The following paintings recently sold, "Hot Cocoa," and "Coronado Roses."  Hot Cocoa was painted from roses of the same name from my garden in the Northwest.  They were at the end of a cycle, drooping and changing color quickly.  Coronado Roses was painted on the island of Coronado in California, this past July.  It was a family vacation - I was able to sneak in some painting time during a rain storm.

 

 

I learned a lot from this painting.  Always take a photo of your reference.  I had a panel that I wanted to reuse - set up a few flowers and leaves - painted for a couple of hours - then set it aside.  A few days later, the flowers long since past their prime - and no photo to look at - I went into the garden, found an almost dead sunflower bud, some lazy Susan stems with no leaves and let my imagination take over.  I am very pleased with the result...