Whisper of a Rose

The 11x14 oil painting looks like this:

     The rose is added digitally. 

I've also created some stationery! Below is the mock-up for it. 

Lastly, I'll share how it all started. This beautiful chair in my living room . . .

I photographed the seat cushion and then began drawing an idea on my iPad.

I hadn't gotten very far when I decided the half invisible look was really cool and the title, (I'm sure I've mentioned before that I hate coming up with titles) "Whisper of a Rose" came to me.

Have a wonderful week and I'll see you back here next Wednesday!

  

My Teacups Runneth Over

9x12 oil on clayboard

We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled.

The trick is knowing how to tip ourselves over 

and let the beautiful stuff out.
                         - Ray Bradbury

I thought this would make a lovely theme for the launch of my new website!!!  tracyonoz.com

I've spent the last few years working on children's stories and illustrations and have learned so much. I don't intend to give that up, but I'm switching gears back to painting for a while because I have a store to maintain! (Yay!!!) and I want to keep a fresh supply of items coming in. The teacups above will show up there sometime soon - both the original and prints.

I found the teacups at Marshalls a couple of years ago and they reminded me of  "The Night Circus" (the most beautiful book I've ever read). I've been wanting to put them in a painting ever since and the idea for this painting came to me when I paired them with the wonderful quote above.

Below are a couple photos I took while I worked on the underpainting. The underpainting is done in acrylics because they dry fast and I'm able to get the whole painting laid out in one sitting.

Thanks so much for stopping by and don't forget to check out my website: tracyonoz.com and . . . buy stuff!!!

Wet Paint

     I am a week away from my 5-year anniversary here on Blogger! I thought it was time for a little visual updating. For the background, I just start pouring watercolor and gesso on a my watercolor pad. Got my hands dirty - and my arms, legs and clothes.
     I remember how nervous I was with my first post, like I was going to be judged by a million people the minute I hit PUBLISH. So for I am still several hundred thousand shy of a million hits to my blog, so I worried for nothing.
     I named it Wet Paint because not only do I always have several works in progress (with wet paint) but my life (like everyone's) is a work in progress. I just want to reach out from my basement studio, share what I'm doing, how I'm doing it, why I'm doing it, and what I'm thinking about while I'm doing it.
     Next week (hopefully) this blog will be connected to my new website where not only can you see my stuff but you'll be able to buy something if you're so inclined. :) And I'll have a new piece to share! It's currently covered with wet paint.

Watering the Flowers

Grandma's little helper. 

If she wants to play in water - let's put her to work!

    I don't do too many watercolors but had some fun with this one. Trying to stay loose - always a challenge for me. I've been working on a couple of projects in oils so this provided a refreshing (and much quicker) change of pace.

Below is the original photo

Here's a couple of the early steps

I think the bottom one here is my favorite. I've gotta learn when to quit.

Mama Hummingbird

     This is a little sketch I did with a ballpoint pen and colored pencils. I did it in honor of our neighbor - a hummingbird who has built a nest in the tree that hangs over our driveway.
     My husband noticed it over a week ago. Although he keeps hummingbird feeders and we see them all the time, neither of us had ever seen an actual nest! (Hummingbirds will build at the end of a branch where the weight of a predator can't be supported).
     Last week a storm came through and our first thought was 'OH NO! That little nest and it's contents will be destroyed!' We looked out our window and the branch was indistinguishable from the others. The whole tree was a blowing mass of leaves being pummeled by wind and rain. We were bummed.
     When the storm subsided a bit my husband went outside to investigate. The little warrior mama still sat perched on her babies (eggs), riding them through the storm. Wow! Impressive! I can't even imagine what that ride would have been like.
     Another storm came through last night but there she still was this morning. I don't have a good enough zoom on my camera and I didn't want to walk too much closer and bother her, (she's been through enough) so here's the best I can do:

Let's face it. I'll never be a wildlife photographer.