Sunflower Studio Art

Colorful Oil Painting of Sunflower in Series of Small Paintings of Sunflowers

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:07:00 +0000

"Sunflower #85"
5 x 7" Oil Painting

$34.95 incl S&H

In a series of paintings of sunflowers I experimented with the drying times of oils and acrylic paints in cold, damp winter weather. This colorful oil painting is one of those sunflower paintings.

I paint in more than one medium to keep my spontaneity going with the challenges posed by each. I've tended to paint in different seasons of the year with one medium or another without really thinking about it. En plein air work is my choice in the summer so I tend to use oils or watercolors at that time of the year. The acrylics get put away for the winter months. These practices seemed to have become habits.

I had never challenged myself to be ready to paint with any medium at any time of the year other than dry drawing materials, i.e, pencils, especially watercolor pencils. Recently in the cold, wet weather that is so common in Seattle winters I experimented with the drying times of oil paints versus acrylic paints. I guess my former life as a chemist was showing!

In conclusion, I must say that my intuitive habits were spot on. I found myself frustrated with oils this winter because they just didn't dry fast enough to keep my enthusiasm going on a particular painting. I know about and have some fast drying agents but I rarely use them because they are a bother to me when I get so focused on color alone.

My artistic journal of acrylic sketches, pages you've seen in previous posts, doesn't frustrate me in the least in winter because the drying time is slowed down to just about the pace of my free and loose brush strokes. You'll find more results from my adventures with drying times on my small paintings page.

Ironically, my long-standing experience with watercolors confirms my love of them because I can work in any weather on a painting. Even though some watercolorists use a hair dryer as they paint, I rarely ever resort to that aid when I'm painting.

Fellow artists, have you chosen your medium because of drying time considerations?

Abstract Painting of Beautiful Flowers in Delicate Texture and Color

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:22:00 +0000

"Color Chord #49"
4 x 6" Acrylic on Watercolor Paper Greeting Card

$14.50 incl S&H

Enjoy the delicate textures and colors of this small abstract painting inspired by the beautiful flowers of a hanging basket of fuchsias. Click on the photo to see a larger picture that shows more of the background texture in light colors of gray blues and rose tints.

This painting is #49 in the "Color Chord" series of original art I started after the artistic journal color explorations written about on this blog.

Each color chord painting is unique original art in an abstract style, not a print reproduction. I use a limited palette of two or three colors in artist quality acrylic paints.

Each of the paintings in this series is 4 x 6" on a watercolor paper 5 x 7 greeting card. The single fold card is blank on the inside for your personal greetings. A white envelope is included in the package.

View some of the cards in this series purchased by collectors.

Red Poppy Abstract Small Painting on Watercolor Paper Greeting Card

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:41:00 +0000

"Color Chord #46"
4 x 6" Acrylic on Watercolor Paper Greeting Card

$14.50 incl S&H

Colorful Sunflower Painting In Dynamic Composition

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:41:00 +0000

"Sunflower Ballet"
8 x 10" acrylic
$94.95 incl S&H
Purchase

Creating a three-dimensional sunflower pose on a two-dimensional canvas is the challenge expressed in this colorful original painting of a sunflower. I painted this image in contrast to the typical "happy face" imagery commonly used to "say" sunflower.

The petals of the flower head point in three directions. They remind me of the delicate balance of a ballet pose, hence the title "Sunflower Ballet". Composition direction and value contrast help to show three dimensionality. I avoided strong value contrast in the petals and left that to the contrast of bright colors in the total painting.

In keeping with the drama of a ballet position I painted bright colors for the background and leaves with the typical yellow petals of the sunflower. The background appears black, but it is actually a group of dark color combinations of greens and blues not black paint.

You can read more about my sunflower paintings via this link.

Small Painting of Colorful Sunflowers in Semi-Abstract Style

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:28:00 +0000

"Sunflowers 90"
5 x 7" acrylic on gessoed mat board
$34.95 S&H $6.00
Purchase

A small original painting of sunflowers on gessoed mat board painted in a semi-abstract style with layers of acrylic paints. The gesso background provides texture behind the color shapes of this colorful sunflower art.

These colorful sunflowers are similar to the short sunflowers with lots of golden yellow petals that I plant in my flower garden. It is a perfect painting for adding a touch of sunshine to any day of the year.

