Sans Souci Red Rose Lane by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Sans Souci Red Rose Lane by Nancy Medina
16X20
Oil on Linen Board
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Sans Souci was originally painted over a year ago, but tonight I went in and made quite a few changes and freshened up my fence. I felt a bit like Tom Sawyer, painting that fence and wishing someone would come along whom I could talk into doing it for me.

It's been an incredibly long week in the office, with our company going through a major restructuring and the hubby being away on a business trip (he's home now, in case you are an ax murderer with my address....). I'm counting my blessings though, because I still have a job (during the day) that will continue to help me keep building my dream of having a really successful art business someday. I am absolutely exhausted today, but there is just something about being in the studio, painting that always puts the wind back in my sails!

Blue Shadow Delphinium Picket Fences of Coronado Island by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Blue Shadow Delphiniums
by Nancy Medina
12X12
Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Blue Shadow Delphiniums is the newest picket fence painting in Flower Mound Studio today. This painting is based on the beautiful cottage gardens of Coronado, California, where I will be headed in just a few weeks! I visit the island each spring for a solo show at Art and Frames by Wood Gallery, coinciding with the annual Flower Show. Click here to see photos from my first show on the Island. It's the perfect place for a flower junky such as myself to visit. I can hardly wait to see what's in bloom. Stay tuned to my art blog for photos to come. Be sure to pack a sweater and some comfy walking shoes - I promise to take you along for a visual tour!

This has been a busy week for Studio Director AnnieBee, with visitors to greet, art students to supervise, and all manner of excitement occurring in her domain. I think it was getting to her a bit because she started looking a little down, so, like the good servant I am, I came up with a plan to cheer up the boss - thus, the sojourn to the nearest toy store. Annie doesn't go to PetSmart often (she prefers boutique pet stores), but I swear when we pulled up and her little face lit up, she knew perfectly well where we were. Three new toys and one new squeaky ball later, AnnieBee was all smiles again. And when the boss is happy, everyone is happy!

*Sound of harps*

Rose Corner Rose Arbor and Picket Fence Painting by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Rose Corner by Nancy Medina
14X14
Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Rose Arbor is another new picket fence painting in Flower Mound Studio today. After a day in the office working on budget spreadsheets and a 32 page publishing contract, my brain needed red roses and a dose of serenity. A nice mocha coffee with whipped creme and real chocolate shavings on top would also be nice...and a foot massage. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait on those last items. The paintbrushes need washing and the pugs need bedtime walkies. If I hurry, I'll have just enough time to read a chapter or two out of my new Connie Willis book, All Clear, the sequel to her previous book, Blackout. If you like a really excellent time travel story, hers are the absolute best! I had no idea the sequel was out. What a nice surprise.

Rose Corner in the studio

Delphiniums of Coronado by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Delphiniums of Coronado
by Nancy Medina
11X14
Oil on Linen Board
Commissioned Work

Nancy Medina Web Site

Delphiniums of Coronado is a new painting in the studio, created for a special client who wanted a painting of a picket fence with delphiniums. She gave me free rein with the design, so I am hoping she likes it when she sees it! This painting is based on the beautiful cottage gardens of Coronado, California, where flower growing is a very serious passtime. Perfect weather, perfect soil, and a giant Flower Show competition each year all combine to give flower junkies like myself a bit of nirvana every time I visit! I am heading back here in just a few weeks, and hope to share photos with you then of my trip.

Contact me if you would like your own painting of delphiniums, picket fences, or your favorite flower combination! I would be delighted to create something for you.

Heart's Hyacinths and Sunflowers and Studio Adventures by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Heart's Hyacinths and Sunflowers
by Nancy Medina
14X14
Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Heart's Hyacinths and Sunflowers is the newest painting in the studio. We had a very busy day, with AnnieBee and I hosting a special guest student for a day-long art class. Judy and I painted hyacinths and tiny sunflowers, while AnnieBee and her foster sister, Hannah, supervised. Judy did a beautiful job on her painting, and she and I both agreed one can never have too much bright color!

Hannah appreciated adding a new fan to her list of admirers, and other than trying to attack her own reflection in the front door panel, barking at her sister, and digging all the stuffing out of her new bed and spitting it on the studio floor, Annie was a perfect hostess.

Sign up for a full day class or bring a friend for half the price - the pugs and I love visitors.

Click here for class information

The studio models were smelling awfully pretty!

Judy did a fabulous job on her sunflowers!

