Written by Though candles should definitely qualify as a happy thing for a prompt in our challenge this month, they are ridiculously tough to paint. I almost changed this prompt to something else, but then thought, if I’m dreading it, then it should definitely stay there as a true challenge. But you’ll note, I tucked it away at the end thinking I’d come up with something to make ahead of time and prepare a bit. I didn’t, so I quickly sketched this one for my offering today. Nearly everything by candlelight takes on a more appealing character. While a raging fire in the fireplace can sometimes cast spooky and otherworldly shadows on the wall, a candle just makes for a little harmless shadow dance of flickering beauty. A glow that exists only to make us relax and enjoy life. Paired with a dinner, they make a meal taste just a bit better, and in the company of someone you love, that love even a bit stronger.
Although we have regular candles that we’ll burn on special occasions, we’ve opted for an artificial version from day to day. Being a bit absent-minded, we’ll often leave them burning as we go to bed, which is not a very safe thing to do. So we have a set of Luminara votives that we trigger with a remote control. In fairness, our fireplace is gas and also triggered with a remote control. But the Luminara are rather impressive when incased in glass for their ability to evoke the same flickering light and feeling of an actual candle. My mother was equally impressed by them when she visited once so we sent her a set to enjoy. She became hooked and ordered more and ended up with an extra remote control. This was a beautiful twist of fate because we’d soon managed to lose ours due to the earlier disclosed absent-mindedness. During the holidays, it just takes a few clicks to set a perfectly festive mood. It’s not about laziness so much as having a personal lighting ceremony in our house each evening to celebrate any occasion we like.
Another reason for moving to these candles is that Philippe doesn’t like them when they have a scent. This disrupts and competes with the aromas of the dinner he has prepared. Finding unscented candles is actually harder than attempting to paint them. Candles come in an array of scents from subtle to practically terrifying. There are some he doesn’t mind and actually enjoys, but we just opt for the scent-free versions when lighting them during dinner. Candles also serve as a way to make a bath more amazing, but although our row home has 4 bathrooms, not one of them has a bath tub. There’s just an odd Japanese soaking tub in the master that we never really use. It’s between the two vanities, barely holds one person, and you’re meant to sort of squat in it. It’s a perfect mystery really, so we just use it to store our clean towels. No matter what version you prefer, though, life is always guaranteed to be a bit happier when you’re relaxing to candles.
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Your Luminara painting is beautiful – I’ll have to look into these as I love candles but also opted out of burning them due to absent-mindedness and scent. Thank you for lovely ramble – by candlelight!
Thanks, Sandra! 😃💕 hehe… this one was actually a reference of a real flame. My realistic style would have shown the plastic flame, but I can assure you in real life Luminara are perfectly magical!
Lovely reflections inside the glass. I agree, candlelight makes everything better!
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕
Very lovely sketch! I, too, love candles but have moved to the electric kinds. The exception to that is my use of citronella candles during mosquito season. I do love lavender though, and still have a few candles with lavender scent.
Thanks so much, Jansi! 😃💕 Yes to citronella! hehe… those are a requirement in the spring and summer. hehe
This is so pretty … love the reflection off the glass!
Thanks so much, Beverly! 😃💕 Glad you liked it!
This is a gorgeous painting. Love the colors and reflections. And we gave up real candles years ago when the grands started coming – too dangerous except for a very few well monitored times when real candles must be used.
Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 Glad to hear it’s not just us… hehe.. those we don’t have small children to attribute it to. The newest fake candles are pretty awesome though!
Shades r very pretty
Thanks so much, Snehlata! 😃💕
Very nice Charlie,beautiful glass,
Thanks so much, Pamela! 😃💕
Love the painting. Your glass is incredible!
Aww thanks so much, Mary! 😃💕
I like your style of painting glass. Interesting information on Japanese bathrooms. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much! 😃💕hehe… well, I’m not really an expert on Japanese bathrooms, but we ended up with some fixtures in that style it would seem!
Candles are a reassuring presence. My husband always lights a candle at dinner time. He sees it as a symbol of the Universal presence. 🕯
That’s such a beautiful view! I love that!! Yes, candles at dinner time are truly fantastic! 😃💕
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You’ve captured the glow and the reflections beautifully.
Thanks so much, Susan!! Glad you liked it! 😃💕
Your candle is really fun to look at! So much color. I have no idea how to paint glass or flames. You’re giving me ideas for 2018 goals. Thanks for the art and the gathering space 🙂
Thanks so much, Kim! 😃💕 So happy you’re enjoying the space and yay to new goals! Painting glass is so fun! Just sketch all the shapes you see and bump up the contrast a bit more than you think you should. 😉 hehe
Great tip, thanks!
Beautiful glass !
Aww thanks, Anita! 😃💕
My hubby cannot go into stores that have heavy scents in them. I like the lightly scented candles myself. I recently bought a soy candle so there will not been any suet. Love your painting! It looks so comforting!
Thanks, Delores! 😃💕 I’m the same way!! hehe… I can’t go into a candle store of a Bath and Body Works without wanting to faint! 😊
very pretty
Thanks so much! 😃💕