The Value of a Cup

This week I've been practicing mixing paint from a limited palette to create a full range of values. A cup from my kitchen was a great subject for this practice. I used Cadmium Yellow Light, Ultramarine Blue, and a tiny bit of Alizarin Crimson, and a tiny bit of white. A great little exercise to do inside when the weather is spitting rain and lying about springtime.

Gaining Perspective--Time Will Tell

Yesterday I raided the pantry for bottles, arranged and rearranged the set up, and painted from life. I prefer to paint still life subjects from life rather than photographs. Photographs hide the subtleties of color and shadow that are so crucial to an attractive depiction. The two paintings, 8x8 and 6x8 inches will take a while to dry since they were rendered in oil paint. While they are drying, I like to let them sit for a few days in a place where I can get glimpses each time I pass by. It helps me to get some perspective. Sometimes I will have a wonderful time painting a subject and fall in love with the experience only to find a few days later that the painting really isn't very good. Then I either paint over it, wipe it out, or restretch the canvas and start something new. On the other hand, sometimes I will struggle with a subject and want to wipe out my work only to find that with a few days sitting on the easel, the work is actually not as bad as I thought. Finished work sitting on my easel needs a gestation period before it is released into the world. These little paintings are still in that gestation period. I think they will probably be hatched in a week or two when the paint is dry. What do you think? Wipe out, paint over, or birth?

Radish Still Life Painting

The paint is finally dry on the series of miniature still life paintings I created about ten days ago. You can view my original post about this series here. This little radish painting is one of my favorites. It was created with oil paints on a 5x7 inch flat canvas panel and is available here, in my Etsy Shop. When it has sold, reproductions will also be available. Visit the Still Life Gallery at my print shop for more information about sizes and other options.

Red is the Color of Rain--Miniature Still Life Oil Paintings

Fall is here. The weather is cool and the rain showers of the Pacific Northwest have begun. It was the gloomy weather of mid October that prompted me to paint this series of colorful little still life paintings. It has been a long time since I focused on small still life oil paintings, so I thoroughly enjoyed painting these little ones. All included some bright red to chase away the gloom. They range in size from 4x5 inches to 5x7 inches. They are painted with oils on canvas panels. As soon as they are dry, I will be selling them in my Etsy shop. Hope you will stop by.

Kitchen Market Adventures

Everytime I go to the grocery store, my eyes are enamoured with the produce section. Stacks of fresh fruits and vegetables are colorful and full of unique shapes. Sometimes I buy fresh items just because they are beautiful, even when I have no idea how to prepare them. After I get them home, the first thing I do is create a still life painting, sometimes an entire series of paintings. When the fresh items have done their duty, they head to the kitchen. This time I brought home Anaheim peppers. I didn't know if they were hot or mild, all I knew was I loved their color, that mellow green, and their long, robust shape. After I painted them, I did some research and they ended up as Chile Rellenos. So good. The original 6x6 inch oil painting is available for purchase here. Larger reproductions are also available at this address.

Reflecting Light

A collection of glass bottles is the focus of this still life oil painting. It was painted from life. It helps to see how the light reflects as the glass is recreated on canvas. In my last post, I discussed the practice of using the rules of color and light to paint little still life paintings. I did not have a reference for my example, but used what I knew about the subject to create the painting of an orange bell pepper. Painting glass is different. Light spews in so many directions. Reflections on glass depend on so many variables, that I find it difficult to create the sensation without an actual reference. The color of the glass, the thickness of the glass, and the direction of the light are trickier when it comes to painting glass. This original 6x8 inch oil painting is for sale in my Etsy Shop along with some of my other original still life paintings. At this point, it is not available as a reproduction. I hope you will stop by and view some of my other small format paintings. This painting can be viewed here.

Always Looking

When painting still life, I've always felt it was necessary to have a reference. The best references are those that I buy at the grocery store or farmer's market and bring home. Or are they?  Recently I've been giving myself a little test. I've worked on a series of fruit and vegetable paintings. Some I have painted from a live reference and some from my mind's eye using the rules of light, shadow, and color. The question is whether or not there is truly a difference.  What do you think?  Was this orange pepper painted from reference or memory?  I'll let you ponder that and will give the answer in my next blog update, so stay tuned. The original 6x8 inch oil painting is for sale in my Etsy shop. It was created with professional grade oil paints on a stretched canvas. You can view it here. It is also available in larger sizes as a reproduction on archival paper or canvas from my website here. Click here for sizes and prices. You can also make it into a fun little throw pillow. Follow this link for sizes and prices of throw pillows.

Sunshine and Rain

The weather in February has been awful. Snow in the East and rain in the West. In the Pacific Northwest where I live it has been day after day of drizzling liquid.  To combat the dreariness of it, I have been painting oranges. They are bright and sunny and I get to eat them when the day is done. This 6x6 inch still life of sliced oranges is one of the recent series of tropical fruit paintings that has served me well during the gray gloom of the month.  The original can be purchased here. Visit the tropical fruit section of my Etsy shop to view more. These little jewels are not available as reproductions, but I hope they will brighten your day as they have mine.

Old and New

Combining some contemporary techniques with a traditional still life is what today's posting is all about. I began this acrylic painting with layers of paint and pattern, using stencils, stamps, and a paintbrush, I created a textured underpainting. Working intuitively the design took on a life of its own. When I reached the point where it felt like it was finished, I created the silhouette of a simple pear still life over the underlying design.  It turned out to be a fun combination of old and new, abstract and representational, and my love of both was satisfied by the completion of the painting. The original was created on a 12x12 inch sheet of watercolor paper with acrylic paints. Giclee reproductions are available from my website here. The square format painting can be ordered in a variety of square format sizes, on paper, or on stretched canvas, one of my favorites when 1.5 inch stretcher bars are used. Very cool for the kitchen.

