"HEAVEN'S GARDEN" by Marina Petro

"Heaven's Garden"
22" x 28" Oil on stretched canvas
Please email me (link below) for purchasing options

I thought I'd post the first painting in process along with the finished painting so you can get an idea of how I work and the progression. I had another photo in process inbetween these two but it disappeared somewhere between my camera and computer.

Heaven's Garden was painted from my imagination. This was painted on a new type canvas called "Yes" Canvas. It is supposed to be suitable for all wet media such as watercolor paint or gouache. I originally ordered it to use for my "Zone" paintings as they are usually a combination of acrylic and gouache. I prefer gouache but it can be tentative on canvas. Working with oil paint on this new canvas was a very different experience. The paint seemed to dry almost immediately and has a smooth, almost matte finish. The canvas itself is very smooth. I do like it though.

I was going to work on the painting a bit more but after a friend and one of my daughters thought it looked finished, I stopped. I am always happy to finish a painting. I might try a small garden painting next...or another "Zone" painting on my new "Yes" canvas...but, if I don't get away from this computer, nothing will be painted. Hope you enjoy viewing it. You can always leave comments at my blog...link below. See you again soon.

Today's Quote: "The hardest thing to see is what is in front of our eyes." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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"HEAVEN'S GARDEN" in process By Marina Petro

"Heaven's Garden" in process
22" x 28 Oil on Canvas
I've been working on this painting from my imagination and am experiencing some resistance getting back to complete it. This does happen on occasion. I tend to gravitate to painting gardens with this theme. I suppose I'll continue to paint them until they are out of my system... or whatever...if ever. At times, they just seem to flow off my brush. Not this time though. I've wanted to begin another painting from "the zone" but I think I need to discipline myself and finish what I've already started.

Today's Quote: "Human beings, by change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden."
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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"THREE PEARS" by Marina Petro

"Three Pears"
6x8 inches
Original oil on gallery wrapped canvas
$99
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This little painting was completed and posted a while back. Thought I'd display it here again...both to keep in touch and also save some time...rather than do the 'camera thing' and prepare a new painting to post.Photographing and preparing the photos is one of the least enjoyable things for me with regard to daily painting. This has been a busy day with many activities and I want to get into my studio to paint.

I'm working on two larger paintings. One is a Garden Of Eden themed painting and the other is an autumn landscape. See you again soon...

Today's Quote: "Don't fight darkness - bring the light, and darkness will disappear."

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-Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

"HIBISCUS" by Marina Petro

"Hibiscus"
6x8 inches
Original oil painting on gallery wrapped canvas painted around all sides.
$100 Purchase here at eBay or email me for other purchasing options.

This was painted from a photo I took of a hibiscus tree we have here. It's been blooming for years and is very beautiful. I zoned in on one flower which happened to be in front of one of my large cloud paintings. I'm happy with the outcome.

Today's Quote: "The artist vocation is to send light into the human heart." -Robert Schumann

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"AUTUMN MIST RISING" -by Marina Petro

"Autumn Mist Rising"
18x24 inches
Original oil painting on canvas
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Hi again. Here is the finished painting "Autumn Mist Rising." I am glad it's finished and happy with the results. I'm always glad when a painting is finished so I can get on to the adventure of the next one! Painting is an obsession with me as it probably is with most artists. I would be ecstatic if I could just paint without other survival related concerns that take time and energy. A friend of mine recently suggested that I need a wife...

I was expressing my view on painting and creative endeavors to someone the other day. She (and many others) diminish the value of creativity, putting it into the low rung of life's priorities even though they have strong urges to create. This person happened to be a psychotherapist who is spiritually motivated in service to others. I expressed that when one is channeling their creativity they are as close to the "Creator" as one can get. When you are in the act of creating you are in synch with the same consciousness that created all that is. It flows through your entire being. That's my opinion and what I experience.

Today's Quotation: "Intuitive artists are messengers. Their symbolic vocabulary originates from the infinite wisdom of higher spheres, in a non-referential time/space continuum..."
-Elle Nicolai

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"AUTUMN MIST RISING" -in process-by Marina Petro

"Autumn Mist Rising" Painting in Process
18x24 oil on stretched canvas

I am working on this larger painting and almost finished. I have a gallery show coming up in September and was asked if I'd be willing to paint a few autumn scenes. I am happily complying. I love autumn....and will get some great new shots this year...although I am hoping it takes it's time. This summer is flying by and I haven't done anything 'summery' yet. I'll be posting the finished version very soon.

