Home Again oil painting tulip still life

Home Again  Oil on wood  8" x 8" NFS

Every once in a while you paint something that reminds you why you started painting in the first place.   This painting reminded me!!  So many variables can go wrong-- but sometimes fruit, flowers and fabric have a way of "falling into place" during the creative process.  It becomes clear that everything has a home and there's a home for everything.  Happy, happy.  More red tulips, then hydrangeas coming soon.

Roses

Monday's Blooms Oil on Paper  each 18" x 12"  NFS
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

Here's another go-round with the roses. 

...and the winner is

Bunny & Bouquet Oil on wood  14" x 14"  $470.
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

Good morning and Happy 3 year Blogiversary to me.   A winner has been randomly selected...drumroll, please....ASPARROW  Congratulations, you are the winner of Earth Harvest!    Asparrow (email name) will be identified by actual name (if they like) when they confirm receipt of notification.  I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people who signed up this time.  Thank you for entering and subscribing to this blog.  You are now automatically entered to win future painting give aways!!  Please enjoy future posts and do not hesitate say hi or write me a line or two back!  I look forward to hearing from you.

Still Life Props free painting give away

Last weekend my husband and I drove down to Amish country and stayed overnight in a swanky hotel--where I vowed to myself I'd disconnect from all things ART.  (That's healthy, right?  Work, play, separate?)  Berlin, OH features antique malls, Amish made furniture, cheese and all kinds of things to see and do.  We swam in the indoor pool and ate yummy home cooked food.  (like deep fried cheesecake which is very, very wrong and good.)  Once we hit the antique malls though, I couldn't resist, I was all about  still life props and picked up three of the MOST exquisite little pitchers.  So much for separation of work and play!  (: Fun was had by all though, so no complaints.  I can't wait to paint 'em.
If you haven't subscribed to this blog, do it now!  A random subscriber will be chosen (out of a hat) TOMORROW--they will WIN A FREE PAINTING and it could be you.  If you know someone who might be interested, please tell them about it too!  Subscribe here.

Red Roses oil painting of garden scene

Red Roses  Oil on wood  14" x 11"  SOLD
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

Ever since I painted roses last time, I've been thinking about how I would do them again.  The main change I wanted to make was to avoid using white to brighten the lightest petals.  This one accomplishes that although now I may try 'em again with slightly different colors overall.

Schatzi ragamuffin dog pet portrait

Schatzi  Oil on wood  10" x 8"  SOLD 
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

...a sweet little ragamuffin.  Painted in time for his human's birthday.  Happy, happy!

It's a GIVE AWAY! Win this PAINTING!

Wow, this Saturday April 23rd is my three year blogiversary.  How fast time flies!  How about a painting give away to celebrate???

This year's give away is Earth Harvest (pictured above) it measures 8" x 8" and it is an oil painting on cradled wood which is wired and ready for display  

Win Earth Harvest:  SUBSCRIBE NOW!  Subscribing allows you to see my blog posts in your email.  (Now people you can always unsubscribe later, but TODAY you should enter to win this gorgeous FREE PAINTING!)  If you are already subscribed you are already entered to win! 

A lucky subscriber will be randomly chosen and announced on Saturday, good luck!

On a side note, I originally blogged about this painting here.  Since then (today actually) I re-photographed the painting.  The original photo was less than stellar--this one is a much closer likeness to the actual painting.  The old blog post has been updated accordingly.  Thanks for reading this far, please enter to win by subscribing to this blog!

VMRC 8th Annual Juried Art Exhibition

Daisies in Turquoise  Oil on wood  8" x 10"  NFS

Hydrangeas  Oil on wood  8" x 8"  NFS

I am so pleased!  Daisies in Turquoise and Hydrangeas made it into the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community 8th Annual Juried Art Exhibition.  532 entries were submitted from 31 states and only 103 were chosen by the panel of jurors.  Yay, me.    I won't make it to the Randy Higbee 6" x 6" Artist Reception (which is tonight, big boohoo) ---but me thinks a little roadtrip is in order for this one which will occur June 5th!  Life is good. 

Irises on Clay I & II

Irises on Clay I & II  Oil on wood  each 12" x 12"  NFS
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

Here's the Irises again, this time around I added a neutral clay background and used a smaller brush.  Upping incremental values more dramatically made for more interesting brushwork on this set!

Moonlit Irises I & II

Moonlit Irises I & II  Oil on wood  each 12" x 12"
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

Today I am gesso-ing boards & paper, ordering misc. supplies, general cleaning and much-put-off marketing tasks.   I also want to print a mini portfolio/reminder about my exhibit for display at the gift shop at the Cleveland Botanical Garden...   My paintings are hanging upstairs in the Guren Gallery and a handy mini portfolio in the shop downstairs is sure to bring more foot traffic!  In other news, I may try the pretty Moonlit Irises (pictured above) again.  Wanna see if I can add some neutral and warmer hues next time around.

Moonlit Irises I painting of irises

Moonlit Irises I   Oil on wood  12" x 12"  NFS ('til tomorrow)
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

This is part of a two part suite, will post the companion piece tomorrow.  In other news:  It was 80 degrees on Sunday and today the temps dropped back down to the 40's!!  I had to run the little electric space heater in my studio this afternoon, yuck!!  I wish Spring would get here already. 

Freesias in Francoma Vase floral still painting

Freesias in Francoma Vase  Oil on wood  NFS

Back to painting Freesias for a minute.  I love these loopy, budding flowers!  They have a wonderful sculptural quality in profile...

Randy Higbee 6 Inch Squared Art Exhibit

Still so thrilled to be included in this show, here's the flyer.  Unfortunately, I won't make it out to Cali for the reception.  Maybe next time around if my luck holds out and I get in again.  (:  Have a great weekend!   

Lemon Tulips flower garden oil painting

Lemon Tulips  Oil on wood  each 12" x 12"  NFS
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com 

It's good to get back in a painting groove this week! 

Flowers on Bench

Flowers on Bench  Oil on wood  8" x 8"  NFS
Click image to enlarge.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

It's not wordless Wednesday, so we'll just call today tongue-tied Tuesday. 

Guren Gallery Cleveland Botanical Garden

All my paintings, wired, sides painted, labels, guest book,
display materials, prices and signage ready to go.

The Guren Gallery is upstairs, here's a shot of the main entrance.

I took the ER administered bandage off after 12 hours-- 
That there is a homemade bandage.  Attractive, I know.  (:

We used an eye level string to get everything vertically aligned,
I am so proud of this show.

Also on display, the Magnolia I & II posters. 
The smaller signage is my bio, exhibit history and statement.

The large square paintings in this picture measure 20" x 20" 
They seem so much bigger in my studio!
 I still want to paint bigger this year!!

Here's a few pictures from last Friday.  My solo exhibit "Spring Rhapsody" is finally up at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens Guren Gallery.  Last week was very hectic!  Thursday night, I was cutting signage for the show and doncha know I nearly sliced off my left thumb.  Husband wrapped it in paper towels and sped me to the ER.  We watched American Idol as a doctor stitched me up.  It's healing nicely now and I made sure to get some good painkillers while I was there.  (: 

Spring Rhapsody features about 40 paintings and I cannot remember being more pleased with a show.  My Dear Mother and Sister helped me hang all, good thing as my thumb was still a throbbing mess on Friday.  The space is gorgeous, the lighting perfect and best of all:  They already sold two paintings! 

The show runs through May 15th, if you are in Cleveland please go see it!!   If you would like to receive a postcard, email me your address (even if you can't make it to the exhibit) I'd be happy to send you one!