These are the morning glories I saw in Half Moon Bay in California. What beauties they were, a delight to see! Very cheery, although something of an overcast day. The morning glories on Gibraltar were far darker blue, with a soft stripe of red in them. The lilacs and purples in these intrigued me and I actually abstracted them somewhat.
Greens in the leaves are difficult for me, so my plan is always to have fun with them. Marbelize them, lighten or darken them, make a nice contrast to the actual flower or petals.
Enjoy your weekend! And the rest of autumn, for winter's just around the bend, at least here in Colorado."Morning Glories of Half Moon Bay", 11x14" edge to edge glass painting, $425 plus domestic shipping charges to be determined at time of sale, sold framed as shown (black frame, gold lip)
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We live in a part of Colorado that gets very, very cold in the winter. Sometimes the temperature drops to twenty degrees below zero, Fahrenheit. Why do I mention this? Here's why: I cannot grow this poppy, the Himalayan blue poppy. I find this to be completely frustrating, loving poppies as I do. I can grow red, orange, yellow, and salmon colored poppies, but not the blue.
So what are my options? Painting them on glass, of course! I hope you enjoy viewing them.
"The Himalayan Blues", painting on glass, 8"x10" edge to edge glass, sold framed as shown at Wild Hands Art Gallery, Jackson, Wyoming (wildhands.com)
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Gotta love those poppies! We started growing some salmon poppies a couple of years ago and I eagerly anticipate their blooms. They are just so lovely! The colors seem to change with the light, naturally, and the centers are a deep burgundy as opposed to the center of the red poppies which are more of a deep purple.
I hope you enjoy these flowers as much as I do. I'm hoping to make an attempt at painting onto glass some Himalayan blue poppies in the near future. Now, that should be fun! Thanks for looking.
"Salmon Poppy Trio", painting on glass, 8"x10" measured edge to edge, sold framed as shown for $240 + $14.95 domestic shippingwww.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.comwww.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
This painting on glass took on its own life. Oleander are poisonous plants (if eaten) that grow wild not only in Spain but in warm climates such as California, where I saw them just a week ago. They are quite exotic looking, at least to my eye, and come in varying colors. My favorite colors are the hot pinks.
We were in Spain in 1998 and my husband wanted to go to a famous cave. I opted out of touring the cave and instead did a short hike around the rocky and dry foothills. I was so amazed at the site of the wild oleander shrubs -- they never left my mind.
Here in the Rocky Mountain foothills, just several hundred yards away from our house, I see some wild flowers but nothing like the oleander. So I present my version of them to you on glass. They are both opaque and iridescent, still have something of a stained glass quality to them and yet are somewhat abstract. I hope you enjoy this artwork as much as I do and did painting it.
"Wild Oleander in the Foothills of Spain", painting on glass, 14"x18" edge to edge glass, $750 + $14.95 domestic shipping, sold framed as shownwww.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.comwww.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
I've always like the combination, hot as it is, of red and purple. It's anything but subtle, but then most of my artwork tends to be colorful. Hopefully that's an indication of my personality! My husband is of the idea that we paint our emotional personalities -- some are dark, some are perfectionistic, some of subdued, my art is color, color, and more color! Can't help it, it's who/what I am, I guess.
Anyway....poppies continue to inspire me. While in California last week, I enjoyed the bright oranges of the California poppies occasionally seen along the roads. It would be great to see a blue Himalayan poppy, but that hasn't happened yet. So I'll pretty much stick to painting the bright reds that are so vibrant and lively.
Have a good day!
"Red Poppies, Lavender Skies", painting on glass, 9"x12" edge to edge glass, sold framed as shown, $325 + $14.95 domestic shippingwww.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.comwww.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
Years ago we were in the Rocky Mountains for a brief vacation. I went outside and, lo and behold, the moon was vibrantly shining in the slightly cloudy sky, a haze of deep blues and purples. This is my take on that delightful night.
