Rose

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I painted this picture from another photo taken on the University of Oklahoma campus.  I've been thinking lately that I should stick with one type of thing to paint...like roses or apples or some other subject and practice, practice, practice.  I'd probably learn a lot but I'm always seeing something new that I want to paint.  Good thing I'm painting a little (almost) every day so that I get lots of opportunities!  

I'm getting ready to start a painting that a friend commissioned me to do and I have family coming to visit this weekend...yay!  So I might not be posting much for the next several days.  

Original acrylic painting on 8x8 wrapped canvas.  

Gone Fishin'

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My daughter is taking a long nap today so I was able to paint this picture from start to finish in one sitting.  I love it when I'm able to do that!  This painting is part of the daily paint works challenge that I mentioned in my blog yesterday.  It is a weekly challenge and my second one to complete.  I'm so glad I came across it because it's really pushed me to try new things and been a great opportunity to learn from others.  Once it is reviewed, it will be posted online here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/challenge/the-reflections-challenge/313

Acrylic painting on 8x10 wrapped canvas.  

Please email me with any questions at suitabledesigns425atgmail.com

Walk on Campus- SOLD

Zach and I took this photo one evening while taking a walk on the University of Oklahoma's campus.  We took it the same night that we took the photo of the magnolia blossom.  I still have more that I want to paint from that night but I'm hoping to work on another daily paintworks challenge tomorrow and get that posted soon!   This painting definitely has its flaws but I like it overall.  I thought it would be so fun to paint the red phone booth!

Original acrylic painting on 8x10 wrapped canvas.  Available for purchase here https://www.etsy.com/listing/237993294/walk-on-campus-original-acrylic-painting?ref=shop_home_active_1

Email me at suitabledesigns425atgmail.com with any questions!!!

Magnolia Blossom

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My husband and I snapped a picture of this magnolia blossom a couple of weekends ago during a date night.  We grabbed pad thai "to go", ate outside on the University of Oklahoma's campus and took a walk!  We actually took several photos that night and I'm hoping to paint more from our walk soon.  I already started on a painting of a red phone booth on the north oval, but had to stop because the little one woke up from her nap!  Plan to finish it tomorrow!  

Original acrylic painting on 6x6 wrapped canvas.

Please email me at suitabledesigns425atgmail.com with any questions!!!

White Picket Fence Challenge

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I've been working on this painting for a couple of days because I haven't had as much time to paint this week!  Busy with my little one and my part time job.  I painted this to enter a painting challenge on the website dailypaintworks.com.  You can check it out here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/challenge/the-picket-fence-challenge/312  This website posts weekly challenges.  From what I understand, you don't win anything, but you get to post your painting on their website.  For me, it was also a good opportunity to try something new! 

Acrylic painting on 8x10 wrapped canvas.  

Please email me at suitabledesigns425atgmail.com if you have any questions!  Thanks!

Side Yard

I never really pay attention to the side of our yard, but over the weekend I pulled into our drive way and thought "Hmmm...maybe I could paint that!"  Didn't like how it was looking when I started out but it got better as I added more and more shades of green.  I love green...such a peaceful color!  Another fun fact...I'm learning more about color mixing.  I painted this whole canvas without using any green paint.  Just mixtures of blues, yellows, reds and white!

Original acrylic painting on 8x10 wrapped canvas.  Available for purchase here https://www.etsy.com/listing/237208579/side-yard-original-acrylic-painting-on?ref=shop_home_active_1

Please email me at suitabledesigns425atgmail.com with any questions.

Companions- Sold

I've had so much trouble trying to paint anything red but I finally found a color that I like...Cadmium Red Medium.  I used that and some Cadmium Red Light for the more saturated parts of the tomatoes.  

When I bought these tomatoes at the grocery store I really only needed one but I thought I should keep them together.  They looked like little buddies...companions...to me!

Original acrylic painting on 8x8 wrapped canvas.  Available for purchase here https://www.etsy.com/listing/237162014/companions-original-acrylic-painting-8x8?ref=shop_home_active_1

Please email me at suitabledesigns425atgmail.com with any questions!

