Monday, September 12, 2011

sleeping flowers

The last week its been a challenge to cut a boquet because all the flowers are going to sleep.



I've collected my sweet pea seeds, the plants themselves dug back into the earth.


And I hope you'll pardon the paint on my hand. I really do wash up before I cook dinner!



I did manage a late summer boquet, but most of the blooms come from my mother's beautiful garden. There's even a rogue grapefruit blossom there. The fragrance is heady and intoxicating.



I started out with a spoon for the sleeping flowers, but have been wanting to paint some canvases.



These are 'warm ups' five by seven inches. Acrylic and oil pastel on masonite board.


Thats butterflies flying around the still unfinished braided girl on the left.


Since I especially like to paint people I know, here's Nina wishing a hummingbird safe journey til next year. But you will be seeing me alot sooner, I promise!


xxx


julie






juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

47 comments:

  1. You must have so much fun creating your beautiful pottery and paintings. I just love looking at it!!!

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  2. Julie these are wonderful! I've always marvelled at your ability to paint on convex and concave surfaces and it's wonderful to see your work on two-dimensional surfaces! I love these and look forward to seeing more. So very charming. And now I'm doubly certain that the children of the world need to see your stories and illustrations in picture books! Best...Gloria

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  3. i do love your painting julie, i wish someday one would decorate my home walls. maybe someday you will sell these on Etsy?

    i always like to see Nina on your pottery or paintings!

    now i must hurry in school...

    hugs,
    Delila

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  4. Nina is gorgeous, but your paintings Julie, take the absolute cake. I love them SO MUCH.

    And even your hands are artistic and perfect with that shade of blue. Will these paintings be in etsy?

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  5. These just make me smile!
    The girl in the braids reminds me of my little girl. She braids her hair often.

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  6. your 'warm ups'!!! i'm swooning... i gotta go back and look at them again. have a little chat with each one - see what they have to say. ; )

    xoxo

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  7. well ms julie i am always late to your postings! your work is beautiful and so inspiring! thnak you for visiting the artseat... I love stephanie lee and I love her work. I have been very fortunate to have taken several of her classes, she is truly a gem inside and out...

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  8. Beautiful Julie, and never mind about the paint, it just shows you've been busy creating with those artistic hands

    xx

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  9. Gorgeous, atmospheric artworks, I love everything about them - the colours, the subjects...

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  10. Dear Julie...how beautiful your art is...so serene somehow, and the colours are divine. Like a little piece of heaven. i especially love Nina & her hummingbird! Happy September to you...I've never smelt a grapefruit blossom (not something that grows in England) but now I can imagine the gorgeous scent until I do! Thank you xoxo Rachel

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  11. Gloria has already beautifully written all I would like to say to you Julie. You are a constant source of joy to me. x

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  12. Oh Julie, your paintings are lovely, Nina is my favourite, she's wearing a beautiful necklace.........I hope to grow some Hollyhocks this year too.

    My sweet peas are just coming up, planted a bit late but the self sown ones in the compost will be flowering once the weather warms up a bit more.

    So if these paintings are 'warm ups', what are you going to be doing in the future?............. I can't wait

    Claire :}

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  13. Would you believe it! I've just returned from the garden having collected my sweet pee seeds for next year. . . . Great minds think alike! You've put me in the mood to do a bit of painting, I really should make more time for it, it used to be my first love before knitting came along!

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  14. Hello Julie !!!! como siempre bellisimo (beautiful )y tan delicado tu trabajo... cariƱos querida amiga !!!!

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  15. Hi Julie-
    Our flowers are going to sleep here, too, in New England. But, there seems to be a last-minute burst with many of them - my morning glory is just beautiful!

    Love,love your new paintings, they are wonderful!

    And that majolica pitcher!!!!

    XO Liz

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  16. Such sweetness Julie. What a pleasure to read your posts and see your beautiful work.

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  17. Oh Julie....I love your little paintings!
    Gosh, your style and colors are the most lovely I have seen from anyone in a long time. I want to be in my studio to take advantage of the inspiration that I feel when I see what you have accomplished (!!)

    Thanks for the love you put into your work...and for the little "extra toadstool" that arrived at my house last Friday - I adore it! (and the spoon)
    xoxo

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  18. oooohhhhhhhh i don't even know what to say, without gushing. it is all so beautiful... and i do not do that painting justice!!!!! you are so very sensitive to what comes from my heart: before i left, i sat out on the porch and watched the hummingbirds as much as i could, because i knew they'd be gone when i got home. thank you for making me feel very very special and beautiful.....xox ps. yesterday afternoon here in breckenridge i worked on a piece that talks about walking up and down trails and always carrying home in my heart the earth's embroidered flowers.....xoxo

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  19. of course, A BOOK!!! yes yes yes. i am first in line.

