Painting Sale!!!!!

I know I haven't been painting and posting on here--sorry!!! My life is interrupting my painting but I hope to get back to posting daily soon! In the meantime ebay was offering a special on listing fees so I took advantage of it and posted lots of original watercolors--small and large, as well as some prints. The starting bids are well below the prices listed on my web site so take advantage of the savings while it is available--because in one week it will be gone! :-) If you live in Greenville and want to pick up your painting you can save even more by not paying the shipping fee. To find me on ebay just search "JSConn" or click on the "eBay Auctions" tab on the right side of my blog!

Showing Grammy the Way!

4" x 6"

I love the way children walk off so confidently without a care in the world! This little one was leading Grammy on a walk down the beach. Don't you just wonder what they are thinking?!

Bottoms Up!

4"x6"

For the past several days my scanner hasn't scanned. I tried several things and looked up "troubleshooting" on the internet for this particular scanner--all to no avail. I thought I would try one more thing and it worked!! Woo Hoo!! My camera isn't a high-tech kind so I really didn't want to use it, so I'm very glad the scanner was just taking a couple days vacation! :-)

This little fella brought a smile to my face with his little yellow floating suit. I couldn't resist getting a photo to work from!

Feeling the Spray

SOLD
4"x6"

Keeping Watch

4" x 6"

I don't think there is a cat anywhere that doesn't have a distinct personality. Many years ago we had a white cat named "Trouble." He got into a lot of trouble in his wild stray days before deciding that we would make good owners--so he adopted us. :-)

This kitty chose the perch to keep an eye on another cat laying on the lawn.

The Blue Hydrangea

4" x 6"

Loved this little splash of blue amid all the browns of dirt and wood. This building is among the many old homes, barns, out-buildings at Roper Mountain Science Center here in Greenville.

Rising to the Occasion

4"x6"

With Their Backs to Each Other

SOLD
4"x6"

I started this painting on Wednesday with the goal of finishing it to post that night, but I ended up helping one son with a project for school. So Thursday came and again I thought surely I will get it done . . . but it is a stubborn little painting and another son needed some advice on a report. I started early Friday, and glad I did!! :-) Some paintings just seem to paint themselves and in no time at all . . . others seem to linger indefinitely!

This little clump of daffodils were from my neighbors yard. I liked how a couple faced one direction while the others faced the opposite. I always love strong shadows.

Dwarf Asiatic Lilies

4"x6"

I received these lilies several years ago for Mother's Day. Every spring I look forward to their bright red display!

Barnyard Chatter

4"x6"

Wasn't sure I would make it with a painting tonight, but I did! So many errands to run that it took until mid-afternoon when I had an appointment that went until 5:00 pm--that didn't leave much time for painting, but I really like what I have. I'm sure my painting break and my fondness for roosters/chickens helped! :-)

Finally Back!

I know I wrote on my last blog that I was taking one week off but the week ended and I hadn't quite finished up everything I needed to get done. Then I didn't want to post anything to ebay as I knew I would be out of town last week and unable to mail anything so I still didn't paint. Last week I was out of town at a watercolor workshop, which I absolutely LOVED and needed! Yes, these are all excuses--good ones, but never the less excuses! I'm sure if I wanted to paint I would have found a way to get everything done, posted, mailed, etc. but I really didn't want to paint. So the break was a good one for me.

As I mentioned I was at a watercolor workshop last week in Hendersonville, NC at Kanuga Camp and Conference. My instructor was figurative watercolorist, Ted Nuttal. His work is simply beautiful! My favorite piece was of an older Jewish man in Central Park that was watching his family a little distance away. Ted captured the tender love in the man's face as he watched his family. Unfortunately I didn't find this particular painting on his website-- www.tednuttal.com (at least not at the time of this writing) so you won't be able to take a look at it. Anyway many artists can paint but they can't teach . . . Ted is a great painter and teacher! If you are a watercolor artist and interested in doing some figurative paintings/portraits, I would highly recommend him. Below is a painting that I started at the workshop. I still may do a bit more on it, but it is very close to being finished.
I hope to get back to posting a painting a day tomorrow, but I don't make any promises! :-) After being gone a week my house isn't exactly clean and my kitchen isn't exactly stocked with food. That is what happens with a husband, two teenage guys, and a dog that sheds! :-D Hopefully I can at least get some food and start a painting tomorrow and start the cleaning Tues . . . that is if I can stand to look at it that long!