Poppy Prelude and a May December Romance by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Poppy Prelude by Nancy Medina
8X10
Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Poppy Prelude is drying on the easel in Flower Mound Studio. The pugs are snoozing today, exhausted from a visit from their favorite neighbor, Sweet Pea, who happens to be Howie's most true love. When Pea, a lovely, much younger Boston, arrives at our front door, Howie begins a howling, moaning yell that sounds a bit like pure joy. He gazes at her with such affection while his body wriggles with happiness.

It's a May-December romance, with him being more on the December end, so when he gets tired of chasing this energetic little gal around the yard, he finds a great spot to rest where he can always keep his adoring gaze upon her. Tonight I found Howie had put himself to bed in the big bed, curled up on his dad's pillow. I am quite certain he was reliving every happy moment with his beloved in his dreams.

Howard gazes upon his beloved

Sugar Bowl Sunflowers and Artscape at the Dallas Arboretum by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Sugar Bowl Sunflowers by Nancy Medina
14X14
Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Sugar Bowl Sunflower is a small study, a new painting just finished that was inspired by the larger version I posted on my blog yesterday. I'm already planning my inventory for Artscape at the Dallas Arboretum, March 16-18 and small pieces are very important to that show, as well as the larger pieces. It's the only outdoor show I do each year!

I'm hoping the tulips will be in full bloom again, and the weather is kind to us 100 or so artists in our tents under the trees. Last year gusts of wind took a few tents sailing, and the year before a snowstorm shut the show down one day early. Despite wind, snow, or rain, I still had wonderful clients show up in their winter clothes making their annual sojourn to visit my booth. This is definitely the most enjoyable art show each year, because it is in the most beautiful flower gardens in Texas. Mark your calendars for a fun day in the sun! (see, I am thinking positive about the weather here!) I hope you will join me.

Tulips and cherry blossoms, a great backdrop
for Artscape at the Dallas Arboretum

Simple Joys Sunflowers and Larkspur by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Simple Joys Sunflowers and Larkspur
by Nancy Medina
20X20
Palette Knife/Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Simple Joys Sunflowers and Larkspur is the newest painting in Flower Mound Studio today, and celebrates a bit of happiness in my home. When I get tired or discouraged, I find little things to give me something to look forward to. I love making my first cup of tea in the morning, adding creme and sugar, and that first warm sip. I love the ritual of waking up the puggies, giving each of them a kiss and telling them how much I adore them and asking if they are ready for breakfast. (The answer, as you can imagine, is always a resounding YES!). I love turning on my book on tape when I get in the car for the morning commute. If I try, I can find over a dozen little joys that make up each day. When times are hard or I am sad, I use each of them like stepping stones to make my way through. I hope you have a simple happiness in your life each day, something that keeps you strong on your journey. If you don't, I highly recommend getting a pug or three.... These little fatties always make me laugh.

Morning Daisy Red Daisies by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Morning Daisy Red Daisies
by Nancy Medina
10X10
Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Morning Daisies is the newest painting in the studio, and it was a day off from the office so I spent hours and hours on the couch surrounded by four snoring pugs. What a perfect way to spend a Monday holiday! These little red daisies are still hanging in there, thanks to the cool air in the studio, maybe I'll get a few more paintings before they retire.

Morning Daisy studio peek

Wild Daisies of Carmel by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Wild Daisies of Carmel
by Nancy Medina
6X8
Palette Knife/Oil on Linen Board
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Wild Daisies of Carmel, California, is based on the beautiful flowers that grew outside a small shopping center in town. I loved how the daisies had bed head, messy, sticky little petals that flew in the wind this way and that. If flowers grew like this in Texas, I'd be painting outdoors every single day! Here are the flowers that inspired this painting, below. Enjoy!

The daisy inspiration from
my trip to Carmel, CA

A little daisy with bed head....

Stolen Moments Sunflowers and Lilacs by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Stolen Moments Sunflowers and Lilacs
by Nancy Medina
16X20
Oil on Gallery wrap Canvas
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Stolen Moments Sunflowers and Lilacs is the newest painting in Flower Mound Studio, and ended a long day of painting yesterday. Today, after letting it rest overnight, I brightened up the yellow petals of the sunflowers, and made the peachy oranges of the cantaloupe more intense. This was my first black vase and I used ivory black, with a smear of Gamblin gray medium, with a light blue-white highlight at the end.

I also tried a different background approach, laying in a thick layer of viridian green mixed with transparent oxide red. I did not wipe that thick layer, but pulled all my colors directly out of that dark wet background. Believe it or not, I used light green paint for the sunflower petals. When the muted greens were laid on the wet trans ox red, a lovely warm yellow emerged. What a fun experiment this turned out to be!