The multi-colored brush strokes in the background contrast with the more defined sunflower petals of the foreground. The texture of the mat board provides a stamping effect currently popular in multi-media art.

More small paintings of sunflowers are available at kjoannrussell.com

Oil Painting of Sunflower with Texture and Transparency

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:06:00 +0000

"Sunflower 89"
5 x 7" oil on gessoed mat board
$34.95 S&H $6.00
Purchase

This small oil painting of a sunflower on gessoed mat board painted similar to a transparent watercolor is my post today after an absence from this blog. How time flies when you're having fun with paint colors!

The gesso background provides texture behind the color shapes. It reminds me of the times I painted color shapes on watercolor paper which were formed by plastic wrap pressed on wet paint. I intentionally kept the painting light in contrast to my usual strong, bold colors. Believe me, that was a challenge!

This colorful sunflower was painted as part of a group of paintings of sunflowers to compare the drying times of oils and acrylics in damp, cold weather. It was a perfect painting for adding a touch of sunshine to a winter day.

A small painting gives you so many possibilities for display. Add a wide frame to make a larger size piece of art. Hang it on the wall in that small spot of wall near the telephone. It will make you smile each time you see the painting. Display it on your office desk in a tabletop easel.

The painting comes to you unframed. The painting is sealed with varnish.

Colorful Small Abstract Paintings for Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:36:00 +0000

"Color Chord #22"

4 x 6" acrylic on watercolor paper

$14.50 free S&H in USA and Canada

Colorful small abstract paintings are the winners for gifts! That's what recent collectors are telling me.

Let's go back to the beginning of this blog. Quite simply, I was playing with colors, my passion, in an artistic journal which was an outgrowth of my scrapbooking and mixed media experiences. I was just having fun and sharing the beautiful color combinations I achieved.

Then I experimented with watercolor paper greeting cards and shared them with friends. To my amazement people wanted to buy them! So, I listed a few in my Etsy shop. Visitors started adding them as their favorites and included many of them in Treasury Lists. Then the sales started.

People were looking for the unique in cards and gifts. A person from Australia purchased several cards. Wow! She planned to frame each of the paintings to give as encouragement to a friend at each of her chemo treatments for cancer. Double wow on that one!

I kept on painting the small abstract paintings just for fun to enjoy the gorgeous colors and textures. Then I noticed that I had uploaded so many that the appearance of my Etsy shop was bothering this more representational impressionistic painter. Was there a lack of continuity in my art style?

Then I noticed that the print on demand site I use was consistently getting a lot of traffic from all over the world, even places I'd never heard of. Color was speaking a universal language I hadn't recognized.

After seeking the advice of others I've settled the issue and am re-stocking my shop and planning to keep having fun with colors in small abstract paintings. This "Color Chord #22" of the series I uploaded today. You can purchase the painting directly from me through the link above or through my Etsy shop.

Colorful Sunflower Oil Painting for Winter Snow Days

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:16:00 +0000

"Sunflower 88"
7 x 5" oil on canvas panel
$39.95 incl S&H
Purchase

This is a new colorful oil painting of a sunflower, a special painting to brighten your day when the snow is piled up outdoors. This colorful sunflower was painted as part of a group of paintings of sunflowers to compare the drying times of oils and acrylics in damp, cold weather. It is a perfect painting for adding a happy "face" to your life every time you see it.

I selected this painting to share with you today because this is a Seattle snow day. A winter storm dumped a load of snow on us over night and it isn't going away fast enough.

I am reminded of a blog post I wrote in 2008 when we had a similar snow storm that just would not quit. Read Garden Frog Dances Today that same garden sculpture is totally covered in snow as well as the rose bush it stands near!

More covered garden sculptures are in the photo below: dragonfly metal sculpture is loaded with snow even on an incline and there is a mosaic bird house under the snow on the table!

Colorful Small Sunflower Painting

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:43:00 +0000

"Sunflower #86"
7 x 5" acrylic on canvas panel
$39.95 incl S&H
Purchase

A colorful small sunflower painting to brighten your day with its yellow colors. I painted this original painting as part of an experiment in drying times of acrylics and oils on cold, wet winter days.

