium

I can't wait till tomatoes are plentiful again....nothing like a good 'juicy Lucy' sandwhich! (just in case you don't know what that is;(I didn't until my friend Janet explained) a 'juicy Lucy' is a sandwhich made on soft white bread with mayo (homemade would be best) and a garden fresh juicy tomato sliced nice and thick and sprinkled with salt and pepper!-really any bread works as we aren't really allowed to eat white bread these days). L.

Portrait.

This is a detail of a really large portrait that I recently finished. I haven't ever painted a portrait with downcast eyes, it was easier in some ways, but harder to be sure of the likeness too. Eyes are so expressive that you really know right off if you are on target...plus they are usually where I begin. I had a bit of trouble capturing the boy on the left, and the other two just flowed out. I really like the final result of the three intent upon investigating a lady bug...unaware of the veiwer. It was a pleasure to paint. L.

The Cornado. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x8

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I love this ship, it is on a journey now, but was docked in Mobile for several years.

I painted this from a photo, soon I plan to en plein aire down at the docks again!

L.

Pavlov's lemon. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x8

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I have a Pavlovian response to anything piled up in a glass container- paint it! Today my painting was interrupted several times and finally cut short by my three year old who feels lousy, and couldn't settle into his nap. I think it made me leave things a little rougher than usual, but I am happy with this painting anyway. I love the play of warm and cool colors.

L.

Figure on clay tile.Lydia Host a day 3x4inches

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These are sketches on clay, made while in figure drawing group, most are warm-up poses (that means less than five minutes!) I did these a while ago- cleaned out the attic this weekend and found about fifteen of them. They are fired twice, once for vitrification, and second for glaze. They are about 3x4 inches each are backed with felt and a small ribbon to hang from. They are imperfect in many ways; for instance the tiles are rather thin, and some are a little warped, but have gestural freshness that I enjoy. If you click on the title above it will take you to ebay, where they are all listed.

L.

Pile up. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x6

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The Easter egg radishes are back. There is a taco truck in Los Angeles that sells Vietnamese tacos,and they have chopped radishes on them....they look scrumptious! Radishes are a pleasure to paint.

L.

leap frog. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x6

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I was looking for inspiration in the grocery store, and saw these tomatoes. I grabbed them to paint with out looking at the price...6.99!!! My friend Aimee and I were joking around about perhaps calling them "million dollar tomatoes"... killer BLT's are on the menu this week.

L.

figure study

These are both 20x20 paintings for a show. I painted ALOT today, but not a small, it just felt so good to use my whole arm! (sometimes on the little one's I just use my wrist to paint-not good). I am not sure that I am finished with the figure, but I just might be. 'Get healthy' and 'Get away! 'are possible titles!

Have your cake! Lydia Host daily painting a day 8x6

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I still have this cake left from last week, and practice does seem to improve if not perfect! I had fun with the fork and its shadow. Is red velvet cake a southern cake? I had never heard of it before moving here, but that doesn't mean much. Anyway its really good ...sort of chocolatey,with a cream cheese frosting.

L.

You crack me up. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x6

I painted this yesterday with Mary Elizabeth, and we whined the whole time. I have seen other painting-a - day artists conquer this subject, and thought it a worthy conquest. The whole set-up is on glass and so that added to both the complexity and the whining component of this endeavor.

L.

Sweet delights. Lydia Host daily painting a day 8x6

Still plotting a large painting of tea time items. This painting gave me lots of angst; there was not that much contrast in things except for the cake, and the flowers, which i didn't really give a lot of game space anyway. So I am wondering if its lopsided, or counter-balanced, or what is going on with the composition. This is why painting a small painting everyday is improving me! - making me think a little harder about what I do.

L.

Sassy set. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x6

I really like the color combination of brown and blue. One of the things I've been thinking about lately is why we are drawn to certain things or people.

L.

sunflowers.. lydia Host daily 8x10

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This is the second painting from last Sunday when I painted with M.e.k. I have to study for my class tonight, so this was a fill -in for today. I try not to do that, but sometimes...it happens. L.