I had to take several breaks away from the canvas to play with the Studio Director, who acquired two new toys today. It's the perfect reason to step away from the work and get a different perspective on it before it's finished. Nothing like stepping over the varied pieces of a stuffed yellow ducky to keep a painter on her toes....nodp

Blue Bloomers Hydrangeas of the Dallas Arboretum by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Blue Bloomers Hydrangeas
by Nancy Medina
11X14
Oil on Linen Board
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Blue Bloomers Hydrangeas is a new painting based on the blossoms of the Dallas Arboretum. This little painting is drying near the footheater in my studio, as the chilly wind whips around my garden in the back yard. My husband took a photo of our frozen bird bath and I liked how he captured the color and design. He has an eye for photography and can get the greatest photos with his IPhone, while my photos are always blurry, off center, and always listing just a bit to the right.

Click here for class information

If you'd like to see the place that inspires more of my flowers than any other (okay, except for maybe the flowers at Central Market *sound of harps*) come paint with me on January 28 during my workshop at the Dallas Arboretum. The classroom is nice and big and indoors so we won't be a bit chilly, and it's always a great day to paint in the most beautiful garden in North Texas, especially if Megan brings us chocolate like she did last time!

From my garden this morning, a frozen moment

Garden Medley Sunflowers and Poppies by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Garden Medley Sunflowers and Poppies
by Nancy Medina
20X20
Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Garden Medley is another foray into the forbidden sunflower zone. My art agent doesn't want sunflowers, she says they are not "in," my favorite gallery wants new paintings without sunflowers, and my studio is already filled to the gills with sunflowers. And yet, the urge to paint them again has overpowered me, kind of like the urge to eat that fruit tart my husband brought into the studio tonight with a dollop of whippy creme on top, even though I am trying like the dickens to lose three pounds so I won't look portly for the annual editorial board retreat where everyone including myself will be wearing jeans all weekend. Will power is definitely not my strong point, already, in this new year, and we're only 12 days into 2012! I hope you are doing a bit better than I am. I have not even made it to the gym yet.

Red Star Daisy Delight by Texas Flower Painter Nancy Medina

Red Star Daisy Delight
by Nancy Medina

SOLD

6X8
Oil on Linen Board

Nancy Medina Web Site

Red Star Daisy Delight is a small study as I work through a couple of future paintings in my mind. I always begin the painting long before I prep the canvas. Ideas about color come first, then the flower, then dark background vs light background, still life versus vignette, etc. Then I think about what can I add to this painting that will make it different than one I've ever done before, some tiny twist or direction that will make it unique. Sometimes I see a particular part first - the separation of the petals on a gerbera daisy laying on a white cloth in the studio made me instantly realize I would be painting red gerberas today, even though I had fully prepared to do a large hydrangea still life. Sometimes it's good to go with the flow, when the muses start singing, rather than change the station...

The fresh daisy stars take a bow!

AnnieBee on the couch, posing most especially for Theresa!

Sunflower Repose by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Sunflower Repose by Nancy Medina
11X14
Oil on Linen Board
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Sunflower Repose is the newest painting in Flower Mound Studio, a study of a sunflower lying on its side on a white sheet under the spotlight. Mondays are usually the hardest days, my first day back to work to the day job, and then coming home from the office feeling bone tired. I can't count the number of times I have gone to the studio at 6:30 pm. Instead of resting or sitting on the couch, I paint through my fatigue each night until at least 10 pm. Painting has become a balm to the day, a respite and also an escape for me. Sometimes I know I spend too much time in front of the easel, and lose track of life around me. I need to instill some of this habit into an exercise routine! But then again, this is the time of year the gym is so darn crowded, I think I'll wait on that just a bit longer. After all, I hear fresh flowers calling!

Shhhh, please keep the noise down, the studio model is resting!

Blue Sunday Sunflowers and Larkspur by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Blue Sunday Sunflowers and Larkspur
by Nancy Medina

SOLD

16X20
Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

Nancy Medina Web Site

Blue Sunday Sunflowers and Larkspur is the newest painting in the studio. I wanted to experiment with different canvas surfaces for the transparent background, to see if I could get more of a feel of soft edges, but with bright color in key spots. I painted this one much, much more quickly than I painted the sunflowers in my post yesterday. Why? This canvas cost a fraction of the linen boards I usually use (you can find them by googling New Traditions Art Panels). This was just a plain old cotton canvas, double gessoed and primed with a thin coating of raw umber. If I tell myself what I am working on doesn't have to be good, I tend to end up with a better painting. I have no idea at all why that is the case but I bet there is a counselor out there who has some suggestions...

