Flowers of the Spring

Flowers of the Spring
Copyright 2014 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas
16" x 20"

Now, my fair'st friend,

I would I had some flowers o' the spring that might

Become your time of day.

-Shakespeare, A Winter's Tale

Honey and Roses

Honey and Roses
Copyright 2014 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas
16" x 20"

Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers.

-Robert Green Ingersoll 

This is a still life painting of peonies and roses from my garden.  I did two version of it one with a yellow background and one with a red background which I will post next week. This yellow one started with a first layer of paint where I abstractly depicted Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee."  I can still taste the honey.

Below are two photos of the work in progress where the underpainting can still be seen.

Koteewi Park

Koteewi Park
Copyright 2014 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas
16" x 20"

This past weekend I participated in the Hamilton County Paint Out.  It was an amazing experience and challenge to have just 2 and a half days to create a painting for the competition!  This painting of a spot in beautiful Koteewi Park won Honorable Mention.

Below is a photo of the painting in progress at the scene of the crime...

Now There Is A Pearl

Now There Is A Pearl
Copyright 2014 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas
16" x 20"

An oyster opens his mouth

to swallow one drop.

Now there is a pearl.

Let yourself be silently drawn by the pull of what you really love.

-Rumi