Available at Kneeland Gallery

Painting the illusion of a glass vase can be challenging for the artist, however recreating a ‘blown glass’ vessel in paint is even more complex. Collecting unique vases and objects along the way is one of the fun parts of being a still life painter. I bought the vase in this photo at the Sun Valley Arts and Crafts Festival many years ago. This delicate, hand-blown glass vase has been sitting on my shelf, gathering dust, for all these years. To read more about the process of this painting, please read: On My Easel #2: The Challenge of Painting the Illusion of Blown Glass

Available at Kneeland Gallery

When I returned home after a recent trip to Australia, I was very inspired to paint cockatoos. These beautiful large parrots are as common as an ordinary American Robin. In the wild, they become rather tame and allowed me to get close to them.

Available at Kneeland Gallery

 

 

Bohemian Rhapsody

$6500.00  

Every autumn the Bohemian Waxwings migrate through our mountain valley. They move in large flocks and frequent the fruit trees. At times they even become drunken by the fermented berries that still hang from the trees. I enjoy watching these flighty, exotic looking birds as they flock to my cherry trees each year.

AVAILABLE at Kneeland Gallery

These famous beaver ponds are a few miles outside of Sun Valley, Idaho. It is a favorite wildlife viewing spot for locals and visitors alike. Recently, I saw a female moose wallowing in the ponds. I chose to paint this scene without any wildlife to leave that up the imagination of the viewer.

This painting depicts an absolutley beautiful day. The spring storms were lifting and some bright sunlight was filtering through the clouds. The willows still hadn’t changed to their green summer color, so the colors were very vibrant.

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I have always been a fan of the graceful simplicity that is found in Asian artwork. Chinese and Japanese screens have been a favorite of mine and this is reflected in “Spring Dream”. The spring blossoms, the fresh colors and the Goldfinch pair all echo the season renewal.

Lori McNee © 2010

Available at Kneeland Gallery

I was inspired by the iridescent blues of the Blue Jay and same beautiful colors repeated in the Chinese vase. Blues have a calming effect on people and are easy to look at and live with.

AVAILABLE at Kneeland Gallery

This rustic still life painting was painted during the time of the 2010 Superbowl when the New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts. “Who Dat?” was popularized by the Saints as a chant of team support by the fans. My friend, a big football fan, was visisting my studio and named this painting for me!

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“Approaching Shadows’ was painted a few years ago during late summer. This old ranch is a very iconic Idaho scene which is sadly disappearing from the western landscape.

This little painting depicts the picturesque ”Spring of Gladness” ranch in central Idaho. It was the first homestead in the Wood River Valley and now shadows are fast approaching the ranch for developers have bought it and plan to subdivide.

I enjoy driving past this old place and stop every once in a while for a plein air painting or two. “Approaching Shadows” captures the rustic old Americana charm that is all but a memory

Exotic birds are exciting to paint. I am challenged by their irredesent plummage and bright colors. The parrot’s coloration matches this antique Chinese vase perfectly. This is a very eye pleasing painting due to the careful use of  complimentary and secondary colors. The parrot seems to have found his own little ’pot of gold’ at the end of the rainbow, hence the name!

Available at Gardner Colby Gallery

Orchids and hummingbirds are some of my favorite things. I chose to paint this still life scene as if the birds stopped in for a short respite. I like the contrast between the graceful orchid blossoms and  dainty hummingbirds with the rustic antique Chinese flask atop an altar table. In nature though, hummingbirds do not pollinate the scentless orchids. Nineteenth century artist, Martin Johnson Heade popularized painting hummingbirds and orchids together in tropical environments.