Spring Break

I have struggled all day to motivate myself to get a painting done and here it is 9:45 pm and I don't really have a thing to show for the struggle. :-)

My husband is on Spring Break this week and that combined with some jobs around the house that I really want to get done are keeping my mind from being focused on painting. So I have decided to not fight it any more--I am taking the rest of the week off as far as painting goes. Hopefully then I can make some real headway on the other jobs and come back with a brain that isn't being pulled in several different directions!

So see you next week!

A Royal Combination

SOLD
4" x 6"

Poppies may be my favorite flower--although that is very hard to say because I do love many different flowers--but for sure this is my favorite color of poppy. Maybe it rises to the top of the list because I have not been able to get/keep it in my garden. I bought it one Fall and carefully planted it within the brick-edged limits of my garden so the "weed eater" wouldn't get it the next spring. I waited with excitement as it began to grow the following spring until I went out one day and all that was left was a shredded stalk. The weed eater had struck! When questioned the reply was "I didn't weed eat any of your flowers. I only took out the biggest weed I've ever seen."--my poppy. It didn't survive. :-/ Several years later I saw the same variety in a major gardening catalog, and it was on sale no less!! I placed my order and planted it within the picket fence this time. The next spring however brought disappointment once again as the poppy bloomed it wasn't the deep purple red it was supposed to be, it was a salmon orange!! So it has not been my lot in life to have this beauty grace my garden, but I enjoyed this one surrounded by another favorite--yarrow at a local garden.

Amid the Tulips

4" x 6"

Nestled amid the tulips is a garden retreat shaded by crepe myrtles with their smooth, colorful bark. Definitely a place to sit and ponder.

Blanket Flower Vignette

4" x 6"

Window Box II

SOLD

4" x 6"

This is another view of the window box in Mary's Restaurant, Greenville, SC. It is such a beautiful box and always brings a smile to my face.

Daffodil Duo

SOLD
4" x 6"

I love the shape of daffodils with their ruffle-edged trumpets surrounding by their showy petals. I think they are perfect reflections of the warm sun chasing away the cold, colorless winter.

Royal Troupe

SOLD
4" x 6"

Crocuses and daffodils are in full bloom in Greenville, but I can't wait for the tulips! I called this Royal Troupe because the colors are rich and remind me of royalty and "troupe" because they are beautiful entertainers! :-)

Pink Camellia II

SOLD
4" x 6"

This pink camellia was hanging down and I loved the shape that was created.

I worked some more in my yard this morning. By the end of the morning I decided to turn the mulch pile a little and found that it apparently has been the breeding ground for termites this winter! Last fall I put a little layer of dirt in since that is supposed to help things decompose quicker but there must have been a termite in that dirt because now there are tons!! UGH! I wanted to start spreading some of the mulch in my flower beds this spring . . . guess that won't be happening until I get rid of them . . . just not sure how best to do that!

Pink Camellia

4" x 6"

Another sign of Spring is the camellia. They are simple yet very elegant beauties!

I have started working in my garden. I wish I could say their isn't a lot to do, but I haven't been able to really work in it for a couple years so there is much to do. Good thing I enjoy being outside--hope to reclaim it this year!

Daffodil Vignette

SOLD
4" x 6"

Daffodils have arrived in Greenville, SC! Spring is definitely on it's way!

