I really planned to have this painting finished yesterday, but you know how things go ~ happy to say that #14 is completed. Forsythias forced to bloom indoors during Winter is a perfect way to brighten up even the coldest and darkest days of the season. So when I saw a little mention of this by my friend Cynthia Jobin, well I couldn’t resist the urge to surprise her!
#14 Forythia’s in Winter is an oil pastel (10×8) painted on a prepared gesso hardboard, starting with an acrylic underpainting first and after it dried two coats of “clear” gesso was applied to give the surface tooth. Click onto the image for a larger view ~
Hope you enjoy Cynthia, especially now that Spring has arrived in your neck of the woods!
DON’T TAKE MY IMAGES!! MY ART IS COPYRIGHTED.
PLEASE DON’T COPY OR USE MY IMAGE WITHOUT RECEIVING MY PERMISSION FIRST – SEE DISCLOSURE ON THE RIGHT PANEL.
Oil Pastels by Mary 
I was trying to pick a favorite and then I scrolled down and saw this one 😉
Thank you Pizzuti, great to see you. A special arrangement, glad you enjoyed it ~
Did you ever try the linseed oil varnish?
Great question. You know I haven’t the nerve yet – but I probably should take a painting that isn’t my best work and play around with the linseed oil varnish. I do worry about the yellowing and I think that’s my hesitation.
Yeah, that is an issue. Maybe do some yellow flowers? I wish I could find that artist again or remember what he wrote.
Interesting thought ~
This is beautiful. The whole idea of them blooming while winter is carrying on outside the window really ads to the feeling in this.
Hi Leslie, thank you so much for your feedback and thoughts. Cynthia’s comment on her blog set the whole idea in motion for the painting – when winters drag on we need that something extra to make the days a bit warmer and colorful inside. Glad you enjoyed!
Beautiful painting. Love the warm colors.
Thank you Janell!
Very interesting and lovely painting! But for me totaly confusing! Is the story true? In Germany it is always spring when the Forsythias bloom.
Thank you so much for your feedback and comment. The story is true – because winters are so long and cold in Maine (only just getting daffodils now) typically during February and March people will cut bare branches off Forsythia bushes and bring them indoors to force them to bloom. There is a simple process that you do to create the blooming (I’ve seen some youtube videos on this) and in a short time the branches are blooming – the effect is really beautiful and a wonderful way to offset the winter. You’re right they do bloom in the Spring, but you can force them indoors which is great offset in winter.
Superb! I love this one.
Thank you Susan!!
I really LOVE this one! Each branch glows with personality. Wonderful!
Thank you so much Elena – this was one of the most interesting scenes to work out with the OPs. Thank you I really appreciate your enthusiasm!
Oh lordy.. Prospero is right! There is the grand piano, stood-up on its keyboard edge! I am nonplussed! We have poetry, painting and music all at once!
Ah and don’t you just love it Cynthia! Leave it to Prospero to give a whole new definition to your scene and one that I have to say I love. Okay someday the surprises will continue – for now enjoy your weekend and hope it is beautiful in the wonderful world of Maine!
The window–oh so gelid–seems to outline a grand piano, adding a touch of musicality to your yellow flames.
Oh my Prospero just love your interpretation of the scene – hmmm a piano you say? Well now I suppose that could be decorating the corner and really lending way to a grand time making it oh so warm inside and leaving the chilling winter outside! Perfect description in yellow flames against the magical time of musicality! Thank you so much for joining in the fun! Have the most pleasant weekend – hi to Ariel!
Light and airy, love the softness of the yellow and blue against the hard wood table. Wonderful contrasting. The reflection on the table is just super delicious, the properties of the glass vase is just perfectly executed. All your flower paintings with a window cell are my favorites, the incoming light lends such a beautiful aura to the set up scene, just delightful to see. One more to go and I’m wondering what will be your choice of flower for no:15.
Have a most wonderful weekend!
