Bird Nest Series - Bird Nest I Blue Eggs

Sometimes we artists need to take time to be with our families, do our day jobs (even if we are retired), or catch up with our friends in community and church apart from FaceBook. So, we have to take sabbaticals from blogging.  I've missed writing about the inspiration that causes me to paint.  I've still been painting, but it seems that writing about it falls to the wayside.  Anyway, I've decided I need to write about inspiration, process and product again in the paintings I do.  My first set of posts will be my Bird Nest Series.  All of these are copyrighted by me.  Click link below or here to see in my Etsy Store.

Bird Nest I - Blue Eggs

6x6 Wrap Around Canvas

Original Oil Painting by Cheri Wollenberg

Edges of painting have been painted black.  Many people prefer not to frame.  This makes a clean edge for a painting so that it can be either displayed as wall art or on small easels, or as you see above.

Three Tomatoes Set on a Sill

Three Tomatoes Set on a Sill

6x18 Original Oil Painting on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

I have  shared on previous posts about the nice people who have brought garden produce as gifts to my husband and I.  What good friends we have!!  They shared with us because our garden turned out to be a flop!  We only harvested onions in the spring and a very bad tasting watermelon later in the season.  A few circumstances of life visited us this year that created a challenge for us to keep it up and running.  However, we enjoyed these gifts of ripe peaches, corn on the cob, and a bounty of tomatoes in several different ways of preparation (lol).  I prepared them first in still compositions that made my mouth water and then we prepared them for eating!  I love to paint red things.  Red shouts energy, excitement and love!  We received our friends' love over and over:)  It is for sale here.

Omelet Fixings–A Still Life Painting

 

Omelet Fixings

9x12 Original Oil on Masonite

Cheri Wollenberg

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”……C.S.Lewis

I have been selling my work on a venue called Etsy since 2009.  Besides selling my work and loving every minute of that aspect, I have made some of the most wonderful online friends I would have ever imagined.  CP is one of those. She is an artist and has a web page on Etsy too.  Click here to check her shop out.  Over the last couple of years we have communicated back and forth by email through Etsy.  She is fantastic at making treasuries.  Want to see one....click here.  Omelet Fixings (above) is a painting listed on my Etsy web page in the SOLD section.  I’m so pleased with this painting because it is a work of two minds, and I am included. CP is the image creator and I am the painting creator.  CP wanted a painting of some of her favorite things placed together to tell a story of an experience she has had.  She shared with me how much fun she had with some friends as she placed and arranged the objects into the composition.  I loved that she enjoyed the composing experience too!   She asked me to paint her beautiful experience as a custom order for her.  So, I cannot get any credit for the beautiful (almost formal) balanced composition and the elements that went together to make this still life, but I enjoyed painting it.  I thought of how much I’ve enjoyed getting to know her, and I’m so appreciative that she chose my style, and gave me the privilege of reproducing a happy moment.  I consider this lady a “friend”.  Thanks CP

A Symbol of Freedom

American Bald Eagle Portrait

8x8 Oil on Canvas

Cheri Wollenberg

 

The Eagle is a national bird symbol for the United States of America.  He was chosen as an image to use for the The Great Seal of the United States on June 20, 1782.  Some States use him in their seal as well.   I suppose the bird represents power because of his size and wing span, majesty because of his beauty, and freedom because he can soar and live in high places.  One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible is Isaiah 40:31: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  So, the eagle has always been a bird that represents strength.  As I painted this regal bird I thought of freedom, of my country, my family and friends, my church and yes, my government.  I’m thankful for all these things even though not one of them are perfect, but I have the right to choose for myself whether right or wrong.  That is priceless!  I’m thankful most for my Lord and Savior Who gave me the opportunity to choose…..I chose right!  Let freedom ring!

Blue Hydrangea in Fruit Jar

Blue Hydrangea in Fruit Jar

12x12 Oil on Canvas

by

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!