DINNER TIME IN THE MARSH

My client once lived where he saw scenes like this everyday, and wanted it painted on his cabinet and wall.  I back up to a marsh, but, I only see Egrets flying across the open spaces. Still, it is a great view!

GINGER LILIES

I had one plant ...then four.....then 12...!  I have given them to friends and I have used the ginger root...but how much ginger can you use??? The flowers are very fragrant and lovely. I have to move mine to another spot this week as they are beginning to emerge with tiny green shoots.  They seem to outgrow each spot I plant them in ......I really will have to search this time. 

SPRINGTIME BUNNY

I had a friend whose bunny use to sit in her flowers all the time! he was an inside pet, so I suppose he was missing the outside! He did not eat the flowers, luckily.

DELFT AND WHITE TULIPS

I usually paint red or yellow tulips, but, these were so pretty, I changed my mind.
The Delft bowl is from my extensive Delft collections......my favorite of al my collections. 

DELFT AND STAR MAGNOLIAS, by Dottie Martz, dottiefromvirginia

                         original oil on 9x12 Italian linen            http://dottiemartz.com
 This is another look at my star magnolias....they are blooming like crazy!  They last on the tree about 3 weeks.   I take tons of photos and cut many branches for live set-ups.  It is a slow growing tree, so thankfully I can still reach the lower branches!                                           

STAR MAGNOLIA BLOSSOM by Dottie Martz

My Star Magnolia tree is really quite a sight when it is blooming.  Doesn't look like a magnolia other than it is white?
the blossoms are fun to paint every year. 

YORKTOWN HALL FINISHED

Finally, it is finished.   I have worked with my daughter for so many years...that I kept thinking...why isn't that section done yet...what is Carol doing??LOL it is only me doing the work!  The clients loved it and I got a big hug when I left.  Then I know for sure it is good.

RATATOUILLE FIXING'S

  Finally done, I think..  I am ready to cook anyway.  I have been painting a wall mural up in Yorktown for the past 5 days and then coming home (1 hour drive) and painting on this piece.  Then I collapse.  I plan to get into a hot tub tonight and soak my poor knees.

DAY 3 - RATATOUILLE FIXING'S

Day 3...almost there.  Then I will have to replace a few of these vegetables so I can make the recipe.   The onions and garlic are ok, of course.   I paint on the mural up in Yorktown for 5 hours, drive a total of 2 hours today, come home and start on day 3 of this painting.  I love to paint...thank goodness!

DAY 4 - YORKTOWN MURAL

Day 4 was spent on my hands and knees painting the railings.  Tomorrow, I do the tall vines and that should do it.  I hope so...80 miles a day in freeway traffic is for the birds!

DAY 3-YORKTOWN HALL MURAL

There will be flowers near the arch on the door....and I think I have to make the deck railing higher.  The deck will only be on  two of the openings.

YORKTOWN HALL MURAL

The first day I spent measuring and taping...finally today, I was able to paint! this wil take 5 days total...

day 2 - RATATOUILLE FIXING'S, 9X12

Got a lot further this time....will lighten the upper left when I return to the easel.

the final stage will eventually have red and white tablecloth.  That will perk everything up!

SUNNY FEELINGS by Dottie Martz, dottiefromvirginia

                           Original oi on 8x10 panel       http://dottiemartz.com

I think I will darken the lower left....the light spot draws your eye and it should not do that.  Funny, I look at these BEFORE I post, but, I always see something after it is on the screen and out there for everyone to see! back to the easel....

JEFFERSON'S LILY

I bought the seeds at Monticello many years ago and it has been SO prolific.  Must be native to this area (Virginia).  I save the seed each year and all my friends have them.  I have looked in many books and cannot find the correct name..so I call them Jefferson's Lilies!  They are  along my front walkway and everyone comments on them as they walk up to my front door.  A grat plant to have and enjoy.

A HINT OF SPRING

8x10 oil on Italian Linen Panel.  When I saw these Forsythisas starting to bloom...I was overjoyed.  I quickly selected some and rushed into the studio and started painting.  Cannot get much fresher than that!  They were forcasting snow, but, we did not get any, luckily.

day 1 "HINT OF SPRING" 8X10 OIL

 

1. I spotted these tiny forsythias  beginning to bloom in my yard and it called to me to paint this little "hint" of spring.  Spring really is coming.  Then what does the weather do...it snows!  Just a few flurries, but, it is snow.  Oh well, I will look at my flowers and know that they will all burst into bloom.  I have a large bush down by the street and it is magnificent when in bloom.

1. I

SOUTHERN KITCHN BASICS

While cooking Ratatouille the other day ( and showing day 1 of a painting of the "fixin's")...I realized that I use these all the time:  onions, garlic and green peppers..(we call them  bell peppers).   I could not cook with out them.  Being a true southerner (from Mississippi) they are my basic-basic ingredients!

