"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.

Flowin' - SOLD

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

This is the same day as my previous post - just a little bit later. I loved the colors of this day - the blues reflecting in the water, and the clean greens. You know how you get to a certain point in a painting, and wonder if it's going to come together or not? Well, that's how I felt about the tree in the foreground - but I like how it suddenly turned out.

Down to the River - SOLD

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

I did this little one on a breezy afternoon in Sacramento, at the Sacramento River. People were fishing, and floating along in little boats. For this scene, I just waited for it to be clear of people. I love the blues seen in the water and the greens in the foliage. I had a delightful time!

Aunt Elaine's Front Door

6x6 oil on Raymar panel

This is the view of my husband's Aunt's front door in Sacramento. It was late afternoon, just before dinner, and I had just a little time to paint. Lots of family members were around, which, surprisingly, didn't bother me. I think the better paintings happen when I am slightly distracted, and not trying too hard!

I have to explain that I haven't been posting often because of SUMMER, and the family needing my attention more than usual. Even though I love summer, I look forward to the quiet alone moments of Autumn, when I can paint uninterrupted.

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!

Violinist

11x14 oil on Raymar panel

This young girl was beautiful, and her satin dress so blue! I put the most time into the face, and less time into the violin and hand, which I do plan to rework. The pose itself is only about 3 hours - so working fast is paramount. As in other figures and portraits, I've been using only black, yellow, red, and white. However, in this one, I had to use thalo and ultramarine to get the lovely blue.

Basking in the Light

11x14 oil on Raymar panel

This model was great - I liked the pose and how relaxed and serene she was - almost like she was in deep thought. The cool light really dictacted the soft colors, and all that was used here was black, yellow ochre, cad red light, and white.

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.