#9: "Stargazers Again", watercolor, 8"x6"

The stargazer bouquet is still beautiful. I felt divided between doing my Daily Ray or going out to work in the garden. Which to do first? Painting won......so now I'll go out and work in the physical garden. Me, the not-the-flower painter just can't seem to paint anything else right now. Must be the season. 

#8: "Stargazers", watercolor, 8" x 6"

When a woman bought a painting at the Kirkland Artist's Studio Tour recently she asked that I deliver it and bring my husband with me for dinner at her home. Last night we made that delivery and had a most fabulous evening. The home was filled with wonderful art, the dinner was artful in every way, and the conversation rich and deep. As if that wasn't enough......at the end of the evening she shared that she would be out of town for the next couple of weeks, so would like us to take this glorious bouquet of stargazers with us! I really don't think of myself as a flower painter...but there you have it. The Ray for the Day is "Stargazers".

#7: "Still Crazy for Coleus", watercolor, 8" x 6"

Today is again a garden day. After planting a few more annuals I just had to check the coleus to see if they've grown any yet. Not much....but I know from experience they will get huge. They thrill me. Aren't I easy? At this stage am getting so that I am eager to do my daily painting. I'm also working on a way to mount them on canvas and finish them with a wax medium. So the Ray for Today is "Still Crazy for Coleus". 

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#6: "Happy Hostas", watercolor, 8" x 6"

Today I went to Daniel Smith's paint factory for a tour. It was really interesting to see how paint is made. It has been done the same way for hundreds of years, though DS has added a few modern devices. (No one was sitting around grinding and mixing by hand. However, the labels on DS's paints are still put on by hand!) We saw a number of very beautiful new paint colors. Serpentine Green really caught my eye, so I had to buy it and run right home and try it. I usually mix my own greens, but this one seemed special. Therefore....Happy Hostas is the Ray for Today. 

#5: "Poppin' Poppy", watercolor, 8" x 6"

Since I've been gone a couple of days I should rename my blog "A Ray a Day....usually". It's a goal. Not a law. I've decided not to make any rules for myself regarding this blog. Just follow my feelings, ideas and instincts. I've never been much of a flower painter. Trucks and industrial objects have drawn me more. But. Hey. It's Spring!!! And our garden is gorgeous, verdant and simply popping with color. It's what is happening for me at the moment. So my Ray for the Day is Poppin' Poppy. Couldn't help myself.

#4 "Coleus Madness", watercolor, 6" x 8"

Okay, so I'm a coleus-holic! With 200 other people I attended the Wells Medina Nursery "opening night of coleus", and ran from table to table snatching up the most exotic and colorful plants. Putting these varieties into pots is like making paintings with fabulous  color, texture and shapes. I look forward to watching them flourish. Also, I was informed that my previous image postings are toooo large. I hope I have learned to resize my files and make them more suitable for blogging. Thanks to Barbara who emailed this tip to me.

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#3 "Tape Tower", watercolor 6" x 8"

So I'm sticking with my Studio Stuff while I am continuing to learn the language of blog. I keep waiting for a sunny day so I can get some good strong shadows. I have, however, become intrigued with the subtle shadows that are cast from my studio lights which are coming from several directions. So A Ray a Day #3 gets posted.

"Brush Bouquet", 8" x 6", watercolor Day 2 of a Ray a Day

Day 2. I had several major interruptions (including the delivery of a new sofa) during the painting of this small piece. I'm beginning to understand how my life gets in the way of my painting. But....I did it, and look forward to tomorrow. Still overpainting. 

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My first daily painting! Done on May 21, 2008. This series will be called Studio Stuff. This painting is called "Paint Pile". It is 8" x 6". I am learning to find my way around my blogspot.  I can't think very philosophically yet...just mostly figuring out how to do this. It is hard for me to paint small. I tend to overpaint. I will be working on keeping fresh, making the right decisions (or living with the decisions I make) the first time. I look forward to this process becoming second nature.

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