I used different drying agents and paint mediums for oils and acrylics. What I found was that I was already doing the best process for me. Duh! Rather than fight the weather and complicate the painting process I usually paint in acrylics during the winter and oils in the summer.

As a result of my color exploration series of abstracts I paint faster and more freely in brushstrokes. This poses a challenge for the types of paints I use. I need to achieve a balance between my fast and loose paint application and my fun in color mixing with a limited palette.

I like the slower pace of oils so that I can thoughtfully apply each brush load of paint. But, when I'm eager to paint the idea in my head, I get frustrated with the drying time of oils and lose my enthusiasm by the next day or so. Then it is hard to get back into the flow of the art piece and the fun is gone.

Maybe this shows why I so enjoy the directness of pastels and shorter drying times of watercolors.

Colorful Rural Landscape Painting, Latest in Swan Lake Series

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:51:00 +0000

"Swan Lake Series #7"
8 x 10 x 3/4" oil on canvas, gallery wrap
$94.95
Purchase

Rural landscape paintings provide me opportunities for using limited color palettes. This colorful original oil painting is the most recent of a series I've done of the Swan Lake area of southern Oregon.

The scene shows the planted fields where water from the large lake at the base of the mountains is the source for irrigation. Dikes above the water have roads for the vast ranch area.

The painting is ready to hang. No frame is necessary. The image is painted on to the sides of the wrapped canvas.

Oregon Coast Original Oil Painting, Small 5 x 7 Unframed

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:45:00 +0000

"Oregon Coast"
5 x 7" oil painting
SOLD

"Oregon Coast" is a small original oil painting of an overcast day at the beach with evergreen trees covering the headlands above the ocean surf. I enjoy the beach in any weather, but this is a typical day when the lack of sunshine mutes the colors of cliffs, water, and trees. Imagine sitting by the fireplace looking out the large windows overlooking the Pacific Ocean as you enjoy the view without getting wet in the fog mist.

For this small painting I used oil paints on 5 x 7 inch archival gessoed mat board. The painting is sealed with varnish so you can frame without using glass.

Colorful Artistic Journal Sketch as Artist Journey Breakthrough

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:24:00 +0000

Artistic Journal Color Sketch
5 1/2 x 9 inch acrylics on paper
(click image to enlarge)

This color sketch I painted yesterday in my artistic journal is a bit of an expressive breakthrough for me. My color explorations of more than three years seem to be moving me into a new phase in my art. I wanted to loosen up and become more expressive in paint colors and brush strokes. I didn't want to continue as a scientific "reporter" of realism resulting from my drawing skills.

Because I enjoy playing with colors in a variety of media I've endeavored to focus on only one or two. That meant that I had to reassess the use of acrylic paints which I had narrow mindedly labelled garish poster paints. I had to decide if I would again focus on oil paints with the physical restrictions of air quality and drying times. Likewise I've had to consider if I will pick up my pastels again as I remembered my initial artistic inclinations in grade school. Watercolor has been my main media for many years, but I reached a plateau and wanted to develop more spontaneity and brighter, clearer colors. Also new canvas products suitable for watercolors needed to be explored. Maybe that would solve my oils on canvas versus watercolors on paper dilemma.

Among the books I'm currently reading, the biography of Chuck Close resounded with me as I read about the artist's search for personal media that fits one's personal art focus. I was encouraged by his journey. Also I've revisited books in my art library by Nita Engle, Nancy Reyner, Nita Leland, Ted Goerschner, and others. I reviewed again Robert Burridge's non-traditional approach to painting with acrylics.

Before I painted this sketch yesterday I had been "attending" a workshop on line about the personal experiences of women's search for validation for being who they really are as individuals rather than the roles "assigned" to them by authority figures or social mores.
It struck another chord with me because I've dealt with this all my life. I wrote articles and developed workshops about creativity for women when it was considered "new" in the era of "paint by number". I spent a year working with artist Judy Chicago who championed women artists in her unique art. I had people who had read my articles on creativity in a national magazine call me to ask, "How could you work with her?" Corita Kent continued as my heroine artist from my time involved with Catholic education. I admired the individualist Georgia O'Keeffe. Some collectors in my watercolor gallery exhibition days commented that my work reminded them of her.

