Finally finished one of the two paintings I'd been working on before life got so frenetic. Must finish the other one so I can start an illustration job, due end of June. THEN (or sooner, depending on how the illos go) I can turn to my koi series --- I'm getting closer every day! Bit by bit, we work through that great To Do List called life! May I just say that I've never been so glad to say 'this thing is finished' than I was earlier today, when I said of this swimming-pool-with-two-butterfly-chairs painting, 'This thing is finished.'
Acrylic on board 16" x 20."
I made some quick sketches of bits that were washed to the ground after a sudden rainstorm this morning. I love the way fallen twigs, leaves, and petals make a kind of found calligraphy on street surfaces. I am sure their messages are worth deciphering. Don't you wish we could?
That thing is finished, and it is lovely! I think the reflections in the pool are perfect - I love the way the light shines through the chairs!
And those calligraphic leaves - wonderful! Like reading your fortune in tea leaves, no?
Posted by: Diahn | May 24, 2009 at 07:30 PM
You are truly a marvel and a force to be reckoned with! I love the idea of being able to read the calligraphy of the fallen twigs and things. I know what you mean about being glad to be finished with a painting, but at least the one you finished turned out great. I'd love to see it full size. I just finished one that taught me about all the things I still need to learn. Life as a to do list is something I know all to well! How blessed we are though that are to-do's are all so grand! (P.S. your link to the third image of the fallen thingees is broken).
Posted by: Jana Bouc | May 24, 2009 at 08:31 PM
Hot damn, Laura--that's beautiful! I can't believe the water and reflections of the chairs in it. It's just fabulous. I'll say it's finished. I like everything about that--the shadows beneath the chairs, the background suggestion, etc, etc. It's wonderful. And your calligraphic leaves are playful and just dancing across the page here. Kudos! Have a great weekend. xo sue
Posted by: sue | May 24, 2009 at 09:47 PM
I love your chairs by the pool, Laura it has the beautiful, clean cool vibe of Hockney but is very much your style.
Such a busy time of year, it's very difficult to devote time to painting. I peeked at your holiday house in France and can picture you there. I'm just a bit breathless trying to keep up with all your projects ;)
Posted by: Robyn | May 25, 2009 at 05:10 AM
Your pool is beautiful - but I really love the calligraphic marks of those twigs and leaves :>)
Posted by: vivien | May 25, 2009 at 05:37 AM
wow, you've loaded a huge file there!
lovely - I especially like the calligraphic twigs
Posted by: vivien | May 25, 2009 at 05:58 AM
The pool painting is wonderful Laura - sounds like it was hard work, but looks fresh, cool and spontaneous. I love the colours!
The sketches are just a delight - I'll be looking out for 'found calligraphy'... there were some great seaweedy ones on the beach in Cape Town, but no time to sketch before the municipality cleaned it up :-(
Posted by: Cathy G | May 25, 2009 at 06:51 AM
Nice work, Laura! The pool reflections are wonderful to look at when I click and get the large file. They just about dance.
Posted by: Tania | May 25, 2009 at 09:05 AM
Congratulations!
Posted by: Brad | May 25, 2009 at 09:44 AM
Congratulations. Nothing feels quite as good as finishing a painting, does it? iris just beautiful. Great composition and palette.
Posted by: Chuck | May 25, 2009 at 09:56 AM
Ah Laura. Back with the 'wonder of water'. Please allow my sigh of contentment. The shapes of light under your chairs are luminous and I'm loving how the chairs look more like under-petaled magnolias in their watery reflection. Glad you're still having fun with it all.
Posted by: Susan | May 25, 2009 at 12:15 PM
I absolutely love the butterfly chair painting -- this ranks as an all time FAVORITE! There is nothing about it that is not perfect. Sigh. PERFECT.
Posted by: Linda M. | May 25, 2009 at 06:21 PM
Beautiful painting of the butterfly chairs and pool. I would be jumping up and down and clapping my hands if I were able to say I had just finished that painting—congratulations.
Posted by: Jennifer Lawson | May 25, 2009 at 07:56 PM
Well, it was worth waiting for, sweetie! LOVELY. And DONE, hooray!!
And ahem, Sketching in Nature blog for those calligraphy bits?? *G*
Posted by: Cathy (Kate) Johnson | May 27, 2009 at 10:51 AM
What beautiful pieces you show us today! Wow! I love this acrylic, the reflections on the water, the dark background, the appealing chairs, the shades and lights... and I love the sketches, they definitely have something of calligraphy to them! and to think they were just things swept away by the wind... I'm speechless!
Posted by: Cathy | May 28, 2009 at 08:48 AM
I LOVE that painting of the chairs by the pool.
Posted by: Chris Bonney | May 28, 2009 at 05:56 PM
Fantastic painting Laura. Colors are perfect. Great composition.
Posted by: Amanda Kavanagh | May 28, 2009 at 08:13 PM
Wow - I love this Laura! I'm sort of speechless - sitting here hypnotized by the beautiful textures and composition, not to mention the gorgeous colors in this painting.
I can imagine how beautiful it is 'en vrai'. I hope I get to see it some day.
Posted by: Casey | May 29, 2009 at 09:15 AM
Oh, how wonderful your supportive comments are! LOVE them! I do wish you could see the painting in person---the overall texture hangs together really well in real life. Thanks again, you buddies!
Posted by: Laura | May 31, 2009 at 04:35 PM