The initial sketch of this painting

A few people have asked me how I got into painting. About 25 years ago, I took oil painting classes for a year or two (ugh...shows my age!)  Every once in a while I would talk with my husband about how I would like to paint again but there just never seemed to be a good opportunity or space to try it.

This past Christmas he gave me acrylic paints and brushes as a gift.  I was really excited but completely intimidated!  I barely looked at it for over a month.  Then a woman at my church hosted a "Word and Palette" session one afternoon and my friend and I decided to go to it together.  It was my first time to use acrylic paints.  The painting below was what I made.

That experience gave me the little push I needed to begin experimenting with the paints that I'd received for Christmas.  The painting below is the first painting I did at home with my new paints.  It has a lot of personal significance to me...in honor of my son who passed away at 8 weeks old.  It's the hope that I've clung to over the last few years as I've walked the path of grief and loss.  

After that I started creating some paintings that were inspired by Rifle Paper Co.  

But I had the itch to try painting more loosely and so a couple of months ago I sat down at my kitchen table (aka my "studio" ha!) and painted this.  

It was so fun!  So I kept painting more freely and haven't looked back!

Citrus Bouquet- SOLD

Painting bouquets of flowers feels the most natural of all the things I've attempted to paint (which isn't much yet!).  I think it's because there is a lot of grace and not a ton of precision.  I love the pops of orange in this painting...and the green...and the white.  I guess I like it all!  

Original acrylic painting on 8x10 wrapped canvas.  Please email me with any questions at suitabledesigns425atgmail.com.  Available for purchase here https://www.etsy.com/listing/236758449/citrus-bouquet-original-acrylic-bouquet?ref=shop_home_active_1

Watermelon

I should have painted this picture before "Summer Slice" since this was the watermelon before I opened it up!  Thankful for summer, though looking forward to cooler temperatures next week!

Original acrylic painting on 8x10 canvas.  Available for purchase here https://www.etsy.com/listing/236746344/watermelon-original-acrylic-painting-on

Summer Slice

My second attempt of a still life done at home.  Snapped a picture real quick while cutting up some watermelon for lunch the other day.  I like that the colors are cheerful in this painting.  Gets me in the mood for summer!  And yes...I do have slightly purple countertops in my kitchen...yikes!

Original acrylic painting on 8x10 wrapped canvas.  Available for purchase here https://www.etsy.com/listing/236362367/summer-slice-original-acrylic-painting?ref=shop_home_active_1

Cup of Joe

If you know me, you know that I love waking up to my morning coffee.  Probably a little too much!

This painting was my first attempt to set up a still life at home.  The setting up and picture taking was done very quickly because I had my two year old daughter "helping" me.  Ha!  She loves anything to do with a camera.  

It was also my first time to paint a coffee cup.  I have so much to learn but I'm glad that it actually looks like a cup!  I would love to paint my next still life on a different surface though.  Don't really love the darkness of the wood.  

8x10 original acrylic still life on wrapped canvas.  Available for purchase here https://www.etsy.com/listing/236348706/cup-of-joe-8x10-original-acrylic-still?ref=shop_home_active_1

Purple Bouquet- SOLD

Finished this painting last night but had to wait until daylight to snap a pic!  I also painted another bird a couple of days ago but didn't like how it turned out so it didn't make the blog.  Ha!  

Original acrylic painting on 8x10 wrapped canvas.  Available for purchase //www.etsy.com/listing/236033857/purple-bouquet?ref=shop_home_active_1

  

Coming Storm

This painting is my first in what I hope to be a series of daily (almost) paintings.  I'm excited and a little nervous but look forward to learning and growing a lot as an artist!  Drove through rain off and on as I traveled to Texas this past weekend.  I never like driving in the rain but the landscape was beautiful.  

Original Acrylic Painting on 8x10 wrapped canvas.  Available for purchase here  https://www.etsy.com/listing/235723338/coming-storm-original-acrylic-landscape?ref=shop_home_active_2