So, yesterday I painted with a conviction of "yes, I can!" and produced bright, clear colors expressively applied. Not a masterpiece, I admit. But whose criteria decides a masterpiece anyway? I came to that conclusion in my art history classes long ago. For me, it's my personal masterpiece for yesterday. Today I keep moving forward to the next breakthrough masterpiece.

If you haven't seen my "Color Chord" series of abstract paintings on greeting cards, an outgrowth of this blog focus of playing with colors, please find them here. You can also find them among my website's "recently sold" paintings.

Playing with Color Combinations Using Acrylic Paints In Artist's Journal

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:15:00 +0000

Artistic Journal Sketch
5 x 9" acrylics on paper

Recent sketches in my journal included two unusual results from color combinations. The first color palette included the familiar colors of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and ultramarine blue. I've used these colors in landscape paintings many times. Burnt sienna and ultra blue I too easily tend to fall back on for variations of grays from warm to cool.

The subtle colors of this journal sketch I found quite lovely. I might have responded to these three colors with a ho-hum attitude if you required that I use these three instead of some bright reds and yellows. Click on the image to see a larger view that shows the multitude of colors produced by this limited palette of a red, a yellow, and a blue.

Artistic Journal Sketch
5 x 9" acrylics on paper

For this color exploration I used cadmium orange, deep magenta, and viridian. I really like the full strength viridian green positioned next to the orange. The touches of magenta near the orange colors make a rich color combination.

Besides using tried and true ultramarine blue with burnt sienna for grays notice the grays that happen when the orange, magenta, and green mix in this journal sketch. The moral of the story is that there are an infinite number of ways to produce gray colors.

It is also interesting to see the yellow component of the orange turn the viridian green to a yellow green. This is a good illustration of the nature of a secondary color, that is, orange produced from a red and a yellow mixed together in varying proportions.

If you haven't seen the "Color Chord" series of abstract paintings on greeting cards, an outgrowth of this blog focus of playing with colors, please find them here

Colorful Abstract Small Painting in Brilliant Colors by Artist K. Joann Russell

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:31:00 +0000

"Color Chord #38"
4 x 6" acrylic on watercolor greeting card

Today I've included one of my small paintings in the "Color Chord" Series because I've been uploading them at the rate of a few a day. This one, #38, with brilliant colors went to my Etsy shop.

The popular series of color chord original paintings on greeting cards are now available as prints on canvas or paper in sizes larger than 4 x 6". I upload a few each day to my print-on-demand vendor, Fine Art America.

All of these color explorations are the result of my two years of playing with colors in my artistic journal, some of which I posted on this blog. Collectors are using these greeting cards to frame and display in groups. Other people are using them as special gifts for their friends. All the original small paintings are one-of-a-kind with gorgeous colors and textures.

You can purchase this painting in my Etsy shop.

View the other abstract paintings at my print website.

Garden Flowers Abstract Sketch with Three Colors in Artistic Journal

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:28:00 +0000

Artistic Journal Sketch
5 x 9" acrylic on paper

In celebration of my garden flowers blooming into fall I painted this sketch for my journal using three colors to represent my favorite colors in the garden. The acrylic colors I used were permanent rose, winsor violet, and green gold, an unusual selection of paint tubes.

The deep purple color was in the rich velvet purples of petunias in planters. The rose color came from different petunias with that color and white. My garden this year also had lavender petunias. I use lots of petunias with snapdragons, sweet peas, carnations, geraniums, and glads among other beautiful flowers so that I have a wonderful variety.

The green gold color which I rarely use in paintings was the perfect color to show the colors in my sunflowers and their large leaves that are now bowing their heads in the October sunshine.

I found it amazing what color combinations came from three unlikely starting colors. That's my fun, to find all those interesting colors. View other color combos in my small abstract paintings.

Sunflower Garden for Paintings of Sunflowers by K. Joann Russell

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:38:00 +0000

First Sunflower of 2011 Garden
Photo

Each year my sunflower garden provides me lots of reference poses for my paintings of sunflowers. A late wet spring and only 3,323 minutes of summer for the Seattle area made me wonder if my sunflowers would even bloom before frost covered them. Alas, in the last several days the first sunflower bloomed! Then several more popped out only to start drooping from a pounding by wind and rain storms.

