Having Fun in the Studio, etc.

It has been a great time this week! I have been splitting my time between getting Christmas things done, and spending some time in the studio.  Here is my latest study.

Of course, I could never get things done without my very helpful studio "assistant".

"Originalities" Art & Gift Show

Hi Everyone,

I'm really excited to tell you about a neat event this weekend. The "Originalities" Art & Gift Show is happening beginning tomorrow evening. This is a great group of 14 artists featuring everything from jewelry, paintings, textiles, baked goods and more. The show opens December 6 with a "Meet the Artists - Sip & Shop" gathering from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. It continues December 7 - 8 from 9:30 am - 4:00 pm. Stop by and check out some great gift ideas for the holidays!

The location is 6190 Riverwood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30328. 

Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! It was a gorgeous day, and I was blessed to be with my family! I think it was one of our best Thanksgivings yet.
Sorry that I have been absent from this blog for the last month. I had a couple of shows I was getting ready for, and I just did not make the time to write. I am working on some commissions from my show, and am learning about photography. I will let you know what "develops"! (pun intended)

One of my inspirations

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was in Jacksonville, Florida attending a workshop. Before I went, I had a friend come visit me at my family's vacation home on the Georgia coast. I find so much inspiration when I am in that beautiful place. This particular morning, the sky was an ever changing canvas and I will be painting this soon!

Workin' at the Workshop

I have just returned from a fabulous workshop taught by artist Dreama Tolle Perry, I must say, so far,it has been the highlight of 2012! Dreama paints with a passion for joy and color, and is inspiring on so many levels. I have studied with her before, and I learned so many new things this time around! We were in Jacksonville, Florida at the Eileen Corse Gallery (a wonderful place and Eileen is a fabulous hostess and artist herself). We painted for 3 days, and at the end, I was exhausted and happy!

Day 1 - Waiting for the demo to begin.

My Day 1 results... I am still learning, but I fell in love with the pink flowers and the blue window shutter and curtain.

Cool Pink Hydrangea

I thought I would switch gears and try painting a hydrangea. When I saw this, it just called out "paint me!" I couldn't resist. I am working on a larger panel than usual with this one. I enjoyed working larger. I hope you like it!

Cool Pink Hydrangea 1

Oil - 12 x 12

$300

Yellow Orchid at Sunset

Continuing to paint orchids. Their many shapes, patterns and colors continue to inspire me. I enjoyed painting this one. I love the bright yellow of the orchid against the last glow of the sunset.

Yellow Orchid at Sunset

Oil - 6 x 8

$100

Peach Orchid

After I painted the white orchid, I decided to paint another orchid, but with a more whimsical and colorful feeling. I am experimenting now with my flower paintings. I am experimenting with different size panels and backgrounds and moods.  Let me know what you think. I always welcome your  feedback!

  Peach Orchid

Oil  6 x 8

$100

The White Orchid 1

Today's painting had a little story behind it. When I was attending Georgia State University, working toward my BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts). I began doing fabric designs using images of orchids. I have always been enchanted with orchids... the variety, the shapes, the colors. Growing up, my Aunt Charlotte lived next door, and she raised orchids in a special greenhouse. As a child, I felt like I was entering a magic, exotic world when I went into her greenhouse with her. She grew the most extraordinary things I had ever seen! She was also very generous about sharing her orchids with others.

 White Orchid 1

Oil - 6 x 8

$100

Red & Yellow Variegated Tulips

Tulips originally came from Persia. They were introduced in Europe in the 1700s and became extremely popular. Today, there are so many colors and varieties of tulips available to us, that at times, it seems hard to choose. I wanted to paint these gorgeous red and yellow tulips because they are so bright and happy. Variegated tulips mean     "You have beautiful eyes."

