On my easel...new butterfly in progress

This painting is slightly larger than the recent ones I have painted - this one is 14"x18".  I am enjoying the slightly larger canvas. It felt like this butterfly just needed more space to spread out.

Hoping to have a lot of fun with the shadows in this torn beauty.

Fresh off the easel

Contemplation: Still Regal

by Susanna Pantas

oil on canvas, 14"x11"

This painting is currently for sale at ArtSource Fine Art in Raleigh, NC. 919-787-9533

Finished!

Contemplation: Monarch Dream

by Susanna Pantas

oil on canvas, 14"x11"

This painting is currently for sale at ArtSource Fine Art in Raleigh, NC. 919-787-9533

Another view of monarch butterfly painting in the works

Here is another shot of a work in progress that I took about a week before I felt the painting was done. In fact, I just finished this painting two nights ago.  Sometimes it is hard to know when a painting is "done," but I knew at the time that I took this photo that there was still a lot of work to be done! I will be posting the finished painting's image on my website and blog soon.

In progress -

The past few weeks, I've gotten a bit obsessed with butterflies. Perhaps because with the turn in weather, I'm seeing less and less of them. It seems like just yesterday that I was watching so many of the last few summer butterflies dancing across the skies. Alas, winter is coming. Here are two new paintings on my easel, in the beginning stages -

titles: unnamed (in progress)

Feathers.......

"Contemplation: Majestic Blue Jays"

by Susanna Pantas
oil on canvas, 11"x14"

Well, what can I say? Blue Jays are spectacular. From watching them, I've gleaned they are quite feisty and dignified. I know some bird watchers get annoyed with them because they're so temperamental, but I still love them. It is quite a delight to be walking through a wood, and see a quick flash of bright blue.

This painting is for sale at ArtSource Fine Art in Raleigh, NC. 919-787-9533

Monarchs

Monarch butterflies are facing serious problems due to a loss of their food, the humble milkweed, and their habitat.

I found a dead monarch butterfly a few weeks ago during a walk and thought I would try my best to capture the way light shimmers through their wings. I have heard people compare their wings to stained glass windows.  So, with that introduction, here is a new painting of a monarch butterfly, fresh off the easel -

"Contemplation: Monarch"

oil on canvas, 11"x14"

For those interested, you can learn about the concerns of habitat loss and what you can do to help (hint: PLANT milkweed!) by visiting these websites:

• http://www.fws.gov/savethemonarch/
• http://www.saveourmonarchs.org/

This painting is currently for sale at ArtSource Fine Art in Raleigh, NC. 919-787-9533

Completed in 2014

I realize that I have completely neglected my blog in 2014, so I am going to post a few recent works over the next few weeks. Here is one that I had posted some photos of earlier on in various stages of completion. This one sold pretty soon after going to ArtSource Fine Art in Raleigh, NC. I liked the softness of the nest on the left. In person, this nest had a sort of soft squishy quality to it. I hope that I was able to capture the cozy nature of this nest - and I liked adding in the smaller, spikier nest on the right! They're different in size, but I think they fit well together - sometimes opposites attract, right?

"Contemplation: Soul Mates"
oil on canvas, 11"x14"

SOLD

"Contemplation: Sanctuary"

This is another of the five paintings that I have in Grovewood Gallery's "Birds & Bees" exhibition in Asheville, NC. The show opens February 14, and continues through May 10. I figured that a nest certainly fits into the birds theme, and this one was a pleasure to paint. I liked working on the individual twigs and bits of pinestraw in the nest, and I also really enjoyed working on the colors of the background of the painting.

"Contemplation: Sanctuary"

oil on canvas, 11"x14"
SOLD

"Birds & Bees" Invitational Exhibition - Asheville, NC

I was recently invited to participate in a group show at Grovewood Gallery in Asheville, North Carolina, titled "Birds & Bees." The show opens 2-14-15 (Valentine's Day). In keeping with the theme, here are two paintings that I have sent to be a part of the show -

 "Contemplation: Brown Thrasher"

oil on canvas, 11"x14"

This (above) is one of my favorite birds that I frequently see around Western North Carolina. The Brown Thrasher has such personality and I LOVE the speckled breast. You can find them scratching around on the ground a lot of times in the underbrush. They have striking yellow eyes, also.

"Contemplation: Rose Breasted Trio"

oil on canvas, 11"x14

I had been paying attention to the birds in my neighborhood for quite a while before I ever saw one of these beautiful Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks. The three featured in this painting are males. The first time I saw one, I remember being struck by his milky beige beak, which contrasted the black, red, and white in a very pleasing way (in my opinion!).