The Window Box

SOLD
4" x 6"

This window box is nestled in a window of Falls Cottage, Greenville, SC. The cottage was built in 1893 and today houses Mary's Restaurant.

White Azaleas

SOLD
4" x 6"

I do like painting white flowers--to get those deep shadows, and azaleas are a very delicate petal that really highlights those shadows. Hope you enjoy!

Shaded Drive

4" x 6"

I saw my first daffodils of the season today! Spring is on it's way to the south--maybe some more daffodil paintings will be coming. Now to today's painting--the things I liked about this scene were the dark shadows on the road, the strength of the pines, and the curve in the road gives a sense of mystery of what is around the bend.

Garden Bench

SOLD
4" x 6"

There is something very inviting about a garden bench. It just seems to call you to sit, relax, and forget all the issues of the day!

Forgotten Entrance

4" x 6"

This garden gate near the back of a Greenville property seems to have been forgotten. The English ivy has claimed a fair section of the brick and had started in on the gate and across the dirt path.

Tudor Home

4" x 6"

This is the back corner of a large Tudor-style home. I do like architecture, and this home is beautiful!

Bridge Over Tranquil Waters

2.5" x 3.5"

There are days when I really struggle to paint . . . it is just plain hard work. Every brushstroke is painful it seems. I go through periods where I really don't like the way my paintings are turning out or it was so hard getting there that I can barely look at the painting! :-) When I'm going through times like that I just keep telling myself "It will pass. Painting will be fun again." and I force myself to keep going. This week was somewhat of a struggle; however, I really like today's painting. Yay! I survived another period of struggle. :-)

This stream runs through a large estate in Greenville. The bridge is part of the long drive that winds up to a very large Tudor home. The home is set up on a hill, and this little stream is near the bottom between it and the home are thousands of daffodils in the spring. This spot is so peaceful and even though it is near the downtown it is very quiet and tranquil--just the sound of the water as it flows over the rocks.

Twin Beauty

4" x 6"

I like the strong white petals of the magnolia. This particular variety has a pink blush at the center--very pretty.

Pink Peony

2.5" x 3.5"

I have several peony plants in my garden--they aren't the "usual" kind but rather have fewer petals and a yellow center. They are a more simple variety but still beautiful!

Lily Pond

SOLD
4" x 6"

This beautiful lily pond is located at Roper Mountain Science Center in Greenville. The area to the left is a butterfly garden. Once you cross the bridge and follow the path you will come to a "settlement" of old homes, barns, and out-buildings. There is a vegetable and flower garden, chickens, horse, and cow--a great place for local schools to visit and learn about nature and history.

Ice Plant

4" x 6"

This low-growing succulent is an ice plant. It was blooming here in Greenville in the springtime. It cascaded over a rocky ledge.

(In the painting the flowers are a little more vibrant and the rock a bit darker--at least for my computer monitor.) :-)

Pink Magenta Tulips

SOLD
4" x 6"

Daffodil Trio

SOLD
4" x 6"

All in a Row

SOLD
4" x 6"

Bridge over Reedy

4" x 6"

This bridge is located near the Greenville Zoo in Cleveland Park.

Snow-Laden Fir

4" x 6"

The blue spruce may be my favorite evergreen but a very close second would be the more delicate Douglas Fir. This one laden with snow is in my backyard.

Pine Cone

SOLD

4"x6"

Loved the way the snow was piled on top of the pine needles!

Yellow House

SOLD
4" x 6"

I am beat. I has been a busy day and I can't think of one thing to write about this painting other than the usual--The white is the white of the paper. I don't use any type of resist material. :-)

Snow Day

4" x 6"

There are two large parks in downtown Greenville. Cleveland Park starts at the Greenville Zoo and winds along the river till it meets the Falls Park in the center of the downtown. There are many bike paths, benches, jungle gyms along the way. It is a huge draw for walkers, runners, and bikers. Even with the snow recently there were still a number of people out walking.

