Deluxe.

More of Mary Elizabeth's bounty from the downtown market. I didn't paint today as I am painting this evening at a benefit for Kiwanis's at the Five Rivers. Here is a link to the event, which should be fun , and certainly is for a good cause;

http://www.al.com/news/press-register/baldwin.ssf?/base/news/1240564576309730.xml&coll=3

The Bog.

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I went painting 'en plein aire' today. There were seven of us out, which was great fun. We painted at the environmental center, which has a bog filled with pitcher plants...they are yellow sort of spout looking flowers, and can have a red bloom (not today). I was interested in the pattern of lights and darks, verticals and horizontal planes. I felt like I was being sort of abstract while painting...but it looks totally realistic!!! Tomorrow I am going to give all the links to artists that were there, so you can see the variety of work.

L.

Here we come... Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x8

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Another cow painting. I love the way that they are so 'gang' oriented! Pushing the palette here, but I think with black cows, one has to really go for it with light and shadow, and purple is so nice with that green grass. Notice sometime how' blue' 'black' really is in the sunlight!

L.

Organic lemon. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x6

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These are some lemons that Mary Elizabeth bought at the Saturday market in Cathedral square. I love the way they look in that blue bowl. L.

2 hours in...

I started a watercolor today. Its such an opposite process from oil paint ( light to dark vs. dark to light)! I have not worked with watercolor much lately, and I am having fun. I guess this picture is about half way finished. If I don't wreck it before I finish, I will post the final product later.

L.

Bartlett lessons. Lydia Host daily painting a day 8x8

I love how these pears are sort of maternal in their huddle, as though they are librarians at story time. I am trying to really see the color in the shadows of everything. I was at a fancy dinner recently; the white tablecloth had positively aqua shadows... the water goblets with lemon slices and glasses of white wine...all glittering and reflecting....sigh. It was a beautiful sight. I wonder if that is the appeal of a fancy dinner...the aesthetics.

L.

Sunshine drop. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x6

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Yes if this looks suspiciously familiar...I just spun them around and painted them again today! As I paint, I always listen to music and today I listened to a new group called 'Jukebox and the ghost' and an old group called 'the La's'. Both dynamic and uplifting bands.

L.

Sunshine is. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x6

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I had a request for sunflowers, and so how could I just paint one? Its fun to explore the various shades of yellow that are available and that I can mix. I also am enjoying throwing in a complimentary color here and there.

L.

Whipped cream. Lydia Host daily painting a day 8x10

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This was the remains of a cake made by my illustrious sister-in-law Sharon. It was one of those super moist, whipped cream with fruit mixed into the frosting type of cakes. I was with my pal Vikki today and she was planning to go home and make a chocolate cake today, which reminded me of this photo taken on Easter day. L.

figure study. Lydia Host daily painting a day 5x7

I really didn't capture the facial likeness of the girl modeling last night, but someone said "oh she looks like Sarah Palin!" (about my painting not the model). ..So that is what I think of now when I look at this painting.

L.

Da Da Da Dog.

Today my painting was looking grim, so I did what every painter is forced to do at least occasionally...wiped it down. These paintings were a commission from last week, that have been released from secrecy! Tomorrow is another day.

L.

spring is sprung. Lydia Host daily painting a day 11x14

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I have a test in Modern art class tonight, and so I have been writing essays all day! I painted this over the weekend, baby artichokes and open tulips. I struggled with the color of the tulips... they were peachy turning into a deep reddish orange, which I didn't capture- oh well. It was fun trying.

L.

Perky tulips. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x14

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Okay so sometimes I have to paint an image again...and again....and again! And now you are witnessing it. I love the reflections from this peculator, and the tulips don't have much time left.

I thought the other one was a bit confusing with that petunia in front of the pot, so I left him out, so its cleaner, but maybe not as exciting. Oh well.

L.

Figure sketch. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x6

Figure drawing has started back up again! Devlin Wilson is the proctor of the group, he is a fantastic artist...if I ever have a house portrait done of my house....I would want one of his!

L.

Admiring gaze. Lydia Host daily painting a day 11x14

There are things that I want just because I like the way they look....well that is everything in a way, but I mean things like the perculator coffee pot in this painting. Emblematic of something that I cherish, even though I probably have had perc'd coffee twice in my life! A beautiful reflective surface to paint is part of it, but really its a cozy kitchen, a paper waiting to be read, a great chat. You get it! - Oh and I love that the tulips are thinking "gee my legs look so long and thin!" L.

phyche sun. Lydia Host daily painting a day 11x14

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These sunflowers were so impressed with themselves! I was trying to work outside my normal color range a bit....you might want to consider viewing with sunglasses on. This painting is the first thing I've painted in almost a week, and it made me really happy to be painting.

L.

the hats have it.

I have had the flu this week- such a drag - will be recieving the flu shot next year. I am better today. I thought I'd share with you some paintings that I finished last week...they have been given now and so its safe to show you! These were a commission from a wonderful husband for his wife's fortieth birthday surprise- Their two beautiful daughters and his wife at approximately the same age...in a hat! - Pure pleasure for me to paint.

L.