Day 1 of RATATOUILLE FIXIN'S

I saw an eggplant in the grocery and thought..oh, i"ll make some ratatouille.  I had a zucchini at home plus everything else, so I was good to go.  While laying everything out on the counter....I saw a painting set-up!  I see I forgot the Canola Oil bottle....I will add that. It is always a project in progress. LOL

A SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA

Painted on 11x14 Italian Linen Panel.  Of course, if you have read any of my blog postings you know how I love painting magnolias.  This inspiration came from my bedroom wall.  I have this crooked willow branch that is 6' long with magnolia on each end.  It is above my bedroom mirrored closet doors.  I have looked at it for the last 20 years and one morning, I said..I will paint that!

Day 2 Magnolia

I am almost there.  I cannot decide if I want "suggested small flowers" in the background..or not.  The inspiration came from the decoration above my bedroom closet doors.  The creator used crooked willow with the magnolias and filler flowers.

DAY 1 OF NEW MAGNOLIA PAINTING

Original oil on 11x14 Italian Linen Panel.  I can't wait to finish this....I love painting magnolias. This one is hanging over my mirrored closet doors  in my bedroom.  It is part of a 6' grouping on crooked willow.

HENRY

This was a custom paint project on a denim tote for a dear friend.  She wanted HENRY painted on her tote so she could have him with her always.  She cried when she saw this...I never know if that is good or bad...but, she loved it.  Painted on denim.  I love painting animals...I have many commissions like this....yours could be next!

PINK CAMELLIAS, by Dottie Martz, dottiefromvirginia

This was a re-work of an earlier painting.  I had to lighten  the foreground in the sun spots.  Sometimes you have to look at a painting for a long time before you decide to "fix" something!

WHITE VASE WITH YELLOW TULIPS

original oil on 9x12 Italian Archival Linen Panel.  I love painting tulips.  I usually paint them in one of my many Delft bowls, but, this little white vase was a new "find" and I had to use that.  The tablecloth was made by my Grandmother.

day 2 of THE WHITE VASE AND YELLOW TULIPS

• You can see the difference in day one and day two....I am not sure where it will end...but, I do have more to paint.  I see a purple halo to the left of the vase...that wiLl disappear!

A PEAR-FECT DAY

I love painting fruit...it is so rewarding and fast.  This is painted on a 6x6 panel.(and I get to eat the fruit afterwards! )
I guess the easy feeling comes  from all those years of decorative painting.  We painted tons of fruit.  I will always prefer oils, though. 

FIRST DAY OF "YELLOW TULIPS"

I hope I can paint these tulips before they expire. I did take photos, so I have that back-up even though I prefer live subjects.
The tablecloth was made by my Grandmother.

Five Paintings SOLD @ silent auction at Richard Stravitz Fine Art Gallery

Carol and I had a great time last night (Valentine's Day) at the silent auction  held at Richard Stravitz Fine Art Gallery here on Laskin Road. Five of my paintings sold....(the bottom two were miniatures.) The benefit was The Symphony Orchestra of Virginia Beach.  I also met two of my fans.  That was wonderful!  Usually, my paintings sell in a gallery and I never know who they are!

DINNER TIME by Dottie Martz, dottiefromvirginia

             Original oil on 6x6 panel         website:  http://dottiemartz.com

I live on a marsh and there are egrets almost everyday.....altho this photos was taken by a friend of mine.  I usually see them flying across the marsh.  My deck is
14' above the marsh and surrounded by pine trees,etc.  My most frequent visitors are the racoons.  I must paint them sometime, too.

All of my work is available for sale and Valentine's day is coming!  M other's Day and Easter also.  Hint, hint.  Please check out my website!

SUNFLOWERS AND BIRDS

                               original still life, oil on 14x24 Belgian Linen

Saw these two ceramic birds and knew just where I wanted to paint them.  The sunflowers are from Trader Joe's.  I can go there on a cold, rainy day and get cheered up instantly with all of their beautiful flowers. 

FALL CAMELLIAS

                                     original oil on 11x14 Belgian Linen

These camellias are called Pink Perfection and are my lovely fall bloomers.  It is right outside my front porch and is a very prolific bloomer.  I planted my yard so that something is blooming every month of the year...which is great for my painting!  It took several years to plant, but, now they are all doing well and getting older and bigger.

BLUE AND WHITE TEAPOT AND ROSES

 Before and after................original oil on 9x12 Belgian Linen                              

LILIES AND PERSIMMONS

                                    original oil on 8x10  SOLD

TWO RED PEARS

                                    original 6x6 on linen panel

One of my daily paintings....all are available and look good in a grouping.

LARGE CUSTOM DESK

before and after....with hydrangeas.  The client loved it!    SOLD

GARDENIA

                                         original oil on 6x6 panel

This one was painted for my three daily showcases:  Daily painter, Daily  Paintworks and Fresh paint Daily.  I try to paint everyday for these..sometimes I will paint two in one day just to have a backup for when I don't paint.

This gardenia came from one of my two prolific bushes.  I love the smell of
gardenias almost as much as the Magnolia!

MAGNOLIA #2

                                           original oil on 9x12 panel

Being currently shown at Richard Strauss Galleries on Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA.  This was one of the 78 photos of the large magnolia I had.