Saturday, March 26, 2011

Desert Botanical Garden, Agave

"Desert Botanical"
Oil
12x24
Copyright 2011 J.Bellinger
Available

I love how this painting came out...lots of contrast, light/dark, warm/cool, soft/hard. The light and shadow here in the desert is so different than light where I live in Idaho.
I am enjoying the vertical composition possibilities, too.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Saguaro Cactus, Desert Botanical Gardens, Arizona

" Saguaro...Desert Sentinel "
Oil
18x36
Copyright 2011 J. Bellinger
Available

A portrait of this amazing giant cactus. I so enjoyed depicting this wonder of nature. Seeing so many in Arizona is a great example of results from protecting very slow growing plants! A Saguaro that is just a pup, say, 10" high is already 10 years old..they don't get an "arm" until they are 75 years old.
We are down to our last 4 days of the show. It has been an amazing experience having 10 weeks devoted to my art. I have made some wonderful friends, shared my painting process with hundreds if not thousands of art lovers, other artists and collectors. Watching how my fellow artists approach their own artwork has been enlightening. My head is spinning with art on all levels. I am looking forward to some quiet time when I get home to reflect on it all!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Agave...Hot!, cactus, succulents

" Agave...Hot! "
Oil
18x24
copyright J.Bellinger 2011
Available

The second in my new series painted here at Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale. We are going into our last week of the show. I love painting these desert plants. This painting is stronger and hotter in color..I love the contrasts the agave naturally have..and if course I love to push the color.
Stay tuned for my first Saguaro...love these giant cactus!

Monday, March 7, 2011

Ah...Agave! , cactus, Desert Botanical Garden


" Ah....Agave! "
Oil
20x24
Copyright 2011 J. Bellinger
SOLD
I hope the warmth of the morning sun comes through in this painting...that was my goal.
There was the texture of sand, small stones, etc. and I had to bite my brush not to start in with those kind of details and just keep it simple...practice what I preach! The painting told me when to stop....really this does happen. Would love to hear your own experience and conversations with your own paintings. If I'm the only one....I'll be thinking I need to get out of the studio more!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

In the Desert Botanical Garden, cactus


" In the Desert Botanical Garden "
Oil
32"x36"
Copyright 2011 J.Bellinger
SOLD
The second in my desert garden still life series while here in my studio at Celebration of Fine Art.
I was somewhat intimidated to begin such a complex painting but once I laid in the Century plant the rest fell into place. I had fun with the spines on the Hedgehog cactus and Santa Rosa prickly pear cactus. I used fine brush, palette knife, putting painting paint on, lifting paint off..whatever it took to get the effect of light on skinny shapes.