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  20. As you know I love your ladies, your "Nina" is just wonderful. The ladies look terrific on masonite, I love the cards you have been sending with your pottery pieces.

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  21. i am late to the party....

    oh...these are just charming...beautiful pieces of art..each one....

    love love love them....and the little hummingbird on nina's shoulder... love that....

    summer's flowers are slipping by....

    wonderful post

    kary and l'il teddy
    xx

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  22. Wonderful julie, the paintings are beautiful as is the spoon.
    xx

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  23. helloo lovely! thanks for your sweet message- with starting up a new blog im still adding my bloggy chums to my blog- ive just realised i hadnt added you! your now there so i can keep track of your lovely posts julie xxxx
    wowza! always the one that makes me spell bound with your beautiful talent!- those paintings are really something special xxxx

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  24. Flowers and paintings, all so pretty, Julie. Love the blooms from your Mum's garden. x

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  25. Beautiful paintings...I love Nina with the hummingbird and the way you have set her to the side instead of straight in the middle....so clever.
    Julie x

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  26. Oh Julie, the theme of your latest creations is delightful and the paintings themselves; I love them!

    I am very taken with humanizing flowers in my writing and crafting so you can imagine how your post has made me a very happy lady.

    Have a joyful and inspiring autumn.

    Stephanie

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  27. Your are so talented! love your paintings. Nina is my favourite.
    My sweetpeas didn't do well this year for some reason.
    Isabelle x

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  28. Love,Love,Love, your new paintings!! So fresh and lovely!!
    xx Susan

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  29. Julie~ I think you can paint anything. Just lovely. I also loved your recent Halloween black kitty. It's like stepping into a magical land... ~Mandy

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  30. The girl with braids and butterflies is so, so very beautiful!

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  31. So pretty! I have a few delphinium and asters left, but with night temps in the 30s, they won't last much longer.
    Enjoy your painting, Julie!
    Hugs,
    Zuzu

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  32. Julie,
    Your paintings are delightful.Just a glance brings on a sweet smile. The friendship that inspired these lovely paintings must be a golden one.
    Colleen

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  33. My mother, at 83 years of age has a much more green thumb than I do...I can always find blooms at her house. I'd LOVE to smell that grapefruit blossom. We do not have those in Ky!!!
    Pottery, beautiful as always.

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  34. How utterly charming these all are! You have such a unique style. I love the portraits of women with birds--delightful. Sweet peas--one of my favorite flowers. Sad that summer is quickly disappearing where we are. I do love fall, but I'm always a bit sad to see the last of the flowers this time of year.

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  35. I want to thank you blogging peeps for all the affirmative support..
    I love doing portraits and when you like them it gives me immense happiness and more confidence to move forward.
    xxx
    julie

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  36. Your paintings are Beautiful...just as lovely as your pottery! Everything you create has a story to tell!

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  37. I'm sure Nina must love this last one.

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  38. These little paintings are so sensitive and sweet. I love looking at your work, Julie. The flowers are beautiful. I have never had the pleasure of experiencing the scent of a grapefruit flower! Enjoy your day.
    Helen xsermity

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  39. Hi Julie -
    Our flowers are going to sleep here as well :( Fall is definitely in the air and of course - for us- next is not what I want to think about!!

    Your vases and pictures are beautiful - I love your imaginative approach to painting - your talents are immense. The "Nina" painting is amazing!

    We have been away for extended travels - (3 weeks) and I feel as though I have not visited you here in such a long time! Its good to be home!

    Vicki

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  40. Hello Julie...what a treat to see your paintings. They are beautiful...which is no surprise. Next, you may be commissioned to paint a ceiling in a glorious cathedral. I hope that your garden has a pleasant winter's nap and that they have colorful dreams.
    Have dancing paintbrush fun, Jody

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  41. Julie, your pottery in the header is just stunning! You are so talented! I think I saw some in Kary's header too!

    I'd also, thank you for your kind words about my mom, she will be forever missed and in our hearts.

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  42. Oh I have been sleeping..
    I'm late to your sleeping flowers post.
    I LOVE these new canvases.
    They remind me of Redon's portraits and he loved butterflies too..

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  43. im sorry to say id not come across your paintings before - where have i been?! i love love love your work, i might have to start saving my pennies, off to look around your blog now! fliss xxx

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Your Comments have the power to make me float right out to my workroom. Thank you for them!