"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Profusion of Hollyhocks

This painting was completed several years ago, but I never posted it on this blog.  It is large - a full sheet (30" x 22") watercolor paper and is painted on 140 lb. Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper with mostly Holbein watercolors.  It has had a happy home in my living room for a while. :)

12 comments:

Christiane Kingsley said...

Beautiful painting, Barb. Especially at that size, it must be quite impressive. Well done!

Barb Sailor said...

Thanks, Christiane. I like to work big - I used to do it more than I do today. It is a favorite painting of my family.

Teresa said...

Wow! It's gorgeous! Such luscious color. Yummy!

Ruth said...

And, I can see why it rests easy on display in your lr. One to be proud of and so easy on the eyes. What a sensitive touch you have for all the shadings. Makes all the hollyhocks look beautifully real as though the garden has come inside, but w/Barb's special artistic touch. Love the colors, the filmy flowing bg, and the composition.

Barbra Joan said...

wonderful Barb, and especially the size.. I'm just not a painter of large works. I get lost easily.!!!

Autumn Leaves said...

It is a stunning delight, Barb!

RH Carpenter said...

Love how you've modelled the flowers in those reds (reds are not easy to do and you've got them just right). I can see this gracing a wall for a while - if I'd done it, I'd want to show it off!

Barb Sailor said...

Teresa...Thanks for you "colorful" comments! They are so appreciated.

Barb Sailor said...

Ruth... thanks for the compliments - I still look at it and have reservations about the background and think sometimes that i should have used a different color ( like blues?) Sometimes I think the greys really dull the painting - but then the reds are really bright and just how much color can this painting take? :)

Barb Sailor said...

BarbraJoan...thanks for visiting and commenting...there was a time when all I worked with were large paintings...I now do smaller works as much as large. A teacher once told a class I was in: "If you can't work good, work big! If you can't work big, work 'red!" I guess I have covered both bases with this one. TeeHee!

Barb Sailor said...

Rhonda...Thanks for the generous comments. I just took it off the wall so that I could use the frame for another painting for a show. It was worth it as I recently won best watercolor with that one.

Barb Sailor said...

AutumnLeaves...as always your comments are very welcome! Thanks so much for visiting my blog. Barb