Sunshine On A Cloudy Day

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#057

Ok. So it's a bad choice of names. At least I know it! I was thinking about these sunny looking lemons popping out on this gray background. This was a really cool painting to do. It was painted on a grayish taupish (I don't think that's a word, but you know what I mean... I hope). I also used a different white. It's called Transparent White (Winsor & Newton). Not sure if I like it or not, but it had an interesting effect on this painting. I didn't intend for it to be so gray, but this white made it possible for the unpainting to show through. 

Speaking of sunshine! Supposed to have plenty this weekend! Hope you do too! Gotta say Happy Birthday, Sister!! I love you! :)

Oh yeah! Below is painting #056. I did this one yesterday and posted it on DPW.

Complements

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#049

This painting was done with what "purples" were left on my palette from the painting before it (Multi Purples). The grapes appear a bit more blue because I used up most of the reddish purples on the first painting. Maybe I should've made them blueberries! (history: The day before I mixed up as many different purples as I could.  Had some left over, and didn't want to mix more just for these few grapes. I don't paint with purple very often, and besides that, I'm "thrifty"... My sister would call that "cheap"! haha)

I'm really enjoying painting on the wooden panels! I put 2 coats of acrylic "gesso" on this one and then lightly sanded it before I painted. It was so smooth and even! Very nice to paint on. I definitely would recommend trying it if you haven't.

Hope everyone is staying warm, or at least thawing/digging out from this crazy weather! We're iced in up here in the north Georgia mountains, but there's plenty of fire wood. Even tho there's no sledding snow for my orange saucer, I'm still enjoying every minute of it! 

Multi-Purples

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#048

Wow! I can't believe it's been four days since I posted anything! Between being iced in with no internet, and fighting off a cold, it just hasn't happened.

This painting was so fun, and easy actually. I almost didn't do it because I thought it'd be too hard. One reason it was so easy, is that I had a whole palette full of premixed paint. The day before I painted it I mixed about every type of purple I could. I did it for another painting that didn't turn out very well. In fact --haha -- you may never see poor #047.  Anyway, I had a lot of these "purples" left. So I just started laying them in one color at a time, starting with the darkest, and viola! grapes! 

Sometimes the paintings you think will be so hard, just flow off the end of your brush like magic. Sometimes, it's the other way around. Either way, I figure its best to take it in stride. Easier to say sometimes than do, I know. I think my new mantra (like I have an old one) is going to be "either way"! I'll let you know how it goes!

Have a great weekend!

Friday With Friends

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#042

This is a painting I did with friends on Friday. We set up a still life... Sonja brought the fruit, Susanne brought the bowl with fruit painted on it, and I brought a pitcher (I didn't paint it in). Turns out, what I brought really didn't fit in very well. You never know.

Since Friday I haven't painted. My sister and her friend, Linda, were here for the weekend, so we had lots of girlfriend time. Thank you, sis!! :)

Tomorrow I'll get painting! Feeling refreshed, relaxed, and ready! I hope your weekend gave you that, and that your week ahead is a terrific one!

One Last Mandarin

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#025

Yesterday I just couldn't figure out what I felt like painting.... so I ended up not painting anything! UGH.

This morning, however, I was ready to go! I painted this first thing, and am ready to paint another! Thank goodness I found this one last mandarin orange hiding in the lower drawer of the crisper! :)

Red Circles, Yellow Square

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#020

Wishing everyone a new year filled with inspiration, joy, and a good healthy dose of painterly growth!

Reclining Pear

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#013

Ok, ok.  Last pears for a while. I promise. This was painted, of course, on the same day as the others. I painted several that day because of a schedule filled with holiday activities.  My weekend was fantastic and festive, with lots of time spent with friends and family.  This week will be much the same, but I'm looking forward to finding more time for painting.

Happy Holidays and Happy Painting!  

PLU #4419

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#012

Another pear painting.  This one was actually painted the same day as my last two pear paintings (#009 and #010).  Once I buy fresh fruit, I tend to stick with it until it turns brown... or its gone because I ate it! 

