Mouse and Crabapples

10"x9" watercolor NFS

I am not getting around very well but I was able to get outside with my watercolors and sit and paint this.  I grabbed the little mouse figurine as I was walking out and cut the crabapple from the tree drooping down to the porch.  It has more crabapples this year than ever before.  It felt so good to be outside and it almost always feels good to be painting.  I like the transparency of this one and I really like painting simple subjects.
Below shows the other painting project I did.  I painted my crutches lavender.  It's like doing the glass half full thing.  I am going to add some beads and ribbons next.  It looks like I am going to using them for another long stretch of time, so they might as well act as an accessory. 

Blue Light Bulb 6"x6" oil on canvas

This was a DPW challenge...to paint a light bulb...so I rummaged through our collection to find an interesting one and came up with this blue one.  I have no idea why I have a blue light bulb or what I would do with it, but after some research, I found they are marketing them as mood lighting and blue is the color of serenity and tranquility.  The mouse is a little guy I picked up at one of those little shops in Newburyport that is an endless feast for the eyes of seemingly unrelated items arranged with meaning.  The marigold blossoms just add a bit of contrast.  Even though this is a silly still life, I really like it, and still lifes really help you hone your painting skills.  My sister-in-law, Laura, used the word "artitude" to describe the attitude of focusing on painting daily specifically as a coping mechanism....using your passion to get you through.  I love this idea, and am grateful to be full of artitude!  I wish you a day of serenity, tranquility and artitude.