Painting #95 - Autumn Cactus

I painted this cactus from a photo I took last year when it was autumn in Arizona.  It is a very small cactus with spines truly that long and the leaves were lying around it.

Painting #88 - "Bishop's Cap" Cactus

I did this from a photo I took last year.  It is called a 'Bishop's Hat' and the shape of it IS this odd but it bothers my eye when I see it.  It is an interesting and different kind of cactus.
I tried a few different things on this painting.  I covered the wet paint on the cactus itself with an old t-shirt and it gave a wonderful texture that is very close to the real cactus.  Then I used acrylic for the line between the dark and on the top as it was a fuzzy kind of growth and of course, it looks better in the real painting.
Another fun experiment.

Painting #65 View Through The Cactus

I have painted this cactus before but this time I wanted to try the water-soluble ink with it (any excuse will do :).  I added the watercolor when the ink was dry.  However, my main purpose was to look through the hole of the cactus to surrounding landscape because that is what caught my interest in the first place.

I find myself setting little challenges, those "I wonder if I could..." and then jump in and try.  They are not always successful but I know I tried and always learn from successes and from failures.

Painting #61 Cactus and Full Moon

One morning a few years ago we were going to church early (in Arizona), early enough that it was still dark out when I saw these cactus framed by the full moon.  I tried to paint it back then and failed so I did this one from memory and used gouache.  Worked great.  There is just something about painting on black paper that really interests me.

Painting #59 - Memorial Day and Cactus

This is how to celebrate Memorial Day on Cactus Monday.

Painting #53 - Blooming Cactus

This is from a photo reference I took of a blooming cactus just before we left Arizona.  I am trying to play with light more but those yellows get me every time!

Painting #48 - A Very Different Cactus

I get inspired by the strangest things.

Last week Marthann's Musings featured the work of Guiseppe Arcimboldo: Fruit and Vegetable Artist (1527-1593).  It looked like so much fun I was inspired to try it and the result is a "Fruit and Vegetable Cactus".

I have a wacky sense of humor!  LOL

Painting # 40 - Holey Cactus - Teri Casper

I did this painting from a sketch I did a few years ago.  We found it in a park in Tucson.  Something this odd, as a hole in the middle of a prickly pear pad always fascinates me.  I don't know how it got there, animal or just a natural event.

Painting #39 - Prickly Pear

I painted this from a photo I took at Sedona.  The Prickly Pear was tucked in a crevice with the sunlight glistening on it.  

I just never tire of painting cacti.

Painting #34 Cactus Nest

I found this nest stuffed between the arms of a Saguaro Cactus when I was walking.  It fascinates me when I see how nature helps works.

The cactus is watercolor and the nest is a mish-mash of ink, gouache and sharpie to get that messy effect.

I admit that there are times I love getting lost in details....like these spines.