Crabtree Originals

Title: Bizzie Lizzie

I’m always challenging myself and working toward taking my art to the next level. This particular test was to paint realistic water droplets.

The flower from the reference was white, but wanting to make a bolder statement, I decided to paint my flower red. The background was improvised to make Ms. Lizzie pop.

In my mind’s eye, this beautiful bloom is tucked in a dewy forest somewhere, admired only by the creatures of the forest until this painting was born.

Medium: Acrylic
Completion date: June 2008
Support & size: 8 1/2” x 11” Watercolor Paper

Status: Available for Purchase

Title: Reigning Roses

This painting tends toward "Shabby Chic" which is a style that I adore!  It was my intention to keep the background loose and spontaneous and define the roses - the stars of the show - to bring them forward.  To complete, I chose a white distressed frame (not shown).  I was quite pleased with the results!

Title: Nature Sings the Blues

Deep within the forest, there was a clearing… a place untouched and unspoiled. It was upon this spot these beautiful wild flowers happily grew… carefree, unaffected by the lack of attention or admiration.

Flowers such as these are not destined to be picked, but to be painted.

Medium: Acrylic
Completion date: March 2008
Support & size: 8” x 10” Watercolor Paper

Status: Available for purchase

Title: Enchanted

This exquisite rose was photographed by a fellow artist, Deb Brookshier, who generously allowed me to paint it.   Perfection is the way I would describe this enchanting rose. My greatest challenge was to capture its delicacy, the luminosity and translucence of the pedals and the same dramatic contrasts Deb did in her photo, with paint.

Deb’s photos and artwork can be seen on-line at: www.debspainting.com.

Title: Blue Flowers with Leaves

Watercolor and ink painting on 9" x 12" paper. This was an experimental piece where I used plastic wrap to initially form the leaf patterns in the background after applying Frisket to the flowers to be painted last. Not my usual style as it tends toward abstract, but I was fairly pleased with the results. This painting was given to a friend as a birthday gift.

Title: Pumpkin and Mums

This painting was based on a combination of photographs taken by my sister.

Title: Whispers Among the Greens

This painting began as a study in greens but ended up being a study in both greens and whites. My secondary goal was to render the effects of back-lit leaves…strong contrasts, bright sunlight and deep shadows.

Most times I struggle to title my paintings, but upon finishing this one, and then glancing at it as it rested on my easel, the white flowers seemed to whisper to me – and a title was born.

Medium: Acrylic
Completion date: June 2008
Support & size: 10” x 13” Watercolor Paper

Status: Sold

Title: Red Roses Against the Fence

Pictured here is one of my first watercolor paintings,and still one of my favorites!