Go Bigger with Auditions

Using canvases with an aspect ratio that lets me easily scale up is a practice that helps me audition ideas for larger works.  I painted several little 4x5 inch paintings that are great for determining color and design.  These little paintings are fun and quick to do and gives me plenty of options when I want to go bigger.  A 4x5 scales up well to an 8x10, 16x20, or 32x40 inch painting.  I couldn't decide which  worked best, so I'm posting two of them.  You can see them in my Etsy Shop.  Click here to see the first one that I call "Field Light".  It has already SOLD, but the second one that I call "Dawn." is still available.  Both began with an under painting of Alizarin Crimson.  I love the warmth provided by the under painting.  I haven't decided yet whether to go bigger with these little ideas, so I will keep auditioning with my little paintings.  Visit here or here or here to see more of my small landscape auditions and a few slightly larger paintings.

Hope you like my little auditions and will stop by again soon.  Original and fine art reproductions of my larger paintings are available on my website.

Photographing Art

When I photograph my paintings, I try to use natural light.  The best is a cloudy, overcast day.  The trouble is that this time of year it is hard to find just the right day.  It has been two weeks since the light has worked for me.  It has either been pouring rain, windy, or bright and sunny.  A nice overcast day was a long time coming.  Fortunately, the weather cooperated yesterday and I was able to capture the images of a dozen little paintings.  This painting is an original oil painting on a canvas panel, sized 4x5 inches.  It has already SOLD, but you can find more little paintings in my Etsy shop.  Please visit to see all of my little tropical fruit paintings and still life paintings.