Flowers…#9

"Flowers,  #9"

8" x 10", oil on canvas

I'm not sure what I think about this one…

Painting at night in my studio, I turned off a lot of lights and put a spotlight on this little still life.

I even turned off some lights close to my canvas.

I guess I'd say I was painting in the dark.  The painting kinda turned out dark.  I'm surprised, because I thought maybe it would lead to a lighter painting.  

It was an experiment… which is the cool thing about 

 painting everyday, I'm 

feeling more casual about these little paintings, less pressure…more playful.

I like that.  :)  

Okay…thank you for checking in on me!

I appreciate it!  :)

Roses in Red

"Roses in Red"

12" x 12", oil on canvas

Flower # 8….. vibrant.  

Painting at night, with it dark outside, and dimly lit inside, except for the roses :)  I've been soaking up the saturated color, like a little bit of sunshine before bed.  

My son thinks I'm crazy…."why would you want to paint flowers everyday?"  with a confused look on his beautiful face.

"I love flowers!  It feels like sunshine in the dark winter"

Nodding in agreement, he walks off to his computer.

"Go paint flowers Mom!  Good job!"

I'm so lucky….

I love my family.  :)

Thank you for looking and reading!!  :)

Who.........Me?

"Who......Me?"

10" x 20" oil

Do you ever feel like this?  Like you have a spot light on you and a big arrow pointing at you?

Put on the spot in some kind of way?  I do sometimes, I guess that's why I painted this.

It's kinda fun to play with my thoughts.....put them into form and then paint it.

Cathartic.  

Thank you for looking :)

Cherries....

11"x 14"  oil

I love this little thermos.  I found it at a thrift store recently.....it has my favorite colors.....l love cherry branches....I collect thermoses, it practically jumped into my arms when I walked by.  I love when this stuffs happens.....

Now I have a painting I'm excited about.  I just never know what's waiting around the corner for me, always nice surprises!

Now....what to name it?  I'll think on this one....hmmm.....

Thank you for looking!

Apple in Cool Light

"Apple in Cool Light"

12" x 16"  oil on canvas

A Quiet Alley

"A Quiet Alley"

10" x 20"  oil

I had a nice time playing with the colors on this one....

and I've been trying a slightly different approach

with this piece and few other paintings.

I'm experimenting....I'd like a more emotional feel to my work, so.....

I'm just feeling my way in the dark I suppose.

I'm happy with how this little one turned out.

Thank you for looking!

Apple in warm light

Not much to say today.....

just showing you a painting 

I did last year.

"Waiting for Enlightenment"

"Waiting for Enlightenment"

oil on canvas

I have a cool skull that I love to play dress-up with.  Some days I put a small toy in his eye socket......some days he wears funky hats and wigs.  I have a selection of goggles and vintage eye glasses he models for me.  

The burnt-out light bulb reminds me of times when I haven't got a clue.  Lately I find myself searching for more meaning in my world.  Why.......why do I do what I do?  Why do others do what they do?  Why are some days blissful and other days not.  Do I have some control over any of this?

Who's in charge?

This was a good way to focus myself and just think about color, shapes and light.

Easier than thinking about the other stuff.

A Pear...

"Pear" 

12" x 12"  oil

I like how loose and colorful this one turned out.  

I absolutely love the color red.  I almost have to try to avoid using it as often as I would like.  Every time I set up a still  life....the urge to use red as my back ground is always there.   That 50's aqua color speaks to me too.  I'll have to dream up a painting with those two colors dominating the canvas and

I'll be in my own special heaven....

Thank you for looking!

"Old Flame"

"Old Flame"  

oil painting by Marianne Elson

I painted this vintage blow torch a while back.  I love old metal stuff!  I don't know why.... I just gravitate towards it....a moth to a flame.  If I was in an antique store, and on the shelf in front of me was something metallic and rusty.....and right next to it, was an intricate porcelain vase.  I would zero right in on the metal thingy.  I'd have it in my hands in no time.  Why is that?  What is it about old chrome...rusty tools....and tarnished silver that lights my heart on fire?  I have a small collection of old blow torches....I don't know why.  I just love them.  I love the smell, the touch...the sight, and they don't need to be in great shape....I actually prefer that whatever it is...is old and dented.  It needs to wear it's history.  

Secretly....if I walked into some old farmers garage or barn, my head would spin.  I'd be trying to take it all in at once.  That's an idea!  What if I took my oil paints and easel..... planted myself in some guys old garage and painted for a whole weekend...drag a bunch of canvases with me.....eat out of pizza boxes, Chinese take out and just paint any metal car part, old bike wheel, old metal springs...any treasure I laid my eyes on!  That sounds like heaven to me....

On the flip side.....I have a real thing for polished chrome too.  Old cars, motorcycles and trucks....chrome bumpers, dash gauges, door handles, light assemblies...trim.  LOVE IT.

And don't get me going on vintage toasters and kitchen appliances......  Okay, enough!  I'll stop.  

I could go on and on, but I will show some restraint.

      

Apple in warm light.....

"Warm Light Apple"

8" x 10"  oil



Tavern sign

"Tavern"

20" x 16"  oil



"Small Job"

8" x 10"  oil

"Blasting Box""

16" x 20"  oil

"Boots"

18" x 18"  oil

"Detonator"

16" x 20"

"#3"

6" x 6"  oil