Today's Quote: "Humans who spend time in the wilderness, alone, without man-made mechanical noise around them, often discover that their brain begins to recover its ability to discern things."
-Robert Anderson

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"PUMPKIN" By Marina Petro

"Pumpkin"
16"x20" oil on stretched canvas
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Here is the finished 'pumpkin' painting. A while ago I posted the 'in process' version which is posted again here. I photographed this when I spotted a wonderful pumpkin patch at a neighbor's garage sale. The photo here doesn't do it justice. The leaves at the lower left and upper center are a beautiful lavender color but my camera just wouldn't interpret it very well. The most difficult part of this painting was rendering the details on these leaves. I'm very happy with the result.

I'm an Aries. We are noted in astrology to have been absent when patience was being handed out at birth. This was an exercise in patience. More than once I just wanted to run away from it. I need to remind myself of the quote below from time to time.

Today's Quote: "Genius is eternal patience."
-Michelangelo

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"COSMIC FIRE" by Marina Petro

"Cosmic Fire"
8x10"
Original Oil Painting on Gallery Wrapped stretched canvas. No need for frame.
Purchase for $125 at my eBay store here or email me for other purchasing options.
This was painted spontaneously from my imagination. Several white birds took form in the lower part of the painting when I was working on the blue and white cloud formations. I hope you enjoy viewing it as much as I did painting it!

I've been contemplating some new "Painting From The Zone" workshops. I'll announce them when I've come to a concrete decision. The space I usually hold my workshops in at The Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY is going to be under construction. I have two weekends available in September and need to decide on what to present.

Today's quote: "A great artist... must be shaken by the naked truths that will not be comforted. This divine discontent, this disequilibrium, this state of inner tension is the source of artistic energy.
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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"MISCHIEVOUS ANGEL" by Marina Petro

"Mischievous Angel"
8x10 inches $75 + shipping
Oil on gallery wrapped canvas painted around all sides
Purchase at eBay here or email me (link below) for other purchasing options.

A little humor (and we can all use some these days) from my ever fertile imagination. I don't have too much to say tonight. I just finished another small painting and I'm ready to call it a day. I'll connect again real soon.

Today's Quote: "Attachment to being right creates suffering. When you have a choice to be right, or to be kind, choose kind and watch your suffering disappear."
-Dr. Wayne Dyer




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"APPLE ON A WHITE PLATE" by Marina Petro

"Apple On A White Plate"
6x8 inches
Original oil painting on stretched gallery wrapped canvas.
Can be displayed with or without a frame.
Purchase here for $100 + shipping or...email me for other purchasing options.

I'll be looking online for some interesting fabrics to use as backgrounds for my small still life paintings. I like to keep a substantial stock on hand to fit the mood I'm in. I haven't had much luck in the fabric shops here in upstate New York.

An addendum to yesterday's post...my computer appears to be behaving very nicely today and it's a great relief. I've been working on a larger painting today...an autumn landscape with mist. I have an exhibit coming up in September. The gallery requested some autumn landscapes and I've been very happy to comply. I love today's quotation. I think I'll print it out and tack it up on my easel with my other favorite quotes.

Today's Quote: "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
~ Mary Oliver, The Summer Day
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"FISHIN AROUND" by Marina Petro

"Fishing Around"
6x8 inches
Original oil painting on Raymar Canvas panel
Purchase at my ebay store here for $99 + shipping
This is a repost of an older painting. We were away for the holiday weekend with no internet access anywhere. It was strange. Prior to leaving I'd been on the help lines trying to get my mouse to work. I'm not too savvy with using my finger on my laptop keyboard and things go VERY slowly. The problem was not resolved. I spent a good part of today on the help line again and reinstalling my operating system and updating software. I thought the problem was solved until I tried posting about an hour ago and my mouse went haywire...totally out of control. I turned the mouse off but the cursor was still out of control jumping all over the screen.I was so 'freaked out' that I could laugh instead of cry. I went inside, got a cup of tea and a cracker. Somehow I got things under control and if you get this post they will have been under control long enough for me to complete this post.

I chose "Fishing Around" to post today because it lifts my spirit and I hope yours too. It was fun to paint and I'm happy with the outcome. I love the way the firey colors play against the turquoise. I'm going to cut this short now to avoid things getting wacky again...if you don't hear from me for a while you will know why.

It's frustrating because I so much want to paint and post daily but 'life' has just not been cooperative.

Today's Quote:"Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."


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-Leonard Cohen