Yellow Freesias oil painting of flowers

Yellow Freesias Oil on wood 8" x 8" N/A

May have to try one of this week's freesia compositions much bigger. (Goodie!)

Morris Was Here flower oil painting

Morris was Here Oil on wood 8" x 8" NFS

By the end of this week, maybe I'll be sick of freesias. But right now, they are my favorites.

First Freesias white floral still life

First Freesias Oil on wood 8" x 8" N/A

Subject matter I used to avoid: fabric patterns & fussy flowers, but no more! I'm enjoying the sort of dimension and interest that patterns add. ...and squinting really does help simplify those busy leaves and petals. More of the same coming up this week.

Clockwork Tulips yellow tulip floral painting

Clockwork Tulips Oil on wood 11" x 14" N/A
Click image to see bigger.

Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

I'm not one of those people who can watch a movie or read a particular book more than once. So it may seem strange that I can paint the same composition over and over and never grow tired of it... This arrangement of yellow tulips in the blue pottery vase teaches me something new every time. To see more of my tulip paintings, click here.

Wedding Illustration ceremony bride groom

Here's four new and improved wedding illustrations (on top!) I'm including the old versions too, I wanted to see them all neat and lined up for comparison purposes... I'm happy with the updated "set." For more information on themed illustration art, do email me directly.

Art & Wine Festival re-scheduled

Well, I guess we'll try again. Last time we were rained out, this time the Art & Wine Festival will take place July 24th, the same weekend as the Kent Blues Festival... Fingers crossed for good weather and a nice turnout!
In other news, I am re-working the wedding themed illustrations and should have something to show for it soon.

Iris Shadows

Iris Shadows Oil on wood 8" x 8" N/A

Click image to see bigger.

Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

The good thing about being a daily painter is you can always try again tomorrow.

Wayside Daisy Shoreby Club annoucement

Wayside Daisy Oil on gallery wrapped canvas 16" x 20"

Click image to see bigger.

I am pleased to announce another upcoming exhibit of my floral still life paintings...although this one is not your average open-to-the-public kinda thing. It'll take place during September and October at the Shoreby Club a private country club in Bratenahl, OH. The club is located in a huge Victorian era mansion on the edge of Lake Erie. The art gallery is on the second floor and features great lighting for the art. They gave me a tour last week and it's a total dream. This show is just the excuse I needed to paint a few bigger paintings!

Beagle on Blue dog pet portrait painting

Beagle on Blue Oil on wood 6" x 8" SOLD

Click image to see bigger.

Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

Coco and Layla our cats have a few well deserved nicknames: Stinkerbell, Spazattack & Spooky to name a few. Can't imagine any of those being good for a DOG. I'm not sure what this dog's name is, I suppose I should have asked. My buyer is happy with the painting, that's what I really needed to know. He looks like a Cuddlebug to me.

Hydrangeas floral still life flower painting

Hydrangeas Oil on wood 8" x 8" SOLD
Click image to see bigger.  Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

I'm hoping to get back to the wedding series soon, folks. Although, there may be only a few of you out there anticipating the final versions. Will post all four finished pieces at once. Heh, sometimes I worry about losing visitors when I stray too far away on pet projects. In related news: I put off painting hydrangeas for some reason (too many fussy petals?) but I think I did ok on these. Would like to try some more before they are out of season again. Ah, so many things to paint, so little time.

Birthday Tulips floral still life with tulips

Birthday Tulips Oil on wood 8" x 8" N/A

Click image to see bigger.

Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

I have a wonderful collector who is celebrating a special birthday today (Tuesday!) Happy Birthday, M. Will re-photograph this when it's had time to dry properly! It's better in life.

Buddy custom pet portrait fees and procedure

Buddy Oil on wood 10" x 8" SOLD

Click image to see bigger.

Diane@DianeHoeptner.com

How cute is this little scrapper? Despite my snarky self I enjoy painting pets very, very much. My custom pet portraits are available through LINGG in Cleveland, OH or directly through me.
Interested? I'd love to hear from you.
Pet portraits are painted from your photo(s.) Backgrounds will be simplified. Extra pets cost extra. A non-refundable deposit of half down is required to start. When your portrait is complete, I will email you a picture of it... Upon your approval, the balance becomes due and the painting ships once dry enough to handle via US Mail priority. All prices include shipping within the continental USA. See more pet portraits, here.

Wedding Sample illustration wedding tradition

Wedding Sample Oil on canvas panel 7.5" x 10" NFS

This ritual can go horribly wrong. Some couples will behave and it's a sweet photo opp. Some however will not resist the urge to "stuff" "smear" and otherwise cause a spectacle. I always cringe when that happens.
It's easier to ramble aimlessly about weddings than it is about floral still lifes. (: I will fine tune this series as time permits.

Wedding Toss painted illustration flowers bride

Wedding Toss Oil on canvas board 7.5 x 10 NFS

I caught the bouquet at my younger sister's wedding. Bless her heart though, she may have threatened the lives of the other women present if they dared get in my way. (Thanks Sis!) Alas, it still took me several more years to get to the altar myself... But that's a story for another day.

Likin' this one a lot. I made some progress with cleaner colors and the rougher brushwork is nice too. One more and then maybe we'll try them all again. I know I can paint these better second time around.

Wedding Dance illustration painting

Wedding Dance Oil on canvas panel 7.5" x 10" NFS

I tried to make this one work without the graphic outlines. But this style painting is so much better with them. Next time around, will use the burnt umber/sienna outlines to enhance all.

Wedding Drink painterly illustration

Wedding Drink Oil on canvas panel 7.5" x 10" NFS

Ok, I've stopped whining about the cancelled art festival -Considering the damage caused by a related weather system in Millbury, Ohio I should probably count my blessings it didn't swing into my neck of the woods.

This is a rough sketch with a wedding theme. More wedding paintings coming up as well as fine tuning re-paints too. These illustration style series need much tweaking to look cohesive as a group...the first few will be rough like this one! This is a pet project and I will get back to the floral still lifes soon!

Buzzkill weather: "hail, damaging winds?!"

Well the car is packed and my dear husband agreed to spend today at the Kent Art & Wine Festival with me... I spent most of the week gathering paintings, making labels, signage and notecards. All we had to do this morning was drive down there. The weather forecast called for rain which I was willing to brave. Then they said there was a good chance of damaging winds and hail. What??!! In June??!! I don't have anchors for the corners of my tent, heh, it's likely to blow away with a strong wind. So, I cancelled. My apologies to anyone who was planning on visiting. Ahhh, such is life.
Update: Apparently the whole festival was cancelled this afternoon due to "tornado" like conditions.

Blank Notecards for art festival

This week will be a little short on new paintings... Today I am doing a show and tell with some folks on the Westside of Cleveland and Saturday will be exhibiting at the Masterpieces on Main Art & Wine Festival in Kent, OH.
Pictured above, the blank notecards I will be offering in six packs at the festival. I decided to make them myself: an undertaking I do not recommend. But if you are in the Kent area on Saturday, do visit me! Buy a painting or snag some notecards while they last.