Recently a girlfriend of mine asked if I would paint a picture for her kitchen. She sent me links of this pottery that she wanted..........I went around and found some other forms of inspiration for her, of the same subject.
She brought me a 16x20 cardboard canvas (not my fave); I searched my stash and found a stretched canvas of the same size (figured I would surprise her with that).
Within the first day, I had about 80% of the painting done, just needed to add the detail. I put the piece aside for a few days

*always, put it down and walk away from it - gives you better insight into the piece.

Yesterday (July,15,08 - I finished the painting), I wrote her and said 'I have something for you', within 2 min she was calling me! Too cute!
We had agreed that I would bring it to her house today, but last night I just could not wait and took it to her - she Loves it!!!
All in all it took about 10 hours to complete.

the 2nd painting...

I also painted a basic black cat on a colorful background.

it's baaaack!

I feel my creativity over the past several months has been null and void, but inspiration has come to me and I have completed 2 paintings (available at: starvnrtist.etsy.com).

I had family in town back in May/June and I took them to the zoo. I am obsessed with the peacocks there - they are just so beautiful! I can take hundreds of pictures of them each time I see 'em.
*of course, you take hundreds of pictures and only a few turn out good.
I got a really good picture of a peacock looking at me, so I painted it. If I do say so myself, it is a beautiful painting.