Among the several photos I took of this one sunflower I found this pose the most interesting. It made me think of petal like layers of a skirt blowing in the wind. I wanted to show the greens of the blossom head and the leaves. I deliberately left out the top petals of the sunflower. The challenge now is to draw a composition for a painting.

You'll find lots of sunflowers in original paintings and prints on my website.

My Daughter, Photo Page Designer Elizabeth Sawyer, Featured on Ali Edwards Blog

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 23:42:00 +0000

One of my daughters, Elizabeth Sawyer, is featured today on the popular Ali Edwards blog. Both girls are extremely creative in lots of ways not just scrapbooks and photo albums. They mastered those quickly and started thinking outside the box, their natural bent. It's great seeing Liz getting some recognition today for the oohs and aahs that she and her sister receive when people see their design work. Proud mother here, as you can tell.

Here's my contribution to the world of originality for today. I finished a colorful landscape oil painting of a mountain lake with autumn foliage. This is a composite of the lakes in Oregon and Washington and reminds me of hiking into these pristine and peaceful lakes.

"Mountain Lake in Autumn"

8 x 10" oil on canvas panel

$64.95

Colorful ACEO Painting in Pastel Pink Watercolors Challenge Artist K. Joann Russell

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:51:00 +0000

"Sweet Peas" ACEO Original Painting

3.5 x 2.5" watercolor on watercolor paper

$14.50 with free S and H

SOLD

Pastel pink flowers among my garden sweet peas challenged me to paint their fragile petals in delicate colors. For a person who is a jewel tones type pastels are a big challenge. Even painting in light colors without strong contrasts is definitely not my forte. This ACEO original painting met the challenge.

The beautiful soft colors of these flowers needed to be painted in a transparent technique to show how delicate they and their fragrance were in the hot weather.

I chose one stem of these beautiful pink flowers to paint in watercolors. Because the folds of the petals are so intricate I used watercolor pencils to draw them in a representational style. The final effect of the watercolors is somewhat abstract due to the flower shapes.

I like this unique piece of art for the challenges it posed to me. In addition, pastels rarely appear in the strong colors I tend to use in my colorful paintings.

You can view more paintings in this size here.

Colorful Painting Sketch Using Three Colors by Artist K. Joann Russell

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:58:00 +0000

Color Sketch

5 x 9 inch acrylic on paper

A color sketch I recently painted with only 3 colors turned out unusually beautiful. The limited palette consisted of green gold, light blue violet, and dioxazine purple. The variety of colors achieved by mixing the blue and olive green were more than the scanner could show you. Be sure to click on the image to enlarge it to see the variety of colors and textures.

As you may know, my nearly daily fun with colors results in color sketches for my artist journal. I never tire of playing with colors to see what I can find from color mixes. These sketches spurred me on to doing small abstract paintings in a series of color explorations entitled, "Color Chords".

The small abstract paintings I now paint on watercolor paper greeting cards have surprisingly become quite popular. People use them for gifts, unique greeting cards, or framed collections of art for their decor. Some that have recently sold are shown on my website.

You'll find an entire section of my Etsy shop kjoannrussell filled with these colorful 4 x 6" acrylic paintings on one of a kind greeting cards. Soon the growing collection will be available on my website.

Abstract Flowers Sketches With Limited Palettes by K. Joann Russell

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:36:00 +0000

Abstract Nasturtiums Color Sketch

5 x 9 inch acrylic on paper

Nasturtiums in red, bold orange, bright yellow, and a subtle light yellow have been blooming profusely and covering my garden like a multi-colored carpet. I've enjoyed the bright colors along with the reds and purples of petunias and other flowers. I painted two color sketches on different days in response to the colors of the nasturtiums.

The first sketch using cadmium red light, Hansa yellow medium and viridian is shown above. It is an expressive sketch with stronger greens than those in nasturtiums to contrast with the bright yellows and oranges.

Abstract Nasturtiums #2 Color Sketch

5 x 9 inch acrylic on paper

A few days later I used different colors to show more true leaf color for the colorful nasturtiums. My palette changed to scarlet red, cadmium red medium, naples yellow, and light emerald green. Again I was responding to the color profusion of reds, oranges and yellows among emerald green foliage.

