I know everyone only has so much time in the day, and subscribes to all those channels with so many shows, but I’m going to throw this out to those of you who enjoy old television.
The Dick Powell Show is an anthology show, with top-notch writing, directing and acting. I’ve watched about 20 episodes, and only seen one dud. (I did not make it to the end, though, where it was probably redeemed.)
If you have an hour in the evening, these shows are worth your time. It’s interesting to see how the world used to be. The episode below is about personal integrity. Who writes about that, nowadays? (Bonus: No commercials!)
So peaceful, green and serene. Perfect for someone who does not have a green thumb, but would like to bring inside one’s home the beauty of nature. I painted from a reference photo shared by Vanessa Jackson. 11″x14″ oil on cradled wood board. Available here.
the rainbow’s promise
Sweet, cheerful, and oh so colorful. I painted from a reference photo shared by Milan Ljumovic. 8″x8″ oil and acrylic on cradled wood board. Available in my Etsy shop. 😀
The lacy edges of the flower petals captured my imagination. The blue/green bottle also spelled a challenge. I painted from a reference photo shared by Sandra Hudson. 6″x12″ oil and acrylic on cradled wood board. Available in my Etsy shop. SOLD, thank you! 😀
prothonotary warbler
I love his pose, and his bright coloring. I painted from a reference photo shared by Denise McQuillan. 8″x8″ oil and acrylic on cradled wood board. Available here.
Birds are favorite thing of mine to paint. Every one so unique, reflecting the panoply of nature. I painted from a reference photo shared by Kaye Earney. 8″x8″ oil and acrylic on cradled wood board. Available in my Etsy shop.
0oh, my favorite
I attempted to paint an avocado many years ago, and I completely failed. The gentle indent of shadow, the smooth gloss of the pit, and the rich texture of the rind…I think I got it right this time. I painted from a reference photo shared by Ruth Edwards. 8″x8″ oil and acrylic cradled wood board. Available here.
I had some success propagating new hydrangeas using the bend-down-and-bury-a-branch method. I took a low branch (still attached to the mother plant), scraped off a little bit of the outer green bark layer, and buried that portion under a little bit of dirt and held it down with a big rock so the branch wouldn’t spring back up. That was last summer. This summer, I checked to see if roots had formed in the scratched-off area, and found some success. This little guy I cut from the mother and immediately planted it, and have kept it well watered every day. I may have used a little more rooting hormone on the roots, to give it some encouragement. It has grown from one straight twig into this branching plant. Yay!
Is this lower plant a nasturtium? I planted a lot of seeds this year, with not much success. I don’t remember what this was, and only the one plant came up out of the whole package.
This hydrangea is the mother plant of the shoot shown above. Summer of 2020 it was slightly smaller than the shoot! This is the first time it has bloomed. My Anabelle hydrangea made flowers that never fully formed, so I did some searching and found my soil is poor in potassium. I added some bone meal to the ground surface, and maybe next year I will be rewarded with blooms. I don’t know what kind of hydrangea the below one is–it was one of the $5 twigs sold in a box at Walmart. It certainly has performed spectacularly, and was well worth taking a chance.
Bright orange and yellow captures all the glory of summertime. 8″x10″ oil on cradled wood board. Available here. Sold, thank you! I painted from a photo shared by Kim Unsweqiis.
one perfect day
I loved this moment, the graphic bright red of the pail, and the boy’s feet. I wasn’t sure I could capture bare feet, but I think I did a super job. 😀 I painted from a reference photo shared by Katie Sikes. Available in my Etsy shop. 🙂
I was doing a binge of Outlander while painting this one. Calm, restful, beautiful. 18″x24″ oil on stretched canvas. Available here. I painted from a photo shared by Gary Odell.
11″x14″ oil and acrylic on cradled wood board. This is my current favorite vase. Add a handful of bright tulips, and you have sunny summer all year long. I have painted it before, but the presentation here is a little different. Available here.
kicking’ it easy 2
I captured this moment at a rodeo several years ago, and have painted a similar version once before. I take multiple photos of scenes, so while they are similar, they are not exact. I love the casualness, the relaxed stance, the taking-it-easy vibe. 8″x16″ oil on stretched canvas. Available here.
Simple moment, simple colors, but all the sweetness of summer. My challenge here was in creating dynamic colors, without losing the realism. I painted from a reference photo shared by Nessa Town. I also have a painting of an orange I will be listing tomorrow. I’m trying to paint more fruit. 🙂 8″x8″ oil and acrylic on cradled wood board. Available here.
summer fox
A perfect moment of contentment on a warm summer day. I love all the different colors in the fur, and how the sparse brush strokes still convey its lushness. I painted from a reference photo shared by Virginia LaSalle. 6″x12″ oil on cradled wood board. Available in my Etsy shop.
Sandra Spencer 