Color Cascade Sunflowers and Daisies by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Color Cascade Sunflowers and Daisies
by Nancy Medina
16X20
Oil on Linen Board
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Color Cascade Sunflowers and Daisies is a new painting in Flower Mound Studio, where the pugs and I have been basking in the glow of our footheaters just about all day. One of us was painting, the other four were snoring, I'll let you guess who was doing what... I wanted to share some pictures of my home with you, and the new couch the pugs and I do happen to love sleeping on when the TV is on the Lifetime channel and a great chick flick is on! There is nothing better than a faux fur throw, a soft couch with comfy pillows, and four fat, warm pugs for the perfect napping activities....

This couch was made for nappin!

Howie insisted I include this picture again....

Sunflower Daisy Confetti Flowers and a Studio Peek by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Sunflower Daisy Confetti
by Nancy Medina
10X10
Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Sunflower Daisy Confetti is a new study as I work on a larger painting of the same arrangement in the studio today. I received a few notes from you indicating how much you like seeing "how the sausage is made" and the flower setups, so wanted to share with you a bit of the bigger picture. I felt a bit like the lotto winner when I found fresh daisies and two kinds of sunflowers at the local market today. I couldn't wait to get them back to the studio and get ready for a big, colorful, splashy painting!

The beautiful linen napkins that are under the setup came from a store in New Hampshire when I was visiting my friend Sharon a few years ago. I am always on the lookout for gorgeous linens and napkins to use as backdrops or settings. The napkin on the left, though, came from Pottery Barn. You're probably admiring that red gerbera daisy on the right, the one that stretches out as if gazing down upon the scene, aren't you? Yes, I love that flower, too! Although it does look like it wants to escape. The grass is always greener and all that good stuff.... Stay tuned to see this setup become a larger painting in the next day or two.

A little study for a
bigger painting which
will be coming right up!

Here's how the sausage is made...

Heaven's Door Sunflowers and Delphiniums by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Heaven's Door Sunflowers & Delphiniums

by Nancy Medina
12X12
Oil Gallery Wrap Canvas
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Heaven's Door Sunflowers and Delphiniums is an oil painting on deep gallery wrap canvas, and was painted last year following a trip to the Central Coast of California. I've been wishing for warmer weather lately, so am sharing this painting with you again to take the chill out of the air in Flower Mound Studio. Tomorrow I will drive my mom to the funeral of her best friend, who died unexpectedly on Monday. The morning after my father took his own life, this lovely lady, my mom's friend, was the first to come to mom's house. She arrived bright and early.

She sat at the kitchen table and had a glass of tea and talked with mom and stayed with her through the entire day. I will never forget such kindness. Some do not know how to react to death, and so avoid saying anything at all. Gail Wells stepped in during the hardest moment of my mother's life to simply be there for her. It may sound like a small act, but it took courage. Even more, it took a tremendous and loving spirit. May the angels take you gently, Gail.

Sunflower Flight With Daisies by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Sunflower Flight by Nancy Medina

SOLD

12X12
Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Sunflower Flight is the newest painting in the studio, one of my special "procrastination" paintings, which means basically I was supposed to be working on taxes and paperwork rather than painting this evening. Truthfully most of Sunflower Flight had been finished yesterday evening, starting at 11 pm when I had this sudden second wind fueled largely by the infamous cookies we spoke of earlier this week.

In case you are wondering, yes, I did eat two or four of these cookies over the sink, and then rinsed away the powdered sugar evidence so no one would be the wiser the next morning. Except for those darn empty spots on the cookie plate. Today I took matters in hand and sealed up the two remaining plates of cookies into a tupperware cake holder. This is my cookie deterrent, and in three hours, will effectively prevent me from repeating the same crime I committed 24 hours prior. I'll let you know tomorrow how that all works out...

Pansy Potpourri by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Pansy Potpourri by Nancy Medina

SOLD
14X14
Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Pansy Potpourri is the newest painting in Flower Mound Studio, courtesy of my patient and accommodating pansy models. I'm just guessing these blossoms would rather be outside than in my studio with the footheater blasting them, messing up their hairdos and spoiling their plans to socialize with their kin. I'm hoping there will be some pansies on hand for my workshop at the Dallas Arboretum later this month, since they are a great winter flower and one of the few blossoms that really thrive in the cold. I hope to see you there!

