White Flower oil painting by hoeptner

White Flower  Oil on wood  12" x 12"  NFS
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner

The first iteration of this painting, a 6" x 6," is here.   Painting it bigger allowed me to have more fun with the background... which is a variation on an 1875 Arts & Crafts linoleum tile design by William Morris.

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Blue Notion oil painting of freesias

Blue Notion Oil on gallery wrapped canvas, 20" x 20"  NFS
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

I'm crazy about this one and it's better in life.

Blue Notion water soluble oil paint

Water soluble oil paints dry fast.  Large paintings must be planned!  This painting is 20" x 20."  Working the whole canvas at the same time to completion is not wise unless it's a one day job.  Some colors dry to tacky--even overnight. 

I've been carefully painting in sections.  Not crazy about that but I'm learning as I go.  This painting still needs a patterned tablecloth added.  So far, I am really happy with it, hoping to post the finished painting next week. 

Daffodil Trio fixing, editing a painting

Well, don't cha know some paintings require a bit of noodling...  The first time painting Daffodil Trio, I painted all the daffodils equally.  Each had a graphic punch that is ok but not exactly what I was going for.  When I re-worked it, I tried to make the back daffodil stay back a little better...   Getting a good focal point and a sense of depth can be a challenge--  these are issues I continue to explore!

Diane Hoeptner with Magnolia I & II Posters

Progress is being made, yesiree!  Editions Limited recently published a pair of oversized posters based on two of my magnolia paintings.  I've been working with them for many years and this is my favorite project so far.  The print quality and colors are exquisite!  I may have a few sets available at my show at the Cleveland Botanical Garden in April--  which is kinda cool as the original paintings were modelled from a giant magnolia tree that grows there!  (:

Clockwork II original oil painting by Diane Hoeptner

Clockwork II  Oil on wood  11" x 14"  SOLD
Click image to enlarge.  Dianee@DianeHoeptner.com 

I never tire of painting the yellow tulips in the blue vase.  A successful artist once raved to me about how wonderful it was to paint a "popular" image.  He said "It's your's forever."  At the time, I didn't get it.  I hadn't painted consistently enough to garner my own "popular" images.  I'm getting a clue  now though.  Some paintings do better than others and if you can figure out which ones they are, it's the bee's knees!  Don't be surprised to see another variation of the yellow tulips again in the future.  To see more of my tulip paintings, click here.

New Harvest oil painting of sunflowers

New Harvest  Oil on canvas  20" x 20"  N/A
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

 Photo of this painting was updated 3/15/11.

Bowl of Orange

Bowl of Orange  Oil on gallery wrapped canvas  20" x 20"  N/A
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

Yes, it's taking me a minute to get my mojo back.  Being sick was yucky, but I also fell into a sort of apathetic despair that was even more yucky.  I don't know if it was the winter doldrums or what. When my flu symptoms eased I started remembering the things I wanted to paint...  and not to get too philosophical but that feeling of optimistic yearning to paint is like finding a magic breadcrumb.  It leads to action and that leads to healing and lights a path back to one's better self.  Of course, it didn't hurt when Cleveland favored us with a few days of 50 degree temperatures!  Anyway, this week I'll catch you up on what I've been painting and some exciting news too!

Vienna 1 & 2 sunflower paintings

Vienna Blooms 1 & 2  Acrylic on wood, each 12" x 12"  NFS
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

When deadlines loom...  we use acrylic paint because it dries faster.  I'm getting back in the swing of things here after an unexpected week in bed with a flu-bug-cold.  A bone shaking cough remains--  but my energy seems to be making a come back.  The sun is shining and Cleveland may go into the 40's this week, life is good.      

New Harvest original oil painting of sunflowers

New Harvest  Oil on gallery wrapped canvas  20" x 20"  N/A
Click to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

My show at the Guren Gallery at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens is fast approaching!  It will be called "Spring Rhapsody" and I'm hoping to exhibit my larger dimension floral paintings.  Ha, if you follow this blog you know I've been belly aching about wanting to paint bigger for a while now.  This show is a good excuse to do it already!  I figured I'd start with something in my comfort zone, so, here's New Harvest a painting of sunflowers.  The "daily size" Earth Harvest is also pictured, that is available for purchase here.  Sorry about the atrocious photo, my husband and I are both plagued by the flu this weekend...I'll re-photograph it when the Day-quil haze wears off.  (:

Vodka Chaser oil painting of daffodils by Hoeptner

Vodka Chaser  Oil on wood  6" x 6"  N/A
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

Lime Lines floral still life painting w daffodils

Lime Lines  Oil on wood  6" x 6"  N/A
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

Today I remembered (again) that applying paint thick & bold is vastly superior to thin & timid.  Mixing enough paint from the get-go saves much time and aggravation.  Applying it in an assertive manner (regardless of how one actually feels) is also worthwhile.  More daffodils and limes coming up tomorrow.