Sunflower Sunshine

copyright 2012 Maria Soto Robbins

Sunflower Sunshine

This 8x10 oil painting started out as a study for a bigger sunflower painting I recently worked on. You may remember this commission. Anyway, the contrast of red, yellows and the brown center was very pleasing to my eye, so I went with it. 


When initially doing a study, of course, it's usually rough and you might not even apply enough paint. You'll maybe do one layer, or rough sketch, just to see how you'll approach the subject.  After I finished with this initial study, I decided to give it a couple of more layers of the oil paints, and really thickened up the center of the flower. It kind of painted itself! I'm very happy that my little study didn't get discarded after its intended purpose was accomplished!  

Sunflower Sunshine is available here.

Sunflowers Three

Well, it's finally finished. I don't think I over worked it, but I'm never sure.
Thankfully the Collector loves it, particularly the center impasto and the contrast with the yellow and red (which will go in her living room perfectly, she tells me).


Dimension: .24x36x75 gallery wrapped canvas

Media: Oils
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For prints and cards, please go to my FineArtAmerica store.

Work in progress

Still working on this sunflower oil painting and having a lot of fun with it. Glazing is something I haven't done too much of and I've glazed the leaves with at least a dozen different coats of thin paint, in different colors of the yellow family. In glazing, you need to let each layer dry completely before applying another layer so it becomes very time consuming. You can use mediums to speed up the process but I've only been using linseed oil to thin the paint with my water mixable oils.


The center, however, in a typical sunflower is composed of numerous disk flowers and I wanted to capitalize on this area and have thick impasto since I know my collector likes this technique. So, what you see in the center, is the background for the impasto which will be added later. I'm not too happy with the leaves showing in the upper left flower. Will have to work on that...

I really like the red background contrasting with the yellows. Let me know what you think!

Work in progress

These babies are the inspiration for a new Sunflower painting I'm working on. It's a request from a collector who wants a red background behind the yellow flowers. She plans to put the painting, which measures 24x36, over her living room sofa. I'll let you know how it goes.

 Sketch

Laying in the local colors

Orange Sunflower Block 1 Original Oil Painting

I do love sunflowers! They always make me smile and make me feel happy which is why, I guess, I had so much fun painting this.

It has a very raised, textured, impasto center. I used oils and this lovely flower doesn't need a frame since it's staple free and painted black on the sides to display without a frame. Varnished to protect it from dust and ensure longevity.

Dimension:
5x7x 1 & 1/2" gallery wrapped canvas

Media:
Oils

SOLD

Yellow Sunflower Art Pendant

I just wanted to share another one of my pendants that jewelry designer Susy Paredes of Earthexpressions created from one of my original paintings.

This beautiful pendant is handmade from a square recycled glass tile decoupaged with a beautiful photography print of my original painting, "Yellow Sunflower". She coated it with jewelry grade resin to give it a shiny glass-like finish and long lasting protection.  It has exceptionally vivid colors, a unique thick bevel, and a lovely sheen. I'm so pleased with Susy's work!

Dimensions:
Measures 1" x 1" x 1/4". Large silver plated aanraku bail is attached for easy stringing.

Comes with a black leather 17" single strand necklace.
Gift box included.

Special Introductory Price! Click here for my Etsy link to  Yellow Sunflower Art Pendant.

Raquel with Sunflower Apron

My good friend, Raquel, has a newly remodeled kitchen with sunflower theme and colors. I love her happy kitchen! For Mother's Day I gave her an apron that I had printed with one of my original sunflower oil paintings on it and right above is her name. Doesn't she look cute?

I'm debating whether to add aprons to my etsy shop. They're so much fun to design. Any thoughts about that?

Yellow Sunny Sunflower

Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins

This impressionistic painting was done with oils and it shows a closeup partial view of a sunflower. This is one of those flowers that just looking at it, makes me cheer up and relax! It's lovely!

Lightly varnished to protect it from dust.
Dimension: 12x16 gessoed canvas panel
Media: Oils

You can click the link above for my etsy purchase info or just click the paypal button below.

Sunflower Single Oil Painting

This impressionistic painting was done with oils and it shows a close up, partial view of a sunflower. We have a small field in nearby Homestead that I passed by some time back and it was such an unusual and lovely sight to see several hundred sunflowers in our area! Sunflowers are definitely one of my favorite, make me smile flowers!

Dimension: 12x16
Media:Oils
Price: $175.00

Available for purchase through Etsy.

New Art Pendants!

I’m so pleased with my new pendants! They’re small paintings done on watercolor paper, then they’re encased and sealed with a water resistant resin which gives it a glass like appearance. The completed work is set into a pewter, silver tone bezel and suspended from a metallic necklace choker with a magnetic lath type clasp. Real easy to put on and off!! I love the finished product...

Let me know what you think! I need your input…