I've noticed that as I plan and then paint, I go back in time, in a sweet manner, go back to my memories of fun and sentimental times. That is one of the most joyful aspects of being an artist.
"Mountain Moon Glow", painting on glass, 12"x9", sold framed as shown, $325 + $14.95 domestic shippingwww.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.comwww.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
Back from the Bear State, California. Had a great time! Took lots of reference photos. The one that I'm most interested in is of a morning glory grouping. This is why: Years ago, my husband and I went to Spain and, while there, also went to Gibraltar. That's the English part of Spain, actually. I realize that the English own that spot of land, and it is truly a spot, very tiny, but you are surrounded by Spain. Anyway, I saw the most beautiful morning glory there, very deep blue. I painted it on glass, as you can see.
Since painting it, I've wanted to paint more, as it was an adventure to paint it. However, I cannot for the life of me grow morning glories, try as I may. So I seek them out for the reference photo and found some beauties. You'll get to see them in the near future, hopefully! See you again this week!
"Gibraltan Morning Glory", painting on glass, 11"x14" edge to edge glass, sold framed as shown, $425 + $14.95 domestic shippingwww.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.comwww.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
Sadly, this is the last iris of the four. It was a beautiful, deep colored iris with iridescence and luminosity. This iris almost glittered in the sunlight but had deep undertones, also.
As mentioned before, irises are difficult to paint. They wind and furl all over the place, so immediately they're a challenge, then add in their shadows and varying hues! Oy vei!
I hope you have enjoyed my little iris display -- I'm off to California to seek more fodder for artwork and drink some wine, eat some food and get a breather from regular life. See you in about a week or so!
For my website, you'll need to go to "Works/Glass Paintings/The Four Irises" for the complete view of the artwork. For my other art blogs, just look below.
"The Four Irises", painting on glass,10"x22", sold framed as shown, $660 + $14.95 domestic shippingwww.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.comwww.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
This is a dainty iris. Almost a flirty iris, the way the petal waves to you. I've noticed that when driving by fields of iris, they look so uniform. Stop, bend down, really look at the individual irises, they are so unique in form from one another....it's the old "stop and smell the roses" routine only here it's "stop and check out the irises" instead!
Tomorrow, the last of the four irises. See you then.
For my website, you'll need to go to "Works/Glass Paintings/The Four Irises" for the complete view of the artwork. For my other art blogs, just look below.
"The Four Irises", painting on glass,10"x22", sold framed as shown, $660 + $14.95 domestic shippingwww.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.comwww.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
This is actually a bit of fun for me. Separating out the irises from one another, I like this one best.
You don't see too many straight lines in nature, but this particular yellow iris had a fold that, looking straight on, appeared to be a perfectly level line! That was an unusual line for me to paint without it looking silly. Hopefully I succeeded.
For my website, you'll need to go to "Works/Glass Paintings/The Four Irises" for the complete view of the artwork. For my other art blogs, just look below.
I feel that this is one of my best glass paintings so far. A difficult process, quite tedious and time consuming, but also fun and enjoyable. Especially when it works!
"The Four Irises", painting on glass,10"x22", sold framed as shown, $660 + $14.95 domestic shippingwww.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.comwww.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
For the remainder of this week, I am only going to blog about one glass painting, "The Four Irises" (somewhat akin to The Three Tenors!). Each day I'll highlight a new iris -- but with my website you'll need to go to "Works/Glass Paintings/The Four Irises" to see the total effect. With my other blogs, you'll see the featured iris, then the full painting. I hope you enjoy this little journey.
As far as artwork goes for me, this one was a tough one to paint and quite time consuming. But I'll admit, I enjoyed the process thoroughly and that's half the battle!
"The Four Irises", painting on glass,10"x22", sold framed as shown, $660 + $14.95 domestic shippingwww.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.comwww.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
Another of my all time favorite flowers, here is the bougainvillea painted onto glass. And yet another challenge!
