Sunzilla, run!!!!

"Sunzilla"

The name on the seed packet is "Sunzilla".  They are GIANT sunflowers of course.  I had to plant some in my backyard.  These garden beauties are gigantic and... they don't smash cars and buildings!  : D

Workin' Day N' Night

"Mini Garlic Bulb, Bright Blue"

I am really working hard to finish the gift paintings and the paintings for my booth.  Good thing garlics are fun to paint, they are round and satisfying!  I am trying to paint at least one for the Garlic fest each day and one for my booth.  I am also working on a series of vintage pattern paintings, they take longer than average to complete, but are a blast to paint.  I will post those after the Garlic Festival.  They sell quick, I think because they evoke warm memories in people.  I want to make sure I have some in the booth.

Painting Frenzy

" Mini Garlic Braid, Red/Orange"

I am painting a series of mini garlic paintings to have in my booth at the 2012 Gilroy Garlic Festival.  I don't think the photo does them justice, they are so bright and pretty when you see them all together and in person.  The countdown is here!!  I am going to be painting as much as possible until the festival starts July 27th.  I really am enjoying it so much though, I am thriving on the discipline of being in my studio at the crack of dawn and  having fun painting a variety of subjects!

"Vintage Vogue"

The vintage patterns I paint really seem to pull at the heartstrings of lots of folks, especially women.  They remember the images so well. They see them, and relate stories about their grandma, mom, aunt, sister or themselves.  I think this is enough reason to paint them, I like good feelings they evoke.  

LOVE my Paint On easel!

"Work in Progress"

I LOVE my new easel I purchased from Karin Jurick, her partner Brett makes them.  I am in furious painting mode and it has made painting more comfortable.  It cannot slip back! That's what I always hated about my other table easel, I'd be really into it and we'd both, easel and artist, start to slide down. 

I am painting for the Gilroy Garlic Festival in two ways, one is I am painting the paintings they will be using as gifts, These are some I have finished.

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Gift paintings for the Gilroy Garlic Festival

The other is I am painting for my own booth, which I love to do.  I get to paint many of the subjects that I have been yearning to paint.   When I think back a few weeks ago what it was like to paint the traffic box murals outside, in the heat, wind, cars, bugs, I appreciate my little studio even more.  On top of that, this new easel has increased my comfort level  and I can paint longer ; D

"Orchard Walk"

Andy's Heirloom Orchard in Morgan Hill, Calif. is one of the best places to be in the summer!  His fruit is really amazing and in the summer months he gives orchard walks.  An interesting  tour that shows you the behind the scenes life in the orchard.  You get to learn about how he grows this lucious goodness and you get to bring a bucket!!

"Forever Goldsmith's

I sold this painting last year at the 2011 Gilroy Garlic Festival to Jim Goldsmith.  He is a member of the Goldsmith family and that's what made it so sweet that he was the one who bought it.  He said. " I want to buy that painting, and I said "the Goldsmith one" and he said, "it's not Goldsmith's any more, it's Syngenta" Syngenta is the company that bought Goldsmiths after them being a family owned company for fifty years.  I said,"it's forever Goldsmiths to me" and he said it's a beautiful memory for me.  It was the sweetest sale ever!