Back to Tradition

This week I was inspired to move back to some traditional work. Using a dark background to contrast with the bright orange of a tangerine trio, I worked in oils on canvas.  The painting is a small 6x6 inch square format that was an absolute delight to paint, but so difficult to photograph.  My son, who is a cinematographer, gave me some great suggestions and I want to publicly thank him for his help. My photographs don't compare to the wonderful work he does with a camera, but I do appreciate his tutoring. The original is for sale here. Reproduction fine art prints are available from my website.

Limited Palette Oil Painting

This minimalist painting emerged from a limited palette of burnt umber, burnt sienna, English red, and white.  It began with a wash of turpentine and umber and slowly built with touches of the other colors. Thinking about how the old masters were able to create beauty without the modern palette helped me appreciate once again the delightful compositions they created with just a few colors.  The original 6x6 inch painting was created on a stretched canvas and is available for purchase in my Etsy Shop, here.  Larger sized reproduction prints on canvas and paper are available at my website, here. You can also click on the tabs at the top of the page to view more of my original small format paintings, prints, or abstract works.

Little Tangerines

Little tangerines are the subject of this 3x3 inch still life oil painting.  I don't like to paint quite this small, it is much more challenging than something twice the size, but I had several of these little mini canvases and decided to use them up.  The original painting is for sale in my Etsy Shop, here, but you won't find any reproductions.  Just like it is difficult to paint this small, I find it very difficult to photograph and create reproductions of work this size. You might also like to view some of my other original tropical fruit paintings, still life paintings, or perhaps the entire shop of my small format art.

Crispy Apple Art

Every once in a while, a painting seems to create itself without any help from me.  This little 6x6 inch still life oil painting was one of those creations.  The minimalism of the bright red apple laying on a folded linen napkin was a delight to paint.  I loved the contrast between the dark and the light, the bright and the subdued.  The painting is available as a reproduction print from my website and will be listed for sale in my Etsy Shop as soon as the paint is dry.  Hope you will stop by here and take a closer look.

Harvest Time Painting

August and early September are one of my favorite times to paint still life.  The produce is coming on fast and furious and I am constantly inspired to paint the harvest.  Right now I have green beans and tomatoes that I can hardly keep up with, but the most beautiful of all produce is the fruit that is available.  This painting was inspired by a rich red Bing cherry.  The full juiciness and color caused me to create this 6x6 inch still life oil painting.  That's it!  A single cherry!  The original can be purchased here at my Etsy shop or reproductions in all sizes are available from my website.  Now, I'm off to gather more inspiration from the wonderful season of fall harvest.  

Minimalist Spring

After the dark and gloomy days of winter, it is refreshing when blooms finally begin to appear.  The Iris blooms that inspired this minimalist floral painting blessed my backyard and gave the rest of my garden a role model to follow.  I couldn't resist painting this early leader of the garden parade.  The original painting is on canvas and is 8x10 inches.  Reproduction fine art prints are also available.  Visit my website and this page for details on sizes, surfaces, and prices.

Violet Shapes

A friend of mine gave me an African Violet that he grew from a leaf.  He said the plant from which he took the leaf had been around for years.  The plant was healthy and happy, so I was inspired to paint.  This is a bird's eye view of one of several African Violets that I now own.  The original painting was created on an 8x10 inch gallery canvas with oil paints.  I began with a red under painting and added layers of color to develop the image.  Reproduction prints are available for sale at my website, and when the paint dries on this I will probably sell it in my Etsy Shop with some of my other still life paintings.

Pear Shadows Still Life Oil Painting

I'm still on a fruit binge.  I couldn't resist the color of these luscious pears.  They come home colored green, sit on my counter for a few days and turn a wonderful, sweet yellow.  A bowl of them in my studio while the wind whips and the rain pours reminds me that there is sunshine stored in these fabulous little orbs.  The paint isn't quite dry on the original, but when it does, the 8x10 inch oil painting will be listed for sale in my Etsy Shop where I sell my small originals.  Prints are also available from my website in sizes from 6x8 inches through 36x48 inches.  The entire collection of prints is available here.  I hope you will stop by.

Color in the Fog

The weather is typical October--a lot of fog and damp air that makes people stay inside and drink tea. The cold has made me long for some bright color and sunshine.  It is these colorful little fruits that finally brought the sunshine home.  Sitting in my studio, painting bright colors make me feel a little more cheerful on the gray days of autumn.  This painting was created on a 6x6 inch gallery canvas.  When the paint is dry, I will list it for sale in my Etsy Shop.  Now it is available as a fine art reproduction from my website. I hope you will enjoy the bright colors like I did. 

Red with Green

Today's 11x14 inch oil painting is a study in green, but to avoid a monochromatic result, I tossed a few red apples.  When the weather gets damp and ugly, I love to sit in my studio with the radio on and paint still life subjects.  This one is for sale and can be purchased from either my Etsy Shop or my Daily Paintworks Gallery. 

The Last Lily

With every day that passes, I think the last of the Day Lilies in my yard have come and gone. I've been quite wrong this year. We are having one of the driest fall seasons on record and the flowers keep on blooming. I love it! I was sure when I picked this one, it was the end, but that was weeks ago.  This small 5x7-inch painting is available for purchase here.  It was created on gallery-wrapped canvas and can be hung with or without a frame.