For some reason, when I paint several small paintings in one day, I seem to paint tighter and tighter with each one..... and maybe even with a more muted, less brilliant palette.   If anybody has any theories about that, I'd love to hear them!    Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

Three-Pear Study II

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#010

This was painted directly after the painting I posted yesterday.  I was having such a good time with the pears, I thought I'd stick with them.  This time though, I used Prussian Blue to mix my greens instead of Ultramarine. Wow,  what a difference!  

At first, this one seemed almost like getting zapped by an electrical current, or having someone scrape their fingernails down a chalk board. Yikes! I'm pretty sure the orange under-painting added to that effect.  But now, as I look at it separate from #009, I kind of like it!  Go figure!

Three-Pear Study I

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#009

Pears are so great to paint.  I guess that's why they show up in so much art work.  The shape is almost figurative in nature with its curves and chiseled angles.  Then there's the formative shadows and reflections, the implied movement.... the gesture and posture.  

This painting was done from life.  Below is a picture of my still life set-up through my view finder.  The next picture is what I sketched in with a wash of Burnt Umber.  I also laid in a little white to get a feel for the composition.  I had intended to paint all the warm colors I saw in the pears, but ended up liking the cool colors that were coming through from the light blue hues of the canvas, so I stuck with those.  

 

Here We Go A-Wassailing

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#008

'Tis the season!  Wassail is an amazing thing.  Fresh apple cider, cinnamon sticks, an orange and whole cloves for the wassail ball.... and a crock pot.  If you've never prepared a wassail before, it's really easy. And the kids love to make the wassail balls.  I usually use 2 oranges (or tangerines, or mandarins). Take the whole cloves and puncture them into the orange like a tack (leave the peel on, obviously)....  20 or more cloves per orange. Put them in the crock pot with the cider and several fresh cinnamon sticks. Start it on high until you can really smell the spices.  Then just turn it down, get a ladle and mugs, and you're all set! Everyone seems to love it.  Plus, it makes the house smell great! :)

Why did I include whole nutmeg in the painting?  I just liked the bottle.... plus that's what I'll grate on top of my other favorite holiday drink..... egg nog.  

Doomed

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#007

I don't know which was more doomed today.  This apple from being chopped up and devoured, or my day of painting in general.  Let's just say, it was not the best day of painting I ever had.  I wiped off my first canvas several times, getting frustrated with composition or color.... or, let's face it, creating mud.  Throwing in the towel on that one, this effort was next.   It did not turn out like I wanted.... at all.  But, that's okay. There's always tomorrow.  Thank goodness we can always look forward to that!

Oh, and did I mention that I couldn't get the light right for this picture either. So, please pardon the glare.  

Maybe I'll get a better picture tomorrow.  If so, I'll share that one instead.

Yellow Slipper

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#004

I actually like this one!  I was eating this banana while I was trying to set up a still life.  I had various props out, trying different arrangements, getting confused, and making things way too complicated. That's when I noticed my simple, unassuming banana peel just laying there.  AHA!  

In a way, I guess you could say that this banana peel saved the day!  

Mandarin

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#003

This is about all I wanted to eat after enjoying Thanksgiving and black Friday a little too much.  Well, this and some of the leftover wassail.

I thought this painting turned out ok.  I like that it seems to be looser than normal, but think I could have zoomed in a bit more with my composition.... maybe because this is the first painting I've tried on an 8x8 canvas board. Hoping to find some 6x6 canvases soon.  I think I'll really like using that size for my daily paintings.

Ruby Red

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#001

I was a little scared getting started.  What should I paint for Number 1?  Yikes. The pressure. :/ Then I reminded myself that that's not what it's all about.  It's about the process.... the lesson, the experience, the inspiration, and, oh yeah, the fun.  

So I painted my breakfast.  Thought it was as good a place to start as any.  Not crazy about it, but that's okay!   One down, and looking forward to many more to come!