Red & Yellow Variegated Tulips

Oil - 8 x 8

$200

Two Tulips

You know the idea that if one is good, then two must be better? - That was the idea behind this painting of "Two Tulips".  I was drawn to paint these because of the way they relate to one another. I don't think there is any special meaning for 2 pink tulips, except to say that why have one tulip when you can have two!

 Two Tulips

8 x 10 - Oil

$200

My "Manager" and the Orange Tulips

I am continuing to work on my series of small flower paintings. Today's painting is of a group of orange tulips, and I am so fortunate to have my Studio Cat / Manager "Missy" working with me today. ( I think she is staying close in case I happen to break for lunch and have one of those tuna salad sandwiches... she likes it when "we" share.) As you can see, she is really watching me hard at work.

"Missy" - My Studio Cat / Manager

Orange tulips mean Enthusiasm, Warmth and Happiness. I don't know about her enthusiasm, but she looks warm and happy!

Orange Tulips

Oil - 6 x 6

$100

"Shooting Star" White Hydrangea

It always amazes me how one flower can have so many different varieties. I love hydrangeas with all of their colors and shapes., One of the most unusual types I have seen is the "Shooting Star" hydrangea. When I saw these for the first time, it was at a Whole Foods grocery store... the flowers reminded me of fireworks! I bought one, and it is blooming happily in a pot on my covered deck. It is getting bigger, and soon I will find a spot in the yard to plant it, and enjoy it for years to come. A shooting star hydrangea means Friendship, Devotion and Understanding

Shooting Star Hydrangea 1

Oil - 8 x 8

$200

Camellia Bud - Graciousness

I am currently working on producing a series of 30 small paintings of flowers and their meanings. Each work is an up close view of the flower. I am getting ready for a show in the fall that I will announce soon. This camellia bud was fun to paint, because it speask of something beautiful coming soon!
The meaning of the camellia is "Graciousness".

Camellia Bud - Graciousness

Oil -  6 x 6

$100

Pink Tulips 1

I love tulips! They remind me of my friend Jan (who also loves tulips). I met Jan when I moved into the sorority house at UGA, and was assigned to live in "The Blue Room". When I was at The University of Georgia, I remember always looking forward to buying a pot of red tulips at the end of January to bring back to the sorority house where they would brighten any place you put them. .. So very welcome during the dreary days of winter quarter.  Pink tulips stand for "Happiness, Confidence and Caring"... all qualities I associate with my great friends I made at UGA.

Pink Tulips 1

Oil - 8 x 8

$200

Agapanthus (a.k.a. Lilly of the Nile)

This beautiful blue flower is the AG-A-PAN-THUS... otherwise known as the "Lilly of the Nile". I first encountered these exotic looking blooms at Sea Island. My sister and I were taking a bike ride, and she pointed them out. My sister is an avid gardener and knew the correct name (agapanthus). I had to practice a few times before I could pronounce it correctly. 

When I decided to paint an agapanthus, I looked up it's "meaning", it turns out it means "flower of love". Well... I love it, and it's cool blue color!

Agapanthus (a.k.a. Lilly of the Nile)

Oil - 6 x 6

$100

Motherly Love

Today's painting is of impatiens... those lovely small colorful flowers that we see in the shady spots in the summer. They come back every year, as they re-seed themselves when they finish blooming. They are good until the first frost. The meaning attributed to impatiens is "Motherly Love"... and today happens to be my dear Mom's birthday. So... Happy Birthday Mom!!!... Thank you for all you do!!! You are the best and I love you!

Motherly Love

Oil- 6 x 6

Moonflower 1

The Moonflower is one of the most magical and romantic plants you can have in your garden. They bloom in the evening, and can be very fragrant. (They have even been known to bloom on overcast days.) Once, the sun comes up though, they fade and go away after blooming all night. They are related to the Morning Glory, which blooms in the morning! 

The meaning of the Moonflower is "Dreaming of love".

