White orchids that turned pink

This painting was inspired by some white orchids I saw in an artist's studio in Philadelphia this spring, but they turned pink as I painted them. I tried a different background but it was too distracting so I overpainted it with blue. This is quite large, painted on 18" x 24" paper.

Everything's coming up roses

My rose bushes went crazy this year, so I picked a few and finished the painting today when my "Saturday Painters" group met at my house. I'm still working out a method of painting white roses--this one looks rather "art deco," a bit stylized but still realistic.

Crazy sock

This is "Frenchman's Creek", a sock kit designed by Lisa Grossman, otherwise known as the Tsock Tsarina. I'm in her sock club this year, and the patterns are very challenging, as you can see. She was inspired by the Daphne Du Maurier novel to come up with this design--the lace cuff symbolizes the lavish dresses worn by the main character, Dona, the design in the foot section is bluebells, and there are also "sea gulls" and ship's ropes in the cuff.

Chihuly show at de Young Museum

As you can see by these pictures, I went to see the Dale Chihuly show at the de Young Museum this weekend. It was crowded but not unbearable, and the lighting is very dramatic. No flash allowed but it wouldn't have helped--the glass needed to be backlit to show off its colors, and that just isn't how great pictures happen. But here are a few shots. The saffron tower is outside the museum where anyone can see it, you don't need to pay admission for that. As a member, I was able to just walk in without standing in a long line and got a "timed admission" ticket to the Chihuly exhibit right away, even though it was a busy Saturday.