Five Slices

Yesterday, I had the honor of demonstrating during a fine art charity auction for Learning Ally, formerly Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. It's an organization that records books on tape for anyone with any reading disability. Artists from around the area donate a work of their art for silent auction. I had just under 2 hours to do this little painting - it was a lot of fun. The lighting on my subject wasn't great, but it all worked out.

Succulents in Red

Well - I know it's been a long time. I've missed posting and being involved with other daily painters. It's that whole balancing act between being an artist and the other hats I wear. I realize that once I pick up the brush and start something, I know this is what I'm supposed to do, and eventually, I will be a true daily painter.

I found this little red vase at a garage sale for a quarter, and I love the color. It's just so intense!

The succulents are from my sister's garden. The orange was meant to be with the red.

We Know We're Cute

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

70.00 plus s&h

These two little mugs look like models on the runway, posing in the light with their hands on their hips. You know, it's weird - when I finish a still life, it tells me what the title should be. On this one, I tried to change the title to something more academic, but the painting just wouldn't let me! I got these hand blown mugs at an antique store, and the red just grabbed me and I had to buy them.

Green Bottle with Lemons

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

70.00 plus s&h

I really love the shape and color of this green bottle. I painted it once before, and sold it the same day. I like the many little bits of light and color, esp in the bottle and on the surface. Transparent objects are so much fun to paint!

Orange Tea

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

$70.00 plus s&h

I finished this one this morning, after starting it last night. I love the idea of high contrast - hence the light mug on a dark background, and the use of complements. The reflections on the mug, as well as on the surface, were fun - and I think I pulled it off.

Reflection City - SOLD

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

Well, as I got involved in this one, it seemed like one reflection after another just kept popping up! That's what I get for putting glass and metal in the same painting. It was fun, though!

Gather 'Round for Storytime - SOLD

8x6 oil on Raymar panel

1. This little coffee pot is flexing her "wings" and controlling her little pupils so as to tell them a story. Kinda far fetched? I don't know - it's what came to my mind as I finished painting it. She is just so intimidating! I found this little pot in Sisters, Oregon last summer. I loved the color and couldn't wait to paint it! About this painting - I had so much fun with the many reds in the pot, and I love the complementary green bits showing through from the ground.

Sunflowers2 - SOLD

6x8 oil on Raymar panel

This one was really enjoyable to do - and I'm not one to do too may florals. I have more fun with the transparent glass, and I like the little pink bits that come through. But there's something about sunflowers that attract me - (there's that yellow again), and maybe it's the fact that they were VanGogh's fave.

Sunflower 1 - SOLD

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

There's something about intense yellow that I am always attracted to, probably because it's daring to break the rules and use paint right out of the tube. I like the composition in this one - the fact that the sunflower is a small part of the canvas and is still the most important element is cool.

Just Sunning Ourselves

12x9 soft pastel on Canson paper

$250.00 plus $10.00 shipping

Hi everyone! I know it's been a while since I've posted. I've been really involved in the preparations for a local art show - very time-consuming. I expect to become more consistent next week - in the meantime, I'll post some of my favorites. This is a pastel painting that I really like. There is something so beautiful about a persimmon - they may not taste great unless they're in a cookie, but the colors are just delicious! And I love working with pastels. These little fruits just seem to be soaking up the sun, like people in a row on the beach. I like the complements in the shadows.

"I'm Quite Comfortable, Thank You"- SOLD

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

This little pear has found the most comfortable seat in the room - it fits him perfectly and is quite stylish. This blue votive holder finds its way into my paintings quite often. I was inspired to paint the blue and yellow with the dark value background, because I heard that the Dutch artist Vermeer especially loved blue and yellow together. These two colors really do get along well!

Primary Stack - SOLD

6x8 oil on Raymar panel

The Fiesta Ware cups make such a great stack - I especially like the cool blue between the two hots. The light from above cast some interesting shadows, while a window behind me injected some cool lights.

Impatients

6x8 oil on Raymar panel

$70.00 plus s&h

When I did this one, I wasn't paying any attention to whether I liked it or not. But a week later, I have really grown fond of it! The yellow pitcher is an antique store find. And the impatients - well - they are one of my favorite flowers. The red-orange and the simple shape is just so fun to paint!!

Salt'n'Peppa - SOLD

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

This pair is always happy together- you hardly ever see one without the other! Simplifying the actual grains of salt and pepper to larger shapes is a challenge, but the color alone gives it away. I had fun with this one, especially with the obvious and few brushtrokes.

A Slice of Amber

6x8 oil on Raymar panel

I found this great bottle in a wonderful antique store in Port Orchard, Washington. I guess it was an old whiskey bottle - and I love it because of its shape and clear amber color. The orange slice really took on the amber bottle colors. The two seem to be friends.

Calm, Cool, and Collected - SOLD

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

The cool colors of this painting make it seem so calm. The limes seem to be just relaxing in the light. I like the way they reflect into the mug.

I have been out of town for the last couple weeks - am home now and will be posting more regularly. I did just 3 plein air paintings while away - it's hard when there's so many other things planned throughout the days. I will begin listing some paintings for sale on ebay this next week - a random selection from older and newer posts.

As always, your comments are appreciated!

Double Vision

6x6 oil on canvas panel

The egg seems to take away the limelight from the larger, more colorful bell pepper. Orange bell peppers are one of my favorite subjects. The egg shape is always a challenge, but adds good contrast with its white values. The reflection was especially fun to paint.

Threesome - SOLD

6x8 oil on Raymar panel

The cherries, although separated by the jar, are still together as a little friendly group. They set up a perfect little triangle, and get along so great. I like the way the reflections worked from the cherries onto the glass. Again, one of my favorite props - the jar.

Only Room For One

6x6 oil on canvas panel

The cherry tomato in the bowl feels safe and secure, while his friend on the table wants in. This small bowl is really a votive holder, but I love to use it for other things as I paint it. I like the thick glass and all the blues it creates, depending on the light.

I'll Scoop You Up! -SOLD

6x6 oil on canvas panel

With cherries in season, it's hard not to paint them. They're just so cute! This silver spoon appears to be trying to scoop up the oranges, which are escaping, while the cherries just pretend they're not next. The composition of the large vertical shape stabilizes the smaller, scattered, dynamic shapes.