The colors in this sketch are closer to those in the flowers, but I find less excitement in this sketch because of the lack of color contrast from the viridian greens in the first sketch. Click on each of the sketches to view a larger photo which shows the colors and textures in greater detail. Which one do you like?

To see other color combinations I've used in paintings of nasturtiums click here.

Colorful Original Painting of Red Poppies Flowers Art

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:56:00 +0000

"Red Poppies in Shade", 12 x 9" acrylic on watercolor paper
SOLD

A new original painting of red poppies is now on line. The red colors, some of my favorites, were fun to paint on gesso coated watercolor paper.

Even though the colorful flowers are in shadow with bright light behind them I chose to paint them with opaquely with acrylics. Another possibly would have been to show the transparency of the petals with watercolors or glazes of acrylics. View some of my other paintings of poppies for these two different effects.

Purple Irises Print of Beautiful Flowers Painting by Artist K. Joann Russell

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:36:00 +0000

"All In a Row"

Original Painting available as Fine Art Print

The original painting, "All In A Row", was inspired by my neighbor's flower garden where beautiful irises were all in a row at the front of her house.

Today I uploaded this image to my POD service (print on demand) and now you can purchase a print on stretched canvas, a framed or unframed print on fine art paper or a greeting card of this painting.

The painting image has a classical appearance to it, even a vintage look of the classic iris.

Watercolor Print of Small Inviting Sunflower Painting by K. Joann Russell

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:40:00 +0000

"Inviting Sunflower"
Original Watercolor available as Fine Art Print

When I designed on my website the archives page for recently sold sunflower paintings I noticed this charming watercolor that I had forgotten. Today I uploaded it to my POD service (print on demand) and now you can purchase a print on stretched canvas, a framed or unframed print on fine art paper or a greeting card of this "Inviting Sunflower".

Why call it an inviting sunflower? Notice the flower head and the visiting bee enjoying the nectar.

I'm enjoying anew the freshness of this watercolor and the transparency of the sunflower petals. In many ways I wish I had painted this painting larger, but it may have lost the simplicity of the smaller size.

Original Greeting Card Colorful Abstract Painting by K. Joann Russell

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:17:00 +0000

4 x 6" Acrylic on Watercolor Paper Greeting Card

"Color Chord #30"

Colorful small abstract painting with golden yellows and royal purples reminiscent of regal brocade fabrics for your gift giving or personal art collection.

This is an unusual color combination for me. It is a challenge to use the subtleties of complementary colors in a painting without a totally neutralized result, i.e., mud. This is a one-of-a-kind hand painted greeting card in gorgeous colors, a small 4 x 6" original abstract painting entitled, "Color Chord #30". Enjoy the nuances of colors.

This is one of a series of abstract impressionistic cards I'm making available after two years of color explorations in my artistic journal. Each card is one of a kind, not a print nor a copy of previous work. Have you been following the series of small paintings?

The images are 4 1/4 x 6 1/4" on a 5 x 7" single fold greeting card. The image is signed by me, the artist, and the back of the card has information about my art. The inside of the white card is blank. A matching white envelope is included.

The card can be easily framed in a standard size frame.

Give a gift of an original art greeting card, small painting, with your original personal greetings.

You'll find more of these original abstract paintings in this section of my Etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/KJoannRussell?section_id=7661482

Sunflowers Abstract Daily Color Exploration with Two Colors by K. Joann Russell

noreply@blogger.com (K Joann Russell) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:19:00 +0000

Sunflowers Sketch
6 x 10" acrylic/ink on paper

As I started to do a daily color exploration in my art journal I wanted to make it high key (light and bright) and use only two colors, azo yellow medium and light green oxide. I had no intention of drawing nor painting sunflowers, but the resulting color shapes and textures looked like the sunflowers I grow.

Sometimes I add expressive lines of black ink so that seemed the appropriate next step in this sketch. With only two colors I found the color variations most interesting.

I guess I've had a lot of sunflower art on my mind lately while organizing the archive files of my paintings of sunflowers which have sold. Every time I see this page in my artist's journal it makes me smile. I think I achieved my goal of a light and bright sketch. It also contrasts with my recent post of the muted colors in the sunflower ACEO to show you the effect of painting on white background rather than a colored ground.