Moonflower 1

Oil - 6 x 6

$100

Pink Peony 1

Peonies have been around for a very long time (think 1000 B.C.). They bloom in late spring, and are magnificent in the garden! They are associated with healing, good fortune, and a happy marriage. My sister who is an avid gardener introduced me to these beauties! Thanks Kay!- They always remind me of you!

Pink Peony 1

Oil - 6 x 6
$100

Three Daffodils

It was sometime back in the spring this year that my sister presented me with some daffodils from her yard. She and her husband have a really beautiful garden and love their flowers!  I decided to paint and post these because they symbolize "New Beginnings".

I had foot surgery last week, and am looking forward to having a "new beginning" with a healthy, pain free foot.

Three Daffodils

oil - 6 x 6

$100

August Beauty

Originating in China, gardenias are such enchanting flowers, and their scent is unlike anything else. Some of the meanings attributed to gardenias are "Hospitality", "Grace" and "Secret Love". 

 There are many varieties of gardenias and we have several of the "August Beauty" and "First Love" gardenias in our garden at home.

August Beauty

8 x 8 - oil

$200

A new theme

Hi everyone, Now that I have the new website up and running      

www.valeepennpaintings.com 

I wanted to invite you to sign up for my new monthly e-mail newsletter. This is a way for me to share some fun and interesting topics relating to life, art, color, things for your home and garden and more!

All you do is visit my homepage and click on the left side where it says e-mail newsletter,

enter your information, and you will be signed up! For those who are signed up, I will have a drawing each month for a free gift!

Now, about the paintings... I am currently working on a series of small paintings of flowers and their meanings. People used to send messages by way of flowers. In Victorian times, if a gentleman presented a flower to you, you knew how he felt towards you. This first painting in this series is of a camellia bud. One of the meanings of the camellia is "Gratitude", so that is what I call this painting.

"Gratitude"

Oil on panel - 6 x 6

$100

New Things are Here!

It has taken a while, but I finally have my new website up! I invite you to visit and see some of my newest paintings. Please visit    valeepennpaintings.com   and look around. If you have any feedback or comments, I would love to hear from you! 

Thanks for taking a look!

I am back!!!

I decided it was time to update my skills and learn some new things... after all, that is one of the fun things in life, trying and learning new things... right? Currently, I am redoing my website, giving it a fresh new look and showing new work. Also, I have started a new series of small paintings. Each painting is an up close view of a flower, and I will be blogging about these paintings. Did you know that there is a message and a meaning for each flower? Finally, I want to introduce you to my newest family member. 

Her name is "Missy" and she is 4 1/2 months old. She is a Tonkinese, and is full of fun!

I look forward to sharing my art, new website and "Missy's" adventures with you! 

Meet "Missy"... the mischevious Tonkinese!

She is Tonkinese if you please,

She is Tonkinese if you don't please...

Sitting Still

Hi Everyone,   I am back at my easel after a crazy couple of weeks! I wanted to post this painting because the title suits me for now... Sometimes it is nice to just sit still. This is a painting I did using a palette knife. Last week, I took a wonderful workshop with 2 extremely gifted artists... Dreama Tolle Perry and Leslie Saeta. They not only conducted a fabulous workshop, but made dinner for 35 two evenings!!! Can't wait to paint with them again! Here is a painting I did using Leslie's technique.

Sitting Still

8" x 8"- oil

Low Country Fishin' Dock

I just got back from a trip to the Georgia Coast, where I spent time with two great friends. It was such a treat to catch up! They read while I took photographs and painted. One really cool thing is that the marsh changes color through out the day and is so beautiful in the clear winter light. I painted this picture of an old, weathered fishing dock, and wanted to share it.

Low Country Fishin' Dock

6" x 8"- oil

$100

New Year - New Things

Happy 2012 everyone! I thought I would change things up by painting a "small world" instead of a big landscape. This is a collection of shells my Mom has accumulated over the years. I hope you like it.

Mary's Shells

5" x 7"- oil

$100