daubigny's garden by van gogh

Today is one of those June days that really feels like summer. Everything is so green from all of then rain we've had, and the sun is shining warmly and brightly. Flowers are blooming - from peonies to poppies - everywhere. This painting by Van Gogh seems to capture the beauty of a day like today.

Van Gogh painted this oil on canvas in 1890 while
in Auvers-sur-oise, which is outside of Paris

bright punches of color for a dreary day

The combination of a dreary fall day and not feeling well created in me the need for some punches of color to brighten things up. These images do just that for me, as their colors are like instant pick-me-ups. These cheery tones are some of my favorite hues. 

painting by Amanda Collins

by Annie Lockhart

Rothko, perfection

unknown

unknown

november afternoon {john atkinson grimshaw}

Victorian-era painter, John Atkinson Grimshaw's painting, November Afternoon, Stapleton Park seems to perfectly capture the mood and feel of November. There is a stillness, the sun is lower in the sky, and the colors haven't yet committed to full-on winter hues. 

The British painter Grimshaw, is best known for painting landscapes with extraordinary realistic effect - seen in lighting, coloring, and details.    

November Afternoon, Stapleton Park
John Atkinson Grimshaw
click onto the image for a larger view

colorful coleus

While lots of our summer blooms are starting to fade in color, the foliage of coleus still provides so much colorful variety. I snapped these photos while on a walk around our neighborhood. 

There's also this beauty "Coleus in a Flower Pot" by Van Gogh, which perfectly captures the color variegation of a coleus plant. 

Coleus in a Flower Pot from 1886

color therapy: green

I love how every shade of green can be found in a garden. From deep emerald hues to chartreuse - they are all well represented, and I think they are all beautiful. Here are a couple shots from my garden and a close up of a painting. For this painting, I was very much inspired my by garden.

from my herb garden 

Bells of Ireland

close up: foliage painting

bursts of color

I adore healthy doses of color to wake us up a bit. The tulips from my garden greet all passersby with their bursts of colors. Cutting a few and bringing them indoors to enjoy is such a treat. Likewise, the gorgeous Klimt painting, "The Lady with a Fan" from 1918 is an absolute joy for its brightness and visual interest. The rich goldeny-red tulips with make the the fan and the flowers in the painting pop, while the softer violet tulip brings out its similar hues in the painting.

Klimt's "Lady with a Fan" from 1918

a uniting feature: Rothko, Hirst, and Monet

These three paintings are quite different in subject matter and style; however, they caught my eyes as having a uniting feature -- the artists' bold and ingenious use of color.

Mark Rothko's No. 8 from 1952 with gorgeous golden hues.

Damien Hirst's "Valium" from 2000. Intense to say the least.

Monet's "Path Under the Rose Trellises" from 1924. Shockingly similar colors as what Hirst uses above.

inspired by lilacs

You could say that I'm in lilac state of mind. They are my favorite flowers, and as you all know, there isn't a flower out there that I don't love! Here's three paintings that capture the beauty of lilacs, each in a different way which reflects each artist's style.

Claude Monet, "Lilacs Grey Weather" -- 1873

Vincent Van Gogh, "Lilac Bush" -- 1889

David Burliuk, "Lilacs in the Park" -- painting date unknown
Burliuk (1882-1967)

an impressionist sky

Early morning skies almost always bring about the most unbelievable shades of colors and the way one color can bleed into the next, reminds me of Impressionist paintings. One recent morning I woke up early, looked out the front window and grabbed my camera because the sky was stunning. It just had to be photographed.

The sky appeared as if an artist took his brush and painted wide strokes of pinks, peaches, lavenders and blues. It's like Monet was asked to help out with the sunrise this particular morning.

sublime!

beautiful isn't it?

a Monet in Paris with similar shades

une autre peinture par moi

Some of you may remember a post entitled, "ex animo - from the heart" from 4/6/11, where I showed 2 paintings of bright flowers that I had done. They were born from an itch to paint something. I recently had a similar urge, and I just finished another painting! 

This one is more abstract that my 1st two - flowers, summer colors, and recently seeing great works on exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art were my inspirations. I still don't claim to have much painting skill, but I do enjoy it! C'est amusant pour moi.

I'm calling this one "fleurs d'ete"

(summer blooms) because

everything sounds better in French!

ex animo - from the heart

Yet another Latin post title! This one "ex animo" simply means "from the heart". 

I have no great (or even good) skill at painting, but about two months ago I was on a mission - that seemed to come out of nowhere - to paint. I drove myself to a nearby craft shop bought some inexpensive acrylic paints, paint brushes and canvases, came home and painted. 

colorful flowers - is anyone surprised?

more muted - a variation on a theme

For me, painting these was a thoroughly cathartic process, and I recommend it to all who feel that urge to create. I'm not claiming that my paintings are at all good, but I did have fun making them and they truly were born "ex animo," from the heart.