Violas and Pansies - A Step by Step Painting by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Violas and Pansies by Nancy Medina
16X20
Oil on Linen Board
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Violas and Pansies is the newest painting in Flower Mound Studio, in honor of a brief appearance by a group of colorful studio models. These lovely blossoms had a date with the flower bed outside this afternoon, so I had to paint quickly! I've shared the painting with you step by step below, as well as a photo of the models in the spotlight. They pulled double duty, posing with my holiday cookie photo for Facebook earlier today. You can find the recipe for these Russian Teacakes (the only ones I make every holiday!) here on the Betty Crocker Web Site. They're specially designed to be eaten with friends, or like I often do, secretly, over the sink, so I can hide the evidence of just how many I can inhale before I've even had breakfast. Enjoy!

The models take a bow!

I like to use a orange brown background
for pansies, even the purple ones.

The violas were fun to paint, and are
a little different from pansies because
they don't have the black faces.

I decided I needed one more element, and added my
signature green bowl to this one. The bowl appears
slightly elongated because of the tilt on the canvas.

And last but not least,
the Russian Teacakes!

Poppy Pirouette by Texas Flower Artist Nancy Medina

Poppy Pirouette by Nancy Medina
20X20
Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Poppy Pirouette is new painting in the studio, a freshened up version of a poppy landscape based on the beautiful blossoms of Utah. The weather in Flower Mound was perfect today - sunny and cool, and AnnieBee and her siblings and I spent some time outside tossing toys around and admiring the well behaved big dogs who moved in next door. Today Carlos made grilled chicken and salad, and I cooked up a quadruple batch of Russian Teacakes to send to some good friends who moved away and used to get a plate every year at Christmas. They don't know they're coming, so it will be our secret! I'm not quite sure how best to pack up these round butter cookies and keep them from crumbling in shipment... I'm going to wrap them in clear bags and then put them in holiday tins. Maybe I should have UPS add lots of peanuts? Any suggestions from my baker friends?

Happy New Year's eve to you and your loved ones. Thank you so much for walking with me and the pugs on this art journey in 2011. What a joy it is to be able to do this as a business, and share my own love of nature, flowers, and the world with others.

Annie in her new herringbone sweater
from her Aunty Tracey Terry!

Fingertip Sunflower by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Fingertip Sunflower
by Nancy Medina
6X8
Oil on Linen Board
Purchase Information

Nancy Medina Web Site

Fingertip Sunflower is a new small study in Flower Mound Studio, as the pugs and I prepare for our usual New Year's eve celebration - lounging about (or in my case, slinging paint) in the studio. The most entertaining part of New Year's is calling my mom to see how her annual party is going. This particular celebration has been going on for almost 16 years. Every new year's eve, my niece stays the night with mom. They have party horns and chip and dip and all manner of good snack foods. And they ring in the new year together. My niece is 18, so this tradition has been an important part of her growing up.

Mom is still a bit of a night-bird, even though her health is not as strong as it used to be. She likes to stay up til past midnight, and then sleep until at least noon each day. She lives in the queen's time zone, which I think is absolutely the perfect schedule for her. I seem to be inching closer to that time zone myself, the older I get. I like to think of it as if I am following in her footsteps. Happy almost new year to you! Stay warm, stay safe, and for heaven's sake, don't forget to hug your critters!

Petal Pushers Sunflowers and Daisies by Texas Artist Nancy Medina

Petal Pushers Sunflowers & Daisies
by Nancy Medina

SOLD

16X20
Oil on Linen Board

Nancy Medina Web Site

Petal Pushers Sunflowers and Daisies is the newest painting in Flower Mound Studio, as I start work on a new four foot container garden for the gallery in Coronado, California. My Christmas commissions are all delivered safe and sound! This was the busiest quarter I've ever experienced for my art, which worries me just a bit since the busiest time is usually spring, which is just around the corner. I definitely need to hire some elves or at least get a few studio assistants with thumbs. Not that my current assistants don't lend a helpful paw now and then, ensuring Mom gets away from the easel long enough to get some perspective on things.

New Year's eve is fast approaching, and another year has gone by. I have a feeling, and I'll let you know if it comes true, that next year is going to bring some big changes. I had the Christmas blues for a few days, but already feel my spirits lifting. I hope that you are having a good holiday season, and not feeling down from all the overwhelming hustle and bustle of it all. This is a tough time when loved ones are far away. I'm so thankful my family is very close, but sad that I can't see my dear friends who live in other states. Thank goodness for the internet, and the phone!

Petal Pushers on the easel

Holiday Card Starring The Boss, aka Anniebee