Bursts of Blue

There are so many reasons to name this painting and post Bursts of Blue. But, before I share the reasons and images for this week’s colorful focus, here’s some back story on this blog. Whether this is your first or millionth visit here, hiya, hello and a warm welcome! To read about this year’s painting theme, check the description in this link here. To subscribe and get a weekly dose of color and these blog posts, subscribe here. Let’s get to the bottom or top or the whole story about the focus on blue, ok?

Tis the Season

As I write this, our bluebird house in the front yard is a frenzy of activity and chirps! Each time the parents show up at the box with food, the chirping from the four little ones is loud and happy. I love this moment in time; even though I know it is fleeting. Then, there’s the blue hydrangeas that keep blooming away in our backyard.

I clipped one of the blooms and decided to paint it in one of my ceramic vases that a friend gave me several years ago. Here’s the set up for the painting. Isn’t that swatch of blue beautiful?

Here is Bursts of Blue

So here’s a slightly larger version of this painting. Can you tell I had fun painting it? And, you can also probably tell that I decided to deviate from the set up in real life. Call it intuition or instinct or a hunch. But I decided to lighten up the values of the leaves and warm up some of the area around the blue burst.

But mostly, I wanted to paint this painting to express my joy at hearing those baby blue birds and seeing that big hydrangea bloom in our backyard.

If this colorful painting suits your fancy and you can picture it in your home in that special place, you can purchase it for $59 + $4.28 sales tax + $20 shipping = $83.28. Simply PayPal.Me $83.28 to claim it as your own.

More Bursts of Blue

Earlier this spring, we went on a magnificent museum trek to see beautiful paintings in the Netherlands, France and Spain. We wrapped up this adventure with a family gathering in Wales.

Here are some of my favorite paintings with, you guessed it, beautiful blue as a predominant color. We were lucky (lucky lucky) to get to see the Vermeer Exhibit at the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam. Because we had a museum membership, we went to see the exhibit twice! This gorgeous painting of a Woman in Blue Reading by Johannes Vermeer is one of my favorites. I still can’t believe I got to see it in person. Pinch me!

But Wait There’s More

Yes indeed! There are more paintings, with bursts of blue, that I saw on this trip. Here’s the next one!

This gorgeous landscape entitled “The Bridge at Narni” is by stellar French painter, Camille Corot. He painted it in 1826 and it is in the Louvre. Does it draw you in? Hold on hold on! Before you get to drawn in too much, here’s another painting packed with beautiful blues.

Doesn’t this portrait look contemporary? It caught me and I could not stop looking at it. The Breton Boy by Roderic O’Conor was painted in 1893. That’s a few years before cell phone glow and flashing neon red lights, right? All I can say is I’m delighted to have found an Irish artist in the Louvre (says she with a few Irish relatives and forebears).

Still Even More Beautiful Paintings

This gorgeous (gorgeous) painting is also at the Louvre and is called “Portrait of Madeleine” by Marie-Guilleme Benoist. She painted it in 1800. Within of few years of completing this painting, she had to stop because of her husband’s job. ;-/

Here’s one more painting that keeps returning to me as I reflect on the nearly 10 museums we visited between April 3 and April 20th.

This luscious painting is by Joaquin Sorolla. It’s a gorgeous and masterful painting of one of his daughters. I stared at it and his self-portrait, both located at the Sorolla Museum in Madrid, for ages. This museum is located in Sorolla’s home where he had a studio. Therefore, I could imagine him at work! Other visitors would walk through the entire space and, like me, return to favorites. Looking at his compositions, incredible brushstrokes, sketches and family portraits was fantastic and memorable.

Surprising Twist

I never really expected my better half to enjoy all of these museum visits. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a thoughtful and inquisitive human being. But I am forever grateful for his insightful observations! Here’s a selfie we took in Amsterdam.

The Best Picture of All

We had not seen David’s mama or family since before the pandemic. So we were so excited to spend nearly two weeks with them. This family time included one week at a big ol’ 1750s farmhouse in Wales. Step aside all you amazing works of art. This is my favorite image with a burst of polka dots and blue: David and his amazing mama.

That’s the Latest

Thank you for reading here today. If you live here in Raleigh, I am having a show at NOFO @ THE PIG for the entire month of July! It’s entitled “Revealing Raleigh: Exploring Real and Imaginary Landscapes.” Contact me if you have any questions about the show.

How about you gentle reader? Have you noticed bursts of blue in your neck of the woods? If you have, please do share in the comments below.