White Daffodil

I remember painting a daffodil years ago, one of the first "palette knife paintings" I had done. I went on to ONLY paint with palette knife for an entire year. Really can't say how or why I did it, because I was never able to acquire the looseness that I have with the brush. Have since tried to bring it out, it's just not for me. However, I do like to see a lot of brushwork on my paintings, so maybe it stems from that time...

Anyway! More spring inspiration :)

6x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com

Daisy

The daisy population is out of control in my backyard. Excellent for painting through!

6x6 on 1/8" museum quality panel
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Yellow Iris

All of the irises in our yard are in full bloom. Such a treat to find joy like this outside again.

6x6 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com

Queen Anne's Heirs

The little snow we had this year has melted, and we're busy waiting for green. In the meantime you can find me looking at the wildflower seeds, like these Queen Anne's Lace. Beautiful.

"First you have brown, all around you have brown. Then there are seeds and a wish for rain, and then it rains. And it is still brown, but a very hopeful, very possible sort of brown..."
And Then It's Spring by Julie Fogliano

6x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel

www.halliekohnart.com

Lily Stamen

Although these lilies were beautiful, it was their stamen that really intrigued me.

6x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com

Peonies

There is nothing quite as delicious as the smell of peonies. And it is amazing to have cut peonies in the house. Luckily, these come without ants!

8x10 on 1/8" museum quality panel

www.halliekohnart.com

Dahlia Bouquet

Am feeling so honored to have been contacted by a local home renovation business. They'd like to display some of my pieces in their showroom! The space looks really nice and I am so excited to see some of my paintings hanging there.

18x24 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com

Japanese Irises

My husband and I were sitting out on our patio having a drink as the sun was going down. It is one of my favorite times of day, when the light changes so drastically in our back yard and that sunlight shines right through the flowers. Definitely something I wanted to capture as a painting. Not only because of how beautiful it looked at that moment, but also because of how it made me feel.

There was another time when I painted a different cluster of Japanese Irises in my yard. Those were done with palette knife, and the flowers were growing (and painted) all in a line. That painting is hanging in my home because it was 12x24" and I was so proud of the detail--did I mention it took FOREVER to paint? Honestly, I much prefer this version because of the looseness, which is much more fun to do.

Here is the link to that post [http://halliekohn.blogspot.com/2013/06/japanese-irises.html]. Hopefully it shows not only a change in painting tool, but also growth as an artist.

8x8 on 1/8" museum quality panel
www.halliekohnart.com
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Geraniums

Geraniums adorn our front step every year. I love them because they just keep flowering and looking good all summer long.

6x6 on 1/8" museum quality panel

www.halliekohnart.com

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Flower Bouquet

This painting feels like a culmination of all of the different things I have been working on. It's done with palette knife, but finally has the looseness I have been wanting. This larger scale allows for that. So enjoyed myself while painting this!

20x24 oil palette knife painting

www.halliekohnart.com

a close-up of the juicy colors and knife marks

Peonies in the Yard

We have two varieties of peonies which have the most beautiful and fragrant blossoms. Although they are full of ants, I can never resist clipping some to bring in the house. They last quite a while in water and definitely bring the summer in.

Took this photo in our yard and thought it had great light. 

8x8 on 1/8" Museum Quality Panel/Brush

www.halliekohnart.com

Some detail photos:

Goldfinch on Cone Flower

It has been a while since I have painted with my palette knives. Doing a very similar painting to one that I recently painted with brush really allowed me to compare the way I paint with each. When I went at the prior painting with a brush, that is exactly what I did, just went at it. On the other hand, for this painting I made grid lines and did an under drawing with pencil. Not as fun, or as loose, but I still love the result.

8x10 on 1/8" Museum Quality Panel

www.halliekohnart.com

Hummingbird on Bee Balm

Deciding what to paint is often a challenge for me, something that I know a lot of artists struggle with. When this happens I typically go through all of my photos (over and over again) looking for inspiration. However, there are often times when I get tired of my selection or nothing is really calling to me.

Luckily, I was inspired by the little visitors we've had to our yard the past two weeks or so. I knew I wanted to paint a hummingbird, and my bee balm also started opening this week--which they love! It was a match made in (painting) heaven. 

8x10 oil on 1/8" museum quality panel/brush

www.halliekohnart.com

Hibiscus Hiatus

My mom and I went to Washington DC in August. One place we visited was the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. We spent some time sitting around the fountain in the center of the garden, which was where I captured a photo of this great flower. My favorite part though was discovering the little Pavilion Cafe, a convenient lunch location that just happened to serve icy cold sangria to hot, thirsty tourists.

6x6 Oil Palette Knife Painting

www.halliekohnart.com

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Trumpet Vine

These gorgeous vines are a sight to see! Long ago I wanted to plant one in my own yard, until I learned how powerful the vine is. I've seen them growing on tipped fences, bent posts, and even up trees. You would need a pretty stable structure to withhold the strength of this vine.

This painting just flowed so easily--love when that happens!

8x8 Oil on Museum Quality Panel

www.halliekohnart.com