Old Roses

The Luxor Roses have a long life here in our house. Most people would have long thrown them in the bin. They have gone from that heavenly uplifting fragrance to a musty earthy scent.
When I am painting, I get into the revolving forms, the salty olives and ochres, and the lingering deep reds going to black. I put a black turpentine "glaze" over the right side. Why disobey the rules? seems like I love doing that. In this case, I suspect it will cracklelei - the effect being dried creasing of paint. Who knows how it will go? like these beautiful flowers, they evolve their very own way which is unpredictable and fragile. like life to me.

Progression

Around Easter I posted the first version of these anemones. I looked at the painting for some days and decided to go on. Meanwhile the flowers had made their own decisions= those long sensuous stems and green ruffs were falling down.  I wanted that effect of change and no definite still life.

This version is more the ballet of life I like.

Easter 2015

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These Anemones are drooping and going dead just as I am painting them. Fitting for Good Friday. 

I will let it dry now as there are impasto places and over-painting. actually the original canvas was a Man in Blue.

 

iPad visione

This may seem as a very strange image "painted" by me. yes, an attempt on the iPad. I love exploring what can happen and this came from an experience someone told me about-a vision of someone not taken from reality. so, it became my iPad vision. I can always go further with it using other effects and colors. My Dutch girl friend, Annet,  and I may be giving a workshop here in Holland at the end of the summer to teach people how to be creative with their Tablets.

Old Roses

The roses, after a week of glorious blooming, have gone old with lovely soft ochres, shades of ruby red, purples. Not sure if this one is finished. It is ripening on the kitchen wall.

last evening

A bit of the living room after a session painting the card players last evening. The easel is turned around and I peek through the arched doorway into the kitchen, pick up the painting I need to work on (actually all of them get a turn) according to who is sitting where. Every 15 minutes or so the sitters change places except for Herman who always sits in the left under position. That is the chair and place he has sat for meals and card-playing his whole life (67 years). Card playing is for the last 40 years with these 3 friends.
Why do I keep painting since 1994 on these six paintings (two are elsewhere)? I love to paint this subject and I am not satisfied.  I want  psychological intensity as well as  good painting.
thank you for looking. The photo is a bit bleeched out.

van der Harsten- Way Back When

Yesterday's Blog was about the portraits of the van der Harst family which was and still is part of my history, Hylke van der Harst being my second husband and the reason I came to the Netherlands 39 years ago.
My son Craig Johns came to join the family group for 7 years and is still part of it even though now living in the Hilltowns of Massachusetts with his own family.

I painted anyone who came over the bridge then.