Those brightly colored leaves curl and furl and twist around. The tiny little white bits are the actual flowers. I have five bougainvilleas growing outdoors as I type, but they'll need to come inside soon, as these babies don't like the frost.
"Bougainvillea, Baby!", painting on glass, 11"x14" sold framed as shown, $425 + $14.95 domestic shippingwww.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.comwww.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
Cannot resist the irises these days. Boy, are they difficult to paint, though! Flaky little flowers with all of those frills and folds! I know we're completely out of season with these sweeties, but who cares? I like a challenge!
Blues and purples seem to dominate these flowers, at least in my mind. Those are fun colors with which to paint so I have no problems with mixing them up. They become much like stained glass in my technique. Don't forget to check out the close ups!
I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I do painting them!
"Loving Iris Duo", 9"x12", sold framed as shown, $325 + $14.95 domestic shipping
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The Peacock, Resident of Old Bent's Fort, Colorado, has intriqued me for years. I first saw this resident, quite a noble creature, at Bent's Fort near La Junta, Colorado, about ten years ago. He was strutting his stuff big time! Oooh, love that tail!!!!
Old Bent's Fort is an historical restoration of an actual fort here in the West. It's dry, dusty, but sturdy. There's an actual covered wagon out front and adobe all around. I think it's worth the trip to see, but my daughters, aged 14 and 11 at the time, didn't agree. Maybe next time, huh, kids?
This is a painting on glass, full of luminiscence and vibrancy, but you should really study the close ups to see that. A bit reminiscent of stained glass but this you simply hang on the wall to see.
"The Peacock, Resident of Old Bent's Fort, Colorado", 14"x18" measured edge to edge glass, sold framed as shown, $750 + $14.95 domestic shipping
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Okay, now I'm in the wrong season, floristically speaking (is that a word?????). Tulips show up in spring, but I felt like painting them anyway.
Frankly, tulips scare me a bit. They have such simple lines, that it's easy to mess up painting them. I gave it the might try, however, and had fun...I do like their droopiness when fully open and their tight buds....All in all, I enjoyed this experience, I'd say! See you next week.
Sunday I play "Vanna" Nolan at the Richard Schmid Auction, displaying the artwork to the crowd, to raise funds for the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department here in Colorado. I did this last year and had a blast! Also have a painting in the auction -- "Capitol Reef Flowers".
"Tulip Bouquet", 11"x11" measured edge to edge glass, painting on glass, sold framed as shown, $360 + $14.95 domestic shipping www.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.comwww.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
I appear to be in another sunset mood. This one, sold, is "Fiery Sunset". I've seen the sky on fire more than once -- no, not really on fire -- but you could swear that it was! The clouds just light up, vibrant! Everything glows.
Sunsets are like poppies to me -- never ending delights to paint. I cannot get enough of them but I do hope that viewers never tire of them, either.
Do you? "Fiery Sunset", oil/canvas, 18"x36", sold but I can paint something similar for you!
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I normally don't post sold paintings, but felt compelled to do so today because this is one of my very favorite paintings. I am so proud of it -- it was done with only palette knives and I tried to create some drama and texture in it. The painting was sold to someone in Grand Lake, Colorado, for a second house.
These artworks are like my children, my babies. Maybe that sounds a tad bit dramatic, but I invest a lot of emotion in them. I wonder where they end up -- who buys them? What attracts the buyer to it? Are they happy with the purchase? Does the buyer know he/she gets a bit of me, too?
"Rose Sunset", sold, but I can make a similar one for you! 4"x13.5", oil on canvas
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It's almost pear time! Yaay! You may be aware of my favorite color, red. Well, one of my favorite fruits comes in that color. Hence, this painting.
Pastel is my original favorite medium. I was so influenced by Degas a child, I had to play with the pastel sticks when I first tried artwork. The softness and silkiness and creaminess, butter in your hands, drew me in. And the variety of colors! You can own millions of pastel sticks and with so many different manufacturers around the world, get every shade and hue of the rainbow.
