"Love Birds" oil on canvas 20x30" $1,600

I've been toying with different limited palettes.  The skin tones on this are almost pearlescent.  Amazing what a few "minor" color changes will do.http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sharman-owings/love-birds/179582

"Walk This Way" oil on canvas 20x30" $1,600

When I began this my intention was to cloth her.  I even had the dress picked out! Well you can see how that worked out.  Figure work comes with a very distinct set of challenges.  I don't think anything in my studio faces me with more uncertainty.  That said, it also comes with vast reward.http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/sharman-owings/walk-this-way/179183

"Shake a Tail Feather" oil on canvas 20x30" $1,600

I'm not sure why this image displays with a line across her legs.  There isn't one in the painting or in the photo.  The magic of computers....

"Veil of Secrets" oil on hardboard 12x12" $396

I've been "thinking" about portraits and altered images.  My first instinct was to do some sort of face paint.  It could be exaggerated make up, circus or even tribal.  Since the pea brain in my head couldn't figure it out I decided to mask her in another way.  There will most certainly be more of these but first some more "thinking".

"Maybe....not" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

I've taken some time off from the flowers to work on some portrait/figure pieces.  It's amazing how much you have to re-hone when you change subjects. 

"Poppy Never More" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"Flame" oil on canvas

Some days the flowers that grow on stems just aren't what floats the boat

"Cotton Top" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"Waiting for the Bus (not)" oil on canvas 20x30 $1,600

I'm posting both these images out of shear frustration.  Two different settings on my camera, same painting, same location, same time of day.  Neither is "on the money" but you get the general idea.

"Age Spots" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

This truck has been parked for eons in next to a house near us.  I don't know the owners or the story but it makes me smile.

"If Only You Knew" oil on hardboard 8x8" $176

This was the head study for a full figure painting coming up.  The final pose is a surprise.

"Working My Way Back" oil on hardboard 6x6 $99

If you have followed my blog at all you know I'm always complaining about the photo images.  WELL!  let me tell you, this painting is no more blue than a honey bee.  It's very much in the purple (red side) family.  I've been sitting here with Adobe and the original propped against my screen trying to get even close.  The camera I have seems to have deleted a major part of the warm red element.  With that disappeared the little spots of yellow and oranges.  You've just got to love technology....or not!

"Rain's Residuals" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"Sunburst" oil on canvas 20x30" $1,650

"Red, Orange, Yellow..." oil on canvas 20x30" $1,600

"Like a Groundhog" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"Freckles" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

Isn't Mother Nature amazing!  so kind to provide me inspiration.

"Button, Button" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"Hanging on By a Thread" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"Wiggle Room" oil on canvas 20x30" $1,650.

There are some things that just can't be done small.....

"Hidden Treasure" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

this is the center of an extremely large Dahlia.  When I got it the flowers were predominantly red.  Now yellow is the hero.

"Cacoon" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"Dahlia Darts" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

This flower in it's total is about 4 inches across.  The foliage is dark burgundy, almost black.  It's such a stunner in our garden!

"Star Fish Not" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

Like I mentioned before...I WAS going to remember which flower center this was.  Best laid plans.

"Hover Craft" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

This is another close up of a flower center.  I had planned to tile them by the flower names but I have no idea what flower this is.  So much for my gardening credentials.

"The Universe...maybe" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

Wish everyone could see this in person.  The reds just wouldn't cooperate on camera.  There's magenta, hot orange, vivid crimson...you name it.  They all play well together but seem to be a bit camera shy.

"Bee Haven" oil on hardboard 6x6"

"Clemantis 4" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

This is another version of "Clematis 3".  The petals on the right look like flags or scraves in wind to me.  Just couldn't resist.

"While You Wine Taste..." oil on hardboard 5.75"x24" $350

"Ninebark" oil on hardboard, 6x6" $99

Some how this makes me think of space aliens (are there other kinds? redundant?)  Oh!  it's also posted wrong.  You can barely see my signature on the upper right hand corner.  Should be lower right hand corner.  Lame.  Didn't bother me enough to change it

"More Mock" oil on hardboard, 6x6" $99

Did I mention the way they smell?  this was the first year that this bush bloomed in abundance.  It was wonderful!

"Mock Orange" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

Somewhere, sometime the centers of flowers MUST have inspired sci fi.  There's a certain degree of abstraction, and yet not.  My studio is going to look like a 2D bouquet here soon.

"Clematis 3" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

I've decide that this series should be called "the heart of my garden" because so many of the paintings are the center or heart of the flower I'm painting.  The colors offered up by nature are mind boggling.  I hope to take advantage of the summer subject matter as much as I can.  This is a small little painting but it may have to be revisited on the big boy canvas!

"Clematis 2" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"Clematis" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

Too bad you can't see how "juicy" this looks in person.  Don't know what happened to my hand and brush but this is LOOSE.  It looks like a pile of squirmy yellow green worms in the center.

"Candy (maybe) oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"All The Little Brides Maids" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

Mother Nature just amazes. 

"Center Stage" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

With so much time in the garden these days I can't help but notice how abstract and vivid parts of flowers are.  Maybe unrecognizable at this vantage point but a delightful way to spend time with paint.

"Salsa Verde" oil on hardboard 8x8" $176

Oh to have better photography skills.  I'm so please with this painting but the image here just doesn't show it off. 
Originally I stuffed these peppers in a square glass container to use as still life.  Then I began cutting them up to pickle and this is what developed.  Sometimes the most random things grab our attention.

"Just Hit Snooze" oil on canvas 20x30" $800

Not sure yet but I think this may be the first of a series of really giant fruits and vegetables. 

"Stand Your Ground" oil on hardboard 8x8" $176

Does he not look like the boss of his own world?  maybe the ENTIRE world.

"King of His Wild" oil on hardboard 8x8" $176

"Tee Box #1...and the Battle Begins" oil on canvas 20x30" $1,600

Wow! paint is amazing.  Don't you think this looks like watercolor?  Nope.  Oil.  If somone had said "paint this with oil but in a watercolor manner" I would have shrugged and walked away.  In real life it's obvious it's oil but I'm still tripping a bit over how this appears.

"Minky Sue" oil on hardboard 8x8" $176

If this doesn't melt your heart there's something wrong with you!

"Eddie" oil on hardboard 8x8" $176

Eddie is a little rescue dog and one of the most delightful pups I've been around. 

"Salsa Anyone?" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

This is what you do with an avocado that is rock hard and will never be culinary magic.  I must admit, even though it spoiled my salad by its absence the color was tantalizing for painting.

"Storm's a Brewin" oil on hardboard 8x8" $176

"Sweep" oil on hardboard 6x6" $99

"Hypnotic" oil on hardboard 12x12" $396