Daily Painters of Texas: lessons

Lava Red Poppies was one of three poppy paintings completed in Flower Mound Studio today. I confess we had to make certain sacrifices in order to dedicate such an amount of time to the easel. One sacrifice was failure to throw Studio Director AnnieBee's toy du jour as frequently as her majesty would have preferred. With many apologies and promises to do better tomorrow, I'm hopeful her humble servant will be forgiven shortly. Right after bed-time snack dispensations, I imagine...

A big ole poppy painting on the easel!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Fall Ladies White Pumpkin and Hydrangeas by Floral Artist Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1308708

Fall Ladies White Pumpkin and Hydrangeas

by Nancy Medina

20X16

Oil on Archival Panel

Fall Ladies White Pumpkin and Hydrangeas was my class demonstration this morning in North Texas, as we wrapped up three days of painting flowers in North Texas. I completed demos of stargazer lilies, sunflowers, white roses, red poppies, and white hydrangeas. In the afternoons, we worked together step by step to create original paintings, including a study of a large clear vase fondly referred to as "Big Blue". It seemed only fitting on the last day to paint a pumpkin, since the holiday is right around the corner! Here's to a beautiful week to come, cooler weather, and lots of sunshine as we gear up for pumpkin pie and turkey and all the trimmings!

The studio model pumpkin on break, with

her supporting cast of roses...

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Lily Song Stargazers by Floral Artist Nancy Medina

Lily Song Stargazers

by Nancy Medina

Class Demonstration

20X16

Oil on Archival Panel

Lily Song Stargazers was my class demonstration this morning, starring my new green bowl - the original green bowl, which had appeared in dozens of my older paintings, met a sad demise at the Dallas Arboretum in class one day, when I scooted a table over and it fell to the floor. I like to think these flowers are all saying Ooooo! and Ahhhh! as they gaze at the green bowl, but then my mind does tend to run to silly things like that....

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Fall Sunday Sunflowers and an Iris Garden Giveaway by Floral Artist Nancy Medina

http://nancymedina.fineartstudioonline.com/workszoom/1307502

Fall Sunday Sunflowers

by Nancy Medina

20X16

Oil on Archival Panel

Fall Sunday Sunflowers was my class demonstration this morning in my North Texas flower painting workshop. We painted a floral setup including Big Blue, my famous (infamous?) blue vase which has made an appearance in so many of my paintings. We are just dipping our toe into the brightly colored water, with buckets of white hydrangeas and stargazer lilies beckoning over the next few days. Stay tuned to see photos on my art blog, as we make flowers bloom in brilliant color! Today's class prize was an entire iris garden in a bag, I gave away seven prize winning rhizomes from my iris garden to the student who guessed the lucky number 3 this morning. Congratulations Bett! I can't wait to see your new garden blooming next spring!

Big Blue the Vase and the models take a bow!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Clear Skies Sunflower and a Dallas Arboretum Cherry Blossom Path by Nancy Medina

Clear Skies Sunflower

by Nancy Medina

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

Clear Skies Sunflower was my afternoon class demonstration in Melbourne, Florida, making its debut in Flower Mound Studio today. This evening I finished work on a 48X24 Cherry Blossom Path based on the flowers of the Dallas Arboretum, and I posted the painting on my blog today. I'm looking forward to seeing all of these colors in bloom again next spring during the Dallas Blooms Festival, I'll be setting up for a plein air day and sure hope my painty pals will join me. Stay tuned to the art blog for details to come! My November 9 Dallas Arboretum class is full, but I still have seats open in my 3 day workshops in North Texas in the next few weeks. Put a little joy in your brush and let's make brilliant color bloom!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Heart Haven Pink Rose and a North Texas Workshop by Nancy Medina

Heart Haven Pink Rose

by Nancy Medina

10X8

Oil on Archival Panel

Heart Haven Pink Rose is the new daily painting in Flower Mound Studio, a small study for a private lesson earlier last week. I'm starting work on a set of hydrangea commissions for a beautiful North Texas home this week, and packing for a 3 day workshop in Irving, Texas. I can hardly wait to see what fresh flowers will be available when it's time to shop for class! Such a highlight of this new job, having to go out and buy all my favorite flowers, paint them, share my love of painting with others, and then have a house filled with blossoms for weeks afterward. I love my job!

