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Friday, August 10, 2012

Painting Blue Hydrangeas

Welcome.  I am so happy that you stopped by.  My garden gate is always open for you to come in and sit and relax with a cup of tea early in the morning when the air is bright and fresh and still cool from the night time ocean breezes. Most of Southern California is sweltering, however, we are still  staying  fairly cool near the coast  compared to the high temperatures inland.  I can tell that Summer is starting to wind down when it is time to pick the last of the Hydrangeas to dry to use in Fall arrangements.

Let's join Bentley, my helpful Studio Assistant, in the garden to see what is ready to cut and then find something to paint.




The Delphiniums are fading and it is time to pick the last of them. I love the blue and purple color of them and they are one one my favorite cottage garden flowers.  These are the pale washed out blue Hydrangeas.



                                            These are the brighter blue ones!  The difference in colors of the flowers on the same bush is amazing.








This year some of my hydrangeas were  a lovely blue and some of them  a more washed out pale blue - it
is hard to get them the right color. When I add the acid early in the year before they bloom - I never know what color they will be until they bloom -  some turn out dark and some turn out light!!!







My vintage blue Rocket bicycle is the inspiration for lots of my bicycle paintings - you have probably seen it many times and I hope you are not getting tired of it.  I  decided to paint it with  some of the hydrangea blossoms in the basket.  I put 3 coats of vanish on the little bicycle paintings so I can  hang  them outside in the garden.









I always take lots of photographs so I can use them for reference after the real flowers in the garden are gone during the Fall and Winter months.  I love the classic look of blue and white china and decided to paint the blue Hydrangeas in a blue and white vase.  Blue and white china has become a signature for me and is found  in most of my larger paintings.




"Art In The Garden"






Dear Readers,  Thank you for stopping by.  I sincerely appreciate your visits, e-mails, comments and those of you who follow my blog. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to see me paint something special. 

Due to the numerous requests I receive regarding purchasing the small original art  I usually blog about I made the decision to sell only small art in my ETSY shop - all art is an original and will be $45.00 or less and vary in size from 9x9. 8x10 or 8x8 or smaller.  I want to keep the shipping price to a maximum of $10.95 and will ship via US Post Office.  I will be on a blog break until August 24th so I can work on my ETSY shop.  My ETSY shop can be reached by clicking on the photo of any painting on the right side of my blog under MY ETSY SHOP.

                      My large paintings can be found at the Heart of The Island Gallery on Balboa Island.

                                              Have a lovely week.  Blessings, Erin

"The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places . . . and you shall be like a watered garden . . . whose waters never fail."  Isaiah 58:11



8 comments:

Donna said...

Erin,
They hydrangeas are all pretty no matter what color they turned out.
No, I'm not tired of seeing your vintage bike, and I love the paintings you did.
D

Susan said...

Hello Erin...I would never get sick of seeing your pretty blue bicycle. Your paintings are refreshing to the spirit....a true joy to behond. I'd get MANY of yours if I could and put them on a wall that would perk up the entire HOUSE! You are immensely talented and I LOVED seeing your gorgeous creations. The hydrangeas are spectacular! Thanks for sharing such loveliness. Susan

Tracey FK said...

I love hydrangeas... though here in Queensland they mean it is Christmas!!! Funny to think of them at this time of year, but love the paintings of them... and the photos... thinking I may need to paint some this summer.. when it finally arrives ...xx

Marlynne said...

Love Love Love your paintings as always! especially the "Joy Bike" as Joy is my middle name and I have always liked it! I have a new blog I hope you'll come visit- preciouscottage.blogspot.com and my original blog- mcreatesdaily.blogspot.com

Vicki Boster said...

Hi Erin-- once again-- you've created such lovely paintings. The photos of your flowers are so beautiful-- I think there is always something colorful in bloom there.

I wish you great success with your etsy shop!!!
Vicki

Red Rose Alley said...

Hello,
I visited your blog today - I saw you on another friend's blog. I just love this blue post, espcially the blue tea cups. I have been searching for the perfect blue tea cup, and this one is so pretty. My girls live in Southern California too. We also have a blog, and we would love it if you could visit us and follow. I would enjoy coming back to visit with you and seeing all your creative ideas. I hope to hear from you, and have a sweet day. Oh, Under The Tuscan Sun is my favorite show too. I just saw it today.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

Jenelle-Van de Mortel Designs said...

Your blog is always so delightful and beauty-filled!
Always look forward to seeing more <3
ox
Jenelle

Candy said...

Gawgeous!!! 8-)