Bird's Nest,Blue Water Jar, and Bouquet of Red Geraniums

Birds Nest, Blue Water Jar, and Bouquet of Red Geraniums

12x12 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

Red geraniums are still my choice in subject matter this week.  I've found them to be compatible with many different items in my still life object collection.  Their brilliance and liveliness bring a special sparkle to the compositions.  To buy this painting you must follow this link.

Pink and White Peonies

Pink and White Peonies

18x18 Oil on Canvas

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Cheri Wollenberg

Last spring one of my students brought some pink peonies for my class to paint in a still life arrangement.  I had some white ones that we mixed with them to make a fuller bouquet.  I can almost smell the fragrance they made as I write this post.  Their aroma is extremely pleasing to me.  As I painted this composition, I changed the peonies to a more peach colored pink in this painting.  They were actually an intense or hot pink color, but this particular "vignette" of peonies, I wanted to do warm tones.  I enjoy the challenge of the anatomy of the particular flower, peony.  Since this image was taken, I've painted the bud in the foreground a little sharper.  I felt it didn't need to be quite so lost and it needed to come more forward.  I have set my white peonies in still lifes every year for about 9 years now.  Each year I find that they are a challenge.  I don't know why they are a little difficult, but I thoroughly enjoy the process of painting them and hope that I learn more each time.  To see the price of this painting you can click Peonies. 

Blue Hydrangea in Fruit Jar

Blue Hydrangea in Fruit Jar

12x12 Oil on Canvas

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Cheri wollenberg

One of the great things about being an artist is getting to know more about flowers.  I have to admit there is so much "science" in raising beautiful flowers that I am sometimes overwhelmed when I put my "gardener's hat" on.  I have this crazy desire to raise my own flowers for floral paintings.  I have a lot of wonderful friends who have shared starts and seedlings of plants and flowers with me, and I am successful occasionally in following through with the discipline in caring for these prized gifts!  Hydrangea is one type of flower that I have become interested in during the last several years.  I found out that soil is usually what dictates the color of these gorgeous florals.  I have to admit that painting them is still my favorite thing even though it is absolutely delightful to cut some live flowers for a bouquet from my own flower beds.  There is defintely a connection in arts and sciences!

Mixed Rose Bouquet

Mixed Rose Bouquet

11x14 Oil on Canvas

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Cheri Wollenberg

I love to paint roses.  I just finished all of my small series of musical bovines and I'm feeling like spring.  Flowers are calling!!!  My husband brought in the prettiest mixed bouquet of roses to me for Valentines Day.  I have arranged those beautiful roses in dozens of ways and I'm anxious to get started on one.  They are a week old today and I have clipped the stems twice and they are still absolutely gorgeous.  This painting is one from an older image. To buy this painting you can click:  Roses.

Lilac Bouquet

Lilac Bouquet

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Cheri Wollenberg

Lilacs are some of my favorite flowers.  Actually when I think of them I begin to remember times when I was a child.  My grandmother had huge lilac bushes.  I can almost smell their wonderful fragrance thinking of them.   They are lovely to paint.  Fresh colors of orchids, purples, maroons, and pinks.  Using a cool palette of colors in the forground with a warm background creates just enough contrast to allow this simple little composition to hold it's own.

Pink and White Roses in Clear Vase

Pink and White Roses in Clear Vase

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Cheri Wollenberg

This painting features a pink and white rose bouquet in a clear vase. The background carries some of the warm colors of the roses to create a harmonious composition. It can be purchased at chatterboxart.etsy.com.