Painting Brilliant Flowers

November 1-3, 2013

Irving, Texas

9 am to 4 pm Daily

Fall Garden Pansies by Floral Artist Nancy Medina

Fall Garden Pansies

by Nancy Medina

12X16

Oil on Archival Panel

Fall Garden Pansies is the daily newbie in Flower Mound Studio. We had a special visitor today, Bett came for a private lesson, and rocked her pink and white roses in bright colors. AnnieBee and Hannah assisted us in the studio, of course, providing snorts of appreciation. This week I pack up for a fall workshop in Irving, Texas, and I'm excited to see some familiar faces returning to join me for flower painting again. I hope to see you there!

Friday, October 25, 2013

Fly Free Daisies and a New Daisy Video by Floral Artist Nancy Medina

Fly Free Daisies

by Nancy Medina

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

Fly Free Daisies was my class demonstration for our afternoon paint-along session in Melbourne, Florida last week. It's been a crazy daisy week in Flower Mound Studio, with half a dozen new daisy paintings lined up on the drying shelves. Perfect timing, since I just released my new free daisy video, of Dive in Daisies, through my newsletter yesterday. Click here to sign up for my monthly newsletter and and I'll send you a copy!

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Rose Journey 2.0 and Why I Love Impressionism by Floral Artist Nancy Medina

Rose Journey 2.0

by Nancy Medina

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

There is a reason I embrace impressionism - it is a kinder, gentler interpretation of life, a softer approach. We all deserve, need, a softer approach. To all my friends, a blessed, a well deserved rest. Surround yourselves with love. To those who paint, thank you for creating beauty in this world. If only the world were filled with people like you...

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Wild at Heart Orange Parrot Tulips by Floral Artist Nancy Medina

Wild at Heart Orange Tulips

by Nancy Medina

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

Wild at Heart Orange Parrot Tulips is the daily newbie in Flower Mound Studio, a busy day and my first day back from my workshop in Florida. The handy thing about traveling a lot is just keeping the art supplies packed, since the next workshop is just around the corner! I had 2 seats open up in my sold out San Diego workshop yesterday, so this is your chance to join me to paint flowers, West Coast artists! We will take a field trip to Coronado Island to tour some of my favorite cottage gardens after class, so I sure hope to see you there. Read more...

Saturday, October 19, 2013

SOLD ~ Hydrangeas and Plumbago and a Space Coast Workshop by Nancy Medina

Hydrangeas and Blue Plumbago

by Nancy Medina

SOLD

20X16

Oil on Archival Panel

I am sad to say farewell today to the Space Coast, the warm sun, the full moon over the ocean, and a classroom filled with talented, funny, delightful students who are so lucky to live in this charmed place. It's no wonder my students were so good natured, I'd be smiling, too, if I lived in a place where the beaches were warm and the palm trees grew like weeds everywhere you look.

As my workshop hostess gave me a tour of her town, I had the funniest sensation I had been there before, though I knew I had never been there. Have you ever had that happen? I told her I had dreamed when I was a little girl of living in a little pink house on the beach. She said there was a line of little pink houses just up the road, right on the beach, not far from where we were. We didn't get a chance to find the pink house of my dreams, but maybe that's all for the good. I'm still holding onto that dream! I'm sad to say goodbye to Florida, but excited to return to San Diego in just a few weeks for my workshop in Balboa Park. West Coat friends, I hope to see you there!

SOLD ~ Sunflowers and Blue Plumbago and a Florida Workshop by Nancy Medina

Sunflowers and Blue Plumbago

by Nancy Medina

SOLD

20X16

Oil on Archival Panel

What a treat to teach my first workshop in Florida this week. With a room full of talented artists, perfect weather with a hint of ocean breezes, two jars of chocolate within reach at all times (one dark, one milk), it's hard to imagine what could make this better. Thanks so much to Lynda for bringing in an armful of beautiful plants from her garden this morning, we featured her Mexican sunflowers and blue plumbago in the class demonstration today. Tomorrow we paint daisies and pumpkins so stay tuned to my art blog for more color to come!

Friday, October 18, 2013

Pumpkins and Sunflowers and Sacred Spaces by Floral Artist Nancy Medina

Pumpkins and Sunflowers

by Nancy Medina

20X16

Oil on Archival Panel

Pumpkins and Sunflowers was my class demonstration during a Rockwall, Texas, workshop last week, begun at 9:30 am, and finished by 11:45 am. We had beautiful morning light shining in behind the vase, and the happy sounds of children and pups in the park nearby wafted in through the open doors. I'm a firm believer in energy, and there was an aura of peace in this space! Surround yourself with peace, make your studio a haven, a sacred space for you. Protect it, and you'll find it's a place you come back to time and again. Your paintings will thank you!