The Pines

SOLD
4" x 6"

Last Saturday we had several inches of snow hear in Greenville, which is pretty much a rarity! I walked around our neighborhood for about an hour taking photos, and then my husband and I went through the downtown taking more pictures. I ended up with a little over 400! You may be thinking that is excessive, but we never get snow so I don't have any photos to work from. Having grown up in an area that recently got 30+" I miss the snow. I also grew up on a Christmas tree farm so I miss the smell of pines and the way the snow blankets the branches.

These pines are actually very close to my home in Greenville, and I am very happy with the results. Hope you will also enjoy it!

Olympic Gold

4" x 6"

I have enjoyed watching the Olympic men's downhill skiing tonight. I love skiing and enjoy watching it as well. While many gold medals are being awarded in Vancouver you can also win "gold"!

Red Water Lily

2.75" x 5"

There is something about water lilies that I find to be very peaceful, and I couldn't resist the rich red of this one.

This one will be offered on ebay with a creme mat (outer dimensions are 5"x 7") included.

Blue Day

4" x 6"

Recently we drove through the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. It was a blue-gray day with some rain, but the clouds were starting to open up and clear.

Cups of Gold

SOLD
4" x 6"

Another cheery sign of Spring are tulips. These cups of gold lift their heads to reflect the warm sunshine with a happiness that will bring a smile to most faces!

Daffodils

SOLD
4" x 6"

After a cold and basically colorless winter I am thankful that God created daffodils to cheerfully herald in the spring. In the south the stems are started to push up through the soil . . . for those of you in the snowy north--hang in there! Spring is coming!

Sunrise

SOLD
4" x 6"

This isn't actually an appropriate picture for today--South Carolina is getting snow!!! For those of you in the north that isn't big news, but this is the most snow I have seen in South Carolina for at least 20 years!!! However, I started the painting before the snow started, and we have come to be somewhat skeptical of weather reports that it will snow here. :-) Anyway if I lived at the beach this is how I would start every day--watching the sun rise. Amazing!

Early Morning at the Beach

4" x 6"

I worked from a photo I took last summer at the beach. I believe it must have been close to sunset and the clouds filled most of the sky just leaving little sections of lighter sky and some pink areas. It really was beautiful. I hope I captured a bit of that beauty!

White Peony

SOLD
4" x 6"

I still have not had any success landing a job and going back to school doesn't look too promising either! But I still keep applying and in the meantime I am enjoying being home. Too bad I can't find someone who is willing to pay me to stay at home! Haha! I am trying to get caught on things. I'm also going through my cookbooks and trying new recipes. Today's new recipes were Pork with Roasted Peppers and Potatoes and Devil Doggies. The pork was not bad--just needed a little more seasoning. The Devil Doggies are to die for!!!!! Two small cookie-sized chocolate cakes with creme in the middle. Yum!

Now to painting . . . I found this peony in a neighbor's yard last summer while walking the dog. I later went back and got several pictures. The peony is another of my many flower favorites. The white is the white of the paper--didn't use any resist material--just painted leaving the whites.

Hope you enjoy it!

Gray Barn

SOLD
4" x 6"

I love old barns and am sad to see so many of them torn down or abandoned to fall down over time. They have so much more character than newer metal barns! This old guy is somewhere between South Carolina and Ohio.

Break

I won't be painting or posting for a couple days as I sit with a dear friend who is in her last days.

Thinking of a Friend

SOLD
4" x 6"

These beautiful irises remind me of a dear friend. Good friendships are hard to come by so when you find a kindred spirit, it is treasured all the more.

Pink Sky

SOLD
4" x 6"

Pictures like this remind me of home. I love the excitement and busyness of a big city, but I also like the peace and quiet of rural areas like this one.

The sky (blue and pink) is a little more vibrant in the painting. I wasn't able to get a better image of it; however, monitors can vary also. I think all the other colors look pretty close.