Painting Fourth of July on Balboa Island

Welcome.  I am so happy that you stopped by.   I am going to take you on the ferry with me to Balboa Island where I went yesterday to paint on the island with friends before the holiday crowds .  Bentley, my Studio Assistant, went with me and we will share with you some of the charming cottages all dressed up for the Fourth of  July.

The sun is shining, the flags are flying and it is a beautiful Southern California day. The 100 year old historic Balboa Pavilion is a landmark and I paint it often in the back ground of my art. This scene is one of my most popular requests and I have painted it for 2 different customers that live on the island. This time I added flags to the Sunflower bouquet.

The sidewalk goes around the entire island.

The charming cottages start decorating with flags on Memorial Day and add even more flags and decorations for the Fourth of July!

The residents of some streets fly flags from house to house to celebrate Fourth of July.

The blue whales on the gate are one of my favorites.

This painting has the Newport Harbor Yacht Club in the background and  is another popular requested scene

Back at home and getting ready for Fourth of July in my garden.

Wishing you and your Family a Happy and Blessed Fourth of July.

Blessings, Erin

"Rejoice in hope, be patient".  Romans 12:12

Sunflower Love

Welcome.  I am so happy that you stopped by.  My garden gate is always open for you to stop by and sit and relax for a few minutes with a cup of tea and relax while I share with you the inspirations for my art.  So far my small space garden is thriving during our California drought with watering the allowed twice a week and supplementing with gray  water from the kitchen and shower and so far we have managed to keep our water reduction down by 35%.

Most of my flowers are planted in containers and  the Sunflowers do well in containers - they just do not grow as tall as those planted in the ground.  They are always available at the Farmers Market year round and if I don't have any growing  I like to purchase them from our local farmers to use in my paintings.

Let's join Bentley. my Studio Assistant, in the garden to look for Sunflowers to paint.

One of my customers asked  me to paint one of my  "painted words" with Sunflowers for a birthday gift for one of her special friends.  This arrangement was the inspiration for the painted word painting below.

The larger arrangement of Sunflowers was used for the larger painting below.

Thank you for stopping by. I sincerely appreciate your visits, e-mails, comments and those who follow my blog.

Have a lovely week.  Blessings, Erin


                     "With God are wisdom and strength; he has counsel and understanding."  Job 12:13

Painting Geraniums and Using Less Water

Welcome.  I am so happy that you topped by.  My garden gate is always open for you to come in and sit and relax for a few minutes and relax while I share with you the inspirations for my art.  I recently shared some of the things we are doing to reduce water consumption during our severe drought conditions in Southern California and at the same time have enough water for our flowers.  I recently received my water bill for the last 2 months and am happy to report that it shows a reduction of 35%.  One thing I have done is replace some of my thirsty container flowers with water wise Geraniums and they are doing just fine with twice a week watering.

Let's join Bentley, my Studio Assistant, in the garden to share with you some of our Geraniums that will end up in a painting.

I use a bowl in the kitchen sink to catch rinse water and  pour it into a watering can outside the kitchen door to water the kitchen garden . 

                         I like to use the white trellis in the background of some of my garden paintings and love the way the mirror reflects the Geraniums.

Thank you for stopping by.  I sincerely appreciate your visits, e-mails, comments and those following my blog.

Have a lovely week.  Blessings, Erin

"May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance."  Jude 1:2

My Little Secret Garden

Welcome.  I am so happy that you stopped by.  Today I am going to share with you a very special place that I call my "secret garden". This is where we will have tea together.

Bentley, My Studio Assistant, is waiting in the little path that leads to the secret garden.  This is where I grow  kitchen herbs and Nostrum for salads.

The path leads under an arbor with red Mandavilla vines growing on it off the kitchen.  I painted the "faux" flagstone path last year.

The French doors open from the kitchen onto the secret garden.

I move the potted plants around when I paint and use the little French bistro table for setting up flowers for a painting.

Sometimes I set the table for tea parties and change the cushions for different looks.

Sometimes I use the table for growing flowers in this sunny location.

Sometimes I sit and read and relax in the secret garden or enjoy a cup of tea and it it one of my favorite places in my small space garden. I found the vintage duck family at a flea market for $5.00 and move them around the secret garden as well as change the pillows for different looks.

Thank you for stopping by.  I sincerely appreciate your visits, e-mails, comments and those of you following my blog.

Have a lovely week.  Blessings, Erin

Therefore I tell you, do not worry."  Matthew 6:25