Happy Birthday to Me!

6x8 oil on Raymar panel

On my birthday, I knew I would get a little time to do anything I wanted - so of course I chose to paint. Someone gave me a bouquet with this flower in it. So it only seemed right to put it in my painting. For me, the jar was way more fun to paint than the flower!

Geranium

6x8 oil on Raymar panel

The dark green glass bowl was borrowed from a friend. I chose the pink geranium for its complementary relationship with the bowl. I like the subtle contrast between the warm and cool greens.

Happy Couple - SOLD

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

This pair of pears seem to be a couple - the woman on the left, admiring her man, while the man is straight and strong. It's amazing how personal relationships are formed among things that aren't human! The simplicity of this painting makes us focus on the pair even more.

Fresh Egg

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

A friend told me that you can tell an egg is fresh by how round and 3D the yolk is. Well - that's how this painting got its' name. The sky blue background, combined with the sunny yellow, seem to make this painting just so smiley and happy!

A Pear of Reflections

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

I enjoy painting reflective surfaces, and this steel bowl is a popular prop with me. Pears are a favorite fruit to paint, and although they are closer to us, I wanted to keep the interest on the bowl and the reflections in it.

Holly and Oranges - SOLD

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

I did this painting while vacationing in Big Bear with a couple of friends. I was wanting to put something green into the jar, and holly was about the only thing available. I like the combo of colors here, and the way the blue peeks through the background.

Direct Gaze

11x14 oil on Raymar panel

This model was a last minute replacement for one that couldn't get to our session. She was great - very still. I love the way she looks at the viewer. The white fluffy thing she's wearing was especially fun to paint.

Vintage Egg - SOLD

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

I found this little blue bowl at an antique store. I love the delicate shape and the subtle color on the edges. It's probably Depression glass, so very old. Again, so much fun painting the egg!

Vintage Red

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

Once again, another find in an antique co-op. I just couldn't take my eyes off this pitcher. The color is so beautiful - I knew I had to paint it! Many colors went into this. I like the subtle pear reflections in it, and the black accents.

Green Egg

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

I got this little green mixing bowl from Ebay for $.99 - what a steal. This is one of my favorite colors, and I like the way the bowl reflects onto the table. The title playfully suggests that famous children's book - everyone asks "and Ham?"- and I say "No - just Green Egg".

Confidence

11x14 oil on Raymar panel

This lovely girl was new to posing, and she did a great job. Something about her look, her boldness in wearing that particular hat, told me she was so confident in ability. I tried to convey that with the bold brush strokes.

Let Me In!

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

I found this old enamel plate with the blue rim at a junk store, and I use it often. The orange slice on the outside seems to be asking to come on in and join the group, who are trying to make room. The cast shadow on the table adds interest to the open form composition.

Eggie in a Dish

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

When I was little, my mom would make me "eggie" in a dish - which was a soft-boiled egg in a small dish, often with toast. This painting reminded me of that - even though it's a raw egg. It is a sunny, happy painting. The transparent bowl with the transparent egg were really fun to paint.

Strike a Pose - SOLD

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

I found this blue shiny bowl at a garage sale for $.25. I know I will use it often. The orange slices seem to be posing with the bowl, for the camera. I love to look for colors in the cast shadows - this makes the negative shapes more interesting, and as important as the objects themselves.

Simple Beauty - SOLD

6x8 oil on Raymar panel

I noticed that the peach blossoms were blooming at a vacant property next door, so my son went over and picked some for me to paint. I love the shape of this little jar, and so I use it in paintings quite often. Sometimes the simplest objects are the most interesting.

This painting has been donated to an annual art auction in Claremont, California - the Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, to be held on May 30, 2010, from 2-4:30pm, at Galileo Hall, Harvey Mudd College.

Looking at Myself

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

The reflective metal bowl is always fun to paint. Here, the apple reflects upon itself as if it's making sure it looks "cool" enough. The cool palette helps with the casual, confident gaze of the apple.

In the Lemonlight

6x8 oil on Raymar panel

This lemon wedge tries to be seen in the reflected light of the water in the jar. Transparent objects are particularly enjoyable for me. I like to simplify everything I see, as complicated as it may be, into the abstract shapes, colors, and values that make the object believable.

Brave Little Tangerine

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

This little tangerine steps out into the spotlight as the two much larger apples stand aside. Part of a perfect triad, orange and green always go well together, and I use this pair of colors often.

Sunny Side Up

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

Egg paintings are surprisingly easy for me - and I'm not sure why. It really only takes a few strokes to get the egg right. The shells are another story and take some careful observation.

The warm colors and open form make this painting "sunny".

Many Greens, One Vase

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

I found this little green vase at a thrift store, and knew right away I would paint it. Green is a favorite color, and I knew that to get the green of the vase, many warm and cool greens would be involved. The pink flower provided an interesting complement, and though it begs for attention, it will never overpower the vase.

I'm on Fire

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

The hot colors of the red hurricane and the orange slices seem to be on fire. The reflections and shadows can't deny the warmth. All colors are friends here.

Little Cuties

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

Sometimes, when I haven't painted for a few days, I get back into it by doing something with a basic shape, and a simple composition. These tangerines seem so valid, so strong, now that they are in a painting, and anchored to the panel's edge.

Tomato Reflections in Amber

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

This little painting happened because I could not take my eyes off this beautiful amber bottle that a friend let me borrow. The tomato was the perfect partner to the bottle, and I like the reflection and distortion it caused. The leaf just added a complement to the warm colors.

Overshadowed

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

These tangerine slices seem to be hiding in the shadows of their far more interesting counterparts - the blue votives. However, the complementary color of the tangerines does give them some importance.