At last...my love has come along....

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And I finally finished this one! I started this last weekend for the Valentine's Day-inspired Daily Paintworks Challenge to paint animals that typically mate for life. Happily, some brief but lovely sunshine had the male Red Wolf (Canis rufus) strutting his stuff at our local museum, and I was able to get some reference photos. But La Belle Dame sans Merci was hidden away in her den, much to his distress. So, I had to be like Cupid and compose this happy scene without her! 

Okay, that was one for the record books as far as difficulty for me, and I am not waiting one moment to post it, lest I start in on it again. But I am delighted to share my impression of the day. Maybe I'll send them a copy for their den.

Aloha!

Snow in Front

A familiar scene, but in Dress Whites. I ventured out and took pictures, but painted this inside! Tooo cold to do otherwise. My studio window looks out at this from the upstairs. After all the concentrating (literally) on still life this week, it felt good to look out toward the horizon.

And for all of those brave souls painting out where it's even colder (okay, even Alaska isn't much colder today), I salute you. And for you kind folk posting your plein air studies from Hawaii...I thank you. And I would be happy to bring you any frozen goods you might like from the mainland.

Aloha!

On a roll

On a roll, in terms of wondering what I am painting! Literally, this is a marble in a small dosing cup made of metal, given to me by a friend from Brasil after she had her daughter (on my birthday, as instructed!). It's resting on a beautiful handwoven blanket given to me years later by another friend after the birth of my daughter. 

Reminds me (now) of a dragon eye, and of the moon stone treasure that the Dragon was guarding in the last painting. 

Aloha!

Treasure

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I could have also called this chasing after difficulties!  Of course, it's the colors that got me into this. I wanted to try painting with a shadow box, and try some new watercolors that were given to me (more on that later...they're wonderful). So, could have kept it simple. But I'm a color addict. Just look at how much fun these items are together, right? Right? So, 2 more late nights (but not ALL night, so that's improvement!)...

I'm not sorry...Aloha!

Nesting time

Cold days make even the idea of nesting attractive! This nest seemed rather artistic in design with long trailing twigs and coils of vines...and just slightly off the path.

Aloha!

Follow link to purchase
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/melanie-lawrence/intimate-nest/332820

Evergreen

In this area, it is the nature of trees to live in forests. To have one standing alone is typically artificial, the result of the other trees being removed. I pass this old barn daily and think of painting it. The field in front is fallow, but it lets us see the beautiful shape of the evergreen pine. Most of these fields are being bulldozed into into small, exclusive communities. Everything changes, but here is one small story to tell. 

Aloha!

Follow link to purchase

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/331375

On Stage

What a beautiful morning for Heron to finally take the stage...the set looked good, bright and sunny, if still a bit chilly. 

So glad for the early start today, because later it was all gray and the wind was truly wild. Time to pull out the art books and huddle inside!

Aloha!