Doesn't this just make you hungry? Enjoy your red pears today!
"Red Pear Trio", 11"x14", original pastel sold unframed for $300 + $14.95 shipping domestically
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Once upon a time the Nolan family took a trip to Ireland to see the "old country" (on my husband's side). We stayed in Dingle, Ireland, near Slea Head. The ocean beckoned, so of course we went to it. But the fields also beckoned and this is the flower which I saw growing wild. Quite the surprise.
We're past the iris season now, but I always look forward to the next one. Maybe tomorrow I'll post my latest glass painting, "The Four Irises" (as opposed to The Three Tenors!).
Have a good day.
"Wild Irish Iris", in private collection, maybe I can paint one for you! www.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.comwww.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
Sunflowers. Where aren't they? We see them driving down the road, plant the mammoth seeds for the birds in the back yard, go to Spain, wake up in a field of them...And, Kansas, of course, is known for them.
They are the cheeriest of flowers. Their flower heads follow the sun. Look east in the morning, west in the afternoon...what an odd thing to do....
Enjoy the chipper sunflower colors because autumn is just around the corner! Cheers!
"Sunflower Colors", painting on glass, 9"x12" measured edge to edge glass, sold framed in black as shown, $325 + $14.95 shipping domestically www.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.com www.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
First note: these poppies are not showing well on my screen. This probably has something to do with everything looking "flat". Painting on glass is reminiscent, somewhat, of stained glass. The colors tend to glow, merge. I'm working on showing how lovely and sometimes translucent or transparent the colors are by including close ups of the paintings. Please check them out, also.
Second note: I am a poppy addict. (Not in the drug sense!) I'll never stop loving fields of poppies or poppies one at a time. I hope you love them as much as I do!
Third, and last, note: People ask if painting on glass is difficult. The answer is, undoubtedly, yes, yes, and yes! This is the most difficult type of painting I've encountered yet, very precise, very, very time consuming. I feel it's well worth the effort, however, and plan to do even more topics using the technique. Again, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
"French Poppy Fields", 12"x9" measured edge to edge glass, sold framed as shown, $325 + $14.95 domestic shipping
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Pansies are just delightful flowers. Although close to impossible to paint, at least for me, the colors are vibrant or subtle, but never dull. They spring back to life in the fall, having endured the summer heat, but are often better replaced then.
Many people think of pansies in shades of purples or blues. I have seen them in hues of oranges and yellows and whites and almost black. I feel it is incumbent upon me, being the colorist (so I'm told) to add a bit of zip that Nature seemed to remember in the bougainvillea but sort of skipped over with pansies. Call it artistic license, if you will!
Have a grand day!
"Happy Pansies", 9"x12" measured edge to edge glass, framed as shown in black, $325 plus $14.95 shipping domestically
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Poppies, poppies, poppies! When will she ever stop painting those poppies, anyway?
Well, "she" will never stop painting those poppies, folks! They are just so much fun to paint, with those many shades of red, a bit of orange or yellow, purple centers and all. A thoroughly enjoyable experience and a blast on glass.
See you tomorrow!
"More Poppy Love", 9"x12" edge to edge glass, sold framed as shown, $325 + $14.95 s+h domestically www.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.com www.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
As I mentioned yesterday, it's starting to feel a bit like autumn! Very cool in the mornings, refreshing. However, the garden is starting to lose some of its color impact on me. The butterfly bush that's quite the attraction to not only butterflies, but also hummingbirds, is still blooming is lovely purple blooms and one can still see some cosmos around, but the rest of the yard is showing golden yellows with rudbeckia and coreopsis being the main culprits there.
