Clipped Freesias

This painting is in a higher key than I normally paint but reflects the colors in my world this week which has been blue skies and sunshine.   It is telling us to get ready and don't forget to spring forward this Saturday night!

ps the lighting for this set up was coming from all directions .... thus creating this floating effect.   I attemped to "correct it" but decided my failed attempts meant to leave it be - spring has sprung!

8" x 8" Clipped Freesias Oil on Board

Sunny Days!

I painted these sunflowers yesterday when the sky was cloudy but that's all it took to brighten up my day.  I used a transparent under layer then came over the top with opaque colors.   Keeping with Carol Mayne's theory of segregating warm and cool colors - see her book "What Color is the Light?" I was satisfied with the bright feeling the painting has.

Morning Paper

This is my attempt at the "The Seated Figure Challenge" Posted by Dana Cooper on DPW Painting Challenge January 21, 2012. I started this painting - got distracted but came back to it today. Faces are difficult - even with just the slightest bit of information they are a challenge!

Still Life .... Still Painting

The holidays have taken a toll on my painting time.   Yesterday was the first time since before Christmas that I painted.   I wasn't sure about starting and I procrastinted a bit.   However, it was a Still Life and I am Still Painting!    This is a stretched canvas using transparent paint and medium.   I can see now it was a bit too thin with too much of the canvas showing through.   Once more thing to consider when using medium and transparent paint!

8 x 8"  Oil on Canvas

Sunflowers and ....

I think the music in the mall stores has gotten to me .... I was painting these sunflowers and pomegranate last week and somehow couldn't get the image of a Christmas ornament out of my mind.   Where's the thought of the turkey and stuffing?  So once home, I toned down the shiny ornament and forced it back into a piece of fruit.   It is easy to look forward & worry about what lies ahead.   But for now, I will focus on the present ... and the in season pomegranates!

8 x 8" Oil on Panel

Takes Two to Mango

These two paintings continue my efforts on focusing on a small vibrant area of the canvas with color and letting the rest fall into the background. I am drawn to this limited color palatte but am feeling I should try and branch out a bit! Change is difficult!

Takes Two to Mango  8 x 8 Oil on Panel

Green and Yellow  8 x 8 Oil on Panel

End of the Day

The weather has been overcast - finally saw the sun today.   That didn't stop beach goers at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas.   I caught this couple packing up around 5 pm heading home.   I loved the beach towel - snapped a photo and here you go!   Don't you hate it when it is the end of the day and you just wish you could stay another hour?

6 x 6" Oil on Panel

Strawberries

Interestingly enough .... I find myself drawn to this simple set up.   Small white plate with something red on it.   First it was apples, then cherries (twice) then strawberries!   Usually a blueish background.   The good news is that drawing an decent ellipse is getting easier.   Still taking several tries.   The bad news is adding a fork is what became my new challenge!    I had it to my satisfaction then starting adjusting.   Adjusting more then scaping yesterday's work.   This led to some muddy areas.   This is on my "to do again list".  
6 x 6" Oil on Panel

Weisse, Weisse and Weisse

Dark glass painting is mysterious! You have to really look for the color in the dark bottles. The labels however are bright and fun to paint!
8 x 8″ Oil on Panel

Who Gets the Cherry?

This is the second cupcake I have painted this week – same cupcake but I used a neon pink tint on the canvas this time.   Last time I used blue.   It really didn’t affect the outcome as much as I thought it would even though I left “bits of the tint” on each painting.     So … who gets the cherry?

6 x 6" Oil on Panel

Market Samplers

Here are the last two paintings for the Daily Painters Project's May Gallery on the Go! event this Saturday at Baker & Olive.   One of my dear friends gave me the "Market Sampler" box from B&O a few weeks ago and I love the fabulous EVOO & Balsamic.  

I took some photographs of the 4 bottles looking down, light shining on them and got a different perspective which motivated me to finish out the month's theme of "all things Italy and cafe" on a different note than the more realistic set ups I have been painting the last few weeks.   I really am glad I stepped out of the box for these.  

I named these Market Sampler and Market Sampler II.  

6" x 6" Oil on Panel

Bruschetta Anyone II?

They say practice makes perfect. This is the second “practice” at this still life set up. I wanted the background less prominent and the tomato the brightest possible red/orange that reality allows.

6″ x 6″ Oil on Panel

Bread & Oil

A good loaf of bread and a great olive oil. What else do you need?

This olive oil bottle from Baker & Olive is shaped like a wine bottle. But olive oil it is. Painting bread convincingly is difficult. It's dull colors can be challenging. Using more yellow might have resulted in richer tones in the crust. I think I will try it next time!

6" x 6" Oil on Panel

Yellow and Red Makes Orange

What happens when you mix yellow and red tomatoes with olive oil? You get something wonderful! In this case, the oil was infused with red peppers and had a delicious orange glow as the sun shone through the bottle. I tried to stay with the blue and orange world of complimentary colors though the tomatoes were really red and yellow.

6″ x 6″ Oil on Panel

Rocky

I had a "rocky" start on this little guy ... having only painted a pet once before (and that was about 5 or 6 years ago) I wasn't sure it was going to work.   Half way through putting the lights and darks I decided to quit.   But ... took a deep breath and dove back into it, kept the course and by the end was happy with the result.

This is the April challenge from the "A Day Not Wasted" http://adaynotwasted.com/2011/04/april-2011-painting-challenge-gallery/  photo by Lee A. Brown of his dog Zoe.   I have renamed this little one Rocky in honor of his rocky start!
Rocky 8" x 8" Oil on Panel