Thursday, October 17, 2013

SOLD ~ Dive In Daisy by Floral Artist Nancy Medina

Dive In Daisies

by Nancy Medina

SOLD

12X12

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Dive In Daisies is the daily newbie in Flower Mound Studio. I made a video of this painting on my IPad while I worked. My timing was impeccable. There are pug noises in the background, pug snoring, little yips and barks, and the grand finale, the sound of the hubby coming home, which is always an occasion that calls for boisterous celebration from the four footed helpers. Tomorrow while I'm flying to Florida for my Melbourne workshop, I'll see if I can edit it into one of the little freebie videos for you and get it posted with the videos on my Web site. Stay tuned, I'll announce it here as soon as it is ready for you!

The studio models take a bow and a dip!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Daisy Tango by Nancy Medina

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

Daisy Tango is the newest daily work in Flower Mound Studio, starring a fun and funky little vase I bought about 10 years ago at a Merle Norman store in North Texas. I added a few oranges and filled the vase with daisies that won't last much longer before it is time for them to retire. Daisies are such hardy little models, they don't complain, they don't ask me to change the channel, they don't drink much water, and they don't fade after sitting under the spotlight, even when it's been shining on them for hours. What's not to like about these simple, frivolous, fun little blossoms!

The models getting cozy with some oranges...

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Spring's Return Pink Roses by Floral Artist Nancy Medina

Spring's Return Pink Roses

by Nancy Medina

12X16

Oil on Archival Panel

Spring's Return Pink Roses is the daily newbie in Flower Mound Studio, as work continues on my Dallas Arboretum cherry blossom commission. I'm falling in love with landscapes this week! Shh, don't tell the floral still lifes. It will be our little secret!

Dallas Arboretum Azalea and Cherry Blossom Stroll by Floral Artist Nancy Medina

Dallas Arboretum Cherry Blossom Stroll

by Nancy Medina

Commissioned Work

48X24

Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Dallas Arboretum Cherry Blossom Stroll is a new commissioned painting in progress in Flower Mound Studio tonight. My November Dallas Arboretum workshop is full, so we're celebrating (and packing for a Florida workshop next week!)

What a beautiful weekend, with perfect weather, sunny skies, and cool breeze. Just right for time to transfer and cull out my iris garden rhizomes! Our irises have done so well this year since we dedicated a new bed to their care last year. I have lots of iris rhizomes to share with friends. I can't wait until next spring to see the color again, in all its splendor....

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Fall Glow Sunflower by Floral Artist Nancy Medina

Fall Glow Sunflower

by Nancy Medina

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel

Fall Glow Sunflower is the daily newbie in Flower Mound Studio, a demonstration from my class in Rockwall, Texas, this week. In class we painted larkspur, hydrangeas, sunflowers and roses, taking a few breaks to enjoy the wooded park just outside the studio doors. I'm packing my art studio travel kit for Florida in a few days. Stay tuned to the art blog for pictures of my next big adventure! One of the things I do in all my spare time (*grin*) is to lend a paw to Dallas Ft. Worth Pug Rescue. We're about to launch our biggest rescue event for the year, PugOWeen, on October 27. I hope to see you there!

Friday, October 11, 2013

Purple Pirouette Larkspur by Floral Artist Nancy Medina

Purple Pirouette Larkspur

by Nancy Medina

16X12

Palette Knife/Oil on Archival Panel

Purple Pirouette Larkspur was one of my afternoon paint-along lessons for my Rockwall, Texas workshop last week. Every time I see "stock" flowers in the grocer, I grab up bundles and run to the checkout cheering. The color is so intense, so rewarding, and these flowers are so simple in their beauty. It's like finding the perfect designer dress on the 1/2 off rack at Nordstrom's the day before your 20th class reunion. Okay make that your 30th class reunion, and shoes to match! I confess purples push all my buttons, but most of all this lesson for my students was about color temperature. Warm purples and cool purples, next to one another, give a burst of color that is simply gratifying. Color in all its glory, and that's why I pick up the paint brush every day, it's all about the joy of color!
My Dallas Arboretum class on November 9 is almost full, just 2 seats left, so I hope you can join me there. The fall pumpkin display, the colorful mums, and the beautiful flower gardens are worth the trip!

Larkspur make a great backdrop for any bouquet!

Thursday, October 10, 2013

SOLD ~ Soft Landing White Hydrangea by Floral Artist Nancy Medina

Soft Landing White Hydrangea

by Nancy Medina

SOLD

16X12

Oil on Archival Panel