26 : blast off!

blast off! | Flanegan | 6"x 6" oil on reclaimed wood panel | $90 + t|s

25 : the bloomers

the bloomers | Flanegan | 6"x 6" oil on wood panel | DPW Hurricane Sandy Auction

Glorious rain is to flowers as kindness is to the soul. I feel like I'm in bloom, blessed by some of the most precious friends on the planet.

This second take of the cone flowers was painted after studying with talented and accomplished artist, Laurel Daniel at the The Art School at Laguna Gloria. She is wonderfully confident and generous with her knowledge and experience. The class (a birthday gift from a friend) was very fun and quite helpful in keeping my values in check. It's so easy to be distracted by color.

The garden was sprinkled with contrast and saturated color as the sun came out after a much-needed steady rainfall. If flowers could smile, this is how I imagine them...

: )

24 : buds

buds |  Flanegan  |  6"x 6" oil on wood panel 

what a joy to look after a friend's garden.

: )

23 : Sleepy Bunch

Sleepy Bunch  |  Flanegan  |  8"x 16" oil on wood panel 

22 : Wiseguys

wiseguy |  Flanegan  |  6"x 6" oil on wood panel  | sold

Wiseguy had just woken up from his mid-morning nap and I thought it amusing that -1- he acknowledged his shadow on some level and -2- that his shadow seemed equally engaged. Which made me wonder...who was the real wiseguy here - my horse or his fair weather friend?
Some paintings flow more easily than others and this was one of them. You may become quite attached to the inspiration or the memory which is not a good thing if you're a working artist.
So last Saturday when I shared a booth with Sol'stice Gallery at the Dripping with Taste Wine and Food Festival and displayed this painting to sell, it was more difficult than I had anticipated. As it turned out - selling it was the best of all scenarios. A couple of collectors, who have become my dear friends, gave Wiseguys a loving home.

: )

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
- Marcel Proust

21 : Sundae Evening

Sundae Evening |  Flanegan  |  6"x 6" oil on reclaimed wood panel  | $90 + s|h

The sky has more blue in this photo than what I see on my panel - maybe because I shot it outside - cooler light source. Any other painters out there paint earlier in the day (lighter or brighter) than what they see? This field was more subdued, but I love this raw sienna straight out of the tube right now. Like caramel...time for some ice cream.


: )

20 : Henry's hillside

Henry's hillside |  Flanegan  |  6"x 6" oil on reclaimed wood panel  | $90 + s|h