Hi Eva, hope you have a wonderful weekend too! Thanks so much for your analysis and perspective on this floral – a lot of the pieces came together the more I gave thought as to the focal point, secondary subjects and bringing the magic of a winter scene outside. This piece was a lot of fun to work out. Thank you and #15, well I had all kinds of plans and then . . . well you have to see for yourself. All the best for a great weekend!
Swoooooon~~~~~~~
Thanks Angie!
Beautiful and striking colours , the yellow is really zinging
Thank you so much – love your thoughts on this one!
Lovely work, Mary! I love the composition and your idea for the Forsythias. Have a great weekend. 🙂
Thank you Jackie – appreciate your feedback! Have a great weekend too ~
Beautiful, delightful, and romantic! Love this one, Mary. 🙂
Thank you Amy – great description!
Delightful, Mary.
Thank you Sarah!
Beautiful and refreshing…. 🙂
Thank you so much Maniparna!!
this is an excellent work of art, the vase, the water, the folds of the blue curtain, splendid!
Thank you Holly for your beautiful thoughts on this piece! Have a lovely weekend.
🙂
What a nice surprise, Mary! And I am really very touched. I love everything about it. The suggestion of heavy snow drifts outdoors while spring insists on flowering indoors is very successful. There is a masterful contrast of the primaries…the soft cool blue of the drape and the deep warm reds of the wooden table, set off by the delicate branches of yellow blooms give it a Japanese, Zen-like feeling. It would be the perfect illustration for my poem “Among Other Things.” Thank you for a most wonderful painting!
I’m thrilled Cynthia that you enjoyed this painting – how could I not paint you the Forsythia’s after your muse about them? Totally love how you described those parts of the painting that speak to you – I had fun planning this out and actually sat on it a while until I could think through the process of creating the snowy outdoors again the warmth indoors. Actually loved working the scene – thanks for the thought! Have a wonderful weekend.
That’s absolutely beautiful, Mary! You can do it all!
Thanks Jill – so glad you enjoyed this painting! Have a great weekend.
Very beautiful.
Thanks Lee!
Oh, I do enjoy this one! Such a lightness about it and that blue in the curtain is the perfect foil to the brightness of the yellow. And….I love the little tieback on the curtain and how you used a darker colour to kind of tie it all together (excuse tie-back pun!) 🙂
Hi A!, thanks very much – I do appreciate your nice description. Your analysis caught a whole lot of the nuances of the painting!! Have a great weekend.
Beautiful as always, Mary. The yellow flowers are super.
Thank you Kerry – appreciate your thoughts!!
So lovely, Mary. The drapes look as pretty as the flowers. 🙂
Thanks Sylvia!! Have a beautiful and sunny weekend.
Love it! The color contrasts are beautiful.
Thank you Rhonda! Have a wonderful weekend.
I didn’t know Forsythias could be forced to bloom indoors, Mary. Thanks for the tip! And thanks for sharing your beautiful painting.
Oh yes Geralyn, there are lots of instructions on the internet for this technique. It’s especially nice when you deal with so much cold weather – a bit of a warmth to the indoors. Thanks ~
Very nice Mary. You have really captured the forsythias well!~Rita
Hi Rita, thanks very much!! Have a beautiful weekend ~
Lovely… And a refreshing idea for warming a winter’s day! 🙂
Thanks Bette – that’s the whole purpose and hopefully it has brought you a bit of warmth!
Delicately beautiful, Mary! 🙂
Thank you my friend! Hope you have a wonderful weekend Marina and best wishes for continued success on your new album!
Thank you, my dear Mary! 🙂
A wonderful weekend to you too!
Brrr 😦 After the long hard winter where I live, this reminder of the season has come much too soon for me! I like the icy blue colour of the curtain… nice touch.
Hi Pauline, I do understand (especially those that live in the Northeast and experienced the brutal effects of this past winter) – the snow was a gesture for a special blogging friend. Thanks for your comment on the curtain! Have a wonderful weekend.
Always lovely work 😊
Thank you John!! Have a lovely weekend.