Lovebirds, 8x8 Oil

I didn't think about Valentine's Day when I painted this, but it really is just about 2 weeks away, so start thinking! My own Valentine thinks this day was dreamed up by the Hallmark Company to sell cards, and the Florists to sell flowers, but after 31 years of marriage has really gotten past that and treats me to a fabulous day anyway! My buddy Joan Brancale visited my studio today and she wanted me to demo what I learned at Carol Marine's workshop (which I highly recommend) last Fall. So this is what I did, even though it turned out to look a little monocromatic. I was trying to put in the most saturated color first, and work out towards the shadows & reflections, and to keep the edges in mind always, and to load up my brush and lay down the paint, not over working or over 'smushing' the brushwork. I've painted this subject twice before. This one's the best, I think, so far.