So what am I getting at with this blog? I love the color combination of cobalt blue and hot pinks and about a year ago I applied these colors to the canvas with only palette knives. Talk about tricky! One can get a lot of texture and dimension with these knives. However, painting flowers with them solely was difficult (and yet fun). Here you see the results. One of the last bouquets of summer, harvested onto canvas.
"Cobalt and Pink", 24"x20", palette knife oil painting on canvas, sold unframed, $720 + shipping/handling of $14.95 domestically www.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.comwww.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
I can sort of feel fall in the air. It's not time yet. That I know. But in the mornings, it's cooled down a bit. The days are shortening just slightly. I keep thinking it's mid-summer but that's just because I have been so busy! Hard to keep track of the time sometimes!
Autumn brings November. November brings dramatic sunsets. I remember this particular dusk -- it was glorious. And all from my front door! Living by the foothills of the Rockies doesn't hurt any sunset and going out into the street to capture the sunset is a privilege I never thought I'd have. Enjoy the view!
"Front My Front Door", 9"x12" oil on canvas, sold unframed for $220 + $14.95 shipping domestically www.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.com www.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
Water lilies are intriguing plants. They just seem to float effortlessly on water and happen to have lovely blooms floating along with them. I've seen these plants at several places; they certainly are not native to Colorado!
In this painting on glass, I've tried to convey that floatiness. You might be able to see it to better effect in the close-up. Drifting through life, that sounds like a great way to live!
"Hawaiian Water Lilies", painting on glass, 10"x20" edge to edge glass, framed in black with gold lip, $360.00 + $14.95 shipping
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This art work is entitled "Water Falls" and just looking at it cools me off in this summer heat. Spring and fall are my favorite seasons. I'm extreme enough, personality wise, don't need extreme heat or cold!
I'm always amazed at what one can do with a palette knife, it's great fun! Just pull down, you create cool water. And, of course, water falls just sound refreshing! The idea of standing under them sounds great at the moment....
"Water Falls", palette knife oil painting on canvas, 9"x12", sold unframed for $220.00 www.KarlaNolan.comwww.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.comwww.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
It has finally cooled down here a bit. I think it's supposed to hit the mid-80's, which is utterly delightful. I'm looking forward to the day.
Funny how heat takes such a toll on one. When it's as hot as it has been, up to 100 degrees lately, I don't even want to go out and see the sunset. Now, that's weird! Tonight, I bet I see something like "Last Rays". I painted this artwork a few years back in pastel and have always enjoyed it. Just the slightest peep of the sun dipping behind the mountains....the very last of the day.
"Last Rays", available at www.karlanolanprints.com www.KarlaNolan.com www.dailyartpainters.com www.marketplace-daily-art.blogspot.com www.KarlaNolan.blogspot.com
This is an oil painting, 14"x11", palette knife on linen, painted for a very special cause. I have been invited into the Richard Schmid Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department auction, held this year on August 31st, and this is the painting I have submitted for the auction. The volunteer fire department is just that -- no funds, just volunteers. Richard Schmid lived in these parts a few years back and began this amazing auction that has helped so many. Please consider bidding on this or any of the other pieces of art at www.RichardSchmidAuction.com. Thanks!
Pansies are truly the harbinger of spring. They can even bloom in fall and winter. Hardy little fellows!
Here's my take on pansy painting: It's hard! Because the petals can get into awkward positions, it can be difficult to follow the folds and lines of the blooms. But the color selection is a hoot! You can go absolutely wild with the hues, even make them up, because there are such wide varieties.
I'm finding that in this intense heat, mid-90s and upward, I'm having to replace the poor pansies. There's something rotten about having to pull out a half-dead plant and put in something new, bright, and cheerier. Guilt, I suppose. I had high hopes, as I do each spring, of the pansies carrying on through fall. Oh well, maybe next year!
Have a grand weekend!
"First Spring Pansies", 9"x12" edge to edge glass, sold framed in black with gold lip, available at www.KarlaNolan.com ("Works"/glass paintings, Paypal, $325 + $14.95 domestic shipping)
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