Daily Painting, Original Oil, Birds, "The Loner"

A wonderful bird is the pelican.........

Purchase here
100

His bill will hold more than his belly can.

He can take in his beak
Enough food for a week.........

But I'm damned if I see how the hell he can!
Unknown

That is a little poem from my childhood days.  I lived in Ohio, my grandparents in Florida.  My grandmother had a postcard of a pelican that included that poem.  Florida seemed like a magical place to me then, and the poem stayed with me through the years.

Join me tomorrow for more of Pelican Week!

Daily Painting, Original Oil, Birds, "The Loner"

A wonderful bird is the pelican.........

Purchase here
100

His bill will hold more than his belly can.

He can take in his beak
Enough food for a week.........

But I'm damned if I see how the hell he can!
Unknown

That is a little poem from my childhood days.  I lived in Ohio, my grandparents in Florida.  My grandmother had a postcard of a pelican that included that poem.  Florida seemed like a magical place to me then, and the poem stayed with me through the years.

Join me tomorrow for more of Pelican Week!

30x40" Original Oil Painting "A Spinnaker Day" SOLD

For years, I have been painting small daily paintings, day after day, month after month.  I liked the instant gratification,  starting a new project every day, no build up of huge inventory to clog my closets and under my beds.

SOLD

Now, I find myself getting a little bored with the same routine and I'm trying to fit some larger pieces into my schedule.

This one was very interesting to do.  It is a palette knife painting and I had lots of fun working on it.  I have changed my technique with a palette knife and ended up with a painting with plenty of texture.

I enjoyed working on this piece and plan to attempt more large works on a regular basis.

BOUGAINVILLEA AND UMBRELLA, 6X8 SOLD

While driving to the post office, I passed this charming garden spot.  The blooming bougainvillea and garden umbrella in contrasting color, caught my eye.

I so enjoy doing these small paintings.  I have little desire to do larger ones these days.  This give me instant gratification and tomorrow, I have the thrill of starting over on a new project.
Purchase here
$90

A few weeks ago, the talented Diana Marshall, from Dublin, Ireland, had a painting give-away.  She offered to do a portrait of choice for the winner, who happened to be ME!

Today I received this great painting of my grandson showing off his prize fish!  Thank you Diana, this will go directly to my grandson Kevin.

Be sure to check out Diana's blog.  Her paintings are great and her  animal portraits are fantastic, especially the cats.

Thundercloud, 10x8 Original OIl Daily Painting Skyscape by Carmen Beecher

$125, Buy Now

I love to paint stormy weather, and this thundercloud looks like it wants to produce a tornado. Florida does have exciting weather, but no hurricanes for the past ten years. I think I prefer hurricanes to the harsh winter conditions up north right now.

Carmen Beecher

Still Life Daily Oil Painting "Le Belle Poivron Rouge", 6x8"

I find I have missed painting still life, so it has been fun catching up on it over the last week.

If I could just stop sleeping, I would have an additional 5 or 6 hours a day to paint.

Maybe then I would have enough time to paint both my still life and my landscapes.....but what about the abstract/mixed media  I also want to try?  Maybe I better work on growing another set of arms instead!

Life is hard when you're retired!!

Purchase here
100

Datura, 6x9 Floral Original Oil Painting by Carmen Beecher

$99, Click to Purchase

This beautiful flower was blooming in Silver Springs State Park. I was peacefully painting the river while the glass bottom boat floated by, as well as the occasional kayaker. We artists took many pictures of the huge Angel Trumpet (otherwise known as Datura) plant.

Carmen

Pretty in Pink, 6x6 Oil Painting by Carmen Beecher

SOLD

This was a commission to do flamingos, and I always enjoy using my favorite color. Lately I feel surrounded by pink; as I drove up to my house the other day it struck me just how much pink is going on in my front yard. I have a very large frangipani tree and clumps of pink lilies blooming; it looks like the wedding scene in "Steel Magnolias." 

Castaway Point, 6x8 Original Oil Painting by Carmen Beecher

$99, Click to Purchase

My painting group, Pieces of 8, is doing weekly challenges and the challenge for this week was to paint en plein air, using four tubes of paint only. We were at a beautiful spot called Castaway Point, and there were so many lovely views. It is surprising how many colors can be made with three colors and white. Makes me wonder why I have so many different colors in my paint box. I do notice that my painting is a bit softer than usual, and I am not sure if it was because of the paint colors, the bright sunshine, or my canvas being in the shade. 

San Miguel Morning, 10x8 Original Oil Daily Painting by Carmen Beecher

$99, Click to Purchase

This is the sight that greeted me on our first morning in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The little bird posed obligingly on top of the dome. Bougainvilleas bloom profusely there, and there were many flowers I didn't recognize.

One night we went to Mi Casa, and heard incredible music; it was so good that there was no conversation or clanking glasses. The violin practically wept with the sound of moving Argentine music. It was worth the trip to hear something so profoundly beautiful.

Bouquet, 7x5 Oil on Canvas by Carmen Beecher

$89, Click to Purchase

If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? Even though I live in Florida, my yard is so bedraggled right now. A tree is dying of a mysterious disease, my huge frangipani tree has not a leaf on it, but a little cluster of pink blossoms sits at the end of one branch, embarrassed at arriving early to the party. Oh, how I want that TV guy who comes home with you and redoes your whole back yard to show up when I'm at Lowe's! Until then, I'll just paint cheerful flowers.

Everything's Better With Garlic, 7x5 Original Oil Daily Painting by Carmen Beecher

$89, Click to Purchase

I like everything about garlic: the look, the taste, the smell. My grandmother was Italian, yet she cooked very few Italian dishes, and I never saw garlic cloves in our house. When she and my grandfather became pioneers in Florida she became a Southern cook and learned to fry everything. He was from Spain, so I wonder what he thought about that? The other non-traditional thing for an Italian woman was that she didn't like to cook. Bad luck for us.

You Lookin' At Me? Oil on Canvas by Carmen Beecher

$89, Click to Purchase

Pelicans are pretty cute when they are floating in the water, and quite beautiful when flying, but waddling around strips them of their dignity. This guy was at Port Canaveral having a relaxing day, just as my painting group was. 

I just renewed my passport and I must say, the new one is beautiful, with illustrations of America from sea to shining sea. It has wonderful quotations too, like this one:

The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class--it is the cause of humankind, the very birthright of humanity. - Anna Julia Cooper

Someone call Congress. They are apparently unaware of this. 

I admit I was not familiar with Anna Julia Cooper, so I Googled her (of course) and learned she was born into slavery, but became a prominent African-American author, educator and speaker.

And that's my lesson for today.

Key West Storm Approaching Original Oil by Phyllis O'Shields Artist Contemporary Impressionism

 

KEY WEST STORM APPROACHING
Original Oil painting 30 x 40 inches
Phyllis O'Shields Artist Contemporary Impressionism

This painting was done on location before a hurricane reached shore. The emotion of incrediable cloud formations and the smell of an approaching storm was overwhelming.

The location here was being scouted for an outdoor painting workshop at a later date. The majority of this was painted en plein air. Studio work was required to finish the painting  due to winds that were to high to maintain the canvas stability.

Mahalo for visiting…

You may reach Phyllis  O’Shields regarding her available artworks at the studio 704.394.7382

or by email   poshields@oshieldsfineart.com
Web Site  http://www.oshieldsfineart.com/  for purchase of painting or to view other works that are availableSkype: p.o.oshields.jones 

Price includes professional packing, shipping & insurance within the continental United States. For Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and  international areas outside the continental  United States please phone for shipping cost.